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

[Dave_Manchester]

1. This Dying Soul
2. In The Name of God
3. Stream of Consciousness
4. Blind Faith
5. Breaking All Illusions
6. Disappear
7. Endless Sacrifice
8. Octavarium
9. A Change of Seasons
10. Trial of Tears
11. Home
12. Outcry
13. Misunderstood
14. Finally Free
15. Bridges in the Sky
16. Voices
17. The Count of Tuscany
18. The Glass Prison
19. Erotomania
20. As I Am
21. The Great Debate
22. The Shattered Fortress
23. Answering The Call
24. In The Presence of Enemies
25. Lines in the Sand
26. Surrounded
27. Awaken The Master
28.
29. Pull Me Under
30. The Root of all Evil
31. Illumination Theory
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. Take The Time
40. Fatal Tragedy
41. The Best of Times
42. On The Backs of Angels
43. Scarred
44. Beyond This Life
45. The Mirror
46. Panic Attack
47. Lie
48. Another Day
49. The Alien
50.
51. Behind the Veil
52. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
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. Strange Deja Vu
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. Under A Glass Moon
97.
98. Constant Motion
99.
100. The Enemy Inside


A Change Of Seasons came in at #9 for me. If this countdown had been about what I consider to be the band's 'objectively best' songs (#FreeWildRanger) then I'd probably place it at the top. Compositionally it's a masterpiece. I just don't listen to it all that much these days, hence its position on my list.

[Dave_Manchester]

Who's up for a pre-'top 2' forum competition?

I'm guessing Reaper will reveal the full list in the next 1 or 2 days, so which song do you think just missed out and came in at position #101? No lists of possibles, you can name only 1. I'm going with Take Away My Pain.

[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.

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.

All good I was just checking if anyone reads my posts, as it normally doesn't feel like it. So thanks for reading and replying. I know you have your own very bold takes - as I definitely read your posts and have done so for many, many years even on MP's forum when that was open but I still really struggle to connect to understanding how a DT fan cannot have ACOS in their top 100. But you have done your best to explain it and I guess I am just a bit miffed ACOS didn't rank at 2 overall..

[Indiscipline]

Who's up for a pre-'top 2' forum competition?

I'm guessing Reaper will reveal the full list in the next 1 or 2 days, so which song do you think just missed out and came in at position #101? No lists of possibles, you can name only 1. I'm going with Take Away My Pain.

I go with The Answer Lies Within (FWIW, my #22)

[MirrorMask]

That's actually a difficult question.

I wanted to guess The Answer Lies Within as well anyway.

[pg1067]

Who's up for a pre-'top 2' forum competition?

I'm guessing Reaper will reveal the full list in the next 1 or 2 days, so which song do you think just missed out and came in at position #101? No lists of possibles, you can name only 1. I'm going with Take Away My Pain.

There were seven songs that made the top 100 this time that didn't make it last time:  Wither and six songs from View.  That means seven songs that made the list last time didn't make it this time.  Five of those songs were clustered together, and only one made my list (which I regard as relevant since I didn't participate last time), so that's the one I'm going to guess:  A Life Left Behind.  BTW, TAMP finished at #110 last time, and TALW finished at #122.

[Setlist Scotty]

I'll also go with an Astonishing song, but my pick is Moment of Betrayal, with I thought was a given for this - one of the few I was expecting to make it.

I could also list my #3 which didn't make the list - unsurprising since it didn't make it last time, but I remember Kev, who also loves the song, told me it just barely missed the list. However, with more people contributing lists this time, the chances of it being 101 are even less than last time.

[wolfking]

I also had ACOS at number 3.  The LSFNY video of this song is one of my most watched live vids of all time, it's fucking perfect.



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 Lines in the Sand
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 Surrounded
61 On the Backs of Angels
60 Beyond This Life
59 Trial of Tears
58 Afterlife
57 Caught In A Web
56 Breaking All Illusions
55 Visions
54 The Great Debate
53 A Nightmare to Remember
52 Erotomania
51 Answering the Call
50 The Spirit Carries On
49 Space-Dye Vest
48 The Shattered Fortress
47 Finally Free
46 As I Am
45 Bridges in the Sky
44 The Dark Eternal Night
43
42 Never Enough
41 Wait For Sleep
40 6:00
39 Strange Deja Vu
38 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulance
37 The Bigger Picture
36 Outcry
35 Take the Time
34 Lie
33 The Root of All Evil
32 I Walk Beside You
31 Overture 1928
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 Under A Glass Moon
21 In the Presence of Enemies
20 Behind the Veil
19 Honor Thy Father
18 Pull Me Under
17 The Dance of Eternity
16 In the Name of God
15 Fatal Tragedy
14 The Count of Tuscany
13 These Walls
12 At Wit's End
11 The Mirror
10 Scarred
9 Home
8 The Glass Prison
7
6 Blind Faith
5 Illumination Theory
4
3 A Change of Seasons
2 This Dying Soul.
1 Octavarium

