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

[twosuitsluke]

Falling behind again!

I've gotta catch up with the last 6, but they all made my list.

6:00 was fairly low down on my list, at #88. It's peak Awake weirdness, and although I quite like parts of it, it falls a little short for me.

After my initial obsession with DT I lost interest periodically, but when I rediscovered my love for the band, it was Scenes From a Memory that I was spinning religiously. This song sums up one side of why I love this album so much. This has the technical side of the album covered, and gets weird without ever feeling weird for the sake of it. Each instrument gets to shine, and boy do they shine. I had it at #17, amazing song!

Overture 1928 is the other side of what makes Scenes From a Memory so great, it has the melody, and some of the best melodies of their entire career. I had it #12, and as an instrumental intro, that could be seen as being too high, but it just encompasses the feel of the whole album into a perfect 3 and a half minutes. I always have to listen to it with Strange Deja Vu as well, just perfection.

Misunderstood is one of the higher ranking 6DOIT songs for me, I had it at #51. The chorus is basically the high point, buy it is pretty damn good.

I had Space-Dye Vest fairly low as well, which became a trend for Awake songs, even though I do rate the album pretty high. It just crept in at #97. I've always seen songs like this as "what can we do that is totally different to Images and Words?". I guess this as good an example as any!

Lastly, we have Endless Sacrifice at #50. Great riffs, great instrumental sections, it probably should be higher but it just suffers the "ToT Effect".



My ranking so far:

9. Another Day
11. A Nightmare To Remember
12. Overture 1928
13. Wither
15. The Root of All Evil
16. Panic Attack
17. The Dance of Eternity
18. The Dark Eternal Night
20. Never Enough
21. The Ministry of Lost Souls
23. Sacrificed Sons
27. The Best of Times
28. These Walls
29. Constant Motion
30. A New Beginning
31. The Shattered Fortress
35. The Enemy Inside
36. I Walk Beside You
40. One Last Time
44. Through Her Eyes
45. The Looking Glass
49. Forsaken
50. Endless Sacrifice
51. Misunderstood
55. Behind the Veil
56. On the Backs of Angels
57. The Bigger Picture
58. Innocence Faded
62. Surrender to Reason
63. Stream of Consciousness
64. Fall Into the Light
65. The Great Debate
66. Wait For Sleep
67. As I Am
69. Ytse Jam
72. Peruvian Skies
73. Honor Thy Father
74. At Wit's End
75. Lie
76. This Dying Soul
77. A View from the Top of the World
80. To Live Forever
82. Barstool Warrior
83. This is the Life
84. Lost Not Forgotten
86. Our New World
88. 6:00
89. Erotomania
90. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
91. Caught In a Web
93. Hollow Years
95. Disappear
96. Beneath the Surface
97. Space-Dye Vest
99. Pale Blue Dot
100. New Millennium

Not ranked:

101. Outcry
104. Hell's Kitchen
109. Vacant
110. The Silent Man
111. Raise The Knife
112. Only a Matter of Time
113. Afterlife
114. A Fortune in Lies
115. The Killing Hand
119. Sleeping Giant
121. Awaken the Master
122. Answering the Call
123. Transcending Time
124. The Alien
125. S2N
140. The Gift of Music

[The Realm]

2 out of 3 ain't bad. Not for making my list but for nailing the position to consensus.

Misunderstood - my number 31 (same as consensus). Lots to love in this song, intro and chorus and the way the song builds but the outro isn't great.

Space-Dye-Vest - my number 30 (same as consensus). Were some people saying this song wasn't going to make it? I thought I read that somewhere...anyway a very different track for DT, extremely somber vibe that I don't think has ever been repeated (which makes sense with Kevin leaving the band).

Endless Sacrifice -  first of my top 10 to appear. I ranked this at number 8. Just a brilliant song, love everything about this including the awesome instrumental section. Great song live.

[TAC]

31. Misunderstood
Highest Finish: 3 (Podaar)
Number of Lists appeared on: 60 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

30. Space-Dye Vest
Highest Finish: 1 (MoraWintersoul)
Number of Lists appeared on: 58 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, porcacultor, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

29. Endless Sacrifice
Highest Finish: 5 (Cool Chris)
Number of Lists appeared on: 65 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

I had Misunderstood as Not Rated.
I suppose if I redid my list, it could squeak in. It's just not a song that I really care for all that much.
Don't think I've ever heard the radio edit. Oh, and that outro is useless.

I had Space Dye Vest at #5.
One of my favorite DT songs. On my first listen to Awake, it wasn't until I got to Space Dye Vest where I thought... Jeez, here's the band I fell in love with on I&W.


I had Endless Sacrifice at #13.
I know the instrumental part catches a lot of grief, but I love it. It would be a very average sing without it.



