One's "Favorite" Dream Theater Song/Album

[OnTheBacksofAngela]

I have witnessed this injustice all around my school and I will rant about it right now. Now, this rant isn't made for you kind fellows in this forum, but it is for overall.

When asking someone's favorite Dream Theater song and album, it does NOT have to be SFAM, I&W, Awake, or SDOIT. When someone says DT's best album is BC&SL or DT12, respect that. This not mean they are not a true fan. Their tastes in albums are different so don't you dare say otherwise. Here is an interesting conversation I overheard between two people.

A: Hey, do you like Dream Theater?
B: Of course! They are my favorite band!
A: Nice! What's your favorite song and album by them?
B: My favorite song is Forsaken and my favorite album is Systematic Chaos.
A: WHAT?! Forsaken and Systematic Chaos?! Bro, are you even a Dream Theater fan? There is no way that could be someone's favorite. There are better songs and albums out there! ACOS? 8vm? Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence? Hell, Images and Words or SFAM should be the best Dream Theater album!
B: I personally like Forsaken. I don't know. That's the song I listened to first and even if it's simple, it's so proggy and catchy.
A: You are not a true fan. Don't talk to me anymore.

Now, that was one of the most disgusting conversations I have ever heard. We all have our tastes so one shouldn't be judged by what Dream Theater album or song we think is our most favorite. I mean, who cares if False Awakening Suite or Wait for Sleep is someone's favorite song? 

Personally, my favorite Dream Theater song is In the Presence of Enemies and my favorite album is Train of Thought. I&W and SFAM isn't and I feel like that it is perfectly fine.

Whew. That's all I had to say. Thank you.

[bosk1]

My favorite Dream Theater song is Forsaken and my favorite album is Systematic Chaos.  Come at me.



































Okay, not really, but I do love Forsaken, and despite having some of my least favorite DT songs, SC is still a great album.  Favorite song:  6 Degrees.  Favorite album:  6 Degrees.

[CDrice]

Wait! You can have conversation about Dream Theater with people in real life? That's astonishing

But I get what you're saying

There are better songs and albums out there! ACOS? 8vm? Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence?

An argument like this one would not work with me because, while I think they are good songs, Octavarium and Six Degrees aren't even the best songs of their respective album. Please don't kill me 

My favorite song would be a tie with Learning to Live and Hell's Kitchen. For albums it would be a tie with Images & Words and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.

[Rodni Demental]

A: WHAT?! Forsaken and Systematic Chaos?! Bro, are you even a Dream Theater fan? There is no way that could be someone's favorite. There are better songs and albums out there! ACOS? 8vm? Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence? Hell, Images and Words or SFAM should be the best Dream Theater album!
B: I personally like Forsaken. I don't know. That's the song I listened to first and even if it's simple, it's so proggy and catchy.
A: You are not a true fan. Don't talk to me anymore.

Well, their first problem is they think they can personally define what makes a fan when really a true DT fan would probably recognise how diverse it's fanbase is and not care that people have different taste to them. 

My favourite song for this second is Voices and my favourite album will probably always be BC&SL.

[BlobVanDam]

There are better songs and albums out there! ACOS? 8vm? Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence?

An argument like this one would not work with me because, while I think they are good songs, Octavarium and Six Degrees aren't even the best songs of their respective album. Please don't kill me 

Sure they are. (on an unrelated note, what's your address? I promise I'm not coming to kill you)
But I would argue that ACOS isn't the best song on its "album". I wouldn't even say it's the best original DT song on the disc.

Everyone has their own individual tastes and likes/dislikes. People can like what they want. I love a lot of the songs that most other fans love, and there are other songs a lot of people love that I think are among DT's weakest offerings. Doesn't make me less of a fan. Judging a fan based on how their opinions line up with yours or anyone else's is pretty lame.

[OnTheBacksofAngela]

@Bosk: Aha  . What songs don't you like? Prophets of War? Constant Motion? And I agree, SDOIT is an amazing album!

