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Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: Ħ on January 29, 2013, 09:18:57 PM
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Hello all, I’m here to present my top 21 Dream Theater songs. Truth be told, I don’t listen to Dream Theater as often as I have in the past. When I first discovered them six years ago, I was but a sophomore in high school. I was in marching band and we would participate in many competitions with other schools. Some of the schools were far away and we would spend hours socializing on the bus. During one particularly long bus ride, my friend Chris shared with me some of his heavy metal music. Part of his selection for me was Dream Theater’s "The Glass Prison", "Metropolis", and "The Dance Of Eternity". I was floored by the incredible technical proficiency of these musicians. Dream Theater soon became my favorite band.
I started off by purchasing Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence. I was stunned by the innovative sounds they would employ, like the bell chimes in the intro section of "The Glass Prison", and the orchestra in the title track. I was even more staggered by the variety of tones and moods – every song sounded so unique, standing alone as a powerful statement. Yet the songs themselves could be taken together to form a beautiful tapestry! This is what I came to love about Dream Theater, and progressive music in general.
As I poured through their albums, I sought more and more of their music. Each song’s individuality meant that there was always more to discover.
Then I found DTF, and was exposed to bootlegs, demos, and live renderings of songs. I longed to listen to everything by this band that I loved so much.
Now, I’m sad to say that I am no longer in love with Dream Theater. They will always hold a special place in my heart, but I simply don’t connect with their music like I used to. Besides, there’s nothing left to discover. I know nearly every song by heart, even the demos and live versions. In fact, I have moved away from investing a significant amount of my time in music generally. I find that life has so much to offer, and music is but one of life’s many wonders.
These 21 songs are the ones that I hold closest to my heart. If I had to, I wouldn’t buy DT’s studio catalog all over again, but I would buy these songs. I hope you enjoy my write-ups.
22. "Endless Sacrifice"
"Endless Sacrifice" is one of those songs that you either love or hate. And I have empathy with those that hate it – indeed, I have disliked this song at times. But I’m a sucker for somber, desperate love songs, and that’s what "Endless Sacrifice" is to me. James does an outstanding job of expressing the angry loneliness of the lyrics. The chorus’s energetic forcefulness is what really gets me. It expresses how I feel so well at times when I feel alone that I'm able to overlook any flaws it has. It's emotional hold on me grants it a top 21 spot.
21. "Overture 1928"
People often forget about this song, in light of other behemoths from Scenes From A Memory like "Fatal Tragedy" and "Home". One way you can see its importance is by listening to the album without it.
One of the reasons I love "Overture 1928" is that the band succeeds as acting as a single unit. They paint a very memorable portrait which captures the colors of Scenes without being too cookie-cutter. It’s a definitive statement that you’re in for a ride with this album. Its success at being what it needs to be makes it memorable to me, and so I think it’s worthy of a top 21 spot.
20. "Blind Faith"
I’m happy to see "Blind Faith" getting more praise these days. It's Jordan Rudess at the heart of this song – from the ethereal atmosphere of the introduction to the delicate piano interlude, he succeeds at making this song royal and majestic. I do struggle with the lyrics, which I think are a bit amateur, but they don’t detract much from the overall experience. A solid song that has its unique place in DT’s catalog.
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Cool, 3 great songs right off the bat!
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Endless Sacrifice, as much as they play it, is still SUCH a beast live. Overture 1928 is stellar, and Blind Faith is so massively underrated it's damn near criminal.
Awesome start so far, bud! :tup
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Good first couple of songs, although neither ES nor O28 would ever come this high in my top 50. Your introduction was really sad, I must say :-[
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Three greats right off the bat! I persinally find O28 to be even better on the album, despite how majestic and uplifting it is on its own. One of DT's best shorter pieces, and easily their best instrumental. It just connects so well with the rest of the album, while the recurring motifs are represented in a way that's both similar to their other occurences and different enough to justify the meaning of the track as a whole.
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I love those songs. All three are in my Top 15. :tup
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Two of those songs are on my list and very high.
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So you're running both this list and the SW/PT one at the same time? :tup for that, I could only concentrate on doing one list at a time. Anyway, nice start, although Blind Faith is the only one out of those I find exceptionally awesome.
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19. "The Dance Of Eternity"
Here's a song that gets lots of flak. Well guess what? It's in my top 21! So deal with it.
It's technical, it's wacky, but what I love the most about this song is how fun it is. You try to focus on all the moving parts and you just get lost. It's like not being able to find mommy at the circus. Loads of fun.