List                                                    Not Ranked         
100                                                      Wither
99                                                        Vacant
98  6:00                                               Our New World
97                                                        The Looking Glass
96  The Root Of All Evil                          Transcending Time
95  Lie                                                  Behind The Veil
94                                                        New Millenium   
93  Caught In A Web                              Constant Motion
92                                                        The Shattered Fortress
91                                                        To Live Forever
90  Forsaken                                         Answering The Call
89                                                        Honor Thy Father
88                                                        The Silent Man
87                                                        Hell's Kitchen
86  Zydar                                              The Great Debate
85  Pale Blue Dot                                   As I Am
84                                                        Misunderstood
83
82
81
80  Awaken The Master
79  On The Backs Of Angels
78  Stream Of Consciousness
77  A Nightmare To Remember
76  S2N
75  These Walls
74  Afterlife
73  This Is The Life
72
71
70  One Last Time
69  Surrender Of Reason
68
67
66
65  Sacrificed Sons
64  Beneath The Surface
63  Through Her Eyes
62  The Bigger Picture
61  I Walk Beside You
60  Never Enough
59  A New Beginning
58  Wait For Sleep
57
56
55
54  Barstool Warrior
53
52
51  Erotomania
50
49
48
47
46
45  Overture 1928
44  Panic Attack
43  Innocence Faded
42  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
41  Sleeping Giant
40
39  A View From The Top Of The World
38  At Wits End
37  Fall Into The Light
36
35  The Gift Of Music
34  The Dance Of Eternity
33  Peruvian Skies
32  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
31  Ytse Jam
30
29
28  The Enemy Inside
27
26  Only A Matter Of Time
25
24  Raise The Knife
23  Hollow Years
22  The Dark Eternal Night
21  Outcry
20  This Dying Soul
19
18  A Fortune In Lies
17
16  The Alien
15
14  The Best Of Times
13  Endless Sacrifice
12
11  Lost Not Forgotten.
10
9
8
7  Disappear
6
5  Space Dye Vest
4  The Killing Hand
3
2
1




55 -17

[Cool Chris]

If I never found this forum and its predecessors, the term "circus break" would never have entered my lexicon, let alone my thoughts.

[wolfking]

Misunderstood came in at number 23 for me.  I always enjoyed it but the last couple of times I spun the album, it struck a nerve, big time.  I fucking love it.

SDV came in at number 49.  What an epic, atmospheric piece.  The Fourth Wall version makes me like it even more.

ES came in at 25.  What a cool song.  Lovely chorus and a fucking ripping instrumental section.  JP on fucking fire here.



List                                                        Not Ranked         
100                                                    The Gift of Music
99 The Best of Times                          A New Beginning
98 Constant Motion                             New Millenium
97                                                     Sleeping Giant
96 A Fortune in Lies                            Awaken the Master
95 The Alien                                       To Live Forever
94 Our New World                               The Killing Hand
93 This is the Life                                Ytse Jam
92 Disappear                                       The Silent Man
91 Hollow Years                                   Raise the Knife
90 Sacrificed Sons                               Beneath the Surface
89 Only A Matter of Time
88 Vacant
87
86 Through Her Eyes
85
84 Stream Of Consciousness
83
82 Transcending Time
81
80
79 Pale Blue Dot
78 Wither
77
76
75 The Ministry of Lost Souls
74 The Enemy Inside
73 One Last Time
72 Peruvian Skies
71 Forsaken
70 Lost Not Forgotten
69
68
67 S2N
66 Fall Into the Light
65
64 The Looking Glass
63 Panic Attack
62
61 On the Backs of Angels
60 
59
58 Afterlife
57 Caught In A Web
56
55
54 The Great Debate
53 A Nightmare to Remember
52 Erotomania
51 Answering the Call
50
49 Space-Dye Vest
48 The Shattered Fortress
47
46 As I Am
45
44 The Dark Eternal Night
43
42 Never Enough
41 Wait For Sleep
40
39
38
37 The Bigger Picture
36 Outcry
35 
34 Lie
33 The Root of All Evil
32 I Walk Beside You
31
30 A View From the Top of the World
29 Surrender to Reason
28 Barstool Warrior
27 Another Day
26 Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
25 Endless Sacrifice
24 Innocence Faded
23 Misunderstood
22
21
20 Behind the Veil
19 Honor Thy Father
18
17
16
15
14
13 These Walls
12 At Wit's End
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2 This Dying Soul.
1

[Wim Kruithof]

Kevin Moore's legacy with Space-Dye Vest is even sad as wonderful. Spot on for me, but could have gain a few spots as well. I absolutely adore this song and think it's great they threw it out there with Breaking the Fourth Wall. One of the most unique songs in their entire discography. And I can't imagine any future song will come even close, in being this sad, simple, gorgious and shameful all in the same handful of minutes.

