Evermind's Top 50 DT songs, v. A golden manatee, statistics and final words (#1)

[Evermind]

The beep is right before the word "dream", maybe even in the beginning of "d". It's really short but once I heard it it's been a disaster.
And well, I understand the dislike for it. I agree the song has nothing new to offer, and, actually, I really don't know why I like it so much. It's just me I think.

[Prog Snob]

I am certain that those two songs are far too high.  At the moment I am putting together my Top 50 and those are two of the songs that might/might not make it.  Good songs, but there are so many better songs on both I & W and ADTOE.

[Crow]

OtBoA will be making an appearance in my honorable mentions [SPOILER] because it's good but does absolutely nothing to stand out. When I first heard it I was like "yep that's definitely a DT song."

[jakepriest]

Doing nothing to stand out reminds me of Disturbed.  I swear every song I heard by them sounds the exact same.

[Evermind]

Saturday update, so a bit earlier than usual.

18. Home

Music on SFAM is just beyond belief. Every song leads you through this amazing musical journey. This stunning song is no exception — after the first act ended with my least liked song from off the album, the second act kicks in with this tremendous song. Though only after the considerably long intro does electric guitar come in along with the rest of the band. The song gets heavy and stuff, and those drawling JLB vocals sound very convincing for a desperate man. What follows after the verses is even more terrific. I like how the chorus changes as the story goes on, feeling fresh every time.
The song is magnificent until the instrumental breakdown comes in, but the thing is of course not in the melodies here, but in the infamous sextion, which drags the song down just a bit. After it, everything is fantastic again. We hear the whole chorus one last time and the outro brings us forward.
Oh, and also, the lyrical references to Metropolis pt. 1 are also great.

Most favourite section: I like bridges in the sky song a lot, the first one starting with "living this charade" especially.

17. Metropolis, pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper

The well-known epic and in some way a prequel for SFAM (though you could never know if you didn't know about the latter, because the lyrics here basically tell no story — is this some kind of joke?) made it just a bit higher than Home. Metropolis is great, though after such a warm songs like Another Day, TTT and Surrounded it feels a little bit cold for me. Of course, it doesn't mean anything, it's still a fabulous song. Learning to Live might be a longer piece, but for me Metropolis is the main epic of I&W.
Starting without a short calm section, this song soon begins firing at all cylinders, and even before the vocals come in you already know this is gonna be great. And oh man, it is. Chorus? The song has none. Vocal melodies? All are different and every single one is so memorable. Great instrumental section? Check. (though there are some not very likable moments for me, but they can be easily overlooked). And oh well, this epic ending. The one in The Killing Hand could've been epic, but the way Charlie sings "haaaand" there, it's not. But this one is truly epic and it closes the song in a very satisfying way.

Most favourite section: the small build before the grand ending. Starts at 8:05 and ends with the line "before we lock the doors".

Interesting fact: the next update features one of the more-polarizing-than-usual songs, though no mindblowing controversy should be expected.

[jakepriest]

I wouldn't consider Metropolis or Learning to Live epics, but that's your call.

I like Home a little bit more than Metroplis, but they stand equal in my ranking, so  with this update.

[Crow]

Both great songs, and everyone seems to know they're both great too~

[Evermind]

Yeah, not that it's a great reveal about how that songs are awesome, but sometimes such updates happen.

[Evermind]

Wow, I now officially failed to update this list in the right time. Sorry.

16. The Ministry of Lost Souls

This is the song I was talking about an update ago. Seriously, sometimes I see a lot of (not at all deserved) hatred for this song I wonder what's wrong with me. Cause I really like this epic tragic piece. Of all long songs in the band catalogue I see this one constantly getting the dislikes for being "too cheesy", "drawn-out as hell" and generally bad. Needless to say, I don't agree with that at all. Maybe that has something to do with SC being the first album I've heard from these guys.
As soon as I heard the intro for the first time (given I already knew the length of the song), I knew this would be an amazing musical experience. This is one of the unique songs from DT, and while some may bear some resemblance with it, I can't name any instantly. So, the intro. It's bombastic, incredible and I daresay not pretentious at all. A perfect way to start the ballad like this. Then comes the slow, quiet verse and bridge. James manages to sound so tired here, I really like his way of singing all the lines on that section. And speaking of bridge, wow, how natural it flows into the chorus. By the way, chorus is flawless too. JP playing before the second verse feels very relaxed. The second verse is similar to the first, but the chorus is considerably longer and a lot more fabulous. Again, James suprises me with his performance there, sounding woeful, forlorn yet somewhat determined. Not sure that made any sense.
And the instrumental. That could be because back in the years I spinned SC too much, or cause of some other reason, but I've grown to really like the instrumental part. The transition into it is smooth and flawless again. Yes, it kind of doesn't share the mood of the first part of this amazing piece, but I can't say it's a bad thing. It sounds interesting, fresh, not awkward at all, without some random effects, just a good chunk of music. And the transition back into the song is impeccable.
Did I say "back into the song?". I meant back into this AWESOME EXCELLENT OH WHAT A MAGNIFICENT part of this masterpiece. Just wow. This is as epic as the ballad could ever get. Un-fucking-believable.
Then we have a nice touch on the chorus with "goodbye" lines, and when I thought this song impressed me enough and going to end, what do I get? Right, that gorgeous outro. Yeah, it's basically JP repeating the one melody all over again. Except the melody is fantastic, and he makes some minor changes everytime. In fact, the whole song is fantastic.

