I tend to consider the 12th as the most balanced album in DT's catalogue, featuring everything the guys are about without sacrificing any aspects in favour of others.
This is probably the most succinct statement about DT12 and I agree with it completely. At the same time, I think that is also what makes it a little underwhelming because each song is great and very few go beyond that. With each DT album you expect many "wow" moments and this one just didn't have many. It also had few if any low moments.
-False Awakening Suite: Would have been much cooler with a full orchestra. The keyboards feel kind of cheesy to me and just doesn't set a great tone for the album.
-The Enemy Inside - Somewhat basic.
-The Looking Glass - This is an excellent song that I just don't feel like listening to much. When I do, I think, "Man, this is a great song."
-Enigma Machine - Honestly, I feel this is their best instrumental. I think I'm in the minority that thinks Dance of Eternity is very overrated and boring. Enigma Machine is full of great riffs, showmanship, and feels like you're taken on a journey.
-The Bigger Picture - One of Dream Theater's best songs, bar none. This has absolutely everything you could ask for in a DT song without it becoming a bloviating mess. Was surprised to hear JLB also considers it possibly DT's best song.
-Behind the Veil - Much like looking glass, this is an excellent song I don't have a desire to listen to much.
-Surrender To Reason - Another excellent song I have no desire to listen to often. I also think it's interesting how, without fail, people praise Myung's lyrics and for good reason, they're excellent. There's hardly been any talk about this one though and I have to admit they don't reach me like the others. Still great lyrics though and I would much rather have this than no Myung lyrics at all.
-Along for the Ride - Much like The Bigger Picture, I think this is one of DT's great songs and it bums me out that more people don't love it like I do. I think this could replace The Spirit Carries on as an anthem for the band, something to sing along to that they could play at a lot of their shows but I get the feeling most people just feel it is sort of average. I love Jordan's patch he uses for the solo (the same one he uses for Beneath the Surface). The eerie guitar intro helps to set a great tone for the song.
-Illumination Theory - An amazing epic that stands apart from all of the others. It almost has too different of a feel that I don't know if it is a good thing overall or bad. I have nothing bad to say about the song so I guess it's good, and I love every single second of it, but it is a bit more conventional than a lot of their others which makes it somewhat unconventional for DT. Perhaps I'm overthinking it because in the end I love the hell out of it and that should be all that matters for music.