Official Dream Theater studio albums countdown thread! (number 1 revealed!)

[RoeDent]

Submitted 6/9 

[Stadler]

Submitted 10/7. 

[Samsara]

Submitted 10/7.

Stads top 5:

The Astonishing
Systematic Chaos
Falling Into Infinity
When Dream and Day Unite
Black Clouds

Book it. 

[Stadler]

Submitted 10/7.

Stads top 5:

The Astonishing
Systematic Chaos
Falling Into Infinity
When Dream and Day Unite
Black Clouds

Book it. 

Stadler, defying expectations since 2015. 

[Samsara]

Submitted 10/7.

Stads top 5:

The Astonishing
Systematic Chaos
Falling Into Infinity
When Dream and Day Unite
Black Clouds

Book it. 

Stadler, defying expectations since 2015. 

You know I love ya, Stads. 

[Wim Kruithof]

PM'ed you Kevin with my list.

Funny, was scrolling back and forth, was using the ranking machine as well, but the only one I am absolutely positive about is my number 1. The rest is all there and close by, could be switching a place or so when I give an album much more time under the needle. But it's not it will raise or sink that much, so the list is pretty reliable.

[Ben_Jamin]

The middle was the hardest for me.  Top 5 and bottom 4 are easy and haven't really changed in awhile.  The stuff in between I find to be really challenging to rank.  What makes it so hard to me is that every single album has stuff I really like and is really good, and there are so many factors that go into why I like certain albums.  It's hard to compare an album that has a few really strong songs and a few really weak songs (my personal taste, obviously) with, for example, an album where the individual songs are mostly middle of the road, but the album itself has an overall vibe that makes it greater than the sum of its parts.

This is me as well. There's reasons why I enjoy Dream Theater so much that they could be considered my favorite band. Every album has something about I enjoy and this includes the one's I don't really listen to.

The albums being at the bottom of my list does not mean they completely suck. All it means is that there are many, many, other reasons why I enjoy the others more.

This will be fun to follow and I will send my list as soon as I can.

[Podaar]

List PM'd

[KevShmev]

To save me having to reply to the 844 lists sent today Lol, all have been received! 

[Ben_Jamin]

I always find this hard. How does an album rank when it has a song or songs in the top 5 or 10 of all songs, but some of the songs on the same album you just cant get into. Octavarium being a prime example.

Also. With our list, can we make any comments, or is it just 15-1.

For myself, I don't think of albums as songs. I think of albums in terms of flow, concept, approach, and utilization. These include production, the concept of the album (if any, including thematic albums), the artwork, mixing, and how they all contribute to the final product of what the album is. All these things then form my view of how I perceive the album and then how I would rank it.

I will say that the only albums that are pretty much deadlocked where they are, are my bottom two and top two.

I can't wait for this to start because I would like to share my thoughts on these albums.

[Grandepapa]

List sent 9/6!

[sylentman]

List sent, still Sep. 6th here .

As others have pointed, Top 5 and bottom part mostly defined, the difficult part was ranking the middle, on which the albums could change for example 1 spot up or down depending on mood/most recent listens/etc.

Looking forward for the outcome and of course the comments that can be as fun as the rank itself.

[T-ski]

I thinks I'll get in on this.

[jammindude]

I always find this hard. How does an album rank when it has a song or songs in the top 5 or 10 of all songs, but some of the songs on the same album you just cant get into. Octavarium being a prime example.

Also. With our list, can we make any comments, or is it just 15-1.

For myself, I don't think of albums as songs. I think of albums in terms of flow, concept, approach, and utilization. These include production, the concept of the album (if any, including thematic albums), the artwork, mixing, and how they all contribute to the final product of what the album is. All these things then form my view of how I perceive the album and then how I would rank it.

I will say that the only albums that are pretty much deadlocked where they are, are my bottom two and top two.

I can't wait for this to start because I would like to share my thoughts on these albums.

I have a difficult time even trying to imagine an album any other way.

[romdrums]

I'm in.  Will be sending shortly.

EDIT: And sent.

[Wim Kruithof]

For myself, I don't think of albums as songs. I think of albums in terms of flow, concept, approach, and utilization. These include production, the concept of the album (if any, including thematic albums), the artwork, mixing, and how they all contribute to the final product of what the album is. All these things then form my view of how I perceive the album and then how I would rank it.

I will say that the only albums that are pretty much deadlocked where they are, are my bottom two and top two.

I can't wait for this to start because I would like to share my thoughts on these albums.

And I can honestly say, can't wait to read your thoughts on these albums. I have red your analyses on the songs with very much pleasure.

[T-ski]

List sent!

[Shalev Amir]

Sent mine!

[The Realm]

List sent.

[KevShmev]

Up to 40 lists now submitted! 

[Ben_Jamin]

It'd be awesome if we could get at least 100 lists.

[wolfking]

I guess I should get my ass into gear and do this.

[nobloodyname]

Submitted today. Thanks, as always.

[SwedishGoose]

List sent 12/9

[crystalstars17]

I guess I should get my ass into gear and do this.

You and I both! Although I doubt my choices will count for much in the grand scheme of things! 

[KevShmev]

No, no, they all count!

I forgot to mention, however, to everyone that any list submitted that doesn't have Awake at either number 1 or number 2 is disqualified. 

[wolfking]

I guess I should get my ass into gear and do this.

You and I both! Although I doubt my choices will count for much in the grand scheme of things! 

You need all the pieces to make the full puzzle.  They will all make a difference.

[TAC]

I guess I should get my ass into gear and do this.

You and I both! Although I doubt my choices will count for much in the grand scheme of things! 

You need all the pieces to make the full puzzle.  They will all make a difference.

[wolfking]

 

[Adami]

No, no, they all count!

I forgot to mention, however, to everyone that any list submitted that doesn't have Awake at either number 1 or number 2 is disqualified. 

Glad my list counts!

[wolfking]

My list has been sent.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I guess I should get my ass into gear and do this.

You and I both! Although I doubt my choices will count for much in the grand scheme of things! 

You need all the pieces to make the full puzzle.  They will all make a difference.

Exactly. I'm sure my second place placement for Octavarium over Images and Words will give it a slight boost and might help turn the tide in the IaW vs SFaM battle (Scenes is my number one).

[hefdaddy42]

No, no, they all count!

I forgot to mention, however, to everyone that any list submitted that doesn't have Awake at either number 1 or number 2 is disqualified. 

Glad my list counts!

Me too!

[Deadeye21]

Finding this late, I'll go for a bug listen through soon. I'm going to only take into account the main studio recorded versions of songs coz to do otherwise would be an unfair benefit to certain albums and a disadvantage to others.

[crystalstars17]

I sent my list just now! Boy was that hard! 

I found it fairly easy to rank my bottom and top three, but the middle was really hard. I was actually surprised as I was moving them around at how high/low some of them ranked vs what I initially thought. It was fun though!