The Alien

[LKap13]

Keeping in mind that the alien is fresh, I'm just struck by how good this song is. I went with adtoe

[lovethedrake]

I like the alien but think at wits end is better.

[geeeemo]

I like the alien but think at wits end is better.

I agree. At Wits End is a top song for me.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

the Alien is the best song since a song or two on DoT-- maybe better than Fall Into the Light and Room 137. I like it, but it's a little boring because I've heard DT do almost exactly this so many times. I'll only put it on if I am at the gym.

[Pettor]

The question should be "best single since ..." otherwise I can't see many going for this being better than the fan favourites from D/T.

Barstool Warrior, At Wit's End and Pale Plue Dot are all better songs imo.

[hefdaddy42]

It's definitely the best thing they've released since the last thing they released.

[bosk1]

I don't know how to answer the poll question, but it's a good song.  As I think I mentioned in the other thread, it clicked for me a lot faster than some other lead singles in recent memory. 

[Max Kuehnau]

I loved The Alien right away and I still do. Please don't hate me for this, but, I was bored to bits when Untethered Angel came out, and so The Alien clicked as quickly as The Enemy Inside did for me (and Backs O), so I voted for The Enemy Inside.

[Architeuthis]

As far as singles go, I think it's the best one since TGOM.  That and The Alien are easily the two best singles of the MM era.

Just a random thought, was there ever a single released from SDOIT??  I honestly don't remember.

[bosk1]

Just a random thought, was there ever a single released from SDOIT??  I honestly don't remember.

There were "radio edits" of Blind Faith and Misunderstood, as well as carving out Solitary Shell and The Test That Stumped Them All from the title song (see the Four Degrees of Radio Edits 2001 fan club release).  Not sure whether those count as official "singles."  They were edited for radio play, but not sure if they were released as singles that could be purchased. 

[Max Kuehnau]

Just a random thought, was there ever a single released from SDOIT??  I honestly don't remember.

There were "radio edits" of Blind Faith and Misunderstood, as well as carving out Solitary Shell and The Test That Stumped Them All from the title song.  Not sure whether those count as official "singles."

I don't think so, since these have only been issued on a fanclub CD, but I'm not sure if these were singles either way (although they could have been)

[Setlist Scotty]

Just a random thought, was there ever a single released from SDOIT??  I honestly don't remember.

There were "radio edits" of Blind Faith and Misunderstood, as well as carving out Solitary Shell and The Test That Stumped Them All from the title song.  Not sure whether those count as official "singles."

I don't think so, since these have only been issued on a fanclub CD, but I'm not sure if these were singles either way (although they could have been)

They weren't released as singles for the public to purchase, but they were on a promo CD sent out to radio stations:
http://ymfr.free.fr/index.php?title=Selections_From_Six_Degrees_Of_Inner_Turbulence_%28Promo_CD%29

[Dave_Manchester]

I like the song but as of now I certainly prefer 3 DoT songs over it (Barstool Warrior, At Wits' End and Pale Blue Dot), and possibly 5 (in certain moods you can throw in Out of Reach and Fall Into The Light). So I voted for the first option but like I said, The Alien is a solid tune. My connection with songs tends to change a lot when I hear them in the context of the album. My opinion of The Alien and Invisible Monster will likely be quite different a month from now when I've heard how they 'serve' the whole album experience.   

[illusionist]

Just a random thought, was there ever a single released from SDOIT??  I honestly don't remember.

There were "radio edits" of Blind Faith and Misunderstood, as well as carving out Solitary Shell and The Test That Stumped Them All from the title song.  Not sure whether those count as official "singles."

I don't think so, since these have only been issued on a fanclub CD, but I'm not sure if these were singles either way (although they could have been)

They weren't released as singles for the public to purchase, but they were on a promo CD sent out to radio stations:
http://ymfr.free.fr/index.php?title=Selections_From_Six_Degrees_Of_Inner_Turbulence_%28Promo_CD%29

I remember clearly getting that specific promo cd from the fan club and listening to it.
It was so different than Scenes that i was amazed at it being a DT album.
I can still recall that wow feeling when listening,almost like it was another band.
Oh,and the original cd cover was made by a friend of mine back then,and it was black and green,not  white.

