When Dream and Day Unite. I can't really get past how wrong Charlie sounds here. Not bad, just wrong for the music, which is what the other guys said was not his fault, just a problem that needed correcting for them to go forward. Some good songwriting moments, but not much meat on the bone for me, despite the youthful exuberance,
Falling into Infinity. I&W and Awake were my two favorite albums, and I couldn't comprehend how they could release a dud such as this. I admit now that this came out at a horrible time in my life. There hasn't been since an album I wanted to like more. My life was shit, but surely a new DT album could help me through, right? RIGHT?! Nope. I cannot say how much of that experience helped shape my negative opinion of this album. I just never liked it, outside of ToT and HY's Budokan resurgence, this album does nothing for me.
After these two, it gets a lot harder. And maybe goes by process of elimination.
It isn't I&W, Awake, Scenes, 6D (though I only love maybe half that album), ToT, 8VM, SC, or any of the 4 MM albums. Which leaves:
BC&SL. This album isn't terribly offensive in any way, well... other than ARoP, that part in ANtR, and largely forgettable vocal melodies and lyrics (though lyrics are often the last thing I am critical of). This album is just kinda... there. Rarely do I ever think "hey, I wanna listen to that song from BC&SL!"
So, what's #4?
5 minutes later....
Scenes is great. I never listen to 6D disc 2, but disc 1 is so damn good. ToT, 8VM, and SC have their share of duds, but there is so much on them all I highly enjoy. I rank ADToE among their best. DT12 has fewer highs than other albums but not many lows. I like TA more than many here. And while I don't love DoT, it is still quite good.
I don't know. Proverbial gun to head... DT12. Could be a different answer tomorrow.