Dacling's 100 DT Song Countdown

[wasteland]

I don't really like RTK, lyric and music wise. On the other hand, Hell's Kitchen is just an amazing and unfortunately overlooked song.

[Lolzeez]

Raise The Knife is such a gem.

[MoraWintersoul]

BTS and HK I don't think the RTK lyrics are very well written, but maybe it's just me

I think they are very well written alright, the sentiment expressed in them makes me chuckle though

[Dacling]

35. The Shattered Fortress (BC&SL)
The final part of the 12 step suite and it is great. I love the way it builds up at the beginning and even if it's slightly ridiculous to have be angrily yelling happiness, honesty, inventory, and especially self restraint the whole beginning is awesome. Some people dislike this song for it having too many of the themes from the other songs but I love that because that is what it should be. It's wrapping up the suite and reprising all the themes in it's own way. Labrie does aggressive in this song better than a lot of their other metal songs. Now 5:32 is where it really gets good with dat keyboard solo and then the back and forth with Labrie and the spoken word sections is beautifully done. Also a great guitar solo by Petrucci and a great ending. A fitting end for the suite.

34. To Live Forever (I&W D)
Another great DT demo. Some of Labrie's best singing and as well as Dominici on WDADRU (Can't hear the song without hearing "Ladies and gentlemen Mr. Charlie Dominici). I prefer the '91 version the best but they are all great in their own way. Portnoy does some nice drumming on this one and Petrucci has an amazing guitar solo. Speaking of this song the southern rock style jam at the end of the Live in Tokyo dvd is fantastic.

33. This Dying Soul (ToT)
A double 12 step suite update. This one starts off balls to the wall heavy from the get go and introduces a bunch of great themes before the amazing Hello Mirror theme gets introduced which is one of my favorite themes of the suite. The rapping section is awesome and introduces the all important theme that opens the Root of All Evil. One of my favorite parts is actually Petrucci's backing vocals during the "Now that you can see all that you have done" section during the Budokan version. The Blackened section doesn't bother me at all possibly because I'm not a big Metallica fan but I did actually recognize it right away. All the soloing and the unison at the end is just awesome as well.

32. These Walls (8varium)
These Walls opens with a free form intro that reminds me of Chicago and then after a heavy riff transitions into a much lighter song dominated by Labrie's vocals, Portnoy's amazing drumming, and Rudess's keyboard themes. It has some of the better lyrics on Octavarium and has a very similar theme to Speak to Me. I actually wish they would play the song live right after Speak to Me and have a little jam at the end of Speak to Me since it fades out and instead it gets more and more crazy and disjointed until Petrucci's goes full free form and starts off this song. That would be amazing and I would pay so much money to see that. Also the keyboards during the outro are epic.

31. Lie (Awake)
Finally we have Lie the real rocker of Awake. Labrie as in everything in awake sounds amazing the only problem is he sings it in such a way that I have yet to find a live version which truly replicates the awesomeness of his vocals here. The lyrics may be a little funky but they work well in context and when it hit's 2:37 it gets really awesome the drums there really set the mood and Labrie really rocks it. The mirror reprise is great, the guitar solo awesome, and I would love to here this and the Mirror live someday. With the way he was singing last tour maybe it kind finally be given some justice. On a side note the OiaLT version is truly awful and unlistenable in my opinion.

[Ruba]

Before Blob reaches here I just say that Lie is great  .

[?]

Before Blob reaches here I just say that Lie is great  .

[DebraKadabra]

Raise The Knife is such a gem.

No argument from me.
 
Oh and... TLF!

[Dacling]

30. The Mirror (Awake)
Just so happens the next song on my list is Lie's older brother the chug fest known as The Mirror. The Mirror goes from chugging to amazing when Moore's keyboards enter while Portnoy's drumming ramps up the energy. Labrie's vocals are aggressive and really give the song feeling. The bass groove before the outro and the outro itself are fantastic.

29. Disappear (6DOIT)
Disappear is in my opinion DT's saddest song. Not only did Labrie write some sad lyrics but he really portrays the emotion with his vocals. What really makes the song chilling though is Rudess's piano and keyboard. The vocals towards the end are especially great giving a glimpse of hope and I love the end when it slows down to a chilling end.

