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

[PixelDream]

Amazing epic, in my mind ACOS and Octavarium are about the same quality. I just wish the production was a little better, I really dislike that snare drum sound. When I listen to ACOS, I prefer to listen (or watch) the excellent Live Scenes From New York rendition.

[Metro]

Love A Change of Seasons

[JiM-Xtreme]

Endgame approaches... exciting times!

10. The Count of Tuscany - I was one of the three who ranked this joint highest at 2 so, I suppose a bit of justification is required. This song simply exemplifies DT at their finest for me. It's an extremely well-crafted epic with a coherent narrative both lyrically and musically. The melodic sections are sublime. The heavy first half of the song (after the intro) is exciting, dramatic and suitably builds tension as it goes on. The beautiful middle section again fits the narrative as the protagonist solemnly reflects on the events that brought him there and mourns his impending death. And the final section is just 10/10, it speaks for itself really.

Say what you want about the lyrics. Are they the best or most meaningful JP has ever written? Of course not - but for once, rather than being overly poetic and metaphorical which is a common issue I personally have, they tell a direct and unambiguous story where you know exactly what the protagonist is experiencing. Is the context a little bit silly when you stop and think about it? Sure - but even so I do detect a hint of self-awareness, with a little bit of goofiness thrown into some of the musical passages, in particular JR's parts - plus I find it hard to imagine JLB and MP laying down "sucking on his pipe!" in the studio intending it to be taken completely seriously. All reflecting the rather odd but in humorous-in-hindsight events that took place. Overall, it doesn't matter one iota that the lyrics are completely literal for once - they fit perfectly.

So why do I rank this above all over DT epics, and the vast majority of their catalogue? Aside from the sheer quality of the music and melodies, the main thing that sets this one apart is the structure, as I already mentioned. As much as I love 8V, SDOIT and ACoS, you couldn't be entirely blamed for arguing that such pieces are more like a collection of short songs stitched together - but the Count just feels different in that regard. It really feels like a genuine "long song" - a single, coherent piece which 20 minute length is entirely justified and not a moment feels wasted. Always a pleasure to experience this one, live or just listening at home. Had this been DT's last album with MP, it would have been a fitting swansong - I have absolutely no doubt that he had a big input as to how this one was arranged.

09.   Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence - I ranked this at 14 so not much below the consensus. No doubt that it contains some wonderful stuff, the highlights being the "About to Crash" sections and the finale. But - yes, I'm going there - it feels like a concept album, not a song. Yes, of course I know the story behind how it was written and the original intention - I'm talking about how it feels. It works better as separate tracks and of course, the band themselves have not been adverse to breaking it down as such when it comes to it's inclusion in setlist. I know that shouldn't be a knock on the quality of the "piece" (or whatever you want to call it) as a whole but, in a conversation about what the 100 best DT songs are - it almost seems like this one has an inherently unfair advantage due to it arguably being 8 songs. I guess this debate will never end...!

08.   Breaking All Illusions - ok, not sure what this one is doing quite so high up. It didn't even make my top 100. Main reason being that it feels very structurally and tonally similar to Learning to Live, a far superior song which I would much rather listen to any day of the week. It has cool bits in it, but it just doesn't do very much for me as a whole. I find it quite overrated.

07.   Voices - ...ok, not a bad song by any means, it made 82 for me personally. But... the 7th best song they have ever written? Seriously? I just don't see it guys... I mean it has some great passages in it, especially towards the end, but it kind of drags a bit. 7th is definitely too high!

06.   Trial Of Tears - much more like it! For a time, I considered this my 3rd all-time favourite. On this occasion it reached 23 for me but I totally get why it's been ranked higher than that and I'm very pleased to see it achieve such a high actually. A totally unique song and another very coherent epic, like the Count. Although it is broken down into multiple parts, they are similar in style and I love the fact that it's one of the very few bass-driven DT songs. I really love this one and the lyrics are very powerful and emotional. I think this may well be JM's magnum opus.

05.   Home - 16 for me. Fantastic song with a simply epic and classic-sounding chorus. No arguments from me here, this has stood the test of time and no doubt will be considered one of DT's classics when all is said and done.

04.   Octavarium - 7 for me so only a few spots lower. In spite of my earlier comment about some of DT's epics, this one does actually feel very coherent - the sections flow into each other seamlessly and as others have sent, there is a consistent build of intensity and momentum right up until the climax. The melodic parts, in particular Someone Like Him and Medicate are among my favourite DT have ever produced and the fact that they come right after one another... it's simply glorious. I very much hope this makes some kind of return live... although I'd be curious to see how JLB handles the screams in Intervals now.