@CDrice: Definitely! I'm blessed to meet quite a few Dream Theater fans. Now only if I can get some of my "girl" friends to like Dream Theater and stop listening to 5SOS and One Direction, that'd be perfect. *sigh*
And don't worry if you don't think SDOIT is the best song. I think Disappear is their best and I've got some criticism, but who cares.

@Rodni: Oh yeah, definitely. I thought of putting stop to that at school, but I haven't developed that courage yet. Voices is a really good song and BC&SL is a fantastic album with fantastic epics. Hell, even Rite of Passage and Wither is really good.

@BlobVanDam: ACOS is really good, but you are right, it is not THE best. And well said! Truth in your words. I applaud you. Now, what was the emoticon for that?  :applause :applaud :clap

[CDrice]

I wouldn't even say it's the best original DT song on the disc.

Sure they are. (on an unrelated note, what's your address? I promise I'm not coming to kill you)

I live in a metropolis somewhere down the streets of New York city.

Anyway, I agree with what you said (other than what you said about a Change of Seasons)

[IDontNotDoThings]

We all have our tastes so one shouldn't be judged by what Dream Theater album or song we think is our most favorite.

I'm blessed to meet quite a few Dream Theater fans. Now only if I can get some of my "girl" friends to like Dream Theater and stop listening to 5SOS and One Direction, that'd be perfect. *sigh*

So people shouldn't be judged for their musical tastes, unless they don't listen to DT? 

[OnTheBacksofAngela]

 
I'm not judging One Direction or 5sos. In my grade, I'm the onyl girl who listens to Dream theater and all my friends listen to 5sos and one d. if I could convince some of them to give dt a try, maybe I'll have a girl I can talk to about DT. Only boys except me in the DT club.

[arkdtmp]

Haha, I was the same in high school last year Though I do know some girls who do like Dream Theater 
My bandmates and I tend to generally look down upon the 'lame mortals' who listen to pop like One Direction, but to each their own.


My personal favorite song is probably Stream of Consciousness and my favorite album has to be Octavarium- it's the perfect mix that I would want from a Dream Theater album; it has great riffs, melodies, harmonies, long songs, short songs, an epic, metal, ballads,prog and a great concept to tie it all together. And the production is perfect too.

[pcs90]

Now only if I can get some of my "girl" friends to like Dream Theater and stop listening to 5SOS and One Direction, that'd be perfect. *sigh*

If you can do that, it'd be pretty incredible. Although I highly doubt they will stop listening to those other groups as everyone has their own musical taste, even if it's something you may strongly dislike. But if they listen to DT at all and like it then that is a great thing IMO.

My favorite 2 albums are ADTOE and DT12. They constantly switch places for which one is the best.

[OnTheBacksofAngela]

Now only if I can get some of my "girl" friends to like Dream Theater and stop listening to 5SOS and One Direction, that'd be perfect. *sigh*

If you can do that, it'd be pretty incredible. Although I highly doubt they will stop listening to those other groups as everyone has their own musical taste, even if it's something you may strongly dislike. But if they listen to DT at all and like it then that is a great thing IMO.

My favorite 2 albums are ADTOE and DT12. They constantly switch places for which one is the best.

OR I could just prank them. A little prank won't hurt them. 
Like maybe put some earphones on them saying I have a nice song they will enjoy and then turn on Bridges in The Sky and see their reaction. Maybe Mike growling on ANTR or whatever. Maybe they will like I walked beside you or forsaken. Gonna try tomorrow.

And why does it cycle between the two?

[chaossystem]

My favorite Dream Theater song is Forsaken and my favorite album is Systematic Chaos.  Come at me.



































Okay, not really, but I do love Forsaken, and despite having some of my least favorite DT songs, SC is still a great album.  Favorite song:  6 Degrees.  Favorite album:  6 Degrees.

Oh darn!

I was just about to AGREE with you!!

