On repeated listenings, I'm finding at least some things to appreciate on this release. [edited № Stardate 11812.15]
Dream Theater - The Astonishing.
Initially I had some real issues with this album, and repeated listenings didn't seem to help. Today, I tried something new; I played the album disc II first, then disc I. Then, I tried the entire album on random. I feel somewhat differently about The Astonishing after trying this approach. There are some very well written and performed parts of this album. There is also a fair amount of "filleresque" material (which I understand are integral to the "story") to be found here.
When Dream Theater gets it right, they absolutely shine, and there are moments of sheer brilliance to be found here, but the story itself and some of the filler stuff makes me cringe quite a bit...
Overall, I have to give Dream Theater some credit for being so confident, pompous and audacious to release this album. In my opinion, had they let the ideas brew a bit longer, and had John come up with a better, more mature storyline, this could have been a genuine masterpiece.
So, upon further listenings, reflection and review, I have to significantly upgrade my initial rating from zero to Three point 25 Stars (***.25)
A good, but not excellent addition to your collection.
As always, your mileage may vary,
Grace and peace, Cylli Kat (Jim Calistro)
Original review below;
Dream Theater The ASSEATISHING review № Stardate 11810.19...
Wow!!! Everything that Dream Theater could've done wrong they did do wrong on this remarkably horrendous pile of puerile, juvenile dreck.
After being endlessly assaulted on facebook every 28 seconds with some new bit of "blah, blah, blah", about this album (I'm talking about during its initial release days), I unfriended all the band members and unliked/unfollowed the band.
I literally thought: 'Whats next? A video game, a graphic novel, a CGI movie?!?!?' Not knowing I was actually close to the mark on that one...
This is so beyond dreadful. I've tried repeatedly to garner some type of appreciation for this album; but as of this writing the only thing I'm willing to do with the discs are turn them into coasters...
Completely vapid, inane, & banal concept, hyper-overdone virtuostic masturbation done with the inimitable Dream Theater aplomb.
This is what happens when you write an album to appeal to little girls who believe in Unicorns and play with My Little Pony®...
Time for Dream Theater to get back to making good music again...
Or, it's time for them to retire...
Believe me; I wanted to go on a song by song tirade, but I literally don't think I could bear to hear this album ever again, so, I scrapped that idea...
A great big fat ZERO on my personal scale. Forced to give it 1 star due to the PA rating process.
As always, your mileage may vary,
Grace and peace, Cylli (Jim Calistro)
Originally posted at progarchives.com