I agree TA is more ambitious, but pales in comparison to the masterpiece of SFAM.
Absolutely this.
Well, I really wouldn't consider either one a 'masterpiece'; I prefer I&W and Awake to both records. But what do you think SFAM does so well that TA doesn't? The lyrics/concept on TA could certainly be improved, but in terms of melodies/songwriting I really think TA is on another level entirely. Aside from the excellent standout tracks (Fatal Tragedy, Home, Finally Free) I would even say that I think SFAM is a little tedious and stretches some of its musical motifs too thin.
3/4 of TA is tedious and stretched thin to me, with a lot of repetition and samey sections that are only there to serve as background to the story. I never once managed to get through the album in one sitting.
SFAM was a fresh lineup with something to prove firing on all cylinders, has better melodies/songwriting, more energy, a better balance and variety of instrumental sections, more complex and rewarding music, better pacing, and most importantly the songwriting is stellar from start to finish. Neither album has story/lyrics as a strength, but TA has a lot of dud lyrics that actively bother me, which is a rarity for me as I don't place much importance on lyrics.
The majority of DT fans would rank SFAM as a top 3 DT album at the least and would probably consider it a masterpiece, but hey, this is the controversial opinion thread!
To be clear, I hugely enjoy both records. Maybe I'm just uncomfortable with the 'masterpiece' label when both SFAM and TA have some off-putting moments and lyrics that don't really impress me.
However, when it comes to melodies and songwriting, I just think TA is flat-out superior. A large portion of SFAM (Through My Words, Beyond This Life, Through Her Eyes, One Last Time) leaves me a little cold. The ballads are kind of meh. Even The Dance of Eternity is more technically impressive than it is musically enjoyable for me. Comparatively, I think the weak tracks on TA (Act of Faythe, BCYHM?, Begin Again, Losing Faythe) are few and far between given the length and overall consistency of the album. TA just moves from strength to strength over an extremely varied course of songs and musical approaches. I would take A Better Life, Ravenskill, X Aspect, or My Last Farewell over anything on SFAM.
Do you not think the band is 'firing on all cylinders' during TA? They certainly sound like it. I don't think Jordan, JP, or James in particular have ever sounded better.
EDIT: Oh, and as a drummer myself, I far prefer Mangini's style to Portnoy's. Part of my enjoyment of the MM-era records is because the drumming is so memorable for me. Maybe that's also a little controversial to say