20th Anniversary of Falling Into Infinity coming up...

[rumborak]

The difference for me, is TA ballads are so much better than the FII ballads.

Wow, couldn't possibly disagree more with that. TAMP is one of the best "ballads" they've ever done. TA's ballads for the most part are very platitudinous.

[jsbru]

ACOS was already out.

Whoops...I meant Metropolis Pt. II.  Shows how tired I am. 

[TAC]

Cut just three songs (I vote for YNM, JLMB, and BMS) and the album flows much better and there's already a big jump in quality.

Totally.

Although JLMB is awesome live, especially the '05 version.


I also want to say that the Budokan version of Hollow Years is amazing. It takes IMO a Bottom 20 DT track and turns it into a Top 20 track. I just feel that the studio version is fairly lifeless and doesn't really go anywhere.

[bosk1]

Cut just three songs (I vote for YNM, JLMB HY, and BMS HK) and the album flows much better and there's already a big jump in quality.

Fixed.

And, yeah, other than TAMP, I agree that the ballads on The Astonishing are SO much better than those on FII. 

[Prog Snob]

If they had just made the double album and included ACOS, people would probably be ranking it right up there with the other of the first five! 

Stupid producers.

I think you're getting confused with Metropolis 2, which was something that MP wanted to include. This was before M2 blew up to what it is now.

[BlobVanDam]

The difference for me, is TA ballads are so much better than the FII ballads.

Wow, couldn't possibly disagree more with that. TAMP is one of the best "ballads" they've ever done. TA's ballads for the most part are very platitudinous.

I think all of the FII ballads are among their best (not TAMP so much, although I've warmed to it over time). TA does have Act of Faythe, which is one of their best ballads in quite a while, but I'd still easily give the edge to FII overall. TA has too many filler ballads.

[Mosh]

Cut just three songs (I vote for YNM, JLMB, and BMS) and the album flows much better and there's already a big jump in quality.

Totally.

Although JLMB is awesome live, especially the '05 version.

JLMB is one of the few DT tracks that seems like it was made with the purpose of being played live. The sort of song they would never write today.

[mikeyd23]

I also want to say that the Budokan version of Hollow Years is amazing. It takes IMO a Bottom 20 DT track and turns it into a Top 20 track. I just feel that the studio version is fairly lifeless and doesn't really go anywhere.

Preach it! The LaB version of Hollow Years is literally what got me into DT.

[DragonAttack]

Appreciation is often dependent on what we associate with any album (referring to CoolChris for this particular thread).  I came on board in 2003, and I still didn't have FII when I saw the 'Chaos' tour (my 3rd DT concert).  And, at first, silly me thought they were playing 'Xanadu' as an encore.....(seeing MP playing from in front of his kit was at the beginning was memorable)

I was, of course, enlightened a couple of weeks later after purchasing the album.   A great offset to the dark SC whilst realizing the band was still 'growing'.

As to 'my' version:  Burning My Soul/Peruvian Skies/Hollow Years/Hell's Kitchen/Lines In The Sand/Take Away My Pain/Just Let Me Breathe/Trial of Tears. 

The chorus for 'New Millenium' ruins it for me, baby.  As to 'Hollow Years'....I lived it. 

Moving on....as to 'what to play' on their next tour from FII:  if they were to do one track, the demo version of 'Burning My Soul/Hell's Kitchen' would be a really nice touch.  Never on an official release, hasn't been performed this century, so it would be something 'new'.

[gzarruk]

They did play thr demo version of BMS before FII was released and then, again, on the SDOIT tour. There's footage on youtube 

[cramx3]

I also want to say that the Budokan version of Hollow Years is amazing. It takes IMO a Bottom 20 DT track and turns it into a Top 20 track. I just feel that the studio version is fairly lifeless and doesn't really go anywhere.

Preach it! The LaB version of Hollow Years is literally what got me into DT.

Yea, that version is significantly better than the album version.

[DragonAttack]

They did play thr demo version of BMS before FII was released and then, again, on the SDOIT tour. There's footage on youtube 

Can you help me with that?  I had found 'Hell's Kitchen/Burning My Soul' from 2002.....but not the way it was played with in the demo and 90s.  Thanks in advance (and sorry for the error).

[gzarruk]

I also want to say that the Budokan version of Hollow Years is amazing. It takes IMO a Bottom 20 DT track and turns it into a Top 20 track. I just feel that the studio version is fairly lifeless and doesn't really go anywhere.

