dmb


I enjoyed the instrumental tracks expericence. But I much rather listen to the vocals!

As for "The Best of Times"... It's a beautiful song, the most touching moment of the record, maybe of DT's career. 
As a fan, I couldn't help crying the first time I listened to it.
I'm glad you could share it with your dad, Mike

I agree, I have no shame in stating that it pretty much brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it. I have not been moved emotionally as much by a DT song since ACOS.

This may be one of those songs that you appreciate the lyrics more the older you  get/are.

I also think that some of the tastiest drumming on BC & SL is found on TBOT. Thanks Mike!



 

Hey Douche!  Petfish.  You need to stop and think about what you did and why you did it.  You said you would be back in a "while" yet you continue to post and have the balls to create a 'contest' that brings even more attention to your post and Mike's post that, at the end of the day, is likely not something he feels good about.  I would suspect that after your initial 'cringeworthy' post that you were waiting with baited breath to see everyones reaction to your harsh words.  I get it.  You are looking for attention.  It's a bit hard to accept that all of the sudden, after Mike reacts, that you have this realization that you were out of line.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Take down your 'contest'  and just go away for a while.

bdevlin


Hey Douche!  Petfish.  You need to stop and think about what you did and why you did it.  You said you would be back in a "while" yet you continue to post and have the balls to create a 'contest' that brings even more attention to your post and Mike's post that, at the end of the day, is likely not something he feels good about.  I would suspect that after your initial 'cringeworthy' post that you were waiting with baited breath to see everyones reaction to your harsh words.  I get it.  You are looking for attention.  It's a bit hard to accept that all of the sudden, after Mike reacts, that you have this realization that you were out of line.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Take down your 'contest'  and just go away for a while.

Whoa there space cowboy.  Welcome to the internet!

Yea, along the lines of what bdevlin said, I think it's ridiculous to suddenly act so contrite.  What, are you surprised now that you posted such a needlessly hurtful and douchey thing on Portnoy's own forum, that the attention you're getting is overwhelmingly negative?

It astonishes me, truly blows my mind, that someone could sit there writing a meticulously negative dissection of Mike's hugely personal song on his own forum.   I have no interest in piling on someone who's already being attacked from all angles but hopefully this really opens the eyes of a couple of you who live your lives on the internet and forgot that people have feelings... and not everyone's interested in your sarcastic and attention-grabbingly negative views just because you weren't hugged enough as a child.

Seriously, it warrants a hateful diatribe on the Man's own forum because he rhymed "day" with "day" in a song about his father who passed (RECENTLY)?  Get a fucking life.

Mike, I have to say that you sold your fanbase short and insulted many of us by insinuating that we'd come to this douchebag's defense. Give us some credit. I for one think you were totally in the right to give this jerkoff a piece of your mind, and I was saying loudly to myself "You tell him, Mike", as I read this. The guy is certainly entitled to his opinion, but if he knows anything about the song and what it means to you, then he should have known better than to use YOUR forum to basically incite an online riot with his bashing of your lyrics. Are these lyrics a work of art or the greatest piece of lyrical poetry in DT's catalog? No, not by any means, but nor were they ever going to be. This is a personal song that came from your heart, and the fact that you decided to share that song with all of us says enough. I understand your anger at this guy, but really, don't let one dickwad ruin your day, and CERTAINLY don't assume that the rest of us, or even a high percentage of us, would dare defend this guy.

Now this dude is insulted? Whatever.....

This is Mike's site. Just because he personally attacked someone for something deeply insulting to him does not give anyone else permission to break the rules and violate Rule 4. Consider this the only warning.

I prefer the vox *cowers* but I like the instrumentals *cowers*, just that a song always connects more with the full melodic range with which it was written than when you take some of it out (to me anyway).

*cowers some more*

The phrase "clusterfuck" ceases to be adequate, wow.

I prefer listening to the full version, vox, solos and all.  I think James sounds terrific on Black Clouds...  "Fly now be FRAAAAAAYY!" is an obvious highlight.  I normally don't like "woaaah" type wordless singing, but the final vocal bit on The Count of Tuscany is brilliant.

Weymolith


This is Mike's site. Just because he personally attacked someone for something deeply insulting to him does not give anyone else permission to break the rules and violate Rule 4. Consider this the only warning.

Wey's right everyone!! I think we all need to remember what this time of year is really all about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujZsFOGT-Ko

Wow!! I don't post here often, but when I saw this one I had to say something. I'm totally blown away by this.