[Jamesman42]

25. Illumination Theory (91st) DREAM THEATER, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, DO MORE STUFF IN THE VEIN OF THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THIS SONG. SO GOOD.
24. Beyond This Life (88th) I'm a SFAM hater, what can I say? It's an okay song though.
23. Bridges In The Sky (8th) This song could be top 5 but the intro is too long, it's otherwise a stellar song. When JLB sings "crossing bridges in the sky", it's so good.
22. In The Presence Of Enemies (28th) Cool epic on a weird album. I don't like the Dark Master part. Everything else is good. Odd song for DT, though.
21. Blind Faith (42nd) Easily the worst track of SDOIT but still just fine.
20. Surrounded (25th) What a lovely song. Just, so bouncy but then a bit serious. DT does this style of song nicely.
19. Finally Free (76th) SFAM, yeah....
18. Strange Deja Vu (89th) Lol. The "uncanny strange deja vu" does pop into my mind at times.
17. Take The Time (19th) The energy in this song is really vibrant. JLB is having fun and the music is good.
16. Under A Glass Moon (67th) It's a fine song, with a cool intro. It's always been the weakest or second weakest track on IaW to me, though.
15. The Glass Prison (3rd) This is 15th and I am shocked. I know some of the songs remaining, but I thought this was one of the most favored songs. Interesting. Anyway, this song is just pure gas for a long time.
14. Pull Me Under (77th) This and UAGM are fine songs, but they can swap being the worst or 2nd worst on the album, but they have stiff competition. Also surprised this is so high, is it because it's their most famous song?
13. Fatal Tragedy (90th) What a canyon between my ranking and the consensus. Yeah, it's a SFAM song, for some reason that album doesn't gel with me.
12. Scarred (69th) It's a fine song, but I often forget how it even sounds when I see it talked about.
11. In The Name Of God (13th) Hell yeah. I avoided this song for a while when this album was the new stuff, IDK why, I just was loving the rest of the album and this was the last song. It is pretty much flawless. I love the choir at the end, subtle enough to enjoy (and JLB's screaming as well).
10. The Count Of Tuscany (6th) This (and several other songs) are what DT do best in the modern era (I am thinking post-8VM). You can have the metal in "prog metal" but don't leave behind the prog, or the beautiful melodies and tight compositions. The intro might be a top 5, maybe a top 3 DT intro, musically speaking. The ending is great, it's fun to sing and play on the acoustic (capo on 4th fret).
09. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (4th) I hate ranking this as a single song. Like others, this is a collection of 8 different ideas/tracks/songs, but they're all great songs (maybe besides Goodnight Kiss, that one is decent). But since we have to bow to the wishes of the almighty band, here we are. Not my actual 4th favorite, but yeah, each part is a great picture of different mental illnesses. Favorites include Solitary Shell, The Test..., and Losing Time.
08. Breaking All Illusions (11th) 3rd best song from the MM era. It just slaps, and it does it better than Learning to Live.
07. Voices (40th) Excellent song, but 7th?! Wow. But I think I get it, it's not a prog epic but an emotional song with a lot of good stuff.
06. Trial Of Tears (31st) Great song from a weird era. Not on the hype train to be 6th best, that is pretty mind-blowing to me.
05. Home (65th) I don't get why people rate this so highly. I deduced it would be in the top 6, and I gave it a listen today and...yeah, there is some powerful music happening there, I can kinda see it being a big hit, but to make top 5, I don't know what I am missing.
04. Octavarium (2nd) This song is one of the best songs ever made to me. Intervals is especially awesome, but every part is its own little world, and I love visiting each part each time.
03. A Change Of Seasons (5th) Really 4th because we cannot dare break up SDOIT, this song is incredible. How can you not love "I'm sick of all you hypocrites holding me at bay!!!". In fact, that is a top 3 DT moment for me, it has an atmosphere that is indescribably beautiful.

[NoFred]

Who's up for a pre-'top 2' forum competition?

I'm guessing Reaper will reveal the full list in the next 1 or 2 days, so which song do you think just missed out and came in at position #101? No lists of possibles, you can name only 1. I'm going with Take Away My Pain.

