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

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Alright. Here I go.

First thing's first: I like the first half of DT's catalog a lot more that the second half, so if you like both about equal or like the second half a lot more than the first half, my list probably won't resemble yours. I hope any potential differences make my list more, and not less, interesting. I think there will be some surprises, though (for the three people who actually care about my opinions )

Second thing: I feel like it's kind of arbitrary ranking one song #50 and one song #49. Really... What's the difference? So, instead of ranking the songs like that, I've added a small twist: Tiers.* Maybe it's already been done. Hopefully, it worked! Later on, I will rank everything, but at the start, I won't.

Last thing: This is my 50 favorite tracks, not songs.

* Is Tier 1 the best tier, or the worst? Oh, well. I'll say it's the best.

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Tier 4 (of TOX's Top 50)

Tier 4 is reserved for my 8/10 songs. These are songs I would consider "almost amazing". I don't listen to them much, but when I do, they blow me away. Also, there might be that one special thing about them that I simply adore. These are not ranked, but in chronological order.

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6:00 (Awake) - Awake is one of Dream Theater's most metal albums, and I think the defining feature of Awake's metal is groove. There are a lot of moments during Awake where you can't help but squirm because you're holding back from dancing, and most of them can be found here.

Caught in a Web (Awake) - If I had to nominate five songs as Dream Theater's most underrated, this would be one of them. The instrumental section is simultaneously one of their most catchy and capricious; it starts with groove, devolves into chaos and ends with showmanship.

Innocence Faded (Awake) - This is an interesting one because the verses sound kind of pessimistic whereas the choruses sound almost optimistic. The lyrical matter is dark throughout, but the music throws you. The outro solo is mind-blowing; surprised Dream Theater don't do more of it.

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... Tier 4 will continue tomorrow with some cuts off Falling into Infinity and Train of Thought.

[Ħ]

I like how you're doing this.  But I hate CIAW and IF even more.

[Riceball]

Sounds like a cool way of going through your list! I look forward to it.

Please take at least a week or so, I'm still working on my write ups

[Jirpo]

Innocence Faded is top 10 IMO, and I hate 6:00. CIAW is too high aswell.

Not a good start for me!

[orcus116]

I bet Erotomania is next.

[Jamesman42]

Now why would you think that Orcus?

Oh hey, Take the Time just came on after Another Day. Imagine that!

[petrucci07]

I've always liked reading TOX's posts, so I'll follow this one.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Tier 4 continued...

New Millennium (Falling into Infinity) - Similar to "On the Backs of Angels", I think, in how it sets a mood, and a tone, and a feel. For a song filled with seven string, balls n' chunk riffs, it's awfully relaxing.

Anna Lee (Falling into Infinity) - Every time I listen to this, it blows be away. It absolutely floors me, but for some reason, I don't go back to it a lot. I love it, but I never want to listen to it. Sometimes, music makes no sense.

As I Am (Train of Thought) - All the musicians in Dream Theater are so good that, sometimes, I feel as though they can write any kind of song on command. It's like you could go to a drive-thru, order a ballad, and then Petrucci and co. could bang one out for you on the spot.

This one here is so neat and tidy it almost feels like the guys just said, "Let's write an efficient, reliable metal opener" and then it was. It's just so damn catchy, you know?

... Tier 3 tomorrow.

[Ħ]

Love New Millennium and As I Am a ton.  In fact both might be in my top 10.

[Jirpo]

Good choices!

[hefdaddy42]

TOX, I love the way you've organized your list.  Good choices thus far.

[Kosmo]

Apart from As I Am it's a great list so far.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Tier 3 (of TOX's Top 50)

Tier 3 is reserved for my 9/10 songs. These are songs I would consider 'amazing'. I listen to them often, but unlike some of the higher tiers, they don't absolutely destroy me. What's special about them is that there's always something memorable going on that keeps them stuck in my head for days. These are not ranked, but in chronological order.

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Ytse Jam (When Dream and Day Unite) - There's something about that opening and that riff. It's all so mischievous, you know? Sometimes, I'll be walking somewhere, and it'll just pop in my head. Easily one of the quintessential Dream Theater tracks.

A Fortune in Lies (Live at the Marquee) - Sorry Dominici, but LaBrie kills it here, like he does all over Live at the Marquee. The better production helps too. I love the medieval, Yngwie-esque solo, which is one of Petrucci's most memorable, and the almost Opethian gear changes where the song will suddenly shift from 1st to 5th.*

Erotomania (Awake) - This is one that's less a song and more an experience. From beginning to end, Dream Theater spoil us with a plethora of musical themes that we will see again later during the superior "Voices" and "The Silent Man". It builds and builds and builds until it explodes with one of Petrucci's greatest, most mind-blowing solos.

Don't Look Past Me (Cleaning Out the Closet) - Even though the Falling into Infinity sessions are often described as being difficult,** the music always sounds happy or relaxing or upbeat or... You get the point. With Awake, the music and lyrics were so dark you could tell without even thinking that something was up, but with FiI, even if the lyrics aren't exactly optimistic all the time, you can't.

