Favorite Epic?

wolven74 · August 15, 2011, 10:29:05 PM

I'm not sure how to post a survey, sorry. Too new to the forum. If anyone knows, please explain it, as I'd like to get it right.

Anywho....

I been thinking today about epics. DT does a lot of them. Some would consider anything over 10 minutes an epic, and they'd be right, but I was thinking specifically of 8VM v ACOS. Each of these compositions is multiple songs in a single song format. You understand what I'm saying? I suppose, if you put it together ItPOE is the same way... Which do you like best? What makes it the best in your opinion?

Adami · August 15, 2011, 10:29:54 PM

I feel like we've had this thread before.................5 or 6 times.

But my favorite Epic is also my favorite DT song, A Change of Seasons.

Mosh · August 15, 2011, 10:38:07 PM

My favorite epic is my all time favorite song of all time, ever. Octavarium.

GasparXR · August 15, 2011, 10:38:26 PM

Right now, Learning to Live, but it always changes. At one time, it was Octavarium, ACOS, and ITNOG. After the new album comes out, it might change, but we'll know that when it comes.

darkshade · August 15, 2011, 10:58:35 PM

any song more or less than 18 minutes or so, maybe 14 and probably 16, but definitely more than 20 minutes is an epic.

anyway, it's a tie between the only 2 title tracks DT has made for full length albums.

The Presence of Frenemies · August 16, 2011, 12:21:29 AM

If we're talking about the "Big 4" of DT epics, the 20+ minute ones (I know the OP didn't specify it, but just for the sake of my post)...it's tricky.

ACOS is great, but it seems like so much of its energy is concentrated in the middle 2/3 of the song. It takes awhile to get going and drags a bit at the end.

8V is the exact opposite. The continuum solo and the rest of Part I are great, but I feel like nothing truly grabs me again until it gets to Part IV, and from there on it's incredible.

ITPOE is more consistent overall, but it has the huge blight of the instrumental section from 18:17-20:19 (does ANYONE on DTF like that part?) and it never really recaptures that momentum. The first 18:17, if the song just went to an outro straight from there, would probably be my favorite DT song (and epic), but then it cuts to that bad section, and while the solos/re-intro/outro after it are okay, it never recaptures that momentum. So, you're left with an 18:17 masterpiece and 7:18 that doesn't really work.

SDOIT is the only DT song that is basically too long for me. There aren't any parts I dislike (I feel like the overture could've been shortened, but whatever), but I just run out of steam listening to it after the huge solo in Goodnight Kiss.

I have a more metal-oriented perspective than most on DTF, so I'm sure I'm in the minority on saying that ACOS' beginning/end and Octavarium's middle aren't great. Not that they're bad, just that compared to the immense things they're being compared to here, they detract.

I guess overall I'll say 8V is best, because it's the only epic that has a truly satisfying ending to me. ITPOE and, to a lesser, extent, ACOS just seem to have ending "sections" tacked on. I suppose Octavarium is structured similarly, but it just seems to flow so much better. SDOIT's ending is nice too, but it's just so difficult for me to pay attention to everything all the way through and make it truly climactic.

As far as the other "mini-epics" go, I'm a huge fan of TMOLS, ITNOG, LTL, TBOT, TCOT, and LaBrie versions of TKH. I don't get into either of the FII epics or TDS, but unless I'm forgetting something, the rest are all pretty solid (by DT standards, which means they'd be like my favorite song by most other bands).

champbassist · August 16, 2011, 12:30:42 AM

From the sub 15 minute ones I'd say Scarred, from the >15 mins section, I'd vote for Octavarium.

DetonationSequence · August 16, 2011, 12:41:45 AM

There's no contest for me. SDOIT is my favourite piece of music, ever, period. I can't listen to it without being reduced into a blubbering, quivering heap of emotion. It combines a wealth of impossibly beautiful melodies with impeccable performance and presentation, and explores pretty much every single musical style or element I'd want in a composition.

