Scorpion's Top 50 Dream Theater Songs

[Scorpion]

Update time, and on a new page!

41 – Erotomania – Awake
For a while, this was my least favourite of AMBI and one of my least favourite tracks on Awake, but it started growing on me recently and I'm starting to appreciate just how genius this song actually is. Moore's dirty organ (lol) sets the mood perfectly, JP shreds like the best them and the way that the The Silent Man theme is worked into this song is perfect. Really a great song, one of my favourite instrumentals.

40 – On the Backs of Angels – A Dramatic Turn of Events
I initially had this quite a bit higher, but it has somewhat lost its appeal, so to speak. Don't get me wrong, it's still awesome – the acoustic intro, the heavy verses, the soaring chorus, the piano breakdown and the guitar solo fit extremely well together and form a delectable morsel, but somehow I don't find myself listening to this one all this much in the last weeks. Still, I do enjoy it whenever it comes up on shuffle, and it was single-handedly responsible for getting me to buy ADTOE after having bought BC&SL blind, so it deserves this spot.

39 – Take the Time – Images and Words
Love it or hate it, there is no song in DT's catalogue quite like this one. What amazes me most is the fact that this song sounds so coherent, despite the fact that the lyrics come from four different band members, all who have a different lyrical style. Musically, this is just plain fun throughout, from the introductory bass groove to the outro guitar solo that never fails to send chills down my spine. Good stuff.

[Ruba]

Excellent choices.

[Onno]

Good choices, nice to see OTBOA.

[wasteland]

Ah, it was quite some time I didn't see Take The Time this low! I basically agree with 100% of your comments, but the ending place is much, much higher! Funniest DT song ever!

[Prog Snob]

Good choices, nice to see OTBOA.

No it's not.      

[Cedar redaC]

Take the Time should be higher, but it's an awesome list anyway.

[Unlegit]

Take the Time should be higher, and good to see Erotomania.

[wasteland]

Good choices, nice to see OTBOA.

No it's not.      

Because you would have liked it way way higher? 

[Prog Snob]

Good choices, nice to see OTBOA.

No it's not.      

Because you would have liked it way way higher? 

I am making the same face right now that James is making in your avatar.   

[Scorpion]

38 – Endless Sacrifice – Train of Thought
Putting this above Take the Time is probably considered blasphemy, but eh. This song is just great throughout, the soothing intro with Jordan's beautiful solo, the heavier chorus, the awesome instrumental section and THAT FUCKING RIFF that destroys everything in its path, there isn't a single second here that I don't like.

37 – The Test That Stumped Them All – Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Damn, this song is heavy! The Test That Stumped Them All is relentless pounding that never lets up, just still different enough to be interesting throughout. The somewhat groovy pre-chorus, for instance, or that awesome switching between 6/8 and 7/8 in the main riff that keeps the listener on his toes. Awesome.

36 – Vacant – Train of Thought
Vacant is the breather on Train of Thought, and it does its job beautifully, but it's a beautiful song in its own right as well. The main piano theme, those strings and the haunting lyrics and vocal delivery of our favourite pirate make this song an extremely sparse, but also extremely good song, and a truly emotional one (one of the few songs in existence that have ever made me cry).

[BlobVanDam]

Good choices, although Endless Sacrifice has always been the filler of ToT to me. Not bad, but not great either, aside from the instrumental section, which deserves to be in a better song.

But I love TTTSTA (along with the rest of the song for that matter), and Vacant is just beautiful, and highly underrated.

[Octavaripolis]

If UaGM is in this list, meaning you put it higher than TTT, I will personally castrate you.

[MoraWintersoul]

36 – Vacant – Train of Thought
Vacant is the breather on Train of Thought, and it does its job beautifully, but it's a beautiful song in its own right as well. The main piano theme, those strings and the haunting lyrics and vocal delivery of our favourite pirate make this song an extremely sparse, but also extremely good song, and a truly emotional one (one of the few songs in existence that have ever made me cry).

Vacant is always nice to behold in a top50

[wasteland]

Especially as it's probably the best song on that fucking heavy album 

[BlobVanDam]

Especially as it's probably the best song on that fucking heavy album 

It is excellent, but nothing can top ITNOG.

[MoraWintersoul]

Especially as it's probably the best song on that fucking heavy album 

"James... he doesn't know...
- Confused, or what?"


Excuse him children, he's not into metal!

[wasteland]

Especially as it's probably the best song on that fucking heavy album 

It is excellent, but nothing can top ITNOG.

I believe 50 or 51 songs can, but you'll have the heart attack when the time is right for it 

[Lolzeez]

38 – Endless Sacrifice – Train of Thought
Putting this above Take the Time is probably considered blasphemy, but eh. This song is just great throughout, the soothing intro with Jordan's beautiful solo, the heavier chorus, the awesome instrumental section and THAT FUCKING RIFF that destroys everything in its path, there isn't a single second here that I don't like.

