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

[Jamesman42]

100. Never Enough (17th) I don't get how this is at 100. This song has many cool parts, especially the instrumental break.
99. Wither (66th) Solid song, when it hits, it's great but it doesn't always warrant a listen.
98. The Gift Of Music (92nd) It's alright. Past entry 82 on my list is stuff that just had to be ranked.
97. Vacant (70th) This song is so awesome on its own and how it leads into SoC
96. Afterlife (98th) See: The Gift of Music
95. Forsaken (87th) It's alright, live is good.
94. S2N (NR) Honestly just not familiar enough with this song yet.
93. Our New World (NR) See: S2N
92. The Looking Glass (54th) This is one of the better tracks off of DT12. Great chorus, surprised it is this low.

[twosuitsluke]

I mean, Tim saying it was basically a NOMAC track is the biggest diss yet.

Yeah, but that wasn't the only thing I was hinting at.

You mean you are also ranking those two songs higher than any sane DT fan?

[Puppies_On_Acid]

S2N - Coming in at #68 and easily one of the better songs on DOT. It sounds very Rush like in some ways, especially later era Rush, specifically Clockwork Angels. That rumbling bass, not unlike Geddy's tone. The choices in drum patterns and style, I could see Neil playing something like this. The chorus is really cool and bright. Just a great song from an otherwise disappointing album. Also, Owen Wilson. Wow!

Our New World - Another one from The Astonishing for me at #76. Not quite as good as The Gift of Music, but in a similar vein. Great chord progressions throughout the song. Lyrics are still not up to par, but eh. Between the guitar and vocal melodies, the song makes me happy.

The Looking Glass - And here we have the even more obvious Rush-like track, circa Permanent Waves era. I had this at #50. Also one of the better songs on DT12. Only thing really holding this song back, like the rest of this album, is the production across the board. Still have no idea what the band was thinking. Still, some great stuff here, like the big Neil Peart drum fills, the very Lifeson-esque guitar riffing from Petrucci, the only thing missing is the more forward sounding bass. It's a little too buried in the mix.


143 - Vacant
108 - Wither
107 - Never Enough
91   - Forsaken
76   - Our New World
68   - S2N
58   - The Gift of Music
50   - The Looking Glass
30   - Afterlife

[Adami]

The looking glass was on my list?

Huh. That's what I get for using the ranking machine and not actually reviewing any of it or saving a copy. I have no clue what's on my list. Though I know what my number 1 is.

[Jamesman42]

The looking glass was on my list?

Huh. That's what I get for using the ranking machine and not actually reviewing any of it or saving a copy. I have no clue what's on my list. Though I know what my number 1 is.

You can go to your messages and look under the sent messages to see what you listed.

[geeeemo]

97. Vacant -  not in the top 100. I dont dislike it, I just don't care to listen to it.

96. Afterlife - not in the top 100. Its ok. I like other songs more.

95. Forsaken - 94 for me. It made the list, but I skip it many times.

94. S2N - 61. I dig this song and hope they play it. It is different, but groovy and I think it would be fun to see. Wow.

93. Our New World - not in the top 100. I love the Astonishing. But not this song, at all.

92. The Looking Glass - not in the top 100. I don't care for this style of Rush music.

[Setlist Scotty]

94. S2N Great song on d/t, although there are even better ones still to come (I hope and expect). Would love to see DT do this one live, especially with JP and MP being able to help out with the vocals, since it would be way too much for JL to tackle on his own (being rapid fire). Ended up as #62 on my list.

93. Our New World I'm sorry but this song does pretty much nothing for me, especially the chorus. And the redone version with Lzzy Hale is even worse. Not rated.

92. The Looking Glass As much as I love Rush (being my second favorite band behind DT), when DT does overt Rush-style songs like this, the majority of the time it ends up falling flat to my ears. Needless to say, this one also didn't make my list.

[ReaperKK]

The looking glass was on my list?

Huh. That's what I get for using the ranking machine and not actually reviewing any of it or saving a copy. I have no clue what's on my list. Though I know what my number 1 is.

Number 98! Let me know if you need me to send your list back to you.