This here is a prime example. It sounds so... so nice. It's an absolutely wonderful track I can spin anytime, and another nomination of mine for one of Dream Theater's most underrated.

* I know, I know. "A Fortune in Lies" was released before Opeth's first album even came out. It's just a good way to make the comparison, I think.

** Then again, I feel like the only person I've heard go into detail regarding this is Portnoy.

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Tier 3 will continue tomorrow...

[robwebster]

Pretty sure Don't Look Past Me is actually Images and Words era - if not even When Dream and Day Unite era - but, ace picks! All amazing songs, definitely.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Is it really? Wow! Didn't know that.

[robwebster]

Aye - Kevin Moore lyrics and all, I think, too! They used it while auditioning vocalists way back before James joined.

I thoroughly agree with giving it a 9/10, though, and I'm certain you're right inasmuch as it's one of the very most underappreciated. They need to get it onto a live album, or something. Not that that's likely without MP, given how many backing vocal layers there are.

In fact, I thoroughly agree with all four at 9/10. And mischievous is such a good word for the Ytse Jam.

[Ħ]

Nice job with Don't Look Past Me!  It's my favorite b-side, it has such a memorable solo, and I'd put it even higher!

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Tier 3 continued...*

The Dance of Eternity (Scenes from a Memory) - I used to hate this song. I used to absolutely despise it. Then, one day, I thought to myself, "Why do I hate it again?"

I decided to give it a listen, and my lord, what an incredible thing it is. It's very chaotic and flamboyant, which turns a lot of people off, but through it all, it's also extremely catchy. I swear... Sometimes after I listen to it I can't get it out of my head for days.

Instrumedley (Live at Budokan) - Unlike the rest of the Tier 3's, I don't listen to this one a lot. What puts it on a level higher than, say, "Caught in a Web" for me, is that when I do listen to it every year or so () I find my ears glued to my speakers. The rest of my senses shut off. I look like a deer in the headlights. It's one of those songs that makes you realize for a second that even though there might be some things you don't like about Petrucci, Rudess, Mying or Portnoy's playing, they really are masters.

Only a Matter of Time (Live at Budokan) - More than anything, the instrumental parts of the song are what kill me. The opening and the break in the middle sound so... I don't know, optimistic, even if the rest of the song is not. Everytime I hear the end of the song, I can't help but imagine Dream Theater circa 1989 saying to everyone, "You have no idea what we're going to become, and you're going to be shocked."

* Sorry this took me so long. I'm going to move at a fast pace now to catch up.

[senecadawg2]

Really cool way to do your list. Look forward to reading on.

[Ħ]

Not a huge fan of these.

[Riceball]

If nothing else, you have prompted me to write up the next portion of my list...

[duncan3dc]

hey, can I get in on this after jonny108?

[hefdaddy42]

hey, can I get in on this after jonny108?

Done.

And hurry up, TOX!  By the time it's my turn, I may have to revise my list to make room for tracks from the new album! 

[wasteland]

hey, can I get in on this after jonny108?

Done.

And hurry up, TOX!  By the time it's my turn, I may have to revise my list to make room for tracks from the new album! 

Shall we pur this thread on a brief hiatus to include the new songs in the next lists? I'm right after you and I'd like to do that. 

[hefdaddy42]

Maybe.  We'll see.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

hey, can I get in on this after jonny108?

Done.

And hurry up, TOX!  By the time it's my turn, I may have to revise my list to make room for tracks from the new album! 

I am so sorry Hef. Right after this post I am going to put up a ton of new tracks.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Tier 2 (of TOX's Top 50)

Tier 2 is reserved for my upper echelon 9/10 songs. These are songs I would consider 'almost killer'. They almost absolutely destroy me, but something is holding them back, and more often than not I can't really put a finger on what it is.

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Light Fuse and Getaway - For a song so memorable, this one seems all but forgotten by the Dream Theater community. It's so different from anything they've ever done because its defining quality is not prog or metal or pop; rather, it's groove baby. Its chorus is absolutely infectious, and it's got a guitar lick underneath it that's one of the most interesting John Petrucci has ever done. Another nomination for one of the band's most underrated.

Pull Me Under - Some days, it's a 10/10 stone cold killer. Some days, I don't even dig it that much. One thing's for sure though: The song has more character than most Dream Theater songs.* It's so synonymous with the band to me that it has almost become its own person. When I hear it, I feel like I'm spending eight minutes with an old friend.

Scarred - I used to think this was a top ten Dream Theater song. I used to think it was perfect.* I still think there are many facets of it it are otherworldly in their quality: The lyrics, the middle bit, the outro... It's just that when I listen to it nowadays, I feel like something is missing. Maybe it's the production or the tempo or... I don't know.

Coming back to the lyrics though: My, oh my, how incredible they are. A criticism I have heard of the track is that it gets boring at times, which I understand, but I have found that by giving full devotion to John Petrucci's words and James LaBrie's performance, the bore becomes awe time and time again.

