insights of a new fan

[ori.elias5]

Hey...

maybe some of u remember, I discovered DT 8 months ago and i asked you which order should i listen to the albums in a way that i finish with the strongest moments.

Anyway, after 8 magnificant months i'm still in the process!! I'm 26 with a big music history behing me, a guitarist player and ive never got so excited about a band like this in my life!!

Because its so special i dont want it to end and i drag this journey so i still havent listened to TOT, ACOS, SDOIT, I&W and SFAM. all the rest i did listen and im going to share you guys with my thoughts so far.

JUST A BRIEF QUESTION BEFORE: If i choose to hear SFAM before I&W, is there any signs of the song metropolis P 1 in SFAM that can spoil me the song in I&W?


And now for my thoughts: (I'll start from the first album i started to the last one, with a note that in the begining i dident started with the worst to best just after few albums...)

1. AWAKE- Already one of my fav albums off alltimes, and forsure my fav in the cataloug so far. i loved it so much that i bought my own copy ( i borrowed my dads)..

It combined classic JLB singing and a special atmosphere.  highlights for me are IF, AMBI with silent man being the orgasem.  LSOAD and scarred are also up there.

2. ADTOE- at the begining i dident like it so much as it felt like big falldown after AWAKE. today i like it a lot and i find it to be a bit overrated album by the fans but a great DT average album. BAI guitar solo wow.

3. DT- for me its in the bottom of the list. forsure its DT album and its fun but most of the songs are not as exciting like in other albums. TLG is a big highlight.

4. WADADU- a great gem, very raw. its a lovable album but Labrie is not in there so itll make it my least fav album of the 8 ive heard. OAMOT and afterlife are the highlights for me.

5. BC&SL- this album is hard to digest. in one hand when i listen to it, i find a lot of quality but when i choose 1 cd to play, i usually prevent from picking this one and i dunno why. ANTR has the beautiful middle part, TBOT is exciting and has the great ending and TCOT contains perhaps the best intro ever for a song and a strong ending.

6.SC- i like it. a lot. i dident understand the bad reviews about it and BCSL. ITPOE is classic. both.
TMOLS is a haunting song except the middle part which is a bit dragged imo. the rest of the album is solid.

7.FII- probably my fav after awake. I'm a big ballads fan and i find all the 3 ballads ( HY, TAMP and AL) amazing. plus, it contains LITS with one of the craziest guitar solos and the beautiful Trial of tears. almost forgot hells kitchen and peruvian skies. really, that is classic!!

8. Octavarium-  i enjoy 8V but smt is missing. until the title track. what a climax. i love especially the first 2 parts- the intro and the flute, and then Labrie start singing one of the most beautiful pieces in music ive ever heard. after mediciate, the song drags a little for me but still great.gotta love the solo in the end.


So............................. thats it more or less. forgot to mention that i love the song " to live forever" from the unrelesed.

Dream theater got deep in my heart and there is not a single day when i dont think or hear DT. can't wait to hear the rest of the stuff.

Thank u guys for reading... i really had to take it out of my system...

Happy to hear your comments.


rick the dick

[Nearmyth]

JUST A BRIEF QUESTION BEFORE: If i choose to hear SFAM before I&W, is there any signs of the song metropolis P 1 in SFAM that can spoil me the song in I&W?

Yes, I would listen to I&W first, or at least Metropolis Pt. 1. It won't necessarily "spoil" much, but it'll be cool to hear the little motifs and such.

But very nice list Nice to see some opinions that you don't see often here.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

It's great to see a new fan and hear some fresh perspectives on the DT catalog.

Regarding Metropolis Part I and Part 2, they share common musical themes. I don't think the order will spoil either. I listened to SFAM before I&W IIRC, and I found it interesting to hear the themes and parts that had been expanded upon.

I can almost guarantee that once you have listened through the whole catalog, your tastes for each album will fluctuate. I have ADTOE ranked above MP2: SFAM, and MP2: SFAM, DT12, and ADTOE all ranked above FII and Awake.

I'm looking forward to seeing how DT affects your taste. DT was my Bridge from Five Finger Death Punch and Avenged Sevenfold to Steven Wilson, Cynic and Opeth.

[The Letter M]

Of the four remaining, listen to them in chronological order. IAW - SFAM - SDOIT - TOT. You can throw ACOS in between IAW and SFAM since ACOS was written during the IAW era anyway (albeit a bit different).

-Marc.

[Sacul]

Cool. SDOIT is hard to digest, so I'd recommend leaving it at last place. Btw, is this the first prog band you listen to?

[Raise the Drum]

Next thing you hear MUST be the Canadian rap, after that, everything is irrelevant.

