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

[TAC]

40. Erotomania
Highest Finish: 5 (KevShmev)
Number of Lists appeared on: 59 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, DragonAttack, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Fonzie, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

39. Stream Of Consciousness
Highest Finish: 2 (Podaar)
Number of Lists appeared on: 58 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, DragonAttack, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

38. Another Day (tied with Zydar)
Highest Finish: 3 (Zydar)
Number of Lists appeared on: 63 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, 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, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

I had Erotomania at #51.
For years, my Awake CD started at Erotomania. I have always loved it. My second fave DT instrumental.

I had Stream Of Consciousness at #78.
It has its moments, but overall, it's a bit of a slog, but it's glorious moments are indeed glorious.

I had Another Day at #86.
Phenomenal vocal by James. Such a comforting song.



List                                                    Not Ranked         
100                                                      Wither
99                                                        Vacant
98                                                        Our New World
97                                                        The Looking Glass
96                                                        Transcending Time
95  Lie                                                  Behind The Veil
94                                                        New Millenium   
93  Caught In A Web                              Constant Motion
92                                                        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
83
82
81
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
71
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
56
55
54  Barstool Warrior
53
52
51  Erotomania
50
49
48
47
46
45
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
37  Fall Into The Light
36
35  The Gift Of Music
34
33  Peruvian Skies
32
31  Ytse Jam
30
29
28  The Enemy Inside
27
26  Only A Matter Of Time
25
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
16  The Alien
15
14  The Best Of Times
13
12
11  Lost Not Forgotten.
10
9
8
7  Disappear
6
5
4  The Killing Hand
3
2
1




47 -16

[energythief]

Rank. Song Name - My Ranking
100. Never Enough - my 59
99.   Wither - my 92
98.   The Gift Of Music (No ranking)
97.   Vacant - my 29
96.   Afterlife (No ranking)
95.   Forsaken - my 21 - I was the high vote for this one!
94.   S2N (No ranking)
93.   Our New World (No ranking)
92.   The Looking Glass - my 83
91.   A New Beginning (No ranking)
90.   Transcending Time (No ranking)
89.   Behind The Veil (No ranking)
88.   This Is The Life - my 82
87.   New Millennium - my 16
86.   Constant Motion - my 84
85.   Sleeping Giant (No ranking)
83t.  The Enemy Inside (No ranking)
83t.  Surrender To Reason - my 67
82.   Only A Matter Of Time  (No ranking)
81.   Awaken The Master (No ranking)
80.   I Walk Beside You - my 35
79.   The Shattered Fortress - my 100
78.   A Fortune In Lies (No ranking)
77.   The Best Of Times - my 96
76.   To Live Forever - my 85
75.   Answering The Call (No ranking)
74.   Through Her Eyes - my 50
73.   Lost Not Forgotten - my 15
72.   Fall Into The Light (No ranking)
71.   Honor Thy Father - my 69
70.   The Dark Eternal Night (No ranking)
69.   The Alien - my 86
68.   The Killing Hand  (No ranking)


Since my last post...


67.   Ytse Jam (No ranking)
66.   The Silent Man - my 79
65.   Raise The Knife (No ranking)
64.   Beneath The Surface - my 52
63.   Sacrificed Sons (No ranking)
62.   Pale Blue Dot (No ranking)
61.   The Ministry Of Lost Souls - my 57
60.   The Bigger Picture - my 74
59.   Hollow Years - my 64
58.   Outcry - my 49
57.   Hell's Kitchen - my 61
56.   On The Backs Of Angels - my 31
55.   Panic Attack - my 93
54.   These Walls - my 81
53.   The Great Debate - my 32
52.   Barstool Warrior (No ranking)
51.   Caught In A Web - my 73
50.   A Nightmare To Remember - my 99
49.   A View From The Top Of The World (No ranking)
47t.  Lie - my 20
47t.  This Dying Soul - my 47
46.   One Last Time - my 46
44t.  Peruvian Skies - my 9
44t.  Wait For Sleep - my 43
43.   As I Am - my 89
42.   Innocence Faded - my 75
41.   Disappear - my 24
40.   Erotomania - my 77
39.   Stream Of Consciousness - my 60
38.   Another Day - my 63


Of the latest batch:

• I matched the community rank for for This Dying Soul and One Last Time.
• I forgot to rank Ytse Jam and Raise the Knife. Had I done that, I'd have gladly seen The Shattered Fortress and A Nightmare to Remember fall out of my top 100.
• I don't have enough listens of AVFTTOTW to rank most of the songs on it. I'll need to remedy that.