28. Don't Look Past Me (I&W D)
Don't Look Past Me is the ultimate DT gem. It's not like the Falling Into Infinity Demos or Eve and To Live Forever. It wasn't just a demo that didn't make it to the album. It wasn't released on a single like Even and To Live Forever. The only version was the unpolished vocal demo with John Hendricks on vocals which doesn't feel the same. No it was released on a Christmas Fan Club Cd in 1999 that is now worth 75 - 100 dollars. Now thanks to the internet we can all listen to this wonderful gem in all it's beautiful glory. Everything about it is fantastic. The drumming is dynamic and energetic. The guitar playing beautiful and the solo one of Petrucci's best. Labrie's vocals are powerful and the multitracked vocals are amazing. Moore's keyboards are amazing and the lyric's are among his best. The opening is different from every other DT song. It opens with sound clips followed with Labrie's vocals shining from the start. A true gem and a shame it wasn't on I&W so they would play it live.

27. 6:00 (Awake)
Portnoy rocks this song from the get go with some of the most awesome drum beats I have ever heard. I absolutely love how each member enters at a different time each with their own great part. Moore really shines on this song with one of his best keyboard solo's and Petrucci's solo is great as well. The lyrics are awesome and Labrie sings it in such an awesome way. Which is one thing I love about Awake is that he really sounds different on every song. I was so happy to get to see this live last year and can't wait to finally have a official live version soon.

26. The Spirit Carries On
Some people may say this song is cheesy and I disagree and I don't care it's one of the highlights of SFAM. It's beautiful and soulful and Petrucci's soloing is so amazing. This is actually one of my dad's favorite songs of all time and so it is also an important song to me. The lyric's are very beautiful and positive and Labrie's vocals are great. I also got to see this live which was amazing with Petrucci's 7 minute guitar solo leading up to it and it amazing as he did the solo because he had a fan blowing on him and so his hair was blowing in the wind while he soloed. One of the highlights of the show for me.

[Ruba]

30. The Mirror (Awake)
Just so happens the next song on my list is Lie's older brother the chug fest known as The Mirror.

 

[?]

6:00 and The Mirror DLPM needs to be played live some day, too bad that will probably never happen

[Dream Team]

Don't Look Past Me is an awesome song, good choice.

[Lolzeez]

Raise The Knife is such a gem.

No argument from me.
 
Oh and... TLF!

THIS THIS

[Dacling]

25. Overture 1928 (SFAM)
I'm a sucker for Overtures and this is no exception. I love the way it introduces all the themes for the album and some of the metropolis themes. The intro and all the themes are so perfectly put together that it is my favorite DT's instrumental.

24. Fatal Tragedy (SFAM)
This is one rocking song. From the opening piano and vocals to the amazing instrumental section to the organ it is just awesome. Great lyrics and the end is amazing leading up to the fast piano at the end. The bass at the end is awesome as well. Great performance by the whole band as usual.

23. Bridges in the Sky (ADTOE)
After three SFAM songs in a row here is something different. The intro is amazing and blew me away the first time I heard it then it goes into some amazing metal and the chorus is fantastic. One of the best songs on ADTOE. I especially love the second and third chorus's with the "and at last the time has come" sections are the best vocals on the album and Labrie is really aggressive here. I also love the part ELP like keyboard solo at 8:19. Decent lyrics too since they are as straight forward as a lot of the other recent lyrics.

22. Misunderstood (6DOIT)
This is one of DT's most interesting songs. The way it starts off all mellow and suddenly gets heavier and at the end it gets crazy and until Petrucci's guitar screeches scaring away all the Pterodactyls. It's amazingly constructed and the Vocals are great the reversed Guitar solo is so cool. The drumming fantastic. The keyboards really set the tone.  Some more of Petrucci's better lyrics as well.

21. Beyond this Life (SFAM)
Speaking of Misunderstood a song that ends on the same chord that it began. Beyond this life is a beast of song. The vocals are really well constructed the keyboards and guitar fantastic and the drums really dynamic. The middle section is amazing and the Budokan version is absolutely brilliant.

[Lolzeez]

Well,all of these are awesome songs!

[iamtheeviltwin]

first group with nothing to really complain about

[Dacling]

Been a little busy having to help move our office to a new one the last couple days so I haven't had a chance to update.