[nobloodyname]

92. The Looking Glass As much as I love Rush (being my second favorite band behind DT), when DT does overt Rush-style songs like this, the majority of the time it ends up falling flat to my ears. Needless to say, this one also didn't make my list.

Couldn't agree more with you on this. It's just not a good song.

[JiM-Xtreme]

94. S2N - 60 for me. Love this song! It stands out for me as it just sounds like the guys letting loose and having a great time. One of the highlights of DoT which is already a strong album, possibly my favourite of the Mangini era. I love the story behind the making of this song, that JM riff they didn't really know what to do with at first but just wouldn't go away, and how this song only came to be when the album was more or less finished... which goes to further emphasise the "fun" feeling of this song.

Wow, indeed!

93. Our New World - not in my top 100. Whilst I love the musical theme that this is based on (that first appears in Saviour in the Square), I find this instance of it unbearably cheesy. Whilst I have a lot of appreciation for TA as a whole, this song is rather anticlimactic and not one I've ever found myself wanting to go back to in isolation.

92. The Looking Glass - this made it in at 86 for me. Definitely one of the better songs of DT12, although for me that in itself isn't saying much as I consider that their weakest album. It has a great main riff and a nice chorus. Slight nitpick for me is that the vocals sound really over-processed, especially during the first verse, and that is really off-putting. Whilst the Rush influence is all-too apparent I don't mind it at all here. Great song - it would be cool to see live with MP behind the kit

[Indiscipline]

S2N: Didn't make the cut. God knows how many times I listened to D/T, and I still can't retain anything from this tune.

Our New World: 68. Joyous and power-poppishly jumpy. Completely apart musically from the rest of the album in order to brilliantly distinguish narrative music from actual music the fictional world is finally capable to make.

The Looking Glass: 72. The right balance of homage (instead of mimicking) and elegant semplicity (instead of run-of-the-millism)


The Score so far:

45 - Vacant
46 - The Gift of Music
68 - Our New World
72 - The Looking Glass

Not Rated: Never Enough, Wither, Afterlife, Forsaken, S2N

[pg1067]

Vacant is nice little a transitional song (along the lines of Wait for Sleep and The Silent Man).

Not entirely sure what that means.  Is my comment somehow disrespectful or controversial?

[pg1067]

94. S2N

93. Our New World

92. The Looking Glass

Didn't rank ONW.  Very generic Broadway rock track.

S2N is my favorite song on DOT.  Lots of tasty riffs.  I had it at #28.  If, in fact, MP is tasked with creating setlists going forward, I hope he recognizes that a lot of people want this to make its first live appearance.

The Looking Glass is excellent.  92 is way too low.  I had it at #31.



List                                                    Not Ranked         
100                                                   Never Enough (100), The Gift of Music (98), Our New World (93)
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
89
88
87
86
85
84  Forsaken (95)
83
82
81
80
79  Vacant (97)
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59  Afterlife (96)
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31  The Looking Glass (92)
30
29
28  S2N (94)
27  Wither (99)
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

[The Realm]

S2N - Probably won't ever listen to this track again but I am sure it is fine....? Just not for me. Unranked.

Our New World - Generic is a good way to sum up this one, thanks pg. I guess it is catchy enough so I can see the appeal. Also unranked.

The Looking Glass - My rank 73. I have always struggled with the production of this album but it does have some good songs and this is one of them.

[ReaperKK]

I'm a bit surprised to see Our New World place so low. I don't like TA but that song slaps from start to finish.

[WardySI]

Agreed. 

Not only was Our New World an immediate stand out for me, it went quite a ways to redeeming things after what was otherwise a pretty rubbish album.  Not an album I disliked just not what I was hoping for from the band.  Was also pleased to see they released a band performance video to support it and didn't decide to tie the album story into film instead letting the song stand alone!

I may be wrong but maybe the Broadway vibe might be based less on this actual song but on the Astonishing as a whole?  As I just don't hear anything other than a beautifully crafted rock song delivered with usual DT expertise (hint love the solo).  All IMO of course, can respectfully appreciate why folks feel otherwise

But aside from two slight amendments my results were almost entirely based on where they fell using the ranker, and I am quietly shocked ONW only fell at #30. Because tbh I expected it would easily fall in my 20. 