[Dave_Manchester]

Catching up...

1. This Dying Soul
2.
3. Stream of Consciousness
4.
5.
6. Disappear
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Outcry
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. Erotomania
20. As I Am
21. The Great Debate
22. The Shattered Fortress
23. Answering The Call
24.
25.
26.
27. Awaken The Master
28.
29.
30.
31.
32. Forsaken
33. A View From The Top Of The World
34.
35.
36. Beneath The Surface
37. Innocence Faded
38. Peruvian Skies
39.
40.
41. The Best of Times
42. On The Backs of Angels
43.
44.
45.
46. Panic Attack
47. Lie
48. Another Day
49. The Alien
50.
51. Behind the Veil
52.
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.
64. Barstool Warrior
65.
66. Hell's Kitchen
67.
68.
69. The Bigger Picture
70.
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.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86. Surrender To Reason
87.
88. Vacant (lowest ranked song from ToT)
89.
90.
91. One Last Time
92. The Looking Glass
93. A Fortune In Lies
94. Ytse Jam
95. Afterlife
96.
97.
98. Constant Motion
99.
100. The Enemy Inside

[Dave_Manchester]

Absolutely love Stream of Consciousness, and for those who haven't heard it, now is as good a time as any to plug the winners of Dream Theater's Stream of Consciousness Songwriting Competition from back in the day. It's fantastic, especially the middle section (which I think is the only relatively weak spot of DT's song)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXz5E9qZUkw

[pg1067]

Despite all virtuosity displayed on Erotomania (my #39), that more melodic part from 2:38 to 3:41 is maybe my favorite part of the song. It's just gorgeous, specially that JP slow solo.

Agree, and I'd take it even further - to the 4:23 mark where they revisit the intro riff and then go into that fast classical bit.  It's a vibe that we haven't really heard from DT in a long time, and I wish they'd do that sort of thing again.

[HOF]

It's the fast classical bit that always annoyed me. Never really been a fan of that sort of "rocking with Mozart" type of thing.

[devieira73]

Despite all virtuosity displayed on Erotomania (my #39), that more melodic part from 2:38 to 3:41 is maybe my favorite part of the song. It's just gorgeous, specially that JP slow solo.

Agree, and I'd take it even further - to the 4:23 mark where they revisit the intro riff and then go into that fast classical bit.  It's a vibe that we haven't really heard from DT in a long time, and I wish they'd do that sort of thing again.

Indeed very special and very Malmsteen, but done better, with a  DT mentality, so to speak.

[TAC]

Despite all virtuosity displayed on Erotomania (my #39), that more melodic part from 2:38 to 3:41 is maybe my favorite part of the song. It's just gorgeous, specially that JP slow solo.

Agree, and I'd take it even further - to the 4:23 mark where they revisit the intro riff and then go into that fast classical bit.  It's a vibe that we haven't really heard from DT in a long time, and I wish they'd do that sort of thing again.

Indeed very special and very Malmsteen, but done better, with a  DT mentality, so to speak.

YES! Love that part!!

[wolfking]

I had Erotomania at 52.  Wonderful instrumental.

SOC I had at 84.  It's a bit long and could have at least 4 minutes cut from it.  It's very nice but after that amazing JP solo, it overstays its welcome.  Always thought it needed another solo later in the song to mix it up.

Another Day came in for me at 27.  What an absolute amazing, beautiful song.  Just glorious.


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
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
61 On the Backs of Angels
60 
59
58 Afterlife
57 Caught In A Web
56
55
54 The Great Debate
53 A Nightmare to Remember
52 Erotomania
51 Answering the Call
50
49
48 The Shattered Fortress
47
46 As I Am
45
44 The Dark Eternal Night
43
42 Never Enough
41 Wait For Sleep
40
39
38
37 The Bigger Picture
36 Outcry
35 
34 Lie
33
32 I Walk Beside You
31
30 A View From the Top of the World
29 Surrender to Reason
28 Barstool Warrior
27 Another Day
26
25
24 Innocence Faded
23
22
21
20 Behind the Veil
19 Honor Thy Father
18
17
16
15
14
13 These Walls
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2 This Dying Soul.
1

[Jamesman42]

