DT album ranking

[Tomislav95]

1. Awake
2. Images & Words
3. Metropolis Part 2

4. SDOIT
5. Falling Into Infinity
6. ADTOE
7. Train of Thought

8. Systematic Chaos
9. Octavarium
10. BC&SL
11. WDADU

[evz]

Fan since 92.  Heard Pull Me Under on the radio and a week or 2 later saw them at the Troubadour.  Bought I&W the next morning. Mind was irreversibly blown forever.

1/2 - I&W, Awake - Tie between these 2.  Absolute perfection to the last note.
3/4/5 - 6DoIT, SFaM, ADToE - 3 way tie, depends on my mood which one I'd prefer.  For some reason it took me a long time to bond with 6DoIT, but now its one of my favorites.  SFaM and ADToE are a few lesser moments shy of perfection.
6 - 8V - Love this disc, although the song order suffers from their desire to have the songs cycle thru keys in order.
7 - ToT - This disc grew on me over time, although I still "liked" it initially.  Lacks atmosphere, but great when I want \m/

Big drop off here, although the rest of these discs have some stellar stuff on them.  Just not consistently.

8 - Black Clouds - love the Rush influences, and JP's incredible solo on tBoT, but lyrics and MP's vocal influence hurt this one for me.
9 - FII - This one was a huge let down when it came out.  Has grown on me more over time, but has some clunkers.  Having heard the songs that didn't make the cut as well as the original version of You Not Me saddens me as this disc could have been so much better if the record company hadn't screwed with it.
10 - SC - WTF?  Monster Movie Madness... 
11 - WDADU - I hardly ever listen to this disc.  It's not horrible, but I'm glad they made the huge leap to I&W.

[MetalJens]

Huge fan since about 2002. I've spent the past couple of weeks listening to all of DT's albums and trying to rate them, sort of as a countdown to DT12  I find it really hard ranking all of them, especially the ones in the mid-tier, but, something like this:

1. Scenes From a Memory. Possibly the closest an album can get to perfect. All songs are great, awesome concept and great cover as well 
2. Images & Words. Almost perfect again. Close race with SFAM.
3. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. It really took me a long time to realize how great this album really is. Almost up there with SFAM and I&W for me now. It just lacks one or two really outstanding tracks such as WFS/LTL on I&W or TSCO & FF on SFAM.

4. A Dramatic Turn of Events. This is where the ranking gets really tough. But I really like this record overall, although it has a couple of songs I find rather weak in BMU, BMD and TITL. Rest of the album is solid though, especially, BITS, Outcry and FFH/BAI.
5. Train of Thought. Another solid album. I can't really say it has any weak tracks, but none of the tracks are among my DT favorites either. Sort of the same as with Awake for me.
6. Awake. Again, very good album, but it never really clicked for me to the same degree as the top 3 above. No weak songs, but none really outstanding either IMO. 
7. Octavarium. First six songs on this record are rather weak for DT standards to my ears. Some of them are OK, some of them I don't like at all. SS and Octavarium are great though!
8. Falling Into Infinty. HK/LITS and TOT are really good songs, but the rest of the album is definitely below par for DT.

9. Black Clouds & Silver Linings. One of my least favorite DT albums, BUT it contains one of my absolute favorite tracks in TCOT.
10. Systematic Chaos. A bit the same as BC&SL, only without TCOT  
11. WDADU. Probably the least good DT record, but I still like it Very different sounding, and some of the songs here I really like to hear live actually.

Can't wait to complete the ranking with "Dream Theater" 

[MetalJens]

9 - FII - This one was a huge let down when it came out.  Has grown on me more over time, but has some clunkers.  Having heard the songs that didn't make the cut as well as the original version of You Not Me saddens me as this disc could have been so much better if the record company hadn't screwed with it.

Do you have the names of the songs that didn't make the album on FII??? Would be awesome to hear these if they are available somewhere 

[aprilethereal]

9 - FII - This one was a huge let down when it came out.  Has grown on me more over time, but has some clunkers.  Having heard the songs that didn't make the cut as well as the original version of You Not Me saddens me as this disc could have been so much better if the record company hadn't screwed with it.

Do you have the names of the songs that didn't make the album on FII??? Would be awesome to hear these if they are available somewhere 

You could check out the FII demos, there's some great stuff on there (Raise The Knife )

[theseoafs]

I did this the last time this thread rolled around, but maybe it's changed since then.

1.  Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2.  Images and Words
3.  Scenes from a Memory


4.  A Dramatic Turn of Events
5.  Train of Thought
6.  Falling Into Infinity
7.  Octavarium
8.  Awake


9.  Black Clouds and Silver Linings
10.  Systematic Chaos

Did you exclude WD&DU on purpose? 

