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

[TheGreatPretender]

Lie is average, As I am is also kinda OK.  The other three, however, just plain rule. 

There is no average or kinda OK for Dream Theater. Their songs are either pretty awesome, very awesome, or extremely awesome. 

[FlyingBIZKIT]

So You Not Me is extremely awesome? I mean, I haven't seen it in your list yet...bet it will be top 5.

[RuRoRul]

Good choices, especially As I Am and In The Presence Of Enemies Pt. 2... though I will never get why lots of people rank them as different songs when most people consider Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence a single song. SDOIT feels more like a short album to me than anything else.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

Good choices, especially As I Am and In The Presence Of Enemies Pt. 2... though I will never get why lots of people rank them as different songs when most people consider Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence a single song. SDOIT feels more like a short album to me than anything else.

I guess the fact that they are, as opposed to six degrees, actually separated on the album is a big factor.

[theseoafs]

They also sound very, very different.

Luckily for me, neither part makes it onto my top 50, so I don't have to worry about whether to split them.

[TheGreatPretender]

Not gonna make you guys wait for the next batch. Here they are:

15: The Shattered Fortress
While it's easy to say, "Let's use some elements from each of the 4 previous songs and have this final song that sums the whole thing up," it's not that easy to make it live up to all the other ones. The Shattered Fortress, however, I think succeeded in that. All the recurring themes from each and every one of the previous AA Suite songs were awesome, and in some cases, dare I say, done better than the original. The song has balls, it's got great music, it's progressive as hell, and to top it all off, it's really, really fun to sing along to. Vocally, it's very diverse, utilizing the grit, the slow and melodic lyrics and the high and powerful lyrics. My favorite song on Black Clouds & Silver Linings album. Truly Mike Portnoy's masterpiece of a Swan Song.

14: Scene Six: Home
Home was yet another song that I didn't dig too much at first, but had really grown on me over time. For some reason, I had a hard time seeing how it fit into the album, musically. It just felt very different from everything else on Scenes From A Memory. It wasn't until I listened to Metropolis Pt. 1 that I figured how how it fit. But ultimately, what made me really like this song, I think, was seeing Live Scenes from New York. Seeing it performed by the band members made me appreciate it more. And then, once I started listening to it more often, I really started loving the riffs, the solos, and particularly the vocals. It's just one of those songs that had to grow on me, and I'm sure it would've happened eventually regardless.

13: Scene Five: Through Her Eyes
I just love this song. Any given version of it. The main piano melody is beautiful, and easily one of Rudess' best. And honestly, I think the lyrics are great. They move me quite a bit. Again, like with Spirit Carries On, regardless of what role they play in the story, I think it's ultimately about the bigger picture. The song is about a person who died way before their time, and I think it's incredibly moving. The vocal delivery adds to it quite a bit. And of course, John Petrucci's guitar works are nothing short of amazing. Not every guitarist can actually play their guitar with emotion. Great song and my favorite slow ballad by Dream Theater.

12: Octavarium
Octavarium is one of those songs that I respected and appreciated right off the bat, but it took me a while to truly like it, let alone love it. Due to its length and how progressive it is, I couldn't help but compare it to A Change of Seasons, and as a result, it was really difficult for me to allow Octavarium to find its own identity. Still I always found it very enjoyable. It wasn't until parts of it started getting stuck in my head that I started truly craving this song, which was quite recently. Now I get it. Interestingly enough, my favorite part of the song is Medicate. The melody is just euphoric... Kind of like being medicated, I suppose.

11: Scene Nine: Finally Free
On any given album, I believe that the last song should capture the feel of the entire album. I believe that many of Dream Theater's 'final' songs manage to do this quite effectively, including Learning To Live, In The Name Of God, Octavarium, etc. But in this case, that is literally the case. Finally Free takes quite a few themes from the album and puts them together while adding a dark twist to the story (which otherwise with The Spirit Carries On had a nice and happy conclusion). The lyrics are very theatrical, and make me wish the album was developed into a musical. The vocal performance by James LaBrie is amazing. Musically it's awesome. Truth be told, I wish they didn't fade it out into the skit at the end. I'd rather they let the music play out the way it did on the "Making of Scenes From A Memory" version, or better yet, "Live Scenes From New York" version with the Metropolis reprise at the end. But it's awesome regardless.

