Nekov's Top 50 Dream Theater songs - Top 10 is here

[BlobVanDam]

Don't be so sad, I know the truth can be a bit too hard to take sometimes

Which is why you're refusing to see it, no doubt.

[Nekov]

9 - Home

Sorrow - eternity ,my demons are coming to drown me - This was the first DT song I really fell in love with. I remember that every time I put this CD in my player I would just sit there in my room enjoying what was going on knowing that it was all a prelude for this song. The oriental sounding intro seems to be out of place when it first come in but then it is perfectly developed until the song changes into the heavier section. And at that moment not headbanging is almost impossible cause the song gets so heavy and so powerful. I would probably rank this song higher if it wasn't for that little wasteland during the instrumental section.

[?]

Great song, although not in my top 30!

[BlobVanDam]

9 - Home

Sorrow - eternity ,my demons are coming to drown me - This was the first DT song I really fell in love with. I remember that every time I put this CD in my player I would just sit there in my room enjoying what was going on knowing that it was all a prelude for this song. The oriental sounding intro seems to be out of place when it first come in but then it is perfectly developed until the song changes into the heavier section. And at that moment not headbanging is almost impossible cause the song gets so heavy and so powerful. I would probably rank this song higher if it wasn't for that little wasteland during the instrumental section.

Personal attack against a forum member! Bant!


I really like Home a lot, but I do still think it's overrated compared to how highly people rank it. There are 7 songs on the album that I prefer. But it's still great, so I no complain.

[Lolzeez]

Home 

[Nekov]

Home 

[Cedar redaC]

Great song, and well placed.

And the rest of the album isn't suffering. The album does have 3 duds out of 8, placed in just the right spots to completely ruin the flow of the album, but the rest of the songs are amazing.

So, 5 of the 8 are good?


:nuggetz:

[Nekov]

8 - Lifting Shadows of a Dream

She can turn a drop of water into an ocean - One of the things I criticize a lot about JLB is that he abuses the higher tones however in this song he gets the perfect balance. Whenever the song requires him to go high he does but for the most part he sings in lower tones and fits the general mood perfectly. Aside from that this song brings a lot of peace to me and makes me happy which is why it has a spot in my top 10.

[Lolzeez]

 

[Nekov]

No love for lifting shadows 


7 - Voices

Don't expect your own Messiah this never-world which you desire is only in your mind - This song is all about contrasts and transitions, very eclectic and never staying in one place for a long time. KM's keyboards are what make this song what it is, bringing great atmospheres and backgrounds to JP's riffs. I feel like I have to mention MP a little bit since his drumming stands out a lot as well.

6 - Strange Deja Vu
Metropolis surrounds me, the mirror`s shattered the girl - The first thing that caught my attention about this song is how MP varies his drumming during the first couple of verses, always staying on the same path yet making it fresh with each change. The other thing I really enjoy JP's riff during the first part of the song. I'm not sure why exactly but I find it to be really fun. Then there's the that other riff he plays after Victoria's section which has a lot of rock to it and the way the rest of the band follows that lead makes me almost want to dance.

[Scorpion]

Voices is amazing and your description is spot on (though you don't mention one of JP's solos? Blasphemy!). SDV, on the other hand, has always felt like a lower-tier on SFAM for me. Not bad, by no means, but by no means amazing either, and certainly not Top 10 worthy in my opinion.

[?]

No love for lifting shadows 

It's a great song but it has never been among my absolute favorites - there's so much awesome stuff on Awake!

As Scorp said, Voices is amazing and Strange Deja Vu is a surprising top 10 pick.

[MoraWintersoul]

LIFTINGSHADOWS.

[Nekov]

LIFTINGSHADOWS.

[wasteland]

Nekov and I are not made to listen to DT together

[Nekov]

But I love you Wasteland! Don't do this to me 

[Nekov]

5 - Hell's Kitchen

I've seen a lot of comments about how this song goes nowhere and just drifts into oblivion and I for one can't understand that. To me this song develops and changes very smoothly until it finally reaches it climax and fades away quietly. There are so many great things JP plays here, he displays all of his repertoire in such very little time. Then there's Derek's input during the instrumental which works both at the technical and atmospheric level which is something that's hard to find.

4 - Surrounded

Heaven must be more than this when angels waken with a kiss - Another of the few songs where I really enjoy JLB's singing. Again he starts with the lower tones which is exactly what the song calls for and it is just majestic how the song transitions into this happy and joyfull feeling. I also find it very nice how JP's guitar and JLB's singing go hand in hand in several parts of the song. I'm not 100% sure but JP's solo in this song might be my favorite of his because I find the way he uses the guitar effect to make the solo sound more than it really is and without recurring to extreme technicality to pull it of very smart.

[BlobVanDam]

What is it with Surrounded lately?

Both pretty cool songs. I wouldn't rank them so high, but I definitely enjoy them both. I don't see how anyone could say Hell's Kitchen goes nowhere either. The whole song is a beautiful build-up to that big outro.

[Unlegit]

Nice to see Hell's Kitchen. Surrounded is great too.

[?]

Surrounded 

[Onno]

Hell's Kitchen is great and Surrounded is fantastic, though I wouldn't rank either of them so high.

[Zydar]

Surrounded 

[MoraWintersoul]

Everyone's been placing mine high top 10's higher in their top 10

[Nekov]

What is it with Surrounded lately?

It is an amazing song, that's what it is with it

Everyone's been placing mine high top 10's higher in their top 10

Everyone's been placing mine high top 10's higher in their top 10

[Nekov]

3 - Solitary Shell

As a boy he was considered somewhat odd, kept to himself most of the time - There are very few songs that fill me with so much joy as this one does. The mix of acoustic guitar and piano, PM's cymbals and James singing softly create a beautiful and enjoyable atmosphere. There's also the fact that I first listened to this song while I was in high school and I was sort of an outcast so I felt very related to the lyrics sans the being crazy part of course. And what I enjoy the most about this song is that after being so cozy and beautiful the guys pull of two of the most beautiful solos they've ever done and then follow this with an awesome prog instrumental that is totally uncalled for yet fits the song perfectly well.

[BlobVanDam]

One of my favourite sections of the song, if not my favourite (although that's splitting hairs for me).  The guitar and piano solos are both excellent.

[Podaar]

It's fun to see Solitary Shell ranked so high. I agree with everything you and Blob have said about the song's virtues and will add; I was always struck with the brilliance JLB's delivery of, "In every other way he was fine!" From the first moment I heard it I got a  vibe that's always been a little dark.

Of course, I'm a huge fan of old Blue Oyster Cult so disturbing and dark lyrics sung to a happy tune will always have a place in my black heart.

[Nekov]

I agree with that JLB thing you say. That line is amazing indeed

[iamtheeviltwin]

If I broke Six Degrees into individual songs on my top 50, Solitary Shell would have been my #2.  I love the whole vibe of the song and the lyrics are wonderful.   

[Lolzeez]

My favorite section of the song. As an individual song,it deserves top 10 imo.

[Nekov]

My favorite section of the song. As an individual song,it deserves top 10 imo.

  I think you'll do a great job in my upcoming roulette 

[Unlegit]

Easily the best part from Six Degrees, which is already an amazing song.

[Cedar redaC]

PM's Cymbals?



Great song, one of my favorites from the album.

[Nekov]

If I say English is not my mother language will you cut me some slack on my mistakes? 

I'm not even gonna edit that

[wasteland]

Oh, damn, I hate Solitary Shell! Am I to kick myself out of this thread?