Best song on each album

[TheCountOfNYC]

As a counterpart to Darkstarshades' worst song thread, I decided to make a thread where we can list and discuss what we think the best song on each Dream Theater album is.

When Dream and Day Unite- Afterlife (It's song structure is more straightforward than the rest of the songs making it easier to appreciate.)
Images and Words- Take the Time (This is also the song that the non-DT fans I know seem to like when I'm listening to it.)
Awake- Scarred (It's a toss up between this and Voices. Today I go with the former.)
Falling Into Infinity- Trial of Tears (This is just a beautiful song to listen to.)
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory- The Dance of Eternity (To this day I'm still blown away by every second of this song.)
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence- Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (How the band managed to make a 42 minute song cohesive and engaging is a testament to their greatness.)
Train of Thought- Stream of Consiousness (This is really tied with Vacant but I prefer to listen to them as one piece.)
Octavarium- Octavarium (The best song ever written by anybody.)
Systematic Chaos- Constant Motion (This song gets me pumped.)
Black Clouds & Silver Linings- The Count of Tuscany (Of all of their epics, this one makes me feel like I've gone on a musical adventure more than any of the rest.)
A Dramatic Turn of Events- Breaking All Illusions (The best of their mini-epics.)
Dream Theater- Illumination Theory (This just recently edged out Surrender to Reason as my favorite from this album.)

[Evermind]

WDADU - The Killing Hand (also almost the only song I like from the album)
I&W - Wait for Sleep (few months ago I would say Another Day, but now I think I like Wait for Sleep more)
Awake - Space-Dye Vest (with The Mirror being close second)
FII - Hollow Years (I'm kind of thinking of Budokan version too, but the studio is awesome still)
SFAM - Finally Free (just an outstanding closer to an outstanding album)
SDOIT - Disappear (most difficult pick for me between this one and Blind Faith)
TOT - In the Name of God (with Endless Sacrifice being close second)
8VM - Sacrificed Sons
SC - In the Presence of Enemies (also my favourite DT song)
BC&SL - The Count of Tuscany (awesome song all around, even my brutha parts are alright)
ADTOE - This is the Life (though Breaking All Illusions and Beneath the Surface are amazing too)
DT12 - The Bigger Picture (this song has grown on me immensely in the last few months)

[Zydar]

WDADU - Only A Matter Of Time
I&W - Learning To Live (my favourite DT song)
Awake - Innocence Faded
FII - New Millennium
SFAM - Finally Free
SDOIT - The title track
TOT - In The Name Of God
8VM - Sacrificed Sons
SC - In The Presence Of Enemies (1 & 2)
BC&SL - The Best Of Times
ADTOE - Breaking All Illusions
DT12 - Surrender To Reason

[jakepriest]

WDADU - Ytse Jam
I&W - Learning to Live
Awake - Caught in a Web
Falling Into Infinity - Trial of Tears
SFAM - Home
SDOIT 1 - The Glass Prison
SDOIT 2 - Losing Time / The Grand Finale
TOT - In The Name of God
Octavarium - Octavarium
SC - In The Presence Of Enemies
BC&SL - The Count of Tuscany
ADToE - Breaking All Illusions
DT12 - The Bigger Picture

[CharlesPL]

WDADU - LFAGA/The Killing Hand
I&W - All of them
Awake - Scarred/Lie
FII - ToT
SFAM - TSCO
SDOIT - SDOIT
TOT - In the Name of God
8VM - 8V
SC - In the Presence of Enemies pt.1
BC&SL - The Count of Tuscany
ADTOE - LNF/BAI
DT12 - IT

[Kotowboy]

When Dream & Day Unite : Dunno. Ytse Jam Probably. Only heard it once.

Images And Words : Pull Me Under.

Awake : Caught In A Web

Falling Into Infinity : Lines In The Sand

Scenes From A Memory : Overture 1928/Strange Deja Vu

Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence : Six Degrees. Individually : Solitary Shell.

Train Of Thought : In The Name Of God

Octavarium : Octavarium

Systematic Chaos : In The Presence Of Enemies Part 1 / The Dark Eternal Night

Black Clouds & Silver Linings : The Best Of Times / The Count Of Tuscany

A Dramatic Turn Of Events : This Is The Life

Dream Theater : Illumination Theory.

