Dream Theater for the rest of your life. The 90's vs the 00's vs the 10's

[KevShmev]

This almost seems unfair.

This could have been the 90's vs the 00's AND 10's, and I still would have voted for the 90's.  My three favorite DT albums are from the 90's, and most of my favorite Dream Theater songs are from that decade.  They have a lot of good stuff since, and a fair amount of great stuff, but the 90's stands heads and shoulders above everything else they have done.

[erwinrafael]

The 10s. these are the only albums right now in my celfone and computer. For the others, I stream through Spotify.

[Peter Mc]

The '00s would be way bottom for me.  I couldn't say for sure but I think all 5 of those albums are in my bottom 5 DT albums.  I don't hate any of them, they are all good albums but the '00s was the worst period of DT for me.  Maybe SDOIT would sneak out of the bottom 5 but not by much, I don't like it anywhere near as much as others and Octavarium is firmly bottom of the pile for me.  I know loads of people have it ranked near the top but I've never been into it very much.

[Kotowboy]

The 00s

I'm not the biggest fan of the first four albums and the first 5 Rudess albums are some of Dream Theater's best work.

I don't get Scenes but I do get 6 Degrees, Train of Thought and Octavarium. 

[Kotowboy]

The '00s would be way bottom for me.  I couldn't say for sure but I think all 5 of those albums are in my bottom 5 DT albums. 

[Trav]

After doing a whole catalog listen recently, I'm loving the 90s the most. That's usually what happens when I listen to those albums back-to-back with the 00s.

I love SFAM but starting there through BC&SL there is a lot that sounds forced. Forced LTE style solo sections or trying to force a completely different style. Every album is trying hard to follow a different kind of theme and a lot of times seem too "inspired" by other artists.  While the 10s albums have a more streamlined approach. Sure, there's the Rush influences in there, but they don't sound like they're trying to be a completely different band on every album. For better or worse, they've found their sound (or JP's idea of it) and they have stuck to it. The same with their approach to live shows. Find what works and run it like a well-oiled machine. Some people like this, and some don't. I understand both sides of it.

[jayvee3]

90's in a pretty easy choice, but looking at that, the 10's are 4 strong albums for me (particularly as I really enjoy the Astonishing more than many). The 00's are easily the ones I would rank last out of that poll. Like most, I like something about all the DT albums, but I definitely found the 00 period to be where most of my lower tier albums fall...

[Kotowboy]

I don't like When Dream & Day Unite, Images and Words or Awake enough to choose the 90s

I do love Falling Into Infinity and Scenes though. But the run from Scenes to Octavarium is just perfection so obviously i'll choose the lions share of them.

Systematic Chaos & Black Clouds are two of their biggest 'treading water' albums back to back plus I love The Astonishing & Distance Over Time.

But the 00s win. Easily.

[Dream Team]

The '00s would be way bottom for me.  I couldn't say for sure but I think all 5 of those albums are in my bottom 5 DT albums. 

Sad but True.

[deggs37]

For me the 00s and 90s are a tossup depending on the mood I am in. Today that mood is 00's. But tomorrow could be 90s.

[erwinrafael]

The '00s would be way bottom for me.  I couldn't say for sure but I think all 5 of those albums are in my bottom 5 DT albums. 

The 00s is when Dream Theater lost me. Last album I bought is my cassette tape of Train of Thought. The 10s brought me back. During the 00s, Dream Theater to my ears just sounded like a display of virtuosity, and songwriting was not prioritized.

[Kotowboy]

 

Everyone is different of course but I'm sure most people regard Scenes, Six Degrees, Train Of Thought and Octavarium as their Golden Years. I know I do.

There was just a 'magic' to that whole period that they lost with Systematic and Black Clouds **. I feel it's finally back with the last 2 albums and very hopeful

for A View From The Top Of The World.





** - I call them the treading water albums.

[nikatapi]

I don't like When Dream & Day Unite, Images and Words or Awake enough to choose the 90s

I do love Falling Into Infinity and Scenes though. But the run from Scenes to Octavarium is just perfection so obviously i'll choose the lions share of them.