03. A Change of Seasons - 8 for me, only one behind 8V. Not much to add, a classic DT epic, consistently enjoyable throughout with MP's lyrics in my opinion achieving the perfect balance between emotional/personal whilst also being poetic and ambiguous enough to allow different interpretations. In hindsight, a good thing this didn't end up on I&W as originally planned - the song ultimately benefited with a couple of extra of years crafting and slight changes to the lyrics compared to the original demo.

Think I can guess what the top 2 are going to be now... the only real question is, which way round will it be? Can't wait to find out!

[Awaken]

Rank - Song - My Rank
3 - A Change of Seasons - 2 - an absolute highlight live every time they break it out, and a song I never tire of hearing (spun it yesterday).  Bested only by the first song I ever heard by DT

[Lonk]

 

I thought this would be #2. There is not a single second of this piece that feels wasted. Plus it has Labrie's best performance in the "Another world" section. The section from 17:00 - 18:30 is freaking awesome.

[Dream Team]

Well, duh. Best song ever, and I wish ScurvyDreams was still here because back in the day he had an epic post about why ACOS is clearly better than OV. Surprised it fell to #3 but then again a lot of the newer younger fans don't seem to get it.

1 A Change of Seasons
  3 Under a Glass Moon
  4 Breaking all Illusions
  5 Only a Matter of Time
  6 The Killing Hand
  7 In the Name of God
  8 The Count of Tuscany
  9 The Great Debate
11 Outcry
12 Overture 1928
13 Octavarium
14 Blind Faith
15 Fatal Tragedy
16 One Last Time
17 Home
18 Illumination Theory
19 Beyond This Life
20 Lost Not Forgotten
21 Surrounded
22 A View From the Top of the World
24 This is the Life
25 Beneath the Surface
26 A New Beginning
27 Take the Time
28 Fall Into the Light
29 Bridges in the Sky
30 The Best of Times
31 Afterlife
32 Scarred
33 Disappear
35 S2N
38 Constant Motion
39 Behind the Veil
40 The Enemy Inside
41 Pale Blue Dot
42 The Root of All Evil
46 Misunderstood
48 A Fortune in Lies
51 Barstool Warrior
52 Our New World
53 At Wit's End
54 Wither
55 The Alien
56 Lifting Shadows off a Dream
57 Surrender to Reason
58 Raise the Knife
59 Innocence Faded
61 I Walk Beside You
62 Endless Sacrifice
63 Awaken the Master
64 The Looking Glass
65 Wait for Sleep
66 The Bigger Picture
67 A Nightmare to Remember
68 Sleeping Giant
69 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
70 The Ministry of Lost Souls
71 Pull Me Under
72 The Dance of Eternity
75 Panic Attack
76 Transcending Time
78 Ytse Jam
79 Sacrificed Sons
80 Strange Deja-Vu
81 The Gift of Music
84 Answering the Call
88 The Mirror
92 Voices
93 Another Day
94 Trial of Tears
95 On the Backs of Angels
97 The Shattered Fortress

Missed the top 100: Never Enough, Vacant, Forsaken, New Millennium, Through Her Eyes, To Live Forever, Honor thy Father, The Dark Eternal Night, The Silent Man, Hollow Years, Hell's Kitchen, These Walls, Caught in a Web, Lie, This Dying Soul, Peruvian Skies, As I Am, Erotomania, Stream of Consciousness, 6:00, Space-Dye Vest, The Spirit Carries On, Lines in the Sand, ITPoE, Finally Free, The Glass Prison

Highest Ranker Of: Only a Matter of Time, Outcry, Under a Glass Moon, A Change of Seasons

[Zydar]

I had A Change Of Seasons at #30... Had I done a thorough DT album run before sending my list (I'm going through one at the moment), this would have placed way higher than that. Not sure it would crack my Top 10 though. It's a classic DT epic for sure, but something stops it from being among my very favourites. Plenty of good stuff here nonetheless: that guitar intro, the Carpe Diem section gives me chills every time, and The Crimson Sunset is a lovely ending.

"Seasons change and so can I..."

[Adami]

Still my favorite song from them. Was really disappointed to find out that, when I left a DT show early due to feeling ill, they played it as the encore. Ah well. One day.