Once you do that, remember also to hear the live DVDs, at least to me they play a important part been the live complement to their albums.

[ori.elias5]

Cool. SDOIT is hard to digest, so I'd recommend leaving it at last place. Btw, is this the first prog band you listen to?

haha no... im a long time fan of pink floyd,deep purple, jethro tull and rush.

[ori.elias5]

It's great to see a new fan and hear some fresh perspectives on the DT catalog.

Regarding Metropolis Part I and Part 2, they share common musical themes. I don't think the order will spoil either. I listened to SFAM before I&W IIRC, and I found it interesting to hear the themes and parts that had been expanded upon.

Regarding the spoiling,  is it spoiling like the shattered fortress spoils the other saga songs or more like rite of all evil and the answer lies within which dont spoil but  u can hear in short parts the motives from the song octavarium?

[Rodni Demental]

I like what you're doing, it's a great idea, but you're gonna have a lot of preconceptions if you listen to us...

But regarding your curiosities about what's to come. You should listen to SFAM and I&W in whichever order you feel like. I think you'll find that if you listen to Metropolis first, you'll notice a few references in SFAM. But if you listen to SFAM first, you'll probably notice the source of the references in Metropolis. I heard Scenes mostly before I actually got into Metropolis, so discovering the 'musical nuggetz' in reverse is still just as rewarding or interesting when you hear something familiar. So I wouldn't necessarily base your choice on whether you'll appreciate the references straight away. SFAM holds up without Metropolis pt.1. There's possibly a much more profound connection lyrically that only JP understands but you won't need part 1 to understand the story or anything like that, it's mostly just musical references (Overture) and occasional lyric references (eg. in Home). I mean, I heard The Shattered Fortress first aswell, so when I heard the original source of those sections it was just like Oh that's cool!! which probably would have been the same response if I'd heard The Shattered Fortress last. 

I would say it's a good chance to listen to them in order now. Ending with 6DOIT and TOT might be a good way to go. But then so would ending with SFAM or ACOS. I'd almost NOT end with I&W because you might build it up to be more than it is, and it's somewhat unique sounding among the discog. You're in a good position to listen to the start of the 'Meta-album' too as you've got SFAM/SDOIT/TOT. Although you've heard Octavarium which completes and closes the cycle. You might already know that the first note in The Root Of All Evil is the last note from Train of Thought's In The Name Of God. ACOS kinda has it's ties to I&W as a good chuck of it's songwriting was composed during the I&W era, it was just refined a few years later between Awake/FII into what it's known as now.

[Dream Team]

Wow, talk about saving the best for last . . . you still haven't heard 3 of the "Big 4" yet.  Prepare to be more amazed than you already are.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

It's great to see a new fan and hear some fresh perspectives on the DT catalog.

Regarding Metropolis Part I and Part 2, they share common musical themes. I don't think the order will spoil either. I listened to SFAM before I&W IIRC, and I found it interesting to hear the themes and parts that had been expanded upon.

Regarding the spoiling,  is it spoiling like the shattered fortress spoils the other saga songs or more like rite of all evil and the answer lies within which dont spoil but  u can hear in short parts the motives from the song octavarium?

It's more like the Shattered Fortress spoils the 12SS, but to a lesser extent. Rodni basically gave the perfect answer to what you're asking, and I'm gonna go with him on that.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

There's possibly a much more profound connection lyrically that only JP understands

I haven't heard about this. We shoudn't discuss it here so SFAM isn't "spoiled", but if this isn't already a thread I'd love to see one.

[billybobjoe1881]

I recently discovered DT as well and have spent 6+ hours a day for the last two months listening to DT and digesting their library.  You are going to love the next four albums.

[billybobjoe1881]

Next thing you hear MUST be the Canadian rap, after that, everything is irrelevant.

Once you do that, remember also to hear the live DVDs, at least to me they play a important part been the live complement to their albums.

What is the Canadian Rap?

[ori.elias5]

I like what you're doing, it's a great idea, but you're gonna have a lot of preconceptions if you listen to us...

But regarding your curiosities about what's to come. You should listen to SFAM and I&W in whichever order you feel like. I think you'll find that if you listen to Metropolis first, you'll notice a few references in SFAM. But if you listen to SFAM first, you'll probably notice the source of the references in Metropolis. I heard Scenes mostly before I actually got into Metropolis, so discovering the 'musical nuggetz' in reverse is still just as rewarding or interesting when you hear something familiar. So I wouldn't necessarily base your choice on whether you'll appreciate the references straight away. SFAM holds up without Metropolis pt.1. There's possibly a much more profound connection lyrically that only JP understands but you won't need part 1 to understand the story or anything like that, it's mostly just musical references (Overture) and occasional lyric references (eg. in Home). I mean, I heard The Shattered Fortress first aswell, so when I heard the original source of those sections it was just like Oh that's cool!! which probably would have been the same response if I'd heard The Shattered Fortress last. 