Systematic Chaos & Black Clouds are two of their biggest 'treading water' albums back to back plus I love The Astonishing & Distance Over Time.

But the 00s win. Easily.

Agreed. Even though i adore the 90's albums, i also think that SFAM to Octavarium was an incredible period for the band.

[hefdaddy42]

Everyone is different of course but I'm sure most people regard Scenes, Six Degrees, Train Of Thought and Octavarium as their Golden Years. I know I do.

There was just a 'magic' to that whole period that they lost with Systematic and Black Clouds

I would definitely agree with this if we are talking about their live performances, for sure.

Speaking of the studio releases, IMO, SFAM and 6DOIT are fantastic, TOT is lesser but still good, and 8VM, apart from the title track, is a steep decline.  SC and BC&SL are even steeper declines.

[bosk1]

While there are definitely things DT have done that I strongly prefer to other things they have done, I can't use "steep decline" to describe anything DT-related.

[hefdaddy42]

While there are definitely things DT have done that I strongly prefer to other things they have done, I can't use "steep decline" to describe anything DT-related.

For the most part, I mean "relatively speaking".  Although, for me, if you look at the end product, BC&SL really is a steep decline from 6DOIT.

[Max Kuehnau]

The 10s, all day every day and three times a day on Sundays and Bank Holidays to me. (my two alltime favourite albums were made in that decade.)

[Trav]

While there are definitely things DT have done that I strongly prefer to other things they have done, I can't use "steep decline" to describe anything DT-related.

For the most part, I mean "relatively speaking".  Although, for me, if you look at the end product, BC&SL really is a steep decline from 6DOIT.

When you're right, you're right.

[jammindude]

I would have to do without my all-time favorite album, but the 90s are just too stacked. 90s all the way.

[HOF]

The 00s

I'm not the biggest fan of the first four albums and the first 5 Rudess albums are some of Dream Theater's best work.

I don't get Scenes but I do get 6 Degrees, Train of Thought and Octavarium. 

Scenes is the weakest of the 90s albums IMO (though I do like it).

[Kotowboy]

While there are definitely things DT have done that I strongly prefer to other things they have done, I can't use "steep decline" to describe anything DT-related.

Exactly. As Much as I love Metallica - Dream Theater never put out their St. Anger. Even though a lot of people act like The Astonishing was 'unlistenable' for some reason....

Oh it doesn't have 30 minute songs and 6 minute solo trade offs in 19/16. Must be Shit!

Dream Theater could put out an album of ten 3 minute songs in 4/4 and if they were amazing songs I literally wouldn't care.

Like - Of course I love all the technical proggy stuff but my fave DT song of the mangini era is Our New World.

[jammindude]

Speaking of "steep decline" and "St. Anger", I would nominate SC for both categories.

They literally went from my all time favorite #1 album from them (yes...better than IAW, Awake, SFAM, and SDOIT) to a nearly unlistenable album that I never revisit beyond one or two tracks. And when I do occasionally try to spin it, it's not a pleasant experience. Probably the only DT album I actively don't like. (Beyond TDEN, and part one of ITPOE. Part 2 is terrible)

[hacko]

This almost seems unfair.

This could have been the 90's vs the 00's AND 10's, and I still would have voted for the 90's.  My three favorite DT albums are from the 90's, and most of my favorite Dream Theater songs are from that decade.  They have a lot of good stuff since, and a fair amount of great stuff, but the 90's stands heads and shoulders above everything else they have done.

This pretty much - I think someone is probably looking for answers different than the 90s and putting them in some sort of government list.

[Kotowboy]

Yes . the difference between Octavarium ( my favourite DT album ) and Systematic Chaos ( one of my least favourite. ) is staggering. And it's only 2 years later.

Literally every style of song that they do is better on Octavarium.

Plus the 2nd half of Systematic Chaos is a boring medium tempo slog apart form Prophets of War - a song so unremarkable that I always forget it exists.