18. "Pull Me Under"
"Pull Me Under" is like that friend that is always there for you even though you constantly forget to invite them to your party. It never hit me upside the head with its awesomeness, I was never excited to hear a live rendition or anything like that - I always just forgot about it.
I popped it on one day to reminiscence my Dream Theater glory days, and it blew me away. It's so good. It's powerful and melodic. It's nearly nine minutes long but it feels like five. One of the best tracks off Images and Words.
17. "Hell's Kitchen"
The last instrumental on my list. This song inspires me. It's literally made me go running at the crack of dawn. It's magical and uplifting, and it's one of my favorite songs in general.
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Overture 1928 is something I love blasting when I'm driving in my car. Great pic!
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TDOE and PMU? :\
Different strokes for different folks.
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6 great songs, and awesome to see The Dance of Eternity up there as well as 3 instrumentals in these 6 songs.
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Nice choices. I like all of those tracks a lot, but instrumentals don't rank so highly with me, and PMU is an average DT song forme (which is a very high average, mind you).
But I'd say they're all underrated tracks, so it's interesting to see them make a list. :tup
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Yeah, I'd say PMU is an average song for me too. But after really thinking about it, I couldn't not include it.
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:tup
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Glad to see HK and BF.
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16. "On The Backs Of Angels"
When Dream Theater first made this song available several weeks before A Dramatic Turn Of Events, I was very nervous to listen to it. This song was the first musical statement by the band since Mike Portnoy left. I was fearful that since Portnoy was a huge force that affected the band's direction, they would fall apart at the seams musically and we'd be left with just a bunch of technical widdley-diddley with no real concept or meaning behind the music. I am so happy to say that I was wrong. "On The Backs Of Angels" is one of Dream Theater's most powerful statements. It is energetic and technical, yet it manages to be tasteful. Each of the band members shines out, yet they still work as a single effectual unit. It is for these reasons that I rank it higher than anything off of the three most recent albums.
15. "Honor Thy Father"
This is where we start to get into some very elite territory. "Honor Thy Father" is easily the most ballsy Dream Theater track. From the very intro, it wallops you with mad drum fills, crunchy bad-attitude riffs, and sinister keyboard lines. I don't care about what they say about "The Best Of Times," this is Portnoy's signature song. His best songwriting abilities come out in his rage and this is angriest song he's written.
14. "Take The Time"
No one hates "Take The Time" for a very good reason - it's awesome. Everybody shines. Plus, you have perhaps John Petrucci's tastiest solo. I always get a little swagger in my step when I hear that "doo doo doo WAHHHH WAHHHH wohhhhh". Love it.
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15. "On The Backs Of Angels"
When Dream Theater first made this song available several weeks before A Dramatic Turn Of Events, I was very nervous to listen to it. This song was the first musical statement by the band since Mike Portnoy left. I was fearful that since Portnoy was a huge force that affected the band's direction, they would fall apart at the seams musically and we'd be left with just a bunch of technical widdley-diddley with no real concept or meaning behind the music. I am so happy to say that I was wrong. "On The Backs Of Angels" is one of Dream Theater's most powerful statements. It is energetic and technical, yet it manages to be tasteful. Each of the band members shines out, yet they still work as a single effectual unit. It is for these reasons that I rank it higher than anything off of the three most recent albums.
This is the first song I heard by DT. By accident, I say the video and was hooked.
14. "Honor Thy Father"
This is where we start to get into some very elite territory. "Honor Thy Father" is easily the most ballsy Dream Theater track. From the very intro, it wallops you with mad drum fills, crunchy bad-attitude riffs, and sinister keyboard lines. I don't care about what they say about "The Best Of Times," this is Portnoy's signature song. His best songwriting abilities come out in his rage and this is angriest song he's written.
A lot of folks do not like this song very much, but it is bad ass. :metal
13. "Take The Time"
No one hates "Take The Time" for a very good reason - it's awesome. Everybody shines. Plus, you have perhaps John Petrucci's tastiest solo. I always get a little swagger in my step when I hear that "doo doo doo WAHHHH WAHHHH wohhhhh". Love it.
What can you say, great song off a great cd.
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Interesting update. OTBOA is ok, but I find it to be an incredibly sterile song with no energy. I don't dislike it at all, but it doesn't excite me in the slightest. But your other two choices definitely make up for the lack of energy there!
While I wouldn't rank HTF all too highly, it's a great metal song when I'm in the mood to listen to Train of Thought. Definitely badass, as you put it. :metal
Nice, concise writeup for Take The Time. An excellent song from start to finish. :tup
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Three great tunes in the last update, and a pretty solid list so far. I'll be following because H is my best friend
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I completely forgot about a very essential song, so now I'm going to have 22 songs.
