Where does The Astonishing rank in your list?

[ASacrificedSon]

Sorry for these polls. I will throw them out once in a while. I'm in a stats class and what easier way to get stats than to post polls here? Since The Astonishing is the most talked about right now, I am doing it on that album. I'll have the other albums polled just like 8VM. Don't worry, I have it recorded.

It doesn't stick to me that much so....yeah.

[FsF]

Middle lower half.

[dvargas]

I think that the fact that it has 3 and 1/2 stars on amazon shows the lukewarm reception.

[ASacrificedSon]

I understand. It's hard to compare this to all of DT's superb albums.
TA did not speak to me at all.

[TheAtliator]

You assume that the lower places on the list are bad?? I think all 13 albums are some of the 13 greatest albums ever made. And with the "past their prime", I even further can't answer with that poll. My favorite 3 DT albums are Images and Words, Awake, and A Dramatic Turn of Events.

The Astonishing is on the lower half of my list right now. Maybe lowest, or tied for lowest. And that's saying something because this album is freaking magnificent.

[erwinrafael]

I'm in a stats class and what easier way to get stats than to post polls here?

Well, it's not random selection, so whatever poll numbers you generate can not be generalized, so it is of limited use for a stats class. 

[SwedishGoose]

I would say between middle and top 3 but as that is not a choice I choose top 3.... it is that good to me

[Tom Bombadil]

Way too early

[BlobVanDam]

You assume that the lower places on the list are bad?? I think all 13 albums are some of the 13 greatest albums ever made. And with the "past their prime", I even further can't answer with that poll. My favorite 3 DT albums are Images and Words, Awake, and A Dramatic Turn of Events.

The Astonishing is on the lower half of my list right now. Maybe lowest, or tied for lowest. And that's saying something because this album is freaking magnificent.

I consider their top 4 albums damn near perfect, so even 5th place is still amazing. I think half of their discography is absolutely essential listening.
Beyond that, I find it hard to rank them, as they all have their own strengths and weaknesses, and TA is such a different album. At best I'd rank it literally right in the middle, but once it settles in, probably a little lower than that. That doesn't mean it's bad, but DT have released 13 albums, many of which are also equally great.

[erwinrafael]

I think that the fact that it has 3 and 1/2 stars on amazon shows the lukewarm reception.

Not really. It just shows that it is polarizing. I looked at the Amazon reviews and 49% of the reviews are 5 stars. So people who liked the album REALLY REALLY liked the album.

[BlobVanDam]

I place no importance on any ratings at this point, positive or negative. Ratings at this point are largely knee jerk reactions, coupled with the polarizing nature of the internet in general, meaning that you're only getting the top and bottom ratings. The people who are waiting for the album to sink in or feel anywhere in the middle aren't going to rate the album right now, if at all.

[NoseofNicko]

Bottom 5, but I don't think it's pretty terrible or mediocre/meh. I think all of DT's albums are atleast great. So I can't vote.

[Hanz Gruber]

Sorry for these polls. I will throw them out once in a while. I'm in a stats class and what easier way to get stats than to post polls here? Since The Astonishing is the most talked about right now, I am doing it on that album. I'll have the other albums polled just like 8VM. Don't worry, I have it recorded.

It doesn't stick to me that much so....yeah.

I wouldn't ever call it terrible because there are a lot of solid songs and even the ones that I don;t care for are quality.  It is below average by Dream Theater standards and I probably only rank WDADU below it (only because Charlie sang on it)but it still is good.

[Train of Naught]

I'm in a stats class and what easier way to get stats than to post polls here?

Well, it's not random selection, so whatever poll numbers you generate can not be generalized, so it is of limited use for a stats class. 

Yeah. On top of that, these poll options you give us are always missing something. Like where is a "#7-9" or "bottom 3" option. Your poll implies that any album past the top 6 is mediocre/terrible.

For me its waay too early to rank ik.

[Zydar]

Too early to tell, but right now it's somewhere in the middle.

[Enigmachine]

You assume that the lower places on the list are bad??

This. I don't know why the poll goes from just ranking to judgement of quality. I wouldn't place the album that high as of now, but I've still only listened to it once and yet I still really like the album.

[RuRoRul]

I wouldn't call it "terrible" - even the lowest ranked Dream Theater album is not terrible. But if I was to place it in DT album rankings right now, and if my DT album rankings were a race, then when The Astonishing came home after competing and JP asks it "So son, how did you do?"... well, it would not be last place, but the answer would probably have to be "pretty terrible". So that's what I voted.