I think MP went easy here. I guess he's a nicer guy than I am, and certainly can tolerate more BS than me!

I don't think PetFish is a bad guy, I have seen many of his other posts/artwork and I'm sure he feels like he is 2 inches tall...

However!!! He did showed lack of responsibility, maturity and sensitivity with this post.

Quite Frankly this isn't effecting just MP. That song has meaning to more than just him. It's for his kids, his family, his father's wife, for the band members, MP' dad was practically the 6th member of the band!!! It has touched the hearts of many DT fans across the world including mine.

I lost my grandfather (who was like another father to me) about a month after Black Clouds was released. Honestly, strong or weak lyrics aside (which is all opinion - personally i love them!), I don't know how I would have made it through that difficult time without that song. The only saving grace my brothers and I had at his funeral was the fact that the DT concert in Boston was 3 weeks away and we had something great to look forward to. Good timing for sure.

Almost released right on time. I couldn't stop looping it over and over again, reflecting on the time I had with him once he passed. My Fiancee and I were in tears the first time we played it though our living room system.

So he says 'Day' a bunch of times. It's the overall song, presentation, meaning, and emotion that drive this thing. Are you really thinking of what words he's repeating when you are thinking about a loved one who has passed??? Can you not hear the pain and emotion in this song?????

If I was personally connected to MP I'd be thanking him daily for this song because it is a gift for those who have lost a father/mother figure. "Then came the call, our lives were changed forever" Anyone who has lost a loved one, can TOTALLY relate to this.

Also, on another note, MP is truly a good person! {Actually all of them are great people} I've met MP 4 times now (dating back to 1992) and every SINGLE TIME, he has been gracious, genuine, outgoing, classy, warm, caring, funny and very interested in his fan base. Not every band or artist lets you inside his/her world and personal life. DT ALWAYS gives the fans everything they can.

Freedom of speech aside, lets remember that these are gifts not entitlements given to us from our favorite musicians, we should all be able to voice our opinion, but it should be done in a more classy fashion. Especially when the criticism is aimed at deep and personal topics, after all these guys are human too.

..and a message to PetFish, if you think the lyrics really suck, I CHALLENGE you to write a song for your father when he passes away that can even come close to matching this...oh and there is a twist, you have to write it WHILE he is sick and dying. Personally I think this song is a masterpiece, because of the content, melodic nature, emotion, structure, when it was written and why it was written.

Best Regards

sorry but had to laugh at the "Pet Dick" part

ytsejem28


..and a message to PetFish, if you think the lyrics really suck, I CHALLENGE you to write a song for your father when he passes away that can even come close to matching this...oh and there is a twist, you have to write it WHILE he is sick and dying. Personally I think this song is a masterpiece, because of the content, melodic nature, emotion, structure, when it was written and why it was written.

Best Regards

Hi,

The next time you think a movie sucks, then I believe it would be only fair that you make your own.  Or cook for yourself if you believe someone's meal sucks.

I pretty much agree with everything you said, but statements like this are ridiculous at best.

Hi, The next time you think a movie sucks, then I believe it would be only fair that you make your own. Or cook for yourself if you believe someone's meal sucks. I pretty much agree with everything you said, but statements like this are ridiculous at best.

I can see what you are saying here. The movie example is a bit far reaching from my point (but you made a good point), but not so much with the meal example. If I was cooking food for people and I got criticized, I would certainly say, well go make your own if you can do better and I'll just have another beer :)

We are all critics, arm chair QB's if you will until the spotlight is on us.

An open letter to Petfish and other brilliant masters of critical insight who feel their opinions are platinum and are destined to change the world-

1) Become an offical critic-like Jay Sherman-and get paid to get published. Postings HERE like Petfish's, the thread about Mike's vox on ANTR, the SC mastering critiques are akin to walking into your siblings home and telling the family a "valued opinion" about how their spouse dressed for the holidays. Not only is it respectless (lest not forget it's www.mikeportnoy.com here), but to what end is it going to serve? In this case of this thread, someone who appearenly ran a DT positive blog site absolutely humiliated himself, and for sure it didn't change one opinion about BC&SL.  (If you're into self-humiliation, there are some great S&M sites worth trolling. MP.com really isn't the place for it.) To all-when you post ANYWHERE please remember-if nothing good can come of it (as if an artist is going to re-release their album, movie or book with your sonic, visual or lyrical suggestions), it's not going to have importance especially in this case & place.

