Topic: Mars Volta / Dream Theater / Sound of Animals Fighting (Read 31649 times)

Hat · « **Reply #50 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 14:52 »

Scrambled Gregs, I hope you're happy, you just completely ruined our carefully crafted illusion.

IronOxide · « **Reply #51 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 15:05 »

Quote from: Will on 19 Jul 2007, 08:53

It is, but I wouldn't recommend it...the Mars Volta's CO2 footprint is HUUGE! You don't want to be seen as one of those jackasses that doesn't care about the environment, do you?

Well, I guess you could always wait for a hybrid model.

I don't want to be a jackass, I guess I'll stay away from this Mars Volta.

jimbunny · « **Reply #52 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 15:10 »

Thrillho · « **Reply #53 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 16:47 »

Quote from: just-another-andy on 19 Jul 2007, 16:06

Mars Volta are very very good band! you're implying that i'm a jackasse for liking and appreciating their music?
atleast form your own arguments rather than taking a snippet from another source.

Wow you really are new, ain'tcha.

Ernest · « **Reply #54 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 17:56 »

Quote from: just-another-andy on 19 Jul 2007, 16:06

Mars Volta are very very good band! you're implying that i'm a jackasse for liking and appreciating their music?
atleast form your own arguments rather than taking a snippet from another source.

Have you ever written a research paper? Or even an essay?

On another note,

"This task belies a combine cornhole! My liver's contingency plan is erudite!"

Will · « **Reply #55 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 17:58 »

http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,16517.0.html

Go back and read this thread; you will find me defending the fact that I listen to, and enjoy, the Mars Volta. What's happened here, son, is that you started a new thread about two bands that are A: fairly well known across the scope of music fans everywhere, and B: often discussed on these very same forums. Now, often times, one of the forum elders will retort with a scathing "use the search feature" and the thread will die...occasionally, however, we old-timers like to derail threads that have been done time and time again, and turn them into something not at all pertinent to the original post. It gives us a bit of a laugh, and relieves the tedium that comes with seeing the same topic 'discussed' over and over again, ad nauseum. Perhaps before taking offense, you could spend some time observing the interactions that take place between forumites as a daily routine, wherein friendly jabs are often taken at the expense of others' varying tastes in music that differ from one's own.

Y'know, LURK MOAR!

Hat · « **Reply #56 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 18:26 »

Well, now that the joke is fucked (Thanks, Scrambled Gregs), you might as well know I'm a massive Dream Theater fan, and I still thought this was a shit thread.

Honestly, are you sure you're not just trolling us?

Dimmukane · « **Reply #57 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 18:52 »

Since the whole thing's fucked now, I might as well say what I really think about the first two. I only listen to The Mars Volta if I just want the silence to be drowned out. They're not really worth my time.

Dream Theater I just seem to not like at all. I couldn't stand their singer before food poisoning, or after it. Their songs generally consist of everyone taking turns playing solo bits, which I can't fucking stand. Everyone I've known personally (which excludes people from the internetz) that is a fan of this band thinks that everyone in it is a living god when it comes to playing their instrument/singing, which is just not the truth. I know they're a prog-metal band, and prog-metal bands are supposed to incorporate tons of musical theory into their songs, but that's only half of the process. You still have to attempt to write something with a catchy phrase. Basically, I hate Dream Theater for the same reason I hate a lot of prog-bands, they pile on the theory and not a whole lot else. Don't get me wrong, they're good at what they do, I just don't like them very much. Liquid Tension Experiment, on the other hand, while still not being a whole lot better in the songwriting department, at least doesn't have a singer, which makes them marginally better in my book. (In case you didn't know, although I'm sure you do, LTE is DT minus the bass player and vocalist)

imapiratearg · « **Reply #58 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 20:53 »

Don't worry man, I learned the hard way as well. If you could find the thread containing my first post, it's hilarious. They gave me so much shit, but I sat there laughing my ass off until I got pissed at them. So then I payed attention and learned stuff from browsing around.

Still, however, most of my posts are rather irrelevant and/or bland and unfunny. I guess. In person I guess I'm more amusing. Or something. I know I have sense of humor...

Ernest · « **Reply #59 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 21:55 »

My cerebral phalange decries a conspiracy of calendars! I lie on your heart azure angle sexual surgery!

