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

[Jarlaxle]

45. Lie
To me this is one of Dream Theater's heaviest songs. Pretty short, concise yet not in your face. The lyrics are alright, but "mother Mary quite contrary"? Really? What the hell?  But I do love the reprise of The Mirror, as that was what I used for a short 10 second clip during a slide show of my pictures at my grad ceremony. Overall a pretty good song.

44. Endless Sacrifice
Train of Thought was my first total Dream Theater album that I listened to, and the start of Endless Sacrifice was really good, but I initially didn't like the tangent that they took with the instrumental section. As I didn't know what Dream Theater was all about all I could think was "wtf are they doing?" so I hated this song for the longest time. But now that I know this is normal for them, this song as steadily grown on me, in another year or so this song might be in my top 30.

43. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
What a beautiful song, the lyrics are awesome, one testament that we need mor John Myung lyrics. But this song just seems to be lacking that one part that makes me go WOW. I love the bass intro, and after hearing As I Am before this song I was expecting it to kick into overdrive after the harmonics, but it didn't, it disappointed me but not I love it.

42. The Spirit Carries On
Now since I am only judging songs by the CD version, or in the case of a couple songs, the live version because it is the only version that I have heard of that song, this song is much lower on my list. If I was going by the Score version it would probably rank a little higher. The official release of this song seems a little bland, but still a nice touch and a good addition to Scenes From A Memory. I love the lyrics, and James nails it, but everything else is just kinda meh compared to the live version.

41. Under A Glass Moon
The intro to this song still makes me mad, but after that everything else kicks ass. And that solo is pretty fucking awesome, one of John Petrucci's best. Good tempo to this song, and it sounds great as does everything else on Images and Words, but is maybe on of the lower ranking songs from that disc because it is just too good. I wrote a poem in grade 8 or 9 for a school project and titled it Under A Glass Moon, the poem wasn't really like the song. I took a couple lines from the song, but mostly it was all me and it was quite awesome and won best poem in our school, and I never told anyone where I got it from.

[dethklok09]

under a glass moon at 41!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but ill forgive you cause you aknowleged it enough to steal it for use in ur poem

[guysullavin]

whats wrong with the intro to UAGM?

[Seventh Son]

whats wrong with the intro to UAGM?

Its just really static, nothing seems to happen at all. It doesn't really get good until LaBrie says "Silver teardrops fall..." but after that the song is amazing. But the first 3 minutes are just kind of sitting there.

[RuRoRul]

Apart from the bit where Ruddess goes a bit too far with the silly noises, instrumental to Endless Sacrifice is awesome  I'm sure it will end up in your top 30 if it's still growing on you.

Good choices, although I'd have Under A Glass Moon higher and Endless Sacrifice much higher.

[Jarlaxle]

whats wrong with the intro to UAGM?

Its just really static, nothing seems to happen at all. It doesn't really get good until LaBrie says "Silver teardrops fall..." but after that the song is amazing. But the first 3 minutes are just kind of sitting there.

This exactly.

[Silver Tears]

I love the intro to UAGM.

[Jarlaxle]

I hate the silver tears part

jk, it is awesome.

[Silver Tears]

It's weird, when I picked my username I wasn't actually thinking of the song, I only realised later when another member pointed it out 

[Jarlaxle]

 

[BRGM]

Endless sacrifice is awesome, for me it's one of those songs that I do not listen to too much, but when I do, it's fantastic!

[Jarlaxle]

To make up for no update on November 5th:

40. Hollow Years
Another song where the live version is far superior than the official release, but nonetheless this remains a good tune. Nice soft melody that feels very Italian or Mexican or something  . But the lyrics are pretty good, James good as usualy, and John Myung adds little fills to certain parts to add a little bit more to this song. But this really doesn't compare to the Score version, and to their other "softer" songs.

