it's stuff like this that makes me think John Petrucci is the most complete guitarist

[TechBoyJK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcEFhJdtZwo&feature=related

seriously.. the guitar shreddage he gets into for a minute or so starting around 4:40 in is just outrageous.

anyways.. liquid tension experiment is good for those that might like dream theater but dont dig the vocal style they employ. This is also more adventurous and often over the top in technical execution. there are quite a few videos from the Live in LA 2008 show on youtube and they all sound and look great.

 

[theflyingpig]

I dont' see what's so hard about playing the guitar. All you're doing is moving your fingers around on some string attached to wood. So simple.

 

[TechBoyJK]

well it's like that but you have the added effect of being given the golden paint brush infused with the emotion of a million souls, from God himself. it sounds different..

 

[TechBoyJK]

omfg seriously

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QZbMC3Z1rw&feature=related

 

[Mr. Lennon]

well it's like that but you have the added effect of being given the golden paint brush infused with the emotion of a million souls, from God himself. it sounds different..

If you used that description to describe David Gilmour, I would agree with you

Petrucci is an amazing guitarist, but there isn't anything unique to his writing or playing ability. He has incredible chops and tone, but there are a million other guitarists that have that too. Dream Theater's song writing, while extremely technical, has never had a lasting impression on me. I never got the Dream Theater hype and I consider myself a huge progressive rock fan.

 

[coreyb]

totally agree with you zeppelin

 

[coreyb]

that just sounded like a bunch of notes played fast. totally void of emotion and doesn't touch you at all.

here's a video worth watching

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDC3ade3JxU

 

[Mr. Lennon]

that just sounded like a bunch of notes played fast. totally void of emotion and doesn't touch you at all.

here's a video worth watching

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDC3ade3JxU

:thumbsup:

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Petrucci is the reason I own a 7 string guitar... easily the biggest influence on me musically.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

that just sounded like a bunch of notes played fast. totally void of emotion and doesn't touch you at all.

here's a video worth watching

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDC3ade3JxU

You must have no musical ability

 

[lxskllr]

You must have no musical ability

There's a difference between technical ability, and musical ability. They aren't the same, and they aren't always found together ;^)

 

[repoman0]

You must have no musical ability

Because he doesn't like an overrated guitar player who hasn't done anything decent since 2000?

This guy puts Petrucci to shame, in technical ability on the guitar, innovation, and song-writing. Animals as Leaders is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt8IwLeFM38&feature=related

Not to mention every time I've seen Dream Theater live, Petrucci looks so damn bored on stage. And a couple friends have met Portnoy and said he's a complete douche. Can't take that band too seriously anymore..

 

[grrl]

There's a difference between technical ability, and musical ability. They aren't the same, and they aren't always found together ;^)

Exactly. Too many people mistake speed for musical quality.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

There's a difference between technical ability, and musical ability. They aren't the same, and they aren't always found together ;^)

It's not just that... especially with LTE they're just a jam band. They aren't trying to be really deep or philosophical. They reach out to the people that appreciate great musical phrases and this is what the OP was implying IMO. There's no need to get in a flame war over who writes deeper songs.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Because he doesn't like an overrated guitar player who hasn't done anything decent since 2000?

This guy puts Petrucci to shame, in technical ability on the guitar, innovation, and song-writing. Animals as Leaders is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt8IwLeFM38&feature=related

Not to mention every time I've seen Dream Theater live, Petrucci looks so damn bored on stage. And a couple friends have met Portnoy and said he's a complete douche. Can't take that band too seriously anymore..

You're wrong. I went to a Dream Theater show this year and Petrucci was really into the performance and I've never seen him act otherwise. I HAVE met Portnoy at a meet and greet and he's just a normal dude and very humble about his abilities. I will agree that Animals As Leaders is amazing, but Dream Theater continues to release quality material even after 25 years of writing together. The Count of Tuscany is proof.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Because he doesn't like an overrated guitar player who hasn't done anything decent since 2000?

This guy puts Petrucci to shame, in technical ability on the guitar, innovation, and song-writing. Animals as Leaders is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt8IwLeFM38&feature=related

Not to mention every time I've seen Dream Theater live, Petrucci looks so damn bored on stage. And a couple friends have met Portnoy and said he's a complete douche. Can't take that band too seriously anymore..

That video really does not support your argument, in fact, that very much looked like someone just showing technical ability and there was nothing special about the sound he was making either.

 

[repoman0]

The Count of Tuscany is decent musically, but it seems like the band can't help but write the cheesiest fucking lyrics I've ever heard. Black Clouds is certainly still better than their previous two efforts, but still nowhere near the quality of some of their older releases IMO.

 

[repoman0]

That video really does not support your argument, in fact, that very much looked like someone just showing technical ability and there was nothing special about the sound he was making either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2cFH7TH__c&feature=related

The video was specifically to showcase technical ability, musical innovation and great song writing can be heard in the rest of the album

 

[A Casual Fitz]

The Count of Tuscany is decent musically, but it seems like the band can't help but write the cheesiest fucking lyrics I've ever heard. Black Clouds is certainly still better than their previous two efforts, but still nowhere near the quality of some of their older releases IMO.

Yes I'll agree with you there but you can't expect them to maintain insane quality forever... Black Clouds took me a few listens to appreciate but now I'm perfectly content with it in their discography. Ever since Octavarium Dream Theater has written some sketchy songs (The Answer Lies Within, I Walk Besides You, Repentance, A Rite of Passage, Wither) and I sometimes skip those songs when listening to the albums but neither you or I could write anything better and I take what I can from them.

 

[repoman0]

neither you or I could write anything better and I take what I can from them.

lol. Very true!

 

[darkswordsman17]

It's not just that... especially with LTE they're just a jam band. They aren't trying to be really deep or philosophical. They reach out to the people that appreciate great musical phrases and this is what the OP was implying IMO. There's no need to get in a flame war over who writes deeper songs.

I've never really understood why people have to argue over guitarists like they do. If you focus on musicality you'll get people saying you have no technical ability and if you focus on technical ability then you get people saying "yeah, but it doesn't have any emotion".

Not only that, but a lot of times the person labeling it either way is actually just saying they don't like the sound, but instead of admitting that, they have to try to impose their opinion on it.

 

[darkswordsman17]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2cFH7TH__c&feature=related

The video was specifically to showcase technical ability, musical innovation and great song writing can be heard in the rest of the album

Ok, it just seemed odd that you were criticizing the other person and then link a video that doesn't really show most of what you were stating. That and I think I was responding to the musicality>technicality argument, which wasn't really your point.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Well I agree with the musicality thing... I hate pointless shredding, its so boring, and its something anyone can do given enough time to practice.. but stuff like Gilmour? NO ONE can play that solo like he does, NO ONE... Thats when you know youve heard something special

 

[Triumph]

Michael Angelo Batio is the one and only, truly complete guitarist. He can play equally well both left and right handed, on a quad neck guitar. That's like, 4 guitars.

 

[Anubis]

Yngwie does not approve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK0rvReE-4c