DREAM THEATER cracks the U.S. Top 10!

Dark Soul · Post by **Dark Soul** » Wednesday Jul 08, 2009

Dream Theater's new CD "Black Clouds And Silver Linings" has entered the charts at #6!!! Maybe Americans aren't all tasteless dolts after all! Announcement from Mike Portnoy:

"Just got this below email from our A&R guy at Roadrunner....

Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings entered the US Billboard Charts today at #6!!

This is truly amazing....that after almost 25 years together, this band is still growing and progressing and doing bigger and better numbers than ever.....I can't think of many bands that can claim that...

Plus - a progressive metal album with four songs over 12 minutes in the US Top 10???
(wedged between Jonas Brothers, Eminem and Hannah Montana!)
Hell must've frozen over!!!!
(this must be a first of its kind.....)

See the statistics below.....

Thank you everybody! [&:]
MP

-------------------------

from Monte Conner (Roadrunner Records):

We did 40,285 units in the first week to come in at #6 (!!!)

That is DT’s highest US chart number ever, beating “Systematic Chaos” which charted at #19 back in May 2007 and until now was the band’s highest chart debut.

That is also DT’s highest first week units total ever - handily beating “Awake” which did 36,160 first week back in October 1994 (#32 on the chart). “Awake” was the first (and very heavily anticipated) DT album in the wake of the band’s previous breakthrough album “Images And Words” - with its smash hit “Pull Me Under” - and yet here we are 15 years later totally crushing it.

Previous DT highs:
Systematic Chaos: 35,689 (#19) – May 2007
Awake: 36,160 (#32) – October 1994

FYI, 4,783 of those sales were digital (over 10%), and we have actually scanned 40,591 to date because there were pre-release street violations of 306 units last week.

AND lastly, we are the #2 debut of the week. Below is the Top 10:

1
BLACK EYED PEAS
E.N.D. (ENERGY NEVER DIES) ..

2
JONAS BROTHERS
LINES VINES & TRYING TIMES

3
SPEKTOR*REGINA
FAR

4
MATTHEWS*DAVE BAND
BIG WHISKEY & THE GROOGRUX KIN

5
EMINEM
RELAPSE

6
DREAM THEATER
BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS

7
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE F
SOUNDTRACK

8
LADY GAGA
FAME

9
GINUWINE
MAN'S THOUGHTS

10
HANNAH MONTANA
HANNAH MOVIE SNDTRK

So there you have it. To achieve all of this 25 years into the band’s career is simply a monumental feat, not to mention it was done in a poor economy, where it is hard to find a real record store and where sales are down 52% since 2001 and probably down close to 20% this year from 2007.

Congrats to all!!!!!!!!!"

I've been listening to these master musicians since the early 90's so, to me, this is beyond awesome! Let's hear it for prog metal!

~Max

mistikalvalkrie · Post by **mistikalvalkrie** » Wednesday Jul 08, 2009

FINALLY!!!! FINALLY!!!! FINALLY!!!! FINALLY!!!! FINALLY!!!! FINALLY!!!!
YAY!!! Take that Hannah Fucking Montana!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
It's about damn time this country starts paying attention to Dream THeater...honestly I'm absolutely amazed at this!

FBooth · Post by **FBooth** » Wednesday Jul 08, 2009

I am really digging this 3 cd set from D.T. One cd is covers, and they do a trillogy of songs off Queen's Shear Heart Attack album..it's killer!

The Grape Ape gives it two big thumbs up!

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Wednesday Jul 08, 2009

amazing... i honestly never thought i'd see the day

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Thursday Jul 09, 2009

Kick ass.

Dark Soul · Post by **Dark Soul** » Thursday Jul 09, 2009

Oh yes! I ordered the 3 CD set...can't wait to hear it. I never thought I'd see the day either. Every time they come out with a new album I worry that this is gonna be where it starts to go downhill...but it hasn't happened yet. I heard "A Rite Of Passage" on their website and it sounds awesome!

I think I'm suffering from awesome overload...

~Max

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thursday Jul 09, 2009

About time.

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Thursday Jul 09, 2009

am i the only one on here that thinks dream theater got way heavy?

not saying it's a bad thing... but compared to images and words... much heavier?

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Thursday Jul 09, 2009

Very cool, bout time they get some rec.

PStl · Post by **PStl** » Thursday Jul 09, 2009

Dark Soul wrote:
I think I'm suffering from awesome overload...

~Max

I remember listening to "images and words" the first time completely thru. It was too much for me to comprehend! They continue to amaze me.

I'm interested in which direction the Black Eyed Peas CD went

Don Hughes · Post by **Don Hughes** » Sunday Jul 12, 2009

I think they've gotten a little heavier too. Seems like it's a good thing. The move to Roadrunner Records seems to have helped them too. Systematic Chaos did OK on the charts too.

Don

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Monday Jul 13, 2009

slackin@dabass wrote:am i the only one on here that thinks dream theater got way heavy?

not saying it's a bad thing... but compared to images and words... much heavier?

I agree man. Every album since 6 Degrees has been going down the same heavy metal/ballad type path. I've been waiting and waiting for another I&W or Awake (even though those are the worst albums for appreciating the bass!), but I guess every band has a few people that want to hear their older stuff. They're still my #1, but I just want another Take the Time to be written! However, the last song on this new CD, Count of Tuscany, is exactly what I was looking for musically, with the exception of the lyrics! The story behind why Petrucci wrote it is kinda stupid.

But, I'll add another 'IT'S ABOUT TIME'!

MOONDOGGY · Post by **MOONDOGGY** » Tuesday Jul 14, 2009

It's also pretty weird that, if you go by a stereotype, most prog fans are also fairly computer savvy nerds and more than likely have a music collection made up of mostly pirated music. It's awesome to see that they are buying albums off the shelf or online to support DT.

cryssie · Post by **cryssie** » Tuesday Jul 14, 2009

Too cool!

Going to see these guys in concert in Philly at the end of July. Should be an awesome show!

mistikalvalkrie · Post by **mistikalvalkrie** » Tuesday Jul 14, 2009

cryssie wrote:Too cool!

Going to see these guys in concert in Philly at the end of July. Should be an awesome show!

I'm so jealous!!!! That sounds awesome!

Dark Soul · Post by **Dark Soul** » Wednesday Jul 15, 2009

It'll be a great show. I've seen DT play live many times and it's always a great concert. Hope to see them again soon!

~Max