There were seven songs that made the top 100 this time that didn't make it last time:  Wither and six songs from View.  That means seven songs that made the list last time didn't make it this time.  Five of those songs were clustered together, and only one made my list (which I regard as relevant since I didn't participate last time), so that's the one I'm going to guess:  A Life Left Behind.  BTW, TAMP finished at #110 last time, and TALW finished at #122.

I'll guess ALLB too, I'm guessing I might be top ranker for that one, would be cool to see top rankers for the songs that didn't make it

[jingle.boy]

I think it's hard to go by the songs from the last countdown that just missed the cut, as there are more than DOUBLE the amount of people participating this time.

I'll go with The Answer Lies Within. Though, it ought to be Another Won.

[Jamesman42]

The Answer Lies Within is special to me. A friend in 2008 wasn't a DT fan but in my car, he heard that song and loved it and would tell me every time I saw him. He died a few months later and that's a strong memory for me.

[jammindude]

I'll abide by KKs preference, but I'm anxiously awaiting a time we can talk about our "dark horses". That would be, songs you had very high on the list (top 20-ish) that didn't make the list at all, but you were hoping might make a showing.

I think it would be cool if everyone too a moment to highlight and talk about their highest rated song that didn't make the list at all.

[ReaperKK]

Jammin don't feel like you can't talk about that stuff now.

Personally my number 1 was "The Way It Used To Be" I really love that song and unlike a lot of DT's earlier work it hasn't aged in a bad way. No chance it was making the list here but I still had my hopes.

[jammindude]

And now, after I say that and then get the greenlight, I realize that I didn't have anything in the top 20 that didn't make it. 

But I did have a couple just outside the top 20 that I'm really sorry didn't end up making a showing at all.

My highest ranking song that did not make the list was Eve at 22. I understand that most of the metalheads here probably think it's incredibly boring, but I think it's one of the most beautiful emotionally laden pieces of music that dream theater has ever written.

Maybe it's just because a lot of people haven't heard it. I remember that I had a friend who formed a dream theater cover band locally, and he hired a drummer, who was a fairly big dream theater fan and was familiar with most of their album work but had never heard any of the B-sides or demos. I begged him to please check out Eve, and he actually got in contact with me a couple days later just to tell me how completely blown away he was. 

Even though it's definitely not the last song that Kevin wrote for the band it was a B-side in the awake sessions, and feels just as much like a Kevin "swan song" as SDV does.

Eve is just an incredibly gorgeous piece of music. And I even love MP's tasteful cymbal work on the quiet parts. The whole band just nails it.

[Cool Chris]

Had this at #2. Like others I did not hear this until Live Scenes. I knew the EP existed, but with limited funds I was not going to buy a CD with a bunch of cover songs I was never going to listen to and one new song.

[jammindude]

Had this at #2. Like others I did not hear this until Live Scenes. I knew the EP existed, but with limited funds I was not going to buy a CD with a bunch of cover songs I was never going to listen to and one new song.

To be fair, it was "EP priced". Full album at the time ran 14-18 bucks. That EP sold for $9.99, and you got a full side of new music and some B-side live covers as a bonus. Considering it was not sold at full price (and was still 57 minutes long) I think it was very much worth it.

[Cool Chris]

Had this at #2. Like others I did not hear this until Live Scenes. I knew the EP existed, but with limited funds I was not going to buy a CD with a bunch of cover songs I was never going to listen to and one new song.

To be fair, it was "EP priced". Full album at the time ran 14-18 bucks. That EP sold for $9.99, and you got a full side of new music and some B-side live covers as a bonus. Considering it was not sold at full price, I think it was very much worth it.

Sure, but I was also a dumb kid and was never going to come to those conclusions myself. 

[HOF]

Jammin don't feel like you can't talk about that stuff now.

Personally my number 1 was "The Way It Used To Be" I really love that song and unlike a lot of DT's earlier work it hasn't aged in a bad way. No chance it was making the list here but I still had my hopes.

This is a top 10 DT song for me too. It's awesome.

[porcacultor]

3. A Change of Seasons - Had it at 38 (funny, most of the rank toppers so far ended up in the 30-50 range in my list. barring the next two  )

Now for jammindude's proposals:

- My highest song that didn't rank at all was Take Away My Pain at #10. And it's not because of MP's preferred live version, as fine as it is – I'm a sucker for everything they did to the song in the studio. I get why the percussion and "beachy" vibes may put people off, but it's ear candy for me. Plus, the whole lyrical inversion from the first to the last stanza is just... beautiful. This band knows how to tug at the heart strings, I'll tell you that.