[hefdaddy42]

WDADU - Ytse Jam
I&W - Learning To Live
Awake - Scarred
FII - Lines in the Sand
SFAM - The Spirit Carries On
SDOIT - The Glass Prison
TOT - Vacant
8VM - Octavarium
SC - In The Presence Of Enemies pt. 1
BC&SL - Wither
ADTOE - Breaking All Illusions
DT12 - Illumination Theory

[JediKnight1969]

WDADU - Ytse Jam
I&W - Metropolis
Awake - Space-dye vest
FII - Trial of tears
SFAM - Home
SDOIT - Disappear
TOT - Stream of consciousness
8VM - Octavarium
SC - Forsaken
BC&SL - The Count of Tuscany
ADTOE - Breaking All Illusions
DT12 - The enemy inside

[jammindude]

The Ones Who Help To Set the Sun/Light Fuse and Get Away (tie)

Under a Glass Moon

The Mirror

New Millennium

Beyond This Life

The Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

Honor Thy Father

Octavarium

The Dark Eternal Night

A Nightmare to Remember

Beneath the Surface

The Bigger Picture

[krands85]

WDADU - Between The Killing Hand, Afterlife and A Fortune in Lies. I usually say TKH, but that's influenced by the early 90s LaBrie live versions.
I&W - Learning to Live
Awake - Voices
FII - Trial of Tears
SFAM - This is the toughest choice. It used to be Beyond This Life, but these days it's not so clear cut for me - with Fatal Tragedy, Home and Finally Free all up there too.
SDOIT - The Glass Prison
TOT - In the Name of God
8VM - Octavarium
SC - In the Presence of Enemies
BC&SL - The Count of Tuscany
ADTOE - Breaking All Illusions
DT12 - Illumination Theory

Yes, I am a sucker for the longer songs 

[wasteland]

WDADU: The Killing Hand (7/10 studio, 9/10 live)
IAW:      Learning To Live (10/10+)
Awake:   Scarred (10/10)
FII:        Trial Of Tears (10/10)
SFAM:    Finally Free (9.5/10)
SDOIT:   Disappear/The Great Debate (9/10)
TOT:      SOC (8/10)
8V:        8V (9/10)
SC:        The Dark Eternal Night (8/10)
BCSL:    The Count Of Tuscany (9/10)
ADTOE:  Breaking All Illusions (10/10)
DT12:    The Bigger Picture (9/10)
Unrel:    Eve (9.5/10)

[YtseJamittaja]

WDADU - A Fortune in Lies
I&W - Take the Time
Awake - Lie
FII - Lines In the Sand
SFAM - The Dance of Eternity (toughest choice, not single standout song)
SDOIT - The Glass Prison
TOT - Endless Sacrifice
8VM - Octavarium
SC - ITPOE
BC&SL - The Count of Tuscany
ADTOE - Lost Not Forgotten
DT12 - The Enemy Inside

[ThatOneGuy2112]

WDADU: The Killing Hand/The Ytse Jam
I&W: Metropolis, Pt. 1 (sorry LTL)
Awake: Scarred
FII: Lines in the Sand
SFAM: Finally Free
SDOIT: Misunderstood
TOT: Stream of Consciousness
8V: Octavarium
SC: In the Presence of Enemies
BC&SL: The Count of Tuscany
ADTOE: Breaking All Illusions
DT12: Illumination Theory

[BlackInk]

The Majesty Demos - 113. A Vision
When Dream & Day Unite - 69. The Killing Hand
Images & Words - 14. Learning to Live
Awake - 15. Scarred
Falling Into Infinity - 9. Trial of Tears
Cleaning Out the Closet - 57. Raise the Knife
Scenes From a Memory - 7. Finally Free
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - 4. The Glass Prison
Train of Thought - 5. In the Name of God
Octavarium - 2. Octavarium
Systematic Chaos - 3. In the Presence of Enemies
Black Clouds & Silver Linings - 33. The Count of Tuscany
A Dramatic Turn of Events - 6. Breaking All Illusions
Dream Theater - 49. The Bigger Picture

[OpenYourEyes311]

A Fortune In Lies
Under a Glass Moon
Voices
Peruvian Skies
Home
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
This Dying Soul
Octavarium
Forsaken
The Count of Tuscany
Bridges In The Sky
The Enemy Inside

[Dublagent66]

