DT album ranking

[BowlCity]

Update:

1. 6DOIT
2. Scenes
3. BC&SL
4. DT12
5. 8var
6. Awake
7. I&W
8. ADToE
9. TA
10. ToT
11. SC







12. FII
13. WDADU

[BanksD]

I feel like doing the thing

Awake
Scenes From a Memory
Images and Words
Falling Into Infinity
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Systematic Chaos
Octavarium
Dream Theater
The Astonishing
Train of Thought
Black Clouds and Silver Linings
When Dream and Day Unite

[Tomislav95]

Tier 1
SFAM
Images and Words
Awake
6DOIT

Tier 2
Dream Theater
Train of Thought
A Dramatic Turn of Events

Tier 3
The Astonishing
Octavarium
Falling into Infinity

Tier 4
Systematic Chaos
BC&SL
WDADU

But I should really relisten some of the albums, it's been a while...

[ToT-147]

Tier 3
The Astonishing
Octavarium

Tier 4
Systematic Chaos
BC&SL

But I should really relisten some of the albums

Yeah, you should probably do that..

[Tomislav95]

Tier 3
The Astonishing
Octavarium

Tier 4
Systematic Chaos
BC&SL

But I should really relisten some of the albums

Yeah, you should probably do that..

I'll probably relisten Octavarium and maybe SC. BC&SL I can try, but I'm not sure I can finish it
Seriously though, I like all their albums, my problem with BC&SL and SC is I can't listen to them whenever because they are very tiring. But if I'm in mood for them, I can enjoy pretty much every song.

[ToT-147]

Tier 3
The Astonishing
Octavarium

Tier 4
Systematic Chaos
BC&SL

But I should really relisten some of the albums

Yeah, you should probably do that..

I'll probably relisten Octavarium and maybe SC. BC&SL I can try, but I'm not sure I can finish it
Seriously though, I like all their albums, my problem with BC&SL and SC is I can't listen to them whenever because they are very tiring. But if I'm in mood for them, I can enjoy pretty much every song.

I can't imagine what you mean by "tiring".. Those albums are enjoyable from start to finish; I mean this literally, and not just because ANtR/TCoT and both ItPoE are the songs starting and finishing the albums.. Give them a chance... Same with TA.. 

[Tomislav95]

I can't imagine what you mean by "tiring".. Those albums are enjoyable from start to finish; I mean this literally, and not just because ANtR/TCoT and both ItPoE are the songs starting and finishing the albums.. Give them a chance... Same with TA.. 

It's matter of taste as always. In my opinion, songs are ok to great but I just find it hard to listen as a whole. I love all three songs you listed, I have problem with some others but it's not that I hate those, still solid albums.
And you rank TA higher? On the other day I would maybe put it in Tier 2. CD1 is awesome, but there are few not so good songs on CD2 and that's why it's not higher.

[KevShmev]

While I agree with that, I still rank The Astonishing pretty high, because Disc 1 is so awesome and I do like the majority of Disc 2 a ton.  Really, there are only a couple of songs I can do without now, and when you consider those plus the pointless NOMAC tracks, that's like 10-11 minutes I skip of an 130-minute album. I consider that a major win.

[Tomislav95]

While I agree with that, I still rank The Astonishing pretty high, because Disc 1 is so awesome and I do like the majority of Disc 2 a ton.  Really, there are only a couple of songs I can do without now, and when you consider those plus the pointless NOMAC tracks, that's like 10-11 minutes I skip of an 130-minute album. I consider that a major win.

I have to admit I still didn't listen to TA enough times. When it was released I didn't want to overplay it and at the moment I don't have time to sit and listen to both CDs.

[red barchetta]

While I agree with that, I still rank The Astonishing pretty high, because Disc 1 is so awesome and I do like the majority of Disc 2 a ton.  Really, there are only a couple of songs I can do without now, and when you consider those plus the pointless NOMAC tracks, that's like 10-11 minutes I skip of an 130-minute album. I consider that a major win.

Ah? Me it's the opposite. I skip about 110 minutes and enjoy 4 songs. Not a winner. TA is at the before last position for sure, unfortunately.