095: I Walk Beside You     15
094: S2n     spot on
093: Never Enough     7
091: Caught In a Web     40
090: The Alien     21
089: Only a Matter of Time     7
088: Surrender to Reason     5
087: Forsaken     8
086: Through Her Eyes     12
085: The Silent Man     19
084: Constant Motion     2
083: Fall Into the Light     11
082: The Best of Times     5
080: Wait for Sleep     36
079: On the Backs of Angels     23
078: Behind the Veil     11
077: Afterlife     19
076: Hollow Years     17
074: Sacrified Sons     9
073: 6:00     39
072: Erotomania     32
069: Innocence Faded     27
068: The Enemy Inside     15
067: Pale Blue Dot     3
065: Another Day     27
063: Disappear     22
062: Peruvian Skies     18
061: Misunderstood     30
060: A Fortune in Lies     18
059: Hell's Kitchen     2
056: A Nightmare to Remember     6
054: The Looking Glass     38
053: Raise the Knife     12
050: Wither     49
049: Lifting Shadows Off a Dream     14
048: Transcending Time     42
046: Barstool Warrior     6
045: The Root of All Evil     9
044: Ytse Jam     23
042: The Killing Hand     26
041: Sleeping Giant     44
040: Answering the Call     45
038: The Dance of Eternity     5
037: The Bigger Picture     23
034: As I Am     9
033: At Wit's End   4
031: Endless Sacrifice     2
030: Space-Dye Vest     spot on
029: Awaken the Master     52
028: Stream of Conciousness     11
027: Honor Thy Father     44
025: Lie     22
024: One Last Time     22
018: Outcry     47
017: Beneath the Surface     49
016: The Shattered Fortress     63
014: This Dying Soul     33
010: The Ministry of Lost Souls     51
007: A View From the Top of the World     42

not ranked: 10 The Gift of Music / Vacant / Our New World / A New Beginning / This Is the Life / New Millennium / To Live Forever / Lost Not Forgotten / The Dark Eternal Night / Overture 1928

[HOF]

I had Space Dye Vest at #5.
One of my favorite DT songs. On my first listen to Awake, it wasn't until I got to Space Dye Vest where I thought... Jeez, here's the band I fell in love with on I&W.

This genuinely surprises me!

[TAC]

I had Space Dye Vest at #5.
One of my favorite DT songs. On my first listen to Awake, it wasn't until I got to Space Dye Vest where I thought... Jeez, here's the band I fell in love with on I&W.

This genuinely surprises me!

I feel like I listened to I&W once a day for over two years by the time Awake came out. That first listen was quite jarring. I literally didn't feel any of the magic or originality until I got to Space Dye Vest. It doesn't end up being my favorite song from Awake, but it's a standout track still. And I love the 2014 version of it with the electric guitar solo. Tremendous!

I'm a metal fan, and while I like heavy DT, I don't listen to them for my metal fix. I like the metal spin on Yes, Kansas, 70's Rush. That's the appeal of DT to me.

[porcacultor]

34. 6:00

As fortune had it, now y'all know my top 1 (CIAW) and my top 2 (this one). What can I say? I know: the dispute between CIAW and 6:00 for my top favorite track is like when you put a ball of sodium in water and the mix becomes completely unstable. I cannot believe how good Awake starts out. Very glad to have seen this one live.

Nice!

Had 6:00 at #8 (and FFIW had CIAW #6)

Lots of love for Awake

Hell yeah, mate! 

Now let's get down to business:


31. Misunderstood

21 for me. One of my favorite choruses in the band's career. Great management of dynamics and intensity too, excellent reprises (the different ways in which James sings the "Playing a lion being led to a cage (...)" part are fantastic)... a lot to love here for me.

30. Space-Dye Vest

My #5. Almost at      levels! [But precisely at TAC levels, wow!] Would absolutely live with it being my top 1. Can't decide whether I prefer the sample-based section in this one or Honor Thy Father. I've never seen Room with a View, but when Julian Sands died I felt terrible because his voice on the scene that got sampled is so ingrained in my heart thanks to this song.

Seeing this live was the highlight of the 2014 concert I saw. (I kinda wish O.S.I. re-recorded this track just so we could have another pass of KM doing the vox (he's kinda buried in the demo version that I've heard))

29. Endless Sacrifice

#54 for me. A mighty fine ToT track. What a gloomy trio, I love it!

[wolfking]

I had Space Dye Vest at #5.
One of my favorite DT songs. On my first listen to Awake, it wasn't until I got to Space Dye Vest where I thought... Jeez, here's the band I fell in love with on I&W.

This genuinely surprises me!

I feel like I listened to I&W once a day for over two years by the time Awake came out. That first listen was quite jarring. I literally didn't feel any of the magic or originality until I got to Space Dye Vest. It doesn't end up being my favorite song from Awake, but it's a standout track still. And I love the 2014 version of it with the electric guitar solo. Tremendous!

I'm a metal fan, and while I like heavy DT, I don't listen to them for my metal fix. I like the metal spin on Yes, Kansas, 70's Rush. That's the appeal of DT to me.

Yep, so good.

[HOF]

I had Space Dye Vest at #5.
One of my favorite DT songs. On my first listen to Awake, it wasn't until I got to Space Dye Vest where I thought... Jeez, here's the band I fell in love with on I&W.

This genuinely surprises me!

I feel like I listened to I&W once a day for over two years by the time Awake came out. That first listen was quite jarring. I literally didn't feel any of the magic or originality until I got to Space Dye Vest. It doesn't end up being my favorite song from Awake, but it's a standout track still. And I love the 2014 version of it with the electric guitar solo. Tremendous!

