What's more essential for newcomers?

[TheGodOfN00bs]

What's a better album for newcomers to enjoy and get into the band?

[Dillster22]

I wouldn't show someone Metropolis until after they had heard most other albums. It is very complex and the storyline and voice acting might put people off.
Every song on Images & Words is memorable and a lot easier to listen to than Metropolis.

[cramx3]

Images and Words... the best album, ever.

[Nekov]

They are both awesome. I myself prefer SFAM but it maybe easier if you start with I&W.

[Mosh]

I wouldn't show someone Metropolis until after they had heard most other albums. It is very complex and the storyline and voice acting might put people off.
Every song on Images & Words is memorable and a lot easier to listen to than Metropolis.

I kind of disagree. Images took a while to sink in. Metropolis clicked almost instantly.

However, I still think Images and Words is more essential. It's the album.

[Phoenix87x]

Images and Words... the best album, ever.

[jingle.boy]

Images and Words... the best album, ever.

what they said

[Pols Voice]

I got I&W first and didn't like it, but I gave the band another chance with SFAM and liked it instantly. Now I think I&W is better. So I dunno.

[red barchetta]

I would prefer SFAM.  I think the harmonies are the best they have ever done.  More complex music but with finesse.

[Aythesryche]

I'd recommend to my friends that they start with Images and Words and work their way up in sequence. I explain to them it's worth it to go through their entire catalog in order. If someone can't be bothered to listen to more than one album because they're not interested in taking the time to give something new a chance, there's a great chance I wont even be engaged in a conversation about music with this person in the first place.

This might make me an asshole but I accept it at least, It's easier for me to write people off and have nothing to do with them in that regard than to try and get them to like something they're never going to in the first place. Too many people in the world to get hung up on the unwilling.

So, Images and Words and go from there imo.

[BlobVanDam]

I love both (my #2 and #3), but EASILY SFAM without any question.
Even though it's a concept album, the breaking down of individual songs actually makes it quite digestable for newcomers (even though IaW is also almost as easy to get into), and it's much more representative of DT's sound, and also many people may be scared off by the 80s sound. Not me however, the 80s sound is exactly why I love IaW, but it's 2011, not 1992 anymore. People will take better to SFAM than IaW.

[ResultsMayVary]

Definitely I&W. Although SFAM should be album #2.

[lithium112]

I think SFAM is more representative of DT's sound. If I were making a single album recommendation I would suggest SFAM and maybe just tell them to look up a couple of I&W songs on Youtube. Not to detract from I&W's awesomeness, but it does sound a bit more dated.

[energythief]

SFAM would have been much less mind-blowing if I hadn't been in love with Metropolis Pt. 1 first, so I&W gets my vote.

[hefdaddy42]

Easily I&W.

[Jirpo]

SFAM even though I&W is my fave album ever.

[The Letter M]

Voted IAW, but SFAM would have to be bought second.

If I had to suggest DT albums to a new fan, I'd suggest IAW and SFAM first, then Awake and SDOIT. After that, it'd be FII and ADTOE. After that, if they're hooked, they might as well get 8VM and BC&SL next, and leave SC/TOT/WDADU for last if they get that far.

If I could suggest a live album first, though, it'd have to be LSFNY.

-Marc.

[JasonScandopolous]

I know this will offend people, but... SFAM sounds wayyy too 80s for anybody young to want to listen to it right off the bat.  SFAM is what started me off on DT, so take that with a grain of salt... but give me some of that salt back:  the person who introduced me to DT was a lifelong Rush fan, who really would have rather had SFAM than the entire rest of DTs catalogue combined (up to SC at the time).  I think that the people who like I&W the most are people who are 35+ years old who listened to I&W around the time that it came out... there are exceptions I'm sure, but I would guess that that's true 90% of the time.

I don't know... on the otherhand, if I was introducing someone to metallica, I might start with Kill 'Em All, which has a shitty 80s sound too.

[?]

Images & Words has Metropolis Pt. 1 so I think one should hear it before SFAM, which is Metropolis Pt. 2.

[Chrissalix]

Images and Words is more out there on its own. DT never really replicated that sound. SFAM is a better representation of what DT is today so i'd get a n00b to buy that not I&W. I'd tell them to get I&W second because if they like SFAM, the images is going to blow their face off.

[gabeh1018]

I would suggest either Awake or Images and Words in that particular order. Even though awake is from 94 it still has a more modern accessible appeal to untested listeners in the prog department. That is my two cents.