36 – Vacant – Train of Thought
Vacant is the breather on Train of Thought, and it does its job beautifully, but it's a beautiful song in its own right as well. The main piano theme, those strings and the haunting lyrics and vocal delivery of our favourite pirate make this song an extremely sparse, but also extremely good song, and a truly emotional one (one of the few songs in existence that have ever made me cry).

My two favorite songs off ToT.

[BlobVanDam]

Especially as it's probably the best song on that fucking heavy album 

It is excellent, but nothing can top ITNOG.

I believe 50 or 51 songs can, but you'll have the heart attack when the time is right for it 

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

[MoraWintersoul]

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

My top50 thread will be tagged with NSFBVD anyway... you're entering it at your own risk

[BlobVanDam]

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

My top50 thread will be tagged with NSFBVD anyway... you're entering it at your own risk

I think I'll just give that one a pass.......

[MoraWintersoul]

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

My top50 thread will be tagged with NSFBVD anyway... you're entering it at your own risk

I think I'll just give that one a pass.......

Smart man, you're saving yourself from multiple heart attacks.

[wasteland]

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

My top50 thread will be tagged with NSFBVD anyway... you're entering it at your own risk

I think I'll just give that one a pass.......

I can give you a sample right now: my #1 song can go burn in hell 

[BlobVanDam]

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

My top50 thread will be tagged with NSFBVD anyway... you're entering it at your own risk

I think I'll just give that one a pass.......

Smart man, you're saving yourself from multiple heart attacks.

You're far overrating my level of care of other people's lists.

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

My top50 thread will be tagged with NSFBVD anyway... you're entering it at your own risk

I think I'll just give that one a pass.......

I can give you a sample right now: my #1 song can go burn in hell 

And you've just spoiled your list, in more ways than one.

[MoraWintersoul]

You're far overrating my level of care of other people's lists.

I don't think anyone reasonable should care about other people's lists, but talking like this is just... fun.

[?]

If Blob was oversensitive about lists, he would never be the same after seeing the amount of songs from his 2-3 least favorite albums on my list! Still, "wouldn't make my top 50" is a comment that will probably be heard after each and every one of my updates.

Especially as it's probably the best song on that fucking heavy album 

It is excellent, but nothing can top ITNOG.

I believe 50 or 51 songs can, but you'll have the heart attack when the time is right for it 

How about The Glass Prison and Misunderstood?

[wasteland]

Sorry, no more spoilers, even though the ones I previously give were of course false or very innacurate. And I did so because:

talking like this is just... fun.

[Prog Snob]

Nah, I'm used to people's opinions being horribly wrong at this point. I can deal with it.

My top50 thread will be tagged with NSFBVD anyway... you're entering it at your own risk

I think I'll just give that one a pass.......

I can give you a sample right now: my #1 song can go burn in hell 

Ugh.. Twister Sister.   Can we at least get the Dimmu Borgir version?

[Onno]

Cool choices, really love Vacant and Endless Sacrifice.

[GasparXR]

NSFBVD

[wolfking]

Last update was a good one.

[Scorpion]

Controversial picks incoming!

35 – About to Crash – Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
For a long time, I ignored this song for the most part, but when I revisited it maybe two months ago, I was struck with how awesome this song is. The piano intro is great, the lyrics are probably the best of SDOIT (the track) and the guitar solo is one of my personal favourites. Also, for some reason, James' performance on this track always stood out to me, even though there's nothing really technically amazing or anything going on here in the context of his other vocal work.

34 – The Ministry of Lost Souls – Systematic Chaos
This is my favourite off of Systematic Chaos and I'm pretty sure that that will spark some controversy, but oh well. This song is beautiful throughout, the grand feeling of the verses is particularly great. The instrumental section is, despite what others say, very well crafted and doesn't feel out of place to me – I especially appreciate the final unison, which is one of the best that DT have ever written. A minor gripe with this is that the outro could have been, like, half a minute or so shorter, but other than that, this song is stellar.

33 – Sacrificed Sons – Octavarium
Another song where many people claim that the instrumental section doesn't fit the song – well, guess what? I disagree. The intro part with the simple piano line and the subdued vocals is great, yes, but I find that the instrumental section where it goes really crazy doesn't get enough appreciation. Also, god damn is that a powerful chorus or what?

I'M A STEAK!

[BlobVanDam]

I don't see anything too controversial there. TMOLS is maybe a little controversial, but 34 isn't high enough for anyone to really rage about it.


GOD I'M HIGHHHHHHHHHHH

I remember when I first got Octavarium, I would listen to the outro of SS repeatedly, because I just loved the big orchestra blasting out that outro riff with such power. One of those songs I always forget how much I like.

[Scorpion]

Right, I forgot to add the biggest part of the controversy: SS is the last 8VM track we'll be seeing.

[BlobVanDam]

Gab dangit Scrop, your list is bad and you should feel bad.