I'm a metal fan, and while I like heavy DT, I don't listen to them for my metal fix. I like the metal spin on Yes, Kansas, 70's Rush. That's the appeal of DT to me.

It's just such an artsy song, like something Peter Gabriel or Tori Amos or Steven Wilson would do. 

[TAC]

Artsy can tend to be out of my comfort zone for sure, so I guess it just depends.

When Awake came out, I was already a huge DT fan.

[The Realm]

I had Space Dye Vest at #5.
One of my favorite DT songs. On my first listen to Awake, it wasn't until I got to Space Dye Vest where I thought... Jeez, here's the band I fell in love with on I&W.

This genuinely surprises me!

I feel like I listened to I&W once a day for over two years by the time Awake came out. That first listen was quite jarring. I literally didn't feel any of the magic or originality until I got to Space Dye Vest. It doesn't end up being my favorite song from Awake, but it's a standout track still. And I love the 2014 version of it with the electric guitar solo. Tremendous!

I'm a metal fan, and while I like heavy DT, I don't listen to them for my metal fix. I like the metal spin on Yes, Kansas, 70's Rush. That's the appeal of DT to me.

This is exactly me as well. After 2 years of I&A, my first listen to Awake was also really tough. I was thinking one hit wonder at the time! haha! But Space-Dye-Vest was immediately awesome. And now I have two Awake songs in my top 10 (yet to be revealed).

[jammindude]

I remember that general reaction to Awake from the fanbase at large when it first came out but I wasn't understanding it at all. Now...when I heard Lie on the radio a few days before it came out, I was a bit skeptical (and to this day it's the only song from Awake that I don't care for) but when I actually got the album I was thrilled.

EDIT - I should add that when Mike said "balls and chunk is where it's at" on the LIT home video, I figured immediately that the next album would end up being heavier.  I was also ecstatic that they had turned the "Puppies on Acid" intro to Take the Time into its own song.

[Cool Chris]

When Awake came out I had been listening to I&W more than any other album in my life (Hysteria may be the exception - sorry TAC), and I loved Awake right away. I got that it was different, but it felt like a natural progression from the band with a clear direction forward.

[WardySI]

Must have been in the minority as after plenty time with I&W, weirdly Awake was another instant love for me.  While love them about the same and I'd argue I&W the better and more complete album, Awake has probably been my go-to DT for many a year now

And just quickly on the circus bullshit DT pushed out on future/later albums, as have mentioned here before, +1 hate it and defs a couple otherwise quality songs ruined for me.

Misunderstood #61
Space-Dye-Vest #56
Endless Sacrifice #57

[Wim Kruithof]

interesting take on Awake TAC. I discovered them both just last couple of years, but when in your case I would probably feel the same. Where Images and Words has a more uplifting understream... Awake has a far more dark and depressing mood. With Voices as a psychodelic stand-out. Not easy to digest, unless you're living in the same headspace.

As for the countdown, ReaperKK how many song made everyones list? I pressume only Metropolis pt.I and Pull Me Under could be...

Myself however, I don't believe there's any song in the entire list that I am the highest ranker, except my #1. Where I'll believe at least 5 others will join that honor.

[Mladen]

Misunderstood was my #78. Not a song I play every too often, but when I do, I really enjoy it. That guitar solo is spectacular.

Space-dye vest was my #35. Wonderful song, one of their best ballads.

Endless sacrifice was my #82. Damn good stuff. 

We're getting to a point where pretty much every song moving forward was a part of my list. That's really cool.

[CanuckChum]

31. Misunderstood (Unranked). I do feel bad about not having this on my list, because it's from one of my favourite DT albums, and the lyrics here are some of their best. That being said, this song has just never quite clicked with me. I listened to it again today, and my thoughts are still the same. Love the intro, but then after the first chorus, it starts to wander a bit for me. I haven't given up on this yet, and hope that one day it will click. On the bright side, this should be the last song on the list that I did not rank.

30. Space-Dye Vest (20). I have already gushed about Vacant and Disappear, and this song is essentially their progenitor. Once again both a dark and beautiful affair. It also ranks higher than the two follow-ups for the dramatic and heartbreaking climax. I remember my surprise when I heard this at the end of Awake - it was like nothing they had done before. Of course, ending the album with Scarred would be a logical choice, but I am so glad they did this one instead. I just don't think it would have had the same impact if it was not the last track. You listen to it, and then the album's over, and you just sit in silence for a few moments and think about the song.

29. Endless Sacrifice (13). Similar to what others have said, this is heavy DT at some of its best. It avoids the pitfalls that these types of songs so often fall into. The first half of this is my favourite part, wonderful vocals from James and nice piano throughout. I find that Jordan sometimes seems to disappear during the heavier songs, so it is nice to hear him clearly. The memorable chorus is a nice contrast to the softer verses. Everyone sounds solid as they are shredding away during the instrumental section. A great closing riff from JP finishes things off. I remember this was not a song I would have initially guessed to be in my top 20, but listening to it again it feels right.

[ReaperKK]

Update!