2) Or two: Get a band, get a record deal, make YOUR greatest album, break into the top 10 charts and show the world that how you feel music should be made. Then after all that you'll have the clout to tell the world what you think of everyone else. (And even in this case some people STILL end up humiliating themselves.) Done three out of the above four (still have yet to chart on Billboard) and even having press people drill me about Mike or other VERY well known people who've made music with me, you won't find me starting "beef". Negative opinions serve no ends-no one gives a flying fornication folly. Even if an opinion is positive, only a handful seem to care.

Since coming here is the next best thing you're going to get to meeting Mike face-to-face, any "insight into Mike's musical output" here should looked at as if you're looking into his eyes. And let's get real-it's really doubtful that any single opinion is going to change the tide and/or enjoyment that people have already received from Mike's or anyone else's public works.

Please let this thread be the final lesson in what has been a few recent instances of true ugliness at mp.com. There are hundreds of other places to go for the illusion of self-importance. Waste the server space elsewhere.

SAA

Zildjian_Master88

sorry but had to laugh at the "Pet Dick" part

Weymolith

This is Mike's site. Just because he personally attacked someone for something deeply insulting to him does not give anyone else permission to break the rules and violate Rule 4. Consider this the only warning.

Now the question is: Can quoting MP violate rule 4?
*hides and cowers*

"An open letter to Petfish and other brilliant masters of critical insight who feel their opinions are platinum and are destined to change the world-

1) Become an offical critic-like Jay Sherman-and get paid to get published. Postings HERE like Petfish's, the thread about Mike's vox on ANTR, the SC mastering critiques are akin to walking into your siblings home and telling the family a "valued opinion" about how their spouse dressed for the holidays. Not only is it respectless (lest not forget it's www.mikeportnoy.com here), but to what end is it going to serve? In this case of this thread, someone who appearenly ran a DT positive blog site absolutely humiliated himself, and for sure it didn't change one opinion about BC&SL.  (If you're into self-humiliation, there are some great S&M sites worth trolling. MP.com really isn't the place for it.) To all-when you post ANYWHERE please remember-if nothing good can come of it (as if an artist is going to re-release their album, movie or book with your sonic, visual or lyrical suggestions), it's not going to have importance especially in this case & place.

2) Or two: Get a band, get a record deal, make YOUR greatest album, break into the top 10 charts and show the world that how you feel music should be made. Then after all that you'll have the clout to tell the world what you think of everyone else. (And even in this case some people STILL end up humiliating themselves.) Done three out of the above four (still have yet to chart on Billboard) and even having press people drill me about Mike or other VERY well known people who've made music with me, you won't find me starting "beef". Negative opinions serve no ends-no one gives a flying fornication folly. Even if an opinion is positive, only a handful seem to care.

Since coming here is the next best thing you're going to get to meeting Mike face-to-face, any "insight into Mike's musical output" here should looked at as if you're looking into his eyes. And let's get real-it's really doubtful that any single opinion is going to change the tide and/or enjoyment that people have already received from Mike's or anyone else's public works.

Please let this thread be the final lesson in what has been a few recent instances of true ugliness at mp.com. There are hundreds of other places to go for the illusion of self-importance. Waste the server space elsewhere.

SAA "

Great post bro!! I very much agree with your thoughts. Good contribution.

Best Regards

ytsejem28

Hi, The next time you think a movie sucks, then I believe it would be only fair that you make your own. Or cook for yourself if you believe someone's meal sucks. I pretty much agree with everything you said, but statements like this are ridiculous at best.

I can see what you are saying here. The movie example is a bit far reaching from my point (but you made a good point), but not so much with the meal example. If I was cooking food for people and I got criticized, I would certainly say, well go make your own if you can do better and I'll just have another beer :)

We are all critics, arm chair QB's if you will until the spotlight is on us.

Sorry, I had to make something on the fly.  This only goes to show what brilliant improv skills I have.  But as long as my point came across, I don't feel too silly.

Telefragged

ytsejem28

Hi, The next time you think a movie sucks, then I believe it would be only fair that you make your own. Or cook for yourself if you believe someone's meal sucks. I pretty much agree with everything you said, but statements like this are ridiculous at best.

I can see what you are saying here. The movie example is a bit far reaching from my point (but you made a good point), but not so much with the meal example. If I was cooking food for people and I got criticized, I would certainly say, well go make your own if you can do better and I'll just have another beer :)

We are all critics, arm chair QB's if you will until the spotlight is on us.