Most favourite section: the one in the write-up where I used capslock. But there are so many others. Outro, the second "I gave you life", and much more.

15. The Spirit Carries On

This song isn't a bombastic ballad, but the more usual one for DT. Can't say it's something shameful — this thing is a perfect representation of SFAM. Oh and I actually think it would make a great closer to the album — let the listener figure out what happened back in the days by himself, and just wrap all the concept up with this spiritual theme. This would be great, really.
I can't think of anything bad about this song. Everyone's playing is very restrained, nothing excess or unnecessary, everything is just where it's got to be. All the music, the buildup, the chorus, the lyrics, all top notch.
But since 2:50 everything becomes over-the-top notch. The guitar solo I have no words for. It evokes a lot of your feelings and is a perfect addition to this. Regression reprise completes the circle, and brings peace to the protagonist — he finally realizes all what happened to him and can now live in peace (we all know what happened next, but still). Again I say, this would be a perfect album closer. The chorus comes up once more, the outro lasts few seconds more until only piano remains, and the song ends. A brilliant piece.

Most favourite section: tough call between guitar solo and Regression melody reprise, but I give it to the latter — it never fails to give me goosebumps.

Interesting fact: with each update it becomes harder and harder for me to write interesting facts. 

[Crow]

Yes. These both deserve the love 
Won't complain at all about either, though I still think TMOLS deserved a better instrumental.

[jakepriest]

No.

and

No.

Don't like these two songs one bit. TMOLS has only the instrumental part that I like and TSCO only has the guitar solo.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I like these choices.

[Evermind]

Glad some of you like TMOLS too. As for dislikes, well, not every update is for everyone.

Anyway, here comes the most boring and predictable update in the whole list.

14. The Count of Tuscany

On and on we go up the list, and there's the masterpiece from BC&SL. While this album somewhat suffers from the amount of long and sometimes drawn-out songs, this piece really saves it — the album ends on a very high point. I said before I can't think of single case when DT failed to end the album properly since I&W — my point still stands.
The intro is basically DT by numbers. The melody changes like what, 5 times during it? Very LtL/BAI-sh thing, and take that as a compliment. It's not the best intro on the album (this title goes to TBOT), but it's still good.
The second, heavy part of TCOT is good too. It could use little cuts here and there and be shortened a bit, but it still works fine, both at the album and in the live-setting. Very nice to hear people scream "IIIII" at the choruses. I often see this part being accused of bad, cringe-worthy lyrics. While I'm not really picky with lyrics, there are some DT songs where I literally can't stand them (hello, UAGM). Fortunately, TCOT is not in this group. I like the lyrics in this one — actually I like them more than any lyrics on DT12, cause I've got a bit tired over the years of all spiritual context — TCOT is a nice change. A very straightforward story throughout the whole song.
And the calm part is exactly how such a change in pace should be done. Illumination Theory, in my opinion, totally fails to do that, while this song manages to slow down perfectly. It's like the protagonist has already resigned himself to the death. Ambient JP guitar sounds do wonders here.
And then comes one of the best DT moments in RR-era. Yes, I'm talking about this ending. Out of ambient section emerges the acoustic guitar, sounding calm yet tense. After the first vocal passage there are a keyboard sounds, and this is awesome too. JR plays only three notes, but what an effect it applies. The song then explodes in a one of the most epic ways ever possible, making the whole album worth it. Inspiring whoa-whooas in the end enrich the feeling, and this nearly twenty-minutes journey peacefully ends.
Though, I've got to admit, the story ending is a bit laughable. 