To Live Forever '91 - One of the most subtle of all Dream Theater tracks, at least to start. Unlike most Dream Theater tracks, which get the blood pumping, this one lulls you to sleep (in a good way). It feels so perfect, like Dream Theater were its biological catalysts, but it just had to be.

Overture 1928 / Strange Deja Vu - Scenes from a Memory is the most melodic of all Dream Theater albums, and these two tracks are two of the most melodic songs on it. Everytime I hear them, they remind me of how special Dream Theater are. They are of a great nostalgic value to me, because I was blasting them when I was a wee lad, drawing comics at the age of 11.

The Glass Prison - It's a little long. So sue me. I know everyone probably hates me already.

An unbelievable track, nevertheless. It has no less than three of the greatest Dream Theater moments: The opening riff, the super heavy chanting section and the outro.

Disappear - I think I would like it more if I heard it more. It still feels like a new song to me because I have listened to it so much less than other Dream Theater tracks, which I know needs to change. It sounds so experimental and yet, so simple. If one had to make a tracklist of DT songs to prove people wrong who say the band are all about soulless shred, this one would be a lock.

The Root of All Evil - The best song in the AA saga. The main riff is one of John Petrucci's crowning achievements as a metal songwriter, and the track as a whole feels a lot like "As I Am"; like the guys just said, "Let's make a neat little metal tune" and it was. Can't decide if I like the Score version better. Props to the "This Dying Soul" reprise in the middle, which is something Dream Theater are really good at, come to think of it.

* What does 'perfect' even mean when talking about music? I mean the word in its most visceral sense, I suppose.

[hefdaddy42]

Lots of good stuff there! 

[Jirpo]

Fairly good choices! A few I would change around, such as having PMU and TGP higher, as well as Scarred.

[BlackInk]

I would like to be signed up to the list please.

[hefdaddy42]

I would like to be signed up to the list please.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Tier 1 (of TOX's Top 5)

These are the dragon slayers. These are the ones that destroy my soul every time without question. These are songs I would consider 10/10. I will try and rank them now, even though there's not much difference between 29 and 1.

29. Home (Scenes from a Memory) - Anyone watch Dragon Ball Z back in the day? Remember The History of Trunks? The first time I listen to Dream Theater, I was scouring for this one riff I'd heard at the beginning of The History of Trunks. When I finally heard this song - the one I was looking for - it didn't disappoint; although, I usually stopped it around the p0rn.

28. Surrounded (Images and Words) - Unlike most Dream Theater songs, which have catchy chorus and nothing else, the catchiest parts of this one are the verses (or whatever the "dark to light" thing is) and the guitar solo.

27. Take the Time (Images and Words) - Again, catchy verses and solos, but unlike "Surrounded", this one has a more conventional chorus and it's super catchy. Just a masterful track overall, and as I'm writing this, I'm realizing I probably should have ranking it in my top ten. Oh well... Like I said, not much difference between 29 and 1 anyway.

26. The Spirit Carries On (Scenes from a Memory) - One of the most uplifting of all Dream Theater songs. I have always thought it'd be interesting to play this song to a non-DT fan and observe the results. I think it would go over really well.

25. One Last Time (Scenes from a Memory) - Scenes from a Memory is Dream Theater's most melodic album and this one is maybe the most melodic song on the record. Gorgeous piano melody to start, one of John Petrucci's most memorable solos to follow and then an amazing James LaBrie vocal to end. It's just perfect in every conceivable way.*

24. Peruvian Skies (Falling into Infinity) - This is half Pink Floyd, half Metallica, and I'm not just saying that because they always put a Pink Floyd and Metallica bit in it live. The influences are clear as day (well, not today... there was a hurricane). What makes the song so good is how it bridges the two. The build is so gradual, so subtle, and before you know it you're rocking out as ferociously as you've ever rocked out to a Dream Theater song.

23. Space-Dye Vest (Awake) - Easily the most polarizing Dream Theater song. So many little things some people hate and some people love. The key is to let yourself get lost in it... Don't worry about why the samples are there and don't worry about what they're about. Just get lost. Don't think.

22. Finally Free (Scenes from a Memory) - Funny story: I used to think Scenes from a Memory ended after "The Spirit Carries On" because it takes like two minutes for this one to start, and I didn't have the patience to wait that long. Too bad for me, because it's probably the best song on the album.

21. About to Crash (Reprise) / Grand Finale (Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence) - This is why my top 50 is tracks, not songs. I like "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" as a whole, but I don't love it. I love these last two movements, especially the former. It sounds so epic without going overboard, which I can't exactly say for the latter, but it still slays, especially in the context of the whole song.

20. Raise the Knife (Score) - Much better than the Cleaning Out the Closet version because of the high piano mix and continuum. Another Dream Theater song you get lost in. Include it on Falling into Infinity alongside a couple other songs, remove a couple of songs, and that one's my favorite DT album.

* Again, what does perfect mean? I mean it in the most visceral sense, I swear.

[Jirpo]

Nice picks! Surrounded, Take the Time and Home are all higher for me. Great to see One Last Time appreciation!

[lelanddt]

may i get on this list as well?

[Ħ]

GREAT set there.