Sorry, I had to make something on the fly.  This only goes to show what brilliant improv skills I have.  But as long as my point came across, I don't feel too silly.

Haha!! No problem, it's funny because I've been seeing lots of this sort of thing in sports land up here in New England as well. Because the Pats are not doing so hot, all of a sudden everyone can throw better than Brady, catch better than Moss, coach better then Billy B. It amazes me that these 'fans' can do all this from the comforts of their couch, it's getting tired if you ask me...

back to this, I really hope we don't see more of this sort of thing here. I obviously don't post much here, but I read the threads for insight and information all the time. This thread certainly hit me.

cosmotobe

Zildjian_Master88

sorry but had to laugh at the "Pet Dick" part

Weymolith

This is Mike's site. Just because he personally attacked someone for something deeply insulting to him does not give anyone else permission to break the rules and violate Rule 4. Consider this the only warning.

Now the question is: Can quoting MP violate rule 4?
*hides and cowers*

t'was just a humorus observation
so i still stand by it..........it's just funny

ps
mikes post was like biggest ownage that i have ever seen on the internet.
but whatever i just be just a fly on the wall for this thread

Adding on top of what I said before...

Avoidable situation that wasn't avoided. It could have been sent in a PM, rather than everybody seeing it. If he wanted, he could have sent a pretty version here. This big stir-up wouldn't be happening if that was the case.

Yes, while what PetFish said was a bit insensitive considering the nature of this song, I highly doubt people would be reacting this way if Mike himself had not vented first.

sighhhhh...it's a good thing this isn't my personal forum..I think I would just shut the whole thing down.....

Badastronaut


sighhhhh...it's a good thing this isn't my personal forum..I think I would just shut the whole thing down.....

You know, MP's already done that to another Dream Theater board...

Lets just let it go guys. He said what he said, mp said what he felt he needed to say and us continuing is only going to be counter productive.

Badastronaut


sighhhhh...it's a good thing this isn't my personal forum..I think I would just shut the whole thing down.....

I'd just lock the threads in question and tell everyone to move on. In fact I have done several times when there has been crap happening on the forums I'm an admin on.

Anyway back on topic slightly, on the topic of the Vocals/Instrumentals something I've been wondering while songwriting and something I'd like to know. I've recently started playing guitar again properly and have been toying with the idea of using what I've learnt to compose my own stuff. When writing how do you go about writing sections for lyrics? In DTs songs it seems the lyrics fit perfectly into the sections where they are and I know the lyrics are generally done after the music so do you just leave a large gap where you imagine lyrics will go and wait, or do you write, work out the lyrics and then write more music?

I'll take the vocals even though I enjoy both, it is and it isn't an instrumental album as such because James is supposed to be there, if that makes any sense,  but The Shattered Fortress does sound awesome cranked up, I love it.
Mike I lost my father this year unexpectantly so I know how you must feel. People can be so incensitive, I was rudely confronted by a guy I didn't even know at the funeral who was promptly thrown out, but it made a hard day so much worse.

Borlag

Badastronaut


sighhhhh...it's a good thing this isn't my personal forum..I think I would just shut the whole thing down.....

You know, MP's already done that to another Dream Theater board...

Out of the darkness chaos.

The love & respect Mike has always had for his dad has always been pretty evident in interviews & especially on the Yellow Matter Custard dvd commentary. He would of been the bands greatest fan outside of the band members themselves no doubt. I was touched & saddened the first time I heard The Best of Times & still can't help but think of Howard along with my own dad & other family members who are no longer with us each time I hear the song so that post insulted more people than just Mike. Sometimes people should just leave the negative shit to themselves & especially NOT come here & shit on Mike's door step... Everyone knows how personal & special the track is to Mike so I wasn't surprised that he chose to attack on this occasion. He does so much more for us fans than many other artists that we should never take it for granted. Respect his home.


P.S. I like to listen to both Vox & Instrumentals depending on my mood... 

So anyways! I really like the instrumental things because you can hear sections of songs with no "lead" parts like vocals, solos, a couple of keyboard doohickeys. I think it's cool to hear the main "meat" of the song. Just interesting to hear really. 