49t. A View From The Top Of The World (NR) I gave this song 5 chances and I was never impressed. I do intend to give it more chances, maybe it'll click one day.
49t. A Nightmare To Remember (68th) Much of this song is pretty good, and then Beautiful Agony is many tiers above it. It's too long, though.
47t. Lie (72nd) Really cool song, maybe should be higher for me, and the instrumental rocks.
47t. This Dying Soul (34th) The moment that riff hits and the band comes in...come on! So good! Lots to like, a great part of the 12SS.
46. One Last Time (74th) Yeah, not a SFAM fan. I do plan to give it a spin to see if it finally clicks. Maybe!
44t. Peruvian Skies (95th) Meh, it's aight.
44t. Wait For Sleep (37th) Just beautiful, I still remember the first time hearing it. Really impressed then and just as much now.
43. As I Am (15th) I LOVE this song and I am pretty surprised it is this low. One of my first DT songs so maybe I am biased. The prechorus is one of the coolest parts and the chorus is really cool. The guitar solo ending on chords ringing out is such a little twist.
42. Innocence Faded (16th) This song has grown tremendously on me. It all flows so well, and the instrumental is killer.
41. Disappear (39th) Great song, I don't often go to listen but it's always a great and sad song.
40. Erotomania (46th) Very cool instrumental.
39. Stream Of Consciousness (12th) Best instrumental. Best DT song to play on the bass.
38. Another Day (24th) Not an instrumental, but a top 3 ballad-y type song from DT.

[WardySI]

Erotomania #46
Stream of Consciousness #91
Another Day #7

Nice one Zydar! 
Another Day

[axeman90210]

Erotomania- My favorite DT instrumental came in at #21 on my list. Plenty of cool and different sections and playing packed into 6 minutes without feeling disjointed.

Stream of Consciousness- Barely made my list at #96. The first couple minutes are great, but everything after JP's monster shred solo doesn't do anything for me. Thoroughly mind-bottling to me that this finished higher than Erotomania as far as DT instrumentals go.

Another Day- I had it a little bit lower at #63. My lowest rated song from Images & Words, but that speaks more to the strength of that album than anything else. The sax solo makes it stand out from a lot of other DT ballads.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

[Podaar]

40.   Erotomania                        40. Hit this one right on the button. To be fair, I probably haven't listened to this in 15 years or more. Still, I remember it as being one of the more boring moments of Awake.

39.   Stream Of Consciousness     2. Everything I like in an instrumental. Hell, everything I like about music! I usually want to hear it again when it's finished.

38.   Another Day                       DNR

[HOF]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

Well, it’s more of a Radiohead song anyway. Basically any other band consciously trying to sound like those bands could have done it.

[Indiscipline]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

Well, it’s more of a Radiohead song anyway. Basically any other band consciously trying to sound like those bands could have done it.

Guys, I love you, I really do, but you are killing me.

[SwedishGoose]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

Well, it’s more of a Radiohead song anyway. Basically any other band consciously trying to sound like those bands could have done it.

Guys, I love you, I really do, but you are killing me.

https://youtu.be/mrudT410TAI?si=9o4H44EHiDdGR0J_

[Stadler]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

Well, it’s more of a Radiohead song anyway. Basically any other band consciously trying to sound like those bands could have done it.

Guys, I love you, I really do, but you are killing me.

Me too; though that explains why Disappear is 146 out of 178.  I must've subconsciously absorbed the Radiohead influence.  (I despise Radiohead). 

[HOF]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

Well, it’s more of a Radiohead song anyway. Basically any other band consciously trying to sound like those bands could have done it.

Guys, I love you, I really do, but you are killing me.

Me too; though that explains why Disappear is 146 out of 178.  I must've subconsciously absorbed the Radiohead influence.  (I despise Radiohead).

I think MP has even acknowledged the direct Radiohead influence (I know that he's said OK Computer was in the inspiration corner for the album, and that's the track on SDOIT that sounds like Radiohead). If you listen to Exit Movie (For a Film) and Karma Police you'll get the gist of what they were going for.

[Cool Chris]

Huh I have Disappear at #3 and I couldn't name one Radiohead song.

[Indiscipline]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

Well, it’s more of a Radiohead song anyway. Basically any other band consciously trying to sound like those bands could have done it.

Guys, I love you, I really do, but you are killing me.

Me too; though that explains why Disappear is 146 out of 178.  I must've subconsciously absorbed the Radiohead influence.  (I despise Radiohead).

