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

[TheGreatPretender]

Nothing on SC is top 20 material. [/controversialopinion]

Actually I think the more controversial opinion would be saying that Systematic Chaos is one of DT's best albums. Which I do believe.

[Elite]

ITPOE 

[Ħ]

Awesome song. I like Pt 2 more, though.

[BlackInk]

Really good one right there.

[Onno]

Cool pick, I really love ITPOE

[jonny108]

Very interesting list so far.  Awaiting the top 3 with great anticipation.

[senecadawg2]

SC wouldn't touch my top 50.

[SeRoX]

I wouldn't separate ITPOE. It may be a cheating but I love it when I listen as a whole.

[TheGreatPretender]

I wouldn't separate ITPOE. It may be a cheating but I love it when I listen as a whole.

Well, it's up to the listener, isn't it? I used to do that too, but I don't know, I just found that it clicked a lot better for me when I listened to the entire album and they were on the opposite ends of it.

[BlobVanDam]

Since getting the album, I've always stuck ITPOE together as one song. It's the only change I've ever made to an album's track order. Each to his own. Obviously DT thought they worked better split, so you could treat it either way.

[Jaffa]

For me, I can always listen to part 1 by itself, but I can't listen to part 2 by itself.  I mean, I can listen to part 2 at the end of Systematic Chaos, with TMOLS preceding it, but I never listen to it as a standalone song.  It's a good piece of music, but I feel like it's definitely much better with part 1 before it. On the other hand, part 1 is more than strong enough to be listened to all by itself.  So, as a general rule I listen to them back to back, but I also frequently listening to part 1 alone. 

Anyway.  At any rate, cool choice.  Definitely an awesome song. 

[BlackInk]

Since getting the album, I've always stuck ITPOE together as one song. It's the only change I've ever made to an album's track order. Each to his own. Obviously DT thought they worked better split, so you could treat it either way.

Do you put ItPoE in the end or the beginning? Because Forsaken would make a terrible Dream Theater album opener.

[BlobVanDam]

Since getting the album, I've always stuck ITPOE together as one song. It's the only change I've ever made to an album's track order. Each to his own. Obviously DT thought they worked better split, so you could treat it either way.

Do you put ItPoE in the end or the beginning? Because Forsaken would make a terrible Dream Theater album opener.

I stick ITPOE at the end. I think Forsaken makes a good opener. It sets the tone for the album nicely, it's a short song, and this way the whole album sort of builds up to the bigger songs. I like it that way.

[Mladen]

That's one awesome song. 

[hefdaddy42]

Awesome song. I like Pt 2 more, though.

Really?  I've not heard that very often.

Yeah, Pt. 1 is great.  Good choice.

[Scorpion]

I have ITPOE at the end, and Constant Motion opening. It's a great opener, me thinks.

Oh yeah, and good song, though no where near my Top Ten. But then, diversity makes it interesting, doesn't it?

[TheGreatPretender]

I have ITPOE at the end, and Constant Motion opening. It's a great opener, me thinks.

Oh yeah, and good song, though no where near my Top Ten. But then, diversity makes it interesting, doesn't it?

Like I said, I think anything that's high energy is a good opener for an album. In SFAM, I pretty much consider Overture 1928 the true opening.

03: Learning To Live
Like many songs in my Top 10, the great thing about this song is that while doing so many things right, it does absolutely nothing wrong. It starts out strong and energetic, and moves on to slow down a little, to allow for a more atmospheric and beautiful moment, when the vocals start. One thing I can really respect is when a guitarist knows when to stop playing and allow for a more quiet moment for vocals and the bass to shine. I've known quite a few guitarists who just loved the sound of themselves playing so much that they just wouldn't stop. In any case, like I said, this song is one of those near perfect Dream Theater songs (although quite frankly, that's what I'd say about ITPOE1 as well). Every single member of the band absolutely shines in this song. And while I prefer the energy of In The Presence of Enemies, and the extra epic length of A Change Of Seasons, what really pushes Learning to Live to #3 for me is... Wait for it. Yes, you guessed it. Dat F Sharp!

