Top 100 Dream Theater songs countdown (Top 2 revealed!!)

[Cool Chris]

I&W and Awake were my two favorite albums by any band when FII was released. And man, about half way through New Millennium, I was afraid this album was going to be the letdown it ultimately was.

-three songs will not finish in the top 50 despite being the number 1 song on someone's list (no spoilers if you think yours is one of them, please)

One of those could be me. I don't have a indisputable "favorite" DT song, the top 5-10 are pretty equal. If asked, I doubt I would say the song I have at #1 is actually my #1 song, but it's how it washed out using the ranking engine, so I just left it there, in part because I knew it wouldn't be that high for anyone else.

[Ben_Jamin]

90 - New Millenium: (Did Not Rank)

I enjoy the chapman stick and that sitar. But that's about it.

89 - Vacant: (Did Not Rank)

I would rank this together with Stream of Consciousness. It's a nice build-up or prelude to SoC, with it being about a person not being able to be conscious in life, like in a coma. Vacant represents the outsiders views, feelings, and emotions. While SoC represents the person in a coma swimming in the Stream of Consciousness (I'll explain more if this song ends up in the top 100 and I am sure it will).

88 - A Life Left Behind #71

I really enjoy the emotional aspects of this song. It's the moment where Faythe has chosen her path of division to leave behind the life she once knew. Arabelle understands this and knows she can't do much about it as she felt she lost her control of Faythe long before that moment of clarity. I enjoy how the themes of Faythe and Arabelle blend into this emotional song of "I'm waking up"...My ranking does not show or do justice to how much I enjoy this song. It does however show just how much more I love the rest of Dream Theaters songs.

[HOF]

New Millennium is 17 for me. I love the intro and instrumental section, and I think the chorus is pretty great too. The verses (especially the second one) do hold it back a bit for me. If they lopped that second verse off it would have been perfect.

I have Vacant at 59. It's a nice little breather on ToT, and kind of a unique song in DT's catalog. I like it more than love it though.

Also, I have 3 non-album tracks in my top 20.

[TAC]

New Millenium-Nope
Vacant-Nope
A Life Left Behind-Nope

Raw Dog-#80!!!!!!

[wolfking]

New Millenium-Nope
Vacant-Nope
A Life Left Behind-Nope

Raw Dog-#80!!!!!!

Jeez, you weren't kidding when you said you've been sick.

[TAC]

New Millenium-Nope
Vacant-Nope
A Life Left Behind-Nope

Raw Dog-#80!!!!!!

Jeez, you weren't kidding when you said you've been sick.

What does everyone have against Raw Dog? I think it's 

[hefdaddy42]

I&W and Awake were my two favorite albums by any band when FII was released. And man, about half way through New Millennium, I was afraid this album was going to be the letdown it ultimately was.

I was similar to this.  However, New Millennium was not the disappointment for me.  It was certainly different, but I expected a little different.

The album (with a few high points, to be sure) got much worse after that.  I almost couldn't believe it was the same band.

And Raw Dog is fucking terrible.  If you like it, I'm glad for you. 

[TAC]

Hefdaddy is glad for me!      Hefdaddy is glad for me!!     Hefdaddy is glad for me!!!

[jammindude]

Raw Dog begins extremely obnoxious, which is why I hadn't heard it in a long time. But I gave it a re-listen for this experiment, and once you get past that horrible intro, the rest of it is actually pretty cool.

[TAC]

Raw Dog begins extremely obnoxious, which is why I hadn't heard it in a long time. But I gave it a re-listen for this experiment, and once you get past that horrible intro, the rest of it is actually pretty cool.

Isn't the intro and outro really a nod to King Crimson? I mean, sure, that may explain why it'd be awful, but I don't really mind it. But everything in between is aces.

[geeeemo]

New Millenium-  #62 - Other than You Not Me, I love FII!

Vacant- not rated.  I like the song, just prefer others more.

A Life Left Behind -   #55 - great song! I discovered DT in Feb 2016 - right after the Astonishing was released. It took a while for me to get it (and seeing it live, totally made it happen). During that time, I was in a re-discovery time of rock/metal music.  I had been raising kids and just was so full and happy, (and tired), that I wasn't listening to this music. But, this kind of music was my first love.... Before I really knew the lyrics to TA, I would think to myself. "I am waking up to my old love of metal music". Then, when I heard these lyrics, it meant even more for me..

