"Scarred" Appreciation & Discussion Thread

[orcus116]

I still think that the song is the worst DT has ever made. It's boring and convoluted at the same time, and it lacks any punch.

How is the song convoluted in any way? It has a clear intro, themes and sections that get revisited, a solo section and an outro. Sure it's not linear but it's not this grand clusterfuck that's impossible to follow.

[Pols Voice]

I can't decide if it's my second or third favorite Dream Theater song. Everything about it is great. The jazzy intro, the riffs, the vocals, the lyrics, the outro. Petrucci's solo, although short, is totally awesome.

[Metro]

One of my favorite DT songs. I also just finished learning it on guitar. 

[FlyingBIZKIT]

I like the song alot, but not as much as alot of people do. Doesn't make my top 25, but it's still a great song.

[Aramatheis]

Just read through this real quick: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=25598.0

Nothing in there indicates that people think it's garbage (unless I skimmed over a post that actually said something bad about it). Not quite the endless amount of people I was promised!

Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore every song on Awake.
But they were voting out Scarred before 6:00...

I really like 6:00, but the only song weaker than it on that album is The Silent Man. So the way I see it, by pushing that song to be voted out that hard (before 6:00?! Scarred should definitely be the winner/runner-up to Voices in that survivor..) they're calling it trash.


I'm probably exaggerating things, of course. But I mean c'mon. If motherfuckin' Scarred can't make it through three rounds of the Awake Survivor, then something is definitely wrong.

[BlobVanDam]

What you're saying could be applied to a lot of DT's songs post-Awake, but I just have a difficult time understanding how Scarred fits the bill. But if that's how you feel, then that's you feel, I guess, and I certainly can't change that.

Modern DT gets criticized for the same things that Scarred does to an equal extent, and yet it gets praised for it. I don't get it. At least modern DT songs focus on strong melodies and riffs where it counts. Scarred really has nothing to redeem the mistakes for me. It's a mishmash. You can say the same for modern DT, but I don't mind a mishmash when the individual parts are actually good to begin with.

I'm not trying to change your opinion either of course. Trying to change opinions online is pointless. I'm just venting an opinion.

I fail to see how it's a mishmash because I don't buy into the fact that the transitions are anything but smooth so I'll only say the most glaring difference between the sections of "Scarred" and the sections of modern DT songs is that the sections of "Scarred" actually feel like they belong in the same song. There's a unifying style and sound that's so damn obvious to the point where it gives the song an identity. I rarely get that same feeling with a newer DT song because they all seem to be crafted with the exact same style and sound to the point where you could probably swap sections out and they wouldn't sound that much out of place. You can most definitely do that with the solo sections, maybe not so much the chorus and verse parts.

I don't want to go around in circles too much here, but I strongly disagree. To me Scarred's sections are different to the point where they just don't go together at all. It has the WDADU trademark "turn around on a dime" problem of abandoning tempo and feel for a new section, especially that ending riff.
There is no way you can call these transitions smooth and then call the transitions of ANTR abrupt. Doesn't work. The transitions do not even exist in Scarred. It's out of nowhere. Like a bullet. From the night. ANTR at least does something.

And if modern DT songs all sound in the same style and interchangable, how can they not feel like they belong in the same song? Pick a criticism and stick to it!

[jayvee3]

Scarred to this day, is still without doubt one of my very favorites, period. I actually think its range of differrent sections from bluesy, to heavy, to melodic, a great solo and a wickedly mystical outro, transition exceptionally smooth. To my ears all this blends perfectly, and I love a song that can start one way and be something else by the end - Its one of the reasons I like the band so much. the 'do you feel' section is a highlight and some of james' best vocal work. But the thing that grabs me the most with Scarred, it seems to blend all this with some powerful lyrics, and just conveys a huge sense of emotion. And it still does that to me to this day, every time I hear it..  

[Jaq]

I am a late adopter of many technologies, especially relating to playing music. I held onto vinyl for a long time (the thing that switched me to cassette tapes? Seeing Metallica's And Justice For All as a double vinyl album.  ) and then held onto cassettes for LONG after CDs became the predominate form of playing music. To date, I still don't own a MP3 player of any sort.

All of this has bearing, of course, on Scarred.

If you were, like me, someone who had yet to purchase a CD player of any sort when Awake came out-you didn't get Scarred as it was simply too long to fit on either side of the cassette. You also got Innocence Faded on side two, just before Space Dye Vest if memory serves. Until I bought Awake on CD a couple of years later, Scarred simply didn't exist. Which may be why, even though I long ago gave away all my cassettes, Scarred simply doesn't stick with me. It's a good song, but when I was devouring Awake on a daily basis, I never heard it. I have a habit still, to this day, of punching right past it and going to Space Dye Vest. For the oddest reasons, it simply refuses to stick with me.  Someday I'll give it a chance I'm sure.