Of course, I may end up rating it better than other albums over time, as I have only had it a week. But right now it is hard to see it not falling at least in the bottom 3 Labrie albums (but above WDADU).

[MirrorMask]

Too early to tell and too different to compare, but I'd say right behind the immortal super classics (Which I consider Scenes from a Memory, Images and Words and Awake).

[hefdaddy42]

Hard for me to compare because it's so different than anything else they've ever done.

I mean, it's a 2 hour + full-on rock opera with a gorgeous mix, lots of characters, and full orchestra and choir throughout, as well as a mandolin and a bagpipe.  It seems a strange thing to compare to a straight metal album like Train of Thought.

[ASacrificedSon]

1. Yeah, I should've started with another album...way too early.
2. And Hef, yeah, it is very hard to compare those two.

[Gromit1710]

Ranking them is hard for me.

Each one has it's own flavor, feel and personal connection to whatever was going on in my life at the time.

This one is extremely memorable though... and it's really hard to place rankings on something so unique and personal. It's much more impactful on my overall mood when I listen to it than say BCSL, ADToE or D12. I'd have to go back to SFAM, 8v or SDoIT to find a comparable release of theirs that felt like this one does when I listen to it.

[Hanz Gruber]

I wouldn't call it "terrible" - even the lowest ranked Dream Theater album is not terrible. But if I was to place it in DT album rankings right now, and if my DT album rankings were a race, then when The Astonishing came home after competing and JP asks it "So son, how did you do?"... well, it would not be last place, but the answer would probably have to be "pretty terrible". So that's what I voted.

Of course, I may end up rating it better than other albums over time, as I have only had it a week. But right now it is hard to see it not falling at least in the bottom 3 Labrie albums (but above WDADU).

That is the problem that I have with the poll.

I have it at the bottom (of the JLB albums) but it isn't terrible nor are they past their prime in need of retirement.  There were tons of great moments to me on the album that were dragged down by the concept and forcing in lyrics to tell a story.  Some songs were great and catchy only to be tainted by segments like "My Music Player"

They could very well put out a complete masterpiece their next time out.  They have that capability.  Hopefully it is a collection of 9 to 11 songs that just focus on being great individual songs next time out though.  I'd rather a concept not hinder the album

[V_R11]

Second after Scenes

[Sacul]

Near the bottom, barely above WDADU, BC&SL, ADTOE & DT12, and I can't rate those albums more than 2.5/5 at best, so TA is a 3 imo

[dtvoices94]

Definitely in my top 5.  It's tough to knock out I&W, Awake, and Scenes.  That said, if any album could do it, it's this one.

[rovel07]

It´s way too early to rank this album..

[metrojam]

Bottom three for me I'm afraid, alongside DT12 and SC. Have tried and tried with it, and after 4 or 5 listens I almost thought it was going to click, but with more listens,  it went the other way for me and I struggle to listen to more than a few songs at a time before I get bored with it now.Given time, I don't think it will fall below DT12 for me, but I am also pretty sure it will never rise out of the bottom 3 either

[pcs90]

As of right now, it's in first place. We will see if it holds up over time, but I feel very strongly that it will.

[SebastianPratesi]

It's probably my 2nd favourite. My favourite is the self-titled, which I've loved since the first listen. Only "The Looking Glass"/"Enigma Machine" I don't quite enjoy - the rest of the album I think is excellent in a lot of ways (I know the consensus here is that it's one of their weaker albums, so I'm actually interested to know if it's someone else's favourite).

Nevertheless, I enjoy The Astonishing quite a lot every time I listen to it. I think I also have a special "bond" with it, because recently my best friend and I decided to write/record music together again (long story; I'll write about it in another thread, I suppose), and this is an album which inspires me quite a lot. Together with Octavarium. You know, music about the importance of music.

[wolfking]

At the moment it's at the bottom.  Not liking it at all,  unfortuantely.  Respect for trying something completely different though.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Top 3. Easy.

[King Postwhore]

I place no importance on any ratings at this point, positive or negative. Ratings at this point are largely knee jerk reactions, coupled with the polarizing nature of the internet in general, meaning that you're only getting the top and bottom ratings. The people who are waiting for the album to sink in or feel anywhere in the middle aren't going to rate the album right now, if at all.

BTTF 3 was the best of the 3.









I just wanted to hit you below the belt.

[Thematt202]

Top two.  Possibly number one.  It's just so full of amazing music and gets better with every listen. 

[CDrice]

It's a top 13 album for sure.

[Outcrier]

It could have been a middle rank album but the length and Act 2 make it "meh" for me.