Re: MoraWintersoul's top 50 DT songs v. feeling my heart pull west

[MoraWintersoul]

Hi everyone! I wanted to post a cool OP but my detector of awesome ideas told me I just ran out of quality OP's, so, uhm, that's life.

I'll try to share a list of my 50 favorite DT songs in a way that won't bore your ass off. I think my list is pretty safe and boring, but that's because my taste is logical to me I guess everyone who knows which albums I prefer could guess at least half of what makes this list, but not the exact song positions, so you're in for a few surprises. I've also been told I can write about music in an engaging way so I hope I can apply that ability here.

The list so far:
35.   Vacant
36.   Under A Glass Moon
37.   On The Backs Of Angels
38.   Home
39.   These Walls
40.   Endless Sacrifice
41.   Lines In The Sand
42.   The Silent Man
43.   Cover My Eyes
44.   I Walk Beside You
45.   Peruvian Skies
46.   In The Name Of God
47.   Lie
48.   Another Won
49.   About To Crash (Reprise)
50.   Hollow Years


50. Hollow Years (Falling Into Infinity)
- It's kind of weird that a song that doesn't sound anything like the DT we know was the first song of theirs I've heard. It was on a mixtape-sort-of-thing a friend of my brother's gave to my brother. And I actually heard my first Winter Rose song before my first DT one via that same mixtape. And being not very attentive back then, I barely figured out it was the same dude singing

Anyway, this song squeezed out a near dozen of my 51s because it's a great tune; tell JP to write a good pop tune and he'll get you there. The video is pretty redundant and they didn't get to meet Leslie Nielsen and FII is generally viewed as a dark era, but, you know what, creative conflicts and upheavals will birth great music, which is evident all over FII and the demos.

49. About To Crash (Reprise) (Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, disc 2)
Yes, I split SDOIT. Sorry about that. It's generally hard enough to judge 2-minute minimalistic pieces vs 25 minute epics, prog vs metal vs pop/rock, and all the other opposites in DT's discog, throw a >40 minute suite in there and you have a recipe for having me go insane. I love Reprise more than the "basic" ABC because it provides more momentum and it just kicks you into overdrive. Not much to say about it other than that, it's a damn good DT song within a song within one disc of what is a Mount Rushmore DT album.

48. Another Won (Majesty demos)
You know which version I'm talking about. The one where James obliterated a song which wasn't even written for him. Well, he nailed that whole fucking show so that wasn't a surprise. I wasn't familiar with the setlist of Score when I first watched it so the "countdown" thing was a nice surprise and I figured this a Majesty song but I didn't know they were that... good? also holy balls John Myung we already know you're an alien why flaunt it in plain sight.

[wasteland]

This is going to be another great trip! Join until you can, people! 

As for the actual songs, it took me some time to decide to check out that ancient outdated majesty song. Then it took me about one or two listens to love it. And yeah, James.

Also, splitting SDOIT is always a wise and appreciated move :

[JayOctavarium]

I've been waiting for this one... it's bound to be entertaining


Hollow Years is awesome.  It belongs somewhere in my top 50ish

Another Won - Meh


ATC (reprise) - meh

[GasparXR]

Hollow Years is great, especially after hearing the LAB version. Not just because of the solo but the entire ending which was made heavier similarly to Through her Eyes on SFNY. About to Crash Reprise is good but for me, only really works in the context of the whole piece. As for Another Won, I still say that it should have replaced LFAGA but of course it would have been too hard for Charlie.

[Jarlaxle]

3 excellent songs, especially About to Crash and Another Won. Nice start!

[Nekov]

Another won is a weird choice. The other two made my top 50

[Cedar redaC]

Awesome! I will definitely be following this. You've made an interesting choice in spliting up Six Degrees, so I'm sure that this will be a very fun and entertaining list!

Another had killed passion's GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!

[?]

Hollow Years almost made it to my list (spoiler!) and Another Won is really neat on Score. I'm probably one of the few who aren't bothered by splitting Six Degrees as it has always been more of a suite than a song to me.

[MoraWintersoul]

About the "weird" picks - I am just ordering them according to what I feel about them. Which will probably generate more weirdness. But that's why these are fun, right?