[IDontNotDoThings]

Now only if I can get some of my "girl" friends to like Dream Theater and stop listening to 5SOS and One Direction, that'd be perfect. *sigh*

If you can do that, it'd be pretty incredible. Although I highly doubt they will stop listening to those other groups as everyone has their own musical taste, even if it's something you may strongly dislike. But if they listen to DT at all and like it then that is a great thing IMO.

My favorite 2 albums are ADTOE and DT12. They constantly switch places for which one is the best.

OR I could just prank them. A little prank won't hurt them. 
Like maybe put some earphones on them saying I have a nice song they will enjoy and then turn on Bridges in The Sky and see their reaction. Maybe Mike growling on ANTR or whatever. Maybe they will like I walked beside you or forsaken. Gonna try tomorrow.

I did something like that a while ago. People were requesting songs to be played while the rest of the class worked at their own pace. Most of the songs were top-40 inoffensive pop hits.








Then I put on TDEN.

[pcs90]

OR I could just prank them. A little prank won't hurt them. 
Like maybe put some earphones on them saying I have a nice song they will enjoy and then turn on Bridges in The Sky and see their reaction. Maybe Mike growling on ANTR or whatever. Maybe they will like I walked beside you or forsaken. Gonna try tomorrow.

And why does it cycle between the two?

If you really want to confuse them, play them "Anti-procrastination Song", "Mosquitoes in Harmony Song" or any of the other "songs" from that set. If you're not sure what I mean, they're probably on youtube. I have actually done this before to interesting results... Probably not the best way to get them to actually like DT though. IWBY is very simple but also very awesome and it can have a meaning for pretty much anyone, so that could be a good choice.

I like ADTOE and DT12 about equally, so it's very hard to pick one over the other. So they switch based on the day, I guess!

[Sacul]

B-But... what if Six Degrees is my favorite DT album? Am I too mainstream? 

[IDontNotDoThings]

OR I could just prank them. A little prank won't hurt them. 
Like maybe put some earphones on them saying I have a nice song they will enjoy and then turn on Bridges in The Sky and see their reaction. Maybe Mike growling on ANTR or whatever. Maybe they will like I walked beside you or forsaken. Gonna try tomorrow.

And why does it cycle between the two?

If you really want to confuse them, play them "Anti-procrastination Song", "Mosquitoes in Harmony Song" or any of the other "songs" from that set. If you're not sure what I mean, they're probably on youtube. I have actually done this before to interesting results... Probably not the best way to get them to actually like DT though. IWBY is very simple but also very awesome and it can have a meaning for pretty much anyone, so that could be a good choice.

I like ADTOE and DT12 about equally, so it's very hard to pick one over the other. So they switch based on the day, I guess!

Mike Thinks He's Dee Dee Ramone Introducing A Song Song 

[BlobVanDam]

B-But... what if Six Degrees is my favorite DT album? Am I too mainstream? 

That doesn't make you mainstream, that makes you awesome.

[pcs90]

Mike Thinks He's Dee Dee Ramone Introducing A Song Song 

Totally needs its own apreciation thread...

[pcs90]

B-But... what if Six Degrees is my favorite DT album? Am I too mainstream? 

That doesn't make you mainstream, that makes you awesome.

Agreed, SDOIT is an amazing album. It's in 3rd place for me but it's extremely close to my top 2.

[Pragmaticcircus]

Can I say that I'm a hippy that REALLY loves Voices and Scarred. As far as DT songs goes, there isn't any other songs that have such a profound effect on me when I hear it. Still, UAGM, ACOS will never wear out their brilliance.

Also, is it uncommon to consider ACOS and ITPOE their best epics?

[Train of Naught]

Favorite album is Images and Words, and my favorite song is Breaking All Illusions. Currently I'm in love with Sacrificed Sons though, at the moment it's probably my favorite, but I don't know if it will replace BAI and all the other songs inbetween for good. I should really have more lists, being a DTFer.