[King Postwhore]

New Millenium-Nope
Vacant-Nope
A Life Left Behind-Nope

Raw Dog-#80!!!!!!

Jeez, you weren't kidding when you said you've been sick.

What does everyone have against Raw Dog? I think it's 

Now I know why my brain hurts when I partake in your Roulettes. 

[TAC]

New Millenium-Nope
Vacant-Nope
A Life Left Behind-Nope

Raw Dog-#80!!!!!!

Jeez, you weren't kidding when you said you've been sick.

What does everyone have against Raw Dog? I think it's 

Now I know why my brain hurts when I partake in your Roulettes. 

Now I know why my ears hurt when you partake in my Roulettes.

[Setlist Scotty]

Sorry to be late to the party in comparing my list to what's been posted thus far. Here's how my list ranks compared to them thus far:

100 The X Aspect – didn't make my top 100
99 Never Enough – 27
98 A Savior in the Square – didn't make my top 100
97 Our New World – didn't make my top 100
96 Afterlife – didn't make my top 100
95 Forsaken – 41
94 Through Her Eyes – didn't make my top 100
93 I Walk Beside You – 82
92 The Looking Glass – didn't make my top 100
91 To Live Forever – 75

Obviously not many TA tracks made the cut for me, nor did Afterlife which was the only track from WDaDU that didn't make it. OTOH, I had quite a few non-album tracks that did make the cut, but it seems few of you agree. 

As for the other 2 non-album tracks that made the list, other than ACoS (a given), I would say RtK. If not that one, then S2M. Disappointed that I know it won't be Bombay Vindaloo, which is an awesome track in my book (#16 for me).

Glad that NE did make the top 100, although just barely! Surprised that TLF didn't rate higher overall than it did.

Regarding Raw Dog, I'm definitely in the minority that like the track. On my list, it ended up being 96, but I think if I would have taken the time to re-rank everything according to that website (which I didn't use at all – it's cool, but I didn't have the patience for it), it might rank higher than it did.

[Revenge319]

New Millennium
My ranking: Not ranked (#140). The opening instrumental is pretty good, but after that it's just kind of okay. There's some interesting ideas here (like the "Keep your head up" section after the first chorus) but they don't seem executed particularly well. That said, I'd call this song good. 7/10. You've got a great band when your third-worst song from their discography is a 7/10.


Vacant
My ranking: #97. Very beautiful ballad. Not the best one they've done, but it's still pretty great. I love the emotions being conveyed... It's hollow, yet deeply sad, if that makes sense. That's the feeling I get from it, anyway. Whether listening to it on its own or as a segue into Stream of Consciousness, this is a beautiful and emotional listen.


A Life Left Behind
My ranking: #65. One of the better songs from The Astonishing, though not quite in the top tier of that album. The instrumental that opens the song is great, though my favorite parts come after that. The chorus feels so hopeful, and much like A Savior in the Square (plus quite a few other songs from this album) the music and story are complementing each other very well. So many good moments with this one...

[devieira73]

New Millenium-Nope
Vacant-Nope
A Life Left Behind-Nope

Raw Dog-#80!!!!!!

Jeez, you weren't kidding when you said you've been sick.

What does everyone have against Raw Dog? I think it's 

Yes, it's a lost battle, but... Raw Dog #96
It has entered the top 100 only because I have to left 6 songs from View out

[wolfking]

Raw Dog begins extremely obnoxious, which is why I hadn't heard it in a long time. But I gave it a re-listen for this experiment, and once you get past that horrible intro, the rest of it is actually pretty cool.

Isn't the intro and outro really a nod to King Crimson? I mean, sure, that may explain why it'd be awful, but I don't really mind it. But everything in between is aces.

Underrated comment. 

[TAC]

Raw Dog begins extremely obnoxious, which is why I hadn't heard it in a long time. But I gave it a re-listen for this experiment, and once you get past that horrible intro, the rest of it is actually pretty cool.

Isn't the intro and outro really a nod to King Crimson? I mean, sure, that may explain why it'd be awful, but I don't really mind it. But everything in between is aces.

Underrated comment. 

That's a keen eye!