47. Lie (Awake)
Why why why the hate. I love everything about this song - yes, that includes the lyrics and the supposedly awkward chorus and whatever. It's DT doing a simple rocker. And, really, it's a guitar-dominated song, and I just love those, everything JP did with this song is perfect (okay drink every time I say perfect, I'll be saying that a lot), from the riffs that are both metal and groovy to that solo. And The Mirror reprise is just spot on, I love it when DT does that.

Shush little Lie, don't be scared, it's a cruel world out there but momma loves you

46. In The Name Of God (Train Of Thought)
Oh boy... You know what? I just love Train Of Thought. (Marco, stop grumbling back there, I can hear you) And I love everything on it, with the exception of HTF, but even that song beats half of SC and BCSL easily. ITNOG's got style and grace... okay, maybe not style and grace. It's got that perfect massive intro, perfect bigger-than-life chorus - and I don't mind them repeating it a lot of times, because I am an Iron Maiden fan - and the solo section? Fucking A. I hate the word wankery IT'S JUST COMPLICATED MUSIC NO DONG ACTION UNLESS YOU'RE KINKY LIKE THAT. In which case, god bless you.

45. Peruvian Skies (Falling Into Infinity)
"Let's make a song that's both Pink Floyd and Metallica." And then they rocked our socks off. To anyone who hasn't seen it and wants to have his day made, go look up their performance of PS on High Voltage in 2011. Oh and the lyrics are top notch.

[Lolzeez]

Nice picks!

[?]

100% agreed on Lie! I'd take "Mother Mary quite contrary" over "FOREVERMORE! INTO THE NIGHT! BLISTERING!" any day. Well, we're used to Kev's style of writing

[wasteland]

(Marco, stop grumbling back there, I can hear you)

I knew this was about me, I just knew

I like your treatment of Lie, it's a very cool song (listened to the 02 version with the Tool jam yesterday in the car) that gets a lot of undeserved hate. The lurics might be quirky, but the vocal melody and delivery are both excellent.

[SeRoX]

Good start so far but ITNOG is too low.

[MoraWintersoul]

100% agreed on Lie! I'd take "Mother Mary quite contrary" over "FOREVERMORE! INTO THE NIGHT! BLISTERING!" any day. Well, we're used to Kev's style of writing

This man knows what's up.

(Marco, stop grumbling back there, I can hear you)

I knew this was about me, I just knew

I like your treatment of Lie, it's a very cool song (listened to the 02 version with the Tool jam yesterday in the car) that gets a lot of undeserved hate. The lurics might be quirky, but the vocal melody and delivery are both excellent.

Well how couldn't it be.
Wow I just remembered sending that Caught In A New Millenium beforenewmillenium version to my ex-best friend because he was into those bands they channeled there. I'm glad he doesn't listen to DT anymore... awful people shouldn't listen to MY DT

Good start so far but ITNOG is too low.

yeah, if I ordered this "objectively" it would have been higher. But if I did that, I would have had to rank some songs I love better than those "perfect" songs significantly lower so I went for the heart's judgment instead.

[Scorpion]

Cool songs! Great to see some Lie appreciation, I ranked it at a similar position.

Also, I like your write-ups. The NO DONG ACTION part cracks me up every time I read it.

[Nekov]

ITNOG should be a lot higher. I don't care for the other 2 songs

[DebraKadabra]

Shush little Lie, don't be scared, it's a cruel world out there but momma loves you

 

[Onno]

ITNOG is WAY too low IMO

[The Presence of Frenemies]

That's a perfect spot for Lie. I don't get all the hate for that song. It's damn groovy and I actually like the lyrics.

And Peruvian Skies is awesome. Hell, I might put it even higher. Such an underrated DT song.

[425]

Lie is a very good song and deserves absolutely no hate. It is an excellent continuation of The Mirror, and I love the "I had gotten used to being a soul destroyed... ...you can tell your stepfather I said so" part.

I can't comment on whether you have it genuinely too low, as I'm only familiar with about 1/3 of the DT discography, but In the Name of God is a brilliant song that is easily the highlight of Train of Thought.