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I completely forgot about a very essential song, so now I'm going to have 22 songs.
Lost Not Forgotten?
A Nightmare To Remember?
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I completely forgot about a very essential song, so now I'm going to have 22 songs.
Raw Dog, amirite?
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So the song was Lost and Forgotten?
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It was Lost Not Forgotten in A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. It nearly gave me a Panic Attack! What a Fragile situation. I will make sure The Incident does not happen again.
Imagine if Oops!...I Did It Again in my Steven Wilson top 50. That'd be a Strange Deja Vu and quite A Dramatic Turn Of Events. That'd put me too Close To The Edge for my taste.
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It was Lost Not Forgotten in A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. It nearly gave me a Panic Attack! What a Fragile situation. I will make sure The Incident does not happen again.
Imagine if Oops!...I Did It Again in my Steven Wilson top 50. That'd be a Strange Deja Vu and quite A Dramatic Turn Of Events. That'd put me too Close To The Edge for my taste.
Your post was a Fatal Tragedy. You should get on your Bike and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.
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It was Lost Not Forgotten in A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. It nearly gave me a Panic Attack! What a Fragile situation. I will make sure The Incident does not happen again.
Imagine if Oops!...I Did It Again in my Steven Wilson top 50. That'd be a Strange Deja Vu and quite A Dramatic Turn Of Events. That'd put me too Close To The Edge for my taste.
Your post was a Fatal Tragedy. You should get on your Bike and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.
Errr...
THE COUNT OF TUSCANY!!!
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It was Lost Not Forgotten in A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. It nearly gave me a Panic Attack! What a Fragile situation. I will make sure The Incident does not happen again.
Imagine if Oops!...I Did It Again in my Steven Wilson top 50. That'd be a Strange Deja Vu and quite A Dramatic Turn Of Events. That'd put me too Close To The Edge for my taste.
Your post was a Fatal Tragedy. You should get on your Bike and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.
Errr...
THE COUNT OF TUSCANY!!!
I wonder if anyone calls the Count of Tuscany "Your Majesty"?
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It was Lost Not Forgotten in A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. It nearly gave me a Panic Attack! What a Fragile situation. I will make sure The Incident does not happen again.
Imagine if Oops!...I Did It Again in my Steven Wilson top 50. That'd be a Strange Deja Vu and quite A Dramatic Turn Of Events. That'd put me too Close To The Edge for my taste.
Your post was a Fatal Tragedy. You should get on your Bike and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.
Errr...
THE COUNT OF TUSCANY!!!
I wonder if anyone calls the Count of Tuscany "Your Majesty"?
It seems he needs to keep better track of his...
INVENTORY
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ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!!!
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Good to see Take the Time. The other songs are good but not great.
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It was Lost Not Forgotten in A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. It nearly gave me a Panic Attack! What a Fragile situation. I will make sure The Incident does not happen again.
Imagine if Oops!...I Did It Again in my Steven Wilson top 50. That'd be a Strange Deja Vu and quite A Dramatic Turn Of Events. That'd put me too Close To The Edge for my taste.
Your post was a Fatal Tragedy. You should get on your Bike and Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.
Errr...
THE COUNT OF TUSCANY!!!
I wonder if anyone calls the Count of Tuscany "Your Majesty"?
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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I wonder if anyone calls the Count of Tuscany "Your Majesty"?
Nah, man, that's not how it is.
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13. "As I Am"
The final song from Train Of Thought that makes my list. It's a song that makes me feel like I can obliterate anything in my path. "As I Am" blasts out, loud and proud, cutting down its haters. Even in the fadeout, it's brutal! Plus, that gnarly solo. :metal
12. "Strange Deja-Vu"
A greatly under-appreciated track from Dream Theater's master album. It's essentially a perfect song that's just good at being what it's meant to be. John Myung and James LaBrie shine particularly well - it's got my favorite moments for each of them: the first chorus for LaBrie, and that snazzy VRRROOM bit from Myung.
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Nice choices. As I Am has always been one of my favourites from ToT (behind ITNOG, and maybe Vacant, although it's hard to compare them since they're such polar opposite songs). I'd probably rank it top 20 too.
Strange Deja Vu is cool too. That middle section is one of DT's most rockin' sections. As I've said before though, I don't rank most of SFAM that highly individually despite it being my 2nd favourite DT album.
