Official DT Top 50 Thread (Riceball Up Now - starting Page 66)

[Jirpo]

Great picks!

[Mladen]

Interesting number five... 

[jsem]

Unfortunately.. I have to do two songs now, instead of just one... Cuz I wanna get done by saturday... because I have to leave DTF on sunday for over a week.

4. Octavarium
Stellar intro. JR is working his wizardry all over that track. The real eargasm happens at Medicate though. DAT BASS. That bassline is maybe my favorite JMX bassline of all time, it's just magical the way that section of the song takes hold of you. Breathtaking for sure. Then comes Mike's ode to prog rock - and how majestic and epic is not Full Circle. It was the first DT part I ever fell in love with, I knew it was something special. JR working his wizardry on top of the heavy riffs. And let's not forget the super-wank section, it's proggasmic to the max. The best part of the song is intervals though, with JLB screaming his heart out: TRAPPED INSIDE THIS OCTAVARIUM. So epic. Powah, so heavy sound. Majestic and everything. Razor's Edge is also just stunningly beautiful (not to the point some people seem to take it, it's nowhere near JP's best soloing or anything) and wraps up the song in a stellar fashion.


3. A Change of Seasons
The intro guitar riffing is brilliant, and when it turns heavy I go nuts - so heavy sound! That small part at 2:37 is eargamic, and so is the following guitar riffing with the organ in the background. Derek really plays extremely well on this song. Then comes the eargasmic riffage at 3:50, which is one of my favorite DT riffs. JLB sings wonderfully on the track, and the lyrics are wonderful too. Also, hats off to John Myung on this track - every bassline is unique and they're really sad. Seize the day then comes, and that section is wonderful in every single way... so is the sampling. Onto 8:47 - DAT JP RHYTHM PLAYING, and DAT MYUNG. The heavy riff then begins, with the samples - and it grows into something absolutely epic. Those samples add to the tremendous atmosphere displayed on the track, something unmatched. Every riff then building up the keyboard/guitar solo section is fantastic, so are those solos - short but some of the best DT solos for sure. And... oh yeah. I'M SICK OF ALL YOU HYPOCRITES. This song is just full of these amazing parts. Also, beginning 17:20 comes probably the best part of the song, John Myung grooving and JP laying some TASTY stuff on top of that - so good. The song also ends on a high note.
(TL;DR: There is only excellence and perfection in this song. Period.)

[Ħ]

Listen to the demo version of ACOS!

[JayOctavarium]

I cant wait to see your # 2 and # 1

[jsem]

Listen to the demo version of ACOS!

I have. I still think the recorded version is superior.

[BanksD]

Personally I think the LSFNY is the best recorded version of ACOS

[Mladen]

Wow, that's exactly what my #4 and #3 are. 

[Jirpo]

Good choices!

[Tomislav95]

Learning to Live #2 and You Not Me #1
Great picks

[jsem]

Learning to Live #2 and You Not Me #1
Great picks

HOW DID YOU KNOW

[Tomislav95]

Learning to Live #2 and You Not Me #1
Great picks

HOW DID YOU KNOW

Everyone knows

[Ħ]

What's the current list?

[jsem]

So far:

3. A Change of Seasons
4. Octavarium
5. Overture 1928/Strange Dejavu
6. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
7. The Spirit Carries On
8. Metropolis
9. Finally Free
10. The Killing Hand
11. The Count Of Tuscany
12. Lines in the Sand
13. Eve
14. Take the Time
15. Space-Dye Vest
16. Under A Glass Moon
17. Wait For Sleep
18. Ytse Jam
19. In The Name Of God
20. In The Presence Of Enemies
21. The Glass Prison
22. Fatal Tragedy
23. Hollow Years
24. Home
25. Hell's Kitchen
26. Pull Me Under
27. Stream of Consciousness
28. Peruvian Skies
29. One Last Time
30. Wither
31. Endless Sacrifice
32. Another Won
33. Raise The Knife
34. A Nightmare To Remember
35. Voices
36. Blind Faith
37. The Great Debate
38. The Best Of Times
39. Scarred
40. Where Are You Now
41. Surrounded
42. Beyond This Life
43. Misunderstood
44. As I Am
45. Sacrificed Sons
46. Anna Lee
47. The Root Of All Evil
48. Afterlife
49. Your Majesty
50. Speak To Me

[Tomislav95]

I can't see Learning to Live and Trial of tears on your list

[Ħ]

Yep.

2. Trial of Tears
1. Learning to Live

[jsem]

I guess it's time for an update.

2. Trial of Tears
The intro is stellar, setting the mood for the song in the most wonderful of ways. JP's tone on the song is BRILLIANT, and so is Myung's - it's clear, and sad. Every bass note in this song is amazing. The dorian feel this song has makes it truly amazing, and the bassline working wonderfully against JP's chords. I also love the snare drum in this song, I can't describe why - it just fits perfectly. When I first heard this song I thought I had heard it before somewhere, especially when I got to the chorus. And what a chorus it is. DT's perhaps best chorus, amazing. Going into the instrumental section, the song takes a turn but keeps the stellar mood and atmosphere. Derek's keyboard solo is nothing but amazing. The heavy section following it is also wonderful, the organ layering and Myung continuing to play those epic lines.