Preach it! The LaB version of Hollow Years is literally what got me into DT.

I think what makes the Budokan version better is the amazing and epic JP solo, versus the original, that only has the melody played on an acoustic guitar.

They did play thr demo version of BMS before FII was released and then, again, on the SDOIT tour. There's footage on youtube 

Can you help me with that?  I had found 'Hell's Kitchen/Burning My Soul' from 2002.....but not the way it was played with in the demo and 90s.  Thanks in advance (and sorry for the error).

The pre-FII version is featured on the official bootleg from Ytsejam Records: Old bridge, New Jersey 1996. They played a few or their new songs (BMS, LITS, PS) 

[mikeyd23]

I also want to say that the Budokan version of Hollow Years is amazing. It takes IMO a Bottom 20 DT track and turns it into a Top 20 track. I just feel that the studio version is fairly lifeless and doesn't really go anywhere.

Preach it! The LaB version of Hollow Years is literally what got me into DT.

I think what makes the Budokan version better is the amazing and epic JP solo, versus the original, that only has the melody played on an acoustic guitar.

Yeah the solo is the obvious difference, the whole arrangement of that song they did throughout the ToT tour was great they embellished it in just the right places.

[cramx3]

I also want to say that the Budokan version of Hollow Years is amazing. It takes IMO a Bottom 20 DT track and turns it into a Top 20 track. I just feel that the studio version is fairly lifeless and doesn't really go anywhere.

Preach it! The LaB version of Hollow Years is literally what got me into DT.

I think what makes the Budokan version better is the amazing and epic JP solo, versus the original, that only has the melody played on an acoustic guitar.

Yeah the solo is the obvious difference, the whole arrangement of that song they did throughout the ToT tour was great they embellished it in just the right places.

I believe they brought this arrangement of HY back during the BC&SL tour as well. 

[Tony From Long Island]

Unpopular opinion right here: I'd much rather see them tour for a 20th FII anniversary than for a 25th I&W anniversary.

Agreed that yours is an unpopular opinion.  I like FII, but it's not I&W!

[mikeyd23]

I believe they brought this arrangement of HY back during the BC&SL tour as well.

I believe you are correct sir!

[Tony From Long Island]

Oh, if we're going the expanded route, yes, "Speak to Me" would be ideal. Love that song.

Unpopular opinion right here: I'd much rather see them tour for a 20th FII anniversary than for a 25th I&W anniversary.

Not sure I'd go totally there (I think a tour in support of the band's most likely least popular record isn't feasible), but I would take it if they ever did do it! I just felt an I&W tour could kill two birds with one stone, and recognize FII too.

I'd have to check with the current album ranking thread, but I would guess that The Astonishing would be least popular.    If you include A Change of Seasons, I rank FII 8th and Astonishing 14th by far.

I don't think JP would play You Not Me, but I'd love to see Burning my Soul, Peruvian Skies, Trial of Tears and Lines in the Sand again

[cramx3]

Oh, if we're going the expanded route, yes, "Speak to Me" would be ideal. Love that song.

Unpopular opinion right here: I'd much rather see them tour for a 20th FII anniversary than for a 25th I&W anniversary.

Not sure I'd go totally there (I think a tour in support of the band's most likely least popular record isn't feasible), but I would take it if they ever did do it! I just felt an I&W tour could kill two birds with one stone, and recognize FII too.

I'd have to check with the current album ranking thread, but I would guess that The Astonishing would be least popular.    If you include A Change of Seasons, I rank FII 8th and Astonishing 14th by far.

I don't think JP would play You Not Me, but I'd love to see Burning my Soul, Peruvian Skies, Trial of Tears and Lines in the Sand again

I would have guessed WDaDU, but FII, TA, and SC all seem to be lowly ranked. 

[TAC]

I also want to say that the Budokan version of Hollow Years is amazing. It takes IMO a Bottom 20 DT track and turns it into a Top 20 track. I just feel that the studio version is fairly lifeless and doesn't really go anywhere.

Preach it! The LaB version of Hollow Years is literally what got me into DT.

I think what makes the Budokan version better is the amazing and epic JP solo, versus the original, that only has the melody played on an acoustic guitar.

