Favorite/Least Favorite DT record and......

[adastra]

Falling Into Infinity : 10 !!!!!!!
DT12, ADTOE : 3-4 

[NotePad]

I'd say Awake is my favorite (followed by 6Degrees and ToT and 8VM in a triple tie)
Least favorite is Falling Into Infinity

Awake - 10/10
FIF - 5/10

Awake is an album that sounds like no other DT album. Most of their stuff since SFAM has a very similar sound, which I like, but Awake really stands out as being unique. The songs are some of the tightest DT have ever written. It has songs and styles and sounds they'v never sone anything like since. For the most part it's progressive more on a song-by-song basis, rather then being progressive within the context of a single song. Similar to 8VM in this way, another of their best albums.

Falling Into Infinity wasn't terrible. When I first heard it I was a fairly new DT fan. But I lost interest pretty quickly and now I consider it their most bland and least exciting album.

[kiwiclapton]

Dream Theater /10
SC/1

[BlobVanDam]

I'd say Awake is my favorite (followed by 6Degrees and ToT and 8VM in a triple tie)
Least favorite is Falling Into Infinity

Awake - 10/10
FIF - 5/10

Awake is an album that sounds like no other DT album. Most of their stuff since SFAM has a very similar sound, which I like, but Awake really stands out as being unique. The songs are some of the tightest DT have ever written. It has songs and styles and sounds they'v never sone anything like since. For the most part it's progressive more on a song-by-song basis, rather then being progressive within the context of a single song. Similar to 8VM in this way, another of their best albums.

Falling Into Infinity wasn't terrible. When I first heard it I was a fairly new DT fan. But I lost interest pretty quickly and now I consider it their most bland and least exciting album.

And yet, I'd apply all of those things you like about Awake more so to FII.

[NotePad]

I'd say Awake is my favorite (followed by 6Degrees and ToT and 8VM in a triple tie)
Least favorite is Falling Into Infinity

Awake - 10/10
FIF - 5/10

Awake is an album that sounds like no other DT album. Most of their stuff since SFAM has a very similar sound, which I like, but Awake really stands out as being unique. The songs are some of the tightest DT have ever written. It has songs and styles and sounds they'v never done anything like since. For the most part it's progressive more on a song-by-song basis, rather then being progressive within the context of a single song. Similar to 8VM in this way, another of their best albums.

Falling Into Infinity wasn't terrible. When I first heard it I was a fairly new DT fan. But I lost interest pretty quickly and now I consider it their most bland and least exciting album.

And yet, I'd apply all of those things you like about Awake more so to FII.

.....ok, you got me there. It's been quite awhile since I even listened to FIF. When I think of Awake I definitely don't picture it next to FIF in sound. FIF has some good songs, but they lack integrity and depth. But i really do like Hells Kitchen. Yea some of what I said about Awake can be said about FIF; FIF has some very 'tight' songs. But really, I mean, right now i'm actually having trouble remembering specifics about most of FIF's songs! There's nothing memorable or impressive I can remember. Awake has much more of an edge and even a darkness about it. There's nothing on FIF that even comes close to Lifting Shadows, Space-Dye Vest, Lie, or any of the other songs on it. Fuck Falling Into Infinity.

[BlobVanDam]

I'd say Awake is my favorite (followed by 6Degrees and ToT and 8VM in a triple tie)
Least favorite is Falling Into Infinity

Awake - 10/10
FIF - 5/10

Awake is an album that sounds like no other DT album. Most of their stuff since SFAM has a very similar sound, which I like, but Awake really stands out as being unique. The songs are some of the tightest DT have ever written. It has songs and styles and sounds they'v never done anything like since. For the most part it's progressive more on a song-by-song basis, rather then being progressive within the context of a single song. Similar to 8VM in this way, another of their best albums.

Falling Into Infinity wasn't terrible. When I first heard it I was a fairly new DT fan. But I lost interest pretty quickly and now I consider it their most bland and least exciting album.

And yet, I'd apply all of those things you like about Awake more so to FII.

.....ok, you got me there. It's been quite awhile since I even listened to FIF. When I think of Awake I definitely don't picture it next to FIF in sound. FIF has some good songs, but they lack integrity and depth. But i really do like Hells Kitchen. Yea some of what I said about Awake can be said about FIF; FIF has some very 'tight' songs. But really, I mean, right now i'm actually having trouble remembering specifics about most of FIF's songs! There's nothing memorable or impressive I can remember. Awake has much more of an edge and even a darkness about it. There's nothing on FIF that even comes close to Lifting Shadows, Space-Dye Vest, Lie, or any of the other songs on it. Fuck Falling Into Infinity.