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What is the VROOOM part? I don't seem to recall a part that I can relate that automatopia to.
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What is the VROOOM part? I don't seem to recall a part that I can relate that automatopia to.
I think he means the badass bass slide Myung does leading into the second verse. I love that bit.
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Yeah, probably that.
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Yup, exactly that.
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11. "Beyond This Life"
Surprised to see this one? You might be. People see it as the ugly counterpart to "Fatal Tragedy". I think that's a mistake. "Beyond This Life" is a funky rocker all the way through. It's just so...fun. You can't help but bob your body back and forth to the groove! Just skip to about 7:20 in the track. You feelin' the groove? Yeah? Not to mention, it has incredible technical contributions from everyone in the band - in particular, Petrucci and Rudess have quite a tasty shred-fest that sets the standard for a proper instrumental duel.
10. "Metropolis"
This is probably too low of a ranking for most people - that's okay; I'm prepared to give you nine songs that top it. Regardless, I still see "Metropolis" as one of Dream Theater's five "pillar" tracks. This beast represents a central part of Dream Theater's style - it's technical and precise, yet wacky and wild. Systematically chaotic is what this song is. And it just so happens to be my #2 LaBrie track...stay tuned for #1.
9. "Trial Of Tears"
Still awake
I continue to move along
Cultivating my own nonsense
Welcome to the wasteland
Where you'll find ashes
Nothing but ashes
John Myung is a mysterious man. He doesn't talk much. But when he does, his lyrical expressions are so passionate, so desperate, cutting. I connect with this song on a very deep level. To me, "Trial Of Tears" represents the disillusionment that one can experience when trying to make it in human society. America's standards are superficial - you can try and try and try, but you'll still be rejected. Your physical appearance is meaningless; it bears nothing to the truth of your character and value as a person - but others will still judge you for it. One response to this rejection is to fall into silent submission to the harsh reality of the situation. Accept that you're a nobody, that you just got a lousy draw; too bad for you. This is what I used to do, and it dragged me into deep depression and despair. A far better response, though, is to simply acknowledge society's standards are flawed and unjustified. Dismiss it. Fuhgettaboutit. Set your own values for your life that you think are right. Evaluate your character and your goals by those values that you deem true and good. But you must be proactive and assertive in finding true purpose or you'll be left with "nothing but ashes". Do or die.
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Excellent choices!
I've always loved BTL, especially for the instrumental section that for some reason DTF doesn't seem to like. It's got one of the best keyboard solos and one of the best guitar solos, and it's complex, and wacky, and fun, and it's everything I want from DT.
And Metropolis and ToT are always great choices. ToT was actually one of the last songs I got into from FII, maybe because it builds slowly, but the payoff is worth it.
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John Myung is a mysterious man. He doesn't talk much. But when he does, his lyrical expressions are so passionate, so desperate, cutting. I connect with this song on a very deep level. To me, "Trial Of Tears" represents the disillusionment that one can experiences when trying to make it in human society. America's standards are superficial - you can try and try and try, but you'll still be rejected. Your physical appearance is meaningless; it bears nothing to the truth of your character and value as a person - but others will still judge you for it. One response to this rejection is to fall into silent submission to the harsh reality of the situation. Accept that you're a nobody, that you just got a lousy draw; too bad for you. This is what I used to do, and it dragged me into deep depression and despair. A far better response, though, is to simply acknowledge society's standards are flawed and unjustified. Dismiss it. Fuhgettaboutit. Set your own values for your life that you think are right. Evaluate your character and your goals by those values that you deem true and good. But you must be proactive and assertive in finding true purpose or you'll be left with "nothing but ashes". Do or die.
:clap:
That's a very great write-up there. I agree 100% but I'm still stuck in the phase of being scared of what others think about me. I love that paragraph so much I may have to use it somewhere.
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Haha, I'm honored you read the whole thing!
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And somehow, both top 50 lists that started after your top 22 list did have caught up or passed it.
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I commend your observational skills!
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8. "Surrounded"
Not only one of my favorite tracks from Images, but my #1 LaBrie song. The vocals are on fiyahhh from beginning to end, but particularly the development, where LaBrie soars far above anything I've ever heard from him. It's a one-of-a-kind Dream Theater song that shies away from technicality and heavy metal, opting for a more bright, simple, energetic sound. Plus, you've just got to love Petrucci's very tasteful riffs. Doooo DAT, doo-dah doo doo DAT. Love it.