[Ben_Jamin]

Scarred and 6Doit easily.

[BlobVanDam]

Also, is it uncommon to consider ACOS and ITPOE their best epics?

ACOS not in the slightest, ITPOE yes (although I'd take ITPOE any day). I don't think any epic should be too controversial though, because it's a big slab of DT music in a format they seem to excel at.

[Ben_Jamin]

Also, is it uncommon to consider ACOS and ITPOE their best epics?

ACOS not in the slightest, ITPOE yes (although I'd take ITPOE any day). I don't think any epic should be too controversial though, because it's a big slab of DT music in a format they seem to excel at.

I agree. And giving what you guys know from my top 50 it's gonna change.

[IDontNotDoThings]

I think we forgot what the point of this thread was.

[bosk1]

@Bosk: Aha  . What songs don't you like? Prophets of War? Constant Motion? And I agree, SDOIT is an amazing album!

Constant Motion is fantastic.  But, yeah, Prophets of War may be one of my least favorite songs by ANY band.  I don't care for The Ministry of Lost Souls at all.  And although Repentance has lots of great ideas, it just doesn't have much replay-ability for me because it is just so long and repetitive.  But the rest of the album is great.  If they removed those three songs and replaced them with even middle-of-the-road DT songs, Systematic Chaos would be a fantastic album.

[ReinoudW]

Good question, given that SFAM is not even in my top 5 of DT albums.

My favourite song is Breaking All Illusions and my favourite album is A Dramatic Turn Of Events. BAI has it all: heavy riffs, nice melodies and the most beuatiful guitar solo ever! ADTOE is a very strong album IMO: I simply adore This Is The Life and On The Backs Of Angels, Bridges In The Sky and Outcry are truly great as well. Unlike many I do like Lost Not Forgotten a lot, the two other ballads (FFH and BTS) are beautiful and the only song I do not really care about is BMU,BMD but that is not a bad song either. So overall a very strong album, with SDOIT as a close second.

By the way, other 4 albums in my top 5 would be SDOIT, BC&SL, TOT and SC.

[breaktheprisonwall]

Hi guys- joined a while ago and didn't even recall hat I had an account here until the registration form told me so. 

Anyways, I saw this thread while checking up on news about The Astonishing and the original post resonated with me quite a bit, because I've seen it happen on more than one occasion as well.

What blows my mind about DT fans (in general- no one specific) is that they ALWAYS find something to complain about. The mix is off, this song doesn't even compare to everything else they've done, how can (insert album title) be your favorite?, etc...

Can't people just accept that music is one of the most subjective things on the planet? What sounds like absolute GOLD to one set of ears may sound like absolute GARBAGE to another. Why do people have to get n each other's cases about what they do/don't like?

That being said, I fall into the category of thinking SFAM was one of the best albums ever put to disc. That coupled with 6DOIT is probably the most compelling 1-2 punch from any band I have ever heard in my nearly 26 years.

My favorite song, however, comes from Black Clouds. The Count Of Tuscany is THE only album closer I would have been happy to see Portnoy leave on (with Finally Free coming in a a distant second). Also, to ME personally, the entire band truly shines on that song (especially JP's opening solo- God, it still gets me every single time I hear it).

Does this mean I am wrong for not choosing ACOS, 8VM or other classics like Metropolis I? Not in the least. I can respect the people who chose those- they're all amazing songs.

Reading through this thread has been fun- it's interesting to see people be honest bout their choices.

[bosk1]

Good question, given that SFAM is not even in my top 5 of DT albums.

My favourite song is Breaking All Illusions and my favourite album is A Dramatic Turn Of Events. BAI has it all: heavy riffs, nice melodies and the most beuatiful guitar solo ever! ADTOE is a very strong album IMO: I simply adore This Is The Life and On The Backs Of Angels, Bridges In The Sky and Outcry are truly great as well. Unlike many I do like Lost Not Forgotten a lot, the two other ballads (FFH and BTS) are beautiful and the only song I do not really care about is BMU,BMD but that is not a bad song either. So overall a very strong album, with SDOIT as a close second.