[Lucien]

While I agree with that, I still rank The Astonishing pretty high, because Disc 1 is so awesome and I do like the majority of Disc 2 a ton.  Really, there are only a couple of songs I can do without now, and when you consider those plus the pointless NOMAC tracks, that's like 10-11 minutes I skip of an 130-minute album. I consider that a major win.

I have to admit I still didn't listen to TA enough times. When it was released I didn't want to overplay it and at the moment I don't have time to sit and listen to both CDs.

having to drive 4 hours about once every two months or so is a wonderful thing

[Dublagent66]

While I agree with that, I still rank The Astonishing pretty high, because Disc 1 is so awesome and I do like the majority of Disc 2 a ton.  Really, there are only a couple of songs I can do without now, and when you consider those plus the pointless NOMAC tracks, that's like 10-11 minutes I skip of an 130-minute album. I consider that a major win.

Ah? Me it's the opposite. I skip about 110 minutes and enjoy 4 songs. Not a winner. TA is at the before last position for sure, unfortunately.

I skip the entire album, so there.

[don_waka]

1. Awake
2. Images & Words
3. A Change of Seasons
4. Six Degrees
5. Scenes From a Memory
6. Falling into Infinity
7. Self-titled
8. Octavarium
9. Dramatic Turn of Events
10. Black Clouds
99999999999. Systematic Chaos 

[BanksD]

1. Awake
2. Images & Words
3. A Change of Seasons
4. Six Degrees
5. Scenes From a Memory
6. Falling into Infinity
7. Self-titled
8. Octavarium
9. Dramatic Turn of Events
10. Black Clouds
99999999999. Systematic Chaos 

that bad huh?

[jvelvet3]

Tier 1 - Great
The Astonishing
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Scenes From a Memory
Awake

Tier 2 - Very Good
Dream Theater
Black Clouds and Silver Linings
Octavarium
Six Degrees

Tier 3 - Good
Train of Thought
Falling Into Infinity
Images and Words

Tier 4 - Meh
Systematic Chaos
When Dream and Day Unite

[Another_Won]

Tier 1 - Great
The Astonishing
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Scenes From a Memory
Awake

Tier 2 - Very Good
Dream Theater
Black Clouds and Silver Linings
Octavarium
Six Degrees

Tier 3 - Good
Train of Thought
Falling Into Infinity
Images and Words

Tier 4 - Meh
Systematic Chaos
When Dream and Day Unite

That's how everyone should rate the albums, with "Meh" being the bottom.  There are no bad DT albums.  In my opinion, of course.

[ToT-147]

That's how everyone should rate the albums, with "Meh" being the bottom.  There are no bad DT albums.  In my opinion, of course.

You're saying this is your opinion and also that "everyone should" rate the albums this way.. How each one rate the albums depends on each one's opinion about the band and what the albums do for them.. Neither I think there's bad DT albums, but that's not everyone and it's ok..

[cygnusx1jg]

I'm pretty sure Another_Won meant the categories, not the ranking of the albums themselves. I may be wrong, but I can't imagine any fan of DT would consider any entire Dream Theater record as bad or unlistenable.  Hell, even WDADU has Ytsejam!

[Another_Won]

Yes, the categories.  I know there are some people that consider one or more DT albums flat out bad and unlistenable, but that's why I said "should" and stated it was just my opinion.  Good point about WDADU.  I'm not a fan of the vocals on that album so that song is great.

[Dream Team]

I'm pretty sure Another_Won meant the categories, not the ranking of the albums themselves. I may be wrong, but I can't imagine any fan of DT would consider any entire Dream Theater record as bad or unlistenable.  Hell, even WDADU has Ytsejam!

It also has Afterlife, The Killing Hand, and Only a Matter of Time. Can't for the life of me figure out why someone wouldn't like them.

[cygnusx1jg]

If my initial introduction to the band was WDADU, I'm sure I would have liked it.  But since it was Images and Words that started me on this love affair, Mr. LaBrie is and always will be the voice of DT. Listening to Charlie's voice actually makes me cringe a little.

