Descriptions of every link in the "online resume" gadget (need to finish Jordan Eats Normally Now post)
Prog analyses that would make Progression Enhanced proud (need to finish Systematic Chaos analysis)
Status updates and behind-the-scenes info about my various stories.
Posts about my life.
Various miscellaneous thoughts of mine.
Eventually, venturing into blogging about cinema.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
"The magic is gone."
I often wonder if, after reading enough books, after listening to enough music, after watching enough films, I'll "understand" the "key" to that medium and anything I see further will lack the "magic."
Well, as I grow older and learn more of the literary archetypes and building blocks, comprehend the complexities of musical theory, and study the many arts of cinema, I've found that understanding how they work only furthers to amplify the "magic." I love "getting" what's so special to be found in art, and I especially love discovering hidden depths within works that I never would have caught had I never looked into the fundamentals of the crafts.
Looking back on history helps, too. History shows me so many works that do never-before-seen techniques, works that inspire, works that are forever to be considered "masterpieces." I realize that, in the future, the works of our time will be viewed back and thought of similarly. Knowing how expansive art is, I realize that there will always be some new technique, some new way to inspire, a myriad of new "masterpieces" to be crafted. I see this, and I enthuse in discovering where art will take us next.
What can I say? I'm a writer with a love for complex music and an enthusiasm for cinema.
Well, as I grow older and learn more of the literary archetypes and building blocks, comprehend the complexities of musical theory, and study the many arts of cinema, I've found that understanding how they work only furthers to amplify the "magic." I love "getting" what's so special to be found in art, and I especially love discovering hidden depths within works that I never would have caught had I never looked into the fundamentals of the crafts.
Looking back on history helps, too. History shows me so many works that do never-before-seen techniques, works that inspire, works that are forever to be considered "masterpieces." I realize that, in the future, the works of our time will be viewed back and thought of similarly. Knowing how expansive art is, I realize that there will always be some new technique, some new way to inspire, a myriad of new "masterpieces" to be crafted. I see this, and I enthuse in discovering where art will take us next.
What can I say? I'm a writer with a love for complex music and an enthusiasm for cinema.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
On Proggasms
Something to note about my experiences with music is that I tend to spazz out and/or sweat heavily when I find a section of music that I really love. I'm not saying I headbang or dance or whatnot; I mean I sweat when I'm just sitting there, listening. After much examination of the music that invokes these reactions in me, I came to the conclusion that I tend to do it during extended instrumental sections, particularly ones that truly progress from catchy riff to atmospheric interlude to 100% wankeriffic solo to DAT UNISON to reprisal to catchy riff and back again. And if there happens to be an unconventional time signature in there somewhere? Oh god yes.
This, the experience of excitement invoked purely by overly-progressive self-indulgent wankery, is what I like to call a proggasm. An orgasm caused by prog.
I first coined the term "proggasm" in reference to Dream Theater's 2005 epic "Octavarium." As soon as the second movement ends and DAT KEYBOARD SOLO starts, I get lost in nirvana. This continues on and on and on and on and on, progressing and ebbing and flowing and spiraling all around amidst references and arpeggios and sheer unadulterated wankery before hitting movement four (Intervals). Here, my proggasm is amplified, rising exponentially as each line is sung, cultivating in the ultra-satisfying climax at the song's sole chorus ("Trapped inside this octavarium!") before coming to a very crashing Welcome-Back-To-Earth halt as the fifth movement begins. Ever since, I've been on the lookout for any other piece or section that invokes a similar reaction in me, hoping to find another equally-satisfying proggasm.
Just thought you should know.
This, the experience of excitement invoked purely by overly-progressive self-indulgent wankery, is what I like to call a proggasm. An orgasm caused by prog.
I first coined the term "proggasm" in reference to Dream Theater's 2005 epic "Octavarium." As soon as the second movement ends and DAT KEYBOARD SOLO starts, I get lost in nirvana. This continues on and on and on and on and on, progressing and ebbing and flowing and spiraling all around amidst references and arpeggios and sheer unadulterated wankery before hitting movement four (Intervals). Here, my proggasm is amplified, rising exponentially as each line is sung, cultivating in the ultra-satisfying climax at the song's sole chorus ("Trapped inside this octavarium!") before coming to a very crashing Welcome-Back-To-Earth halt as the fifth movement begins. Ever since, I've been on the lookout for any other piece or section that invokes a similar reaction in me, hoping to find another equally-satisfying proggasm.
Just thought you should know.
A Dramatic First Impression of Events
On Dream Theater's newest release, A Dramatic Turn of Events, I have a few first impressions to give.
On the Backs of Angels is an interesting opener. I had heard this so many times before thanks to its release as a single back in June, and the structure is remarkably like "Pull Me Under." The vocals are catchy and the solo is memorable.
Build Me Up, Break Me Down should have been the single. Goddamn, this song has enough balls to make former drummer Mike Portnoy proud. The song reminds me a lot of "You Not Me" off of Falling into Infinity, which I loved. The instrumental section was beautiful. One of my favourites.
Lost Not Forgotten is everything that is right about Dream Theater. I adore every element of this song except for the abrupt ending. But really, that's a small price to pay for the utter beauty surrounding the rest of the piece. Easily one of my favourites.