[KevShmev]

This almost seems unfair.

This could have been the 90's vs the 00's AND 10's, and I still would have voted for the 90's.  My three favorite DT albums are from the 90's, and most of my favorite Dream Theater songs are from that decade.  They have a lot of good stuff since, and a fair amount of great stuff, but the 90's stands heads and shoulders above everything else they have done.

This pretty much - I think someone is probably looking for answers different than the 90s and putting them in some sort of government list.

Haha, exactly.  It's cute that some think Images and Words is not part of their peak era/golden years, but it's not reality.   

[Kotowboy]

I don't worship Images and Awake like some do.

[TAC]

I don't worship Images and Awake like some do.

Admission is the first step to recovery.

[jammindude]

I don't worship Images and Awake like some do.

Admission is the first step to recovery.

[KevShmev]

I don't worship Images and Awake like some do.

Admission is the first step to recovery.

Haha.  Not that this poll is indicative of the entire fanbase, but the results ought to tell us something.  Factor in that I&W and Scenes are undoubtedly their most popular albums across the fanbase, and regardless of what each fan personally likes, it is nearly impossible to argue that the 90's wasn't their peak era (as far as quality goes).

[Dream Team]

Yes, and that would be true of almost any band's early period except the Beatles.

[Kotowboy]

Images and Words sounds incredibly dated now plus Awake has a great opening trio but after that I find it really dull.

I actually enjoy Falling Into Infinity more. Aside from the somewhat commercial aspirations.

[jayvee3]

Yes . the difference between Octavarium ( my favourite DT album ) and Systematic Chaos ( one of my least favourite. ) is staggering. And it's only 2 years later.

Literally every style of song that they do is better on Octavarium.

Plus the 2nd half of Systematic Chaos is a boring medium tempo slog apart form Prophets of War - a song so unremarkable that I always forget it exists.

This probably depends on how much one would rate Octavarium as an album though. I've been playing DT a lot lately in anticipation of the new album and just put everything I have on shuffle. The truth is for me, I immediately skip more songs from 8V than Systematic Chaos. I actually find 8V gets a much bigger pass mark over many of its own unremarkable tracks, due to the title track. Sacrificed Sons is pretty fair, bits of Panic Attack are ok, otherwise everything else is "meh" to me. This honestly could have been bought out as an EP like A Change of Seasons, and I really don't feel I would have lost much.

Systematic Chaos has actually been a bit of a sleeper for me, and has aged well, sounding fresher to me over time. I think these little realisations, plus just the great variations of opinion sparking these discussions, are probably what makes DT such a special band...

[jayvee3]

Double post

[Kotowboy]

I feel like the 2nd half of Systematic Chaos is what gave MP the idea that Black Clouds should be An Album of Epics and two singles.

Repentance is 11 minutes
Ministry is 15 minutes
Presence of Enemies part II is 17 minutes

Ministry really doesn't need to be 15 minutes long at that tempo. It's the audio equivalent of trying to run in shoulder deep water.

[jayvee3]

I feel like the 2nd half of Systematic Chaos is what gave MP the idea that Black Clouds should be An Album of Epics and two singles.

Repentance is 11 minutes
Ministry is 15 minutes
Presence of Enemies part II is 17 minutes

Ministry really doesn't need to be 15 minutes long at that tempo. It's the audio equivalent of trying to run in shoulder deep water.

Yea, I can agree with all that. Ministry is better than most things on 8V for me, but I absolutely agree it could have some fat trimmed. And Repentance is something I simply never listen to. I just don't like it in any capacity.

I like Presence of Enemies though, and sure it could be a little trimmed, but so could Octavarium the song too (and many other tracks). That track literally takes 5 minutes to get up and running, which could easily be cut in half and not lose its impact. In fact, those that have pointed issues at TCOT and Illumination Theory's ambient sections, should listen to Octavarium again, and realise it has its own ambient section, just right at the beginning, which could easily be trimmed..