Mikemangioy's 50 degrees of Dream Theater turbulence! (NUMBAH ONE)

[Ruba]

Fuck yes Scarred!

Bridges in the Sky is very good too, one of the best songs on ADTOE.

[hefdaddy42]

Two fantastic songs.

[?]

Two fantastic songs.

[mikemangioy]

Pretty big update today, we enter the top 20 with two epics!

20.Illumination Theory (from Dream Theater, 2013)
This song. Everyone was waiting for this song this summer. The most anticipated song from the new album. The question is: was it worth the wait?
Yes. It was.

Intro:
Yeah, I don't consider the first minute of the song part of the first movement;  anyway, this is a perfect intro for this song, it's very epic and solemn. Not my favorite part but still.

I.Paradoxe de la lumière noire
Wow. What a blast. The main riff is heavy to the max, and I love Mangini's work on here. There's one section that I'll never understand and I love the transition to the next part.

II.Live, die, kill
This section = pogo. I picture well the crowd jumping up and down to this riff 
James here is the boss. He sings really great and the riff behind the verses are really fun to play, especially the djenty one. I also love the instrumental section, it's very orchestral.

III.The embracing circle
Now. This section is the infamous orchestal breakdown. I know that someone think that it is completely useless, others like to use it as an intro. But i think that it is perfect as it is. It adds much to the song, in my opinion, and it's just gorgeous. It sounds pretty disney-ish, and I love that.
*weeeeeeuuuuueeeuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeee*

IV.The pursuit of truth
I love this part. James once again sings really well, going high like he never did in a long time. And the instrumemtal section   
The  riff from PDLLN returns once again more heavy then never, and the solos here are perfect.

V.Surrender, trust and passion
This is the little sister of the razor's edge. The lyrics are wonderful, the melody is wonderful, but one thing that I don't enjoy is when James starts singing again I think "Oh yeah, there were vocals in this song" 
But the ending just makes me in tears. Good god, that's one of the greatest things DT ever came up with.
UNTIL YOU STRUGGLE THROUGH THE DAAARK
YOUU'LL NEVER KNOOW THAT YOOU'RE ALIIVE
NEVER KNOOW
KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOO
YOU'LL NEVER KNOOOW
WOOOOHOHOHOHO WOOOOO
NEVER KNOW, NEVER KNOW, NEVER KNOWOW

Followed by Dat solo 

Epic song! Can't wait to see it live.

So, I have to go now so I'll do the other part of the update later. Any guesses?

EDIT: aaaaaaand nobody guessed.
Fuck it.

19.In The Presence Of Enemies (from Systematic Chaos, 2007)
The heaviest epic.

I.Prelude
This. This. I think this is the best intro for a song that DT ever wrote. It's just plain awesome and fun to play. It's really put well, and all the parts forshadow well what's about to come. Awesome.

II.Resurrection
Least favorite part, but I love it nonetheless. There are a couple of things I love about it: the final build up, and the final unison which is like 

III.Heretic
This section is my favorite one. It could easily work as a song on its own and still be awesome. James' vocals sounds creepy and evil, and I love the choruses and the "dark master" part. Pure evil, it really represents the presence of the devil.
OH. GOD.
I just realized what the title refers to (?) 

IV.The Slaughter Of The Damned
This has heaviness all over the place. It just screams metal all over it. It's so fun to sing along to and to headbang. Easily the transition between Heretic and TSOTD is one of my favorite moments. 

V.The Reckoning
IT'S TIME FOR YOUR RECKONING
*tu-tu tum tum tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu tum tum*
This is basically another revenge of The Dance Of Eternity. It's really technical, but all the riffs in this section are really good. Also, reprise of the Prelude, which is like, the best thing ever, so no complaints.

VI.Salvation
The conclusion of ITPOE could've been a little. Just a little better, but I like it still. James gives shivers again here, especially on the last part, as always. I love that the last riff is the Dark Master riff. Just a nice touch.

Awesome song, I always play it back to back, like I imagine all you guys do.

[Ruba]

Epic update.

[Prog Snob]

Excellent choices!   I'm glad to see the new DT epic getting some love!

[mikemangioy]

18.Surrounded (from Images And Words, 1992)
Aaaah, Surrounded. This song needs no words: it's simply gorgeous. Kevin's piano and James' voice just work beautifully together. And the song just bursts in happiness after the first chorus. It can light even the darkest of days. And JP's solo sounds like something from an anime or something.
Anyways, I think that the CIM version is just 
Great song, happy like an easter!

17.A Change Of Seasons (from the EP A Change Of Seasons, 1995)
Yep. You can kill me now. But I feel that ACOS is a little overrated. Don't get me wrong, it's a masterpiece, but I personally feel there's better stuff. This song took a lot of time to grow on me.

I.The Crimson Sunrise
Great intro. I love the transition between the acoustic part into heaviness. This section is really technical, but I still love it.