Hat · « **Reply #60 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 21:59 »

Quote from: Dimmukane on 19 Jul 2007, 18:52

Basically, I hate Dream Theater for the same reason I hate a lot of prog-bands, they pile on the theory and not a whole lot else.

I like how prog-metal is the only genre where if the music doesn't reach you, and do that thing where you realise that the album you are listening to is fucking awesome, it's obviously the musics fault, and not just you know, personal taste.

I mean, to say theres not really any feel to the music and its just a bunch of guys wanking as hard as they can is a pretty silly argument. The reason this is the case is that I can actually negate that argument with complete objectivity, and the way I can do that, is by enjoying the music they make. I don't have a background in musical theory at all. I don't enjoy people playing difficult music just because it is difficult. I enjoy music that makes me happy! I can get the same feeling from a Dressy Bessy album that I can from listening to Awake, or Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (which by the way is a fantastic example of Dream Theater writing emotive music, with barely any wank whatsover)

I mean, I get if you don't like DT because the wank is distracting to you, or because it just doesn't sound good (Hell, I'll admit, I would cut all those silly honky-tonk piano solos out of every song if I could be bothered), but to say its just a giant load of theory is, well, a giant load of crap.

(P.S. This thread was still a stupid idea, please don't stop talking about polka genres and weird fucking Mars Volta lyrics just because I had a brief serious moment here)

Dimmukane · « **Reply #61 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 22:38 »

I never clarify things on the internet. It's too much work. But I'll give it a shot. So, my problem with a lot of prog-music is indeed the wankery. DT was never just about the wankery, but they spawned a bunch of wankery-infested clones. Whenever a decent band spawns legions of really gay shit, I just stop liking them so much because I hear a lot of the shitty bands when I try to listen to them. Which is basically what happened to DT. The whole 'Jon Petrucci and Mike Portnoy are gods' thing kinda pisses me off too. You shouldn't listen to a band based on whether or not they have people who are amazing at their instruments. Remember Mike Patton and Fantomas? Prime example. The same kind of thing happened to me with At the Gates and all the crappy metalcore acts there have been. I like Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, but most of their other stuff dredges up memories of other horrible music I've heard.

So that's why it seems like I don't like them based on what they play, instead of personal taste. If I could blank my mind when listening to music, I'd probably like these guys a lot more.

jeph · « **Reply #62 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 23:24 »

The act of enjoying music is a wholly subjective experience. I don't think you can get any LESS objective than that.

Hat · « **Reply #63 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 23:56 »

Jeph, while a bands actual worth is entirely subjective, the fact that I enjoy Dream Theaters music is an objective fact, that is what I am trying to get across.

Quote from: Dimmukane on 19 Jul 2007, 22:38

The whole 'Jon Petrucci and Mike Portnoy are gods' thing kinda pisses me off too.

Me too actually. As far as I'm concerned Myung is the most talented member, because he is ridiculously solid, and if Dream Theater didn't have that quality in their bassist, I would probably get extremely bored very quickly.

I actually really dislike Liquid Tension Experiment for the same reason that you dislike Dream Theater, proving once again that its a funny old world.

Storm Rider · « **Reply #64 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 00:00 »

John Petrucci is one of my favorite guitarists, so I really can't relate to that. Portnoy I can take or leave, honestly.

Hat · « **Reply #65 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 00:05 »

I really would prefer it if neither of them sang though, what the hell guys, you are not very good singers, please stop it.

MadassAlex · « **Reply #66 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 02:00 »

Guys what the hell are you talking about. LaBrie is great.

Also I personally prefer the guitarwork of Steve Vai to Petrucci when it comes to those virtuosic type guys.

bnt · « **Reply #67 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 06:09 »

Can't quite get into Mars Volta - my last impression was that it was a bit like being pecked to death by geese on acid. Might try again some day, when I need to wake up very early.

Dream Theater... mixed. I thought they wrote really great songs, and the music worked to support the songs, but that went out the window when Jordan Rudess joined. He's a virtuoso, but in the context of a band, and songs, he made me appreciate the sensitivity displayed by their previous keyboardists! I thought Derek Sherinian got a rough ride: more than good enough technically, but he also brought in a sense of progressive history e.g. really effective use or organ and piano, plus some very modern synth madness with the Korg Prophecy.