Yeah the solo is the obvious difference, the whole arrangement of that song they did throughout the ToT tour was great they embellished it in just the right places.

I believe they brought this arrangement of HY back during the BC&SL tour as well.

They brought it back with the epic solo and outro, but the '09 version also included the demo pre-chorus that had been cut on the FII version.

[Dublagent66]

Had they included Raise The Knife, the album would've been that much better.

[Prog Snob]

Damn, I forgot about that one.

[TAC]

Had they included Raise The Knife, the album would've been that much better.

No doubt!

[cramx3]

Raise the Knife is the only non album track that I feel would have really lifted FII a bit more.  Not that the other non album tracks were bad, I enjoy them, but I don't feel like any of the others would have made FII a better album.

[Tony From Long Island]

Had they included Raise The Knife, the album would've been that much better.

I dunno.  I'm kinda ambivalent on that.  Raise the knife just sorta meanders for me.  There's no real song on FII that I truly dislike, though Anna Lee is no classic.

[Dublagent66]

AL is no classic, but it's a DT classic.  A lot of DT fans like that song.

[cramx3]

AL is no classic, but it's a DT classic.  A lot of DT fans like that song.

There's not many of us, but I love that song.

[Dublagent66]

I'll bet an audience would go nuts if DT started playing AL at a show just out of the clear blue.

[cramx3]

I'll bet an audience would go nuts if DT started playing AL at a show just out of the clear blue.

Like instead of Begin Again they just went into Anna Lee    I would love to see that live spontaneity from the band.

[hefdaddy42]

I, for one, would LOVE to see Anna Lee performed live again.  Definitely one of my favorite parts of 5YIAL.  JP playing slide on that Talman is sweet.

[goo-goo]

Would love to see FII being performed on its entirety. My first DT album was Images but my 2nd was FII, while my 3rd was Once in a Livetime. Those were the album that the store in Mexico where I used to live carried in stock. I was never aware of Awake until a few years later. Anyways, it was quite a contrast between Images and FII. Images changed my life but the songs on FII sounded way better and more crafted. The highlight for me in this album are the keyboards and the guitar solos and JLB's voice. The drum sound that MP had on FII remains an all time favorite ever. To this date, FII remains in my top 4 DT albums (SFAM, Awake, Images, and FII).

I wish the FII demos would have been released with the production of FII. The songs that got cut off the main album are great.

[Tony From Long Island]

DoubleAgent:   " . . . . .AL is no classic, but it's a DT classic. . . . . "


I guess you and I define the word "classic" differently.    If we had everyone on here rank every DT album song from 1 to whatever, Anna Lee would surely end up in the bottom 10% of most lists.

Yes, some people would go nuts - if only because it's rarely played.

Thankfully DT's catalog is so deep that even the bottom 10% are mostly great songs!  But it's not a DT classic.

[Samsara]

Anna Lee showcases a side of the band that I personally enjoy -- the more simplistic side. I love the song, although it is probably my fourth favorite on FII, after Trial of Tears, Lines in the Sand, and Hell's Kitchen. I felt the basic piano, and then the more relaxed instrumentation gave the song a soulful feeling that really resonated.

And agreed with people who say if the song is played, people would go nuts. Unfortunately, I think Tony is probably correct, that it would be more because it is rarely played, as opposed to people actually loving the song. But count me among the latter. There's something refreshing about that song to me. And I feel it is highly underrated by the fanbase.

My only gripe with that tune (which puts Hell's Kitchen above it in my ranking) is about the 3:10 mark, the bridge of the song, when James elects to go higher pitch. I know they likely did it for some dynamics. But I think it really takes away from the tune. I think that could have been re-thought. But it doesn't kill it for me. I just would have went somewhere else if I was singing it (and I usually try different things when I sing it).

But very underappreciated cut. Most of the songs like it in DT's catalog are. But I am glad they still attempt stuff like that.

[Tony From Long Island]

Anybody listening    makes a great point.   Anna Lee stands out in that it is a more simplistic song. One of my Favorite DT songs is "I walk beside you."   Straight forward rock / pop song but clearly done by excellent musicians.  I always thought it could have been their   "Owner of a Lonely Heart" 

That's not to say I don't love their proggy stuff, but I am not a prog guy in general.        I really only go for DT and Rush in terms of prog.

[Adami]

I should also point out that 2017 is the 1st anniversary of The Astonishing. They should probably play it in full.