Anyway, as of today:

Awake
SDOIT
SFAM
I & W
ADTOE
8V
Astonishing
BC & SL
FII

T of T
DT

SC

WDADU

[matthewmatt]

Update!

1. Systematic Chaos
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. A Dramatic Turn of Events
4. Train of Thought
5. Octavarium
6. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
7. Scenes from a Memory
8. When Dream and Day Unite (realising how much Dominici reminds me of Geddy Lee helped me a lot with the appreciation)
9. Falling into Infinity
10. Dream Theater
11. The Astonishing (I would rather not rate it at all, but...)
12. Images and Words (an "EP" with just Pull Me Under, Take the Time, Met 1 and Glass Moon would be probably in my top 5)
13. Awake (sorry!)
14. A Change of Seasons

[jakepriest]

1. Systematic Chaos
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. A Dramatic Turn of Events
4. Train of Thought
5. Octavarium
6. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
7. Scenes from a Memory
8. When Dream and Day Unite (realising how much Dominici reminds me of Geddy Lee helped me a lot with the appreciation)
9. Falling into Infinity
10. Dream Theater
11. The Astonishing (I would rather not rate it at all, but...)
12. Images and Words (an "EP" with just Pull Me Under, Take the Time, Met 1 and Glass Moon would be probably in my top 5)
13. Awake (sorry!)
14. A Change of Seasons

That has got to be one of the most controversial lists on the forum.
I love it (though WDADU is way too high~)

[matthewmatt]

That has got to be one of the most controversial lists on the forum.
I love it (though WDADU is way too high~)

I realise that. However I'm very glad someone appreciates it.

I have been listening to WDADU a lot recently, and I think it's really a criminally underrated album. I used to have at the bottom too, but quite recently I've rediscovered it and found out I actually enjoy every song. Now, putting it above FII is edgy, I admit, but 1. I still think it wins in the end, 2. even if it didn't and those two albums were equal, I'm more than willing to give this one some support, since nearly no-one else does.

[ChuckSteak]

1- I&W
2- Awake
3- Scenes From a Memory
4- Six Degrees
5- FII
6- ToT
7- Octavarium
8 - ADToE
9- BC&SL
10- Systematic Chaos
11- WDaDU
12- Dream Theater
13- The Astonishing

[SchecterShredder]

Update!

1. Systematic Chaos
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. A Dramatic Turn of Events
4. Train of Thought
5. Octavarium
6. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
7. Scenes from a Memory
8. When Dream and Day Unite (realising how much Dominici reminds me of Geddy Lee helped me a lot with the appreciation)
9. Falling into Infinity
10. Dream Theater
11. The Astonishing (I would rather not rate it at all, but...)
12. Images and Words (an "EP" with just Pull Me Under, Take the Time, Met 1 and Glass Moon would be probably in my top 5)
13. Awake (sorry!)
14. A Change of Seasons

Let me be the first to ask how the hell you have A Change of Seasons at the very bottom lol?! That's insane!

[matthewmatt]

Let me be the first to ask how the hell you have A Change of Seasons at the very bottom lol?! That's insane!

I have never liked the title track all that much (out of their ~20 epics it was always the weakest for me, since I had much better relationship with all the others - it's probably the only epic I find somewhat overlong, the melodies leave something to be desired and it does not fit together as well as for example ITPOE or Octavarium do, though I still think the first five minutes are an excellent buildup, for example) and the rest of the "EP" is covers, which are good, I admit, but inessential. I'm really glad to see them covering FFAF/LLB or that Zeppelin medley with Achilles, but it's not as if I returned to it every other week or so. Overall it's my least listened to DT album, including The Astonishing. Mind you, it's still very good (worse DT is still better than pretty much any band), but I expect more.

[krands85]

Time for an update with TA I think.