28. Lines In The Sand
Highest Finish: 4 (devieira73, Indiscipline)
Number of Lists appeared on: 55 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking)

I really love this song, yet it would be so much better without Dug Pinnick's vocals. He really bugs me, DT should release a mix without him on there

27. The Mirror
Highest Finish: 2 (Setlist Scotty)
Number of Lists appeared on: 62 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

Amazing riff with JP's 7-string. A good but not great song but me, I just think it's aged really poorly, especially those synth sounds.

26. The Spirit Carries On
Highest Finish: 1 (DragonAttack, mariner, twosuitsluke)
Number of Lists appeared on: 59 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, nobloodyname, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

Blegh. I've made my dislike of this song known throughout the years. I just don't think DT is great at writing ballads, and I think this is one of the worst they've written. I will say the Dreamsonic version of the song was probably my favorite rendition of the song.

[Zydar]

Nice to see three people had TSCO at #1, I had it as high as #6. It's one of their most beautiful and emotional songs ever. Along with one of JPs finest solos he's ever done. Once again - I don't get the hate.

Meanwhile, Lines In The Sand didn't rank for me. I think what ruins it for me is the chorus along with Doug Pinnick's guest vocals. Cool intro though, but overall the song just doesn't do it for me.

The Mirror is one beast of a song, that great Puppies-riff gets me going every time. It ranked #24 for me.

[Stadler]

157. The Dark Eternal Night
155. Hell's Kitchen
154. S2N
150. The Killing Hand
146. Disappear
145. Vacant
143. Honor Thy Father
142. Ytsejam
139. Panic Attack
138. Wither
135. Only A Matter Of Time
132. Barstool Warrior
127. Lines In The Sand.  Could be as many as 50 spots higher without the wailing from Doug Pinnick.   
125. Stream Of Consciousness
124. Through Her Eyes
123. Never Enough
122. The Alien
121. Afterlife
120. A Fortune In Lies
109. Outcry
105. Sleeping Giant
104. Surrender To Reason
----
98.  Another Day
97.  Awaken The Master
96.  Behind The Veil
95.  The Great Debate
90.  On The Backs Of Angels
85.  Constant Motion
84.  Beneath The Surface
83.  At Wit's End
82.  Peruvian Skies
81.  Space Dye Vest
80.  The Enemy Inside
78.  Hollow Years
76.  The Shattered Fortress
73.  Lie
69.  The Mirror
68.  A Nightmare To Remember
67.  The Silent Man
66.  The Root Of All Evil
65.  The Spirit Carries On. I don't know if I've used this word before, but "beautiful". 
62.  As I Am
61.  These Walls
59.  The Gift of Music
57.  The Bigger Picture
56.  One Last Time
55.  Pale Blue Dot
54.  Answering The Call
52.  Lost Not Forgotten
51.  Fall Into The Light
48.  Endless Sacrifice
46.  A New Beginning
44.  Forsaken
43.  A View From The Top Of The World
41.  The Looking Glass
40.  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
38.  The Dance Of Eternity
36.  New Millenium
35.  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
34.  Wait For Sleep
33.  Transcending Time
31.  The Best Of Times
30.  Erotomania
28.  Our New World
25.  Raise The Knife
24.  6:00
23.  I Walk Beside You
21.  Sacrificed Sons
19.  Caught In A Web
14.  To Live Forever
9.    Innocence Faded
7.    This Dying Soul
6.    Misunderstood
5.    This Is The Life
4.    Overture 1928

[Wim Kruithof]

Although Scenes is a magnificent album, I still think it's hard to rank songs individually. I never listen to songs on their own but always in the context of the full experience. On my list, they do not are ranked that high, on their own.

Doesn't take that much time to enter the top, really am curious how they sum up in the end.

095: I Walk Beside You     15
094: S2n     spot on
093: Never Enough     7
091: Caught In a Web     40
090: The Alien     21
089: Only a Matter of Time     7
088: Surrender to Reason     5
087: Forsaken     8
086: Through Her Eyes     12
085: The Silent Man     19
084: Constant Motion     2
083: Fall Into the Light     11
082: The Best of Times     5
080: Wait for Sleep     36
079: On the Backs of Angels     23
078: Behind the Veil     11
077: Afterlife     19
076: Hollow Years     17
074: Sacrified Sons     9
073: 6:00     39
072: Erotomania     32
069: Innocence Faded     27
068: The Enemy Inside     15
067: Pale Blue Dot     3
065: Another Day     27
063: Disappear     22
062: Peruvian Skies     18
061: Misunderstood     30
060: A Fortune in Lies     18
059: Hell's Kitchen     2
056: A Nightmare to Remember     6
054: The Looking Glass     38
053: Raise the Knife     12
050: Wither     49
049: Lifting Shadows Off a Dream     14
048: Transcending Time     42
046: Barstool Warrior     6
045: The Root of All Evil     9
044: Ytse Jam     23
043: The Spirit Carries On     17
042: The Killing Hand     26
041: Sleeping Giant     44
040: Answering the Call     45
038: The Dance of Eternity     5
037: The Bigger Picture     23
036: Lines In the Sand     8
034: As I Am     9
033: At Wit's End   4
031: Endless Sacrifice     2
030: Space-Dye Vest     spot on
029: Awaken the Master     52
028: Stream of Conciousness     11
027: Honor Thy Father     44
025: Lie     22
024: One Last Time     22
018: Outcry     47
017: Beneath the Surface     49
016: The Shattered Fortress     63
015: The Mirror     12
014: This Dying Soul     33
010: The Ministry of Lost Souls     51
007: A View From the Top of the World     42