Really nice to see love for ADTOE.  I feel like I am a minority in that I have been a fan since near the beginning (1992) and rank ADTOE as my #3, and rank it ahead of both I&W and Awake. 

What blows my mind about DT fans (in general- no one specific) is that they ALWAYS find something to complain about. The mix is off, this song doesn't even compare to everything else they've done, how can (insert album title) be your favorite?, etc...

Part of it is just the reality of "Internet culture."  And even folks in real life, in this day and age where everyone has a virtual soapbox online and are used to that type of thing, seem to have a similar mentality that they can (and should) be critics of anything and everything.  But on a more positive note, another side of it is just the fact that, by virtue of the fact that DT's music is very complex, DT tends to attract fans that are more analytical and willing to dig in and analyze things on a deep level.  That often leads to over-analysis, which can then rightly or wrongly be construed as complaining.  But it is just part of the culture of this band, and is bred by the type of music that the band creates.  I think the band (and especially John Petrucci, because he has mentioned this to me) understands that and embraces it.

[breaktheprisonwall]

Part of it is just the reality of "Internet culture."  And even folks in real life, in this day and age where everyone has a virtual soapbox online and are used to that type of thing, seem to have a similar mentality that they can (and should) be critics of anything and everything.  But on a more positive note, another side of it is just the fact that, by virtue of the fact that DT's music is very complex, DT tends to attract fans that are more analytical and willing to dig in and analyze things on a deep level.  That often leads to over-analysis, which can then rightly or wrongly be construed as complaining.  But it is just part of the culture of this band, and is bred by the type of music that the band creates.  I think the band (and especially John Petrucci, because he has mentioned this to me) understands that and embraces it.

Bosk, totally understand what you're saying- I kind of meant that I have other DT fans in my non-internet life, and they still complain.  I probably could have been more clear on that. You're also correct about the types of people that DT attracts (I mean, how many people do you really know (outside of here obviously) that will sit through a 25-minute single song and not complain of boredom and the like)- we like to analyze everything. I just wish people weren't so harsh at times. Sometimes I kind of step back and just look at people like "wow- don't you think you're crossing some kind of line?" For example, my uncle is a huge DT fan (everything SFAM and before). He actually got my dad turned on to them, which in turn led to me liking them as well. My dad likes the early stuff too, but is actually more drawn to everything post-SFAM. It's come to a point where my uncle won't even listen to DT anymore because he's of the mind that they will never do anything like I&W or Awake again. (He hasn't even heard a note of SC, BC&SL, ADTOE, or DT12.) I get kind of caught in the middle because I truly enjoy the band's entire catalogue (with the exception of a couple songs on WDADU).

I kind of just wish they would stop bickering about which side is better. Part of me is hoping The Astonishing is exactly what they both need to hear in order to get back on the same page (which, from what I've been reading, it seems to be).

[Vandalism]

POW is my favourite after ITPOE and TMOLS. I really love that song. The chorus gets me pumped and the ending is quite heavy and badass. Its short, well structured and entirely different from the rest of the disc. The most underrated song of the most underrated album IMO.

And totally agree with the praise for ADTOE. Its the best Mangini has sounded with DT for starters and its the most representative album for the band since SFAM.

But my favourite album has to be SDOIT. Most other bands would have played safe considering they got a lease of life with SFAM after FII, but not DT they went out on a limb and rolled out something unique. Its my favourite because of the intent. And for the same reason of intent, it might get dethroned come January the 29th!

[MirrorMask]

I'm one of those pussies whose favorite album is Scenes from a Memory, I fit in the mainstream, yay! 

[CharlesPL]

Fav song : LtL
Fav album : IaW

[lucky7]

I love the epics but my fave track is one of the shortest... Hell's Kitchen ... current fave album is SDOIT.