@Sycsa - TDOE is such a complex piece of music, I really enjoy listening to it. I think sometimes the complexity of it makes it a little off-putting even for die-hard DT fans. Most people like it, but it never seems to rate that high in people's lists.
@Wasteland, @Blob - Well both of you don't have to worry about Scarred or Metropolis being #1 because it is in fact:
1 - The Spirit Carries On- Final Score: 10.0
- Plating: 5
- Originality: 5
- Taste: 10.0
Deep Thoughts:While I am a fan of the metal and proggier elements of DT, I think my list I has shown that lyrics, emotion, and their softer (ie Ballads) side will win the day. The Spirit Carries On is the song that combines the best of those elements. It starts with my two favorite things...Piano and LaBrie's breathy voice. What is delivered by that voice are the most positive and inspirational lyrics Dream Theater has ever written. The song is relatively straight-forward with all members of the band playing flawlessly and showing that despite what some say about them they can all play subtly, expressively, and emotionally. The homages to Pink Floyd are a boost to the overall ranking of the song. This is a song that I feel is accessible to anyone who appreciates rock music and has been a good way to draw some friends who are more "classic rock" oriented into Dream Theater. Whenever this song comes on, I get a nice warm feeling and I can't help but sing along. I know that it doesn't often make it to the top of top 50 lists, but it is quite obvious from the crowd reaction and the fact the band has included it on multiple live recordings that they consider this song to be one of their signature songs, along with Pull Me Under and Metropolis pt 1. So I feel quite comfortable placing this song as #1.
Thanks for reading my list, ya'll rock.
P.S - I know there are several fan favorites that didn't make my top 50...rest assured that most of them (Scarred, Metropolis pt 1, ITPOE, TGP, UGAM, ToT, etc) didn't miss the cut by that much. I am a bit of a DT "homer" and my rankings are pretty positive overall...only about the bottom 10 or songs I ranked are "bad" and only the stuff from The Majesty Demos era includes items I will never deliberately listen to.