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

[Zantera]

Voices 
6DOIT would be slightly higher for me as well.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

SDoIT is the same place I'd have it. My rankings:
1. SFaM
2. Awake
3. SC
4. SDoIT
5. I&W
6. BCaSL
7. Octavarium
8. WDaDU
9. ToT
10. FII

[Zydar]

SDoIT has a steady 3rd place for me, behind I&W and SFAM.

[hefdaddy42]

You're certainly placing the awake stuff high.

As well he should. 

[Dynia]

On my list Voices would be probably on the same place. SDOIT is my 4th favourite DT album, too. Great list. 

[orcus116]

[3] Take The Time

This is easily Dream Theater's most fun song, almost to the point where I can't even think of a distant second. There is so much energy in this song it's mindblowing and the fact that every single part from every single instrument is pleasant and enjoyable just adds to it. What really stands out are the solos. While Petrucci lays down another of his excellent solos from Images And Words, Kevin Moore's keyboard solo is hands down my favorite keyboard solo the band's entire discography. Written like a guitar solo it comes off incredible and doesn't end up sounding cheesy. The entire concept of the lyrics are interesting as well, something the band has only done recently on the song "Octavarium", where each member gets his own little colloquial sandbox. I can't think of a single time I didn't want to hear this song and each time I listen to it I just feel good. The band hasn't quite written a song like it since but I'm hoping they eventually do.


Bonus: Album Rankings
[3] Falling Into Infinity

So I imagine my first time hearing this album was pretty much like everyone else's: when the album finished my first thought was "uh, ok". Probably the hardest to get into because of drastically different the style of music was from any of their other albums but its rewards far outweigh the few clunkers. Songs like "Peruvian Skies" and "Hell's Kitchen" definitely stuck with me and I clung on to those songs while feeling out the others. What is fascinating about the album is that it's hard to tell if the reserved construction of the songs were a result of having technically simpler keyboardist, the mindset of the band at this time, or an actual producer telling them which parts don't go. Despite the band groaning about having that outside ear I think the end product is incredibly solid. Had they left "Hell's Kitchen" buried inside of "Burning My Soul" I think the album would've taken a big hit because of how well the song not only adds to the overall aesthetic of the album but acts as a crucial lead in to "Lines In The Sand". While the album is slowly getting its due it definitely deserves more than what some people credit it for.

[bloop]

[3] Take The Time

I'm ok with this.

[orcus116]

You better be.

[jsem]

You talk about FII without even mentioning Trial of Tears?

Would disagree on TTT though. It's good. But not top 3.

[orcus116]

I've already talked about Trial of Tears 

[jsem]

I've already talked about Trial of Tears 

Forgot

[hefdaddy42]

I completely agree with everything you said about Take The Time.  Nevertheless, I wouldn't rank it quite as high as you did.

[Zantera]

Take the Time this high is pretty surprising, I've never really cared for it.
FII is underrated though. 

[Implode]

Kevin Moore's keyboard solo is hands down my favorite keyboard solo the band's entire discography.

I might have to agree with that.

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Take the Time is in my Top 3 as well. Great pick.

[RuRoRul]

Not sure if it's top 3 - it might even be just outside my top 10 since I love so many DT songs - but I completely understand the never not being in the mood to listen to. It's such an amazing song and probably one of the songs I'd be most likely to listen to if it came up one of the rare times I play on shuffle.

[Jirpo]

Take the Time would be top 10 for me! I agree, its got probably my fave DT solo. Nice choices!

[antigoon]

So happy to see FII in your top 3.

[Mladen]

Nice to see Take the time so high. Falling into infinity at #3, on the other hand... Not where I'd place it, that's for sure.

[orcus116]

To keep at least some suspense I'm going to post the last two album rankings.


Bonus: Album Rankings
[2] Awake

As one of those bands that fans love and only the more hardcore critics care about, Dream Theater has an image of all chops, no heart. If I had to pick one album to present to a critic to take in as a serious piece of music I'd without a doubt show them Awake. Marking the end of the Kevin Moore era, this album sounds noticeably different from both of its predecessors from "6:00" all the way until the last notes of "Space-Dye Vest". There is one great thing that makes this album stand out and that is not only the individual but the overall atmosphere. There is a much more dark and serious undertone that actually manages to feel mature. It's a strange thing to try to explain so if you know what I'm getting at you understand. While lacking the energy of Images And Words, Awake lays back and let's songs sprawl out, the entire "A Mind Beside Itself" suite is a great example. Each 3-4 song chunk of the album seems to mark very different sections but each works into the next so well. Lyrically this album is probably the best in the band's discography as Petrucci in particular strayed away from some of the flowery wordplay used on Images And Words in favor for some more serious poetry. Overall the musicianship is top notch and one can only imagine what more the band could've offered had Moore not departed.