[JayOctavarium]

ITNOG is waaaaaaaaaay too low... I'm listening to it right now and it should be in EVERYBODY'S TOP 20!!!!

oh and Peruvian Skies is too low too

[GasparXR]

(okay drink every time I say perfect, I'll be saying that a lot)

I'm going to die of alcohol poisoning by the end of this.

[MoraWintersoul]

(okay drink every time I say perfect, I'll be saying that a lot)

I'm going to die of alcohol poisoning by the end of this.

Yes. That way you can die before I get through with my top 10.

[GasparXR]

(okay drink every time I say perfect, I'll be saying that a lot)

I'm going to die of alcohol poisoning by the end of this.

Yes. That way you can die before I get through with my top 10.

[Ruba]

47. Lie
Shush little Lie, don't be scared, it's a cruel world out there but momma loves you

 

I have loved it probably since when I heard it first time in a whole.

45. Peruvian Skies
"Let's make a song that's both Pink Floyd and Metallica." And then they rocked our socks off.

Yess, I love it.

[Sycsa]

45. Peruvian Skies
"Let's make a song that's both Pink Floyd and Metallica." And then they rocked our socks off. To anyone who hasn't seen it and wants to have his day made, go look up their performance of PS on High Voltage in 2011. Oh and the lyrics are top notch.

Why didn't anyone tell me about this before?

[MoraWintersoul]

45. Peruvian Skies
"Let's make a song that's both Pink Floyd and Metallica." And then they rocked our socks off. To anyone who hasn't seen it and wants to have his day made, go look up their performance of PS on High Voltage in 2011. Oh and the lyrics are top notch.

Why didn't anyone tell me about this before?

You don't hang out with the right folks

[Glass Moonlight]

Nice so far, Peruvian Skies needs to be way higher.

[The Stray Seed]

48. Another Won
You know which version I'm talking about. The one where James obliterated a song which wasn't even written for him. Well, he nailed that whole fucking show so that wasn't a surprise. I wasn't familiar with the setlist of Score when I first watched it so the "countdown" thing was a nice surprise and I figured this a Majesty song but I didn't know they were that... good? also holy balls John Myung we already know you're an alien why flaunt it in plain sight.

Your #48 would be in my top 5, I guess. Many times I find myself wishing there'd be many more songs like that in DT discography. I'd trade 1 thousand Constant Motions for another... won. 

[Nekov]

5 days without updates... anything going on? Is there a DTF creeper following you or something?

[MoraWintersoul]

5 days without updates... anything going on? Is there a DTF creeper following you or something?

Just updating! (I'm so tired now I closed the tab I was writing in TWICE ) Just got back from an exam I freaked out about.

44. I Walk Beside You (Octavarium)
John Petrucci is Jesus. You heard it in Misunderstood first. Also, Score >>> Oct version.

43. The Silent Man (Awake)
I'll just leave this preciousness for the reason why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYYkf6jlUt4

42. Cover My Eyes (Falling Into Infinity demos)
To paraphrase/quote Mladen, why the fuck did they leave this off the album if they wanted a hit single for it? Killer. Not the highest unreleased song position here, either

41. Lines In The Sand (Falling Into Infinity)
Yeah, it's a bit low. But that's Dream Theater for ya, I love the lower half of my top 50 more than some discogs by other bands. A lot of people have written about it lately so the only thing that's left for me to emphasize is that Derek Sherinian is beyond Lovely

40. Endless Sacrifice (Train Of Thought)
Oh boy. Huge songs, huge emotions, huge lyrics, huge instrumental section, huge appreciation. Please throw it in the setlist a couple more times DT, please and thank you.

[Nekov]

Silent man  . It deserves a higher spot.

LITS is also a fantastic song.

Good to see cover my eyes, it didn't make my list but it's a really nice song.

[wasteland]

Cover My Eyes needs to be on everyone's list. Even Blolb's. *nods*

[?]

John Petrucci is Jesus.

Captain Obvious!

LITS is awesome (now I'm being Captain Obvious! ) but I've never liked Cover My Eyes that much. ES (I bet the other Finns will find this abbreviation amusing ) is another song that almost made it to my top 50 - it'll get an honorable mention.

[Zydar]

John Petrucci is Jesus.