Official DT Top 50 Thread Mark II (bss4life15 up now - starting page 79)

[54_diplomats]

Disappear and Metropolis are awesome. Still haven't listened to ACOS

[Tomislav95]

Disappear and Metropolis are awesome. Still haven't listened to ACOS

What are you waiting for?

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Took me a while to finally get to it. Glad I did.

[IdoSC]

I have to go to sleep so the writeup for the final song will hopefully come tomorrow morning, should nothing disturb me.

2. Learning to Live

This is, by far,
*My favorite song in Images and words
*Mostly the instrumental section, but also partially the vocal-included sections: my favorite instrument dynamics, which mostly means the amount of time the lead instrument shifts, and the dynamics between the other instruments and the lead
*My favorite reference to another song
*My second favorite instrumental break and unison
*My second favorite (the final chorus) and third favorite (the F#) "climactic" moments in the history of the band, which are also some of my favorite moments in James LaBrie's career.

If I had to describe this song really shortly, I'd simply call it the epitome of Images and Words. I remember when someone in Youtube made a video called "Dream Theater in 5 seconds", basically showing off a few seconds out of some instrumental sections, with this song's F# thrown in the middle. It was a pretty nice sum-up But my point is, this short video showcased, in a very awkward way, some of the biggest reasons why I love this band.

This song, though, does the same – except it doesn't do it awkwardly at all.
At any given point in this song, even the quieter parts, there is so much going on and everything is extremely well-thought out. The structure retains some familiar attributes usually used by other bands, while it's also completely unique and remains in line with the band's songwriting style. The whole song feels like a preparation, a build-up waiting to reach the top or the climax, and just when James unleashes the climactic passage that he is always associated with, you realize that the song is not even over and that the real climax comes with the final chorus – one of the most touching and shaking sections I've heard in my entire life.

Learning to Live does so many things as good as possible, having every single ingredient of a song perfectly aligned with the other.

[TheGreatPretender]

Wow... Can't wait to read your write up for #1.

[Nekov]

  Awesome choice right there.

[Scorpion]

Yay! I guessed correctly!!

Great choice, even though I wouldn't rank it that high. However, I really enjoy it anyway and there is absolutely nothing wrong with ranking it that high.

Also, number one is Octavarium.

[Lolzeez]

2.Learning To Live
1.Octavarium

Called it.

You just took mine and inversed it.

You just saw my post coming and inversed it so you could tell me that i inverses it.

[BlobVanDam]

For me LTL is the weakest song on IaW.

[MoraWintersoul]

one of the most touching and shaking sections I've heard in my entire life.

Completely.

[IdoSC]

Well, it's time...
1. "Mike Thinks He's Dee Dee Ramone Introducing a Song" Song






















...Nah seriously, here it is:

1. Octavarium

Octavarium was one of the last albums I've heard when I first became a fan. Even then, I wasn't patient enough to listen to a 20+ minutes song, so I always heard the first 7 songs, skipping the title track.

Then, one night, after I've already heard A Change of Seasons and a bunch of other long songs, I've decided to sit down and finally hear the final track in the album that I originally considered a great one, but nothing extraordinary.

And, well...Oh my fucking god.

If you take a typical Dream Theater synth solo, power ballad, a song that sounds like a section out of Six Degrees, two freakin' awesome instrumental sections, one section similar to these times where they reference the shit out of their influences beautifully, and everything that is good about Learning to Live's climactic finale, then you make perfect transitions between all these sections and multiply their sheer brilliance by infinity - you pretty much get Octavarium.

Just like any other song in the last 10 songs, the thing I like the most about it is that everything in this song screams its wonderful, wonderful lyrical message.
But Octavarium takes it to a higher level – THE ENTIRE ALBUM supports this message. Hell, the entire discography (up to this album...) supports this message. As Dream Theater plays this masterpiece dealing with the cyclicality of life and how it affects so many different aspects, you can actually see how every page in the album's booklet has at least 5 references to that theme. Every song in the album represents part of a whole octave.
In all honesty, I tend to believe that this album is a better concept album in its essence than Scenes From a Memory.

Back to the track itself; Fangasm. Everything in this track manages to sound like so many moments of Dream Theater's best, and even surpass them. The climax of Intervals in particular, "Trapped inside this Octavarium", just blows the F# and the final chorus in Learning to Live out of the water as Dream Theater's most climactic moment to me.

The solo in the end is beautiful, every section is stunning, this is a 24-minute song (27 minutes in Score's edition that I usually listen to) that feels like a 4 minute song to me, which is problematic, because it's been wasting SO much of my time...



Alright, so that's it. I hope you enjoyed my list, and I apologize for taking so much longer than I originally expected.
Thank you so much and see ya!


Oh yeah, Lolzeez, you are correct.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

 

[wasteland]

Well, it's time...
1. "Mike Thinks He's Dee Dee Ramone Introducing a Song" Song

[SomeoneLikeHim]

 

This is my number 1 as well. Whenever I forget why I like it so much I just listen to it again and I am still blown away every single time.

[Elite]

2.Learning To Live
1.Octavarium

Called it.

You just took mine and inversed it.

You just saw my post coming and inversed it so you could tell me that i inverses it.

Good job, you got it right

[Scorpion]

Meh. It's a good track, but nowhere near my Top 10, or even my Top 20. The first two parts drag it down, and the final solo is cool, but not as cool as many praise it to be.