Also it gave me chuckles to hear me try to replace Labrie's vocals - you think you're a great singer until you have to sing it yourself!!! lol

I talked to Eric (Petfish) this morning and let me tell you he feels really really bad about this.
What he said was totally uncalled for and I understand Mike's reaction.
I think I would have done the same thing.
He wished he could tun back time but it's to late for that now.
We all say stupid things sometimes in our lives.
I'm not trying to speak up for Eric because he knows what he said was wrong.
Maybe Mike can forgive hime somehow/someday because Eric is good guy and does
a lot of great things for Dream Theater and he supports the band in many ways.

Steve

STEVETHEATER


I talked to Eric (Petfish) this morning and let me tell you he feels really really bad about this.
What he said was totally uncalled for and I understand Mike's reaction.
I think I would have done the same thing.
He wished he could tun back time but it's to late for that now.
We all say stupid things sometimes in our lives.
I'm not trying to speak up for Eric because he knows what he said was wrong.
Maybe Mike can forgive hime somehow/someday because Eric is good guy and does
a lot of great things for Dream Theater and he supports the band in many ways.

Steve

I do hope he forgives him as well, Mike is a great guy and he may someday, time heals these things. I personally don't think there was intent to harm, but at the same time he was beating on a song that is obviously near and dear to Mike's heart and we all know that. It was an irresponsible move, and a lesson in life. I can't imagine what it would feel like if one of my idols 'owned' me like that online in a public forum, but we all have lessons to learn, and it was clear, this really hurt Mike. It was a mistake, but mistakes can hurt as well.

I think sometimes we do forget that this is MP's home on the net, and we should make sure we 'wipe our feet' before we come on in to visit. It's pretty simple if you ask me, show some respect. Not to much to ask...right?

Weymolith


This is Mike's site. Just because he personally attacked someone for something deeply insulting to him does not give anyone else permission to break the rules and violate Rule 4. Consider this the only warning.

Thank you! Seriously people, get off his case. A lot you say that he wouldn't say those things because the internet gives you anonymity. Most of you are doing the exact same thing. Somehow I doubt you would say these insults to Petfish's face. I agree that it wasn't a cool thing for him to write and I would have acted the same way as MP did, but we shouldn't add fuel to the fire. And why are you guys insulting him for the apology? Are you saying he actually shouldn't have apologized? Give me a break. If he didn't apologize you would give him crap for that. He messed up pretty bad. It happens.

Portnoy

PetFish

Frunobulax

PetFish


Aside from The Best of Times I don't listen to the instrumentals much.  It's not James' voice that hurts but Mike's lyrics.  They are so embarrassingly cringeworthy that I'll go for the instrumental version instead.  I've never felt this way about any DT song before but I feel like saying "C'MON, MAN" to those lyrics.  What makes this extra sad is that the content of the lyrics are so personal and meaningful.  What a shame since the actual music is so amazing and JP's outro solo is mindblowing.

MIKE'S lyrics?  You listen to BC&SL and it's MIKE'S lyrics that bother you?

Actually, it's just The Best of Times lyrics that bother me, the rest are fine.  This song could have easily been called "Days and Days of Days in a Daze on a Dais".  I know, it's day-iss, but looks funny anyway. 
 
Remember days of yesterday   (the first line starts our days' journey o'cringe)
And how it flew so fast
The two score and a year we had,
I thought would always last
The summer days and west coast dreams,   (some more days)
I wished would never end
A young boy and his father,
Idol and best friend

...

The fleeting winds of time
Flying through each day   (another day)
All the things I should have done
But time just slipped away
Remember "seize the day"   (another diem)
Life goes by in the blink of an eye
There's so much left to say

These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit led my life each day   (day rhyming with days... C'MON, MAN!)

...

These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit led my life each day   (see above comment)
My heart is bleeding bad   ("bleeding bad" hurts also)
But I'll be okay
Your spirit guides my life each day   (3x the day in one section?)
 
 
Considering the topic of the lyrics I'd have hoped more thought would have gone into them.  Too bad we won't hear a live version of this for some time as it'll be awesome to sit through even just to hear JP's final lead.

Embarrassingly Cringeworthy??
More thought??
 
PetFish, you get the award for BIGGEST ASSHOLE to ever post on my Forum...
You can hate me for saying that, you can boycott me, you can hang up your hat forever as a DT fan for all I care...
 
I have never been so personally insulted before on my own site...
 
This song is one of the most heart-felt, powerful and personal lyrics I have ever written...it brings me to tears everytime I hear it.
 