Well I disagree. Lifting Shadows, SDV, Lie and Scarred are all bottom 10 DT songs for me, and I rank the album at the very bottom, while FII is #4 for me (behind SDOIT/SFAM/IAW). Fuck Awake!

But no other DT album sounds like FII. It's laid back, rockier, their most organic sounding, with tight compositions with pretty much no excess or wankiness, with spacious arrangements that let every instrument breathe and shine, and it has songs that sound like nothing else they've done, which I think is a shame.

[Laughingplace56]

SFAM-10
SDOIT-10
Awake-9
I&W-9
DT12-9
ToT-9
ADToE-8
8VM-7
SC-6
BC&SL-6
FII-5
WDADU-5

I think that's how I'd rank them. SFAM and SDOIT are the undisputed kings of their albums, and I think Awake/I&W/DT12/ToT all come in at the same quality of awesomeness. ADToE is awesome, 8Vm has some ok tracks, some great, and the magnum opus of the DT collection (The Answer Lies Within). SC and BC&SL both have strong songs and meh songs. FII and WDADU I just don't love. They're not bad, but have songs on the crappier side. ToT and HK are the only great songs off FII.

[JiM-Xtreme]

SFAM: 10/10
SC: 6/10

[NotePad]

I'd say Awake is my favorite (followed by 6Degrees and ToT and 8VM in a triple tie)
Least favorite is Falling Into Infinity

Awake - 10/10
FIF - 5/10

Awake is an album that sounds like no other DT album. Most of their stuff since SFAM has a very similar sound, which I like, but Awake really stands out as being unique. The songs are some of the tightest DT have ever written. It has songs and styles and sounds they'v never done anything like since. For the most part it's progressive more on a song-by-song basis, rather then being progressive within the context of a single song. Similar to 8VM in this way, another of their best albums.

Falling Into Infinity wasn't terrible. When I first heard it I was a fairly new DT fan. But I lost interest pretty quickly and now I consider it their most bland and least exciting album.

And yet, I'd apply all of those things you like about Awake more so to FII.

.....ok, you got me there. It's been quite awhile since I even listened to FIF. When I think of Awake I definitely don't picture it next to FIF in sound. FIF has some good songs, but they lack integrity and depth. But i really do like Hells Kitchen. Yea some of what I said about Awake can be said about FIF; FIF has some very 'tight' songs. But really, I mean, right now i'm actually having trouble remembering specifics about most of FIF's songs! There's nothing memorable or impressive I can remember. Awake has much more of an edge and even a darkness about it. There's nothing on FIF that even comes close to Lifting Shadows, Space-Dye Vest, Lie, or any of the other songs on it. Fuck Falling Into Infinity.

Well I disagree. Lifting Shadows, SDV, Lie and Scarred are all bottom 10 DT songs for me, and I rank the album at the very bottom, while FII is #4 for me (behind SDOIT/SFAM/IAW). Fuck Awake!

But no other DT album sounds like FII. It's laid back, rockier, their most organic sounding, with tight compositions with pretty much no excess or wankiness, with spacious arrangements that let every instrument breathe and shine, and it has songs that sound like nothing else they've done, which I think is a shame.

When I really think back, I remember liking FII quite a bit when I first bought it. At this time I didn't know too much about DT, like how fans in general ranked their albums. But I also remember there were a lot of songs I skipped. Later on when I started reading up and finding out how people generally didn't think much of it- this has had an impact on how i think of it. But now, looking at all their work, I honestly can say it's my least favorite DT.

I know Space-Fye Vest was a song completely written by Kevin Moore, and this had made some think less of it. Also, it's not a song for everyone. But I love it. And to me Lifting Shadow is one of DTs most beautiful songs, and the lyrics are amazing and probably have the best lyrics out of all their songs.

[Invisible]

.....ok, you got me there. It's been quite awhile since I even listened to FIF. When I think of Awake I definitely don't picture it next to FIF in sound. FIF has some good songs, but they lack integrity and depth. But i really do like Hells Kitchen. Yea some of what I said about Awake can be said about FIF; FIF has some very 'tight' songs. But really, I mean, right now i'm actually having trouble remembering specifics about most of FIF's songs! There's nothing memorable or impressive I can remember. Awake has much more of an edge and even a darkness about it. There's nothing on FIF that even comes close to Lifting Shadows, Space-Dye Vest, Lie, or any of the other songs on it.