I would say it's a good chance to listen to them in order now. Ending with 6DOIT and TOT might be a good way to go. But then so would ending with SFAM or ACOS. I'd almost NOT end with I&W because you might build it up to be more than it is, and it's somewhat unique sounding among the discog. You're in a good position to listen to the start of the 'Meta-album' too as you've got SFAM/SDOIT/TOT. Although you've heard Octavarium which completes and closes the cycle. You might already know that the first note in The Root Of All Evil is the last note from Train of Thought's In The Name Of God. ACOS kinda has it's ties to I&W as a good chuck of it's songwriting was composed during the I&W era, it was just refined a few years later between Awake/FII into what it's known as now.

i'm reading your answer and get excited. thank you.... i believe i wont go in the chronological order beacause i want the main course for desert if u know what i mean...and if I&W getting close to awake in the quality theres no chance i'll be dissapointed...

[tiagodon]

My sugestion would be: log out and do not return to this Forum until you have listened to everything.

The opinions here might ruin your personal experience. Don´t let it happen.

And finally, listen to the remaining albums in chronological order.

See ya!

[hefdaddy42]

My vote is to go in chronological order.

[Sacul]

Cool. SDOIT is hard to digest, so I'd recommend leaving it at last place. Btw, is this the first prog band you listen to?

haha no... im a long time fan of pink floyd,deep purple, jethro tull and rush.

Great, do you know something about other modern prog bands like Porcupine Tree, Tool, Opeth, Anathema?

[Tom Bombadil]

I don't really like SFAM all that much, but it is really cool to hear the reprised metropolis sections the first time you hear the album. It makes it a pretty special experience. I'd recommend doing it that way.

[BlobVanDam]

My sugestion would be: log out and do not return to this Forum until you have listened to everything.

The opinions here might ruin your personal experience. Don´t let it happen.

And finally, listen to the remaining albums in chronological order.

See ya!

If you don't want the forum to ruin your DT experience, I suggest staying away permanently.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

My sugestion would be: log out and do not return to this Forum until you have listened to everything.

The opinions here might ruin your personal experience. Don´t let it happen.

And finally, listen to the remaining albums in chronological order.

See ya!

If you don't want the forum to ruin your DT experience, I suggest staying away permanently.

I know that's sarcasm, but I've been prompted to listen again to albums I might not have given another chance, and learned quite a bit of interesting history about suites and songs and so forth because of DTF.

[ori.elias5]

Cool. SDOIT is hard to digest, so I'd recommend leaving it at last place. Btw, is this the first prog band you listen to?

haha no... im a long time fan of pink floyd,deep purple, jethro tull and rush.

Great, do you know something about other modern prog bands like Porcupine Tree, Tool, Opeth, Anathema?

funny you are asking... i discovered tool short time after DT... i heard everything by them except Lateralus. man, what a crazy band... although nothing compere to DT. i listen to them in order to diverse a little bit so i dont get tired of DT by listening just one band all the time

[Invisible]

If I'm not too late, three of the four albums you saved for last are considered "gems" among fans so any order is fine. Music is such a personal experience that no advice is going to be accurate, but as a personal recomendation, and in order to savour DT as you want, saving "the best for last" I recommend this:

Train of Thought first, it's a big ass heavy all-the-way album, after digesting the heaviness of it all you might enjoy it quite a lot. Or not. It depends. But very few consider it "the masterpiece" so you can listen to it first so as to save the other ones for last.

Second, Images & Words, sort of "the bible" of Dream Theater, not because it hasn't been topped(that's subjective), but because it's where most of the familiar elements of the band stem from, so if you save it for last, you may not enjoy it quite as much, so I'd say go for it right after you are done headbanging In The Name Of God on repeat.

Then you can tackle any of the other two in any order you want, there is the safe way, but my very personal opinion is in this order:

Scenes From A Memory, after hearing Metropolis pt 1 on repeat the common musical links have a greater impact, you may even experience chills right when Overture 1928 starts and every time the song is reprised, I'm not sure it will be the same the other way around. The lyrical conexion between the two Metropolis is very loose, so don't worry about spoilers. If you already liked everything else, you can't go wrong with this album, so this is the safe "save for last" option.