II.Innocence
This section could work as a song on his own, but it would be just an average song; in the context of the whole epic it's perfectly placed. I love the lyrics.

III.Carpe Diem
This section sets me on tears everytime. There's nothing sadder than the final "goodbye" and all the samples and James' screams. It's just sad. Also, great message.

IV.The Darkest Of Winters
Love this section. There are lots of cool riffs and solos, and I love the part  whereas live they do funny referances (Simpsons, baseball, When The Water Breaks); it brings back humour after the sadness of Carpe Diem.

V.Another World
I'M SICK OF ALL, YOU HYPOCRITES, HOLDIN-
..
sorry for that.
That's just one of the best moments on DT history. Period.

VI.The Inevitable Summer
I don't mind this section. Yeah, it's great, but a tad bit boring.

VII.The Crimson Sunset
Love this outro. It's really emotional (like in every DT epic outro), and it closes very well the whole thing.

So, awesome song, but not AWESOME like a lot of people use to think about it.. buut it's a matter of personal tastes, I think.

[GentlemanofDread]

Yes, love for Surrounded! Great pick! 

[Crow]

yup both of these are pretty awesome, all that needs to be said really.

[jakepriest]

I 100% agree with placement on both of these songs. ACoS is a little overrated imo, but Another World is some of the best music DT has ever written. Once Another World ends I think the song gets boring and I usually just end it there.

I don't get how anyone could like the CiM version of Surrounded though. James sounds really bad and Petrucci fails the guitar solo pretty hard imo. 

[mikemangioy]

I love the arrangament, not the performance, which is sadly kinda bad.

[mikemangioy]

16.Breaking All Illusions (from A Dramatic Turn Of Events, 2011)
This song has a lot of emotion thriugh it: the begiinning is friggin' happy and ot transits into the sad part, then the epic part and then it transforms into a heavy ball of fire
I love the instrumentation here, I think it's one of the best written DT songs.
I love the disco part, it's so funny 
And the solo  - it reminds me of LITS, but it's a lot better. Goosebumps all over the place.
I also love the reprise of Far From Heaven.
Masterpiece!

15.Disappear (from Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, 2002)
.....










On a more serious note, this is sad. And creepy too. The sound effects are wonderful, andd the last part of the song just... just.. I don't know. It's sadness, I think. The chorus also helps the sadness. *bursts in tears*

[Crow]

Two incredible songs, both are too low.
Disappear isn't really the saddest thing though, I mean yeah it's sad but it's at least got an uplifting edge to it. Still sad though.
Disco part in BAI where? Is my copy glitched or something?

[mikemangioy]

Two incredible songs, both are too low.
Disappear isn't really the saddest thing though, I mean yeah it's sad but it's at least got an uplifting edge to it. Still sad though.
Disco part in BAI where? Is my copy glitched or something?

The first part in the instrumental section, it lasts like 5 seconds.

[jakepriest]

I don't know Disappear has never clicked that much. I like it, but enough enough to listen to it on its own unless I am listening to SDOIT as a whole, unlike balads like Through Her Eyes, Beneath The Surface and Vacant.

[mikemangioy]

14.Lie (from Awake, 1994)
This is one hell of an heavy track!
It spits out anger during all of it. James has a great performance, delivering the pissy lyrics with great feeling. I also love the instrumental work, there are quite the riffs in this song, especially the main one and the solo one. Soo powaful, technicahl, so energy... POWA
I love the chorus, I always sing alpng to it
DOON'T TELL ME
YOU WANTED ME
DOON'T TELL ME
YOU THOUGHT OF ME
I WOON'T
I SWEAR I WOON'T
I'LL TRY
I SWEAR I'LL TRY

..the last chorus is followed by the single heaviest DT riff ever wrote.
I kinda don't dig The Mirror reprise, it kinda kills the song.

13.The Bigger Picture (from Dream Theater, 2013)
This is my favorite piece on the new record. At first listen, I knew it was gonna be an instant classic.
I kinda see this song as the counterpart of Wither: it talks about songwriting block, and this one talks about finding the way. Also, Wither is kinda average (top 60ish), and this one is a little masterpiece.
The song starts quite normal, but from the moment when the chirus kicks in it transforms into one of the most emotional songs ever written by DT.
SHEEED YOUR LIGHT ON MEEEE
BE MY EYES
WHEN I CAAN'T SEEE
SHEEED YOUR LIGHT ON MEEEE
BE MY GUIDE
SO I CAN SEE
THE BIGGAH PICTAH

and then the second verse

Another epic moment is the outro. I love the heartbeat effect on the piano.

WHEN I SEE THE DISTANT LIGHT ILLUMINATE THE NIGHT
THEN I WILL KNOOOW
IIIII
AAAAAAAAM
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOME

I imagine me weeping as a baby at the concert, when they'll play it.

[Prog Snob]

Wow...I didn't expect those two this high.  I think I like TBP a little bit more. 

