Name your single favorite JP solo

[Lolzeez]

Goodnight Kiss, most likely. There are a few others that are extremely close but I'd say it's my favorite. Right now anyway

Welcome!

[JayOctavarium]

I am amused at how many people do not understand what "single" means.

My pick: Voices

[Sycsa]

Breaking All Illusions always gives me goosebumps.

[RoeDent]

Voices.

[Pols Voice]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

[Octavaripolis]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

For me, this solo isn't that good on its own. BUT OUCH MAN THE TIMING, it's freaking flawless.

[black_biff_stadler]

Goodnight Kiss, most likely. There are a few others that are extremely close but I'd say it's my favorite. Right now anyway

Congrats on your first post. Hope you have a swell time here

[KevShmev]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

For me, this solo isn't that good on its own. BUT OUCH MAN THE TIMING, it's freaking flawless.

But that's the thing: a truly great solo is one that fits the song, and goes along with the other instruments, perfectly.  It is not supposed to be an unaccompanied solo that you isolate from the song to pick apart (rare exceptions like VH's Eruption notwithstanding). 

For me, the Scarred guitar solo would definitely be in my top 10, maybe even top 5. 

[?]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

For me, this solo isn't that good on its own. BUT OUCH MAN THE TIMING, it's freaking flawless.

I think the solo is great enough on its own, but of course the fact that it follows the second best keyboard solo in the DT catalogue doesn't make it any worse

[MoraWintersoul]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

For me, this solo isn't that good on its own. BUT OUCH MAN THE TIMING, it's freaking flawless.

I think the solo is great enough on its own, but of course the fact that it follows the second best keyboard solo in the DT catalogue doesn't make it any worse

First best?

[Octavaripolis]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

For me, this solo isn't that good on its own. BUT OUCH MAN THE TIMING, it's freaking flawless.

But that's the thing: a truly great solo is one that fits the song, and goes along with the other instruments, perfectly.  It is not supposed to be an unaccompanied solo that you isolate from the song to pick apart (rare exceptions like VH's Eruption notwithstanding). 

For me, the Scarred guitar solo would definitely be in my top 10, maybe even top 5.

WARNING: Most JP-Solos might include the side-effect of being one of those rare exceptions.

[?]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

For me, this solo isn't that good on its own. BUT OUCH MAN THE TIMING, it's freaking flawless.

I think the solo is great enough on its own, but of course the fact that it follows the second best keyboard solo in the DT catalogue doesn't make it any worse

First best?

Take the Time, obviously.

[Octavaripolis]

I like seeing the love for Scarred's solo. Kind of overlooked, but it's amazing.

For me, this solo isn't that good on its own. BUT OUCH MAN THE TIMING, it's freaking flawless.

I think the solo is great enough on its own, but of course the fact that it follows the second best keyboard solo in the DT catalogue doesn't make it any worse

First best?

Take the Time, obviously.

Unfaded live-version I'm guessing?

[?]

^I was talking about the keyboard solo.

[Octavaripolis]

^I was talking about the keyboard solo.

God damn it. So typical of me to assume a discussion of solos concerns guitar solos..

[mike099]

Breaking All Illusions always gives me goosebumps.

Yes, this one!

[ResultsMayVary]

Goodnight Kiss, most likely. There are a few others that are extremely close but I'd say it's my favorite. Right now anyway

This. The whole solo goes from a melodic solo with the main SDOIT theme to a shredding-type solo towards the end (without any serious shredding, which he does usually when playing it live). Definitely my favorite currently.

Honorable mentions (I just have to):

Innocence Faded (so underrated)
Voices
Lines In The Sand
Under A Glass Moon

[Octavaripolis]

Goodnight Kiss, most likely. There are a few others that are extremely close but I'd say it's my favorite. Right now anyway

This. The whole solo goes from a melodic solo with the main SDOIT theme to a shredding-type solo towards the end (without any serious shredding, which he does usually when playing it live). Definitely my favorite currently.

Honorable mentions (I just have to):

Innocence Faded (so underrated)
Voices
Lines In The Sand
Under A Glass Moon

Agreed, wonderful to see some love for Innocence Faded.

[puppyonacid]

Something about JP's solos on awake. Innocence Faded, Scarred, Voices!

For me Voices is one that sticks out. It has bite, really cool note selection. It's manic in places.

It's sorta like fast moving waves that wash in and out at the shores edge.

Ima gonna get my flame proof clothes on for this next comment:

I love JP. Big hero of mine, cool guy......just the bees knees..but -

I detest the LAB Hollow Years solo! Sorry, it just leaves me kind of "meh"

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Not my favorite, but one awesome solo that's not getting any love in this thread is the one in post-1996 arrangements of The Killing Hand, in the middle of the final verse.

[TheGreatPretender]

I detest the LAB Hollow Years solo! Sorry, it just leaves me kind of "meh"

You, sir, have no soul.

[wasteland]

Not my favorite, but one awesome solo that's not getting any love in this thread is the one in post-1996 arrangements of The Killing Hand, in the middle of the final verse.