7. "Learning To Live"
Probably, many people will think that #7 is too low a spot for what I consider to be the second of Dream Theater's five great Pillars. (The first was "Metropolis", if you remember.) It's a fantastic song, though, that captures Dream Theater's melodic side of, well, all of the musicians in the band. Even Myung has a good chunk of time in the spotlight. In fact, it is Myung's kickoff to that outro that makes the whole song just that much more incredible.
6. "Octavarium"
The third Pillar. I don't see too much rave about "Octavarium" compared to when I first joined the forum. No one really talks about it anymoer. Nevertheless, it always comes up to the top of the survivors and in individual rankings. That's because it's a beast. There's not much I can really say about it, other than that every bit is tasteful and well-executed.
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Two good songs and one dud for me, though I would concede that they are all essential. Great to see some Surrounded appreciation, I haven't seen it in too many Top 50 threads.
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Great songs. I am fairly new to DT and could not get into Octavarium until I listened a few times. Loved LTL on the first listen.
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Learning to Live and Octavarium are very deserving. Surrounded is great too, but dunno if I'd place it that high.
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If anything, I'd say LTL is ranked way too high, not too low. Weakest song on IaW imo.
Surrounded is a great little song, although I don't know why suddenly everyone's ranking it so high lately (not that I'm really complaining, as I love seeing DT's simpler ballady side getting appreciated).
And Octavarium is great. It seems to be getting more and more hate here lately, so it's almost refreshing to actually see it ranked highly...
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Surrounded is a great little song, although I don't know why suddenly everyone's ranking it so high lately (not that I'm really complaining, as I love seeing DT's simpler ballady side getting appreciated).
Surrounded is unique in the sense that it is one of DT's few uplifting songs. It's also got that charming 80's melodic vibe that is sadly absent post-Images. Also, you have the extraordinary extended version they played during the SC tour. Perhaps it is for these reasons that people have taken a liking to it.
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Surrounded is a great little song, although I don't know why suddenly everyone's ranking it so high lately (not that I'm really complaining, as I love seeing DT's simpler ballady side getting appreciated).
Surrounded is unique in the sense that it is one of DT's few uplifting songs. It's also got that charming 80's melodic vibe that is sadly absent post-Images. Also, you have the extraordinary extended version they played during the SC tour. Perhaps it is for these reasons that people have taken a liking to it.
I got the impression that most people weren't too thrilled about the SC extended version.
Don't get me wrong, I love the song, and I definitely see what the appeal is, it just seems that all of a sudden it's gone from an average IaW track (a very high average, so I don't say that with any negative connotation at all), to one that everyone seems to rank super high all of a sudden.
As I said, I'm not complaining, it's just interesting. I'm enjoying seeing the lighter stuff get some appreciation, because I think DT does it really well. :tup
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Surrounded is a great little song, although I don't know why suddenly everyone's ranking it so high lately (not that I'm really complaining, as
I would say it's due to the aftershocks of the ADTOE tour. At least, that's the reason for me.
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Surrounded is a great little song, although I don't know why suddenly everyone's ranking it so high lately (not that I'm really complaining, as
I would say it's due to the aftershocks of the ADTOE tour. At least, that's the reason for me.
I don't believe that's the reason, unless everyone who's ranking it higher happened to see them on this tour and they played that song at every one. It's not like the song's been out for over 20 years or anything. :P
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Well, after seeing the perfect performance at LP my Surrounded jumped upwards by a number a steps that I won't disclose. Of course I can't speak for the others, but I've never found the live performances of the song after 1993 to be particularly enthralling. Until this year.
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It may also be a matter of new members (who love Surrounded) joining and old ones (who don't praise it as much) not hanging around here anymore, and those who have stayed here longer may have started to love it more (this is the case with me). I think the same has happened to the title-track of Octavarium in reverse: https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=3364.0 - I remember that around the time I joined it seemed to get overwhelming praise, and as you can see, it won the DT survivor a couple of times, but in 2010 it finished at #4, and recently I've heard more critical comments on it than before.
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5. "Fatal Tragedy"
The crown of Scenes From A Memory. This is Dream Theater's technical prog side at it's best. I think this song is just incredible. It sweeps you off your feet. The polyrhythmic flurry of notes can easily go over your head, but if you tune your ear just right, bam! It clicks.
Interestingly, it's one of those songs that has no structure. It just moves from point A to point B. No recapitulation, no recurring themes, nothing. It's just a wild ride.
Guesses for top 4?
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:tup I love Fatal Tragedy. The "Inspector Gadget" riff makes the verses awesome, it's got the neat vocal harmonies throughout, and then there's that instrumental section!