I think MP has even acknowledged the direct Radiohead influence (I know that he's said OK Computer was in the inspiration corner for the album, and that's the track on SDOIT that sounds like Radiohead). If you listen to Exit Movie (For a Film) and Karma Police you'll get the gist of what they were going for.

I get you, and basically we hear the same thing. Please stop making sense and killing me with logic.

Jokes aside, both DT and Radiohead have washed those songs in the Beatles and Pink Floyd river (Karma Police is a Sexy Sadie pickpocket if I ever heard one). I'm just ignoring the quotationists (because I can't stand them) and going straight to the originators.

 

[ReaperKK]

Friday afternoon update!

37. At Wit's End
Highest Finish: 4 (Ben_Jamin, Toro)
Number of Lists appeared on: 57 (Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, MoraWintersoul, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

The main riff is S-tier for me, but the whole song is middle tier.

36. The Root Of All Evil
Highest Finish: 7 (lightningbolt)
Number of Lists appeared on: 60 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

I almost never listen to this song but I do really like it, I don't know what it is but when it comes to the 12SS I usually go for TGP or Repentance

35. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
Highest Finish: 5 (WardSI)
Number of Lists appeared on: 57 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, romdrums, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

My favorite from Awake and one of the few songs I got back to from that album.

[Evermind]

At Wit's End - #33 - almost right on the money here. Tremendous song, the best from DoT.

The Root of All Evil - #44 - also very close. Great start to 8VM and great contribution to 12SS after a lackluster TDS. Longer than eight minutes but it flies by. Very well-crafted.

Lifting Shadows Off a Dream - #32 - also got the placement almost right. An unusual song for DT (and for Awake) and it took me a long time to warm up to it but now I think it's incredible really. Managed to see it live in 2014 and it was amazing.

[Lonk]

37. At Wit's End: #27 for me. One of the best from the last 15 years.
36. Root of All Evil: #36 for me. Great song and the best of the 12SS.
35. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream: #62 for me. This song has always been a hit of miss for me. Its good, for it feels like there is something lacking, just don't know what exactly.

[Awaken]

Rank - Song - My rank
37 - At Wit's End - 21 - Highlight of DoT and one of my favorites from the MM era
36 - the root of all evil - 28 - great opener for 8VM, rocks live
35 - lifting shadows off a dream - 17 - second highest ranked song from Awake.  Love everything about this one.

[jammindude]

I’m so in love with the extended intro from LSOAD.. 

EDIT - of course I meant from the ‘98 fan club CD live acoustic show. (Or was the ‘97 CD?)

[CharlesPL]

At Wit's End -none
the root of all evil - none
lifting shadows off a dream - 19

[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
125. Stream Of Consciousness
124. Through Her Eyes
123. Never Enough
122. The Alien
121. Afterlife
120. A Fortune In Lies
109. Outcry
105. Sleeping Giant
104. Surrender To Reason
----
98.  Another Day
97.  Awaken The Master
96.  Behind The Veil
95.  The Great Debate
90.  On The Backs Of Angels
85.  Constant Motion
84.  Beneath The Surface
83.  At Wit's End
82.  Peruvian Skies
80.  The Enemy Inside
78.  Hollow Years
76.  The Shattered Fortress
73.  Lie
68.  A Nightmare To Remember
67.  The Silent Man
66.  The Root Of All Evil
62.  As I Am
61.  These Walls
59.  The Gift of Music
57.  The Bigger Picture
56.  One Last Time
55.  Pale Blue Dot
54.  Answering The Call
52.  Lost Not Forgotten
51.  Fall Into The Light
46.  A New Beginning
44.  Forsaken
43.  A View From The Top Of The World
41.  The Looking Glass
40.  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
36.  New Millenium
35.  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
34.  Wait For Sleep
33.  Transcending Time
31.  The Best Of Times
30.  Erotomania
28.  Our New World
25.  Raise The Knife
23.  I Walk Beside You
21.  Sacrificed Sons
19.  Caught In A Web
14.  To Live Forever
9.    Innocence Faded
7.    This Dying Soul
5.    This Is The Life

Lifting Shadows is my 6th highest song from Awake, but that's just a testament to how good that album really is.  I don't want the new DT to repeat themselves, but I wouldn't mind at all if they have a song or two that builds and breathes like that again.

[Dream Team]

Ah so here it is finally. Lifting Shadows is the ONE song that got screwed by the ranker, it's always been top 20 for me but somehow ended up 56  . Other 2 songs are really strong also of course, nothing but high rollers from here on out. 

