Pols Voice's Top 50 Dream Theater Songs

[Nekov]

Guys, guys, I have a new drinking game. Take a drink every time I say a song wouldn't make my top 50. You'll be posting in the drunk thread in no time.

Love it

[SomeoneLikeHim]

Surrounded, TSCO, and Strange Deja Vu are good, although I wouldn't rank them this high (although they're probably all in my top 50). I've always found LTL and BTS to be hugely overrated, and they wouldn't make my top 50.



Guys, guys, I have a new drinking game. Take a drink every time I say a song wouldn't make my top 50. You'll be posting in the drunk thread in no time.

Also drink when:
- Deb takes a shower
- Kotowboy remarks on something not being funny
- There's an argument in the "Post you celeb crush" thread concerning the posting of names.

[iamtheeviltwin]

Guys, guys, I have a new drinking game. Take a drink every time I say a song wouldn't make my top 50. You'll be posting in the drunk thread in no time.

I prefer to live...this could kill

[BlobVanDam]

Surrounded, TSCO, and Strange Deja Vu are good, although I wouldn't rank them this high (although they're probably all in my top 50). I've always found LTL and BTS to be hugely overrated, and they wouldn't make my top 50.



Guys, guys, I have a new drinking game. Take a drink every time I say a song wouldn't make my top 50. You'll be posting in the drunk thread in no time.

Also drink when:
- Deb takes a shower
- Kotowboy remarks on something not being funny
- There's an argument in the "Post you celeb crush" thread concerning the posting of names.

Also drink when-
-anyone avatar quotes MoraWintersoul
-There's a debate in the "Post funny stuff thread" thread about whether something is funny and/or real

Guys, guys, I have a new drinking game. Take a drink every time I say a song wouldn't make my top 50. You'll be posting in the drunk thread in no time.

I prefer to live...this could kill

You'd be dead before you find out what #1 is.




Which would no doubt not make my top 50.

[Unlegit]

Great update. All good songs!

[Pols Voice]

This update is the most unorthodox so far. Feel free to insult my choices.

15. Overture 1928

Why is this so high on the list, you cry? Remember, I love instrumentals. This one is relatively short but very very sweet. It presents the album's musical themes in a perfect way. That machine gun drumming fade-in builds excitement. The whole track is just somehow exciting, really. The best part is the little Metropolis Part I themed guitar solo at 1:35, which is chill-inducingly lovely. Fun fact: my first DT album was Images and Words, and I didn't like it at the time. But I bought SFAM to give them another shot and liked it instantly. Now I like I&W more. The more you know.

14. Caught in a Web

Like on a lot of Awake, LaBrie sounds angry as all get out. That guy means business. This song is full of gritty, satisfying riffs. Songs like this just sound like 1994, in a good way. The chorus is quite catchy, and the song overall isn't too wild, but has enough flair to set it apart from typical rock songs. I love that driving beat at 3:47. I have an interest in song orders, and the songs on Awake are placed in a really effective, flowing order. CIAW makes an awesome one-two punch with the next song on the list.

13. 6:00

Now there's a slick drum intro, kids; it's one of the best openings to an album I've ever heard. This song is just so groovy, and oozes attitude. I know I use the word "cool" a lot in these writeups, but it really does apply here. I usually dislike sound samples, but the way they're used in this song is memorable and fun. The Pirate's emotion-filled singing all over this album is terrific, and the soaring chorus of this song is one of the highlights. Even though the song isn't too long, the whole band gets their flex their muscles.

12. Endless Sacrifice

Might seem like a surprising choice, but anyway. The intro is strangely Michael Jackson-ish, but aside from that, this thing just kicks. The moody verses contrast wonderfully with an explosive chorus that pumps me up. The instrumental section is some good clean fun, with hot riffs aplenty and flashy solos. I'm kinda critical of later period DT's excessive instrumental stuff because a lot of times it doesn't fit or all sounds the same, but I just love this one. Even Jordan's cartoony zaniness doesn't bother me. That riffage after the awesome drum fill at 8:04 is excellent. The whole climactic ending with the vocals is pretty damn great. It seems the band enjoys playing this one live.

11. Lie

So, this song never gets much credit, but I've always thought it was extremely cool. James just slays on this one. The angry chorus vocals are awesome, and I wish he'd use that kind of lower, jaded voice from the beginning again. Some of his most fun singing right there. For some reason, some of the keyboard sounds remind me of bleating sheep. Sarcastic, cynical sheep, that is. Petrucci's solos kick tons of ass. I like how the song just comes right out and punches you in the face after The Mirror. That opening riff just hits the spot. And the end of the song with its Mirriorishness links the two songs together in a wonderful way. Also, cool lyrics by KM.

