Dream Theater Top 100 countdown - 2024 Version! (#01 Up!)

[jingle.boy]

KM Era - 28
DS Era - 11
JR Era - 61

Wow!

It's easy when the last two albums only have 3 entries.  Also, remember that Cleaning out the Closet is 1/2 Moore; 1/2 Sherinian.  And actually it should be 12, since I put ACOS in the "others" category.

[TAC]

KM Era - 28
DS Era - 11
JR Era - 61

Wow!

It's easy when the last two albums only have 3 entries.  Also, remember that Cleaning out the Closet is 1/2 Moore; 1/2 Sherinian.  And actually it should be 12, since I put ACOS in the "others" category.

That's still a lot of Sherinian.

[jingle.boy]

KM Era - 28
DS Era - 11
JR Era - 61

Wow!

It's easy when the last two albums only have 3 entries.  Also, remember that Cleaning out the Closet is 1/2 Moore; 1/2 Sherinian.  And actually it should be 12, since I put ACOS in the "others" category.

That's still a lot of Sherinian.

Astonishing, isn't it!?

[twosuitsluke]

We're in the endgame now. Started my final full 100 listen before I submit.

[Stadler]

I am too; but I think I broke the Ranker.  I had to pick between "Losing Faythe" and "Lord Nafaryus" and it locked up.  . (I hate both those songs on principle). 

EDIT:  So I'm done.  I'm going to sleep on it, but holy shit, I have a song at #36, and I'm like "that's a top 10 song; there's no f-ing way this is 36" and yet, I looked at every single song above it and I can't find ONE SONG to move down. I know we're all fans, and blah blah blah, but I haven't had this much trouble with a list yet. 

[twosuitsluke]

I am too; but I think I broke the Ranker.  I had to pick between "Losing Faythe" and "Lord Nafaryus" and it locked up.  . (I hate both those songs on principle). 

[jingle.boy]

I am too; but I think I broke the Ranker.  I had to pick between "Losing Faythe" and "Lord Nafaryus" and it locked up.  . (I hate both those songs on principle). 

Your first mistake was including them in the ranker to begin with.  I conducted two rounds of filtering before hitting the ranker.  The first effort got my list down to 134 songs; second effort got it down to 102.

[TAC]

I am too; but I think I broke the Ranker.  I had to pick between "Losing Faythe" and "Lord Nafaryus" and it locked up.  . (I hate both those songs on principle). 

Your first mistake was including them in the ranker to begin with.  I conducted two rounds of filtering before hitting the ranker.  The first effort got my list down to 134 songs; second effort got it down to 102.

My cutdown was to 122.

Then I ranked them by eye in groups of 20..
so..1-20
21-40...etc

So I did five rankings of only 20 songs each.


I did some manual adjustments from there before I sent.

[jingle.boy]

I am too; but I think I broke the Ranker.  I had to pick between "Losing Faythe" and "Lord Nafaryus" and it locked up.  . (I hate both those songs on principle). 

For what it's worth, one doesn't need principles to hate these; they just need common sense musical taste.   

[El Barto]

Are 100 songs required?

[Puppies_On_Acid]

Are 100 songs required?

Yes

[ReaperKK]

Are 100 songs required?

Yes

Yes

[Jamesman42]

Are 100 songs required?

Yes

Yes

No

[wolfking]

Are 100 songs required?

Yes

Yes

No

Maybe

[wolfking]

Did the ranker a couple of days ago and finally looking at the result.  I'm pretty okay with it.  Have swapped a few glaringly obvious ones around but I don't think much more needs to be done.  My number 1 which had been set for the longest time might be getting knocked off its perch though.  Not sure yet.

[wolfking]

I'm really coming around to ITPOE.  As a full 26 minute piece, I think this is up there with DT's best.  What an amazing epic.  I never really gave it the time of day but this one has jumped right up.  Did a listen of 8VM yesterday too;

TROAE:  Great song.  Love the reprises, the melodies, just a great continuation of the 12SS.