[TAC]

Top 3:

03. A Change Of Seasons
Highest Finish: 1 (Adami, axeman90210, devieira73, Dream Team, hefdaddy42, jeff_kinsley, JPZealot, lucasembarbosa, pg1067, Revenge319, romdrums, Vmadera00)
Number of Lists appeared on: 64 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

I had A Change Of Seasons at #17.
I probably have that a tad low, and I need to listen to it more. It's just that I don't go for it very often anymore.
Still, it's a great song!


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 Glass Prison                               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                                                        The Mirror
82                                                        Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
81                                                        Home
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  Beyond This Life
71  Pull Me Under
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  Illumination Theory
56  The Spirit Carries On
55  Under A Glass Moon
54  Barstool Warrior
53
52  Finally Free
51  Erotomania
50  In The Name Of God
49  Strange Deja Vu
48  Bridges In The Sky
47  Blind Faith
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  In The Presence Of Enemies
35  The Gift Of Music
34  The Dance Of Eternity
33  Peruvian Skies
32  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
31  Ytse Jam
30  Trial Of Tears
29
28  The Enemy Inside
27  Voices
26  Only A Matter Of Time
25  Surrounded
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  A Change Of Seasons
16  The Alien
15  Fatal Tragedy
14  The Best Of Times
13  Endless Sacrifice
12
11  Lost Not Forgotten.
10  Take The Time
9  Breaking All Illusions
8  Lines In The Sand
7  Disappear
6  The Count Of Tuscany
5  Space Dye Vest
4  The Killing Hand
3  Scarred
2  Octavarium
1




78-20

[jingle.boy]

Wow... TWO people omitted it.   

My number 2 song.  It too is flawless, and has one thing that 8vm lacks... a bunch of really crunch/heavy/metal riffs.  But it still lacks a certain je ne sais quois for me (vs 8vm) that leaves it at #2 on my list.

Fascinating ... ACOS had 12 people rate it #1, and left off of 2 lists; 8vm had 13 rate it #1, and left off of no lists - yet ACOS edges it out.

[SwedishGoose]

A Change of Seasons ranked nr 2 for me. I remember buying the ep on release day and going home to play it. I was hooked from the first guitar tones to the end. Such a great epic with all members firing on all cylinders. Great lyrics by MP too. For some reason I have alwsys enjoyed the part beginning with "Preparing for her flight".... and it's almost at the middle so there is as much awesomeness to come as what has been.
To me they could play this on every tour.
Oh.... and "Oh come let us adore him".... goosebump  moments abound on this amazing song.
My ranking so far

1 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (9)
2 A Change of Seasons (3)
3 Octavarium (4)
4
5 Take the Time (17)
6 Another Day (38)
7 Space-Dye Vest (30)
8 One Last Time (46)
9 Trial of Tears (6)
10

11 The Dance of Eternity (33)
12 The Spirit Carries On (26)
13 Surrounded (20)
14 Home (5)
15 Voices (7)
16 Pull Me Under (14)
17 The Mirror (27)
18 Finally Free (19)
19 The Silent Man (66)
20 Illumination Theory (25)
21 Caught In a Web (51)
22 6:00 (34)
24 Scarred  (12)
25 Fatal Tragedy  (13)
27 Wait For Sleep (44t)
28 Through Her Eyes  (74)
32 Awaken the Master (81)
33 Sleeping Giant (85)
35 Beyond This Life (24)
36 Strange Deja Vu (18)
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)
46 Under a Glass Moon (16)
47 Lie (47t)
48 Erotomania (40)
50 Answering the Call (75)
54 Beneath the Surface (64)
56 The Count of Tuscany (10)
57 Pale Blue Dot (62)
59 Transcending Time (90)
63 Bridges In the Sky (23)
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)
76 Breaking All Illusions (8)
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)
90 The Glass Prison (15)
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), 1 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (9)

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), In the Presence of Enemies (22),  Blind Faith (21), In the Name of God (11)

Rated: 65
Not rated: 33

[HOF]

ACOS remains my favorite long form DT epic for sure. Probably not a top 3 DT song for me, but it is very very good and I don't think they've topped it in terms of 20+ minute pieces. So many epic parts, but I'll always love the JP solo after "I won't let them push me away," the instrumental section that comes in after the siren/horn sound, and the Crimson Sunset section is just tremendous.

[romdrums]

Wow... TWO people omitted it.   

And it looks like one of them is Stadler.  To be fair, Stads is the one who has Cover My Eyes as his number 1, so, you know, TASTES. 