Yup

[evz]

9 - FII - This one was a huge let down when it came out.  Has grown on me more over time, but has some clunkers.  Having heard the songs that didn't make the cut as well as the original version of You Not Me saddens me as this disc could have been so much better if the record company hadn't screwed with it.

Do you have the names of the songs that didn't make the album on FII??? Would be awesome to hear these if they are available somewhere 

You could check out the FII demos, there's some great stuff on there (Raise The Knife )

Aye - they are here - https://ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=26

Speak To Me, Raise the Knife IMO are better than some of the songs that ended up on the album.

[dirk]

I did not become a fan until 2009, and see my order still changing now and then (and there may be some bias to the records that I have listened most), but here is my current list.

1. SFAM
2. SDOIT
3. I&W
4. BCSL
5. TOT
6. 8VM
7. SC
8. ADTOE
9. AW
10. FII

I do not have WDADU yet. I am looking forward to D12. Sounds like it may well end up in the upper half.

[TheAtliator]

I guess I could post my list here, what the heck!
Just for the moment-

1- Images and Words, Awake, A Dramatic Turn of Events

2- When Dream And Day Unite, Scenes from a Memory, Six Degrees, Train of Thought, Octavarium, Systematic Chaos, Black Clouds

3- Falling into Infinity (only because those disgusting worms stuck their filthy claws in the way of DT)

[ProAlbino]

1. Scenes From a Memory
2. Images and Words
3. Black Clouds and Silver Linings

4. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
5. Train of Thought
6. Octavarium
7. A Dramatic Turn of Events
8. Awake

9. Systematic Chaos
10. Falling into Infinity
11. When Dream and Day Unite

[matte.braso]

List based on the average votes among every song of an album:

I&W 8.3
SFAM 8
SDOIT 7.8
DT12 7.65
AWAKE 7.6
WDADU 7.25
ADTOE 7.2
TOT 7.1
FII 6.9
BC&SL, Octavarium 6.8
SC 6.6

More specifically, my votes comprehend songwriting complexity (structure-wise, melody-wise, rythm and chords changes), emotion, longevity (after thousands listenings )
 
DT12

FAS 8
TEI 6
TLG 8
EM 7
TBP 8
BTV 7
STR 9
AFTR 7
IT 9

Fixed that for me

[Ħ]

I thought about a revised album ranking. Here's what I came up with for myself.

1. Scenes From a Memory
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Dream Theater
4. Train Of Thought
5. Images and Words
6. Falling Into Infinity
7. A Dramatic Turn of Events
8. Octavarium
9. Awake
10. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
11. Systematic Chaos
12. When Dream and Day Unite

[Dark Castle]

With only one listen under my belt, and needing more time to digest the songs, I couldn't possibly rank it, but I have a feeling it will AT LEAST be a top 5.

[Perpetual Change]

Images and Words
Awake
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Falling Into Infinity
Scenes from a Memory
Octavarium
Dream Theater
Train of Thought
When Dream and Day Unite
Systematic Chaos
Black Clouds & Silver Linings

[Shadow2222]

I thought about a revised album ranking. Here's what I came up with for myself.

1. Scenes From a Memory
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Dream Theater
4. Train Of Thought
5. Images and Words
6. Falling Into Infinity
7. Images and Words
8. A Dramatic Turn of Events
9. Octavarium
10. Awake
11. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
12. Systematic Chaos
13. When Dream and Day Unite

So which parts of I&W are better than FII and which are worse? 

[Lolzeez]

1.SFAM
2.I&W
3.SDOIT
4.DT12
5.A
6.ADTOE
7.ToT
8.FII
9.SC
10.8VM
11.WDADU
12.BC&SL

[Ħ]

I thought about a revised album ranking. Here's what I came up with for myself.

1. Scenes From a Memory
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Dream Theater
4. Train Of Thought
5. Images and Words
6. Falling Into Infinity
7. Images and Words
8. A Dramatic Turn of Events
9. Octavarium
10. Awake
11. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
12. Systematic Chaos
13. When Dream and Day Unite

So which parts of I&W are better than FII and which are worse? 

They're about equal for me. I couldn't decide, apparently.

[Marion Crane]

How anyone can even begin to rank DT12 in with the others is astronomically insane to me.  YOU ONLY HEARD IT 6 HOURS AGO!!!!

[Shadow2222]

I haven't heard the new album yet (waiting until my friend comes over tonight), and I'm sure I've posted my rankings in this thread a long time ago, but I'll post my latest ranking here (without the new album, for now). I am gonna be kind of weird and include the FII Demos separately, as it really changes where that album ranks.

1. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2. Scenes from a Memory
3. Octavarium
4. A Dramatic Turn of Events
5. Images and Words
6. Falling Into Infinity DEMOS
7. Awake
8. Systematic Chaos
9. Train of Thought
10. When Dream and Day Unite
11. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
12. Falling Into Infinity (regular version)

I love, love, love all of the cut songs from the FII sessions, as well as the much more passionate takes of Burning My Soul, Take Away My Pain, and Just Let Me Breathe. Of course, You or Me is miles better than You Not Me (even though I still like that version). The only songs I prefer on the regular version are Trial of Tears and Peruvian Skies.

[Super Dude]

Awake
I&W
FII + Demos

SFAM
SDOIT


ACOS
8VM
DT12
ADToE





BCSL
ToT



WDADU














































SC

[Dark Castle]

1. Images and Words
2. Dream Theater (I seriously wanna say #1, but I just can't)
3. Scenes From a Memory
4. Awake
5. A Dramatic Turn of Events
6. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
7. Octavarium
8. Systematic Chaos
9. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
10. Falling into Infinty
11. Train of Thought(If only When Dream and Day Unite didn't exist, so I could put you in last)
12. When Dream and Day Unite


I'm rock hard confident in my rankings.

[Super Dude]

Oh, forgot the new album. Edited.

[PixelDream]

1. Images & Words
2. Awake
3. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4. Scenes from a Memory
5. Train of Thought
6. Dream Theater
7. Falling Into Infinity
8. Octavarium
9. A Dramatic Turn of Events
10. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
11. When Dream & Day Unite
12. Systematic Chaos

[Mister Gold]

In no particular order

Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Awake
Dream Theater

Images & Words
Scenes from a Memory
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Falling Into Infinity

Train of Thought
Octavarium
Systematic Chaos
Black Clouds & Silver Linings
When Dream & Day Unite

~

I'll have to listen through the whole discography a few more times to get a more concrete opinion on specific rankings.

[Outcrier]

1. Images & Words
2. Awake
3. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
4. Scenes from a Memory
5. Train of Thought
6. Dream Theater
7. Falling Into Infinity
8. Octavarium
9. A Dramatic Turn of Events
10. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
11. When Dream & Day Unite
12. Systematic Chaos

Very good ranking 

[Super Dude]

In no particular order

You know, the whole point of ranking is there is an order.

[Dark Castle]

I'll have to listen through the whole discography a few more times to get a more concrete opinion on specific rankings.

[Mister Gold]

In no particular order

You know, the whole point of ranking is there is an order.

I was referring to the albums within each tier ranking. For example, 6DoIT, Awake and DT12 are my Top 3 but I'm not sure yet what specific order that is yet.

[Kotowboy]

This is so difficult but i'll try my best :

1.Octavarium
2.Scenes From A Memory
3.Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
4.A Dramatic Turn Of Events
5.Images & Words
6.Train Of Thought
7.Falling Into Infinity
8.Awake
9.Black Clouds & Silver Linings
10.Systematic Chaos
11.When Dream And Day Unite


Dream theater : Still too early to tell.

[Dark Castle]

This is so difficult but i'll try my best :

1.Octavarium
2.Scenes From A Memory
3.Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
4.A Dramatic Turn Of Events
5.Images & Words
6.Train Of Thought
7.Falling Into Infinity
8.Awake
9.Black Clouds & Silver Linings
10.Systematic Chaos
11.When Dream And Day Unite


Dream theater : Still too early to tell.

*Go ahead, put in your Top 3, you know you want to.*

[Lucien]

Dream Theater
Octavarium
Images and Words
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Scenes From a Memory
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Awake
Train of Thought
Systematic Chaos
Falling Into Infinity
When Dream and Day Unite
Black Clouds and Silver Linings

[chaotic_ripper]

Scenes from a memory
Images and words
Octavarium
A dramatic turn of events
Six degrees
Awake
Train of thought
Systematic chaos
Black clouds
Falling into infinity
When dream and day unite

Emotionally I want to put DT12 at number 1. Rationally I'm thinking number 3.  It might be 1 though.

[Super Dude]

For all those people putting DT12 in the #1 spot here or calling it THE BEST DREAM THEATER ALBUM EVER in the other threads, I can't wait until a year from now when they all start declaring how bored they are with it and how it's no different from any of its predecessors.

[Dark Castle]

I can't wait until a year from now and I still love it and you're grumpy about it.
Unlike most people here at times, if I love an album, I know so immediately, Kvelertak hit me immediately, Grimes hit me immediately, and this is hitting me IMMEDIATELY with it's radularness.

[Super Dude]

Man, this is my fourth DT album cycle and I've seen and heard it all before. Hell, even my initial reaction to BCSL was that it was literally the greatest thing put out on this Earth and it would change everything. It's like your junkie brother who says every time he gets out of rehab that this time it'll be different, he comes out and he's back in the usual dives a short time later and strapped for cash.