1. Images and Words
2. Train of Thought
3. A Dramatic Turn of Events
4. Scenes From a Memory
5. Octavarium
6. Awake
7. The Astonishing
8. Dream Theater
9. Systematic Chaos
10. Falling into Infinity
11. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
12. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
13. When Dream and Day Unite

Something like that anyway. Scenes is creeping ever closer to my #3 spot, but hasn't quite overtaken ADTOE yet. Positions 7-10 are fairly closely matched. I'm still hoping that one of these days 6DOIT is finally gonna click with me like it does with most other people 

Just looked at my first post in this thread from 4 years ago and it's fairly similar. Scenes has leapfrogged 8VM, FII has leapfrogged BC&SL and 6D and obviously the 2 most recent albums have slotted in around the middle.

[Prog Snob]

1. Images and Words
2. Metropolis II
3. Awake
4. 6DOIT
5. A Dramatic Turn Of Events
6. Dream Theater
7. Octavarium
8. Falling Into Infinity
9. Train of Thought
10. Systematic Chaos
11. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
12. When Dream and Day Unite

I have some updates to this plus I want to include The Astonishing.

1. Images and Words
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Metropolis 2
4. Awake
5. The Astonishing
6. A Dramatic Turn of Events
7. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
8. Dream Theater
9. Octavarium
10. Train of Thought
11. Systematic Chaos
12. Falling Into Infinity
13. When Dream and Day Unite

[peepeetipi]

In order, 10/10
__
I&W
Awake
SFAM
6D
ToT
ADTOE
BC&SL
TA
8VM
SC
WD&DU

9/10
____
FII
S/t

Don't think I realized just how highly I rate DT, favorite band or no. What a catalogue

[BlobVanDam]

1- I&W
2- Awake
3- Scenes From a Memory
4- Six Degrees
5- FII
6- ToT
7- Octavarium
8 - ADToE
9- BC&SL
10- Systematic Chaos
11- WDaDU
12- Dream Theater
13- The Astonishing

Nice list.

[Ninjabait]

Here's my list (I'll include where the two LTE albums would fit in too):

01. The Astonishing
02. Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
03. Octavarium
04. A Dramatic Turn of Events
05. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
06. Train of Thought
07. Images & Words
--. Liquid Tension Experiment 2
--. Liquid Tension Experiment
08. Falling Into Infinity
09. A Change of Seasons
10. Dream Theater
11. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
12. Awake
13. Systematic Chaos
14. When Dream and Day Unite

Dream Theater and Black Clouds & Silver Linings, and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence and A Dramatic Turn of Events are pretty much interchangeable on the list. They flip around quite a bit.

[chaotic_ripper]

Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory
Images & Words
The Astonishing
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Octavarium
Awake
Dream Theater
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Train of Thought
Falling Into Infinity
Systematic Chaos
Black Clouds and Silver Linings
When Dream and Day Unite

[Darkstarshades]

1.- Systematic Chaos
2.- When Day & Dream Unite
3.- BC&SL
4.- Falling Into Infinity
5.- DT12
6.- Octavarium
7.- Train of Thought
8.- Awake
9.- Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
10.- Scenes from a Memory
11.- A Dramatic Turd of Events
12.- The Disappointing
13.- Images of cocks
14.- A Change of Drummers please

Real list
1.- The Astonishing
2.- Scenes From a Memory
3.- Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4.- Awake
5.- BC&SL
6.- DT12
7.- I&W
8.- ADTOE
9.- TOT
10.- Octavarium
11.- SC
12.- FII
13.- A Change of Seasons (Weakest DT epic and covers I don't really give a damn about)
13.- WDADU

[red barchetta]

My rankings.  Had to listen to the whole stuff to make a better evaluation.


1. Scenes from a memory                                          Favorite song:  Home
2. A dramatic turn of events                                                             Breaking all illusions
3. Image and words                                                                         Another day
4. Octavarium                                                                                 Octavarium
5. Black clouds                                                                                The count of Toscany
6. DT 12                                                                                         The bigger picture
7. Six degrees                                                                                 About to crash
8. Falling into infinity                                                                       Lines in the sand
9. The astonishing                                                                           Our new world
10.Systematic chaos                                                                        In the presence of ennemies part 1                                                                                               11.Awake                                                                                       Erotomania
12.Train of thought                                                                          Stream of consciencouness
13.When dream and day                                                                  The Ytse jam