I had fun with your list though.  

[Zydar]

Meh. It's a good track, but nowhere near my Top 10, or even my Top 20.

This. It's a good song but not one of my favourites by far. But I'm glad you all like it

[BlobVanDam]

Great pick. It probably wouldn't be in my top 10, as it's generally not the style of DT song that appeals to me as much, but it's still an incredible song from beginning to end (yes, including the Continuum buildup intro).

[TheGreatPretender]

I think Octavarium is more difficult to appreciate on the count of it being very similar (in structure) to A Change of Seasons. It's a super long, very progressive song, and at a first glance, it's like, "We already have one." But it really is an amazing song, full of unique ideas and great music. I approve.

[IdoSC]

I think Octavarium is more difficult to appreciate on the count of it being very similar (in structure) to A Change of Seasons. It's a super long, very progressive song, and at a first glance, it's like, "We already have one." But it really is an amazing song, full of unique ideas and great music. I approve.

As far as I see it, A Change of Seasons had a very specific "essence" or sound throughout the entire 24 minutes, and it could be considered a really long, progressive DT song just as much as it could be considered an epic.

In Octavarium, the pace of the song and the sound changes appropriately to the lyrics / message / section / you name it, making it much more representative of DT's diverse and expansive style. Just my opinion though

[Ben_Jamin]

Cool number 1.

[senecadawg2]

Surprise!!!!!

[Lolzeez]

What do i get you getting it right? 

[Ben_Jamin]

Well looks like im up, I dont know if I should start now or tomorrow. Hmm...guess I'll wait till tomorrow.

[Onno]

Epic, Octavarium is my favourite song too

[senecadawg2]

LET'S GO BEN!!!!

[Ben_Jamin]

Sorry for starting a bit late today, but it is still today (at least where I live).

Anyways, Let's begin. As FlyingBizkit had a controversial list, this is as if not more controversial. Also, Since I have songs combined on my Ipod I'll combine them here. I'll do my best to keep this going smoothly as possible...well here it is


50.   Light Fuse and Get Away
     
      The first in my journey of DT top 50. CD's tone is appropriate, better than how JLB sounded on WDADR. This is one of JM's finest bass work, along with his harmonics before the verse begins. The fast pased verse has a great rhythm and I enjoy how the sample goes along with MP's drum fill. The keyboard solo is great as well. Too bad the quality is muddy or else this will be a bit more higher up. This and the next song really surprised me when I first heard WDADU, as they showcased how talented these young guys are.

49.   The Ones Who Helped to Set The Sun

      The intro creates a beautiful atmospheric setting the tone as if the sun is setting.  "In Higher life we seem to be" is among CD's best vocal moments on WDADU. The instrumental section has moments that foreshadow Awake in the tone KM chooses, at that moment. The solo section is good. Don't know what else to say about this song so I'll leave at that.


48. The Great Debate

       6DOIT, my favorite album, although is doesn't contain my top song. The build up with JM's bass and JR's tone set up the mood and atmosphere perfectly for the first sample. It's got an eerie feeling of life question uneasiness, the same way Tool makes me feel which I guess is funny since they used Tool's 46&2 as influence. The subject never strays from the mood, and the lyrics at the end sum it all up nicely, "pay attention to the question we have raised" leading into the outro instrumental solo's, which fit nicely into the reprise of the beginning showing that the debate still continues.


47. Sacrificed Sons

       Yes, another political song. This is the same as TGD, in the song is in the atmosphere which sets the mood for the lyrics. 9/11, an event that changed the way people see the world. Where peoples fear levels went to critical mass. This captures that especially in the beginning, as if people are confused. It then grows into fear, as the towers begin to fall which is where the instrumental comes in, I picture everyone running from the smoke and debris that is falling. Then the angriness comes in as the lyrics say "teach them what to think and feel...if god's true love are acts of hate." Those three levels of emotion are the point of the song, to me at least.

46. Caught In A Web

      I don't know why I enjoy this song really, but I do. I guess it's the way JLB sings the songs. With such passion and how he sings "devised in he head." his best part though is the "try to push me around..." section. When I first heard this song, I knew it would be one I would enjoy seeing live, but not yet unfortunately. I was happy when they announced the release of Santiago, Chile as an Ytsejam DVD, of course I bought it for pretty much Caught In a Web. Seeing it performed live really made the song, as close as we have to Awake's JLB vocals on the DVD, at the moment. The way they end it too is fun, the "ahhaahs" and the final riff.

[senecadawg2]

wow, starting out with 2 of my least favorite songs from the album many consider to be one of DT's weakest. If it is any reflection on the remaining 45 choices, this is bound to be an interesting list. 

[Nekov]

49.   The Ones Who Helped to Set The Sun
48. The Great Debate

Yes 

[Ben_Jamin]

wow, starting out with 2 of my least favorite songs from the album many consider to be one of DT's weakest. If it is any reflection on the remaining 45 choices, this is bound to be an interesting list. 

Oh it will get heads up and rolling.

[KevShmev]

Light Fuse and Get Away is great; it is nice to see it in someone else's top 50.

[Pols Voice]

Well, uh, I like Caught in a Web.

[Elite]

The Great Debate is at least 40 places too low.

[TheGreatPretender]

Well, uh, I like Caught in a Web.

[Scorpion]

I fucking love LF&GA, TGD and SS. The others are not bad by any means, but they would never break my Top 50.

Looking forward to your list though.