20. Surrounded (I&W)
Surrounded is a masterpiece of short songs. In fact it is the only song under 8 minutes in my top 20. It opens with some beautiful synth and piano and Labrie's vocals are amazingly high. One of his best performances ever. It's got an atmosphere unlike any other song I have ever heard. It's so upbeat and energetic. Everyone is on top of their game I don't even know how to describe what makes this song so great because it is so unique. A fantastic song but still not even the best DT has to offer. Seeing this in Atlantic City on the last tour was amazing. It was one of the best moments not only of the show but of any show i have ever seen.

19. Breaking All Illusions (ADTOE)
Breaking All Illusions is what happens when you take modern DT and combine it with Learning to Live and Blind Faith. Petrucci's tone on this song is amazing and I love how upbeat the entire song is. This is one of the few songs on the album where Mangini's drums are mixed well and his playing is excellent. Myung's bass is surprisingly audible through the whole song and Labrie sounds amazing especially with the voice effects which add a lot to the atmosphere. Rudess especially blow's me away in this song. It's some of his best work since Six Degrees especially during the instrumental section where everyone blows me away. There are so many amazing things in this song that I could go on forever. It is without a doubt the best song on ADTOE and if the next album contained more stuff like this rather than stuff like BMUBMD then it could possibly earn a place up there with the Fantastic 4 (I&W, Awake, SFAM, and 6DOIT).

18. The Great Debate (6DOIT)
I don't care how Tool influenced this song is at all. This song is amazing. Rudess really sets the mood and Myung's bass drives the whole song while Portnoy's drumming is some of his best. Amazingly the weakest part of the songs are the solo’s and those are still awesome. The sound clips really set the mood and Labrie just sounds awesome. So many awesome riffs and I love how it the song transitions between the heavy riffs and the more atmospheric sections.

17. In the Name of God (ToT)
In the Name of God is awesome. I don’t even know how to describe what is so great about it. Petrucci is really drives this song with all his riffing. The vocals are great and while the lyrics may not be the greatest thing ever written they work just fine. I love how it slows down and builds back up again around 6 minutes and the bass just rocks there. The instrumental section and unisons are some of the finest they have ever written. Also the ending of the budokan version is absolutely amazing. Petrucci just takes the song to a new level with the shredding there.

16. Finally Free (SFAM)
Finally free is the perfect ending for SFAM. It wraps up the story perfectly. I love the way it brings back all the themes from the album. I love the theme as it the music starts and builds up and the piano and acoustic are beautiful and dark. Then it really kicks into gear once it goes to Victoria’s perspective. Labrie sounds great on this song. The real highlight of the song though is the ending with Portnoy making some drum porn while the rest of the band keeps time with that awesome theme and the end closing up the album of course is great. The lyrics are fantastic and really tie up all the loose ends.

[?]

Great picks!

[Dream Team]

Yes! #20 - #17 are all in my Top 10. Great list.

[Dacling]

15. Repentance (SC)
The best song on Systematic Chaos. It's mellow and atmospheric and it really is a perfect song for what it is. The bass and guitar are beautiful, the piano and keyboards somber, the drumming really great. Labrie sounds really great on this one. Especially the with little echo on the vocals. The guitar solo is amazing and the apology section is perfect. It really works as a whole. I don't understand the people who think the song is too long or drawn out. It has the perfect atmosphere and the apologies at the end give me goosebumps every time and the spoken word's are the perfect ending for the song.

14. Metropolis Pt. I - The Miracle and the Sleeper (I&W)
Metropolis is the definition of DT. If someone asked me what songs perfectly sums up DT it would be this one. The instrumental section is a defining moment of their career and what came out of jokingly naming the song Pt 1 is in my opinion one of the greatest albums ever written. It's opening is epic and Portnoy's drumming is some of his best and Petrucci's guitar playing is perfect. The vocals really are amazing and the lyrics are fantastic. "DEATH IS THE FIRST DANCING TUUUUUUUURTLE" of course their is the bass solo which is amazing. The part at 5:55 always reminds of sonic. The ending is just awesome and I loved the ending they were doing on the last tour.

