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

[hefdaddy42]

Perfect choices except that I don't understand why TDS is above TGP.

Because he likes it better.

[Mladen]

Great to see This dying soul so high, it would probably make my top 15 as well. And that outro... 

[CrimsonE]

10 Octavarium:
As those who have followed me might know, I'm not a big fan of the very long songs, whether they be by DT or other bands, as it's very difficult for bands to keep the song interesting and lively once you get past the 20 minute mark.  However, this is a song that manages to do it quite effectively, making 25  minutes go by in the blink of an eye.  When I first started the list, I wanted to rank it lower (30's), but after giving it a couple of listens, including the Score version, I realize that this is indeed a brilliant piece of work, one in which you couldn't take out anything without sacrificing the character of the song.  The opening Flyodian bit is pure genius, as is the gliding basework of JM during "Medicate."  But where this song really hits its stride is when the 70's era Mini Moog work at 12:16, which kicks on the overdrive, transitioning into the incredibly heavy "Full Circle," which has some of the most glorious lyrical word salad that you'll ever find.  Both "Full Circle" and "Intervals" contain some of the band's most intriguing musical work, with the latter building, exploding into James' shout "TRAPPED INSIDE THE OCTAVARIUM!!"  Then a gloriously wonderful ending, with some insane guitar wankery (although it was even more intense in the Smedley Wilcox medley). 

9 Count of Tuscany: 
One of the truly epic DT songs that goes almost 20 minutes, but has enough differences within the song that it doesn't feel quite that long.  This is also a song that wears its influences on its sleeve, as it kicks off with a nice acoustic Rush type intro, shifting into 70's Styx, and then into thrash worthy of Metallica.  Then it kicks into a Floydian etherial piece before transitioning into Rush again for the outro.  Musically, this is a fantastic song, and might have even made the top five, if it were not for the tepid lyrics. 

8 Pull Me Under: 
The most well-known of the DT songs, this is just an amazing piece of work from the uptempo build to the crunching guitar riff to the out-of-nowhere ending.  I was particularly impressed with how well James' insane vocals worked with the music, as a true high point is his scream "Watch the sparrow falling/gives new meaning to it all."  Plus, the keyboard solo following the second chorus is truly a thing of beauty.  The non-ending is a bit weird, but it fits the song quite nicely. 

[Kosmo]

What do you mean with the lyrics mang?

SUCKING ON HIS PIPE

[Jirpo]

Nice choices and great descriptions!

[CrimsonE]

7 Sacrificed Sons: 
Until this song, I thought WASP's Hallowed Ground was the best metal memorial to 9/11, but this one exceeds it by far.  This is a powerful song that builds as well as any in DT's arsenal.  The music is incredibly passionate, as are the lyrics.  In the right frame of mind, the chorus sends chills down the spine.    And just when you think you are overcome with the emotion of it all, the song kicks into a higher gear with an incredible bass jam, leading into another brilliant instrumental segment.  From there is slides into a grandiose instrumental, and I defy anyone to not want to bang their heads at the 7:00-7:34.  Then the song concludes with a heavier verse and chorus, and then a return to that awesome headbanging riff to close out the song. 

6 Metropolis:
You know you're in for something special with the keyboard intro, accompanied by a delicate, yet heavy guitar riff that suddenly kicks into the main riff.  But where this song really shines is in the lengthy instrumental section beginning at 4:18.  Hell, the instrumental itself could be an awesome song, and it is especially amazing with the bass jam at about 5:36.  Myung's work is truly sick there.   Perhaps more than any other song DT has done, this extended instrumental segment reminds me of Rush in their early 80's glory.  From there, the song glides back into the vocal work, culminating in a satisfying crescendo. 

[inoku]

great to see Sacrificed Sons this high 

[Jirpo]

I wouldn't place SS that high, but its a top 20 for me Great to see your placings of it that high.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

great to see Sacrificed Sons this high 

[CrimsonE]

5 Great Debate: 
Yes, this is essentially a rip-off of Tool's sound, but it is a great one, with a driving main riff, mixed in with a funky sound and an atypical message for the genre.  The middle part is also quite intriguing, featuring some of JR's best keyboard work.  The only thing that keeps it form being higher is that the ending could be a bit stronger instead revisiting the main riff and then fading away, although it does work thematically by suggesting that the debate will continue. 

[Ħ]

The Great Debate has one of the best intros and outros of any song.  That can be pretty much said of every song off SDOIT.

[orcus116]

Cool to see that song so high. I wouldn't place it there but for a song that, as you said, borrows that Tool sound they pulled it off fantastically.

[Jirpo]

The Great Debate has one of the best intros and outros of any song.  That can be pretty much said of every song off SDOIT.

Intros and outros? I mean if I'm listening to the album as a whole I like to listen to the sample voices, but normally I just listen to the middle section.

ARE YOU JUSTIFIED!!

[Mladen]

I'm not the only one who has The Great debate in top 10. 

[hefdaddy42]

It's probably not in my Top 50.  You also have Sacrificed Sons a lot higher than I would, but I like it a lot.

[Kosmo]

Yes! I love The Great Debate, DT is seriously one of the best sample users.

[CrimsonE]

4 .  Home: 
Here's a song that I've always had problems getting a handle on.  When I first heard, it, I thought it was yet another example of the band's wankery, but you can't deny how powerful the WOMP WOMP is in driving much of the song.  It is also quite different from other DT songs in that it embraces a bit of a middle eastern vibe, especially in the opening and in the early part of the key solo.  In fact, in many ways, this song is owned by JR (who did a killer live performance on the recent tour). 

[Jirpo]

Great choice! :

[jsem]

Good song. I approve of almost all your choices so far...

[Kosmo]

You Not Me is number one.

Trust me.

[CrimsonE]

3 Peruvian Skies:
The perfect example of a slow-building epic, this song flows about as smoothly as anything that DT ever did.  The end of the song sounds nothing like the beginning, but everything pushes forward with a nice organic feel to it.  JP's guitarwork is amazing, with a quirky main riff at the beginning and some fantastic soloing immediately following the second chorus.  This is yet another DT song that is impossible to think of without thinking of some of the classic live versions with the Metallica & Pink Floyd references, of which the stuff they did on the Octovarium tour was the best (Wish You Were Here preceding the second verse, Wherever I May Roam late in the song). 

[jsem]

#3?

[Ħ]

I honestly didn't expect this.

#3?

[Kosmo]

You're surprised? Peruvian Skies is fucking gold.

[jsem]

You're surprised? Peruvian Skies is fucking gold.

But.. no. 3!?

[Ħ]

...I suspect controversy for controversy's sake.

[Kosmo]

Controversy my ass, i would place it very high aswell.

[Mladen]

Well done, another fantastic song, it almost makes my top 10.

[bloop]

It's a good song but...

[toro]

Controversy my ass, i would place it very high aswell.

I wouldn't have placed PS that high but it's an awesome song nevertheless and I can see why would you rank it that high. 

[Jirpo]

Interesting choice!

[The King in Crimson]

Space Dye Vest = #1

[CrimsonE]

2 In the Name of God:
This song manages to put together a sinister set of verses, with a glorious sounding chorus.  Just when you think it couldn't get any better, then you get the amazing breakdown bridge that leads into a furious instrumental section that features some of JP's most furious shredding ever, transitioning into a duet with JR's amazing keys.  And the lyrics here are as good as the band has ever written.   

[orcus116]

I don't agree about the lyrics but the song is definitely great.

[contest_sanity]

You're surprised? Peruvian Skies is fucking gold.

But.. no. 3!?

PS would probably be in my top 5 as well.  I love it that much