The most talented member of DT?

[rubislaw]

Hey everyone, I thought I would start up this thread as it's quite an interesting topic.
Personally I believe it's Jordan Rudess, what with him attending Juilliard School at such a young age and his unbelievable capabilities.
What do you guys think?

[Jarlaxle]

Personally, I believe this topic to have been discussed numerous times, both in its own thread, and coming up in others.
Inb4 he's the best them

[Jamesman42]

Define talent.

[Chagny]

Chris Collins. Such a beautiful, booming, operatic voice.

[Dream Team]

There's a whole thread on this; it can't be far from the first page.

[Mladen]

Jordan Rudess

So talented, it freaks you out. Too bad Dream Theater doesn't even use 25% of his talent.

[reneranucci]

Define talent.

This. Is it about their technical expertise on their respective instrument, their abilities as songwriters or lyricists, the appropiate use of musical ideas that fit the songs, charisma on stage, their diversity as musicians, their work outside DT, their ninja skills or ability with the shovel and tambourine?

[BRGM]

Define talent.

This. Is it about their technical expertise on their respective instrument, their abilities as songwriters or lyricists, the appropiate use of musical ideas that fit the songs, charisma on stage, their diversity as musicians, their work outside DT, their ninja skills or ability with the shovel and tambourine?

I think he means all of those

[hefdaddy42]

The most talented member of DT?

At what?

[rubislaw]

Define talent.

This. Is it about their technical expertise on their respective instrument, their abilities as songwriters or lyricists, the appropiate use of musical ideas that fit the songs, charisma on stage, their diversity as musicians, their work outside DT, their ninja skills or ability with the shovel and tambourine?

ha.ha.ha. 

The most talented member of DT?

At what?

Whatever you define a musician's talent to consist of. I never meant for there to be an absolute definition for talent on this thread.

[yeshaberto]

as a non-musician, I appreciate MP on multiple levels, but I hear from musicians that JR is at the top of his trade. 
in any case, I love them all and find them each amazing in their own right

[Dublagent66]

Define talent.

This. Is it about their technical expertise on their respective instrument, their abilities as songwriters or lyricists, the appropiate use of musical ideas that fit the songs, charisma on stage, their diversity as musicians, their work outside DT, their ninja skills or ability with the shovel and tambourine?

ha.ha.ha. 

The most talented member of DT?

At what?

Whatever you define a musician's talent to consist of. I never meant for there to be an absolute definition for talent on this thread.

Welcome to DTF, where nobody knows what you mean unless you draw them a detailed picture. 

In regards to your thread topic,  *points to avatar*

[reneranucci]

Define talent.

This. Is it about their technical expertise on their respective instrument, their abilities as songwriters or lyricists, the appropiate use of musical ideas that fit the songs, charisma on stage, their diversity as musicians, their work outside DT, their ninja skills or ability with the shovel and tambourine?

ha.ha.ha. 

The most talented member of DT?

At what?

Whatever you define a musician's talent to consist of. I never meant for there to be an absolute definition for talent on this thread.

Well, then it´s very difficult, but I´ll give it a shot:

Best songwritter: very difficult because we don´t have enough information about the songwritting process and almost all songs are credited to DT instead of individual members. But I would say Kevin Moore.
Best lyricist: Petrucci.
Most skilled at his instrument: Petrucci or Rudess... But I´d say Petrucci because he combines technical ability with taste better than JR in his playing IMO.
Most charisma and stage presence: MP by far.
Most creative: MP because he´s in charge of all DT projects and general musical direction, and I think you need a lot of creativity to do that. As a musician, probably Jordan.
Most diverse as a muscian: Hmmm... Maybe JP, but I don´t really know.
Ninja skills: Myung
Weakest link: JLB

[zxlkho]

Best lyricist: Petrucci.

Ctrl+V/Ctrl+C:
Best songwritter: Portnoy
Best lyricist: Portnoy (it would be Myung if he wrote more...)
Most skilled at his instrument: Rudess
Most charisma and stage presence: Portnoy
Most creative: Rudess
Most diverse as a muscian: Probably Petrucci
Ninja skills: Myung
Weakest link: Petrucci solely because of his lyrics (he is a god on guitar)

[Adami]

Petruccis lyrics were fine till SFAM. Before that he made such amazing pieces as LITS, Voices, Scarred and so forth. Neither Portnoy, LaBrie or Moore came close to those songs. Myung did, but in too few instances.