This is the Life kinda... dragged on a little. But I'm certain this is entirely because it was just my first listen of the album. The sound, itself, was fantastic, and the time signature was catchy as hell.
Bridges in the Sky, on my first listen, was hard to follow and hard to judge. On my second, I found its rhythms pleasantly fun and its chorus amazing. The instrumental section deserves a lot of praise, as well. One of my favourites.
Outcry features one of the greatest proggasms I've had since "The Dark Eternal Night" and "Octavarium" before that. It lasts forever, and I love that. This song reminds me a lot of "Metropolis, pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper" off of Images & Words. Except better. The sound is crisp and beautiful, the melodies catchy, the lyrics sublime. Easily one of my favourites off the album.
Far From Heaven is beauty. I'd say it's like Train of Thought's "Vacant" in spirit but with more expansion. Depressing lyrics juxtaposed quite effectively by a seemingly-positive piece. Loved it.
Breaking All Illusions gave off a huge "Learning to Live" vibe from the start. The instrumental section's gorgeous. I need to listen to this more to be able to appreciate it fully. Loved the reprisal of "Far From Heaven's" melody.
Beneath the Surface is a peculiar closer. Very pretty all around, stunning vocals, definitely something I want to listen more to.
All in all, the album is promising at worst. There's at least two Grade A proggasms to be found just to be found from my first listening alone, and I could easily tell the rest of the album has many hidden secrets requiring multiple listens. Hell, simply listening to "Bridges in the Sky" for a second time made that song ten times better.
I look so forward to seeing what this album will look like in retrospect.
On the Backs of Angels is an interesting opener. I had heard this so many times before thanks to its release as a single back in June, and the structure is remarkably like "Pull Me Under." The vocals are catchy and the solo is memorable.
Build Me Up, Break Me Down should have been the single. Goddamn, this song has enough balls to make former drummer Mike Portnoy proud. The song reminds me a lot of "You Not Me" off of Falling into Infinity, which I loved. The instrumental section was beautiful. One of my favourites.
Lost Not Forgotten is everything that is right about Dream Theater. I adore every element of this song except for the abrupt ending. But really, that's a small price to pay for the utter beauty surrounding the rest of the piece. Easily one of my favourites.
This is the Life kinda... dragged on a little. But I'm certain this is entirely because it was just my first listen of the album. The sound, itself, was fantastic, and the time signature was catchy as hell.
Bridges in the Sky, on my first listen, was hard to follow and hard to judge. On my second, I found its rhythms pleasantly fun and its chorus amazing. The instrumental section deserves a lot of praise, as well. One of my favourites.
Outcry features one of the greatest proggasms I've had since "The Dark Eternal Night" and "Octavarium" before that. It lasts forever, and I love that. This song reminds me a lot of "Metropolis, pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper" off of Images & Words. Except better. The sound is crisp and beautiful, the melodies catchy, the lyrics sublime. Easily one of my favourites off the album.
Far From Heaven is beauty. I'd say it's like Train of Thought's "Vacant" in spirit but with more expansion. Depressing lyrics juxtaposed quite effectively by a seemingly-positive piece. Loved it.
Breaking All Illusions gave off a huge "Learning to Live" vibe from the start. The instrumental section's gorgeous. I need to listen to this more to be able to appreciate it fully. Loved the reprisal of "Far From Heaven's" melody.
Beneath the Surface is a peculiar closer. Very pretty all around, stunning vocals, definitely something I want to listen more to.
All in all, the album is promising at worst. There's at least two Grade A proggasms to be found just to be found from my first listening alone, and I could easily tell the rest of the album has many hidden secrets requiring multiple listens. Hell, simply listening to "Bridges in the Sky" for a second time made that song ten times better.
I look so forward to seeing what this album will look like in retrospect.
Welcome to OOG.
With the release of Dream Theater's A Dramatic Turn of Events, and Roadrunner Records' delayed shipment of it to those who preordered it, I was stricken with an interesting train of thought. Pun intended.
I'm not that happy.
Not only that, but I have several blogs out there but none where I can openly talk about my feelings. Most of my blogs are stories of their own wherein any posts about my actual life would be terribly out-of-character.
Not only that, but I have a lot of musical talk I need to get straight in my head. A Dramatic Turn of Events helped me realize this. I need a place where I can just talk about stuff, especially music, y'know?
So there you have it. My name is Jordan "DJay32" Dooling, and I'm a prog fan with a lot to say.
Oh, and Fear Mythos fans? This blog is the spiritual successor to Progression Enhanced.
I'm not that happy.
Not only that, but I have several blogs out there but none where I can openly talk about my feelings. Most of my blogs are stories of their own wherein any posts about my actual life would be terribly out-of-character.
Not only that, but I have a lot of musical talk I need to get straight in my head. A Dramatic Turn of Events helped me realize this. I need a place where I can just talk about stuff, especially music, y'know?
So there you have it. My name is Jordan "DJay32" Dooling, and I'm a prog fan with a lot to say.
Oh, and Fear Mythos fans? This blog is the spiritual successor to Progression Enhanced.
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