- My dark horse (in terms of a song that I definitely thought would make the collective list, though definitely not as high as I ranked it), was Status Seeker at #17. Definitely a high point in WDADU for me. While they've often drunk at the fountain of Rush, this time they toyed with 80s Rush ideas and I am HERE for it. Plus it's got the distinction of being the origin of the "You're running in circles" bit from that very elaborate animated gif version of the "Get DT to the new album" meme prompt that surfaces at every new album cycle. That has to count for something.

[Evermind]

Who's up for a pre-'top 2' forum competition?

I'm guessing Reaper will reveal the full list in the next 1 or 2 days, so which song do you think just missed out and came in at position #101? No lists of possibles, you can name only 1. I'm going with Take Away My Pain.

My pick is also Moment of Betrayal.

Re: "power grab" thing, as I said, I never listen to ACOS these days, so I don't see a reason to include it in my Top 100 just based on the fact the rest of the forum loves it.

[HOF]

One of the reasons I didn't submit a list is there literally aren't 100 DT songs that I really like or know well enough to rank with any degree of meaning. So it's really hard for me to imagine liking 100 DT songs more than ACOS. But everyone is entitled to their own opinions and tastes!

[Wim Kruithof]

Though, it ought to be Another Won.

So true. What a wonderful piece. I'll throw my coin on the helpless child that doesn't belong, Anna Lee.

[nobloodyname]

My top three unranked songs were Regression at 37, The Answer Lies Within at 39 and Prophets of War at 42.

[jammindude]

My top three unranked songs were Regression at 37, The Answer Lies Within at 39 and Prophets of War at 42.

Oh man. I only originally ranked 163 songs after removing Nomac songs and "bootleg only" offshoots. 163 was Prophets of War. 

But then again, 162 was Viper King, and I imagine some people like that too.

[Zydar]

My Top 3 unranked songs were Take Away My Pain (#18), Anna Lee (#33), and Status Seeker (#45).

[MirrorMask]

My top ranking songs that didn't make the cut are all Astonishing and b-sides. The Answer Lies Within was probably the first that wasn't either.

[Evermind]

My top three were Moment of Betrayal (26), Out of Reach (42) and Three Days (45). If we don't count TA, I had A Rite of Passage (47) and Repentance (49).

[nobloodyname]

My top three unranked songs were Regression at 37, The Answer Lies Within at 39 and Prophets of War at 42.

Oh man. I only originally ranked 163 songs after removing Nomac songs and "bootleg only" offshoots. 163 was Prophets of War. 

But then again, 162 was Viper King, and I imagine some people like that too.

Heh! I know Prophets of War is unpopular but I genuinely like it. Would be pleasantly surprised if I wasn't its highest ranker.

Reaper, any chance of sharing the entire list of songs together which each song's highest ranker? Only once the official rankings are over, of course. No idea how much work that'd be but it'd be quite interesting.

[MirrorMask]

I'm not the top ranker of any song in the top 100 - save for my number 1, which I'm bound to share a lot of top rankers with.

From posts from other users I assume I won't even be the top ranker of some Astonishing songs, I'll probably be the top ranker for a couple of non album tracks. And possibly one of their most disliked songs from FII 

[Animal]

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.

I applaud you sir. You have expressed your thoughts on a massively popular song that you just don't happen to like as much as others, yet you didn't succumb to the urge to call it "overated".

[Animal]

ACOS (5)   The only "epic" in my S+tier, pantheon or whatever we call the group of songs that belong to that small elite group that is closest to our heart. Among the Top 5, I like it best by far so I was rooting for it to win. Fascinating ride from the start to finish, often makes you think, "this section has to be the best one in the song, only to find yourself reconsidering that just a minute later. And, along with The Killing Hand, best showcase for the powerhouse of a singer James Kevin Labrie once was (to this pair of ears).

My highest rated non-Top 100 is the same like my tip for n. 101: Ravenskill I had it at 16.

[MirrorMask]

Case in point for what I just posted: Ravenskill was my 40  and my second top ranking Astonishing song.

[Indiscipline]

My Top 3 not ranked are A Life Left Behind, Three Days ,and The Answer Lie Within.

[nobloodyname]

I had Three Days at 91 and Lord Nafaryus at 100.

Am I right in saying Untethered Angel wasn't ranked? Well, unless we all get a surprise today or tomorrow. I was wondering if that was the only opening song not to be ranked but there's also the one from The Astonishing, whatever it's called (sorry), and Rite of Passage. And Regression.