[Laughingplace56]

Raw Dog begins extremely obnoxious, which is why I hadn't heard it in a long time. But I gave it a re-listen for this experiment, and once you get past that horrible intro, the rest of it is actually pretty cool.

Fair assessment. I agree that the intro is obnoxious, but that's part of why I love it; it's just the right amount of obnoxious and heavy to be pleasing to my ears haha. The riffs in the middle of the song are seriously killer, and JP and JR's solos are some of my favorites they've ever done honestly.

My rankings are also partially impacted by how much I enjoy playing the drum parts on each song. I rated the songs based on the overall composition, but certain songs gained some bonus points if I really enjoy playing the drum parts, and Raw Dog is one of those songs.

[wolfking]

Raw Dog begins extremely obnoxious, which is why I hadn't heard it in a long time. But I gave it a re-listen for this experiment, and once you get past that horrible intro, the rest of it is actually pretty cool.

Isn't the intro and outro really a nod to King Crimson? I mean, sure, that may explain why it'd be awful, but I don't really mind it. But everything in between is aces.

Underrated comment. 

That's a keen eye!

Stuck out instantly to me. 

[Wim Kruithof]

90 New Millennium #-
89 Vacant #99
88 A Life Left Behind #-

The Astonishing has so many beautiful moments, but they're weaved in each other mostly. To me it's hard to separate them from one another. Sometimes it's just a part of a song (like a Savior In the Square), sometimes it's bigger than a song.

New Millennium was fighting You Not Me hard for being the least track of Falling Into Infinity. And although it's obvious loss, it's still not as near, being beautiful.

Next to a Change of Seasons I think it would be between Eve and Raise the Knife, who made the list. But being on Score, that might have done it for RtK.

[KevShmev]

Here is the next batch of five!  All from The Astonishing, and this leaves just one song left from that record that made the top 100.

87 Ravenskill
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 23 (KevShmev)

I was the highest on this one and stand by it.  Killer song, one that I feel gets lost in the shuffle for a lot of fans because of how many songs there on that record.


86 The Path That Divides
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 14 (marztacy)

I don't get the mad love some have for this song, although I do like it. It did not make my top 100.


85 Three Days
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 30 (geeeemo, Elite)

I had this one at 34, not so not quite the highest, but pretty close.  Love it.  It's amazing how much they pack into 3 minutes and 44 seconds.


84 Moment of Betrayal
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 45 (erciccio)

I was at 78 on this one. Definitely one of the major highlights of Disc 2 of The Astonishing.


83 The Gift of Music
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 37 (TAC)

This came at 80 for me, so this ranking seems about right. 

[TAC]

That's an astonishing update, Kev.

[HOF]

I have The Gift of Music at 65. It's a fun tune.

[Laughingplace56]

Some fun facts to chew on about the top 100:

-four studio albums have every song from it in the top 100
-the two albums tied for the 2nd most songs in the top 100 are not among the four that have every song featured

After that last update, I believe the four albums with all tracks included will be Awake, Images & Words, 6 Degrees, and Train of Thought, and the 2 that tie for 2nd most songs will be The Astonishing and Scenes. I expected at least a few more than 10 Astonishing songs to make the cut honestly. Seems like a decent amount of my list did not make the cut lol

TPTD and Ravenskill were my highest ranking Astonighing songs at 59 and 60, Three Days landed at 84, Moment of Betrayal was at 98, and Gift of Music did not rank for me, curiously.

[Elite]

I'm going to make a guess that Act of Faythe is the last Astonishing song to make the cut, but what do I know.

Three Days was the highest track I ranked from The Astonishing (at #30 indeed) and one of 'only' 7 in my entire list.

[devieira73]

The last track from TA has to be A New Beginning!!
Maybe this 10 track selection from TA can make some people apreciate a bit more something from the album.

[bosk1]

87 Ravenskill
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 23 (KevShmev)

I was the highest on this one and stand by it.  Killer song, one that I feel gets lost in the shuffle for a lot of fans because of how many songs there on that record.

Love that song.  I'll repeat a short story about it:  After one of my listens on my bike ride home from the office (about 23 miles), I either texted or emailed JP (I forget which) and feigned half-serious anger/frustration at how one of the tastiest riffs he has ever composed disappears after four bars, never to be seen again.  He basically laughed and said he'll have to keep that in mind and build a song around it for The Astonishing II. 