[Architeuthis]

Cool, I wish they would have stuck with the green.   And yess, Six Degrees is quite a departure from Scenes.

[jayvee3]

Just a random thought, was there ever a single released from SDOIT??  I honestly don't remember.

There were "radio edits" of Blind Faith and Misunderstood, as well as carving out Solitary Shell and The Test That Stumped Them All from the title song.  Not sure whether those count as official "singles."

I don't think so, since these have only been issued on a fanclub CD, but I'm not sure if these were singles either way (although they could have been)

They weren't released as singles for the public to purchase, but they were on a promo CD sent out to radio stations:
http://ymfr.free.fr/index.php?title=Selections_From_Six_Degrees_Of_Inner_Turbulence_%28Promo_CD%29

I remember clearly getting that specific promo cd from the fan club and listening to it.
It was so different than Scenes that i was amazed at it being a DT album.
I can still recall that wow feeling when listening,almost like it was another band.
Oh,and the original cd cover was made by a friend of mine back then,and it was black and green,not  white.

Yea, I remember it myself. After hearing the album proper, I never got the Misunderstood noise at the end and preferred the edit, however the album version of Blind Faith was way superior - the edit chopped all the best parts of the solo, and is definitely a song that the longer version was a stronger  and more cohesive track. I did enjoy many of these sorts of fan club CD's and demos that came out in the MP days (which if I'm not mistaken, MP was a big driving force behind). Seemed to offer that little extra cherry on top for the fans.

[wolfking]

It's the best song they have released since the end of DOT.  BPD that is, not Viper King.

Saw the thread title on my phone in small font and at first glance right now I thought it said Tim Allen.  Carry on.

[Kotowboy]

Tim Allen : Tone Improvement.

[LKap13]

Lol

[Setlist Scotty]

Oh,and the original cd cover was made by a friend of mine back then,and it was black and green,not  white.

Right - that was the cover for the 4 Degrees of Radio Edits fan club CD. The link to the CD I posted was for the promo CD sent out to radio stations by the label.

[LKap13]

Yea I think the Alien is better than all the songs on DoT

[Kotowboy]

I prefer everything on Distance Over Time so far. The two new songs were just Not Bad. they were missing...something...But I don't know what that is.

[Obsidian Pancake]

I prefer everything on Distance Over Time so far. The two new songs were just Not Bad. they were missing...something...But I don't know what that is.

That's interesting. If I could only take one Dream Theater song with me onto a deserted island, I would take The Alien over the likes of Metropolis - Part I..., Lie, New Millenium, Fatal Tragedy, The Test That Stumped Them All, and Stream of Consciousness, to name a few. To each his own, as they say!

[LKap13]

The alien is special. Has not gotten old and only gets better. Listening to the hi res is a particular treat. It's not an epic but they packed lots of good ideas together with nothing jarring to the ears like much of dot

[TAC]

The Alien is an outstanding track.

[hefdaddy42]

I prefer everything on Distance Over Time so far. The two new songs were just Not Bad. they were missing...something...But I don't know what that is.

That's interesting. If I could only take one Dream Theater song with me onto a deserted island, I would take The Alien over the likes of Metropolis - Part I..., Lie, New Millenium, Fatal Tragedy, The Test That Stumped Them All, and Stream of Consciousness, to name a few. To each his own, as they say!

Well, that's interesting.

[Pax]

For me, this is the best song since ADTOE, except for Illumination Theory

[Kram]

The Alien is great!  Total kick ass song!  Invisible Monsters on the other hand, is forgettable IMO

[LKap13]

From tuonelmagazine review -

"The Alien" is easily one of the best songs DREAM THEATER has released in the past 20 years.


I agree with this reviewer. Hence the poll

[Shalev Amir]

I really really really love this song, so I'm going to say it's the best since ADToE. If it was on that album, I'd put it below BAI and Bridges, and maybe also Outcry.