Next time: the top ten begins. Yay.

[Cedar redaC]

I like all of those. Great list there!

[Unlegit]

Nice to see 6:00. Endless Sacrifice and Overture 1928 are also great.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

Overture is good. The rest are too high.

[Pols Voice]

You guys are so agreeable.

Just wait till Blob gets here.

[Scorpion]

Both 6:00 and Caught in a Web are some of the weakest tracks on Awake.

The rest are very good and would all make my Top 50.

[BlobVanDam]

You guys are so agreeable.

Just wait till Blob gets here.

Ding ding!

Overture 1928 - (thank you for putting it correctly as 1 song)
Caught In a Web - This is actually one of my favourites from Awake, and I dare say I'd call it underrated (I know, a shock coming from me)
6:00 - A cool little song aside from the samples, although I wouldn't deem it top 20 worthy at all
Endless Sacrifice - I commented on this one recently in one of the other top 50 threads. I don't hate it, but I don't really like it either. My least favourite from ToT.
Lie - Dreadful, dreadful little song with ill fitting lyrics. Lie is the rash on the ass of The Mirror. Excluding WDADU, this is a bottom 5'er.

Very interested to see you top 10, man! A lot of curveballs here. That's what I like to see. Don't chicken out and put ACOS at 1. I demand You Not Me, or IWBY.

[Sycsa]

12. Endless Sacrifice
Might seem like a surprising choice, but anyway. The intro is strangely Michael Jackson-ish, but aside from that, this thing just kicks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ7qXHjxj_0

[Rattlehead]

12. Endless Sacrifice
Might seem like a surprising choice, but anyway. The intro is strangely Michael Jackson-ish, but aside from that, this thing just kicks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ7qXHjxj_0

I always wanted to hear which Michael Jackson song it was that everyone says the intro to ES sounds like, thanks for that.   

[Ruba]

Lie is great!

I like the others too, especially Caught in a Web.

[Octavaripolis]

41. Through Her Eyes

Until this one, each song I've listed has been from a different album. Through Her Eyes is a very strong and simple emotional and melodic ballad. This is a standout performance from James. He really sells the story through his voice. In fact, I think he did an awesome job on this whole album. Jordan's piano work is beautiful. When people say DT is all about showing off with no good melodies, play them this.

Oh the LSFNY-version of this 

[Pols Voice]

Into the Top Ten we go!

10. Blind Faith

What a mysterious opening. It's like floating in space or something, except with more oxygen. This song is peculiar in that the verses are probably better than the chorus...not that the chorus is bad, it's just not very melodic. The track starts getting really awesome with the "and still life pushes on" part. The instrumental section really makes this one special. Some of it kind of reminds me of Kansas (one of my favorite bands) on steroids. I love the piano breakdown after those heavy angular riffs. Probably the best part of the song. And the Hammond style keys are a very welcome addition. That difficult unison is really happy and fun. The song ends as it began....................very mysterious.

9. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream

This is an extremely atmospheric song; the mood created is almost hypnotic. I love it when DT gets all mysterious (there's that word again) like this. The whole band contributes just what is needed to make this song an understated masterpiece. Those clean guitar parts are amazing. Portnoy does some very nice stuff on this track, such as creating a watery feel with the cymbals. Myung's lyrics are esoteric in a cool way. "She can turn a drop of water into an ocean" in particular is a very nice line. The song alternates well between uncertain and positive emotions. Man, that ending vocal section is so uplifting. Some U2 influence on this track, I suspect.

8. Lines in the Sand

This one has a really nice groove going on, with some great work from Sherinian (he fit the band pretty well, really) and nifty basslines. Some memorable drumming too. I like the jazz and blues influences that creep in here and there. Pinnick's guest vocals give the song a unique feel, which is cool. The song's interesting in that it has a lot of fun, energetic parts, but it gets pretty serious in the middle section. Petrucci's very emotional solo might just be my favorite of his. What an amazing melody. That piano part Derek throws in at the end of it (7:21-ish) is a tiny but awesome accent that I've always appreciated. The dramatic vocal section that follows is also top notch. I like the way the song ends, with no real huge epic ending, but instead on that great riff.

[BlobVanDam]

Blind Faith is amazing. It took me a while to get into it, but now I'd probably place it top 10 too.
LITS was one of the first songs I got into from FII, for the reasons you've listed. That intro bass groove reminded me of TTT, and it's such a rockin' song. I know they're polarizing, but I love Pinnick's vocals in the choruses.
Two perfect choices there.