Most favourite section: the whole ending, of course, but for me the true epic starts with "the chapel and the saint" part. This ending is just astonishingly great.

13. Octavarium

Finally, we got to this one. First impression when I laid my hands on this album and checked the songs' lengths, I thought "oh, so it's gonna be another long bombastic piece to close the whole thing up" and how damn wrong I was. Yes, it's epic, but it's nothing like ITPOE, ITNOG, TCOT and those kind of songs. Octavarium feels quite restrained, not bombastic at all, extraordinary cohesive and natural. The music just flows on and on and on, from the continuum and lap-steel guitar intro with a distinct Shine on You Crazy Diamond vibe to the main melody and onward. The build-up in this song is wonderful. The slow, acoustic continuation of the first part transforms into a bit faster paced second part, all works fine but the real Octavarium starts at Full Circle. The clever wordplay in the verses doesn't bother me at all, and the vocal melodies are fantastic. When you begin to wonder where all this energy will go next, you get the Intervals right in your face. How these guys managed to get the spoken section work is beyond me, but oh it does. The tension is dripping from every word James speaks here, and its amount increases to the ridiculous point of no return, when you just know something's gonna happen right now, all the tension just have to break out somehow. And it does through the famous James scream (much better on the Score DVD I think). And this is it. Wait, it's not. The song goes even further, gorgeous melody flows in and that's the part that makes this song beyond epic. Orchestration is a top notch here, every single second is worth it — that's how you end a song, ladies and gentlemen. A hell of a musical ride, Octavarium is.

Most favourite section: I deliberately omitted that part in my write-up, and that's gonna be controversial, but I'm in love of that flute (it is flute, right?) little piece in the intro, starting at 4:30. Incredibly beautiful. Also, on Score DVD, did you notice the face of orchestra musician sitting in front of the playing flute-player? She looks disappointed and maybe even a bit jealous almost like she wanted to play it. No offense meant to musicians of course, just a little thought.

This update might be boring, but we got rid of two epics in one go! Maybe that'll make the list interesting when we'll reach Top 10.

Interesting fact: the next update will feature what in my opinion is the most controversial choice in this list, but it's still not the top ten territory, so I hope I'll get away with it.

[jakepriest]

Both a little tiny bit lower than I would have placed them but fair enough. 

[Crow]

TCOT is like a sandwich, except it's a sandwich you don't really care for that much. The bread is still good and the sandwich isn't ruined but you'd rather there be something else between the two slices of bread so that it would be a good sandwich.

Basically, what I'm saying is I should probably make lunch soon.
Also that everything until the metal section is great and the entire last section is great but the stuff in-between those two sections needs work.

[jakepriest]

TCOT is like a sandwich, except it's a sandwich you don't really care for that much. The bread is still good and the sandwich isn't ruined but you'd rather there be something else between the two slices of bread so that it would be a good sandwich.

Basically, what I'm saying is I should probably make lunch soon.
Also that everything until the metal section is great and the entire last section is great but the stuff in-between those two sections needs work.

No.

[Crow]

Your argument is flawless, I guess I can't argue against that. I'm wrong, TCOT is obviously the #1 DT song of all time, gotta redo my entire list now. Also need to put BMUBMD in the top 10 and LTL in the bottom 10.

[jakepriest]

Your argument is flawless, I guess I can't argue against that. I'm wrong, TCOT is obviously the #1 DT song of all time, gotta redo my entire list now. Also need to put BMUBMD in the top 10 and LTL in the bottom 10.

Yes.

[Prog Snob]

Awake is a pizza.
TCOT is a sandwich.
Scarred is a platypus.

Why wasn't I present when they were giving out the shrooms???

[Evermind]

But TCOT is great, guys.

Well, whatever! Get the last pack of songs before top ten!

12. Finally Free

Well, it's not that controversial pick I was talking about. Finally Free totally deserves its place and I often see it that high, so no surprises there.
So, when I was talking about how TSCO would be the perfect closer for SFAM, I wasn't lying. But FF is the closer beyond perfection. It's like the guys took the best way to finish the record, enhanced it ten times and got Finally Free as the outcome. Because, seriously, the song is outstanding. It contains my favourite section on the whole SFAM, it wraps everything up, it tells the story with such a passion and power (and prog ) that it leaves you in awe everytime. I don't want separately review each part, you all know how amazing the whole piece is. It's light, dark, dramatic, uplifting, sad and peaceful and I could go on and on. I said before SFAM is the best DT album in my opinion, and this song is one of the load of reasons why.