TALW:  I mean, I always thought this should have been placed later in the album.  Coming in second didn't do it any favours but for what it is, I can stomach it.

TW:  Underrated cut.  Love it, will be high up there.

IWBY:  I never understood the dislike for this song.  I mean, I do but I can't get on board.  I love what they did here, even if the intended style and influence is worn on their sleeve.  Another song that's in the top half of my list.

PA:  Again, appreciate the heavienss coming back in at this point of the album.  Never loved it, but certainly never had an issue with it.

NE:  Once you get past the Muse love, this is another that's grown nicely on me over time.  I really enjoyed it here.  I think the chorus is great and the whole feel and groove is really enjoyable.  Won't be super high, but has jumped about 30 spots since the last top 100.

SS:  I never really cared for this one.  Again, I appreciate is slightly more now than what I did but I think it's positioned within the album just right and I do really love elements of it, but as a whole for some reason its always struggled to fully hold my attention.

8VM:  uh....yeah, will be high up there, to say the least.  What an incredible song.  I love this more and more as time goes on.

[wolfking]

All this DT listening over the last couple of days got me excited.  While bored I busted out a few quick JP solos.  Just recorded directly from the phone, so apologies on the sound, hopefully it's loud enough too.  Hopefully you all can see, I always seem to get copyright restrictions in some countries.  Not sure how to get around that.

Under a Glass Moon - https://youtu.be/rQVAFQfpq6c
Hollow Years (Budokan version, no wah though) - https://youtu.be/tjkbykB96qg
The Spirit Carries On - https://youtu.be/reqCb0Qd0gQ

[Revenge319]

SS:  I never really cared for this one.  Again, I appreciate is slightly more now than what I did but I think it's positioned within the album just right and I do really love elements of it, but as a whole for some reason its always struggled to fully hold my attention.

I agree. I like it okay enough, but Sacrificed Sons doesn't do all that much for me. Listening to all these songs again, I kinda feel like this is a sort of prototype that was later expanded upon to much greater effect with The Ministry of Lost Souls.

[TAC]

All this DT listening over the last couple of days got me excited.  While bored I busted out a few quick JP solos.  Just recorded directly from the phone, so apologies on the sound, hopefully it's loud enough too.  Hopefully you all can see, I always seem to get copyright restrictions in some countries.  Not sure how to get around that.

Under a Glass Moon - https://youtu.be/rQVAFQfpq6c
Hollow Years (Budokan version, no wah though) - https://youtu.be/tjkbykB96qg
The Spirit Carries On - https://youtu.be/reqCb0Qd0gQ

The UAGM just popped up in my feed!

[Jamesman42]

SS:  I never really cared for this one.  Again, I appreciate is slightly more now than what I did but I think it's positioned within the album just right and I do really love elements of it, but as a whole for some reason its always struggled to fully hold my attention.

I agree. I like it okay enough, but Sacrificed Sons doesn't do all that much for me. Listening to all these songs again, I kinda feel like this is a sort of prototype that was later expanded upon to much greater effect with The Ministry of Lost Souls.

Yeah, and somehow TMOLS is even worse.

[wolfking]

All this DT listening over the last couple of days got me excited.  While bored I busted out a few quick JP solos.  Just recorded directly from the phone, so apologies on the sound, hopefully it's loud enough too.  Hopefully you all can see, I always seem to get copyright restrictions in some countries.  Not sure how to get around that.

Under a Glass Moon - https://youtu.be/rQVAFQfpq6c
Hollow Years (Budokan version, no wah though) - https://youtu.be/tjkbykB96qg
The Spirit Carries On - https://youtu.be/reqCb0Qd0gQ

The UAGM just popped up in my feed!

Just replied a thanks to your comment too! 

[wolfking]

Tim's comment;

The Budokan version turns a bottom 20 song into a top 20 song.

I'm not voting based on that version, but I agree it takes the song to a whole different level.  I know we've all discussed the solo in this version to death, but personally, it's a JP highlight for me and just lots of fun to jam out on.  Between the shred, there is some really tasty shit going on melodically.