13. The Count of Tuscany (BC&SL)
As a big Rush fan I completely approve of the epic opening. They really give it that classic Rush feel with the modern DT edge and it just is amazing. As I was writing this I looked away for a second while rocking out to it and all of a sudden three minutes had passed like nothing. I'm going to completely ignore the lyrics for this and acknowledge how amazing the song is rather than focus on something I don't care about in this song. Labrie sounds great here. One of his best performances on later DT albums. While the middle sections is good and everything. The beginning and end are on a whole different level than it. The guitar solo right before the slow section is fantastic and then the slow part is beautiful and Rudess and Petrucci take the song to a whole new dimension of awesomeness. When the acoustic comes out and each member joins back in one by one it really gets great. Labrie from then on to the end of the album does some of his best singing ever. The woah's at the end are just beautiful and this song ends with one of the most epic ending I have ever heard.

12. Home (SFAM)
The opening to Home is just brilliant and the wah wah's start and it really starts kicking ass. This is one of the most fun songs to sing ever as evidenced by Labrie's extreme excitement in every performance of it I have ever heard. Portnoy's drumming is brilliant as usual.  The lyrics are great and I love all the call backs to Metropolis Pt I. I love the slow section leading up to the sex and gambling scene and the drumming and keyboard during it especially. I love that section which a lot of people don't seem to. The keyboard solo is just awesome and I love how the band kicks back into gear in the middle of it. The guitar solo is amazing. I love how it ends with the little section from metropolis and leads in the Dance of Eternity.

11. Lines in the Sand (FII)
Sherinian destroys the opening. After spending what I can only assume was his entire life shoving that keyboard riff into everything he possibly could it finally found a home as the intro for this song and then rocks out for the next couple minutes just being bad ass. Then the rest of the band kicks in and Petrucci lays down some awesome riffs while Portnoy drumming is some of his best ever and gives this song an amazing groove. I especially love the vocals during the OiaLT version of it. I'm not a big fan of them on the album. Labrie really sings hard and the backing vocals are amazing and then it gets to the guitar solo where Petrucci does his best Frampton impression and nails it. The lyrics are great despite being a little odd at time. "Have supper with the aliens" the drumming during that part is awesome and I love the build up the guitar during it is just so cool. The keys during the entire song are so great and the ending is awesome with the high notes.

Tomorrow I am going to do 10 - 6 to make up for the delays. So start guessing the top 10 because it's time for the best of the best. The ultimate DT songs*.
*Opinion expressed entirely my own and any disagreements shall be ignored because my opinion is superior.

[?]

4 of those songs are awesome!

[Scorpion]

All of those songs are awesome!

[Ruba]

Repentance is so underrated. Such a great song.

I like the four others too.

[Full Speed]

I love TCOT. I find the lyrics to be bad in such a way that they're enjoyable. A lot of songs will have bad lyrics that just make the song boring or fall flat, but on TCOT I think it just adds to the entertainment value.

[Dacling]

I love TCOT. I find the lyrics to be bad in such a way that they're enjoyable. A lot of songs will have bad lyrics that just make the song boring or fall flat, but on TCOT I think it just adds to the entertainment value.

I agree I always find myself singing along to TCOT and rocking out hard even to such bad lyrics. They just don't really bother me when I'm listening to it. I just have fun listening to the whole middle section.

[Elite]

Burning My Soul is too high.

[Dacling]

10. Take the Time (I&W)
Take the Time is one of the first DT songs to really click with me. The intro the unique atmosphere. The high vocals, the insane instrumentals. It just rocks from the moment it opens until it disappoints everyone by fading out at the end just as the solo is getting really awesome. I think what makes this song so great and unique is that the lyrics are a collaborative effort so each section has a different feel but it all fits and not to mention a catchy chorus that everyone can sing along to.

9. Trial of Tears (FII)
The homage to Rush's Xanadu in the opening is beautiful and one of my favorite moments in their entire catalog. The lead into the main song is great and I love the bass during the build up. The lyrics are fantastic as all of Myung's contributions are. Portnoy's drumming is especially fantastic in this one as he holds back a little and really play's to the songs perfectly. The keyboard solo is amazing and definitely Sherinian's best of his short time in DT. The bass interlude and the guitar solo are absolutely amazing and then after the keyboard solo the best part of the song Wasteland which is absolutely beautiful and Labrie sounds amazing during it. I love the outro as well and how it ends as slowly as it began.