not ranked: 10 The Gift of Music / Vacant / Our New World / A New Beginning / This Is the Life / New Millennium / To Live Forever / Lost Not Forgotten / The Dark Eternal Night / Overture 1928

[MirrorMask]

Wow, big update!

28. Lines In The Sand

Here it is, I was wondering how long 'til it would have come out. The slow section is fantastic, but I'm not overly crazy for the rest and the guest vocals. Live it was pretty cool. It did not go past beyond 81 for me, and with 53 positions lower than the results, it holds so far this negative record for me for the biggest negative delta.

27. The Mirror
Highest Finish: 2 (Setlist Scotty)

Oh noes, my boy The Mirror is out already! I was SURE I was the highest ranker for this one, but my number 4 has been beaten by Setlist Scotty, congrats! 

Why I love this song? first of all, it has some sentimental value; I'm not-young enough to have lived in the era of cassette tapes, and my cousin, who was already a fan, used some random DT songs to fill up the tape he copied me of whatever stuff I wanted.

I didn't really like the song, just like I didn't like Hollow Years or Anna Lee, but finally, after four months or so of listening to The Mirror, it clicked, and it basically started the avalanche effect that turned me, in the spring / summer of 1999, as a fan.

Besides that, it's a kickass song and does not mean 2 millions of notes to make its point. How cool and iconic is that intro riff? you can hum along to it just like you do with other famous riffs. A pure headbanger, heavy, menacing, great performance by LaBrie, cool SDV reprise, I love everything about this song, and not just because it introduced me to Dream Theater.

It's my first top 10 songs to fall, and predictably so. I just hoped it made top 20.

26. The Spirit Carries On

Fantastic ballad from their perfect masterpiece. One of the best solos ever from John Petrucci. The emotional climax of the album. Love this song, I never considered it saccharine and it ended up at 13 for me, half the final score.

[Fonzie]

I thought I might have LITS as a highest placer. It's my 5.
I get the hate for Dug's voice- it's an unnecessary addition, but the alternative would be MP's box turned up louder, so....
I like the instrumental stuff on here. Derek's work ranks as my favourite of the ivory-botherers.

TSCO is total meh. The ballads on SFAM spoil it for me. I have to edit them out. To the extent that when I revisited the album for this countdown I was surprised when some unfamiliar songs magically appeared (after 20 years of avoiding them).
Still meh

[Mladen]

Lines in the sand was my #91. I do consider it slightly overrated. The version on Chaos in motion is superrior in my opinion, as there are extended sections and no guest vocals. It's still a good song, but man, Raise the knife is much better. So is Trial of tears, of course.

The Mirror was my #49. One of their great metal tracks. A classic.

The Spirit carries on was my #38. It's so cool some people ranked it as their number one. It just goes to show that we're not neccesarily into Dream Theater just because of the shredding and madness.

[Podaar]

DTF                                      Me
31.   Misunderstood               3.     Unique in the catalog, great storytelling, and crafted so well.
30.   Space-Dye Vest            DNR   I'll never be open to it again.
29.   Endless Sacrifice           46.     Ranker bias? I thought I liked it more than this.
28.   Lines In The Sand         18.     Great song and interesting lyrics. It would be much better though if Doug Pinnick would have sang the entire song.
27.   The Mirror                    15.     Nostalgic favorite. I wish JP still used this tone for his guitars. Deep, dry, and didn't encroach on JMX space.
26.   The Spirit Carries On     54.     Used to be a favorite. I perhaps listened to it too much back in the day. I zone out when it's on now.

[Awaken]

Rank - Song - My Rank
28 - lines in the sand - 59 - the guest vocals cost this a higher position for me, without them it's probably in the 25-30 range for me
27 - the mirror - 63 - was cool hearing this for the first time after knowing the intro from live in Tokyo
26 - the spirit carries on - 30 - pretty much at consensus with this one, IMO it's hurt a little by overplaying but it gets a great reaction live so I totally get why they bring it out

[Dave_Manchester]

Catching up...


