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

[Nekov]

AND ANSWER THE CALL WHILE YOU STILL HERE AT ALL

[BlobVanDam]

AND I'LL NEVER BE OPEN AGAIN



Am I doing it right?

[BlackInk]

Liking them all and not really much to say about the placements, it all seems about right.

[Silver Tears]

Dammit blob.

[Pols Voice]

41: 6:00
The only thing I don't like about 6:00 (and I will say this about quite a few DT songs) are the voice samples. As iconic as "Six O Clock on a Christmas Mornin'" and "I know all about the honor of God, Mary-Jane," have become among DT fans, they still distract me. But that doesn't change the fact that this song kicks ass. While it's got some great drumming and keyboard parts, to me, what truly makes this song (as well as a few others in Awake) are the vocals. LaBrie totally raaaawwwks this song!

I usually find voice samples in songs (by any band) distracting, but I really like how they're used in 6:00 because they're so unique/memorable. And yes, LaBrie rocks on that song.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

AND I'LL NEVER BE OPEN AGAIN



Am I doing it right?

c-c-c-combo breaker!

[TheGreatPretender]

I usually find voice samples in songs (by any band) distracting, but I really like how they're used in 6:00 because they're so unique/memorable. And yes, LaBrie rocks on that song.

They're not AS bad as in  their other songs (like Space-Dye Vest, way to butcher a masterpiece), but I still think it would've been better without them.

[BlobVanDam]

I actually find 6:00 to be hands down the most obnoxious use of samples in any DT song. I can't speak for their use in SDV, since I never listen to it.

[senecadawg2]

Disappear.

[TheGreatPretender]

40: This Is The Life
There isn't really much I could say about This Is The Life. It's got a great melody and a great progression and doesn't do anything wrong. It's always pleasant to listen to. It's a ballad but still has its grand and epic side in a typical DT fashion, but I think it takes it a little further than other songs of the type, such as To Live Forver. It's certainly heavier. But yeah, I just think it's very enjoyable.

39: Ministry Of Lost Souls
It will always boggle my mind why so many people dislike this song. I think it's great and the very epitome of what Dream Theater is all about. The melodies are nummy on both the Piano and the Guitar side. The concept is pretty cool in a very typical "Petrucci trying to tell a story" way. And then there's the instrumental breakdown, which picks up the energy and simply kicks ass. I really hope to see them play this song live one day. As far as composition goes, there isn't a part of it I don't like.

38: The Root of All Evil
While not my favorite of the songs in the AA Suite, I do think that The Root of All Evil has established one of the most memorable and iconic riffs that John Pettrucci has ever done. Or at least one of the most iconic HEAVY riffs that JP has ever done. And it's that riff that placed the song on my list of top 50. Hearing recurring themes from This Dying soul was also very interesting. But yeah, it's that main riff that makes it stand out in the suite.

37: Wait For sleep
Ah, Wait For Sleep. In the whole Dream Theater discography, it's the only one of its kind. Or at the very least, the best of its kind. It's short and very, very sweet. Honestly, I think this song would be a lot higher on my list if it was a little longer. If it felt like a full song in itself, rather than an intro to "Learning to Live" in the same way that Vacant can be considered an intro to Stream of Consciousness. Still, it's songs like this that make me wish that Kevin Moore hadn't quit DT. As much as I love Jordan Rudess, he has his own, very particular style, and often doesn't capture the... Melancholy sorrow that Kevin Moore managed to capture with piano melodies such as Wait for Sleep or Space-Dye Vest. The vocals and the lyrics in Wait for Sleep are great too. I feel like Kevin Moore wrote the best lyrics out of any DT member, which makes it another shame that he quit.

36: Prophets Of War
Yes, I'm sure this one (especially being higher than Wait for Sleep) is a huge taboo, but you know what? I love this song. Let's start with the very first half a second of it. Yes, right from the get-go as the keyboards start up and get that incredible energy going. Then there are the vocals which are great through and through. The "Queen" harmonies sound awesome, and even Portnoy's little rap is cool. I honestly can't imagine why people don't like this song. The only thing I can think of are the lyrics, which I think are just a little too preachy, but all in all, they're still very well put together. So yeah, I'll just stop talking about this song before I start feeling like it should be higher on my list.

[Ruba]

Prophets of War!  .

I also like The Root of All Evil a lot. Awesome guitar solo.

[BlobVanDam]

Some interesting choices. A couple of controversial picks that I wouldn't expect on most people's lists, like TMOLS and PoW, although I do think TMOLS is an underrated song. I'd rank TROAE fairly well, so it's nice to see that included, and TITL is one of my favourites from ADTOE, so it's nice to see that in there too.

[Jaffa]

I totally agree with what you said about Wait For Sleep, about the melancholy piano melodies that Kevin Moore did so well. 

Anyway, cool batch.  Nice to see PoW getting some rare love. 

[Mladen]

As I said, always amazing to see TMOLS. 