That said, ACOS, 8V, ITPOE, and TCOT are also top 10 DT songs - this band is incapable of writing 20+ minute songs that aren't godlike masterpieces that put all other musicians in existence to shame.

Among the mini-epics (only with DT would a 14 minute song be considered 'mini'), LTL, Metropolis and Blind Faith are my definite favourites, but again, these kinds of songs are pretty consistently amazing, with only a few exceptions like TBOT and the original version of TKH (even then, they're glorious by non-DT standards).

ZirconBlue · August 16, 2011, 05:42:30 AM

Quote from: Adami on August 15, 2011, 10:29:54 PM
I feel like we've had this thread before.................5 or 6 times.

But my favorite Epic is also my favorite DT song, A Change of Seasons.

Global Laziness · August 16, 2011, 06:01:32 AM

Quote from: ZirconBlue on August 16, 2011, 05:42:30 AM
Quote from: Adami on August 15, 2011, 10:29:54 PM
I feel like we've had this thread before.................5 or 6 times.

But my favorite Epic is also my favorite DT song, A Change of Seasons.

Haha yep, all of this.

Jirpo · August 16, 2011, 06:02:02 AM

ACOS

jayvee3 · August 16, 2011, 06:10:55 AM

'Mini epic' for me would be Scarred, big epic for me would still be ACOS, edging out the Count by a little..

edu · August 16, 2011, 07:21:28 AM

Octavarium.

Hayden · August 16, 2011, 07:54:48 AM

In order from best to worst, for me:

1. "A Change of Seasons"
2. "Octavarium"
3. "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"
4. "In the Presence of Enemies"
5. "The Count of Tuscany"

Zydar · August 16, 2011, 07:59:43 AM

1. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
2. A Change of Seasons
3. The Count of Tuscany
4. Octavarium
5. In The Presence of Enemies

hefdaddy42 · August 16, 2011, 08:42:47 AM

Quote from: Adami on August 15, 2011, 10:29:54 PM
I feel like we've had this thread before.................5 or 6 times.

Oh come on.

Banny · August 16, 2011, 10:19:38 AM

I'm so not in the same blue as most people here I wouldn't say:

1. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2. The Count of Tuscany
3. A Change of Seasons
4. In The Presence of Enemies
5. Octavarium

Songs that would be ranked higher than these that I just don't consider epics: Learning To Live, Blind Faith,

nightmare_cinema · August 16, 2011, 10:28:10 AM

I think ACOS overall, but lately I've really been getting into 8VM. Sure I've known the song since its release, but it never really grabbed me, it felt all pointlessly disjointed. But lately I've fallen in love with it, still doesn't beat ACOS though. I don't consider 6DOIT to be an epic personally, TCOT is brilliant but lacks the emotional gravity that ACOS has I feel, I do love it but... hmm. I love ITPOE because part 2 is awesome (the whole of it is but part two especially). Compared to the 20+ minute songs I wouldn't consider LTL to be an epic, or it'd beat the rest of them hands down.

Jamesman42 · August 16, 2011, 10:34:50 AM

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on August 16, 2011, 08:42:47 AM
Quote from: Adami on August 15, 2011, 10:29:54 PM
I feel like we've had this thread before.................5 or 6 times.
Oh come on.

This. More like 500 or 600 times

coffees for closers · August 16, 2011, 10:52:40 AM

Quote from: DetonationSequence on August 16, 2011, 12:41:45 AM
There's no contest for me. SDOIT is my favourite piece of music, ever, period. I can't listen to it without being reduced into a blubbering, quivering heap of emotion. It combines a wealth of impossibly beautiful melodies with impeccable performance and presentation, and explores pretty much every single musical style or element I'd want in a composition.

That said, ACOS, 8V, ITPOE, and TCOT are also top 10 DT songs - this band is incapable of writing 20+ minute songs that aren't godlike masterpieces that put all other musicians in existence to shame.