And last Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, by now you'll be ready to experience the more experimental A Side, the heaviness of The Glass Prison won't caught you off guard by now and the second disc is a great way to close your DT experience in a very high note with the mega epic title track. This was actually the last album from them I listened to thoroughly, so I know what I'm talking about. (I originally tried to listen to everything in chronological order, but this and Train of Thought made me skip to Octavarium, I just wasn't ready for them at the time )

Just my two cents, knowing that I'm most likely late to the party.

[ori.elias5]

If I'm not too late, three of the four albums you saved for last are considered "gems" among fans so any order is fine. Music is such a personal experience that no advice is going to be accurate, but as a personal recomendation, and in order to savour DT as you want, saving "the best for last" I recommend this:

Train of Thought first, it's a big ass heavy all-the-way album, after digesting the heaviness of it all you might enjoy it quite a lot. Or not. It depends. But very few consider it "the masterpiece" so you can listen to it first so as to save the other ones for last.

Second, Images & Words, sort of "the bible" of Dream Theater, not because it hasn't been topped(that's subjective), but because it's where most of the familiar elements of the band stem from, so if you save it for last, you may not enjoy it quite as much, so I'd say go for it right after you are done headbanging In The Name Of God on repeat.

Then you can tackle any of the other two in any order you want, there is the safe way, but my very personal opinion is in this order:

Scenes From A Memory, after hearing Metropolis pt 1 on repeat the common musical links have a greater impact, you may even experience chills right when Overture 1928 starts and every time the song is reprised, I'm not sure it will be the same the other way around. The lyrical conexion between the two Metropolis is very loose, so don't worry about spoilers. If you already liked everything else, you can't go wrong with this album, so this is the safe "save for last" option.

And last Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, by now you'll be ready to experience the more experimental A Side, the heaviness of The Glass Prison won't caught you off guard by now and the second disc is a great way to close your DT experience in a very high note with the mega epic title track. This was actually the last album from them I listened to thoroughly, so I know what I'm talking about. (I originally tried to listen to everything in chronological order, but this and Train of Thought made me skip to Octavarium, I just wasn't ready for them at the time )

Just my two cents, knowing that I'm most likely late to the party.

Thank you! you arent late at all.... i still wait for the right timing to begin Train Of Thought.... regarding the last 3 "the gems", i'm still thinking about it, as for now, for sure TOT is next in line..

[kirksnosehair]

My vote is to go in chronological order.

What he said

[Rodni Demental]

You like Awake right? Train of Thought it sometimes compared to Awake as it's also pretty full on, and has some more aggressive vocal delivery not to mention badass guitar riffs constantly. Hope you enjoy. 

[rumborak]

My vote is to go in chronological order.

What he said

Another +1 on this. I think DT is best understood in the order it happened.

Which pops a fun idea into my head: Somebody should do a series of YouTube videos that cover what happened between the albums, and then a leadup to the next album. A LA

"You just heard Awake. Now, DT found themselves in the position to be without a keyboard player, so they got Derek Sherinian..."

[Invisible]

You like Awake right? Train of Thought it sometimes compared to Awake as it's also pretty full on, and has some more aggressive vocal delivery not to mention badass guitar riffs constantly. Hope you enjoy. 

I never found Awake and Train of Thought similar, aside from the fact it's the same band. Yeah, they are both pretty heavy, but the difference in songwriting is huge, not to mention the groove. Awake has pretty strong keyboards, while ToT they are more on the background, as it's more conventional metal album.

And yes, the chronological order should've been the way to go, but since the order has been broken, and because of the way the OP wants to listen to the album, those are my recommendations.

Oh, and listen to A Change of Seasons right after you're done with Images & Words. Or any time you want, but definitely listen to it!

[robwebster]

My vote is to go in chronological order.

What he said

Another +1 on this. I think DT is best understood in the order it happened.

Which pops a fun idea into my head: Somebody should do a series of YouTube videos that cover what happened between the albums, and then a leadup to the next album. A LA

"You just heard Awake. Now, DT found themselves in the position to be without a keyboard player, so they got Derek Sherinian..."

I like that! I like that quite a lot. That's the kind of project the internet's perfect for. Could work in a few clips of the tour. So you go from Space-Dye Vest to a spot of footage from the Rudess Experiment, a few moments about keyboard trials, and then boom! Bit of ACOS.

[Rodni Demental]

I never found Awake and Train of Thought similar, aside from the fact it's the same band. Yeah, they are both pretty heavy, but the difference in songwriting is huge, not to mention the groove. Awake has pretty strong keyboards, while ToT they are more on the background, as it's more conventional metal album.

Oh yes, the composition and arrangement is different. But I compare them because they're generally considered to be the top 2 DT albums on the 'heavier' side of things. Very generalised and subjective of course.