Author Topic: DT album ranking (Read 166020 times)

lovethedrake · « **Reply #1295 on:** November 16, 2021, 10:57:33 PM »

Quote from: TheBarstoolWarrior on November 16, 2021, 06:25:31 PM

Well Portnoy isn't on it, so that automatically drops it into the bottom half of DT records for lovethedrake

That makes no sense considering I have DoT and A View #5 and #6 in my rankings.

AVFTTOTW · « **Reply #1296 on:** November 16, 2021, 11:04:23 PM »

My honest album ranking would probably be like:

1. Awake
2. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
3. A Dramatic Turn Of Events
4. A View From The Top Of The World
5. Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes From A Memory
6. Distance Over Time
7. Falling Into Infinity
8. Images And Words
9. Systematic Chaos
10. When Dream And Day Unite
11. Train Of Thought
12. Octavarium
13. Dream Theater
14. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
15. The Astonishing

1-11 is best, 12-13 is dicey but still has great tracks, 14-15 is almost non-existent in my CD player.

Vmadera00 · « **Reply #1297 on:** November 17, 2021, 07:38:56 AM »

I don't think I've ever done an album ranking here. Guess I'll give it a try

1. Scenes from a Memory
---------------------------------------
2. Images and Words
3. Awake
4. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
---------------------------------------
5. A Dramatic Turn of Events
6. Distance Over Time
7. Octavarium
--------------------------------------
8. The Astonishing
9. Train of Thoughts
10. Falling Into Infinity
11. Systematic Chaos
12. When Dream and Day Unite
--------------------------------------
13. Black Clouds and Silver Lining
14. Dream Theater

I can't rank AVFTTOTW yet. On the first week, I would have put it at #6 or #7, now I think it is closer to #10. I still enjoy all their albums. #1-7 are in the great-amazing category (for me of course). After that is good albums, but something keeps them from being great. #13 and #14 just don't do it for me. Some great tracks but overall, just don't do much for me.

Trav86 · « **Reply #1298 on:** November 17, 2021, 09:08:57 AM »

As of now I’m struggling with which I like more, View or TA. For now…

Scenes From a Memory
Images and Words
Awake
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Distance Over Time
A View From the Top of the World
The Astonishing
Train of Thought
Dream Theater
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Octavarium
Falling Into Infinity
When Dream and Day Unite
Systematic Chaos
Black Clouds and Silver Linings

Kram · « **Reply #1299 on:** November 17, 2021, 10:44:51 AM »

Quote from: Vmadera00 on November 17, 2021, 07:38:56 AM

I don't think I've ever done an album ranking here. Guess I'll give it a try

1. Scenes from a Memory
---------------------------------------
2. Images and Words
3. Awake
4. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
---------------------------------------
5. A Dramatic Turn of Events
6. Distance Over Time
7. Octavarium
--------------------------------------
8. The Astonishing
9. Train of Thoughts
10. Falling Into Infinity
11. Systematic Chaos
12. When Dream and Day Unite
--------------------------------------
13. Black Clouds and Silver Lining
14. Dream Theater

I can't rank AVFTTOTW yet. On the first week, I would have put it at #6 or #7, now I think it is closer to #10. I still enjoy all their albums. #1-7 are in the great-amazing category (for me of course). After that is good albums, but something keeps them from being great. #13 and #14 just don't do it for me. Some great tracks but overall, just don't do much for me.

Your list is very close to mine - and depending on the day, it may be exactly like mine. I'm thinking The View will end up somewhere between #5 and #8. I definitely like it better than The Astonishing.

AVFTTOTW · « **Reply #1300 on:** November 17, 2021, 05:40:48 PM »

Quote from: AVFTTOTW on November 16, 2021, 11:04:23 PM

My honest album ranking would probably be like:

1. Awake
2. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
3. A Dramatic Turn Of Events
4. A View From The Top Of The World
5. Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes From A Memory
6. Distance Over Time
7. Falling Into Infinity
8. Images And Words
9. Systematic Chaos
10. When Dream And Day Unite
11. Train Of Thought
12. Octavarium
13. Dream Theater
14. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
15. The Astonishing

1-11 is best, 12-13 is dicey but still has great tracks, 14-15 is almost non-existent in my CD player.

On this, I'll elaborate.