[Tomislav95]

As I said, always amazing to see TMOLS. 

[BlackInk]

All very good ones, Ministry of Lost Souls and This Is the Life is to low.

[Elite]

All very good ones, Ministry of Lost Souls and This Is the Life is to low.

No to both.

[Shadow2222]

Really interesting list so far! I agree with the PoW and TMoLS love, they both rock!

[theseoafs]

All very good ones, Ministry of Lost Souls and This Is the Life is to low.

No to both.

[TheGreatPretender]

35: Pull Me Under
Ah the Greatest Hit. Certainly not the best song in DT's library (hence spot 35), but it does have a pretty kick ass riff. I feel like it was the heaviest DT song at the time of its release. Definitely one of their heaviest. Beautiful lyrics on behalf of Moore, great performance on LaBrie's part. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the way they just cut the outro. When I first heard it, I thought it was an error on the CD, or an oversight at the studio. I get that it was an artistic choice, but it makes the song feel unfinished. Other than that, it's awesome all around.

34: Speak To Me
This is one of those songs that I really think should have made it onto Falling Into Infinity. I just really like the melodies of this song, and its overall energy is unlike anything else on the album. It's got a darker tone to the main riff, but a very sweet tone to the chorus. As much as I love a lot of the songs on FII, I'd trade many of them for Speak To Me. For the longest time, this song felt like that elusive masterpiece that I could only head in live format and as a piano rendition on JR's Notes From A Dream. Luckily, I found Cleaning Out The Closet, so I can finally enjoy a mastered version of it.

33: Another Day
When I first heard Another Day, I was instantly in love with it. It might sound a little 80s to some, but hell, what's wrong with the 80's? The melodies are great. The sax compliments the guitar very well and LaBrie's vocals are nothing short of amazing. Not only that, but it's just one of those songs that's never been done again. Sure, DT has used a saxophone on a B Side and live, but the way it's used in this particular song gives it a unique flair that hasn't been done in a Dream Theater song before or since.

32: Hollow Years
Hollow Years is truly amazing. Honestly, it's one of those songs that prove that Dream Theater can theoretically do any type of music and still kick ass at it. The tune is just so sweet in this song, and the lyrics are great, especially the chorus. The use of the instruments is great. The intro has an interesting little Spanish feel to it, which is another thing that I don't think DT has done before or since. I kind of wish they kept extended chorus from the original version. But ah well, it's great regardless. That extended solo that they did on Live At Budokan absolutely blew me away, too. Definitely my favorite version of the song.

31: In The Name Of God
Originally, this song was a little lower on the list, but after listening to it again, I said, "No, there's no way I can do that to this song." It really kicks a lot of ass. Overall, the lyrics are great, the riffs are great, the melodies and everything else is completely stellar. But where it really stands out is the instrumental section. And even though some people may call it a little shameless, just the way Petrucci goes crazy on the guitar, I just love it. It's pure, unadultarated rockin', JP just really enjoying himself to the extreme. Or at least that's what it sounds like. Considering the nature of Train Of Thought, I can't imagine a better song to conclude the album. I always say that the last song on the album should sum up the entire experience to some extent and this one does it perfectly.

[Silver Tears]

Oooh very nice    Hollow Years is so lovely

[Onno]

Wow, Speak To Me, interesting!

[BlackInk]

Don't really care for most of these songs, except for In the Name of God which is awesome and is to low.

[Elite]

Yeah, there's definitely a way you can put ITNOG lower on your list.



That said, the other 4 are excellent.

[Tomislav95]

Great to see Speak to me on your list

[BlobVanDam]

Another Day - fuck yeah.
Hollow Years - Double fuck yeah
ITNOG - you accidentally the whole spot. It should be at least 30 higher.

[Ruba]

In the Name of God is fifteen spots too high.

Pull Me Under is 30 spots too low.

[Jaffa]

Interesting choices. 

[Ben_Jamin]

Speak to me, awesome. I feel the studio has more emotion than the live version because it's too fast.

[Mladen]

Pull me under and In the name of God 

[kareemo]

In the name of God should atleast be 20 spots higher! The instrumental section and the ridiculous riffs thrown back and forth between JP and JR which ends in a unison is mindblowing. The outro with the dramatic ensemble that fades to a single, almost worn out piano, that leaves us hanging with a final few slur of notes always sends chills down my spine. This song should be 25 spots higher come to think of it!

Another Day is an amazing song, the saxophone touch to it is exactly what it needed to make this track a true masterpiece.

Everyone loves the Hollow Years budokan version more, the solo says it all!

[TheGreatPretender]

Sorry guys, been pretty busy. I'll have the next five up later tonight.

[Elite]

later tonight? it's already 3:30 a.m. 

[Jaffa]

later tonight? it's already 3:30 a.m. 

Keep in mind time differences.  By my clock, it was 6:30 pm when you posted that. 

[Elite]

I know  just let me, please