[Dream Team]

The last track from TA has to be A New Beginning!!
Maybe this 10 track selection from TA can make some people apreciate a bit more something from the album.

Can't be anything else . . .

[DragonAttack]

87 Ravenskill
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 23 (KevShmev)

I was the highest on this one and stand by it.  Killer song, one that I feel gets lost in the shuffle for a lot of fans because of how many songs there on that record.

Love that song.  I'll repeat a short story about it:  After one of my listens on my bike ride home from the office (about 23 miles), I either texted or emailed JP (I forget which) and feigned half-serious anger/frustration at how one of the tastiest riffs he has ever composed disappears after four bars, never to be seen again.  He basically laughed and said he'll have to keep that in mind and build a song around it for The Astonishing II. 

Besides the comments in this thread (and others), this is one of the main reasons I love this forum.  Knowledge 'from the inside' and shared makes this all worth while

[geeeemo]

87 Ravenskill.  47. So good. It is an importantant part of the story. For love, saving Gabriel and the spark to restore Nepharyus. I love the atmosphere, that middle riff and the drama.

86 The Path That Divides. 61. Another great moment of the story. And some of the most intense parts. The music is heavy and interesting and James is fab.

85 Three Days.  30
I have loved this song since the first moment I heard it. Many of the songs took a while to digest and figure out which character was speaking and what was happeing in the story. I'll also always remember seeing James performance. (My first show and new to DT) He was Neparyuas to me when he sang it.. When I really became hooked! I love the melodrama aspect of Nepharyus' theme. The song is fun, heavy, and my ringtone. 




84 Moment of Betrayal. 51 Another great rocker. I played this over and over when I first heard it. Its a good stand alone song.

83 The Gift of Music. Mot rated. I dont care for this song as much as most of the rest of the record. But dislike Our New World even more. And even more when Lzzy Hale performed with James. I  was there right up front.

13 TA songs made my top.100.

[Laughingplace56]

87 Ravenskill
Appeared on 19 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 23 (KevShmev)

I was the highest on this one and stand by it.  Killer song, one that I feel gets lost in the shuffle for a lot of fans because of how many songs there on that record.

Love that song.  I'll repeat a short story about it:  After one of my listens on my bike ride home from the office (about 23 miles), I either texted or emailed JP (I forget which) and feigned half-serious anger/frustration at how one of the tastiest riffs he has ever composed disappears after four bars, never to be seen again.  He basically laughed and said he'll have to keep that in mind and build a song around it for The Astonishing II. 

Astonishing Pt. II: Scenes From Ravenskill confirmed

[Wim Kruithof]

87 Ravenskill #74
86 the Path That Divides #82
85 Three Days #-
84 Moment of Betrayal #-
83 the Gift of Music #66

The last track from TA has to be A New Beginning!!

Wouldn't be too sure, the Answer, When Your Time Has Come, Chosen, Brother, Can You Here Me and even the Road to Revolution might be ending up as a winner, as well.But still it's hard to separate the tracks from one another. There's just so many goods inside the Astonishing. From my own top 100-list it's likely Dystopian Overture, Act of Faythe and the gorgious emotional one-two Whispers On the Wind and Hymn of a Thousand Voices didn't make it.

Ravenskill however has - to me - LaBrie's finest moment of the Astonishing, when he reaches that higher "he sees humanity behind the stranger's eyes."

[TAC]

If I had 4 minutes to show someone what Dream Theater was about, I hand them The Gift Of Music.

[KevShmev]

Let's start off the new year this morning with three, one that would be in my bottom 5 and then two I feel are underrated.

82 Constant Motion
Appeared on 17 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 22 (Laughingplace56)

I am not going to lie: every time I went through a list and saw this appeared on one, I rolled my eyes, especially once I realized that it was getting enough votes to make the top 100.


81 Honor Thy Father
Appeared on 16 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 19 (wolfking)

I had this one at 53, so, yeah, it is big time underrated if you ask me.  This is one of their most balls-to-the-wall rocking songs ever.


80 The Silent Man
Appeared on 16 of 26 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 0
Highest Ranking: 22 (HOF)

I had this at 29, and it is worth noting that if A Mind Beside Itself had been counted as a single song for the purposes of this, it would have been number 1, so that shows how highly I think of all three parts of it.  This song is criminally underrated.