[hefdaddy42]

A Change of Seasons- My #1 with a bullet. The first 20+ minute prog epic I heard from any band, and still my favorite. Each section is unique while serving the whole piece, the band is firing on all cylinders, and the lyrics from MP are poignant. Not only my favorite DT song, my favorite song period.

All of this exactly, except the bolded (my favorite is Stranger In Your Soul by Transatlantic).

[WilliamMunny]

Man, this song is such a monster!

MP really shined lyrically on this. I think, for both him and JP, they are at their best when they are looking inward or going autobiographical.

A song like this is what elevated DT above bands like Maiden–the subject matter just hits you like a ton of bricks, especially as you begin to age and life starts dealing you shit-sandwiches.

Don't get me wrong, I will forever love 'Invaaaaaadddddderrrrrs....PILLAGING!," but "A Change of Seasons" has literally moved me to tears in multiple decades of my life.

[Mladen]

A Change of seasons was my #4. The closer we get to the number one, the less there is to say about certain songs. This one speaks for itself.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Never saw 8VM live, but I did see ACOS. It was truly epic.

[Lonk]

Wow... TWO people omitted it.   

And it looks like one of them is Stadler.  To be fair, Stads is the one who has Cover My Eyes as his number 1, so, you know, TASTES. 

Evermind was the other. Let's put them in the spotlight a little 

[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
125. Stream Of Consciousness
124. Through Her Eyes
123. Never Enough
122. The Alien
121. Afterlife
120. A Fortune In Lies
118. In The Presence Of Enemies
117. Breaking All Illusions
109. Outcry
105. Sleeping Giant
104. Surrender To Reason
103. A Change Of Seasons
----
100.Scarred
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.  The Glass Prison
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.  Finally Free
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.  The Count Of Tuscany
78.  Hollow Years
77.  Fatal Tragedy
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
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.  Illumination Theory
57.  The Bigger Picture
56.  One Last Time
55.  Pale Blue Dot
54.  Answering The Call
53.  Trial Of Tears
52.  Lost Not Forgotten
51.  Fall Into The Light
50.  No 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.  Slim 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.  Beyond This Life
36.  New Millenium
35.  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
34.  Wait For Sleep
33.  Transcending Time
32.  Blind Faith
31.  The Best Of Times
30.  Erotomania
29.  Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
28.  Our New World
27.  In The Name Of God
26.  Bridges In The Sky
25.  Raise The Knife
24.  6:00
23.  I Walk Beside You
22.  Slim chance of making the list at this point
21.  Sacrificed Sons
20.  Take The Time
19.  Caught In A Web
18.  No chance of making the list at this point
17.  Lock to make the list
16.  Octavarium
15.  Under A Glass Moon
14.  To Live Forever
13.  Home
12.  Slim chance of making the list
11.  Surrounded
10.  Lock to make the list
9.    Innocence Faded
8.    Pull Me Under
7.    This Dying Soul
6.    Misunderstood
5.    This Is The Life
4.    Overture 1928
3.    Strange Deja Vu
2.    Voices
1.    No chance of making the list at this point

Total respect for those that love it, and if it moves you, then I (legit) could not be happier, since that's the whole point of music, to CONNECT.  Probably the two best things I can say about this song is that it DOES connect - and has continued to do so over the years - and the lyrics (arguably Mike's best).   

But...  it just doesn't connect with me. 

My favorite album side epics are, in order, Alive Again, Supper's Ready, and either Octavarium or the live Suite Charlotte Pike medley with the Abbey Road interpolations.  Every one of them has a moment that is chill inducing (the Bill section in AA, the "There's an angel standing in the sun..." section in SR...).  There's just nothing in there that separates like that for me.  It also is sort of symbolic of the Derek-era, which is my least favorite (if you're counting by "keyboard players").  Maybe if it DID appear on an album, in context with other things, it might be different, but it feels like... not a throwaway, but like it's a ship without a port.   I also haven't seen it live, so there's that as well.

Lyrically, though... that's a tour de force.

[HOF]

Interesting that you mention some of the other side long epics. ACOS was definitely my first exposure to a long form epic song, so it's kind of the song I (at least initially) always compared other side long epics to. To me it does have several of those "chill inducing" moments (mentioned three of them in my earlier post).