[senecadawg2]

SFAM tracks! 

[Jaffa]

Despite the fact that this is mostly SFAM, cool batch.  Interesting to see Through Her Eyes listed so high.  I always enjoy the song, but it's never been a standout to me. 

Not a big fan of The Shattere Fortress, myself, but, meh. 

[Ben_Jamin]

The Shattered Fortress is going to change a lot of opinions when/if it's played live. I love it and enjoy how all the themes are summed up, especially since it's about AA theirs no other way it could've been done.

Glad to see it. Also, not going to be the last.

[theseoafs]

TSF and THE are entirely too high.

[BlackInk]

Octavarim, Finally Free and Home are excellent songs. Nice ones.

[BlobVanDam]

Octavarium is about right, but the rest would be much lower for me.
TSF is the weakest of the 12SS imo (how on earth can that be above TGP, dude??!!?). Home is the most overrated song on SFAM, although still good. Through Her Eyes is a nice song, and it's interesting to see it get some love, however it's nowhere near a top song for me. And I love Finally Free, although there are just happen to be more songs I prefer.

I do love seeing an interesting top 50 though, so no complaints here.

[TheGreatPretender]

TSF is the weakest of the 12SS imo (how on earth can that be above TGP, dude??!!?).

Because of the lyrics, mostly. Otherwise TGP would be a lot closer to the top for me. But like I said, "Fatal descent spinning around/I've gone too far to turn back round" is a sad excuse for a rhyme. Same with, "Way off in the distance I saw a door I tried to open/I tried forcing with all of my will but still the door wouldn't open". Mike Portnoy has written some great lyrics over the years, he could've done better. There are other reasons, but that's my biggest turn off about TGP. The sentiment is so great, but I can't quote it because the way it's worded it's embarrassing.

[BlobVanDam]

I've never heard anyone complain about those lyrics. I do hear a lot of people complain about TSF's lyrics however, especially lyrics such as the angry screamed KINDNESS, INVENTORY bits, which are more "embarrassing" to me.
I don't see any problem with those lyrics from TGP you quoted anyway. I've never really noticed the repeated rhyme on the first one, because the lines are long and drawn out, and it's still a slightly different word, so I don't feel it's a problem.
For the outro section, I feel the repetition of the word "open" is used for effect, to emphasize the importance of trying to "open the door", and the repetition adds a sense of frustration and emotion to the verse imo. But that's just my own interpretation, so YMMV.

[TheGreatPretender]

Yeah, I didn't interpret it that way at all. I was like, "that's a good sentiment to quote" but as I was typing it up, I was like, "open... open... that's ridiculous. I can't quote this." In any case, like you said, we all interpret things differently. But what does YMMV mean?

[Onno]

Great to see TSF and Through Her Eyes 

[TheGreatPretender]

Great to see TSF and Through Her Eyes 

Frankly I'm genuinely surprised that Through Her Eyes doesn't get more love around here.

[BlobVanDam]

Yeah, I didn't interpret it that way at all. I was like, "that's a good sentiment to quote" but as I was typing it up, I was like, "open... open... that's ridiculous. I can't quote this." In any case, like you said, we all interpret things differently. But what does YMMV mean?

Your Mileage May Vary.

Great to see TSF and Through Her Eyes 

Frankly I'm genuinely surprised that Through Her Eyes doesn't get more love around here.

I think the shorter, more straightforward songs often get overlooked for the longer, more complex songs. Or maybe people just don't like it. I don't think it gets discussed that often.

[Jaffa]

For my part, Through Her Eyes is a nice song, with some beautiful and touching vocals.  I can't say there's anything wrong with it in particular, either, because it is a good song.  It just doesn't do a whole lot to keep my attention.  I rarely listen to it outside of SFAM, and when I do listen to SFAM in whole, Through Her Eyes doesn't really stand out for me; it's more like a cool-down period between Beyond This Life and Home.

It's just one of those songs that I enjoy whenever I hear it, but that I never really go out of my way to listen to.  Maybe it's just because of it's so mellow.  I'm not sure. 