Top 4-
4. You Not Me
3. Burning My Soul
2. Prophets of War
1. The pregap track between Panic Attack and Never Enough
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5. "Fatal Tragedy"
The crown of Scenes From A Memory. This is Dream Theater's technical prog side at it's best. I think this song is just incredible. It sweeps you off your feet. The polyrhythmic flurry of notes can easily go over your head, but if you tune your ear just right, bam! It clicks.
Interestingly, it's one of those songs that has no structure. It just moves from point A to point B. No recapitulation, no recurring themes, nothing. It's just a wild ride.
I praise you sir :hefdaddy
Excellent placement ::)
Guesses for top 4?
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What is the Inspector Gadget riff?
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1. The pregap track between Panic Attack and Never Enough
:rollin
Anyways,awesome choice. :tup
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Always thought that Fatal Tragedy was overrated. The instrumental section is awesome, but everything else is just not really doing it for me.
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4. "New Millennium"
"New Millennium" is fantastic. It took a long time to really get it, but once I did, I couldn't believe how few people recognized it as a great song, even as a decent song. But I get it. It flies under that radar as just another mediocre song from Dream Theater's most mediocre album. Let me tell you that it is about to grab your jewels. It'll happen the day you least expect it.
Anyway, what is so great about NM? First, it's got the catchiest bass riff over the catchiest rhythmic meter in all of Dream Theaterdom. Onetwothreefourfivesix, onetwothreefourfivesix, onetwo, onetwo, onetwothreefourfivesix, etc etc etc. Second, it's got an extraordinary performance from LaBrie, who really digs his nails into the music and makes it personal. Third, you've got that wicked drum beat, that groovy Petrucci solo, and some very well-suited and well-selected keyboard patches that just put icing on the cake.
A groovy song full of attitude and spunk.
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You have a few songs in different places than I would, but overall, fantastic song choices.
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4. "New Millennium"
Onetwothreefourfivesix, onetwothreefourfivesix, onetwo, onetwo, onetwothreefourfivesix, etc etc etc
This is just 4/4, but I agree that it's a catchy time signature. :lol
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Wait, for real?! :facepalm:
I fail at music.
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Yep, 4/4. That's a very popular rhythm that you hear a lot in popular music, and in quite a few of DT's songs (Panic Attack comes to mind).
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4. "New Millennium"
"New Millennium" is fantastic. It took a long time to really get it, but once I did, I couldn't believe how few people recognized it as a great song, even as a decent song. But I get it. It flies under that radar as just another mediocre song from Dream Theater's most mediocre album. Let me tell you that it is about to grab your jewels. It'll happen the day you least expect it.
Anyway, what is so great about NM? First, it's got the catchiest bass riff over the catchiest rhythmic meter in all of Dream Theaterdom. Onetwothreefourfivesix, onetwothreefourfivesix, onetwo, onetwo, onetwothreefourfivesix, etc etc etc. Second, it's got an extraordinary performance from LaBrie, who really digs his nails into the music and makes it personal. Third, you've got that wicked drum beat, that groovy Petrucci solo, and some very well-suited and well-selected keyboard patches that just put icing on the cake.
A groovy song full of attitude and spunk.
Glad someone else loves New Millennium <3
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What is the Inspector Gadget riff?
The riff that comes behind the verse at the start just before "I shut the door".
Interesting choice with New Millennium. Haters gonna hate, but I think it's a great song, and I've loved it ever since properly listening to the Budokan version.
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22. Endless Sacrifice
21. Overture 1928
20. Blind Faith
19. The Dance Of Eternity
18. Pull Me Under
17. Hell's Kitchen
16. On The Backs Of Angels
15. Honor Thy Father
14. Take The Time
13. As I Am
12. Strange Deja-Vu
11. Beyond This Life
10. Metropolis
9. Trial Of Tears
8. Surrounded
7. Learning To Live
6. Octavarium
5. Fatal Tragedy
4. New Millennium
3. ???
2. ???
1. ???
Any guesses for top 3?
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Well I didn't quite get my #4 guess right, but I was at least on the same album. I maintain that my choices for top 3 will be correct though.
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New Millennium? Ugh...
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New Millennium is decent music ruined by horrible lyrics. One of my bottom DT songs. That said, this is an Interesting list so far.
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3. "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence"
Expected/10. Whatever - it deserves the spot. SDOIT contains Dream Theater's strongest melodies, themes, and development. Other than the overture, I regard every movement as essentially perfect. Yes, even the two metal tracks. SDOIT's greatest strength, though, lies in its balance. You have just enough of everything. You have your heavy and hard, light and soft in digestible doses. That's probably why this 42-minute-long behemoth can keep you from falling into boredom.