[Ben_Jamin]

04. Octavarium - (#17)

Besides 6DOIT, Octavarium is the epic I like the most. I like the samples of the songs in each section of Intervals, I also like how some songs include the Octavarium melody like The Root of All Evil ending piano. I enjoy Someone Like Him, Medicate (Awakening), and Razors Edge the most

03. A Change of Seasons - (#29)

I first heard this song on Live Scenes. I borrowed a friends DVD and watched it with my dad. It was a great moment, and ACOS was a peak moment when I first heard it. I fell in love with Carpe Diem - Another World instantly. I prefer the transition into The Darkest of Winters on Live Scenes because "Please Don't Go!" adds so much emotion to that part, which I was a bit disappointed when I heard the album version and it didn't have that in there. It is neat hearing the demo/live versions of the song with KM. His keyboard solo spot in TDOW is neat. There are some parts of the earlier version I wish would've been kept like the fast paced part in The Inevitable Summer. Overall, This is still a fantastic song, and one I am glad I got to see live.

[MirrorMask]

A Change of Seasons was my number 2. The quintessential prog metal long song that still feels like a single song. Would have loved for the studio version to exist with Kevin Moore and pre-injury for James, but it's alright this way as well. Emotions and goosebumps all the way through. I'm glad I was able to hear it live twice, almost 20 years apart!

[pg1067]

Top 3:

03. A Change Of Seasons
Highest Finish: 1 (Adami, axeman90210, devieira73, Dream Team, hefdaddy42, jeff_kinsley, JPZealot, lucasembarbosa, pg1067, Revenge319, romdrums, Vmadera00)
Number of Lists appeared on: 64 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

Epic followed by another epic. ACOS is a great song through and through. It stay remarkably consistent throughout it's long runtime.

Damn!  TWO people didn't have ACOS in the top 100??!!  ACOS is perfect in every conceivable way.  Others have commented on the song itself, and the only point I'll make in that regard is that the production is spectacular.  It's one of the rare DT recordings with crystal clear bass, and some of JP's guitar tones (especially in The Darkest of Winters) are incredible.  A story:  I got into DT in the summer of 1992.  In July (I think) 1993, I bought my first computer.  By that time, I had seen DT four times.  Each time, the set consisted of the entirety of I&W, along with a song or two from WDADU and things like Puppies on Acid, To Live Forever and Eve.  After I got my computer, I got online using *Prodigy, and I found a tape trading board.  I had nothing to trade, but I found a guy who was willing to send me the 3/4/93 Limelight show if I sent him a blank tape.  I was familiar with almost everything, but there was this song called A Change of Seasons.  Holy crap!  This thing is amazing.  Is it going to be on the next album?  Nope....  Sigh....  Then, two years later, a friend called me and played the intro to ACOS over the phone.  That sounds cool.  Of course, I didn't recognize it because it was a new intro to the song.  I went out and bought the EP and was beyond blown away.  I pulled my tape out and compared.  Great song.  Great memories.

ACOS finished at #2 in the prior countdown.