The next section, going into JP's guitar solo... DAT MYUNG, that bassline is one of Myung's best. And, DAT SOLO. Everybody plays their absolute a-game and the Holdsworth influence on the solo is perfect for the song. At 8:08 begins the truly funky-epic section that will never be matched every again. I get so that groove it's not even funny. Derek plays like a boss there too, and JP's rhythm playing is nothing short of brilliant.

The Wasteland comes next. And when it has slowed down like that and the spacey sounds(10:30), I always get the chills. It's the best section of the song and it's so emotional. The song eventually picks up slightly and finishes in the best possible way, with a climax and the very mellow outro mirroring the intro. Stunning performance, and Myung needs a big for what he did on this song - I believe he brought in a demo for the song... and the LYRICS ARE MASTERFUL.

TL;DR: Perfection.

[wammabe]

I wonder what #1 will be 
Anyways, I love the top 10 songs here

[chrisbDTM]

good #2. trial of tears is seriously incredible

[Flacracker]

#1 is Constant Motion.

[Tomislav95]

#1 is Constant Motion.

[Jirpo]

Great choice!

[RG93]

#1 is Constant Motion.

QFT

[jsem]

I wanted to do some trolling, and have my #1 as The Ministry of Lost Souls or something - something that isn't too obvious or anything. But I'm not going to bother.

Yep.

2. Trial of Tears
1. Learning to Live

Hats off. It wasn't to difficult to guess though lol, the two obvious ones.


1. Learning to Live
Best intro ever. THOSE POLYRHYTHMS. And at 1:16 and onward, those basslines - just magic. JLB's vocals working perfectly over the chords on the keys. JP comes in brilliantly, upstroking an entire chord and playing tastefully through out the verse - and playing great high notes. 2:43 is one of DT's brilliant places going into the chorus.

And the chorus is epic, so is the mini theme right after JLB's phrases that are to return later in the song in full majesty. After JLB's high scream, his performance is just wonderful - especially after the 3:40 mark.

The turn to major key is not my favorite part of the song but what follows it requires many  . I'm talking about 4:44 of course. That is pure brilliance at work. So is every Myung note to come, and the little acoustic guitar break is just a work of art. 6:00 is another place of brilliance, that tone and those chords by JP - the same thing with the lead mirroring the chord voicings - brilliant.

The entire buildup from then to the F# is just TRULY EPIC. It's cheesy, but it doesn't bother me - it's such a great climax and JP's lead playing afterwards just tops it off perfectly.

The next section is the absolute best though, with the mini-theme returning in its FULL majesty here. I'm talking 7:51 as a top Dream Theater moment ever - discard anything I've said previously, this probably tops it all off. Proggasmic to say the least.

Wait for Sleep reprise ftw, Myung playing an epic bassline, JP's palm muted magic. DAT SOLO. JP's solo here is probably my 3rd favorite JP solo - and his leads are wonderful after the solo too. Kevin's solo here is wonderful too. (sidetrack: LFSNY version keyboard solo is vastly superior, with JP playing tasty reggae-influenced backround crap there) JLB continues to shine.

The outro... what can we say about it. I can only say one thing: perfection. Myung's bassline is completely masterful, and JP's lead playing is brilliant. What Kevin does on the keys adds a huge deal to the epic atmosphere of the song, and fading out is honestly the best thing the studio version could do. The could've ended as they do live with the mini-theme returning again, but I wouldn't want it any other way on the studio version.


TL;DR: My favorite song of all time.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Just popped in to see when I have to go, and I'm up next! I'll start tomorrow.

[Zydar]

Great description of their best song.

[Tomislav95]

Learning to Live FTW
Great list

[wammabe]

I really like the top 10 in your list.

I wanted to do some trolling, and have my #1 as The Ministry of Lost Souls or something - something that isn't too obvious or anything.

I would've liked to see that 

[RG93]

Perfect choice! 

I love your top 10, so unique (Strange Deja Vu and TSCO are rarely in a top 10)

[Silver Tears]

Perfect song for number one 

[Jarlaxle]

Perfect song for number one 

[Elite]

Perfect song for number one 

No, it's not  , but that's why we all have different opinions and multiple people making these lists 

[Dream Team]

Just popped in to see when I have to go, and I'm up next! I'll start tomorrow.

Looking forward to it - I'm betting on lots of Awake in the Top 10.

[Jarlaxle]

Just popped in to see when I have to go, and I'm up next! I'll start tomorrow.

Looking forward to it - I'm betting on lots of Awake in the Top 10.

 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

So sorry for taking so long. I will post the top 6 tonight.

EDIT: Songs are ranked. Writing for them. Probably up tomorrow now.