@JudasMyGuide out of curiosity what is your favorite DT album ?
Heh, I wish I knew. For the longest time I was convinced it was
Systematic Chaos, for various reasons I'll get to when we get to it and discuss it. I still love it, mind you, and I'm very sad to see how many people hate it, but after this time period when I was sure
A Dramatic Turn of Events must be my #1, I think I finally settled on
Six Degrees as my overall favourite album (
Chaos being #2, ADToE #3 and
Train of Thought #4). Let's hope it won't change again.
I am going to write something about each future album we get to and I'll explain my reasoning there.
Honorable mention goes to
8um, which I don't feel like calling my "favourite" album per se, but I enjoy it very much and play it very often - I always get this very special feeling when I'm listening to it which I cannot properly describe or even understand. Yes, the songs are much simpler and more straightforward, sometimes bordering on the poppy side of the things, but I guess there's nothing wrong with that.
My favourite 90's/pre-2000/pre-Rudess album is probably
Falling Into Infinity. I have a post regarding that album prepared already.
Also
I get that, but there's a bit of a difference there. Number of the Beast is like a starting point for Maiden, every album they did after was building on it and improving the sound. Unless you stopped liking Maiden after 1982, it'd be odd to have NOTB as your favorite just because they did so much more after. I know music is subjective and all that, not saying NOTB is factually weaker, but it's not Maiden at their peak. Images & Words and/or Awake could actually be considered DT's peak. I wouldn't agree with that, but the argument is there. I can see why people would lose interest in DT after Awake. They never really made albums like I&W/Awake again. Especially after getting Rudess, there was a totally different intention with DT's music.
I get what you mean. However that's pretty much what I dislike - although it doesn't have to be so, all those "I&W/Awake" people seem to me as if they really did lose their interest in the band after 1994 and are still pining for the time Moore was in the band and Labrie hasn't eaten that spoilt shellfish. Not helping is the fact how many people actually say that out loud. It's over 20 years, for crying out loud. This and all the various Jordan-bashing is where it reminds me of the Janick/reunion haters Maiden have, who would prefer them to play classics (RTTH, Trooper, NOT
and be done with it. I know it's probably not so (and I would like to stress
I'm definitely not accusing anybody), but since I usually like the band as a whole or not at all these "sacred cows" get on my nerves after a while. It doesn't help that I have serious problems with both
Number and
Awake.
On the other hand, I nowadays am more open to those who are upset regarding Portnoy leaving. Of course, when you read that under every arcticle and everywhere - "FOOKIN POSERS BRIG DA MIKE BAK EAT MY ASSNBALLS" - it's annoying and tiring... but later I've been more understanding regarding that sentiment. It's a combination of various factors, but while I like MM a lot and I think he is otherwise a wonderful addition to the band, 1.) his drum sound is rather bad. I know it might be intentional, but a bad intention it is, 2.) no more rotating setlists, 3.)
Astonishing, which I believe would never happen with Portnoy still there, 4.) less connection with fans - less official bootlegs, less chats and blogs etc. 5.) by losing the last "down to earth dude" they got way too "high-classed" to even my likings, if you know what I mean, 6.) also, less metal.
But after three more albums in line-up many of these arguments will become sillier and sillier, because - let's admit it, they've been playing without Portnoy for nearly
seven years now (not to mention he fucked it up himself - as someone here on this forum very poignantly said, "fuck him and his Constant Motion"
).
Bunch of blasphemers, all of you.