However, most progressive metal has never sounded quite right to me since I first heard Thought Industry, and the way they fell apart was a freakin' calamity IMHO.

Shadows Collide · « **Reply #68 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 07:13 »

One fact of notes is just how hard-working and prolific it seems Mars Volta are gonna be for years to come. Who doesn't love a band that gets so involved and dedicated, with a new cd every year for the last 3 years?

Inlander · « **Reply #69 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 09:03 »

This thread's no fun any more.

amok · « **Reply #70 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 09:47 »

Has there ever been a Mars Volta thread that was both serious and fun?

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #71 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 16:20 »

Look, fuck you guys, OK?? I joined these forums with the express purpose of ruining everybody's fun.

What I meant to say was, charades can only be upheld so long before somebody's gotta break the gooey film of comedy and get real.

camelpimp · « **Reply #72 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 18:01 »

But Bush is still in power!

And yes, before anyone comments, that was a pathetic attempt, kthanx.

Storm Rider · « **Reply #73 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 19:59 »

Quote from: Anyways on 20 Jul 2007, 00:09

Has someone killed LaBrie yet?

Actually, when LaBrie keeps out of the ridiculously high range his voice is quite good. His guest appearance on Ayreon's The Human Equation was much more subdued than a lot of his DT work, and it turned out very well in my opinion. Arjen probably reined him in a bit.

I'm not nearly as fanatical about Dream Theater as I was, say, a year and a half ago, but I still like them. They are the first band I ever saw live, though. Part of the reason I refute the prog-music-has-no-emotion cliche so vehemently is because of that show. They played Learning to Live as the encore, and LaBrie hit the high note as the band reached the crescendo behind him with the crowd going batshit, and it was genuinely one of the most emotional experiences of my life to date.

amok · « **Reply #74 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 20:18 »

Quote from: Storm Rider on 20 Jul 2007, 19:59

I'm not nearly as fanatical about Dream Theater as I was, say, a year and a half ago, but I still like them.

I'm in the same boat really, if I listened to them again I'd only really bother with a couple of CDs (when I was first getting into metal I used to lap up everything they did).

Some individual tracks are still awesome though, especially 'A Change Of Seasons', parts of which are a clear example of songwriting being preferred to 10-minute guitar masturbation sessions.

The verse ending

'...Untie these strings
I'm climbing down
I won't let them push me away'

and the solo that follow are a perfect example, it's not a fretwanking ten-billion-notes-a-second Malmsteen style solo, but a slow, sweeping masterpiece.

Even though I find 3/4+ of DT's material too cheesy for my liking these days, I don't think I'll ever not love that song.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #75 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 21:31 »

If someone could list the non-wanky songs for me, I'd appreciate it.

Storm Rider · « **Reply #76 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 23:16 »

That depends on what you consider 'wanky'. Your definition and mine might not coincide.

Thrillho · « **Reply #77 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 06:57 »

Oh we're talking about our actual opinions now? Right then.

The Mars Volta are one of my favourite bands, but it's a rarity that I'll get through the whole of Frances the Mute without skipping bits. Amputechture was terrible except for 'Viscera Eyes' and parts of 'Tetragrammaton.' The first album I love as well.

Dream Theater, however, I can barely stand. It's not that it's wankery - which would make no sense since I'm in a prog band and I love the Volta - but it just feels so heartless. The Volta sound to me like they're putting all of their emotion into every stupid recording of a frog as much as they are into every crazy guitar solo. Dream Theater just sound like they've been bolted together, to my ears at least.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #78 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 07:56 »

Quote from: Storm Rider on 20 Jul 2007, 23:16

That depends on what you consider 'wanky'. Your definition and mine might not coincide.

Basically the material more along the lines of what amok whas talking about.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #79 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 22:37 »

Quote from: Dimmukane on 19 Jul 2007, 22:38

I never clarify things on the internet.... etc

So to sum up, you're judging a band based on their fans, and their imitators. Yup, seems fair to me.

Stefan Autsa · « **Reply #80 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 23:11 »

The Snickers Volta just doesn't have the same ring, really.

