Seeing as how almost all of us are big Dream Theater fans, I thought I'd stir up a little bit of debate, by throwing out a question. Am I alone, in being dissatisfied with Jordan Rudess
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Derek isn't a technically minded musician, and it shows in his DT keyboard parts (A Change of Seasons aside, which he didn't write) and on his solo albums. It wasn't right for the band in my opinion. I'm a big fan of Derek, don't get me wrong, but I don't think he was right for Dream Theater in the long run.
And Kev's parts didn't sound like 15 year old Casios? Seriously. Jordan stays on the cutting edge of synthesizer technology. From what I understand, we'll be hearing some sounds from the Continuum Fingerboard and perhaps even the Korg OASYS on the new album. On Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Jordan utilized the rather new Korg Karma for some of the sounds. I honestly have no clue what you're talking about when you say his synth sounds are lacking in quality. Have you played with a cutting edge keyboard? They're not much better
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Interviewer:It seems that you’re equally interested in creating both melodic and technical compositions. If you had to choose over the two, which style would you be more willing to use?
Jordan: As a musician, I have trouble separating the two ideas. To me a musician having a great technique means that he’s able to express himself. From my point of view, I like to be able to play fast, and I work on it, but I also want to play slow, so there’s no possibility of creating something more technical or more musical - it’s all one thing. I understand if you say “that guy over there, he’s music is all about technique”. I believe that this is the thing that a lot of people are saying about Dream Theater too. I know that we have been found guilty of playing quite a lot of complicated themes before, but we also compose beautiful slow music. It’s about the music - technique is about the music!
My dissatisfaction with Jordan in particular doesn't really have much to do with what other keyboardists Dream Theater has had in the past. They all had their strengths and weaknesses. Jordan can play circles around Kevin Moore technically, but then, Kevin didn't have an even remotely similar style, so it's comparing apples and oranges. Like debating Petrucci versus Segovia. I had no intention of resurrecting the old Rudess/Moore debate when I started this thread, I assure you. Heh
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I couldn't disagree more. Jordan plays with more heart and soul than Kevin ever did. It just so happens that Jordan is also more technically proficient and is therefore able to play faster. I don't think it takes anything away from the emotion, but that's just my opinion. Hey, you think Yngwie and Jordan are emotionless, but I think otherwise.
Let's look at the other end of the spectrum. Some people make the distinct connection between speed and lack of emotion. I think it's even worse for the popular bands these days. It just seems that most bands try to write a catchy riff and put some cheezy emo lyrics over it. The catchy riff is usually just some random low shit played on a guitar tuned down about 3 whole steps. It's all for show and none of the show has emotion. Jordan, on the other hand (as kegwen pointed out) is about the music in general, not just speed or catchyness or whatever.
I'm beginning to just ramble. So summary: I disagree. Sorry if I sounded like a jackass, it was unintentional.
You didn't sound like a jackass. If I wasn't interested in what everyone in the community thought, I wouldn't have made the post to begin with. Heh.
I don't think Jordan's playing is emotionless. Far from it. It doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition: to say that it doesn't touch me particularly deeply isn't to say it doesn't touch me at all. There's a happy medium in there somewhere. Malmsteen is of course another matter (and an unrelated one). And I'll freely admit that my attitude toward dear Yngwie may have a purely personal bias due to the fact that I think he's a pompous ass (I saw the way he behaves both onstage and off, at the Trees venue in Dallas last year).
So, how 'bout that Dream Theater? *shrugs* Amazingly it has never really occured to me whether keyboard players in DT care about music or if they're drunk and thinking about getting laid after the show. *shrugs yet again*
I think Tom Scholz is a pretty kickass organ player.
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And Kev's parts didn't sound like 15 year old Casios? Seriously. Jordan stays on the cutting edge of synthesizer technology. From what I understand, we'll be hearing some sounds from the Continuum Fingerboard and perhaps even the Korg OASYS on the new album. On Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Jordan utilized the rather new Korg Karma for some of the sounds. I honestly have no clue what you're talking about when you say his synth sounds are lacking in quality. Have you played with a cutting edge keyboard? They're not much better ( ... )
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Interviewer:It seems that you’re equally interested in creating both melodic and technical compositions. If you had to choose over the two, which style would you be more willing to use?
Jordan: As a musician, I have trouble separating the two ideas. To me a musician having a great technique means that he’s able to express himself. From my point of view, I like to be able to play fast, and I work on it, but I also want to play slow, so there’s no possibility of creating something more technical or more musical - it’s all one thing. I understand if you say “that guy over there, he’s music is all about technique”. I believe that this is the thing that a lot of people are saying about Dream Theater too. I know that we have been found guilty of playing quite a lot of complicated themes before, but we also compose beautiful slow music. It’s about the music - technique is about the music!
I couldn't agree more. ( source )
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Let's look at the other end of the spectrum. Some people make the distinct connection between speed and lack of emotion. I think it's even worse for the popular bands these days. It just seems that most bands try to write a catchy riff and put some cheezy emo lyrics over it. The catchy riff is usually just some random low shit played on a guitar tuned down about 3 whole steps. It's all for show and none of the show has emotion. Jordan, on the other hand (as kegwen pointed out) is about the music in general, not just speed or catchyness or whatever.
I'm beginning to just ramble. So summary: I disagree. Sorry if I sounded like a jackass, it was unintentional.
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I don't think Jordan's playing is emotionless. Far from it. It doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition: to say that it doesn't touch me particularly deeply isn't to say it doesn't touch me at all. There's a happy medium in there somewhere. Malmsteen is of course another matter (and an unrelated one). And I'll freely admit that my attitude toward dear Yngwie may have a purely personal bias due to the fact that I think he's a pompous ass (I saw the way he behaves both onstage and off, at the Trees venue in Dallas last year).
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We all disaggree with you, Jordan is the best yeboardest I know of, beside ELP's keyboardest but his is a diferent man in a different time.
Jordan wrote 'the spirit carries on' that has the be one of the most emotional songs ever, and his playing in it is what makes it so great.
the only thing kev mo had over him is lyric ablility but, but jordan wrote a lot of SFAM so I am happy and glad he is here to stay.
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I think Tom Scholz is a pretty kickass organ player.
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