Awake is perfect in every track, musically and lyrically, it is DT's best album in every aspect.
SDOIT is DT's most 'honed in' album and has a great degree of musical fluidity, both discs are masterful.
ADTOE is DT's best album over the past 15 years and apart from two filler tracks, contains wholly strong material that has aged much better than when it first came out.
AVFTTOTW is close behind that as one of DT's career highlights, only one bad track also.
SFAM is a magnum opus in theory but it hasn't aged as well in terms of playability (apart from a few moments like FT and BTL), it is an album of it's time which requires more to be in a particular mood to enjoy.
DOT very great, not much bad to say other than there are a couple of filler tracks but very playable overall.
FII still has some filler but really shows their progression of trying to push forward (I&W > A > FII), something that I feel that got more murky following SFAM.
I&W has a skippable first four tracks (PMU is more of a novelty song IMO) but the final four tracks are all career-defining songs, probably their four most influential of their own songs on themselves.
SC has some of DT's best songs combined with some of their worst. ITPOE, TDEN, Repentance and POW are all massive highlights that transcend the album's more dull overall presentation.
WDADU is full of lots of strong songs contrary to it's reputation, though it is very much an 80s prog album. TKH alone sells the album though, along with LFAGA and TOWHTSTS, which are massively underrated DT songs that should still be in the setlists.
ToT is definitely a novelty album, it's enjoyable as a whole but has limited appeal in terms of individual tracks. HTF and ITNOG are two of DT's finest heavy songs though.
Contrary to the fan appeal, I find 8vm to be a flop, I've never really liked this album apart from SS and the title track (which I rank below SS personally). The album has a cool concept but the music itself is just so dry and cliched for my tastes.
DT my critiques of this album are very similar to 8vm.

The last two albums there are just skippable entirely for me.

jammindude · « **Reply #1301 on:** November 17, 2021, 06:42:40 PM »

At the moment

1. Octavarium
2. Scenes From a Memory
3. Images and Words
4. Awake

5. View (though it might just be “new car smell”)
6. Dream Theater
7. Six Degrees
8. Train of Thought
9. Distance Over Time
10. Falling Into Infinity
11. A Dramatic Turn of Events

12. When Dream and Day Unite
13. The Astonishing

14. Black Clouds and Silver Linings

15. Systematic Chaos

LKap13 · « **Reply #1302 on:** November 17, 2021, 06:44:15 PM »

For me View will end up somewhere in the top 5. Might be 1,might be 5

KevShmev · « **Reply #1303 on:** November 17, 2021, 07:06:14 PM »

It will take away before I can accurately judge where I will put the new one. Right now, if forced to rank them, it would be near the bottom, but I am still hopeful that it will get better over time. Even though a few songs have grown on me to where I consider them really good, I am still listening to this album far less than I have ever listened to a new DT. I have bought every studio album by the band since Awake on release day and every single one of them has dominated my CD player (or the 2021 equivalent) for at least a month or so immediately after, except A View...

JediKnight1969 · « **Reply #1304 on:** November 18, 2021, 01:25:56 PM »

Scenes From a Memory
Images and Words
Awake
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Falling Into Infinity
Systematic Chaos
Train of Thought
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
A View From the Top of the World
Octavarium
The Astonishing
Black Clouds and Silver Linings
Distance Over Time
Dream Theater
When Dream and Day Unite

fadetoblackdude7 · « **Reply #1305 on:** November 18, 2021, 04:20:16 PM »

Scenes From A Memory
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
Octavarium
Awake
Images And Words
A View From The Top Of The World
Distance Over Time
A Dramatic Turn Of Events
Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Train Of Thought
Dream Theater
The Astonishing
Falling Into Infinity
Systematic Chaos
When Dream And Day Unite

bobzor · « **Reply #1306 on:** November 21, 2021, 10:15:39 AM »

At the moment, something like this:

1. Awake
2. Metropolis pt 2 - Scenes from a Memory
3. Images and Words
4. Octavarium
5. Train of Thought

6. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
7. A View from the Top of the World
8. Falling Into Infinity
9. Dream Theater
10. A Dramatic Turn of Events

11. Distance over Time
12. The Astonishing
13. Systematic Chaos
14. When Dream and Day Unite

15. Black Clouds & Silver Linings

I'd say the top 5 is pretty much carved in stone, but the albums from 6 to 11 are in constant bloody competition with each other. All of them good. From The Astonishing onward comes the weaker department, but as of today I would say the only one I really don't like much is Black Clouds (save for Count of Tuscany, which is awesome).