Dimmukane · « **Reply #81 on:** 23 Jul 2007, 09:44 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 22 Jul 2007, 22:37

Quote from: Dimmukane on 19 Jul 2007, 22:38
I never clarify things on the internet.... etc

So to sum up, you're judging a band based on their fans, and their imitators. Yup, seems fair to me.

As well as their music. Almost all bands I only judge on their music, but I've had enough DT fans in meatspace bug me about it that it gets factored in as an automatic minus 5 percent. I just don't like their music that much normally, either.

Valrus · « **Reply #82 on:** 23 Jul 2007, 16:00 »

Quote from: Stefan Autsa on 22 Jul 2007, 23:11

The Snickers Volta just doesn't have the same ring, really.

Please try and think about things before you post them. The choice was between candy bars named after celestial entities, which means "The Milky Way Volta" was the only other option, and I think we can agree that it was never really in the running.

Ernest · « **Reply #83 on:** 26 Jul 2007, 21:58 »

SPRINKLE ME WITH EQUINE PRAISE! LIVE IN THE INTESTINE OF ESOTERICISM!

Hat · « **Reply #84 on:** 26 Jul 2007, 23:35 »

I expect one of those every single day until Judgement Day.

Also why does he need two microphones?

I'm sorry Mars Volta, but I just do not get you.

just-another-andy · « **Reply #85 on:** 27 Jul 2007, 00:53 »

Perhaps he's compensating for something...

Noct · « **Reply #86 on:** 27 Jul 2007, 01:15 »

There is nothing to "get" you must only experience them and stand in awe. I also find his shimmying around the stage to be incredibly amusing.

Inlander · « **Reply #87 on:** 27 Jul 2007, 18:07 »

Quote from: Hat on 26 Jul 2007, 23:35

Also why does he need two microphones?

If you look at where the respective microphones are positioned, it becomes quite clear that he is duetting with his own hair.

Noct · « **Reply #88 on:** 28 Jul 2007, 01:41 »

Oh god inlander, what have you done. I can't stop laughing. Shut up, it's not the wine.

Ernest · « **Reply #89 on:** 28 Jul 2007, 10:53 »

Quote from: Hat on 26 Jul 2007, 23:35

I expect one of those every single day until Judgement Day.

I will do these with relative frequency.

just-another-andy · « **Reply #90 on:** 05 Aug 2007, 14:55 »

I hear The Mars Volta have a new album in the works!

Looking forward to that!

Hat · « **Reply #91 on:** 05 Aug 2007, 19:29 »

TREMBLE BEFORE JORDAN RUDESS AND HIS MIGHTY BAT'LETH BLADE

Ernest · « **Reply #92 on:** 05 Aug 2007, 21:03 »

A PURGATORY DESCENDS TO WRATH OF COLON CRANBERRIES! BURY THE CORPSES PERFORMING SUITABLE FELLACIO!

Noct · « **Reply #93 on:** 06 Aug 2007, 03:31 »

Someone needs to make some sort of random Mars Volta lyrics generator webapp. I'm sure it wouldn't be too terribly difficult, just take some vaguely morbid gothic poetry, throw in a splash of sci-fi and hit the blend button.

just-another-andy · « **Reply #94 on:** 07 Aug 2007, 20:17 »

so NO ONE has heard of The Sound Of Animals fighting then?

David_Dovey · « **Reply #95 on:** 07 Aug 2007, 20:22 »

I think it's just easier to ridicule Dream Theater and TMV than TSOAF.

jimbunny · « **Reply #96 on:** 07 Aug 2007, 20:36 »

Wait...why is this thread still here?

Hat · « **Reply #97 on:** 07 Aug 2007, 20:44 »

Because Flaming Ostrich is a prince of our hearts, and I wanted an excuse to post a picture of Rudess with an instrument that looks like a Klingon weapon.

Ernest · « **Reply #98 on:** 07 Aug 2007, 21:17 »

"BURY MY INSULIN WRAPPED IN FOIL TISSUE! MY MEMBRANE CONSTRICTS VAST BASTIONS OF CHURCH MICE!"

David_Dovey · « **Reply #99 on:** 07 Aug 2007, 21:22 »

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Mars Volta / Dream Theater / Sound of Animals Fighting (Read 31649 times)

bnt

Shadows Collide

ScrambledGregs

camelpimp

Stefan Autsa

just-another-andy

just-another-andy

just-another-andy