Images and Words vs Metropolis pt 2: Scenes From a Memory

[KevShmev]

Saying it was lacking in emotion may not have been the best way to put it; a better way is to say that it is lacking memorable melodies. 

Erotomania, to me, is THE definitive Dream Theater instrumental.  It has everything that is great about the band - memorable melodies, great playing, interesting songwriting, unexpected twists and turns that still sound natural, a main theme that is revisited numerous times with slight variations, etc. - all rolled up into a wonderful 6 minutes and 44 seconds ball. 

[TheGreatPretender]

The Dance Of Eternity, to me, is THE definitive Dream Theater instrumental.  It has everything that is great about the band - memorable melodies, great playing, interesting songwriting, unexpected twists and turns that still sound natural, a main theme that is revisited numerous times with slight variations, etc. - all rolled up into a wonderful 6 minutes and 13 seconds ball. 

Fixed that for ME. 

[SeRoX]

It's simple. Because Erotomania is an experimental song that includes complex technics and emotion and plus it really flows well and fits the concept where TDOE is just a technical song with no emotion and it gives the feeling of compulsion to fit the concept with its Metropolis references.

[DebraKadabra]

Erotomania, to me, is THE definitive Dream Theater instrumental.  It has everything that is great about the band - memorable melodies, great playing, interesting songwriting, unexpected twists and turns that still sound natural, a main theme that is revisited numerous times with slight variations, etc. - all rolled up into a wonderful 6 minutes and 44 seconds ball. 

Well said, and I agree completely.  Your mileage, however, may vary.

[The King in Crimson]

I&W

Only about half of SFAM is really all that enjoyable, on a song-by-song basis that is.  The concept is cool even if the lyrics are cheesy, but the second half of the album just brings it down.  TDoE kicks the flow off and the album never really recovers from that.  Plus, TDoE is easily one of my least favorite DT songs.  For instrumentals, Overture 1928 kicks the hell out of it.

[Dark Castle]

I&W is a fantastic album, but Scenes is on a whole different level, in fact, it's so good it has it's own level.

[theseoafs]

I&W. SFAM just isn't quite as classic.

[ZKX-2099]

Scenes. Didn't even have to think about it.

Only album that's made me tear up like a pansy little girl.

SAFE IN THE LIGHT THAT SURROUNDS ME!


Every fuckin time...

[TheGreatPretender]

Scenes. Didn't even have to think about it.

Only album that's made me tear up like a pansy little girl.

SAFE IN THE LIGHT THAT SURROUNDS ME!


Every fuckin time...

I know what you mean. I watched Scenes From New York again last night... Man... Best moment in music, ever.

[ZKX-2099]

Scenes. Didn't even have to think about it.

Only album that's made me tear up like a pansy little girl.

SAFE IN THE LIGHT THAT SURROUNDS ME!


Every fuckin time...

I know what you mean. I watched Scenes From New York again last night... Man... Best moment in music, ever.

Bro...

[SeRoX]

You guys are joke. 

[nicmos]

The Dance Of Eternity, to me, is THE definitive Dream Theater instrumental.  It has everything that is great about the band - memorable melodies, great playing, interesting songwriting, unexpected twists and turns that still sound natural, a main theme that is revisited numerous times with slight variations, etc. - all rolled up into a wonderful 6 minutes and 13 seconds ball. 

Fixed that for ME. 

By George, I think he's got it! 

[GasparXR]

SFAM. It's in my #3 spot, where I&W is in my #6 spot, in fact I'm pretty sure I'm the only person I've seen who ranks it that low. Despite that, every track is great, and it's one of their most consistent albums, but I would like it more had the original song order been used (PMU and Metropolis were switched I believe?), the songs were a little more concise and sounded less like their influences (same problem with WDADU), and the snare drum wasn't triggered.

As an added note relating to how the album wears their influences on its sleeve, Awake to me is the first album where DT started to truly develop their own sound, sans 6:00 which sounds like Deep Purple.

[Fourth Horseman]

SFAM. It's in my #3 spot, where I&W is in my #6 spot, in fact I'm pretty sure I'm the only person I've seen who ranks it that low. Despite that, every track is great, and it's one of their most consistent albums, but I would like it more had the original song order been used (PMU and Metropolis were switched I believe?), the songs were a little more concise and sounded less like their influences (same problem with WDADU), and the snare drum wasn't triggered.

As an added note relating to how the album wears their influences on its sleeve, Awake to me is the first album where DT started to truly develop their own sound, sans 6:00 which sounds like Deep Purple.

Images and Words isn't their developed sound?   

[TheGreatPretender]

By George, I think he's got it! 

But see, I fixed it for ME not for him. It's all about me, not you.

[GasparXR]

SFAM. It's in my #3 spot, where I&W is in my #6 spot, in fact I'm pretty sure I'm the only person I've seen who ranks it that low. Despite that, every track is great, and it's one of their most consistent albums, but I would like it more had the original song order been used (PMU and Metropolis were switched I believe?), the songs were a little more concise and sounded less like their influences (same problem with WDADU), and the snare drum wasn't triggered.

As an added note relating to how the album wears their influences on its sleeve, Awake to me is the first album where DT started to truly develop their own sound, sans 6:00 which sounds like Deep Purple.

Images and Words isn't their developed sound?   

For the most part. It's more distinguished than WDADU, but it still reeks of Iron Maiden, Rush, Yes, etc. Even though it's a great album anyway.

[Ħ]

Thinking again about TDOE, I can see that if you've heard it a thousand times, it loses its value as a song with surprising twists and turns, whereas Erotomania has some pretty good melodies which will keep you coming back. Regardless, if we're just talking about quality here, I've got to say TDOE is a much more ambitious and creative instrumental.