Also, respect to jammindude for putting Octavarium as number one. In my opinion it's a damn fine album and REALLY strong considering it's the 8th album. But it has too much competition from the 90's for me.

jammindude · « **Reply #1307 on:** November 21, 2021, 11:54:56 AM »

Volante99 · « **Reply #1308 on:** November 21, 2021, 03:59:17 PM »

Great - required listening for prog/metal fans
Awake
Images
Scenes
Six Degrees
ADToE

Good - consistently good quality with moments of greatness
Train of Thought
Octavarium
A View From the Top
Black Clouds
FII

Not so Good - Can’t recommend; strictly for die hard DT fans
DT12
Distance/Time
WDaDU
Systematic Chaos
The Astonishing

Most Overrated: D/T - status continues to go down amongst the fans, contains 2-3 songs with any repeat value

Most Underrated: BC&SL - huge step up from SC; Nightmare, Tuscany, Best of Times, Rite of Passage - all better than 50-60% of Mangini-era output

fadetoblackdude7 · « **Reply #1309 on:** November 21, 2021, 04:11:42 PM »

Yeah, I never understood all the negative vibes for BC&SL. I think it’s got some of DT’s best moments, and consistently good overall. The only song I think is below average is ARoP

TAC · « **Reply #1310 on:** November 21, 2021, 04:19:50 PM »

Quote from: fadetoblackdude7 on November 21, 2021, 04:11:42 PM

Yeah, I never understood all the negative vibes for BC&SL. I think it’s got some of DT’s best moments, and consistently good overall. The only song I think is below average is ARoP

It's a really good album, but in a long line of really good albums, not ranking high does not equal not being good.

TheBarstoolWarrior · « **Reply #1311 on:** November 21, 2021, 05:26:56 PM »

I've spent a lot of time with DT15 now, so feel pretty confident in ranking it.

1. Images
2. ADTOE
3 and 4 are DoT and DT12 - I always go back and forth between which one I like more
5. Six Degrees
6. Scenes
7. View from the Top
8. Awake
9. Train of Thought
10. Black Clouds
11. Falling into Infinity
12. Systematic Chaos
13. Octavarium
14. Astonishing
15. When Dream and Day Unite

darkshade · « **Reply #1312 on:** December 06, 2021, 03:28:22 PM »

With some time to digest the new album, I think this is my ranking.

Images and Words
Awake
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Scenes From A Memory
Octavarium
Train of Thought
Black Clouds & Silver Linings
A View From The Top Of The World
Falling Into Infinity
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Systematic Chaos
When Dream and Day Unite
Distance Over Time
DT12
The Astonishing

darkshade · « **Reply #1313 on:** December 06, 2021, 06:27:22 PM »

Quote from: fadetoblackdude7 on November 21, 2021, 04:11:42 PM

Yeah, I never understood all the negative vibes for BC&SL. I think it’s got some of DT’s best moments, and consistently good overall. The only song I think is below average is ARoP

I thought BC&SL was a return to form after the previous 3 albums, where aside from Octavarium's title track and a couple other songs, those 3 albums were the band trying new things with mixed results. I thought BC&SL was recapturing their older sound while retaining some of their heaviness from ToT and SC. Agreed, ARoP is the weak link but it's not even that bad, just played a little slow (played faster, the song actually cooks)

Revenge319 · « **Reply #1314 on:** December 08, 2021, 11:14:04 AM »

My ranking of AVFTTOTW may change upon even more listens, but I think this is what my album rankings look like right now:

1. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
3. Octavarium
4. Metropolis, Part 2: Scenes From a Memory
5. The Astonishing
6. A Dramatic Turn of Events
7. Distance Over Time
8. Systematic Chaos
9. A View From The Top Of The World
10. Train of Thought
11. Awake
12. Images and Words
13. Dream Theater
14. Falling Into Infinity
15. When Dream and Day Unite

AVFTTOTW gets a slight edge over TOT on account that TOT has Honor Thy Father and AVFTTOTW does not. It ranks below SC, though, as AVFTTOTW doesn't have any 10/10 songs, while SC has two or three 10/10 songs.

Mr.Mister · « **Reply #1315 on:** December 14, 2021, 08:45:47 AM »

This is going to be a great thinking exercise for me during the holidays. I do know almost 2 months in I can say AVFTTOTW cracked my top 5, and I still listing to it from beginning to end without skipping a track, which is something I can't say about many albums.

illusionist · « **Reply #1316 on:** December 16, 2021, 01:37:37 PM »