Never liked Lifting Shadows though. Part of the half hour of dead weight at the end of Awake that drags it down to one of my least liked DT albums. The U2-ish vibe puts me off big time from ever enjoying this song.

[Nekov]

2 out of those 3 make my top 10 for sure. Great choices

[Scorpion]

I like all of these songs, though LSOAD would end up a little lower.

[Unlegit]

Nice choices. Always good to see Lifting Shadows high up there.

[Pols Voice]

Nice choices. Always good to see Lifting Shadows high up there.

Yeah, it seems to be pretty underrated. I know hef likes it a lot, so I'm in good company.

[Lolzeez]

2 out of those 3 make my top 10 for sure. Great choices

This this this.
LITS is an awesome song. Better than ToT.

[Ruba]

I used to love the hell out of Lifting Shadows, but it has gone down a bit.

BF and LITS are awesome.

[Pols Voice]

7. Stream of Consciousness

A very creative instrumental that focuses on building atmosphere while still throwing in a lot of jaw-dropping virtuosity. The main riff derived from Vacant has an interesting pensive quality, while other sections of the track are more lighthearted in tone. Some of this almost has a Latin vibe. Portnoy's work throughout is really dynamic and creative. Rudess uses some unusual sounds too. I like the King Crimson-esque section in the middle with that big fuzzy bassline; it makes me think of dinosaurs trouncing around merrily (not really). The song builds to a stirring crescendo with a thrilling melody. Great stuff.

6. Trial of Tears

The ebb and flow of this song is quite well-done, giving the track a cohesive feel instead of the more scattered style common to a lot of DT's longer tracks. Somehow there's a specific mood to it that it doesn't deviate far from, even though the music moves through different styles. And the lyrics are among the band's best. The "it's raining" refrain is really memorable, and dare I say an iconic DT moment. Portnoy and Myung lay down some fantastic grooves for Petrucci and Sherinian to place some great extended solos over. The haunting wasteland section is perfectly placed in the track and LaBrie sings it so well. The atmosphere in that part is positively amazing! I would like more DT material to be in the vein of this song.


Any predictions for the Top 5? Here's the list so far:

50. The Dance of Eternity
49. Wither
48. This is the Life
47. Take Away My Pain
46. Misunderstood
45. The Answer Lies Within
44. As I Am
43. Wait for Sleep
42. Only a Matter of Time
41. Through Her Eyes
40. Finally Free
39. In the Name of God
38. Bridges in the Sky
37. Peruvian Skies
36. The Mirror
35. The Count of Tuscany
34. Another Day
33. Outcry
32. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
31. Innocence Faded
30. New Millennium
29. Lost Not Forgotten
28. Under a Glass Moon
27. Breaking All Illusions
26. Hell's Kitchen
25. Erotomania
24. Fatal Tragedy
23. Beyond This Life
22. The Glass Prison
21. The Silent Man
20. Surrounded
19. Learning to Live
18. Strange Deja Vu
17. The Spirit Carries On
16. Beneath the Surface
15. Overture 1928
14. Caught in a Web
13. 6:00
12. Endless Sacrifice
11. Lie
10. Blind Faith
9. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
8. Lines in the Sand
7. Stream of Consciousness
6. Trial of Tears

As an aside, I just noticed that time stamps fluctuate by as much as 10 seconds depending on if I listen to a whole song from the beginning or skip to a certain part. Huh. So some of the times I've been listing for cool parts may be approximate, but you probably know which parts I'm talking about anyway!

[Podaar]

I'm quite pleased to see someone else rates Stream of Consciousness so highly. I'm a huge fan of instrumentals and while I don't think this one is necessarily better than any other one I really dig the cohesive feeling presented throughout this song.

Great choice!

[?]

SOC is much higher than where I'd place it, but Trial of Tears deserves that spot without a doubt.

[Scorpion]

SOC is much higher than where I'd place it, but Trial of Tears deserves that spot without a doubt.

[BlobVanDam]

Nice choices.

SoC isn't one of my favourites, largely because I'm not hugely into instrumentals, but it's a great instrumental. And I love ToT.

[senecadawg2]

ToT 

[Unlegit]

Two amazing songs. Right around where I would rank them!

[Ruba]

Oh yeah  !

[Pols Voice]

Nice to see some love for SOC.

No predictions for the Top 5? Not even an obligatory Raw Dog reference?

[Prog Snob]

11 through 15 are all too high.  Even higher than the girl in About to Crash. 

[MoraWintersoul]

11 through 15 are all too high.  Even higher than the girl in About to Crash. 

Is that before or after she fell out of the sky?