Most favourite section: Friday evening. This section sends shivers down my spine every single time I'm listening SFAM as a whole.

11. Wait for Sleep

Before you ask "what the hell, what's next, Regression in top ten?", no, Regression and Through My Words didn't make the list. Though I can't say that's my last surprising choice. 
So, what about this song I liked so much it ended one step away from the best 10 songs DT put out? Atmosphere. A very atmospheric little gem this song is. I may like long epics or very progressive songs or both combined, but this. This is different. No other DT song offers that feeling for me. I said earlier I don't care about the songs' lengths, and isn't it the perfect example? Wait for Sleep is two and a half minutes of sheer brilliance. It's like this feeling when one winter's day you wake up and see everything covered with crystal clear white snow. When I listen to this song, I forget about everything.

Most favourite section: James' delivery of "or here, lying in bed" and "now, and forever curled" lines. 

The statistics post coming in a few hours, and meanwhile you can say WFS is too high, FF is too low and leave some guesses for Top 10 if you want, though I won't hold it against you if you don't. Just be sure to guess when Top 3 comes. 

Interesting fact: none of the albums are fully represented in the list (otherwise, why would I post the percentage in statistics post?)

[?]

I'd rank WFS even higher

[Crow]

It's not controversial to rank WFS that high last I checked. I was expecting something like YNM or BMUBMD :V
Finally Free is totally  though~

[Evermind]

But, but, it's 20 places higher than LtL. 

[jakepriest]

WFS is amazing.

[Evermind]

Ok guys, I'll let you ponder about WFS and FF for more time, because I really want to sleep now and don't want to color all these statistics (because they're not colored in my initial list), so I'll post them shortly before the next update. 

[Crow]

I should go color stuff! *does so*

[Ruba]

I'd rank WFS even higher

[Evermind]

Wow, such love for WFS impresses and pleases me. I mean, it's higher than TTT, Surrounded, PMU, Metropolis and LtL in my list, after all.

Top 10 is near. So, SC got TMOLS in top20, BC&SL made it with The Count and ADTOE got OTBOA there, so clearly, the RR-era album left out is DT12. But are there any other songs from the first three records? You'll need to wait to find out.
Here's the recap.

Rather short songs (clocking at 7:00 or shorter): 18/40 (45%)
Quite long ones (from 7:00 till 14:00): 18/40 (45%)
Very long ones (from 14:00 and onwards): 4/40 (10%)

50. Misunderstood
49. The Answer Lies Within
48. Honor Thy Father
47. The Enemy Inside
46. Far From Heaven
45. The Dance of Eternity
44. The Looking Glass
43. Take The Time
42. Fatal Tragedy
41. Trial of Tears
40. Beyond This Life
39. Surrender To Reason
38. Disappear
37. Surrounded
36. As I Am
35. A Nightmare to Remember
34. Peruvian Skies
33. Forsaken
32. Panic Attack
31. Learning to Live
30. The Silent Man
29. Scarred
28. Bridges in the Sky
27. These Walls
26. The Great Debate
25. Vacant
24. The Mirror
23. Hollow Years
22. Blind Faith
21. Overture 1928
20. On the Backs of Angels
19. Pull Me Under
18. Home
17. Metropolis pt.1: The Miracle and the Sleeper
16. The Ministry of Lost Souls
15. The Spirit Carries On
14. The Count of Tuscany
13. Octavarium
12. Finally Free
11. Wait for Sleep

I&W: 6/8 songs (75%), 45:38/57:04 (79,96%)
Awake: 3/11 (27%), 24:32/74:56 (32,74%)
FII: 3/11 (27%), 25:42/78:12 (32,86%)
SFAM: 7/12 (58%), 59:31/77:06 (77,19%)
SDOIT: 4/6 (66%), 40:25/96:20 (41,96%)
ToT: 3/7 (43%), 20:58/69:21 (30,23%)
8VM: 4/8 (50%), 45:22/75:44 (59,90%)
SC: 2/7 (29%), 20:32/78:41 (26,10%)
BC&SL: 2/6 (33%), 34:55/75:25 (46,30%)
ADTOE: 3/9 (33%), 23:39/77:01 (30,71%)
DT12: 3/9 (33%), 17:44/68:01 (26,07%)

Both I&W and SFAM had 3 songs out of the last 5 updates, so small wonder they're that high. Though with 10 songs more on the list, can they hold their positions?

Interesting fact: at least one of the albums has two or more songs in Top 10. Feel free to speculate.

