Hello, it's my first post here... I decided to start from the simplest thread
Well, some of people who know me, know I have a quite different order than most...
'Masterpiece' level: 1. Scenes From a Memory - the most awesome album I've ever heard for now. Perfect balance between heavy and light, light and dark, atmosphere and technicality, lyrics and instrumental. Great concept made out of two simple stories... this album is simply made of perfection. And finally, there's my all-time favourite: Home.
'Excellent' level: 2. Awake - sorry, but no matter what, I've always loved it much more than I&W from the older albums. It's much more mature, darker, better-written and much more varied. Also, a progression in technical skills can be heard. Definitely doesn't feel old and this is the 'young DT' at their best.
3a. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - their most 'epic' album for now in every possible way. 6 songs and nearly 100 minutes, the only album without any single-oriented song, and the huge suite which has the whole DT spirit in it - from the ballad parts, through the more epic parts, ending at heavy, metal craziness. I love both CDs and this album as a whole.
3b. Systematic Chaos - sad to see I'm in a definite minority in this... I see lots of people hating this album, and I really don't know the reasons. There's not a single song on the album I dislike, every one has something good and interesting about it, and on this album they took a more daring step forward and experimented more than usual. There's the huge, even a bit "power-metallish" In The Presence of Enemies (having, in my opinion, one of the best James' vocal performances ever), melancholic Repentance (I can really feel the emotion in this song, and I love the minimalistic way in which the instruments they used, but managing to achieve the maximum effect... especially the electric guitar in the background during the choir part), insane The Dark Eternal Night (this song is really hilarious and fun), and there are my two favourites - Constant Motion (yes, in my opinion it's one of the best "short" songs they've ever created, and it's a real killer live) and The Ministry of Lost Souls. In my opinion - a great, consistent album.
'Great' level: 4. Octavarium - well, I definitely have a kind of sentiment for this album, as this is the one that got me into DT. It's certainly one of the lighter ones, but with style. Octavarium, Sacrificed Sons and The Root of All Evil are one of their best ever imo, and the album as a whole has a lot of strong points and very good ideas. I like the 'light and happy' songs less (The Answer Lies Within and I Walk Beside You), but can't say they're bad. An album I'd recommend to someone to start listening to DT from.
5. Train of Thought - darkness, metal and technicality. They wanted to show they can be great in 'pure' metal, and they succeeded. In a few moments, some parts are too long, but the album as a whole is a very strong one, with Vacant and In The Name of God being among my DT favourites.
'Very good' level: 6. Images & Words - ...well, many of you will probably think I rated it too low. But although I definitely understand the historical significance of this album (there would be no SFAM, no Awake... well, there would be nothing without it), personally I consider it to be weaker than a lot of people consider it to be. First, it lacks the variety DT have always been capable of - yes, it's definitely varied, but to a much smaller extent than any of their later albums. Second, I kind of don't feel the strength here, the album seems a bit laid back. Third, it's simpler than any of their later works. Wait for Sleep and Learning to Live are definitely awesome, with Pull Me Under not far behind, but I just can't appreciate this album as much as a lot of people do. Sorry.
7. Falling Into Infinity - inconsistent. That's the worst weakness of this album. Some songs are truly great (Peruvian Skies, Lines In The Sand [CIM version is even better], Just Let Me Breathe, Trial of Tears), some are good, and then... there are some with either a bit of wasted potential, or just not good enough (New Millenium, You Not Me [pretty cool riffs, but killed by trying to make it radio-friendly], Hollow Years [though the new, extended version is plain awesome]). Though, there's also Raise The Knife from Score... after hearing this song, I definitely don't doubt that this album could be much better if DT could do it all by themselves instead of being forced into doing anything (and I'm thinking about buying the FII Demos).
'Good' level: 8. When Dream And Day Unite - the difficult beginning. It can be heard that they are DT, with all their ideas and creativity, but still needing a bit of a final touch and more experience. Also, the production definitely doesn't sound good anymore. However - still a lot of fun to listen to, anyway.
That's all... sorry, I got a bit carried away.
I haven't added Black Clouds and Silver Linings for now for a reason, I'll write more about it in thread dedicated to it, but what I can say for now is... it belongs to the 'excellent' level. I'll give it more time though, for a colder perspective.