A Fortune in Lies
Learning to Live
Voices
Trial of Tears
Home
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Endless Sacrifice
Octavarium
The Ministry of Lost Souls
The Count of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
Behind the Veil

[The Cat Of Tuscany]

I can't say from WDADU yet.
Learning To Live
Voices
Take Away My Pain
Finally Free
The Great Debate
Honor Thy Father
Panic Attack
Forsaken
The Count Of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
The Bigger Picture

[Outcrier]

The Killing Hand
Learning to Live
Voices
Lines in the Sand
Fatal Tragedy
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
This Dying Soul
Octavarium
In The Presence of Enemies
A Nightmare to Remember
Bridges In The Sky
The Looking Glass

[425]

Only a Matter of Time
Learning to Live
Space Dye Vest
Trial of Tears
Finally Free
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
In the Name of God
Octavarium
The Ministry of Lost Souls
The Count of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
The Bigger Picture

[fischermasamune]

A mix of canonical and far-from-canonical picks (and they were the same when I wrote my Top 50 last year).

WDADU - Status Seeker
I&W - Metropolis Pt I: The Miracle and the Sleeper
Awake - Scarred
FII - Hell's Kitchen
SFAM - The Dance of Eternity
SDOIT - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
TOT - In the Name of God
8VM - Octavarium
SC - The Dark Eternal Night
BC&SL - The Best of Times
ADTOE - Breaking All Illusions
DT12 - Illumination Theory

[Dave_Manchester]

Much easier to decide than the 'worst' picks

A Fortune in Lies
Metropolis
Scarred
Trial of Tears
Home
Misunderstood
Stream of Consciousness
The Answer Lies Within
In The Presence of Enemies Part 1
The Count of Tuscany
Outcry
Behind the Veil

[comment]

WDADU:  Afterlife
I&W:  Surrounded
Awake:  Voices
FII:  Lines In The Sand
SFAM:  The Spirit Carries On
SDOIT:  SDOIT and The Great Debate
ToT:  Endless Sacrifice
8VM:  Octavarium
SC:  The Dark Eternal Night
BC&SL:  The Count of Tuscany
ADTOE:  Breaking All Illusions
DT12:  Illumination Theory

[paulstfu]

WDADU - Afterlife (THAT UNISON, GOOD LORD)
I&W - Learning To Live (Hands down, although every song on that album is a masterpiece)
AWAKE - Voices & Space-Dye Vest (A tie, because voices explores every DT side and SDV is a brutally beautiful swansong)
FII -  Trial of Tears (Amazing solos, amazing lyrics, amazing chorus)
SFAM - Dance of Eternity (Do I need to say more)
SDOIT - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (The song that got me into DT and my favorite song BY FAR)
TOT - Stream of Consciousness (Every time I hear the begining my mind goes "Oh, god... Sh*t just got serious"
8V - Octavarium (MASTERPIECE)
SC - The Ministry of Lost Souls (The story gets me every time and I swear some day I'll be able to play the unison)
BC&SL - The Count of Tuscany (TBOT is close but TCOT is one of their very best. The chorus always makes me sing and move like i'm onstage)
ADTOE - Outcry & Breaking All Illusions (Powerful songs, can't decide)
DT - Illumination Theory (Surrender, Trust and Passion lyrics hit me like a "hope train" when the album came out because I was in a very sad mood where my life was a mess)

[BlobVanDam]

Afterlife
Take The Time
Caught In A Web/Innocence Faded
Lines in the Sand/Trial of Tears
Beyond This Life
The Glass Prison / SDOIT
In the Name of God
These Walls / Octavarium
The Dark Eternal Night
ANTR / TCOT
Bridges in the Sky
False Awakening Suite


Making this list, I realize I'm no good at narrowing down lists. Often I'll have two clear favourites, but they're so different that I can't compare them. It's like apples to oranges (metaphorically speaking, as apples are clearly the better fruit than oranges).

[Another_Won]

This was tough because there are multiple tracks on every one that tie for best on the album.

WDADU - Ytse Jam (The other songs are decent but this one stands out to me)
I&W - Metropolis Pt 1 (UaGM is great too)
Awake - Erotomania (I also like Mirror and Lie played together)
Falling Into Infinity - Lines in the Sand (w/Hell's Kitchen as an intro)
SFAM - Home (This was really tough.  I think it ties w/tDoE)
SDOIT - The title track (IMO I'm kinda cheating here)
TOT - In The Name of God (another tough one. literally tracks 3-7 tied for #1)
Octavarium - Octavarium (Gotta pick the epic. Sacrificed Sons is great too)
SC - In The Presence Of Enemies (I really like TMoLS too - that instrumental section) 
BC&SL - A Nightmare to Remember (TCoT is another great one)
ADToE - Breaking All Illusions (LNF,BitS and Outcry are tied here too)
DT12 - Illumination Theory!