[angelillo]

Althought I don't really have a representative sample

I have to say that SFAM is my favorite album (together with 6DOIT), but in my experience (3 friends that didn't know anything about Dt) it does not work ideally as an introductury album. Well for somebody who has never listen to a concept album... it is a bit confusing... haha... they were like "what is that? I can't have this on my car stereo!"

Actually than I tried just selecting new material, I gave to one of them BC&SL and to the other ADTOE.

both albums gave way better results... so... in general I think that for somebody who is not used to long songs... probably I&W would do better... a concept album is may be confusing...

Althoguh I have to say that one of these people was like: "WOW, those guys can play!" But I don't think he played it again ever... but ye he was: "I can see why you like them"

I think to be honest is dependent of the musical taste of that person... a friend who was really into jazz and classics, I gave him just 6DOIT (the song) and he loved it... Probably if I had a friend that is more into metal I would give him/her TOT or BC&SL

I would say that I&W and BC&SL would probably make a good combination... "classic" and "post 2000 - heavier" DT

If it is for classic DT, I&W and ADTOE would probably make a good conbination... they both are "classic" DT... I would pick ADTOE in addition to I&W becuase of its production (love it or hate it...that is not part of the discussion now). It has a very "2011ish" production...

[tartarus250]

i would reccomend that you go from i&w then sequentialy through the back catalogue so you can enjoy the musicall sequences as they unfolded thats how i heard them and was suitably impressed all the way!!except you wont have to wait so long inbetween you lucky sod  enjoy

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

SFAM. As far as newcomers that are more into "modern" sounds, SFAM might be a better hook than I&W.

[energythief]

I think that the people who like I&W the most are people who are 35+ years old who listened to I&W around the time that it came out... there are exceptions I'm sure, but I would guess that that's true 90% of the time.

Didn't we already have a massive discussion about people's ages and favorite albums? I'm pretty sure that (at least on the forum), that statement isn't accurate.

[KevShmev]

I&W.  Funny as it might sound to some of us, a newcomer might hear the talking in Regression, think it sounds really stupid, and let that taint their opinion when listening to the rest of the album. 

[darkshade]

SFAM sounds wayyy too 80s

ಠ_ಠ

[BlobVanDam]

I&W.  Funny as it might sound to some of us, a newcomer might hear the talking in Regression, think it sounds really stupid, and let that taint their opinion when listening to the rest of the album. 

Fair point, and having an instrumental right after that might not go down too well either, although I think the 80s production all over IaW might turn off more people.
Funnily, none of the things that people have mentioned in this thread (including the ones I've mentioned myself) ever stopped me getting into DT even though I'm not otherwise into the genre at all.

[MetropolisxPt1]

complication of

Voices
Pull me Under
As I Am
SoC
Another Day
Take The Time
The Spirit Carries On

[Slain]

I really think it depends on who you're showing the album to, I'll usually decide on what DT album to show them depending on what bands the person already listens to. For example, I had a friend who loved Muse, and I showed him Octavarium... He's a big DT fan now. I voted SFAM overall though, I think it's a very memorable album that defines the band.

[snapple]

I&W.

If you can't get into that album, give up. More people dislike SFAM, I'm willing to bet, than I&W.

[BlobVanDam]

I&W.

If you can't get into that album, give up. More people dislike SFAM, I'm willing to bet, than I&W.

I don't know how anyone could dislike either of them. The dislike for either one seems to be an anomalous tiny minority.
As for which is preferred of the two, in the last head to head poll, IaW won with about 60%, however SFAM was ahead of IaW in a poll of the entire "big 4". So I don't think it matters hugely. I'd say they're DT's 2 most universally liked albums overall.

[lumpy33]

I love both (my #2 and #3), but EASILY SFAM without any question.
Even though it's a concept album, the breaking down of individual songs actually makes it quite digestable for newcomers (even though IaW is also almost as easy to get into), and it's much more representative of DT's sound, and also many people may be scared off by the 80s sound. Not me however, the 80s sound is exactly why I love IaW, but it's 2011, not 1992 anymore. People will take better to SFAM than IaW.

you're right.  i've introduced dream theater to a bunch of my college students over the years, and they all love sfam and 6 degrees but struggle to get past the sound of i&w, even though i tell them they're missing out on some of the band's best work.

[VioletS16]

SFAM would have been much less mind-blowing if I hadn't been in love with Metropolis Pt. 1 first, so I&W gets my vote.

This is a great point. Despite the fact that the two have almost nothing to do with each other, it just seems more proper to show them Part 1 first 

[johncal]

I would say SFAM is much more essential for newcomers simply because by far it best represents the last 10-12 years of DT, but even more importantly it represents more closely how they sound now.

Besides, for newcomers, I would say ADTOE is the most essential, forget the old stuff.