My favorite movement is "About To Crash".
And this would be Pillar number four.
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Love Six Degrees. I'm guessing your number 2 is going to be Scarred and number 1 will be A Change of Seasons.
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Great writeup. I always consider SDOIT the "melodic epic". Despite being their longest song by quite a margin, it's not a prog wankfest, or padded (aside from that final fade-out :lol). It's actually very concise, melodic, and composed. So many excellent solos and leads from JR and JP.
I'd rank it either #2 or #1, so I approve of your ranking. :tup :tup
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As much as I adore every individual movement, I completely reject the notion that SDOIT should be counted as one song. EVERY MOVEMENT IS ITS OWN SONG. In my opinion. It's more of a concept album (if we set aside Disc 1 and count SDOIT itself as an album, which I think is a valid move).
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I've never thought of it that way before.
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As much as I adore every individual movement, I completely reject the notion that SDOIT should be counted as one song. EVERY MOVEMENT IS ITS OWN SONG. In my opinion. It's more of a concept album (if we set aside Disc 1 and count SDOIT itself as an album, which I think is a valid move).
Your wrong.
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As much as I adore every individual movement, I completely reject the notion that SDOIT should be counted as one song. EVERY MOVEMENT IS ITS OWN SONG. In my opinion. It's more of a concept album (if we set aside Disc 1 and count SDOIT itself as an album, which I think is a valid move).
It's more like three concept albums (if you split disc 1 into two equal halves, which I think is a valid move).
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As much as I adore every individual movement, I completely reject the notion that SDOIT should be counted as one song. EVERY MOVEMENT IS ITS OWN SONG. In my opinion. It's more of a concept album (if we set aside Disc 1 and count SDOIT itself as an album, which I think is a valid move).
It's more like three concept albums (if you split disc 1 into two equal halves, which I think is a valid move).
???
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As much as I adore every individual movement, I completely reject the notion that SDOIT should be counted as one song. EVERY MOVEMENT IS ITS OWN SONG. In my opinion. It's more of a concept album (if we set aside Disc 1 and count SDOIT itself as an album, which I think is a valid move).
It's more like three concept albums (if you split disc 1 into two equal halves, which I think is a valid move).
???
Oh hell, make it four concepts. :P
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As much as I adore every individual movement, I completely reject the notion that SDOIT should be counted as one song. EVERY MOVEMENT IS ITS OWN SONG. In my opinion. It's more of a concept album (if we set aside Disc 1 and count SDOIT itself as an album, which I think is a valid move).
Your wrong.
My wrong?
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Yes, you.
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As much as I adore every individual movement, I completely reject the notion that SDOIT should be counted as one song. EVERY MOVEMENT IS ITS OWN SONG. In my opinion. It's more of a concept album (if we set aside Disc 1 and count SDOIT itself as an album, which I think is a valid move).
Yeah, it's one song. Deal with it. But don't derail this thread by going off topic.
Anyhow, back to the top 3. Man, Six Degrees is such a good choice. Glad to see it up near where it deserves to be. But the problem is, I am now having major anxiety attacks about the rest of the top 3. There have been some excellent selections in this thread. But it seems like every time you get on a roll, Hayden, you pick a song out of the blue that is so ludicrous to be in a "top [ANYTHING]" thread that I find myself trying to rip out handfuls of my own hair while shouting at my monitor, "YOU'RE DOING DREAM THEATER WRONG!!!" I swear on my mother's grave, Hayden, if you pull a stunt like putting Space Dye Vest or Prophets Of War in your top 2, so help me I will drive out to your school and throttle you. And I realize the popular saying is, "I will throttle you in your sleep." It wasn't an accident that I left off the last part. Because you will deserve to be awake and fully conscious.
:vaderwatching:
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:lol Well, you don't know where I live, so...
2. "The Glass Prison"
My very first Dream Theater song. Can you even imagine another song packed with just as much energy? I can't. It's like frikkin Power Rangers.
TGP starts and ends with intentional, confident forcefulness. It's got gnarly 7-string guitar riffs, blazing solos, and terrific drumming. The whole band works a a single unit, a tank, to mow you down. Even LaBrie pulls off a thrilling performance in a vocal style that normally doesn't work for him.
Put on some headphones, crank up the volume, and load TGP up. Sit there for the whole fifteen minutes, and tell me you didn't just hear one of the most amazing songs of all time.