I sat at my father's bedside while he was dying and played him this song and we cried like babies while holding hands listening to it....
AND HE LOVED IT!
It was the greatest gift I was ever given and a moment I will never EVER forget...
 
I had a similar experience when playing the song at my dad's funeral...
There was not a dry eye in the room...I had to watch my daughter cry hysterically because the song was so emotional to listen to...
 
And you come in here on your high horse and criticize & insult me...saying I didnt put enough THOUGHT into it????
F*CK YOU!!!
 
I know the fans are gonna now come to your defense because I am now personally insulting you and using profanity (awwww...poor baby...)....trust me, I can take criticism over my lyrics and other matters...but this particular subject is where I draw the line and will not take the abuse and insensitive, personal insults like you displayed with your comments....
 
You can could have easily not said anything knowing how dear this song was to me...
 
If anything, please dont ever listen to this song again....you DONT DESERVE IT!!
I am fine knowing this song was written for myself, my dad and my family to share....not for critical, undeserving, heartless "fans" like yourself...
 
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out PetDick....
 
MP
 
 

i dont to make the fire bigger... and with no offense to any one, i just wanted to share this with anyone that want to hear it, specially mike: 

my dad died a year ago, 2/nov/08....he was my hero, he was everything i wanted to be in life, he was a teacher to me...he teached me everything i know...

since the begining of 08 he started to feel sick... the fact its that he had cancer... lung cancer.. it was the more dificult time of mi life...coming every night (i work at day and go to school at night) and see him getting worse and worse...like a candle that is burning out...

he make me promise him that, if the thing got any worse, i wouldnt allow my mom to take him to an hospital, he wanted to die in his home...you know how FUCKING hard is to promise that to someone? 

when we could, we talked about the death...and what`s beyond this life...mi dad asked me..."tell me one reason why i shouldn`t kill myself"... now that`s a fucking hard question for a son... my answer? i really believe in God, so i tell him " well dad, i think that its better to suffer here...in order to enjoy whats in the afterlife"...

...the day he died, we were eating on the living room table...my mom, my sis, my bro, my fiance and i... he died in my arms...i was holding him...when the funeral services arrive at home i was the one that give them his body....that was the most hard day i had lived in mi 23 years....to see your father slowly stoping to breath...see everyone faces...and you being the responsable for the situation (im the oldest son, my bro has 21 years old, and mi sis 14 rears old)

what's the point in this post? to thank you mike...to write such a personal song, to decide share it with us...to open your guts...

i, personally want to thank you...i understand the feeling, the situation...etc... dont let this thing change the way you trait us fans, and the songs you do for us...

sorry for my bad english...i just wanted to share my feelings...

MrSawyer

Weymolith


This is Mike's site. Just because he personally attacked someone for something deeply insulting to him does not give anyone else permission to break the rules and violate Rule 4. Consider this the only warning.

Thank you! Seriously people, get off his case. A lot you say that he wouldn't say those things because the internet gives you anonymity. Most of you are doing the exact same thing. Somehow I doubt you would say these insults to Petfish's face. I agree that it wasn't a cool thing for him to write and I would have acted the same way as MP did, but we shouldn't add fuel to the fire. And why are you guys insulting him for the apology? Are you saying he actually shouldn't have apologized? Give me a break. If he didn't apologize you would give him crap for that. He messed up pretty bad. It happens.

 
I agree-let it go people. I doubt there is anyone in here who hasnt done the same thing at one time in their lives-either online-or personally. I think its time to stop throwing stones.

Lee, your avatar is perfect for this thread.
 
Also, I don't see much reason in hammering on Petfish anymore, as Im pretty sure he's gone now. Besides, it doesn't do anything but cause more problems.

I don't listen to the instrumental mixes. 
James's instrument is just as important to the songs as anyone else's in my view.  Doing without it is like having the limited special edition and mixing a track without bass or drums or guitar.  A band is the sum of their parts. 
I see how this appeals to many of DTs fans but its just not for me.

Sorry for staying on topic.

Just my 2 cents:
TBOT is one of my favorite songs; it has that cool DT old-school prog-song vibe; I find it one of the best DT compositions.
Petfish was way out of line. MP has every right to be pissed about all the ofenses written. Petfish wasn’t writing a mere song/lyrics review, he was writing an offense and expressing his opinion way too harshly – which is always uncalled for. No matter how much he apologises, what is done, is done.
Someone already said they couldn’t listen to the song without bursting into tears. Same here. Totally love the song.