[rumborak]

Overall, JP. He seems the most well-rounded of them all. Great at his instrument, writes (or used to) decent lyrics, writes great tunes.

rumborak

[zxlkho]

Maybe I'm a bit biased toward Petrucci's vocals becuase BC&SL was really my first DT album. I lol'd so hard at the lyrics on TCOT.

[Adami]

Maybe I'm a bit biased toward Petrucci's vocals becuase BC&SL was really my first DT album. I lol'd so hard at the lyrics on TCOT.

THEY'RE SO GOOD AND REAL AND IT HAPPENED WHAT DO YOU THINK HE LIED ITALY EXISTS I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I EAT SPAGHETTI DON'T YOU IT'S SO GOOD YOU SHOULD TRY SOME AT SOME POINT OR I WILL RAPE A DOLPHIN!

[zxlkho]

I'm part Italian. 

[Adami]

I'm part Italian. 

YOU'RE PART LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Awesome]

JR is probably the best technical player, but JLB is probably the reason I like DT as much as I do. Many times DT albums get extra spins simply because I want to hear that voice.

[Jamesman42]

Define talent.

This. Is it about their technical expertise on their respective instrument, their abilities as songwriters or lyricists, the appropiate use of musical ideas that fit the songs, charisma on stage, their diversity as musicians, their work outside DT, their ninja skills or ability with the shovel and tambourine?

ha.ha.ha. 

The most talented member of DT?

At what?

Whatever you define a musician's talent to consist of. I never meant for there to be an absolute definition for talent on this thread.

I define my musician's talent based upon how many waffles they can eat while a getting a back massage from Dave Mustaine. U?

[yeshaberto]

that is how I base it

[rubislaw]

Yeh sounds good

[BRGM]

JR is probably the best technical player, but JLB is probably the reason I like DT as much as I do. Many times DT albums get extra spins simply because I want to hear that voice.

Hahhaa x'D

[wolfking]

Charlie Dominici

[fsh3702]

mike portnoy, no question about it!

[reneranucci]

Best lyricist: Petrucci.

Well I was thinking about all the good lyrics he wrote in the early DT period (Metropolis, Voices, LITS, Another Day, etc.) and not taking into account his recent output which is weaker.

I define my musician's talent based upon how many waffles they can eat while a getting a back massage from Dave Mustaine. U?

[Mebert78]

Best lyricist: Portnoy (it would be Myung if he wrote more...)

You're serious?  Wow, to each his own.  I think Portnoy's lyrics are full of cliche phrases and (aside from the 12-step suite) are too much all about him and people who have wronged him or annoyed him in some way.  It turns me off.

[tri.ad]

Good points, Mebert, but do not forget that MP's early lyrics (especially ACOS and The Mirror) feature very good lyrics, which aren't, particularly regarding The Mirror, full of cliché'd phrases.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

Best lyricist: Portnoy (it would be Myung if he wrote more...)

You're serious?  Wow, to each his own.  I think Portnoy's lyrics are full of cliche phrases and (aside from the 12-step suite) are too much all about him and people who have wronged him or annoyed him in some way.  It turns me off.

Kevin Moore is the best lyricist

[jackbauer114]

Best songwritter: Myung (Trial Of Tears  )
Best lyricist: Petrucci (Lines in the sand)
Most skilled at his instrument: Petrucci
Most charisma and stage presence: MP
Most creative: Myung
Most diverse as a musician: Petrucci
ninja pirate skills: JLB
Weakest link: Jordan, too much wank!

[ZBomber]

Kevin's lyrics stand at the top. After 6DOIT, I haven't really seen a DT song that captivates me lyrically besides Vacant and parts of 8VM.

JR probably has the most raw talent, but I think JP utilizes his talent better than anyone else in the band.

[OperantChamber]

JP could probably do the most pushups.
But JR has the least hair, so JR.

[BRGM]

Am I like the only one who does almost not care at all about the lyrics? I listen to DT cuz of the music...that's it, lyrics aren't important, they're just there so the singer can sing something