List                                                    Not Ranked         
100  This Dying Soul (47T)                  Never Enough (100), The Gift of Music (98), Our New World (93), A New Beginning (91), New Millennium (87), Sleeping Giant (85), Awaken the Master (81), The Best of Times (77), To Live Forever (75T)
99  I Walk Beside You (80)                  Answering the Call (75T), Lost Not Forgotten (73), Fall into the Light (72), Honor Thy Father (71), Raise the Knife (65), The Great Debate (53), Peruvian Skies (44T), Disappear (41), The Mirror (27)
98  Far from Heaven (NR)
97  This Is the Life (88)
96  Prophets of War (NR)
95  A Rite of Passage (NR)
94  The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun (NR)
93  Lines in the Sand (28)
92  The Ministry of Lost Souls (61)
91  Build Me Up; Break Me Down (NR)
90  False Awakening Suite (NR)
89  Under a Glass Moon (16)
88  Another Day (38)
87  Innocence Faded (42)
86  Lie (47T)
85  In the Presence of Enemies (22)
84  Forsaken (95)
83  Enigma Machine (NR)
82  Erotomania (40)
81  The Spirit Carries On (26)
80
79  Vacant (97)
78  Wait for Sleep (44T)
77  The Silent Man (66)
76
75  A Fortune in Lies (78)
74
73  A Nightmare to Remember (50)
72
71  These Walls (54)
70
69  At Wit's End (37)
68  The Shattered Fortress (79)
67  The Dark Eternal Night (70)
66  Pale Blue Dot (62)
65  Transcending Time (90)
64
63  Space-Dye Vest (30)
62
61  Beneath the Surface (64)
60  Hell's Kitchen (57)
59  Afterlife (96)
58
57  Surrender to Reason (83T)
56
55  The Alien (69)
54  The Root of All Evil (36)
53  The Bigger Picture (60)
52  Trial of Tears (6)
51  Pull Me Under (14)
50
49  As I Am (43)
48  A View from the Top of the World (49)
47  Lifting Shadows off a Dream (35)
46  Behind the Veil (89)
45  The Glass Prison (15)
44  On the Backs of Angels (56)
43  Ytse Jam (67)
42  One Last Time (46)
41  Through Her Eyes (74)
40  The Dance of Eternity (33)
39  The Enemy Inside (83T)
38  Hollow Years (59)
37
36  Caught in a Web (51)
35  Barstool Warrior (52)
34  Endless Sacrifice (29)
33  Outcry (58)
32  6:00 (34)
31  The Looking Glass (92)
30  Bridges in the Sky (23)
29  Misunderstood (31)
28  S2N (94)
27  Wither (99)
26  Finally Free (19)
25  Overture 1928 (32)
24  Beyond This Life (24)
23  Take the Time (17)
22  Surrounded (20)
21  Strange Deja Vu (18)
20  Voices (7)
19  Sacrificed Sons (63)
18  Constant Motion (86) (high ranker)
17  Only a Matter of Time (82)
16  The Count of Tuscany (10)
15  The Killing Hand (68)
14  Panic Attack (55)
13  Illumination Theory (25)
12  Breaking All Illusions (8)
11  Stream of Consciousness (39)
10  Fatal Tragedy (13)
9  Blind Faith (21)
8  In the Name of God (11)
7  Scarred (12)
6  Home (5)
5  Octavarium (4)
4  Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (9)
3
2
1  A Change of Seasons (3) (high ranker)

[Metro]

100. Never Enough Not ranked
99.   Wither 77
98.   The Gift Of Music Not ranked
97.   Vacant Not ranked
96.   Afterlife 32
95.   Forsaken Not ranked
94.   S2N 52
93.   Our New World 80
92.   The Looking Glass 83
91.   A New Beginning 100
90.   Transcending Time 33
89.   Behind The Veil 86
88.   This Is The Life Not ranked
87.   New Millennium Not ranked
86.   Constant Motion 78
85.   Sleeping Giant 91
83t.  The Enemy Inside 89
83t.  Surrender To Reason 60
82.   Only A Matter Of Time Not ranked
81.   Awaken The Master 12
80.   I Walk Beside You Not ranked
79.   The Shattered Fortress 45
78.   A Fortune In Lies 94
77.   The Best Of Times 75
76.   The Live Forever 24
75.   Answering The Call 74
74.   Through Her Eyes Not ranked
73.   Lost Not Forgotten 95
72.   Fall Into The Light 51
71.   Honor Thy Father Not ranked
70.   The Dark Eternal Night 15
69.   The Alien 43
68.   The Killing Hand 81
67.   Ytse Jam 58
66.   The Silent Man 66
65.   Raise The Knife 65
64.   Beneath The Surface Not ranked
63.   Sacrificed Sons 30
62.   Pale Blue Dot 31
61.   The Ministry Of Lost Souls 76
60.   The Bigger Picture 41
59.   Hollow Years Not ranked
58.   Outcry 54
57.   Hell's Kitchen 69
56.   On The Backs Of Angels 27
55.   Panic Attack 98
54.   These Walls 59
53.   The Great Debate 85
52.   Barstool Warrior 35
51.   Caught In A Web 73
50.   A Nightmare To Remember 22
49.   A View From The Top Of The World 53
47t.  Lie 55
47t.  This Dying Soul 34
46.   One Last Time Not ranked
44t.  Peruvian Skies 61
44t.  Wait For Sleep 56
43.   As I Am 71
42.   Innocence Faded  29
41.   Disappear 62
40.   Erotomania 25
39.   Stream Of Consciousness Not ranked
38.   Another Day 42
37.   At Wit's End 37
36.   The Root Of All Evil 39
35.   Lifting Shadows Off A Dream 21
34.   6:00 67
33.   The Dance Of Eternity 63
32.   Overture 1928 64
31.   Misunderstood 50
30.   Space-Dye Vest 48
29.   Endless Sacrifice 97
28.   Lines In The Sand 14
27.   The Mirror 44
26.   The Spirit Carries On 23
25.   Illumination Theory 49
24.   Beyond This Life 10
23.   Bridges In The Sky 36
22.   In The Presence Of Enemies 40
21.   Blind Faith 20
20.   Surrounded 9
19.   Finally Free 11
18.   Strange Deja Vu 46
17.   Take The Time 8
16.   Under A Glass Moon 19
15.   The Glass Prison 6
14.   Pull Me Under 57
13.   Fatal Tragedy 28
12.   Scarred 38
11.   In The Name Of God 16
10.   The Count Of Tuscany 7
09.   Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence 3
08.   Breaking All Illusions 13
07.   Voices 17
06.   Trial Of Tears 26
05.   Home 18
04.   Octavarium 1
03.   A Change Of Seasons 4