[contest_sanity]

There is no way you can call these transitions smooth and then call the transitions of ANTR abrupt. Doesn't work. The transitions do not even exist in Scarred. It's out of nowhere. Like a bullet. From the night. ANTR at least does something.

[Ħ]

What you're saying could be applied to a lot of DT's songs post-Awake, but I just have a difficult time understanding how Scarred fits the bill. But if that's how you feel, then that's you feel, I guess, and I certainly can't change that.

Modern DT gets criticized for the same things that Scarred does to an equal extent, and yet it gets praised for it. I don't get it. At least modern DT songs focus on strong melodies and riffs where it counts. Scarred really has nothing to redeem the mistakes for me. It's a mishmash. You can say the same for modern DT, but I don't mind a mishmash when the individual parts are actually good to begin with.

I'm not trying to change your opinion either of course. Trying to change opinions online is pointless. I'm just venting an opinion.

I fail to see how it's a mishmash because I don't buy into the fact that the transitions are anything but smooth so I'll only say the most glaring difference between the sections of "Scarred" and the sections of modern DT songs is that the sections of "Scarred" actually feel like they belong in the same song. There's a unifying style and sound that's so damn obvious to the point where it gives the song an identity. I rarely get that same feeling with a newer DT song because they all seem to be crafted with the exact same style and sound to the point where you could probably swap sections out and they wouldn't sound that much out of place. You can most definitely do that with the solo sections, maybe not so much the chorus and verse parts.

I don't want to go around in circles too much here, but I strongly disagree. To me Scarred's sections are different to the point where they just don't go together at all. It has the WDADU trademark "turn around on a dime" problem of abandoning tempo and feel for a new section, especially that ending riff.
There is no way you can call these transitions smooth and then call the transitions of ANTR abrupt. Doesn't work. The transitions do not even exist in Scarred. It's out of nowhere. Like a bullet. From the night. ANTR at least does something.

And if modern DT songs all sound in the same style and interchangable, how can they not feel like they belong in the same song? Pick a criticism and stick to it!

Blob, are there parts of Scarred that you like?  Such as the jazzy intro or the "Do you feel?" section.

[Adami]

Brother, just a warning that Blob isn't exactly a huge fan of awake.

[?]

Their 3rd best song!

[orcus116]

There is no way you can call these transitions smooth and then call the transitions of ANTR abrupt. Doesn't work. The transitions do not even exist in Scarred. It's out of nowhere. Like a bullet. From the night. ANTR at least does something.

There is no way in hell you can say this and when the transition from the mellow section to the bluesy solo section in ANTR is by far the most jarring one they've ever done. ANTR doesn't attempt anything but have lazy song construction.

[Evo]

I love everything about it.

.

[orcus116]

I'm probably exaggerating things, of course. But I mean c'mon. If motherfuckin' Scarred can't make it through three rounds of the Awake Survivor, then something is definitely wrong.

Well its gotten to the point where people seem to almost get this perverse pleasure of doing it. It reminds me of when there's and argument about which of two fairly attractitive celebrties but the only two answers are either "she's hot" or "she's fucking ugly dude". If you're sort off in the middle you might tend to fall towards the latter since only extremes exist.

[BlobVanDam]

There is no way you can call these transitions smooth and then call the transitions of ANTR abrupt. Doesn't work. The transitions do not even exist in Scarred. It's out of nowhere. Like a bullet. From the night. ANTR at least does something.

There is no way in hell you can say this and when the transition from the mellow section to the bluesy solo section in ANTR is by far the most jarring one they've ever done. ANTR doesn't attempt anything but have lazy song construction.

No, it's really not that bad. You think the transition at 2:07 of Scarred is any better? It's basically the same transition. Quick drum fill to slight tempo increase and heavier section. If you applied the same objective ear to IaW, you'd hear the same stuff all over the place. Or if you really want to hear some truly dreadful transitions, listen to WDADU. There you will hear by far the most jarring "transitions" that DT have ever done.
These abrupt transitions you like to criticize modern DT for are far from new. They've always been a part of DT's music. Less so on Awake, since it's a fairly restrained album, but on IaW most definitely. It's fair enough if you want to give them a pass because you actually like the songs (I do the same, so fair enough), but don't pretend it's ever been any different. It just boils down to whether you like it or not. Simple as that.