1. This Dying Soul
2.
3. Stream of Consciousness
4.
5.
6. Disappear
7. Endless Sacrifice
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Outcry
13. Misunderstood
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. Erotomania
20. As I Am
21. The Great Debate
22. The Shattered Fortress
23. Answering The Call
24.
25. Lines in the Sand
26.
27. Awaken The Master
28.
29.
30. The Root of all Evil
31.
32. Forsaken
33. A View From The Top Of The World
34. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
35. At Wits' End
36. Beneath The Surface
37. Innocence Faded
38. Peruvian Skies
39.
40.
41. The Best of Times
42. On The Backs of Angels
43.
44.
45. The Mirror
46. Panic Attack
47. Lie
48. Another Day
49. The Alien
50.
51. Behind the Veil
52.
53. These Walls
54.
55. The Ministry of Lost Souls
56. Sleeping Giant
57. Fall Into The Light
58. Pale Blue Dot
59.
60. Sacrificed Sons
61. Honor Thy Father
62. New Millennium
63. Overture 1928
64. Barstool Warrior
65.
66. Hell's Kitchen
67. Space-Dye Vest
68. 6:00
69. The Bigger Picture
70. The Spirit Carries On
71. Transcending Time (my lowest ranked song from View)
72.
73. I Walk Beside You
74.
75. Never Enough
76. Hollow Years (#TeamBudokan by the way)
77.
78.
79. Caught In A Web
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86. Surrender To Reason
87.
88. Vacant (lowest ranked song from ToT)
89. The Dance of Eternity
90.
91. One Last Time
92. The Looking Glass
93. A Fortune In Lies
94. Ytse Jam
95. Afterlife
96.
97.
98. Constant Motion
99.
100. The Enemy Inside

[SwedishGoose]

Lines In The Sand was not ranked. Listenng to it I can hear why. It's not bad but DT has soo many better songs.
The Mirror ranked 17 on my list. Cool song from a fantastic album.
The Spirit Carries On got to place 12 on my list. Another totallly beutiful song that sends goosebumps down my arms.



My ranking so far

6 Another Day (38)
7 Space-Dye Vest (30)
8 One Last Time (46)
11 The Dance of Eternity (33)
12 The Spirit Carries On (26)
17 The Mirror (27)
19 The Silent Man (66)
22 6:00 (34)
21 Caught In a Web (51
27 Wait For Sleep (44t)
28 Through Her Eyes  (74)
32 Awaken the Master (81)
33 Sleeping Giant (85)
37 Our New World (93)
38 Innocence Faded (42)
40 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream (35)
41 A View from the Top of the World (49t)
44 The Great Debate (53)
45 To Live Forever (76)
47 Lie (47t)
48 Erotomania (40)
50 Answering the Call (75)
54 Beneath the Surface (64)
57 Pale Blue Dot (62)
59 Transcending Time (90)
64 Sacrificed Sons (63)
65 The Looking Glass (92)
66 Hollow Years (59)
61 At Wit's End ( 37)
62 Stream of Consciousness  (39)
73 As I Am (43)
74 The Root of All Evil(36)
75 The Alien (69)
77 A Nightmare To Remember (49t)
78 Misunderstood (31)
81 Behind the Veil (89)
86 Peruvian Skies (44t)
87 Surrender To Reason (83)
88 Ytse Jam (67)
89 Forsaken (95)
91. The Gift of Music (98)
94. Never Enough (100)
96 Endless Sacrifice (29)
99 These Walls (54)
100 Honor Thy Father (71)


Highest ranker of
8 One Last Time (46)

Not rated
Wither (99), Vacant (97), Afterlife (96), S2N (94), A New Beginning (91), This is the Life (88), New Millennium (87), Constant Motion (86), The Enemy Inside (84), Only a Matter of Time (82), I Walk Beside You (80), The Shattered Fortress (79), A Fortune In Lies (78), The Best Of Times (78), Lost Not Forgotten (73), Fall Into the Light (72), The Dark Eternal Night (70), The Killing Hand (68), Raise The Knife (65), The Ministry of Lost Souls (61), The Bigger Picture (60), Outcry (58),  Hell's Kitchen (57), On The Backs Of Angels (56), Panic Attack (55), Barstool Warrior (52), This Dying Soul (47t), Disappear (41), Overture 1928 (32), Lines In The Sand (28)

Rated: 42
Not rated: 30

[Stadler]