But... but... Lines in the Sand... Ohhhh I get it, you were listening to Falling Into Finity! Maybe you should check Falling Into Infinity .

Trolling aside, here's my rank:

FII, Awake, I&W, Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence: 10/10
Scenes From A Memory: 9.5/10
Octavarium: 9/10
Train of Thought, Systematic Chaos, Black Clouds And Silver Linings, DT12, Cleaning Out The Closet: 8/10
ADTOE: 7.8/10
WDADU: 5/10

I don't care about the clunkers of FII, it's still has 6 songs that are VERY good, 2 mindblowing and one that's simply Had it included the leftovers it would be my undisputed number 1.

[GentlemanofDread]

10/10: Metropolis Pt 2, SDOIT, FII
5/10: Octavarium/Black Clouds

[BlobVanDam]

When I really think back, I remember liking FII quite a bit when I first bought it. At this time I didn't know too much about DT, like how fans in general ranked their albums. But I also remember there were a lot of songs I skipped. Later on when I started reading up and finding out how people generally didn't think much of it- this has had an impact on how i think of it. But now, looking at all their work, I honestly can say it's my least favorite DT.

I absolutely positively despised FII when I first got it.
I think most of my initial hatred of it was because it had this random dude playing on it, and not JR or KM that I was accustomed to. This was right after seeing 5YIALT and discovering there was a keyboardist inbetween the two, who I didn't like one bit.
But then I loved JLMB from LSFNY, and then I got into New Millennium, Hollow Years and later Trial of Tears from Live at Budokan, and then over time I have only begun to appreciate the album more and more. Even TAMP recently sorta clicked for me, so the only song I don't like is YNM, which I don't even hate (but it is super mediocre). Always one of my "go to" albums when I listen to DT, along with SFAM and SDOIT.

[hefdaddy42]

I&W/Awake - 10/10
WDADU - 2/10

So, 8.

[kirksnosehair]

For me this would probably change from time to time but as of right now I would say that Images and Words is my favorite with a score of 9 and Octavarium is my least favorite with a score of 5


4 point difference

[erwinrafael]

Awake and DT12: 10. I can listen to these albums everyday. Even twice a day everyday.

Systematic Chaos: 5. What a clunker of an album.

[Volante99]

Best: I&W - An amazing album, focused, tight, every song is quality and it really is a completely original and unique statement that introduces the band's sound.

Worst: FII - I think this was a dark time for the band, and it really shows on this record. It's basically everything that I&W isn't. The album is reactionary and not revolutionary, DT is trying to be something it isn't and there are some truly embarrassing songs on this record.

[robwebster]

....on a scale from 1 to 10, what is the difference between the two?  (No live or bootlegs)

For instance, my fav is SFAM and I give it a 10.  My least fav is WDADU and I give it a 6.5.  So the difference is 3.5.

Expecting many varied responses.  DT fans are the best!!

We're looking at Octavarium with a ten, and BCSL is probably a six? Deviation of four. I'm omitting WDADU, as it's sort of a prototype, and is likely somewhere around 5.5. That still makes it a three star album, and the greatest songs are great indeed, (I'm looking at you, A Fortune in Lies,) but I find it more interesting as a document than as a listening experience.

[Outcrier]

(again)
Based on = 10 - Favorite band album | 1- Least favorite

SDOIT = 10

BCSL = 1

[chaotic_ripper]

When I really think back, I remember liking FII quite a bit when I first bought it. At this time I didn't know too much about DT, like how fans in general ranked their albums. But I also remember there were a lot of songs I skipped. Later on when I started reading up and finding out how people generally didn't think much of it- this has had an impact on how i think of it. But now, looking at all their work, I honestly can say it's my least favorite DT.

I absolutely positively despised FII when I first got it.
I think most of my initial hatred of it was because it had this random dude playing on it, and not JR or KM that I was accustomed to. This was right after seeing 5YIALT and discovering there was a keyboardist inbetween the two, who I didn't like one bit.
But then I loved JLMB from LSFNY, and then I got into New Millennium, Hollow Years and later Trial of Tears from Live at Budokan, and then over time I have only begun to appreciate the album more and more. Even TAMP recently sorta clicked for me, so the only song I don't like is YNM, which I don't even hate (but it is super mediocre). Always one of my "go to" albums when I listen to DT, along with SFAM and SDOIT.