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A fantastic choice.
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I'm okay with this.
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Oh, here it is, once again... Patience, Marco, patience (https://e.deviantart.net/emoticons/moods/joy/content.gif)
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Oh, here it is, once again... Patience, Marco, patience (https://e.deviantart.net/emoticons/moods/joy/content.gif)
wut?
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I wouldn't put it that high but it sure is a good song :tup
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SDOIT, then TGP? You are one after my heart, Mr H. Don't go breaking my heart with a crud choice at #1! :lol
I'd rank both of those one spot higher, so I approve greatly! :tup :tup
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1. "Scarred"
lol jk
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:lol
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I'd be laughing if that joke didn't leave me.......
scarred. :lhk:
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Oh, here it is, once again... Patience, Marco, patience (https://e.deviantart.net/emoticons/moods/joy/content.gif)
wut?
Don't worry, I just don't like the song :)
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I bet your actual #1 isn't as good as Scarred! :biggrin:
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I bet your actual #1 isn't as good as Scarred! :biggrin:
Nope, it will undoubtedly be much better. :hat
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I bet your actual #1 isn't as good as Scarred! :biggrin:
Even if he were to chose randomly the odds wouldn't be in his favour :lol
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Scarred being at the number one spot would not be a joke IMO.
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Scarred being at the number one spot would not be a joke IMO.
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brb horrible chorus :puke:
brb thin tinny keyboard patches
brb boring outro
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:sadpanda:
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brb horrible chorus :puke:
brb thin tinny keyboard patches
brb boring outro
FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE
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brb horrible chorus :puke:
brb thin tinny keyboard patches
brb boring outro
FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE
heaving...
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brb horrible chorus :puke:
brb thin tinny keyboard patches
brb boring outro
You've managed to hurt the feelings of multiple people already! :getoffmylawn: Reveal your actual #1 so we can start our lists and do the same to you at some point! :xbones
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brb boring outro
:omg: :censored :censored :censored :censored
-J
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brb horrible chorus :puke:
brb thin tinny keyboard patches
brb boring outro
You've managed to hurt the feelings of multiple people already! :getoffmylawn: Reveal your actual #1 so we can start our lists and do the same to you at some point! :xbones
This.
Still baffling to see a top 22 list outlast two top 50 lists.
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Yeah, given that the custom is that people wait their turn, you're intentionally holding people up, Hayden. Either post your #1, or end the thread.
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1. "A Change Of Seasons"
I stood outside in the rain for us
I tried to work out all the pain for us
I sat alone and took the blame for us
My mind has torn and gone insane for us
ACOS is the ultimate statement of life - a birth into this world, a childhood of discovery, a loss of innocence, a resurgence from the ashes, and a new identity. Ne'er before and ne'er again will there be a finer piece of music..
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJLvCM4j2mg
Singer: Hayden
Singing: The general quality of Hayden’s picks
“And the RAAAkets REEEd GLAAre”: Scarred joke
“Uh-oh, I’ll make up for it”: Hayden right now
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1. "A Change Of Seasons"
I'm okay with this.
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1. "A Change Of Seasons"
I'm okay with this.
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I stood outside in the rain for us
I tried to work out all the pain for us
I sat alone and took the blame for us
My mind has torn and gone insane for us
Am I just really tired or have I really never seen these lyrics before? I'm really confused as to what that has to do with ACOS. :lol
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I stood outside in the rain for us
I tried to work out all the pain for us
I sat alone and took the blame for us
My mind has torn and gone insane for us
Am I just really tired or have I really never seen these lyrics before? I'm really confused as to what that has to do with ACOS. :lol
That's some of the lyrics from the original "Another World" section in the Images and Words tour/vocalist auditions version of ACOS
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Great ending. The quintessential DT song.
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Quoting by heart:
"Innocent sinner, repeat offender,
Promiscuous promiser, a faith lender.
Indecisive decision, torn with heartless divisions
shattering... all my visions of love"
Quite the best MP ever delivered, as far as my opinion is concerned.
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Bleh, and you were doing so well, H.
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Well, I'm not disappointed - that's a worthy #1 pick! :tup
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You know, as I think about ACOS, I realize that it really isn't a perfect song. The second half of the song, after Another World, is pretty good but not jawdropping. But that first half....that first half....that's why it's my number one.
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Of course ACOS is also my N°1. :heart
(The 1995 version of course, I don't really like the first version...)
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Epic bump.
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(https://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu168/Caleb911SuB/This%20Thread/NecroThread.jpg)
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Epic bump.