[Voices]

A Fortune In Lies
Learning To Live
Voices 
Trial Of Tears
Fatal Tragedy
The Glass Prison 
In The Name Of God
Octavarium
In The Presence Of Enemies II
The Count Of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions 
Illumination Theory 

[krands85]

A Fortune In Lies
Learning To Live
Voices 
Trial Of Tears
Fatal Tragedy
The Glass Prison 
In The Name Of God
Octavarium
In The Presence Of Enemies II
The Count Of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions 
Illumination Theory 

Great list, almost identical to mine! 

[Crow]

Afterlife 
Take The Time 
Scarred
Lines in the Sand
Finally Free
Disappear
Stream of Consciousness
The Root of All Evil
Repentance
The Best of Times
Breaking All Illusions
The Bigger Picture

two of these aren't even in my top 50 while everything else is like top 20 at least, except afterlife

[Randaran]

Only a Matter of Time
Take the Time
6:00
Trial of Tears
The Dance of Eternity
Blind Faith
Endless Sacrifice
Octavarium
The Dark Eternal Night
The Count of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
Behind the Veil

Aside from Awake and SDOIT, these were all fairly easy to choose.

[Stadler]

This could be hard.

Ytsejam (this was a copout; I don't care for Charlie's voice, and I haven't heard this in so long, so I went instrumental)
Learning to Live/Surrounded  (Tie)
A Mind Beside Itself (or Voices if you will give me only one section)
Peruvian Skies
Fatal Tragedy
Misunderstood
As I Am
I Walk Beside You/Octavarium (Tie)
The Ministry of Lost Souls
A Nightmare To Remember
This Is The Life
The Looking Glass

[Jaffa]

When Dream and Day Unite: Afterlife
Images and Words: Take the Time
Awake: Caught in a Web
Falling Into Infinity: Lines in the Sand
Scenes from a Memory: Home
Six Degrees: Misunderstood
Train of Thought: Stream of Consciousness
Octavarium: Panic Attack
Systematic Chaos: In the Presence of Enemies
Black Clouds and Silver Linings: The Count of Tuscany
A Dramatic Turn of Events: Bridges in the Sky
Dream Theater: Surrender to Reason

I don't really have a clear favorite on DT12; Surrender to Reason was just the first song I thought of, so I went with it. 

Train of Thought is a tough call for me; Stream of Consciousness and In The Name of God are some of my favorite songs ever, so it's hard to choose between them. 

Scenes from a Memory is also a weird one for me.  I went with Home, but really, my favorite piece of music on the album is definitely Scene Two.  Together, Overture 1928 and Strange Deja Vu are magic.  However, I rarely listen to one without the other, so if I can't count them as one piece, I feel weird picking either of them.  So, Home it is. 

The rest of the albums are pretty easy for me. 

[ninja1125]

Killing Hand
Learning To Live
Scarred
Trial Of Tears
Beyond This Life
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
In The Name Of God
Octavarium
In the Presence of Enemies
The Count of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
Illumination Theory

[TheCountOfNYC]

Killing Hand
Learning To Live
Scarred
Trial Of Tears
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
In The Name Of God
Octavarium
In the Presence of Enemies
The Count of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
Illumination Theory

Nothing from Scenes?

[ninja1125]

Killing Hand
Learning To Live
Scarred
Trial Of Tears
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
In The Name Of God
Octavarium
In the Presence of Enemies
The Count of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
Illumination Theory

Nothing from Scenes?

fixed. Couldn't decide between home and beyond this life so I skipped it

[TheCountOfNYC]

Killing Hand
Learning To Live
Scarred
Trial Of Tears
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
In The Name Of God
Octavarium
In the Presence of Enemies
The Count of Tuscany
Breaking All Illusions
Illumination Theory

Nothing from Scenes?

fixed. Couldn't decide between home and beyond this life so I skipped it

If you would have picked Home you would have chosen the longest song as your favorite from every album.