The Dream Theater Sampler playlist

[erwinrafael]

Over the weekend, I had this idea of creating a DT sampler that I will burn in CDs to give away to friends for Christmas. I came up with four, and the idea is that 1) it has to be album length, so not exceeding 75 mins, 2) it has to represent DT over time, so no tracks from the same album in the same playlist, and 3) it's not  a greatest hits album, so the track choices should be based on what would make a good sounding album on its own. Which of the four playlists I made do you like best? And if you will make a similar sampler following the criteria I set, how would you do it?

As I did the playlists, I made an additional challenge that I will not repeat tracks between playlists. I tried to balance the heavy and the melodic stuff. Each playlist has its own "epic" and a 12SS song, which I think a DT sampler should have. Obviously, my bias against SC and WDADU shows.

[TheGreatPretender]

I chose #1, but I think they're all good. Though if you're going to be giving them to your friends, I'd try to cater to their personal tastes, so put more heavy stuff on the one for the Metal Heads. That being said, having SOME ballads (in this particular instance) to balance it out would be a good idea, just to give them a taste of DT's full pallette.

Interesting idea, by the way. I might consider doing the same.

[BlobVanDam]

If I was just choosing what I thought was the best collection of songs, I'd go with the first or last ones. It would totally depend on the musical tastes of the person though.

[hefdaddy42]

My favorite of those choices is # 1.

[bl5150]

My favorite of those choices is # 1.

All things equal I think that likely appeals to the broadest audience.

[Zydar]

All the songs on #1 are winners in my book.

[Zyzzyva17]

Here's what I personally would make.

1. The Mirror
2. Surrender to Reason
3. The Spirit Carries On
4. On the Backs of Angels
5. Vacant / Stream of Consciousness
6. A Change of Seasons
7. Metropolis

Total - 75:33

[erwinrafael]

Thanks, guys. After I made four playlists, I appreciated DT's consistency even more. They have produced good songs consistently over the course of their long career.

Other things I noted: ToT is such a kickass collection of songs. It may be too much to absorb in one sitting, but individually the songs are great. The production of FII is so good that the drop on quality is so noticeable when a nonheavy track from another album plays after an FII track. Also, I love playlist #1, but I find myself playing playlist #3 just as much.

I almost came up with a Blob-specific playlist that has TGP, Octavarium, and Scarred.

[chaossystem]

I don't know if this helps, but I went with the "one song each from albums 2-12" format:

1) Surrounded
2) 6:00
3) Hell's Kitchen
4) The Sprit Carries On
5) Solitary Shell
6) As I Am
7) The Root of All Evil
8) Forsaken
9) A Rite of Passage
10) On the Backs of Angels
11) Behind the Veil
   
       It clocks in at 73:41

[TheCountOfNYC]

I went with option 4. I love every song in that playlist and the flow seems like it would work.

[wolfking]

The third one.

Also, you went to the same gift giving school that I did.

[fischermasamune]

Another suggestion:

6:00
New Millenium
Wait For Sleep
Learning To Live
As I Am
Solitary Shell
Breaking All Illusions
Illumination Theory

76 min

[JayOctavarium]

BITS-TheseWalls-ThisDyingSoul-PeruvianSkies-Scarred-ACOS

[erwinrafael]

Another suggestion:

6:00
New Millenium
Wait For Sleep
Learning To Live
As I Am
Solitary Shell
Breaking All Illusions
Illumination Theory

76 min

Nice. But Wait For Sleep and Learning To Live are from the same album.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

The first option, no question. Has the strongest set of songs there, though the fourth option is also pretty good.

[erwinrafael]

I don't know if this helps, but I went with the "one song each from albums 2-12" format:

1) Surrounded
2) 6:00
3) Hell's Kitchen
4) The Sprit Carries On
5) Solitary Shell
6) As I Am
7) The Root of All Evil
8) Forsaken
9) A Rite of Passage
10) On the Backs of Angels
11) Behind the Veil
   
       It clocks in at 73:41

I'm curious how you would order this to make it sound like a well-put album.

[sylvinception]

No tracks from WDADU ?

[mikeyd23]

Yeah I'd go with the first option, thats a really strong collection of songs.

[erwinrafael]

Well, I am burning the studio versions on the disc and I don't want to inflict Charlie Dominici on my friends.

[TheGreatPretender]

Well, I am burning the studio versions on the disc and I don't want to inflict Charlie Dominici on my friends.

Well, you're limiting yourself, lol. Why do they have to be studio versions? LATM version of The Killing Hand, man!

[erwinrafael]

Because I want the sampler CDs to sound like an album on its own. Which is why aome of the songs I selected have connecting transitions, like the end of TLG and the start of ToT. And the end of These Walls leading to the intro of TDS. Having a live version in there disrupts the flow.

[TheGreatPretender]

Because I want the sampler CDs to sound like an album on its own. Which is why aome of the songs I selected have connecting transitions, like the end of TLG and the start of ToT. And the end of These Walls leading to the intro of TDS. Having a live version in there disrupts the flow.

Does your CD burner actually seamlessly leave no space between tracks? Because as minor as mine is, there's still always a teeny tiny gap there. :/

Also, plenty of albums have Live bonus tracks, haha. 

[The Stray Seed]

That's a veeeeery good idea!!!!

I'll go for number 1!!!!!!!

[fischermasamune]

Whatever you do, I wouldn't start with Metropolis. I think the order is important. I think you should start with songs easier to listen, and have wider acceptation (not so heavy or crazy).

Among your options, maybe #3 is the best for this purpose (although is probably the weaker song-by-song), but I'd put IT instead of ACOS to pack more punch. Anyway, my tracklist is still better. xD