I see it the same way as Blob.  I kinda link FII, SFAM, and SDOIT together as the "middle-period".  I became a fan in '98 and FII was still the newest thing, and when Train came out is I guess when I stopped being enamored with the band. So FII-SDOIT was kind of my honeymoon period so those three albums are sorta special to me.

[NotePad]

There are a few albums I should definitely dig up and give some more attention to. These albums are FII, I&W, SFAM, SC.

I haven't listened to BC&SL too much either. I'v been kinda turned off by the fact that all the songs are long, epic DT songs. But I can say I really like The Best of Times, the first portion especially. I cannot, or maybe should not, comment on any 'wankery' that may or may not be on BC&SL, because I am not familiar enough with it. Despite my like of Best of Times, I have a suspicion there will be a long of 'wankey'.

[Outcrier]

There are a few albums I should definitely dig up and give some more attention to. These albums are FII, I&W, SFAM, SC.

I haven't listened to BC&SL too much either. I'v been kinda turned off by the fact that all the songs are long, epic DT songs. But I can say I really like The Best of Times, the first portion especially. I cannot, or maybe should not, comment on any 'wankery' that may or may not be on BC&SL, because I am not familiar enough with it. Despite my like of Best of Times, I have a suspicion there will be a long of 'wankey'.

And your suspicions are right... i think it will be a waste of time for you listening to BC&SL.

[NotePad]

There are a few albums I should definitely dig up and give some more attention to. These albums are FII, I&W, SFAM, SC.

I haven't listened to BC&SL too much either. I'v been kinda turned off by the fact that all the songs are long, epic DT songs. But I can say I really like The Best of Times, the first portion especially. I cannot, or maybe should not, comment on any 'wankery' that may or may not be on BC&SL, because I am not familiar enough with it. Despite my like of Best of Times, I have a suspicion there will be a long of 'wankey'.

And your suspicions are right... i think it will be a waste of time for you listening to BC&SL.

Goddamnit.....

I would really love to see an album by DT where all the songs follow the typical 'verse-chorus-verse...' structure. Some of the 8VM songs were like that, right? I can't say for sure cuz i haven't heard it in awhile. But I bet DT could come up with some amazing songs if they wrote an entire album like that. It would probably be really easy for them. Maybe.

[bl5150]

Based on what you've said Notepad (and I can't recall if you've commented on DT12)  I'd be looking at DT12 , I&W and (less so) FII.   Then just pick and choose .........

Personally I also tend to favour more compact songs but , having said that, I really like some of the big tracks as long as there are enough melody ideas to keep me interested .  The difference between the way Breaking All Illusions (as an example) or Illumination Theory hold my attention as compared to the lengthy tracks on ToT, BCSL and SC (they mostly don't) is like chalk and cheese.

[sylvinception]

Favorites ex-aequo with 10 : Awake and I&W === >>> these 2 albums are those which resume the best everything I love about this band.

Least favorite with 2 : BC&SL.

[PixelDream]

Awake: 10+
WDADU: 5

[Outcrier]

There are a few albums I should definitely dig up and give some more attention to. These albums are FII, I&W, SFAM, SC.

I haven't listened to BC&SL too much either. I'v been kinda turned off by the fact that all the songs are long, epic DT songs. But I can say I really like The Best of Times, the first portion especially. I cannot, or maybe should not, comment on any 'wankery' that may or may not be on BC&SL, because I am not familiar enough with it. Despite my like of Best of Times, I have a suspicion there will be a long of 'wankey'.

And your suspicions are right... i think it will be a waste of time for you listening to BC&SL.

Goddamnit.....

I would really love to see an album by DT where all the songs follow the typical 'verse-chorus-verse...' structure. Some of the 8VM songs were like that, right? I can't say for sure cuz i haven't heard it in awhile. But I bet DT could come up with some amazing songs if they wrote an entire album like that. It would probably be really easy for them. Maybe.

The majority of DT12 is exactly like this.