[jakepriest]

I'm expecting a lot of Awake and some ToT in your top 10 

[Evermind]

Oh, expectations are always a good thing, though only time will tell if they'll be satisfied. But on 10th place you all guys get not something from Awake or Train of Thought. It's:

10. Beneath the Surface

Beneath the Surface is a very special DT song for me — it sits among the small circle of tunes in which I really love everything about the lyrics and care about them much. And the previous album to contain such a tune was SDOIT, so, you can imagine.
I won't say much about this song. If you don't pay attention to the lyrics, you can find this song heartwarming, airy and hopeful. But if you do... the lyrics are quite the contrary: poignant and bitter, and when you realize it, you see this song from completely different angle. It's hard to imagine how Dream Theater did something like this.
And it's another perfect song from them to close the album. After all these years of epics at the end of records, this move is probably the most unsafe on ADTOE, and it works flawlessly.

Most favourite section: the last chorus. I always forget how James' starts to sing higher there, I never expect it and I always love it.

What do you think? Will ADTOE have two or more songs in Top 10, or will it be some other record? Or maybe it will be ADTOE _and_ some other record?

Interesting fact: I struggled a lot with the last two songs, WFS and BTS. The latter was initially at 9 and WFS at 11, then WFS moved to 10 and BTS to 11, and then I swapped them again, this time BTS ended up on 10. Though they have a very different feeling, I consider them both at 10 now. But I was forced to choose, so, well, here you are.

[Crow]

I can testify to struggling with placements.
Might as well say it now because why not, I literally decided 6th/7th with a coinflip :B
And then I had songs jump all around and ended up with a list I'm still not wholly satisfied with in the end, but ahh whatever.

[jakepriest]

I quite like Beneath The Surface, but I wouldn't place it this high. I understand why someone would really like it though so I won't complain. 

[Crow]

Hmm okay let's guess some top 9's!
I want to say you basically spoiled BAI being on the list at some point, and I got the impression there's another ToT and FII song here somewhere. DT12 is done and SDOIT is done so I know it's nothing off either of those. I want to guess ToT is the one with two songs left, which makes sense because it has at least two amazing songs left on it 
I also know you have either This Dying Soul or Another Day in your top 10 somewhere.
One of UAGM, Sacrificed Sons, New Millennium is in your top 10 somewhere.
You either have ITNOG off your list entirely or way up top, and considering you rank ToT as top 5, I'm guessing the latter 
You don't seem to like SoC which leaves TDS as the only other possible ToT song.
Checked your post history and it seems like TitL and BAI were both listed in your top 5 from ADToE/DT12 post but so was AfTR and that's not on the list so. May not be accurate now but whatever 
Though looking elsewhere, TitL is basically guaranteed~
I get the impression you have ItPoE on here somwhere, too, but not as sure.
I'm rather convinced Sacrificed Sons is the one of the three listed earlier. Super 100% convinced now actually.
Oh, wait, crap. Another Day is the one of the two from before, 100% sure now. Hmm. I guess ToT isn't the album with 2 songs... though wait now ADToE has two songs so gah doesn't matter xD
Wait ES could be there too. I think it might just be. Hmm.
I think this looks passable. I spent too much time on this because I have nothing better to do 

1. In The Name Of God
2. Breaking All Illusions
3. Another Day
4. Sacrificed Sons
5. This is the Life
6. Lines In The Sand
7. Endless Sacrifice
8. Voices
9. In the Presence of Enemies

I put the 5 I'm sure of up top because why not, and I filled the rest with four songs from this pool that seem most likely:

Innocence Faded
Erotomania
Voices
Lines in the Sand
Anna Lee
Strange Deja Vu
One Last Time
Endless Sacrifice
In The Presence of Enemies
Caught in a Web
Space-Dye Vest
Buning My Soul
Just Let Me Breathe
I Walk Beside You
Marked in red are the ones that have no chance and I'm listing just because I can't technically count them out yet 
So I'm really only picking 4 out of 9 which are good odds, mmhmm, yes...

If all of your picks aren't mention in the top five or in this pool somewhere I'll be really disappointed in my detective skills 
I just want to see if I can make one of these guess things as accurate as possible 

[Evermind]

Wow, you did a lot of work to gather this guess. I think I've made that guess about your list in about five minutes, but I couldn't possibly read your previous posts seeing as you get the amount twelve times greater than mine.

Well, let's see how it all turns out.

[Crow]

A lot of my previous posts are ooooold admittedly. And my song preferences have changed :B
But yeah I have too much time on my hands clearly.