[Dream Team]

And if modern DT songs all sound in the same styBlob, are there parts of Scarred that you like?  Such as the jazzy intro or the "Do you feel?" section.

IMO those are the 2 best parts of the song, along with the buildup to when James sings " . . . that I WOOONNNTTT". In fact I wish DT would do a full song in the style of that intro.

[i am fabio]

There is no way you can call these transitions smooth and then call the transitions of ANTR abrupt. Doesn't work. The transitions do not even exist in Scarred. It's out of nowhere. Like a bullet. From the night. ANTR at least does something.

There is no way in hell you can say this and when the transition from the mellow section to the bluesy solo section in ANTR is by far the most jarring one they've ever done. ANTR doesn't attempt anything but have lazy song construction.

No, it's really not that bad. You think the transition at 2:07 of Scarred is any better? It's basically the same transition. Quick drum fill to slight tempo increase and heavier section. If you applied the same objective ear to IaW, you'd hear the same stuff all over the place. Or if you really want to hear some truly dreadful transitions, listen to WDADU. There you will hear by far the most jarring "transitions" that DT have ever done.
These abrupt transitions you like to criticize modern DT for are far from new. They've always been a part of DT's music. Less so on Awake, since it's a fairly restrained album, but on IaW most definitely. It's fair enough if you want to give them a pass because you actually like the songs (I do the same, so fair enough), but don't pretend it's ever been any different. It just boils down to whether you like it or not. Simple as that.

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Scarred has the best Petrucci solo, at least for me. So that plus the outro make the song one of my favorites.

[senecadawg2]

Awake is my 3rd favorite album behind SFAM and I&W. The interesting thing about it is that I don't find it to have many awesome songs or 'just okay' songs. Instead I think the whole album is consistently great.

The only exception to this is Scarred, definitely an 11/10 type song and my favorite song on the album.

[Aramatheis]

Awake is my 3rd favorite album behind SFAM and I&W. The interesting thing about it is that I don't find it to have many awesome songs or 'just okay' songs. Instead I think the whole album is consistently great.

The only exception to this is Scarred, definitely an 11/10 type song and my favorite song on the album.

I concur.

[Raoul Sanchez]

Intro, second verse and solo are pretty much my favorite snippets of music by DT. The rest of the song is pretty average for me by comparison, especially because of how much I've listened through them for the bits I'm interested in.

[dbrooks22]

I love everything about it.

this

[cyberdrummer]

Relistening, I think the section between 7:37 and 8:52 is one of my favourite instrumental sections by DT. The best KM solo, and one of JP's best.

[wasteland]

Relistening, I think the section between 7:37 and 8:52 is one of my favourite instrumental sections by DT. The best KM solo, and one of JP's best.

[The Stray Seed]

Perfect in every single aspect.

[Kwyjibo]

Scarred is simply the shit

[?]

Relistening, I think the section between 7:37 and 8:52 is one of my favourite instrumental sections by DT. The second best KM solo, and one of JP's best.

FTFM, the one in TTT can't be beat, although the Scarred solo comes close.

[mellotron_scratch]

I think it's a great song, but perhaps a little overrated. Nevertheless, I love it from start to finish.

[Dublagent66]

Brother, just a warning that Blob isn't exactly a huge fan of awake.

I'm beginning think if Scarred was on another album, he'd probaby like it more, who knows?  Just the guitar riffs and solo alone are enough to at least enjoy it a little bit even if someone tries to find a multitude of reasons to hate it.

[Estiui]

Best intro in DT history. One of the best outros in DT history. However, I'd say Scarred is not in my top 15-20.

[Luigi]

Top 15 DT song to me, and maybe in top 10.

Beauty piece of music.

EDIT:

Definitely in top 10.

[SeRoX]

Everyone in the group is at their peak point in that song. Simply one of their best.

My top 3 song.

[BlobVanDam]

Brother, just a warning that Blob isn't exactly a huge fan of awake.

I'm beginning think if Scarred was on another album, he'd probaby like it more, who knows?  Just the guitar riffs and solo alone are enough to at least enjoy it a little bit even if someone tries to find a multitude of reasons to hate it.

That's just insulting. Scarred is one of the top reasons I dislike Awake in the first place, not the other way around. It doesn't take much "trying" for me to find reasons to dislike it.

[Mosh]

Scarred took 2 years for me to get into. After being able to relate to the lyrics some and understand how the arrangement (which on the surface is a mess, so the criticism of that is slightly accurate) fits together it really grew on me and the impact hit hard. Now I'd say it's in my top 5, maybe 3. Also has one of the best JP solos. Perfection.