[1] Images And Words

While Awake is a close second it has never topped Images And Words, which I believe is the band's crowning achievement. The youthful energy, the somewhat glossy but full production, the incredible craftsmanship behind every single song, all of it just comes together in one hour of some of the finest music the progressive metal genre has ever seen. What makes the album so unique is that it's probably the only Dream Theater album where the technical aspects never sound unnecessary. After years of honing many of the songs it's very clear that the band was able to confidently deliver a product that had been tweaked almost perfectly, developing a sound they knew was their own. While not the lyrically strongest album the band has released the music is absolutely perfect, with maybe parts of "Metropolis" that don't hold my interest nearly as much as the rest of the album. It'd be silly for anyone to wish for another Images And Words but that doesn't stop it from being not only a benchmark for quality but proof that if you sit on songs for long enough amazing things will happen.

[Kosmo]

Don't worry, we already know Constant Motion is your #1.

[orcus116]

 

[jsem]

 

[hefdaddy42]

Awesome, orcus.  The two albums teeter-totter back and forth for me as far as which one is 1 and which is 2, but in my mind there is no question that these are the top 2.

[Zantera]

A bit disappointed to see I&W at nr1, since it wouldn't make my top4 or 5, but at least Awake is high. 

[reneranucci]

Are we allowed to make predictions? I'd say Learning to Live is in your top 2, and I thought Trial of Tears was another candidate but you already mentioned it. Maybe the Count of Tuscany? 

[Kosmo]

Doubt it's Tuscany, would make my list though.

[Ħ]

My prediction:

2. A Change of Seasons
1. Learning to Live

A Change of Seasons is confirmed, since you said you liked it more than Octavarium.

From looking at your list, you like shorter songs that pack a punch more than epics.  I hoped you weren't going to be one of those nutjob anti-6DOIT people, but that's how it's shaping up.  And I would count on The Count, reneranucci.

And that basically leaves Learning to Live, which is a grand song.

[orcus116]

I count "Six Degrees" as a suite anyways, so I'd never have it listed as one full song because I'm a stubborn git.

Also I do like the epics but that's because in my mind Dream Theater has written quite a few less than what others think. I'd seriously argue that songs like "In The Presence Of Enemies" and "The Count Of Tuscany" are more long songs than an epic, purely out of description without regard to the quality of the song.

[j]

Awesome, orcus.  The two albums teeter-totter back and forth for me as far as which one is 1 and which is 2, but in my mind there is no question that these are the top 2.

Same here.

Great write-ups, orcus, I agree completely.

-J

[Jirpo]

Great write ups, and good to see I&W at #1!

[tri.ad]

I like your album rankings, orcus. Also, I really agree with what you said about Images And Words

[orcus116]

[2] A Change Of Seasons

Like Images And Words but in song form, "A Change Of Seasons" is the perfect example of what happens when you sit on something for years, constantly changing parts until you get it just quite right. The resulting 23 minutes of music is nothing short of incredible and 100% pure Dream Theater. Most people seem to throw around the word epic to describe songs like its nothing but this song is what I think an epic should be. It takes you on a journey and stops at many points along the way before resolving, leaving you reveling at what you just heard. From "The Crimson Sunrise" to "The Crimson Sunset", stopping along with the mellow "Carpe Diem", the majestic yet simple solo in "Another World", the darker instrumental jam in "The Inevitable Summer", the song just feels right and never once sounds flashy or overdone. The song has quite an unusual sound as well, with more of an Awake vibe but something a little different. This lends beautifully to the forlorn but hopeful atmosphere throughout the song. This is the clear benchmark for any epic of its nature the band wants to make and while they've attempted in the past I have my doubts that they'll ever be able to match it.


[1] Learning To Live

I've been cited in the past as saying this is my favorite Dream Theater song and like with my album rankings my #1 hasn't budged in years. I still remember the day the song clicked with me, the last minutes of the outro hit me with a "holy shit". There's just something about the last 3 minutes of the song that is pure fun and musically perfect. Not that I'd ever want the band to mimic that part to a T but I can't help but listen to that and go "that's how you write a unison and solo section". This song also contains probably my favorite Petrucci solo, the one after the F#. It's not all that technical or even long but it's just how he hits the notes and makes his guitar sing. There's just so much feeling behind it. The structure of the song is a bit unusual, but that's mostly in part to Myung's lyrics. The band makes it work, though, adding in tons of time signature and tempo changes like its natural. I really can't say enough good things about this song. It's the perfect embodiment of everything that I love about the band.

[toro]

I'm ok with this.

[orcus116]

You better be.