[TheGreatPretender]

For my part, Through Her Eyes is a nice song, with some beautiful and touching vocals.  I can't say there's anything wrong with it in particular, either, because it is a good song.  It just doesn't do a whole lot to keep my attention.  I rarely listen to it outside of SFAM, and when I do listen to SFAM in whole, Through Her Eyes doesn't really stand out for me; it's more like a cool-down period between Beyond This Life and Home.

It's just one of those songs that I enjoy whenever I hear it, but that I never really go out of my way to listen to.  Maybe it's just because of it's so mellow.  I'm not sure.

Aww,  you're never in the mood to listen to something mellow?
That's half the reason why DT is my favorite band, they have something for every mood. If I'm pissed, it's As I Am, Lie, Honor Thy Father, if I'm happy and Mellow, it's Hollow Years, The Answer Lies Within, Lifting Shadows. If I'm sad it's Disappear, Far From Heaven, Take Away My Pain. If I'm psyched... Well, you get the idea.

[Mladen]

Octavarium and SFAM songs are brilliant. But I don't like The Shattered fortress...

[RuRoRul]

Cool choices, Home is about right and I didn't think I'd find anyone rank The Shattered Fortress a little higher than I do  Through Her Eyes wouldn't make my top 80 though.

[Jaffa]

For my part, Through Her Eyes is a nice song, with some beautiful and touching vocals.  I can't say there's anything wrong with it in particular, either, because it is a good song.  It just doesn't do a whole lot to keep my attention.  I rarely listen to it outside of SFAM, and when I do listen to SFAM in whole, Through Her Eyes doesn't really stand out for me; it's more like a cool-down period between Beyond This Life and Home.

It's just one of those songs that I enjoy whenever I hear it, but that I never really go out of my way to listen to.  Maybe it's just because of it's so mellow.  I'm not sure.

Aww,  you're never in the mood to listen to something mellow?
That's half the reason why DT is my favorite band, they have something for every mood. If I'm pissed, it's As I Am, Lie, Honor Thy Father, if I'm happy and Mellow, it's Hollow Years, The Answer Lies Within, Lifting Shadows. If I'm sad it's Disappear, Far From Heaven, Take Away My Pain. If I'm psyched... Well, you get the idea.

Yeah, I don't really know what I mean.  It's not just that Through Her Eyes is mellow - because yes, I sometimes do gravitate towards mellow songs.  But on the list of mellow DT songs, Through Her Eyes is one of the least interesting for me.  Hard to say why.

Anyway, I don't mean to derail.  You're obviously entitled to adore the song, and it's actually cool to see it praised, so.   

[TheGreatPretender]

Well, I could drag it out and let it linger, but naw, I'm excited. Here's the final batch before the top 5:

10: Outcry
Outcry is my favorite song off the new album and for good reason. Before the album even came out, I knew that I would like this song, when there was a question addressed to Jordan Rudess about whether the new album would have anything crazy like Dance Of Eternity on it, and he referenced Outcry. I knew we were in for something awesome. And I was right! First of all, the tone of the song is very dramatic and conflict driven, the song is basically about rebellion which can apply to any number of things from real world events where people are being oppressed to Star Wars, to Metal Heads in general. Regardless of what it is, the sentiment is powerful and unifying. The song incorporates powerful riffs accompanied by great keyboard ambience, as well as excellent piano parts and great lyrics. And then... The instrumental section kicks in. What can I say about that? The whole reason I started listening to Dream Theater in the first place was because of stuff like this. Even my friend who doesn't even listen to Rock or Metal music was like, "This is awesome! I love it!" Why? Because of the musicianship. This song is the biggest testament (not that the other songs lacked it) to the fact that in spite of Mike Portnoy leaving the band, Dream Theater is still faithful to delivering what it's always been about.

09: Raise The Knife
When I first heard this song (on the Score DVD) I was ready to pass it off as something insignificant. Afterall, it didn't even make it on the album. But I think it took me about two listens before I went, "So... They cut this song from the album, but New Millennium they kept? That's just not right." Yeah, I think this song kicks ass, and definitely my favorite Dream Theater non-album track (unless you count #6 as a non-album track). In any case, this song has everything. It has quiet parts, it has great riffs, it has extended instrumental sections, it has powerful vocals, it has great lyrics, and all of it with great personality and identity. It didn't sound like filler, it didn't sound generic, and it still sounded true to the Dream Theater style. Not putting it on Falling Into Infinity was a big mistake. Frankly, aside from maybe Hollow Years, I would trade any song on the album for this one. Luckily, I have them all, so I don't need to choose.