39. Vacant
And here's another one of Dream Theater's softer songs that is better than Hollow Years, all be it not by much, but it is better. JMX's bass is really awesome, this is the reason why I like softer slower songs sometimes, it gives the bassist a little more room (in terms of sound) to make an impact on the song. Jordan's piano work is spot on as usual, and James slays it with such an emotional presence. 

38. Scarred
Another controversial pick I am sure, but other than the intro and the chorus this song doesn't do much for me. But that intro, MAN, so much emotion yet so much power. I love how on Chaos In Motion how they extend it, really makes me smile in my pants. But the rest is just kinda bleh. I know I will get ripped hard over this too.

37. Fatal Tragedy
A good song, but like most on Scenes From A Memory, it just doesn't go good by itself. The lyrics are awesome though, "Without love, without truth there can be no turning back" and so on is brilliant. The music itself is pretty darn good but I feel like DT can and has done better.

36. Misunderstood
I love this song, one of JP's best lyrics in the second half of their career. Great guitar work, another slaying by James, and Mike's drumming work is spot-on. I do like the version on the Greatest Hit album better I think, it depends on my mood. But everything about this song until the last 2 minutes is awesome.

[Seventh Son]

38. Scarred
Another controversial pick I am sure, but other than the intro and the chorus this song doesn't do much for me. But that intro, MAN, so much emotion yet so much power. I love how on Chaos In Motion how they extend it, really makes me smile in my pants. But the rest is just kinda bleh. I know I will get ripped hard over this too.

*Proceeds to rip you hard for not having it in top 10*

[j]

38. Scarred
Another controversial pick I am sure, but other than the intro and the chorus this song doesn't do much for me. But that intro, MAN, so much emotion yet so much power. I love how on Chaos In Motion how they extend it, really makes me smile in my pants. But the rest is just kinda bleh. I know I will get ripped hard over this too.

*Proceeds to rip you hard for not having it in top 10*

*and for not mentioning the outro*

-J

[toro]

38. Scarred
Another controversial pick I am sure, but other than the intro and the chorus this song doesn't do much for me. But that intro, MAN, so much emotion yet so much power. I love how on Chaos In Motion how they extend it, really makes me smile in my pants. But the rest is just kinda bleh. I know I will get ripped hard over this too.

*Proceeds to rip you hard for not having it in top 10*

This.
Also FT is at least a top 20 song  

[Jarlaxle]

Negative to both.

[Ħ]

45. Lie

Not a top 50 song for me.

44. Endless Sacrifice

Way too low, if you ask me.

43. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream

Right on!   

42. The Spirit Carries On

The biggest mistake you've made so far--this deserves a top 15 spot in ANY list.

41. Under A Glass Moon

A song I've never clicked with, but I approve of your placement, as it is quite a powerful song.

[Ħ]

40. Hollow Years

Great great song.

39. Vacant

I think James really oversings this song, and it calls for a much more gentle vocal style...not a top 50 for me.

38. Scarred

I agree with your placement--it's not the best song, but certainly not the worst.

37. Fatal Tragedy

Completely agree with your assessment.

36. Misunderstood

Technically, a very skillful song, but the latter half doesn't do much for me.  Still, I can understand the love for it.

[?]

Lie, Under a Glass Moon and Scarred are too low! 

[Ħ]

Lie, Under a Glass Moon and Scarred are too low! 

[Seventh Son]

Bump for Jarlaxle so he knows to update.

[jsem]

so far so good...

[Birch Boy]

so far so good...

SO WHAT!!??

/subtle Megadeth references

[Jarlaxle]

Bump for Jarlaxle so he knows to update.

I updated twice yesterday and I just got home. Give me an hour or so.

[Jarlaxle]

35. The Shattered Fortress
This song is awesome. It takes out some of the best parts from the whole suite and combines them into one kickass song. I love the intro, and the solo from This Dying Soul really kicks ass. But the lyrics aren't the best, and I dislike the "fly now be FREEEEEEEEEE!". But what I don't understand is why the Glass Prison intro reprises at the end of the song, does that mean that Mike is an alcoholic again, or does it mean he is obligated to help other alcoholics? Personally I think it is the second option, and pretty sure it is.