[Evermind]

I certainly like The Mirror much more than Lie. Lie actually was a disappointment. Now I think it's OK, but it's nowhere near my top50.
TBP is a good tune, though, but, wow, you're quite bold to put it that high.

[GentlemanofDread]

Awww yiss, motha dunkin Bigger Picture! 

[jakepriest]

Lie would be in my top 5 worst songs. 

[Tom Bombadil]

Your last 8 picks or so have all been very solid. 

[Crow]

TBP is one of the better songs on DT12, probably, but also probably not in my top 50 at all. Lie is one of the weaker tracks on Awake, though still fantastic.
I'mma go be disappointed now :V

[mikemangioy]

What a controversial post 

[Crow]

What a controversial post 

ehh
now that I've got my list done and about as set as it's ever gonna get
no, not controversial enough. put ynm in your top 10 plz kthx

[Ruba]

The Bigger Picture over Lie makes no sense to me.

[Prog Snob]

The Bigger Picture over Lie makes no sense to me.

The Bigger Picture
-----------------------   =    AWESOME!   
          Lie


I solved the equation for you. 

[mikemangioy]

12.Raise The Knife (originally from Falling Into Infinity Demo Bootleg - version in consideration: Score, 2005)
Yep. I love Raise The Knife. The thing I absolutely adore about this song is the hype and the lyrics.
The lyrics talk about Kevin Moore leaving the band. Considering that it was MP the one who wrote them, this song now has a little cloud on irony over it.
I love the music, but the things that stay out the most are:
- The chorus
here's the obligatory karaoke:
RAAISING THE KNIFE
TO A PICTAH OF THA LIFE
(I once kneeew)
THEEERE WAS A TIME
COMPROMISING MAH LIFE
(Just won't doo)
I CANNOT LIE
I CAN'T TRYY ANYMORE
(To reach yoou)
II JUST CAN'T FIND
RAISE THE KNIIFE
RAISE THE KNIIFE
CUT THROUGH
*dun dun du - dun dun du*
- The second verse: it starts with low dynamics, but keeping a groovy rythm. It builds and builds and MP sets on fire the fucking drum set, it's so fun to play. Until DAT section comes:

I'LL TAKE THE BLAME FOR THESE THING THAT YOU SAID
'CAUSE I HAD THE HEART AND THE WILL AND THE COURAGE TO STAAY
EVERY DAAAAY
I WON'T WALK AWAAAAAAAAAAY
(and then he did)

just wow. that's what I call hyping. And this section is the reason I love this song.

The other thing that stands out is the instrumental section. It' s gold.

Also, I took in consideration the Score version because I like James' singing more.

11.The Great Debate (from Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, 2002)
This is another hyping song. The intro builds and builds up, in an excellent way, into the heavy 7/8 riff.
The overall song sounds like Tool in a way, with the snare turned off and stuff.
I love the fact that it is like a mirror:
it starts with the intro with all the sound effects and stuff
the first part talks about the good aspects of stem cells
and the second part talks about the bad aspects. I think so, at least.
And, once again, great drumming and great (and quite tricky) instrumental section.
Also, to stay on the "mirror" concept, the song closes breaking down to complete silence, like a reversed version of the intro.
Great stuff 

[Crow]

Really like TGD's intro but it kind of loses me after that, definitely a song that needed to be shortened.
Raise The Knife has always been "just there" for me. It's a cool song but I don't listen to it much and I don't consider it that highly or anything.

[jakepriest]

Not a fan of Raise the Knife but TGD is amazing. I agree that it kinda drags, especially the last 3 minutes but otherwise it is kickass 

[Tom Bombadil]

Not a fan of Raise the Knife but TGD is amazing. I agree that it kinda drags, especially the last 3 minutes but otherwise it is kickass 

This exactly.

[?]

Not a fan of Raise the Knife but TGD is amazing.

[Bolsters]

Not a fan of Raise the Knife but TGD is amazing.

[mikemangioy]

Let the top ten begin!

10.Take The Time (from Images And Words, 1992)
This song helped me a lot through troubled times. It just spits optimism and hope out.
I love the lyrics, and I like the fact that they wrote it together, but the thing that stands out mostly is the Progressive Funk Metal element. That's a nicehybrid. Love the instrumental section, especially the fancy starts and stops section. Great piece!
*tu - tututu - tu - tututu*

09.Sacrificed Sons (from Octavarium, 2005)
I bet you didn't saw this one coming. This song is great, though. It showcasts all the feelings of 9/11 greatly: the fear, the sadness and the anger, especially. It's like an outburst for those who were involved.
Great job both musically (epic Portnoy at the end, btw) and lyrically.

[Prog Snob]

Switch those two and I'll allow you to continue.   

[Tom Bombadil]

Great pick with TTT, certainly deserving of #10,

But Sacrificed Sons is just decent.