Fer my ears ONW is worth the price of admission alone

[wolfking]

I had Vacant at number 88.  It could easily not be in the top 100 but it's a vital piece to the album IMO and a really nice piece on its own with great lyrics.

Afterlife for me came in at 58.  Funny, when I posted my Hollow Years solo, Tim mentioned about that version making it a top 20 song.  I then said I wasn't ranking based on live versions but it has dawned on my that this would have actually came in a lot lower if it weren't for the Score version.  So I guess subconsciously I ranked it higher than the album version would have.  That version is incredible though.

Forsaken came in at 71.  This probably should have been higher actually.  I really enjoyed it on my recent SC listen.  I love the simple generic kinda riff and overall some nice melodies.

I had S2N at 67.  A really interesting unique piece.  Fresh and pretty exciting IMO.  I love TDEN nod at the end with the riff and Jordan just ripping hard.  That last harmonic minor kinda lick from Jordan at 5:50 is so fucking cool.

Our New World was at 94.  This was one fresh enjoyable song from my listen of this album not long ago.  Again, something different and gives me Harem Scarem vibes.  I decent song that can stand on its own.

The Looking Glass came in at number 64 for me.  Always an enjoyable song and placed nicely in the album.  I never minded the Rush influence here.  Excellent chorus.



List                                                        Not Ranked         
100                                                    The Gift of Music
99
98
97
96
95
94 Our New World
93
92
91
90
89
88 Vacant
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78 Wither
77
76
75
74
73
72
71 Forsaken
70
69
68
67 S2N
66
65
64 The Looking Glass
63
62
61
60 
59
58 Afterlife
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42 Never Enough
41
40
39
38
37
36
35 
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

[devieira73]

The Looking Glass (my #27) is a great mix of Rush/Journey/UK (in that shorter Trial of Tearsish solo). Amazing single!

S2N (my #25) has one of the best bass/drums combo in the entire DT discography and to me is great example to see the impact MM finally had in DT songwriting in the last 2 albums. And that ending (kind of a more syncopated version of TDEN's ending) is totally killer!

Our New World didn't make my list. It has good guitar melodies and solos, but something is missing in it to really engage, it drags a bit. Maybe the drums doesn't propel the song like it should.

[Dream Team]

One interesting thing when I was doing my own rankings was how much more I enjoyed WDADU.

Missed this earlier - nice to hear. If you go in without prior bias and just listen to the song craft and playing, you see the light.

[Dream Team]

The Gift of Music: #46
Excellent showcase of the things I love most in DT songwriting and great example of my DT Compass Theory (DT is at its best north of Queen, south of Iron Maiden, west of Yes, east of Journey.)

Which is a problem when the The Gift of Music compass is aligned like this

            Queen

Yes                      Journey

         Iron Maiden

I have a strong suspicion that if TGOM was on an album with a different title you wouldn't have this strong of a reaction. Because there is nothing about the song that is out of line with any other typical DT single.

[jammindude]

S2N - DNR
Our New World - 41
The Looking Glass - 83

S2N is just one of those songs from D/T that did nothing for me. D/T has some very high highs, but this isn't one of them.

Our New World is wonderful. Love this song. I sometimes feel sad that this song gets more attention and love than A Life Left Behind (which I think is an even better song from TA) but I'm glad to see it listed. Totally worthy of being listed among DT's best material.

Sometimes these countdowns can reveal some gross oversights in one's own list and me having The Looking Glass at 83 is one of those. There is no way that song should be that low.  DT is my favorite MM album and TLG is one of the best. This really should have been way higher on my list.

[Ben_Jamin]

The list is looking very fascinating.