157. The Dark Eternal Night
155. Hell's Kitchen
154. S2N
150. The Killing Hand
146. Disappear
145. Vacant
143. Honor Thy Father
142. Ytsejam
139. Panic Attack
138. Wither
135. Only A Matter Of Time
132. Barstool Warrior
127. Lines In The Sand.  Could be as many as 50 spots higher without the wailing from Doug Pinnick.   
125. Stream Of Consciousness
124. Through Her Eyes
123. Never Enough
122. The Alien
121. Afterlife
120. A Fortune In Lies
109. Outcry
105. Sleeping Giant
104. Surrender To Reason
----
100.Slight chance of making the list at this point
99.  No chance of making the list at this point
98.  Another Day
97.  Awaken The Master
96.  Behind The Veil
95.  The Great Debate
94.  No chance of making the list at this point
93.  No chance of making the list at this point
92.  No chance of making the list at this point
91.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
90.  On The Backs Of Angels
89.  No chance of making the list at this point
88.  No chance of making the list at this point
87.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
86.  No chance of making the list at this point
85.  Constant Motion
84.  Beneath The Surface
83.  At Wit's End
82.  Peruvian Skies
81.  Space Dye Vest
80.  The Enemy Inside
79.  Strong chance of making the list at this point
78.  Hollow Years
77.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
76.  The Shattered Fortress
75.  No chance of making the list at this point
74.  No chance of making the list at this point
73.  Lie
72.  No chance of making the list at this point
71.  No chance of making the list at this point
70.  No chance of making the list at this point
69.  The Mirror
68.  A Nightmare To Remember
67.  The Silent Man
66.  The Root Of All Evil
65.  The Spirit Carries On. I don't know if I've used this word before, but "beautiful". 
64.  No chance of making the list at this point
63.  No chance of making the list at this point
62.  As I Am
61.  These Walls
60.  No chance of making the list at this point
59.  The Gift of Music
58.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
57.  The Bigger Picture
56.  One Last Time
55.  Pale Blue Dot
54.  Answering The Call
53.  Strong chance of making the list
52.  Lost Not Forgotten
51.  Fall Into The Light
50.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
49.  No chance of making the list at this point
48.  Endless Sacrifice
47.  No chance of making the list at this point
46.  A New Beginning
45.  No chance of making the list at this point
44.  Forsaken
43.  A View From The Top Of The World
42.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
41.  The Looking Glass
40.  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
39.  No chance of making the list at this point
38.  The Dance Of Eternity
37.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
36.  New Millenium
35.  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
34.  Wait For Sleep
33.  Transcending Time
32.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
31.  The Best Of Times
30.  Erotomania
29.  Strong chance of making the list
28.  Our New World
27.  Strong chance of making the list
26.  Strong chance of making the list
25.  Raise The Knife
24.  6:00
23.  I Walk Beside You
22.  No chance of making the list at this point
21.  Sacrificed Sons
20.  Lock to make the list
19.  Caught In A Web
18.  No chance of making the list at this point
17.  Lock to make the list
16.  Lock to make the list
15.  Lock to make the list
14.  To Live Forever
13.  Lock to make the list
12.  Strong chance of making the list
11.  Lock to make the list
10.  Lock to make the list
9.    Innocence Faded
8.    Lock to make the list
7.    This Dying Soul
6.    Misunderstood
5.    This Is The Life
4.    Overture 1928
3.    Lock to make the list
2.    Strong chance of making the list
1.    No chance of making the list at this point

[hefdaddy42]

Weekend catch-up!

37 At Wit's End - Pretty close to the consensus; I had it ranked # 35.  Just a gorgeous, gorgeous song.

36 The Root of All Evil - Didn't finish as high for me (# 65), but I do like this song a lot.

35 Lifting Shadows Off A Dream - Just a beautiful song.  I had it at # 10.

34 6:00 - DNR.  I like it, but I don't understand the fascination that so many other people seem to have for it.

33 The Dance of Eternity - This instrumental kicks ass.  I had it at # 15.

32 Overture 1928 - This instrumental is also great, but in a different way than TDOE.  I had this one at # 25, so a little higher than this consensus list.

31 Misunderstood - I had this one at # 78, but I think is a casualty of the ranker.  It feels higher than a 78 to me lol but here we are.

30 Space-Dye Vest - I had this one at # 49, but there was a time when I would have ranked it # 149.  I hated this one when Awake first came out, but I have really come to appreciate it a lot more over the ensuing years.

29 Endless Sacrifice - Good song, good lyrics.  # 33 for me.

28 Lines In The Sand - I have this one at # 9.  My highest-ranking song thus far.  Fun fact: you people who don't like Doug Pinnick's vocals here are completely wrong.

27 The Mirror - Again, I like it, but I don't understand the fascination.  Killer riffage though.  I had it at # 88.

26 The Spirit Carries On - Great, great song.  One that I have frequently played for non-prog fans as an example song for DT.  I have it at # 13.


And with that, 27 of my Top 50 are still alive for the Top 25!  We'll see what happens!

[HOF]

Lines in the Sand was in my top 3 the last time I submitted a list. I love this song so much. Amazing groove, tremendous guitar solo, some of JP's finest lyrics. Derek also really shines here. Dug is great on it, no idea why he bugs so many people. DT at their most soulful probably.

The Mirror isn't my favorite thing, but I appreciate the scope of the whole Mirror/Lie suite. My favorite part is the quieter middle part "let's start the problem right in the eye." That's a really cool part, and I've always liked the line "How in the hell can you possibly forgive me after all the hell I put you through."

I never really liked The Spirit Carries on. Too sing songy, like something from Sesame Street or Barney. Also don't really care for the gospel element on it (seems forced and a bit inappropriate for a song about reincarnation). The solo is good though.

[Evermind]

Lines in the Sand - not ranked - not a fan of this song at all.

The Mirror - #36 - this song rocks from the very first second. Also fantastic use of Space-Dye Vest theme.

The Spirit Carries On - #11 - a perfect song in context of SFAM, and (while I have no idea if I'll be able to ever see DT again) I hope they keep playing it live. Perfect storytelling on this track too.

[CharlesPL]

Lines - 39
Mirror - 29
Spirit - 43