The Root of All Evil

[aibohphobia]

Is it just me, or is this song verrrrry mediocre? I feel like it doesn't go anywhere or do anything interesting. The chorus is rather annoying (IIIIIIIIIIIIII am readYYYYYYYYYY) and the instrumental break sounds so promising only to return after 10 seconds to the banality of the rest of the song. I always enjoy the references that are present in the Glass Prison series, but it just doesn't really justify the song.

Do others generally like this song? I've seen that they've been opening all their shows with it, and personally that disappoints me. I'd love to hear all opinions though. Maybe it's just me.

I feel like Octavarium gets better progressively, each song on the album is better than the last.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I'm wondering if the people who dislike "As I Am" are the same ones who also dislike "The Root of All Evil." Both are more straightforward and less crazy than some of DT's other heavy stuff, so they're panned. Personally I love all elements of DT, and one of those is just blazing through a heavy groove, while making it sound fresh (putting it in Fm and having the cool solo section come to mind, among other things) compared to most other bands. So yeah, I like it a lot, and it tends to be one of the ones I'll play on my Nomad while I walk through stores, as it just feels awesome.

[Irish]

I think it's a great song, and when I saw them two days ago, they did in fact open with it and it's excellent live. That first drum buildup goes a long way towards getting the crowd pumped up, and the driving guitar riff really gets people jumping.

Perhaps maybe you're too critical. I think with a lot of new Dream Theater stuff, you have to just relax and enjoy the music, and not think too much about what you're hearing.

[telemaco5]

I didn't like it too, It has nothing speacial and the vocals are horrible. "As I am" is 10'000 times better as an opening song. I think "the root of all evil" is the weakest song of the album.
The rest of the album is great!

[Ael]

I think people expect that Dream Theater is always gonna release songs that contain 100% technical masturbation and that if the instrumental sections don't match up to other Dream Theater stuff they've heard then it sucks...

To be honest, all DT albums each have their own vibe, and Root of all Evil fits in with the rest of the tracks on 8V. The choruses for the most part are catchy, the songs are a little darker than usual, all the instrumentals save for the last two tracks are general a lot shorter and return quickly to the main idea of the song...that's it, times are changing in music and so are their musical interests - they've had huge instrumental breakdowns and giant songs for 7 albums, give it a rest, take it for what it is, the song and rest of the cd is very well put together.

I'm actually glad the instrumetnal returns so quickly...after ToT I had a fear that every instrumetnal section would overdevelop itself to the point that it made me nauseous (sp) (like This Dying Soul for instance)...

I think people just need to start taking their music for what it is...no, not everybody is going to like the same song or have the same opinion, however, if you can do better I'd gladly like to see you try...I am a firm believer in the fact that everything they do is for a reason, and with MP and JP producing the cds, if they didn't like it themselves or thought something shouldnt' have been there, then they wouldn't let it go there...but I think the shorter solo sections and "simpler" arrangements on this album are in a way to kind of show people that they are capable of writing something good and not needing things to last longer than they should...as I said - they've already done that formula of huge songs for 7 albums, just take it for what it is and enjoy the cds and the tracks, they're all tightly and well put together.

[King_Ellesar]

no, i disagree. (with aibohphobia). because i actually think this song is awesome! yes, it's relatively more simple than most of dt's stuff, but it's so fun to listen to. i dont find anything wrong with the "I am readyyyy". i liked as i am as well, but i do like this song more than as i am.

i love the intro, and think it's a great way to start off a rockin album. and an awesome concert starter too. i really really hope they play that when they come to tampa. so pawa!

i dont know exactly what it is, but theres something about the note choice on the vocals especially(and some guitar) that reminds me of some really good classic rock songs, only better. i really like the "medicate me" refference from octavarium at the very end of this song. i always sing it when he plays it at that part.

the main guitar riff is pretty sweet i think, and all the squeeling harmonics are just fantastic. and i think james sounds really good on it, and as said before, i like the vocals and lyrics. the part at 3:42 is so rockin man. i dont see how someone cant enjoy this one. oh, and 5:19 anyone? followed by an awesome synth solo? guitar solo after that is pretty sweet too.

one thing i think about these "more simple" songs they do is that although they might not have as many insanely hard riffs and solos, i think theyre structure and methods of rocking are quite advanced. i had a hard time thinking of many bands who can do something like root of all evil. yes, it may be simple to play, and there might be many who can do that, but theres something about it that i couldnt really expect many other bands out there to accomplish.

[Liquid Shadow]

I think that they're opening every show with it, just like they did with As I Am when ToT came out, so you should get a chance to see it King Ellesar.

[Rodkorn]

it's simply great, I always listen to that song, the riff makes the song "powerful" I think... don't know if you understand me... anyway, I like it a lot...

[Piranha]

I understand what you mean by Annoying, like when he sings "take all of meEeEeEEE", but it grew on me.

[aibohphobia]

First of all, I enjoy As I Am, and I like non-technical stuff. I said I liked everything else on the album, and track 2 is definitely not technical. I just feel like the song doesn't go anywhere or accomplish anything.

[King_Ellesar]

I think that they're opening every show with it, just like they did with As I Am when ToT came out, so you should get a chance to see it King Ellesar.

hooray!

it's simply great, I always listen to that song, the riff makes the song "powerful" I think... don't know if you understand me... anyway, I like it a lot...

i understand ya. and i agree. lots of power.

and track 2 is definitely not technical. I just feel like the song doesn't go anywhere or accomplish anything.

i disagree. not sure if u meant track one or two, but i personally feel that both accoomplish many things. 1 kicks off an awesome album in a powerful way, and links to previous songs with musical and lyrical refferences as well as linking to parts during the rest of the album we are about to hear. has really cool synth and guitar solos, and what i think are great melody lines for the vocals and pretty cool lyrics.

i think track 2 is beautiful. i find the strings solo quite moving, and think the note choice in it is perfect for the song. what was cool when i first listened to it was i was expecting JP to come out with a smooth guitar solo, but i was suprised when i heard the strings bust out with that. it was a pleasant suprise. another thing about track two that i think is worth noting is how soothing it is compared to the rest of the album. i walk beside you is a little lighter than the others, but the answer lies within has this softness to it that seems to me to be in just the right spot, and i think it is a nice resting spot right before these walls begins to rock.

[hephiroth]

i like the approach that DT took on a lot of songs (like TRoAE) on Octa where it's not so long and drawn out as on previous albums. i think it gives a nice change of pace for the listeners. i mean, let's face it, DT will always have some crazy instrumental sections, and they also have 7 albums worth of ridiculous shit to play live, so it's not like we're losing anything by them putting out an album that does something a little different. in fact, that is a large part of what makes DT what it is--they are always doing something different, (at least within their stylistic realm).

The Root is a great rock song and, like many have said, it does kick off the album really well.

I don't know if I completely agree about track 2, as I think it's a bit cheesy, even by DT standards, but that's another thread.

-jeff-