[TAC]

Tim's comment;

The Budokan version turns a bottom 20 song into a top 20 song.

I'm not voting based on that version, but I agree it takes the song to a whole different level.  I know we've all discussed the solo in this version to death, but personally, it's a JP highlight for me and just lots of fun to jam out on.  Between the shred, there is some really tasty shit going on melodically.

Yeah, I rated Hollow Years fairly high, and I will make it clear when it's revealed why I voted for it.

[Puppies_On_Acid]

All this DT listening over the last couple of days got me excited.  While bored I busted out a few quick JP solos.  Just recorded directly from the phone, so apologies on the sound, hopefully it's loud enough too.  Hopefully you all can see, I always seem to get copyright restrictions in some countries.  Not sure how to get around that.

Under a Glass Moon - https://youtu.be/rQVAFQfpq6c
Hollow Years (Budokan version, no wah though) - https://youtu.be/tjkbykB96qg
The Spirit Carries On - https://youtu.be/reqCb0Qd0gQ

Nice! I liked and subscribed 

[twosuitsluke]

All this DT listening over the last couple of days got me excited.  While bored I busted out a few quick JP solos.  Just recorded directly from the phone, so apologies on the sound, hopefully it's loud enough too.  Hopefully you all can see, I always seem to get copyright restrictions in some countries.  Not sure how to get around that.

Under a Glass Moon - https://youtu.be/rQVAFQfpq6c
Hollow Years (Budokan version, no wah though) - https://youtu.be/tjkbykB96qg
The Spirit Carries On - https://youtu.be/reqCb0Qd0gQ

You talented bastard

[wolfking]

Cheers lads.  Appreciate. 

[twosuitsluke]

I went to subscribe, turns out I'd already subscribed!

[jingle.boy]

All this DT listening over the last couple of days got me excited.  While bored I busted out a few quick JP solos.  Just recorded directly from the phone, so apologies on the sound, hopefully it's loud enough too.  Hopefully you all can see, I always seem to get copyright restrictions in some countries.  Not sure how to get around that.

Under a Glass Moon - https://youtu.be/rQVAFQfpq6c
Hollow Years (Budokan version, no wah though) - https://youtu.be/tjkbykB96qg
The Spirit Carries On - https://youtu.be/reqCb0Qd0gQ

You had to pick 3 super easy solo's to cover, eh?   

[wolfking]

All this DT listening over the last couple of days got me excited.  While bored I busted out a few quick JP solos.  Just recorded directly from the phone, so apologies on the sound, hopefully it's loud enough too.  Hopefully you all can see, I always seem to get copyright restrictions in some countries.  Not sure how to get around that.

Under a Glass Moon - https://youtu.be/rQVAFQfpq6c
Hollow Years (Budokan version, no wah though) - https://youtu.be/tjkbykB96qg
The Spirit Carries On - https://youtu.be/reqCb0Qd0gQ

You had to pick 3 super easy solo's to cover, eh?   

Go hard or go home mate!

To be fair though, when we're talking about JP, yes, I think they may actually be on the easier side of things. 

[wolfking]

I went to subscribe, turns out I'd already subscribed!

[bosk1]

I question the sanity of anyone who had Hollow years in their top 100 at all, and that includes the Budokan version. 

[jingle.boy]

I question the sanity of anyone who had Hollow years in their top 100 at all, and that includes the Budokan version.

Its ok Bosk, we all have our own little massive fails.  At least we all know one of yours now. 

[DragonAttack]

Mrs. DA was thinking the same thing, since it's one of her Top Fives

[ReaperKK]

I question the sanity of anyone who had Hollow years in their top 100 at all, and that includes the Budokan version. 

I agree with bosk.

The Spirit Carries On should also be placed that bottom of the list, it's only redeeming quality is that it's almost always played thus giving the perfect opportunity to hit the bar or bathroom.

[TAC]

Who is Bosk? Is he like, in a movie or something?