  5 Only a Matter of Time
  6 The Killing Hand
  9 The Great Debate
11 Outcry
16 One Last Time
20 Lost Not Forgotten
22 A View From the Top of the World
24 This is the Life
25 Beneath the Surface
26 A New Beginning
28 Fall Into the Light
30 The Best of Times
31 Afterlife
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
48 A Fortune in Lies
52 Barstool Warrior
51 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
63 Awaken the Master
64 The Looking Glass
65 Wait for Sleep
66 The Bigger Picture
67 A Nightmare to Remember
68 Sleeping Giant
70 The Ministry of Lost Souls
75 Panic Attack
76 Transcending Time
78 Ytse Jam
79 Sacrificed Sons
81 The Gift of Music
84 Answering the Call
93 Another Day
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

Highest Ranker Of: Only a Matter of Time, Outcry

[MirrorMask]

At Wit's End - I agree it's the best song off its album. Touching and intense. Finished at 57 for me however.

The Root of All Evil - Kickass track. Groovy and catchy, heavy without having to use a gazillion fast notes. It ended at 22, a whopping 14 positions higher. Maybe I over-ranked it a bit but who cares, it's a great track.

Lifting Shadows Off a Dream - while it's not one of my absolute favorite songs, it's still a great track, a bit diverse for them, and one of the many proofs about their taste for melody and constraint. Elegant and beautiful. Having so many favorite songs means that, all things said and done, it did not go past 49 for me, 14 positions lower.

[HOF]

Disappear: 23. Only two other bands I know could have come up with such a song: The Beatles and Pink Floyd.

Devin Townsend. But I see your point.

Well, it’s more of a Radiohead song anyway. Basically any other band consciously trying to sound like those bands could have done it.

Guys, I love you, I really do, but you are killing me.

Me too; though that explains why Disappear is 146 out of 178.  I must've subconsciously absorbed the Radiohead influence.  (I despise Radiohead).

I think MP has even acknowledged the direct Radiohead influence (I know that he's said OK Computer was in the inspiration corner for the album, and that's the track on SDOIT that sounds like Radiohead). If you listen to Exit Movie (For a Film) and Karma Police you'll get the gist of what they were going for.

I get you, and basically we hear the same thing. Please stop making sense and killing me with logic.

Jokes aside, both DT and Radiohead have washed those songs in the Beatles and Pink Floyd river (Karma Police is a Sexy Sadie pickpocket if I ever heard one). I'm just ignoring the quotationists (because I can't stand them) and going straight to the originators.

 

The Beatles and Floyd are definitely the root of that tree.

[HOF]

The Root of All Evil is actually probably my favorite song of the 12 step suite. It’s not the type of song I’d reach for with much frequency from DT, but it’s a nice heavy rocker and it was great opening the Score concert.

Lifting Shadows Off A Dream is a near perfect song. Probably in my top 5 DT songs. Beautiful, but intricate and very proggy despite being very accessible. DT at their best.

[TAC]

37. At Wit's End
Highest Finish: 4 (Ben_Jamin, Toro)
Number of Lists appeared on: 57 (Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, MoraWintersoul, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

36. The Root Of All Evil
Highest Finish: 7 (lightningbolt)
Number of Lists appeared on: 60 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

35. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
Highest Finish: 5 (WardSI)
Number of Lists appeared on: 57 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, romdrums, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

I had At Wits End at #38.
This is a great song, and I would've closed the album with it, as the little demo snippet is really cool and would've been a great way to end things.

I had The Root Of All Evil at #96.
Even though this came in at #96, this song has aged decently. I never really liked it, and put it with As I Am, but seeing them play it in 2012 gave it a new life for me. I mean, I saw it in 2006, but I wasn't feeling it.

I had Lifting Shadows Off A Dream at #32.
It'ssongs like this that really separate Dream Theater. One of those "beautiful" songs that someone mentioned earlier.


List                                                    Not Ranked         
100                                                      Wither
99                                                        Vacant
98                                                        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 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
83
82
81
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
71
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
56
55
54  Barstool Warrior
53
52
51  Erotomania
50
49
48
47
46
45
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
35  The Gift Of Music
34
33  Peruvian Skies
32  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
31  Ytse Jam
30
29
28  The Enemy Inside
27
26  Only A Matter Of Time
25
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
16  The Alien
15
14  The Best Of Times
13
12
11  Lost Not Forgotten.
10
9
8
7  Disappear
6
5
4  The Killing Hand
3
2
1




50 -16

[pg1067]

37. At Wit's End

36. The Root Of All Evil

35. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream

A Twit's End never made as much of an impact for me as it did for a lot of folks.  Solid song nonetheless.  I had it at #69 (dude!).  It ranked at #20 in the prior countdown, so 37 is quite a drop.