8. The Glass Prison (6DoIT)
This song fucking rocks. Their is no other way to put it. It starts off with what I think is the best metal intro I've ever heard and building up to some amazing riffing and then the guitar arpeggios kick in and from then on this song doesn't let up and bombards you with some of the best guitar riffs I've ever heard. Portnoy's drumming is fantastic and the double bass groove really gives the song that oomph. Labrie sounds aggressive and Portnoy's backing vocals are the best he's ever done. Rudess may play a support role for most of the song but he does it so perfectly that it can't be ignored. The section with the scratches and building up is just fantastic and has such a cool groove and Labrie really rocks it during that section and the end. I love the keyboard solo and the section afterwords where the keyboard and guitar blend into the riffs is one of the coolest sounds ever. I love the ending with Labrie's vocals shining and the glass shattering. The lyrics are some of Portnoy's better ones too so that's a plus. They need to bring this monster out again on the next tour and rock everyone shit.

7. Blind Faith (6DoIT)
First off the intro is just really epic and a perfect lead into the song. More great Portnoy drumming during this one. Labrie sounds amazing on this song and he wrote some great lyrics as well. The real star here is Rudess though who completely takes over the song with his keyboard solo's and then the unison. My favorite DT unison without a doubt. None of the other compare to it and I love the way it ends with the last few notes twice just making it perfect. For a while I hardly focused on the guitar during this song for the longest time but one time in the car I found myself listening to it and all of Petrucci's riff's are awesome and really set the mood for the song and of course the best part of the vocals.
"And still life pushes on
With or without you
We've got to carry on
Our will, will guide us to
A place where we belong
Know there lies the truth
I am the believer who gives purpose unto you"

In order to make up for the delays I'm going to do 6-3 tomorrow then my two and one slots separately then my 75-51 in list for over 3 days.

[?]

Excellent bunch of songs!

[Scorpion]

Oh yeah, great update. TGP and TTT are a little high, but great to see some high rankings for ToT and BF.

[BlobVanDam]

Can't complain about any of those! All high top 10/20 for me.

[Pols Voice]

3 of those are also in my Top 10. TGP missed out, but I still like it a lot.

[nicmos]

You got the order of SDOIT disc 1 right, with Disappear below all the other awesome songs.  Hard to argue with Blind Faith being the best of the bunch.

[GasparXR]

Blind Faith is probably one of my absolute favourite DT songs. The SDOIT title track probably beats it, but not by a whole lot, and the entire SDOIT album is likely in my top 25.

[Dacling]

6. A Mind Beside Itself (Awake)
First off I know it's a suite but to me it's one piece and I hardly ever listen to it any other way so here it is. Erotomania is an amazing instrumental. It's not my favorite of the DT instrumentals but on it's own it would probably be just under the Dance of Eternity. I especially love the Silent Man theme which sounds really great in the middle of it and one of my favorite thing about this whole suite and Awake in general is the slight southern rock influences during certain parts.

Now Voices is the best part of the suite for me with the epic intro the dark keyboards. Labrie sounds amazing here like all of awake. The lyrics are extremely well written and some of DT's best and may not be the best written thing in the world but it's easy to picture the whole scenario. The sounds clips is actually one of my favorite parts. Something about it just really fits the song and I love the intensity it builds up to come crashing down to the slow part which is beautiful. Everything from "I'm kneeling on the floor" is absolutely flawless. Well the whole song is but it's even better than the first half somehow which is an amazing feat.

The silent man may be short but what it lacks in length it makes up for in character. An acoustic ending to a suite filled almost entirely with metal it ends it off on an emotional note and the guitar solo may be short but it is perfect in context.

5. Scarred (Awake)
If you had asked me a few months ago what the best song on Awake was I would have said A Mind Beside Itself but recently that title was usurped by the progressive metal masterpiece Scarred. The opening is fantastic. The cymbals followed by the beautiful bass line and keyboards then the whole guitar part is just pure ecstasy but it doesn't stop there no you are hardly even a minute into this song when Labrie starts in and does what I believe is his best studio performance. The drumming here is amazing and some of Portnoy's best. When the song kicks in with the riff at 2:10 it is impossible for me to not rock at after that point and then Labrie just owns the entire song with his vocals. The song is just a roller coaster of intensity and it doesn't feel disjointed at all to me like some people have stated on here. I can't hear single moment that doesn't flow perfectly. I love the drums during the first guitar solo that give it such an odd groove and then the keyboard solo. The keyboard solo is Moore's best without a doubt for me and then another amazing guitar solo. The lyrics are fantastic as well and now that we have finished Awake it's time to move on to something a little different.