Among the mini-epics (only with DT would a 14 minute song be considered 'mini'), LTL, Metropolis and Blind Faith are my definite favourites, but again, these kinds of songs are pretty consistently amazing, with only a few exceptions like TBOT and the original version of TKH (even then, they're glorious by non-DT standards).

I agree SDOIT, is it for me, with ACOS a close second. I think it is time for an updated version of ACOS. Any way it looks like ADCOE will not have any true epics on it.

PuffyPat · August 16, 2011, 08:03:21 PM

I would have to go with Octavarium. The epicness of the intro as well as the ending, just the whole song. It captures what Dream Theater is all about for me.

Adami · August 16, 2011, 08:08:48 PM

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on August 16, 2011, 08:42:47 AM
Quote from: Adami on August 15, 2011, 10:29:54 PM
I feel like we've had this thread before.................5 or 6 times.
Oh come on.

What?

senecadawg2 · August 16, 2011, 08:09:20 PM

ACOS, then Octavarium, then SDOIT, then TCOT, then ITPOE

CrimsonSunrise · August 16, 2011, 08:12:08 PM

ACOS

wammabe · August 16, 2011, 08:21:39 PM

Quote from: Adami on August 15, 2011, 10:29:54 PM
I feel like we've had this thread before.................5 or 6 times.

But my favorite Epic is also my favorite DT song, A Change of Seasons.

lets have it 7 times then.

My list:
1. Octavarium
Its the song that REALLY got me into DT. I find it extremely well made, the instrumental section is not a bunch of wankery, and the rest of the song is really beautiful and catchy.
2. A Change Of Seasons
The song is great, it has some of my favorite lyrics and vocals, and its really awesome. I think the mix is not that good though, I don't really know if its the mix, but its just not so KABOOM!!
3. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Wonderful song, each track is extremely entertaining and captivating. I never stop listening to the song once I start it!
4. In The Presence of Enemies
Part 1 is extremely awesome and I love part 2, but I think it had a lot more potential.

My list changes all the time, that's why its so cool, you'll never know what to expect!
Anyways, I don't consider any other DT song an epic right now, all of these 4 songs have a large amount of different sections and are significantly long, and they have the special "epic" tag.

I really need to stop procrastinating. :S

JustinVK · August 18, 2011, 09:49:15 PM

1) TCoT
2) Scarred
3) The Killing Hand (It may not be long, but it's EPIC)

DTFan0789 · August 18, 2011, 10:04:33 PM

I'd say that anything over the 18-minute mark would qualify as an "epic".

Before BC&SL was released, I would have said Octavarium without even thinking about it. But ever since then, it's been TCOT.

Metrovarium · August 18, 2011, 10:38:05 PM

1.) Octavarium: I love every moment of this song.
2.) SDOIT: The individual parts are incredible, but the song doesn't really connect together for me. It feels like more of a mini concept album than a single song.
3.) A Change of Seasons: I wish DT made FII more like this song.
4.) ITPOE: Up until The Reckoning, it's an incredible song. Without that part, it'd probably be above even SDOIT.

black_biff_stadler · August 18, 2011, 10:46:12 PM

Metropolis

jsem · August 19, 2011, 03:44:45 AM

My top 4 DT songs look like this:

1. LTL
2. ToT
3. ACOS
4. 8VM

Which ones considered epic is another question

bss4life15 · August 19, 2011, 12:48:20 PM

1.ACOS, there are not enough words in the English language to describe how much i love this song. It is my favorite song of all time.
2.SDOIT, The song that got me into Dream Theater, would be no.1 if Overture didn't feel so long and drawn out and with a stronger second half of Solitary Shell.
3.ITPOE, First part is great and the second part has some of my favorite Dream Theater moments ever. Also i think i'm the only one here that likes The Reckoning. Only complaints are that the song does begin to drag on near the end and the beginning of Heretic is a little too long for me as well.
4.Octavarium, A great song but that intro really drags out WAY too long for me and the Razor's Edge is pretty underwhelming until the Guitar Solo.

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Favorite Epic?