1. Scenes from a Memory (My introduction to DT and my favorite musical album)
2. Images and Words (No words for this as well.So many emotions)
---------------------------------------
3. Train of Thought (Tight and consistent all throughout. I love its darkness)
4. The Astonishing (I really 'got' it last year.It's an astonishing work of art)
5. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (Huge shift from SFAM,and experimental)
---------------------------------------
6. Awake (Not my favorite but i can appreciate its greatness)
7. A Dramatic Turn of Events (I was so happy on my first listen.And a relief that they were strong and still pushing forward after the MP drama)
8. AVFTTOTW (Don't skip tracks with this new one.Feels like way shorter.A breeze of fresh air to my ears.Hope it will invigorate them for the next one)
9. Falling into Infinity (Maybe the most unique of their catalogue,and an atmosphere they didn't even try to reproduce since)
--------------------------------------
10. Distance Over Time (Good songwriting and a really fun album to listen to)
11. Black Clouds and Silver Lining (The 4 epics are a joy to listen to,and i still discover new things in them)
12. Dream Theater (Dissapointed at first,but then i came to appreciate it with time.The epic gives it many points in my eyes)
13. When Dream and Day Unite (Not bad by any stretch of the imagination,in fact it has many cool and nostalgic moments.Just not one of my favorites)
--------------------------------------
14. Octavarium (The one i am still the most confused about.There are some beautiful moments in there,but at least half of it didn't live up to DT name)
--------------------------------------
15. Systematic Chaos (Their absolute worst for me,and the only one i wish it wasn't even released under the DT name)

Wim Kruithof · « **Reply #1317 on:** January 10, 2022, 11:37:57 AM »

Quote from: illusionist on December 16, 2021, 01:37:37 PM

15. Systematic Chaos (Their absolute worst for me,and the only one i wish it wasn't even released under the DT name)

I admit instantly it's not their best album, but you made a pretty un-usual statement here. Wish it wasn't released by Dream Theater? To me, Systematic Chaos still gives plenty to enjoy. Even if the album only had the Ministry of Lost Souls.

Elite · « **Reply #1318 on:** January 10, 2022, 01:33:48 PM »

Quote from: ThatOneGuy2112 on November 16, 2021, 11:45:07 AM

==Below Average Tier==
15. TA

Actually, everything from number 9 and further down is below average

devieira73 · « **Reply #1319 on:** January 10, 2022, 02:02:08 PM »

Intereresting ranking by Dave Ling from Classic Rock (maybe a bit of a view from outside of the hardcore fan base?):
https://www.loudersound.com/features/dream-theater-albums-ranked-from-worst-to-best

TAC · « **Reply #1320 on:** January 10, 2022, 04:11:46 PM »

Quote from: devieira73 on January 10, 2022, 02:02:08 PM

Intereresting ranking by Dave Ling from Classic Rock (maybe a bit of a view from outside of the hardcore fan base?):
https://www.loudersound.com/features/dream-theater-albums-ranked-from-worst-to-best

He's really not that far out of line than a lot of us here.

devieira73 · « **Reply #1321 on:** January 10, 2022, 05:33:32 PM »

Yes and that surprised me a lot. TA at #3? I mean, really interesting if Dave is just a casual fan.

IDontNotDoThings · « **Reply #1322 on:** January 10, 2022, 06:05:27 PM »

Quote from: Elite on January 10, 2022, 01:33:48 PM

Quote from: ThatOneGuy2112 on November 16, 2021, 11:45:07 AM
==Below Average Tier==
15. TA

Actually, everything from number 9 and further down is below average

uM aCtUaLlY, if he rates every album the top 14 between 9-10/10 and rates TA 7/10 or below, then the average would be between 8.4-9.8/10 making it possible for TA to be the only one below average.

ThatOneGuy2112 · « **Reply #1323 on:** January 10, 2022, 06:26:09 PM »

TA is more a 2-3/10, so you might need to crunch those numbers again.

UndercoverMyung · « **Reply #1324 on:** January 21, 2022, 10:30:26 PM »

My favorites are
1. SFAM
2. I&W
3. Octavarium
4. AVFTTOTW
Something like that

Least favorites are
1. WDADU
2. SDOIT
3. Astonishing

Dream Team · « **Reply #1325 on:** January 22, 2022, 06:05:02 AM »

Quote from: TAC on January 10, 2022, 04:11:46 PM

Quote from: devieira73 on January 10, 2022, 02:02:08 PM
Intereresting ranking by Dave Ling from Classic Rock (maybe a bit of a view from outside of the hardcore fan base?):
https://www.loudersound.com/features/dream-theater-albums-ranked-from-worst-to-best

He's really not that far out of line than a lot of us here.

Extremely accurate and concise. I only strongly disagree about 2 albums.

News: Video of online chat between fans and members of Dream Theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8cLlXnHpA&feature=youtu.be (*no chickens were harmed during the filming of this chat)

Author Topic: DT album ranking (Read 166020 times)