34. Surrounded
I love the intro to this song, the lyrics are amazing, James really delivers and when it kicks in it really blows me away. "LIGHT TO DARK, DARK TO LIGHT, LIGHT TO DARK, DARK TO LIGHT" gives me chills everytime I hear it. And the guitar solo after James sings "As I awaken from the longest night" is a testament to anyone who says that JP doesn't have any "feel", whatever that means. I love Kevin's keyboard work, it kind of reminds me of Solitary Shell, which is awesome.

33. The Ministry of Lost Souls
I'm not sure why this song isn't as widely liked around here than it is right now. This is one of their more emotional songs to me, and reminds me a little of Lifting Shadows Off A Dream, but in my opinion far better. The instrumental section right after the second chorus is amaxing and has a lot of power and emotion to it..

32. The Answer Lies Within
So BEAUTIFUL! That is my main explanation to this song. I really don't know what else to say to describe this song.I love the violin work on here, unless that is just Jordan kicking more ass than he should. I honestly just don't have words to describe this song, it's just too good.

31. Finally Free[/b
I really suck at explaining why I like some songs, but this is another one. I like how it just tells the whole mystery of the murder, and it really does a great job at wrapping it up. The song as an amazing vibe and tempo despite the dark story that is told. "we'll meet again my friends, someday soon!" is another lyric that gives me chills. I love the samples used especially when Victoria is screaming and gets shot, nd the reprise of One Last Time right after that works so good. Then the song climaxes at Mike's drumming outro.

[Ħ]

35. The Shattered Fortress

Incredible song, and gets a lot of undeserved hate.  You won back my respect!

34. Surrounded

Great song as well!  I would probably rank it a bit higher, but good choice nonetheless!

33. The Ministry of Lost Souls

You are on fire this round!

32. The Answer Lies Within

Lovely, lovely song.  Also, inb4hef

31. Finally Free

Another great choice.  You can't hate Finally Free.

Overall, you're doing great, Jaraxle!  You're also keeping the song descriptions at a perfect length--not uninterestingly short, but not boringly long.  Great job!

[Jarlaxle]

Thanks brutha. And as I was writing up The Answer Lies Within I was imagining Hef raging when he reads it. 

[toro]

Oh god, Surrounded and Finally Free are really low, and TALW 
The Shattered Fortress 

[Seventh Son]

Overall, you're doing great, Jaraxle!  You're also keeping the song descriptions at a perfect length--not uninterestingly short, but not boringly long.  Great job!

Disagree with that myself, but I saw someone else doing something similar to this on another site with much longer writeups so
I think the surface is just being scratched in regards to the writeups anyhow. There's a lot more detail that could be utilized, but I'll let it pass.

[Zydar]

34. Surrounded

[Seventh Son]

34. Surrounded

Would it infuriate you if I told you that it was higher up on my list?

[Mladen]

I'm all into controversial choices, and my list would be even more controversial than what we've seen so far, but having The Shattered fortress above Scarred is just plain wrong. 

[Zydar]

34. Surrounded

Would it infuriate you if I told you that it was higher up on my list?

Yes. Yes it would.

Nah but seriously, it's nice to see other's opinions about the songs. That's what the lists are for

It's just that Surrounded is a Top 3 DT song for me. 

[Rina]

Thanks brutha. And as I was writing up The Answer Lies Within I was imagining Hef raging when he reads it. 

And I agree with Mladden. 

[Silver Tears]

34. Surrounded

Would it infuriate you if I told you that it was higher up on my list?

Yes. Yes it would.

Nah but seriously, it's nice to see other's opinions about the songs. That's what the lists are for

It's just that Surrounded is a Top 3 DT song for me. 

Surrounded is such a beautiful song