[?]

I detest the LAB Hollow Years solo! Sorry, it just leaves me kind of "meh"

You're not alone - it's a decent solo, but JP has played dozens of better ones IMO.

[Octavaripolis]

I detest the LAB Hollow Years solo! Sorry, it just leaves me kind of "meh"

You're not alone - it's a decent solo, but JP has played dozens of better ones IMO.

You guys are just being mean now :C

[DeanTheater]

Gangland from "Number of the Beast" live.  that solo and the entire song re-arrangement amazes me.

[Pols Voice]

LAB Hollow Years is alright, but I don't think it fits the song very well. Too long, flashy, and epic.

[nightmare_cinema]

Mine is absolutely The Spirit Carries On, on the LSFNY DVD. The depth of the emotion, the one or two little changes from the CD, Thomason's vocals just beforehand and the way OTT gospel singers afterwards, it's just the greatest guitar solo in the world for me. On the actual SFAM CD though it's okay, but rather underwhelming. For studio versions I'd have to say Lines in the Sand.

[MoraWintersoul]

Mine is absolutely The Spirit Carries On, on the LSFNY DVD. The depth of the emotion, the one or two little changes from the CD, Thomason's vocals just beforehand and the way OTT gospel singers afterwards, it's just the greatest guitar solo in the world for me. On the actual SFAM CD though it's okay, but rather underwhelming.

Ah yeah, we totally agree on this.


Quite glad no one called me out on my fangirly OP but honestly, JP is kind of responsible for at least half of music I like now, both directly, when considering his and DT's impact on prog metal, and indirectly, with the number of bands I've fallen in love with
because of DT.

[wasteland]

Well, welcome back Faye

I think I enjoy the 2006 solo slightly better than the LSFN...

[Ryzee]

Lines in the Sand

[?]

LAB Hollow Years is alright, but I don't think it fits the song very well. Too long, flashy, and epic.

Yeah, it's way too shreddy for a ballad like that and makes the final chorus feel less climactic than it's supposed to be.

[KevShmev]

I detest the LAB Hollow Years solo! Sorry, it just leaves me kind of "meh"

You're not alone - it's a decent solo, but JP has played dozens of better ones IMO.

You guys are just being mean now :C

How so?  If I had to list my top 50 solos JP has done in Dream Theater, the LAB Hollow Years solo wouldn't come close to making it.

[nightmare_cinema]

Mine is absolutely The Spirit Carries On, on the LSFNY DVD. The depth of the emotion, the one or two little changes from the CD, Thomason's vocals just beforehand and the way OTT gospel singers afterwards, it's just the greatest guitar solo in the world for me. On the actual SFAM CD though it's okay, but rather underwhelming.

Ah yeah, we totally agree on this.


Quite glad no one called me out on my fangirly OP but honestly, JP is kind of responsible for at least half of music I like now, both directly, when considering his and DT's impact on prog metal, and indirectly, with the number of bands I've fallen in love with
because of DT.

I don't really get it when people call others out for being passionately enthusiastic about a musician or a band, I infinitely prefer that to people that say 'oh, I listen to everything really' and in reality just put the radio on when they're in the car or music channels at home. I like to be able to have a proper in-depth discussion about music! I feel similarly about Steven Wilson, I worked out via last.fm I've listened to roughly eight SW-related tracks a day for the past eight years across solo, PT and Blackfield... his presence dominates my musical life and shapes the soundtrack to my entire life as a result. Obviously I listen to more stuff he isn't involved in than stuff he is, but when someone has that big of an impact it's nice to talk about it etc. etc.

Well, welcome back Faye

I think I enjoy the 2006 solo slightly better than the LSFN...

Hey! Are you talking about Score? After LSFNY every other performance of Spirit feels empty to me. Without Theresa Thomason voicing Victoria I just feel cheated. I played that video to someone at uni yesterday actually, explaining that seeing that song on that DVD is the first/only time I've ever cried from happiness.

[wasteland]

About two years ago, or maybe three, I would have had to agree with you, but I think I have grown to ignore LSFNY for the most, and TSCO took some shit for being itself in the lot. Did you happen to see the other two performances with Theresa guesting that took place in 2005? One of them was in London!

[MoraWintersoul]

I don't really get it when people call others out for being passionately enthusiastic about a musician or a band, I infinitely prefer that to people that say 'oh, I listen to everything really' and in reality just put the radio on when they're in the car or music channels at home. I like to be able to have a proper in-depth discussion about music! I feel similarly about Steven Wilson, I worked out via last.fm I've listened to roughly eight SW-related tracks a day for the past eight years across solo, PT and Blackfield... his presence dominates my musical life and shapes the soundtrack to my entire life as a result. Obviously I listen to more stuff he isn't involved in than stuff he is, but when someone has that big of an impact it's nice to talk about it etc. etc.

It beats me too, but I've run across it on every forum before this. If you express your love for something often, it somehow "discredits" your opinion on other things, or is regarded as silly, which is just bizarre to me.