Now, another interesting thing about this song is that generally, I'm not a fan of songs that fade out. Especially Rock/Metal songs. I like them to have a strong finish and just let the instruments stop. Frankly, I think fade outs can ruin songs, especially when it fades out on a solo like in The Best Of Times. But in the case of Learning To Live, I actually like the fadeout, especially considering that it's the last song on the album. Listening to Images and Words from the beginning to end, it almost sounds like the band came, they play the album, and at the end of Learning To Live, they're leaving and they're gone until the next album. It's almost kind of sad, but it really works. Having said that, I did love the way they ended the song on the Live Scenes From New York concert.

[BlackInk]

Good one. It would be this far up my list but it's an awesome song.

[Jaffa]

This is probably the least controversial pick of your list thus far.  Definitely a worthy song for such a high spot. 

[TheGreatPretender]

This is probably the least controversial pick of your list thus far.  Definitely a worthy song for such a high spot.

Well, it's like I said at the beginning, some picks will probably be just like with most people, while others... Well, yeah, Forsaken at #8, haha.


EDIT: Speaking of learning to live, incidentally, today I was able to hit that F Sharp with some actual power for the first time.

[SeRoX]

This song absoluletly is supposed to be at least in top 10 in everyone's list. So, good place.

[BlobVanDam]

Wouldn't make my top 20, or top 50.

Bring back the controversial picks! Throw in You Not Me! Or Light Fuse and Get Away.

[Scorpion]

Wouldn't make my top 20, or top 50.

Bring back the controversial picks! Throw in You Not Me! Or Light Fuse and Get Away.

This. This song need infinitesimally (did I spell that right?) more love than it receives.

Though LTL is awesome too.

[Mladen]

Duh. Everybody loves Learning to live. 

[Elite]

Duh. Everybody loves Learning to live. 

Whoahoahoaaaaa.

[BlobVanDam]

Wouldn't make my top 20, or top 50.

Bring back the controversial picks! Throw in You Not Me! Or Light Fuse and Get Away.

This. This song need infinitesimally (did I spell that right?) more love than it receives.

Well I was just joking about songs that have no place on a top 50, actually.

[hefdaddy42]

olol

Yeah, that song is, well, not good.

[Scorpion]

Suit yourselves. I like it.

[Mladen]

Are we talking about Light fuse and get away? That's one fine song. 

[senecadawg2]

Learning to Live!   

[TheGreatPretender]

Well, like I said ahead of time, I knew there were going to be some songs that people would say, "Oh yeah, that's exactly where I expected it to be." Sorry to disappoint with my lack of controversy.

02: Scene 7: Dance Of Eternity/One Last Time
Again, I choose to put these two together because they're designated as a part of the same scene, and also because otherwise Dance of Eternity doesn't have a proper ending it just stops. Now, I think One Last Time is one of the most beautiful shorter tracks that DT has ever done, it's got great piano, great riffs, great vocals, lyrics, everything. But having said that, even if I detached it, Dance Of Eternity by itself would still hold the #2 spot for me. It's pretty much untouchable in my eyes (or ears). Like many songs on Scenes From A Memory, it's got a funky vibe, yet still holds some very sinister undertones. In terms of musicianship, it's absolutely unmatched. It's heavy, progressive, but doesn't take itself too seriously, thanks for Jordan Rudess' little piano break. Dream Theater has many great songs, but this would be one of the best examples I could give if someone asked me, "What's the big deal about Dream Theater?" Simply put, Dance of Eternity is the biggest amount of awesome that has ever been put into 6 minutes.

[BlobVanDam]

Another interesting choice, although I don't count those one song by any stretch, and again, nothing on SFAM really ranks very highly with me individually.

[SeRoX]

This is what really controversial means to me! One Last Time is OK itself, would make top 50 in my list but Dance Of Eternity is the least favourite instrumantel for me, I don't even add it in my top 50.

But it's good to see controversial picks.

[Jaffa]

This. This song need infinitesimally (did I spell that right?) more love than it receives.

Yes, you spelled it right.  But, for the record, it means immeasurably small, so you just said LFAGA needs just a tiny bit more love than it receives. 

02: Scene 7: Dance Of Eternity/One Last Time

Well, that's definitely an interesting pick.  Not one I agree with even slightly, but again, cool to see your rather unique opinions.  Can't wait to see your #1!

[Scorpion]

This. This song need infinitesimally (did I spell that right?) more love than it receives.

Yes, you spelled it right.  But, for the record, it means immeasurably small, so you just said LFAGA needs just a tiny bit more love than it receives. 

Shit. I meant infinitely, not infinitesimally, though I think you guessed that...