[CanuckChum]

100. Never Enough (77). A heavier song with great drumming from MP. I know not everyone likes it but I enjoy the way James sings during the verses.
99. Wither (94). A good ballad that is a nice breather in between the longer songs on Black Clouds.
98. The Gift of Music (47). My second favourite from The Astonishing, they do a lot here in a short amount of time. I think it works well as the first proper song of the album.
97. Vacant (34). Beautiful and haunting, even if they have done this kind of idea before. It is great as an intro to Stream of Consciousness, but I will fairly often just listen to it by itself as well.
96. Afterlife (Unranked). Not bad, but I just don't reach for this that much.
95. Forsaken (97). A shorter and catchier song with nice vocals from James.
94. S2N (71). Great intro from JM, and I like the first verse a lot ("What's the state of humanity?"). Wish there was one more verse with that style. Nice bass sound throughout.
93. Our New World (Unranked). For being the main ending track of the album I was hoping for a bit more from this. Reprising the opening melody of A Savior in the Square is pretty cool though.
92. The Looking Glass (Unranked). This one almost made my list. I think the reason it didn't is that I now prefer Transcending Time for a more Rush-like song, this is still good though.

[Wim Kruithof]

My own 100:

094: S2n (Distance Over Time) #94
093: Never Enough (Octavarium) #100
087: Forsaken (Systematic Chaos) #95
077: Afterlife (Dream and Day) #96
054: The Looking Glass (Dream Theater) #92
050: Wither (Black Clouds) #99

not rankend: #3 The Gift of Music / Vacant / Our New World

[wolfking]

The list is looking very fascinating.

Why?  We're not even 10% into it yet. 

[Wim Kruithof]

The list is looking very fascinating.

Why?  We're not even 10% into it yet. 

You having a The Astonishing song higher ranked than me, (which didn't made my 100), is indeed fascinating to me.

[wolfking]

The list is looking very fascinating.

Why?  We're not even 10% into it yet. 

You having a The Astonishing song higher ranked than me, (which didn't made my 100), is indeed fascinating to me.

You and me both!

[Wim Kruithof]

You and me both!

Although I did find it hard to rank the individuals from The Astonishing. Only two made my list, with #75 as the highest. I think the album is close to perfect but as individual songs I hardly ever visit them.

But, with only a few exceptions... that counts for Scenes From a Memory for me as well. Songs are beautiful as piece of a bigger structure but it is hard to rank them individually. And although I do consider Scenes From a Memory an even much more wonderful piece, it's not dominating this list for me. #22 Is my highest ranked Scenes-song.

[wolfking]

Shit, my highest ranking Astonishing song is higher than your highest!    Now that is Astonishing.

You know, I think the 2 songs making my list was pure novelty after my recent listen.  I'm sure if I looked at it again there would be 2 songs I'd sub in.  Ah well.

[Evermind]

Somehow I have 12 songs from The Astonishing on my list but only one of them is from Disc 2.

You know, I think the 2 songs making my list was pure novelty after my recent listen.  I'm sure if I looked at it again there would be 2 songs I'd sub in.  Ah well.

I think if you spent more time with your highest ranking song from TA (no spotlighting!) you'd rank it even higher.

[crystalstars17]

Just peeking in to say that I admire those of you who have the time to do this. 

[twosuitsluke]

I didn't participate in the last countdown, and I don't want to look it up and spoil where this list might go, but...

*Please no spoilers*

How does the list so far match up to the previous one? Totally different or some similar song placements?

[wolfking]

You know, I think the 2 songs making my list was pure novelty after my recent listen.  I'm sure if I looked at it again there would be 2 songs I'd sub in.  Ah well.

I think if you spent more time with your highest ranking song from TA (no spotlighting!) you'd rank it even higher.

Yeah, I guess that's entirely possible.

[wolfking]

I didn't participate in the last countdown, and I don't want to look it up and spoil where this list might go, but...

*Please no spoilers*

How does the list so far match up to the previous one? Totally different or some similar song placements?

You don't want spoilers and the need to look up the old list yet you ask the question in the next line how they are stacking up so far?  Is this a trap? 

[twosuitsluke]

I didn't participate in the last countdown, and I don't want to look it up and spoil where this list might go, but...

*Please no spoilers*

How does the list so far match up to the previous one? Totally different or some similar song placements?

You don't want spoilers and the need to look up the old list yet you ask the question in the next line how they are stacking up so far?  Is this a trap? 

I wasn't clear

I don't want to spoil how the Top of the previous countdown looks (top 20 especially) but I DO want to know how numbers 100-92 in this list compare specifically to 100-92 in the previous list.