[HOF]

Damn!  TWO people didn't have ACOS in the top 100??!!  ACOS is perfect in every conceivable way.  Others have commented on the song itself, and the only point I'll make in that regard is that the production is spectacular.  It's one of the rare DT recordings with crystal clear bass, and some of JP's guitar tones (especially in The Darkest of Winters) are incredible.  A story:  I got into DT in the summer of 1992.  In July (I think) 1993, I bought my first computer.  By that time, I had seen DT four times.  Each time, the set consisted of the entirety of I&W, along with a song or two from WDADU and things like Puppies on Acid, To Live Forever and Eve.  After I got my computer, I got online using *Prodigy, and I found a tape trading board.  I had nothing to trade, but I found a guy who was willing to send me the 3/4/93 Limelight show if I sent him a blank tape.  I was familiar with almost everything, but there was this song called A Change of Seasons.  Holy crap!  This thing is amazing.  Is it going to be on the next album?  Nope....  Sigh....  Then, two years later, a friend called me and played the intro to ACOS over the phone.  That sounds cool.  Of course, I didn't recognize it because it was a new intro to the song.  I went out and bought the EP and was beyond blown away.  I pulled my tape out and compared.  Great song.  Great memories.

ACOS finished at #2 in the prior countdown.

It's funny because originally I just hated that tiny, piccolo snare sound. It was kind of a major obstacle for me even though I really liked the song. These days I don't mind it so much, but I do still think the album sounds a bit lower budget compared to Awake and FII which bookend it.
It does have its own character and charm though.

[Dream Team]

Wow... TWO people omitted it.   

My number 2 song.  It too is flawless, and has one thing that 8vm lacks... a bunch of really crunch/heavy/metal riffs.  But it still lacks a certain je ne sais quois for me (vs 8vm) that leaves it at #2 on my list.

Fascinating ... ACOS had 12 people rate it #1, and left off of 2 lists; 8vm had 13 rate it #1, and left off of no lists - yet ACOS edges it out.

That's actually an intriguing viewpoint; I kinda feel the opposite in that ACoS has the heavier 7-string sections: the opening riff when the whole band kicks in and later on the "train" beat after that epic JP solo.

[devieira73]

ACoS (my #1) is my fave DT song since I've heard it for the first time in the live bootleg Dance of Eternity, wich is that New York show released later on as a Official Bootleg and LNF.  Surely the studio version managed to improve it even more. It has everything that is amazing in a DT song allied to their youthness and magic touch from I&W days. And, on top of that, it has the best and most epic DT lyrics until this day.

[Evermind]

Wow... TWO people omitted it.   

And it looks like one of them is Stadler.  To be fair, Stads is the one who has Cover My Eyes as his number 1, so, you know, TASTES. 

Evermind was the other. Let's put them in the spotlight a little 

Yeah, I said even before the countdown ACOS won't make my list.

A Change of Seasons - not ranked - it's not bad, not at all, just... not something I really like or care about. I think what really made it worse is that it's not on any DT album, and I mostly listen to albums. I did spin it a good number of times in the past (and a few times before the countdown too to see if my opinion has changed), but nowadays if I want to listen to DT, I'll just pick something else.

Stadler basically nailed it:

Total respect for those that love it, and if it moves you, then I (legit) could not be happier, since that's the whole point of music, to CONNECT.  Probably the two best things I can say about this song is that it DOES connect - and has continued to do so over the years - and the lyrics (arguably Mike's best).   

But...  it just doesn't connect with me. 

<snip>

Maybe if it DID appear on an album, in context with other things, it might be different, but it feels like... not a throwaway, but like it's a ship without a port.   I also haven't seen it live, so there's that as well.

[hefdaddy42]

Stadler basically nailed it:

Illogical

[Wim Kruithof]

Well, duh. Best song ever, and I wish ScurvyDreams was still here because back in the day he had an epic post about why ACOS is clearly better than OV. Surprised it fell to #3 but then again a lot of the newer younger fans don't seem to get it.