[Adami]

Not sure what ambition has to do with quality.

TDOE isn't band, but it just sounds like just a collection of technical parts thrown together. Erotomania feels like a real song.

[TheGreatPretender]

It's definitely more chaotic, but it does have a recurring theme and a very sinister tone which binds the whole thing together really well. I think people who have dismissed it need to listen to it more often.

[Ħ]

It's definitely more chaotic, but it does have a recurring theme and a very sinister tone which binds the whole thing together really well. I think people who have dismissed it need to listen to it more often.

Or less. TDOE is the type of song that can get very stale on too many listens. It's only recently that I've noticed people not liking TDOE...I reckon it was more mindblowing and popular back in the day.

[TheGreatPretender]

Or less. TDOE is the type of song that can get very stale on too many listens. It's only recently that I've noticed people not liking TDOE...I reckon it was more mindblowing and popular back in the day.

Every song gets stale with too many listens. Most of Images and Words got stale for me at one point.

[KevShmev]

I think people who have dismissed it need to listen to it more often.

I think you need to accept that many of us who have listened to a lot simply don't think it is that good or memorable.  It's like you refuse to accept that anyone doesn't think it is totally awesome, so you come up with possible flimsy, fabricated reasons like us not listening to it enough.

[Adami]

I think people who have dismissed it need to listen to it more often.

I think you need to accept that many of us who have listened to a lot simply don't think it is that good or memorable.  It's like you refuse to accept that anyone doesn't think it is totally awesome, so you come up with possible flimsy, fabricated reasons like us not listening to it enough.

Personally I don't like TDOE because I feel like the samples detract from the emotion.

[orcus116]

The song really loses steam after the ragtime solo. It's a novel concept but there's not much substance after multiple listens. It was cool to show off to friends but that lost its luster too.

[KevShmev]

I think people who have dismissed it need to listen to it more often.

I think you need to accept that many of us who have listened to a lot simply don't think it is that good or memorable.  It's like you refuse to accept that anyone doesn't think it is totally awesome, so you come up with possible flimsy, fabricated reasons like us not listening to it enough.

Personally I don't like TDOE because I feel like the samples detract from the emotion.

I feel like the wankery detracts from the emotion.

[TheGreatPretender]

I think you need to accept that many of us who have listened to a lot simply don't think it is that good or memorable.  It's like you refuse to accept that anyone doesn't think it is totally awesome, so you come up with possible flimsy, fabricated reasons like us not listening to it enough.

Hey, all I know is that when I first heard songs like Scarred, Caught in a Web, Blind Faith, These Walls, to name a few, I didn't much like them, so I never really listened to them. When I did start listening to them, once I said, "Okay, people really like these songs. Why?" I decided to give them a fair chance and started to get into them a lot more.

I don't refuse to believe anything. I just don't enjoy one of my favorite songs to be referred to as "wankery" a stupid term in and of itself. At least come up with something a little more constructive.

[The King in Crimson]

I liked TDoE when I first heard it.  I thought it was cool and complex and technical, but subsequent listens have revealed that, to me, that's all it really is:  complex.  I don't get anything else out of it aside from a 'Well, they sure can play' reaction.

I like it less and less the more I hear it and, nowadays, I actively skip it.

[Adami]

I think you need to accept that many of us who have listened to a lot simply don't think it is that good or memorable.  It's like you refuse to accept that anyone doesn't think it is totally awesome, so you come up with possible flimsy, fabricated reasons like us not listening to it enough.

Hey, all I know is that when I first heard songs like Scarred, Caught in a Web, Blind Faith, These Walls, to name a few, I didn't much like them, so I never really listened to them. When I did start listening to them, once I said, "Okay, people really like these songs. Why?" I decided to give them a fair chance and started to get into them a lot more.

I don't refuse to believe anything. I just don't enjoy one of my favorite songs to be referred to as "wankery" a stupid term in and of itself. At least come up with something a little more constructive.

Masturbationy?

[TheGreatPretender]

I liked TDoE when I first heard it.  I thought it was cool and complex and technical, but subsequent listens have revealed that, to me, that's all it really is:  complex.  I don't get anything else out of it aside from a 'Well, they sure can play' reaction.

I like it less and less the more I hear it and, nowadays, I actively skip it.

That's sad.

[The King in Crimson]

Not really.

Lots of good music out there, no sense worrying about just one song.

[TheGreatPretender]

Not really.

Lots of good music out there, no sense worrying about just one song.

I'm sure there are people out there saying the same thing about your favorite DT song.

[Adami]

Not really.

Lots of good music out there, no sense worrying about just one song.

I'm sure there are people out there saying the same thing about your favorite DT song.

The Dance of Eternity is your favorite DT song?

[SystematicThought]

TDOE really is just a bunch of parts thrown together. Similar to The King In Crimson, my only reaction to it is: they sure can play.

There's really no soul to it other than the fact that the title refers to two characters in the story having sex 

[TheGreatPretender]

The Dance of Eternity is your favorite DT song?

Well, my second favorite, besides Metropolis Pt. 1.

TDOE really is just a bunch of parts thrown together. Similar to The King In Crimson, my only reaction to it is: they sure can play.

There's really no soul to it other than the fact that the title refers to two characters in the story having sex 

I hear plenty of soul in it. Not, "Ooh, how nice and majestic" but, darker, more, like I said, sinister tone.

[GasparXR]

I've always really enjoyed TDOE. I used to like it a lot more, but even still, I enjoy the melodies and how each section seamlessly transitions to the next. It also ties in well with the rest of the album as it has references to other songs on the album (Fatal Tragedy, Overture 1928 and Finally Free for example), as well as Metropolis pt.1.