Root is my second ranked of the 12SS songs.  I had it at #54.  It ranked at #34 in the prior countdown, so almost the same this time.

I love Lifting Shadows.  That intro on the bass is deceptively difficult to play well.  Such a cool vibe!  I had it at #47, which seems a tad low.  It came in at #35 in the prior countdown as well.



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), Peruvian Skies (44T), Disappear (41)
98
97  This Is the Life (88)
96
95
94
93
92  The Ministry of Lost Souls (61)
91
90
89
88  Another Day (38)
87  Innocence Faded (42)
86  Lie (47T)
85
84  Forsaken (95)
83
82  Erotomania (40)
81
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
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
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
51
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
44  On the Backs of Angels (56)
43  Ytse Jam (67)
42  One Last Time (46)
41  Through Her Eyes (74)
40
39  The Enemy Inside (83T)
38  Hollow Years (59)
37
36
35
34
33  Outcry (33)
32
31  The Looking Glass (92)
30
29
28  S2N (94)
27  Wither (99)
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19  Sacrificed Sons (63)
18  Constant Motion (86) (high ranker)
17  Only a Matter of Time (82)
16
15  The Killing Hand (68)
14
13
12
11  Stream of Consciousness (39)
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

[pg1067]

UPDATED +/- NUMBERS (compared to the prior countdown)

100. Never Enough – 99 (-1)

99. Wither – NR

98. The Gift of Music – 83 (-15)

97. Vacant – 89 (-8)

96. Afterlife – 96 (+0)

95. Forsaken – 95 (+0)

94. S2N – 70 (-24)

93. Our New World – 97 (+4)

92. The Looking Glass – 92 (+0)

91. A New Beginning – 68 (23)

90. Transcending Time

89. Behind the Veil – 64 (-25)

88. This Is the Life – 74 (-14)

87. New Millennium – 90 (+3)

86. Constant Motion – 82 (-4)

85. Sleeping Giant

83T. The Enemy Inside – 56 (-27)

83T. Surrender to Reason – 58 (-25)

82. Only a Matter of Time – 75 (-7)

81. Awaken the Master

80. I Walk Beside You – 93 (+13)

79. The Shattered Fortress – 62 (-17)

78. A Fortune in Lies – 76 (-2)

77. The Best of Times – 77 (+0)

76. To Live Forever – 91 (+15)

75. Answering the Call

74. Through Her Eyes – 94 (+20)

73. Lost Not Forgotten – 59T (-14)

72. Fall into the Light – 43 (-29)

71. Honor Thy Father – 81 (+10)

70. The Dark Eternal Night – 78 (+8)

69. The Alien

68. The Killing Hand – 48 (-20)

67. Ytse Jam – 79 (+12)

66. The Silent Man – 80 (+14)

65. Raise the Knife – 72 (+7)

64. Beneath the Surface – 67 (+3)

63. Sacrificed Sons – 53 (-10)

62. Pale Blue Dot – 49 (-13)

61. The Ministry of Lost Souls – 66 (+5)

60. The Bigger Picture – 35T (-25)

59. Hollow Years – 69 (+10)

58. Outcry – 37 (-21)

57. Hell’s Kitchen – 42 (-15)

56. On the Backs of Angels – 73 (+17)

55. Panic Attack - 45 (-10)

54. These Walls - 41 (-13)

53. The Great Debate - 46 (-7)

52. Barstool Warrior - 39 (-13)

51. Caught in a Web - 63 (+12)

50. A Nightmare to Remember - 55 (+5)

49. A View from the Top of the World

47T. Lie – 59T (+12)

47T. This Dying Soul - 51 (+4)

46. One Last Time - 65 (+19)

44T. Peruvian Skies - 61 (+17)

44T. Wait for Sleep - 32 (-12)

43. As I Am - 71 (+28)

42. Innocence Faded - 57 (+15)

41. Disappear - 31 (-10)

40. Erotomania - 52 (+12)

39. Stream of Consciousness - 50 (+11)

38. Another Day - 44 (+6)

37. At Wit’s End - 20 (-17)

36. The Root of All Evil - 34 (-2)

35. Lifting Shadows off a Dream – 35T (+0)