Relative new (although not young per se), but next to Octavarium, A Change of Seasons is my favorite song ever.

[CharlesPL]

ACOS - 3

[Indiscipline]

A Change of Seasons: 12. Their best and most cohesive epic, musically and lyrically (being ITPOE split in two). Only regret I have is it didn't get the FII sound production treatment, but I still have Live Scenes for a pretty good sounding iteration. It being ranked 12th is just the other 11 songs' fault.


The Score so far:

2 - Scarred
3 - The Spirit Carries On
4 - Lines in the Sand
5 - In the Presence of Enemies
6 - Trial of Tears
7 - Misunderstood
9 - Space-Dye Vest
10 -  Voices
11 - Beyond This Life
12 - A Change of Seasons
13 - Breaking All Illusions
14 - Stream of Consciousness
16 - Under a Glass Moon
17 - Bridges in the Sky
19 - Illumination Theory
21 - A New Beginning
23 - Disappear
24 - Pull Me Under
25 - Surrounded
26 - Fatal Tragedy
27 - The Best of Times
28 - Outcry
31 - Erotomania
32 - Strange Deja-Vu
33 - Surrender to Reason
34 - Take the Time
35 - Finally Free
36 - This Is the Life
38 - Hell's Kitchen
39 - The Count of Tuscany
42 - Another Day
43 - One Last Time
45 - Vacant
46 - The Gift of Music
47 - Beneath the Surface
48 - The Silent Man
49 - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
50 - In the Name of God
51 - Home
53 - Octavarium
54 - Peruvian Skies
55 - The Dance of Eternity
56 - The Bigger Picture
61 - Wait for Sleep
64 - Blind Faith
65 - Pale Blue Dot
68 - Our New World
69 - Overture 1928
70 - Innocence Faded
71 - Behind the Veil
72 - The Looking Glass
76 - Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
77 - At Wit's End
78 - Lie
79 - Hollow Years
87 - Ytse Jam
88 - The Mirror
89 - Through Her Eyes
90 - Lost Not Forgotten
91 - 6:00
92 - The Killing Hand
93 - Endless Sacrifice
95 - Barstool Warrior
96 - Fall Into the Light
97 - A Fortune in Lies

Not Ranked: 33

[The Realm]

A Change of Seasons - well I thought I was going to nail the top 2 but alas it didn't happen. Maybe missing two lists contributed. Sure it is all 'tastes' but this is also a forum of DT fans so being a fan of the band and leaving ACOS out of the top 100 doesn't compute with me and feels more like a 'look at me power grab' but anyway....my number 2 song.

[romdrums]

I haven't even begun to try to post my individual thoughts on each song that made the cut, but ACOS is my number 1. I became a DT fan in August of 1992, and I remember reading in MP's first interview with Modern Drummer, he talked about the song, and how they had wanted to include it on I&W, and when it didn't make it onto Awake, I was curious as to why. Then they released it on its own, with the Ronnie Scott cuts, and I really only listened to the title track anyway. But I listened to the shit out of it. Everyone talks about JP's Another World solo, but for me, his solo in The Darkest of Winters is where he really shines, and the transition from that into Derek's screaming synth solo was perfect. Also, this song is so much fun to play drums with. Got to see it live about 20 years ago (holy shit!!  ) as the encore and it was the perfect end to what remains my favorite DT live experience https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=39030.msg1675278#msg1675278.

[Stadler]

A Change of Seasons - well I thought I was going to nail the top 2 but alas it didn't happen. Maybe missing two lists contributed. Sure it is all 'tastes' but this is also a forum of DT fans so being a fan of the band and leaving ACOS out of the top 100 doesn't compute with me and feels more like a 'look at me power grab' but anyway....my number 2 song.

That's a pretty bold statement. 

I've been pretty up front over the years about what I like and what I don't like.   It doesn't always make sense, but then again, it's not about logic or reason, it's visceral.  Sure, things can change over the years, but it's not conscious.  If nothing else, I think my roulette performance over the years shows I'm not really in it for the "power grab".  I don't give a rat's ass what other people think of what I like nor do I care what they like (other than as friendly conversation); you don't experience the emotion when I listen, and I don't experience the emotion when you listen. 

When I'm in my car, or working around the house, or just need to escape, I listen to what moves me.  I'm so sorry it doesn't conform to the group, but ACOS doesn't move me.