08: Forsaken
From what time I spent on this forum, this is probably my most controversial choice. But frankly, the only reason that Forsaken isn't #1 is because it's a simple, straight forward song. But musically, I think it does absolutely nothing wrong. The piano melody introduction is amazing. The riffs are emotional yet powerful. The vocals are beautiful and the lyrics are poetic and very well put together. The tone of it reminds me a little of symphonic rock (which I'm a big fan of) but with a Dream Theater style to it. All in all, it's a very beautiful song that I'm proud to consider in my top 10.

07: Scene Two: Overture 1928/Strange Deja-Vu
As you can see, I like to separate my Scenes From A Memory songs by 'Scenes' rather than tracks. But even if I didn't, both Overture 1928 and Strange Deja-Vu would be pretty close to this spot, if not right where they are. Of course in that case, Six Degrees wouldn't have made it on the list at all, so let's just keep it this way, shall we? Anyway, I think boths tracks are great in their own way. First of all, Overture, aside from being a beautiful instrumental, does something great, not only does it start the album on a very powerful and exciting note, but it touches on many of the themes from the album as well as some recurring themes from Metropolis Pt. 1, and basically does exactly what an Overture should do. It's simply awesome. And as it flows into Strange Deja-Vu, it gets the story going in a great way. The vocals are spectacular, the music rawks, and even in this simple song, there's an ABA progression with the middle section having a completely different mood from the rest of the song. And it's fun to sing along with. All together, Overture 1928 and Strange Deja-Vu sound free and liberated, not unlike DT's creative freedom at that point in their career.

06: A Change Of Seasons
The worst thing about A Change Of Seasons is that there's only one of it. I mean, what can be said about it that hasn't already been said? Truth be told, the first time I heard this song, I kind of tuned it out. Simply because the first time I heard it was on the Live Scenes From New York DVD, so this was after watching the Scenes From A Memory album performed live, then A Mind Beside Itself, then Learning to Live. By the time A Change of Seasons came on, my brain was too tired. Back then it wasn't equipped to handle that much awesome in one sitting. But it didn't take long before I fell in love with it. My favorite part of the song is definitely Another World. A stunning showcase of LaBrie's vocal abilities.

[BlobVanDam]

An........... interesting list. None of these would be close to my top 20. Not sure they'd even make my top 50, aside from Overture 1928/SDV, which is one of DT's best one-two punches, although I don't consider it one song, so that might affect their ranking.

This is quite possibly the most unpredictable list yet. I like that.

[TheGreatPretender]

None of these would be close to my top 20. Not sure they'd even make my top 50

Not even A Change Of Seasons?

[Nekov]

Not sure they'd even make my top 50, aside from Overture 1928/SDV,

[BlobVanDam]

None of these would be close to my top 20. Not sure they'd even make my top 50

Not even A Change Of Seasons?

Probably not. I still think it's pretty good, just not that good.

[theseoafs]

Yuck, Forsaken at 8?

[Ben_Jamin]

Awesome choices.

I view outcry, not as rebellion, but standing up for yourself as a person, as a people, nation.

[Elite]

Raise the Knife, Overture 1928/Strange Deja Vu & A Change of Seasons 

[Jaffa]

And I thought my #8 was controversial.  Still, I have always liked Forsaken (although admittedly not quite this much), so it's cool to see someone who loves it.

Also interesting to see Raise the Knife in a top ten.  It's a cool song for sure, but not one that ever really stood out as amazing to me.  Ditto for Outcry, really.

ACOS certainly deserves #6, if not higher.

And, Scene Two!   

[Elite]

And I thought my #8 was controversial.

Wait for mine. Actually my whole top 10-15 to a certain extent.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

ACOS is not my favorite DT song but how you could leave it out of your top 50 is beyond me

[Silver Tears]

Ooooh interesting!