4. Octavarium (8varium)
Now I'm a Pink Floyd fan first off so I absolutely love the intro to this Epic masterpiece. I love the slow build up and the introduction of the steel lap guitar. The beginning theme is just awesome and the acoustic guitar with the flute solo is just great and really separates this from all of their other epics. Someone like him is great and Labrie really puts a lot of emotion into the vocals especially during the end of it and the orchestra really shines during this part. Then leading into Medicate the bass is awesome and the drum groove is really cool. Then leading out of that is the amazing Moog solo by Rudess. We really need more stuff like that. During Full Circle I really love that keyboard part and it's reprise during Intervals. I actually really like Full Circle because I love the way the vocals flow and the back and forth between Labrie and Portnoy really works. The whole instrumental is just awesome. The little guitar part at 17:50 I really love for some reason. It just sounds so cool. The whole Trapped inside this Octavarium Part and the G5 scream are just awesome. The keyboards after the scream are really cool as well and Razor's edge may not be the most epic ending and may be slightly overrated by some but it is certainly a fantastic ending to this epic. The lyrics may not be the best they have ever written but some of it especially Medicate is really great and I love all the homages to other bands.

3. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (6DoIT)
Now for the best song on Six Degrees. The monstrous epic title track which I will do by track but this is one song no matter anyone says. It flows seamlessly through all the tracks despite the the rapid changes in direction.

First off is the epic 7 minute orchestral overture which I don't have much to say other than that it is a beautiful opening.

About to Crash starts off with some beautiful piano and leads into a really energetic and upbeat song which really fits the story. I have a personal connection to this song and so this and it's reprise really hold a lot of meaning for me. I can't be sad listening to this section. The music is to happy. Right now I as I am literally trying to depress myself but I can't stop smiling to it. The guitar solo is great and it's actually the first time in a little while that I have just sat down to listen to this whole epic and the drumming during this section really caught my attention this time.

War Inside My Head may be short but man does it rock. Labrie's vocals really rock on this song and Portnoy's backing vocal's are some of his best especially towards the end.

The Test that Stumps them All's intro is just plain awesome. The keyboards of course but the bass really sticks out there. Labrie sounds really aggressive during main verses but I love the little accents him and Portnoy do during the what I guess is the chorus. I don't know what you'd call it. The guitar during that part is also really cool. The Keyboard solo is really cool and kind of reminds me of Home a little and the keyboards after that through the outro just rock.

Goodnight kisses' intro is really somber and it works so well following the rocking last couple sections. Labrie sounds great during it and really puts the emotion into and then Petrucci's guitar solo's is one of his best solo's ever though the Budokan solo is the best.

First off I really love Portnoy's drumming during Solitary Shell. It's very restrained and really fits the song so perfectly. The keyboard at the intro is especially awesome and as always Petrucci's acoustic playing delivers and the guitar solo and piano solo are very unique.

About to Crash Reprise I think is even better than the first about to crash. The guitar at the opening is just plain awesome. Just like the first part I can't help but be happy during this except this time it's even more. It's even more energetic and just as upbeat and Labrie nails it.

Losing Time/Grand Finale is the perfect ending to this massive epic. The losing time part is awesome if only a little too short but awesome none the less. The Grand Finale is beautiful and Labrie really wraps it up in a most epic fashion and the gong at the end is perfect.

This song has also got some great lyrics though not their best or most original but it's nothing to complain about because the song is just so great.

This was a truly epic update with these songs equaling almost 100 minutes of music. Tomorrow will be my number 2.

[?]

Not a fan of Octavarium, and Six Degrees is more of a collection of good ideas than a good song in my eyes, but both AMBI and Scarred deserve spots as high as those.

[aprilethereal]

I'm not the biggest fan of AMBI, but the others are truly awesome