[Perpetual Change]

Favorite - Awake 9.5/10
Least Favorite - Black Clouds & Silver Linings 3.5/10

[CharlesPL]

Images/SFAM 10/10
SC 6/10

[Daso]

Awake/I&W/DT12: 10/10
ToT: 5/10

[NotePad]

So today I did a lot of driving and the whole time I was listening to the new album, aka DT12. And it's really warmed up on me. I have to say, it is a very good DT album. I also noted that, more in the first portion of the album, there wasn't a ton of 'wank', in fact, very little. Or maybe the situation is that the instrumental sections have more feeling to them and feel more relevant to the rest of the songs than usual. Although there are parts, which I'm pretty sure were played by JR, where things felt like they were starting to cross into wank territory. But not all the way. But for the most part, these parts didn't lose my interest. This album feels more cohesive as a result of the instrumental sections actually feeling like part of the songs their in.

From what I recollect of song titles, I believe some notable song i really liked were Enemy Inside, Looking Glass, Bigger Picture. I love JPs sound on this album. It sound so full and just fuckin crushing sometimes. I wish I remember what the songs were titled, becuase there's one where his guitar is so full and crushing slightly behind the vocals and creates some really cool sounds during a chorus, i believe it was. I'll come back and comment more after more listens (because I know everyone is dying to hear my opinions ;p

[Invisible]

So today I did a lot of driving and the whole time I was listening to the new album, aka DT12. And it's really warmed up on me. I have to say, it is a very good DT album. I also noted that, more in the first portion of the album, there wasn't a ton of 'wank', in fact, very little. Or maybe the situation is that the instrumental sections have more feeling to them and feel more relevant to the rest of the songs than usual. Although there are parts, which I'm pretty sure were played by JR, where things felt like they were starting to cross into wank territory. But not all the way. But for the most part, these parts didn't lose my interest. This album feels more cohesive as a result of the instrumental sections actually feeling like part of the songs their in.

From what I recollect of song titles, I believe some notable song i really liked were Enemy Inside, Looking Glass, Bigger Picture. I love JPs sound on this album. It sound so full and just fuckin crushing sometimes. I wish I remember what the songs were titled, becuase there's one where his guitar is so full and crushing slightly behind the vocals and creates some really cool sounds during a chorus, i believe it was. I'll come back and comment more after more listens (because I know everyone is dying to hear my opinions ;p

Hmmm... maybe Behind The Veil or Along For The Ride(JP plays melodies and melodies over the verses and choruses after the acoustic part, and it's really stellar)?

As for the BC&SL, I really recommend at least to give The Count of Tuscany another spin, I did it this weekend on a car trip and it grew on me immensely. Still not fan of the lyrics, but the music is awesome(if you can avoid falling asleep on the volume swelling JP guitar part ). Wither is a song with verse-chorus structure, and a nice one. The others are more of an acquired taste though.

And for verse-bridge-chorus structured kind of songs, besides DT12 the other ones to go for are Awake, FII and Octavarium. By far the more concise albums DT has ever made.

[NotePad]

I have not give BC&SL enough of a chance, i'v only heard it a handful of times, mostly a year or so ago but a few times more recently. The the first time if heard Count of Tuscany I was actually quite impressed. Pretty typical DT, yes, but some really good ambiance and emotion at times. One of the things that struck me about Count of Tuscany at first was the lyrics; I didn't necessarily find them bad or too tacky (at times they got close though). I kinda like the lyrics actually. I can see what Petrucci was trying to do; they were very straightforward because he was telling a story. I see what he was going for.

What strikes of about DT over and over again is how mediocre they are as lyricists. They never write any I would consider amazing. But sometimes they are great. Some of the lyrics in Through Her Eyes could have come off terribly, but the way JL sang them so beautifully actually turned that around and made the experience of that song really beautiful. Through Her Eyes is one of the fews songs by any band that brings out genuine emotion in me.

It's not always easy to totally hear what all lyrics are. From what I could devipher, Dark Eternal Night has some really cool lyrics. They seem somewhat fantasy-based, in fact i got that impression with a few SC songs. But like i said, it's hard to understand all the lyrics so I could be wrong. I'll definitely go read their lyrics.

[Enalya]

BCSL: 10/10 (SFAM & SDOIT: 9/10)
Systematic Chaos: 3/10

[jakepriest]

BCSL: 10/10 (SFAM & SDOIT: 9/10)
Systematic Chaos: 3/10

I've never seen anyone rank BCSL as their no. 1 album. 

[cygnusx1jg]

Actually, the fourth poster on page 1 said BCSL is one of their top favorites.

What I have yet to see is anyone saying that Systematic Chaos is their favorite.