If a previous DT album was self-titled, which one would it be?

[darkshade]

For me, it would have to have been one of the first three. Probably WD&DU. Though, I could see FII being self-titled, what with the more commercial direction.

[Setlist Scotty]

Gotta go with WDaDU. To me it makes the most sense to make the first album the self-titled one.

Oddly enough, I do recall that the band had given some thought to just making what became FII a self-titled album. Which in hindsight would've been really weird, considering how it is far from the definitive DT album and especially how the label wielded a strong influence on that album....

[jammindude]

While it is not "the definitive" Dream Theater album...I would have to say that Train of Thought feels the most like a "self titled" album to me.   It was somewhat of a "statement" album (they wanted to make a metal classic from beginning to end along the lines of Piece of Mind or Master of Puppets, and IMO they succeeded) and the cover just has that "Black Album" feel to it. 

[nikatapi]

While WDADU is an obvious choice, i think SFAM could very much be a self-titled album, since it is conceptually kind of a look at a Dream like it's a Theater play, it fits with the concept.

Also, it was the first self produced album and a return to form for the band.

[JoeG]

I&W on the basis of content.
WDADU or ADTOE based on the circumstances surrounding their release.

[fadetoblackdude7]

I said WDADU, although FII was ALMOST self-titled.

[Kotowboy]

Images And Words

" Haha. Just Kidding guys . THIS is out actual debut album! "

[RaiseTheKnife]

I agree Train of Thought could have worked as a stand alone self-titled album.  After all, the first song out of the chute is As I Am, doesn't get much more self-directed than that.  Plus, it has two very personal songs from MP (This Dying Soul, Honor Thy Father) and the heartfelt lyrics of JLB dealing with loss (Vacant).  Even the instrumental's title infers some self-reflection (Stream of Conciousness).  Sure, plenty DT albums have personal lyrics from each member, but this collection of songs stands out as a cohesive statement as to where DT was at the time.  Train of Thought was also an appropriate title (and clever play on words) that suited the content of the album just fine.

[jammindude]

I agree with Train of Thought could have worked as a stand alone self-titled album.  After all, the first song is As I Am, doesn't get much more self-directed than that.  Plus, it has two very personal songs from MP (This Dying Soul, Honor Thy Father) and heartflet lyrics of JLB dealing with loss (Vacant).  Even the instrumental's title infers some self-reflection (Stream of Conciousness).  Sure, plenty DT albums have personal lyrics from the band, but this collection could have worked as a cohesive statement as to where DT was at the time.  Train of Thought is also an appropriate title (and clever play on words) that suited the content of the album just fine.

Great post...

[RaiseTheKnife]

Thanks, I summoned The Dude in me.

[darkshade]

Interesting results so far.

[BlobVanDam]

I went with IaW, as I don't acknowledge WDADU as the "real" debut album, and calling IaW self titled effectively nullifies it.

But really, no album other than the first should ever be self titled. imo it's contrived and becoming a cliche.

[darkshade]

I went with IaW, as I don't acknowledge WDADU as the "real" debut album, and calling IaW self titled effectively nullifies it.

But really, no album other than the first should ever be self titled. imo it's contrived and becoming a cliche.

I know what you mean, but I do like when a band is clever when self-titling their albums, like if DT12 was called "Welcome to The Dream Theater" or "The Phantom of The Dream Theater", or something like that. Even "The Dream Theater Album" would be cool.
Other examples would be "From Genesis to Revelation", "Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers of Prevention", and "In The Court of the Crimson King"

[BlobVanDam]

I went with IaW, as I don't acknowledge WDADU as the "real" debut album, and calling IaW self titled effectively nullifies it.

But really, no album other than the first should ever be self titled. imo it's contrived and becoming a cliche.

I know what you mean, but I do like when a band is clever when self-titling their albums, like if DT12 was called "Welcome to The Dream Theater" or "The Phantom of The Dream Theater", or something like that. Even "The Dream Theater Album" would be cool.
Other examples would be "From Genesis to Revelation", "Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers of Prevention", and "In The Court of the Crimson King"

I like that too, although I don't think any of the bands I listen to personally have ever done it.
How about "Theater of Dreams?"

[perfectchaos180]

I voted Octavarium because it was the album with the grand concept and had the songs that related to the other albums and had the massive tribute to their inspirations in the title track... everything is so grandiose and with the album they were saying "this is us"

[Zydar]

I went with WDADU, since it's their first.

Although I often think of I&W as their first, really, and WDADU as some sort of demo preparing for their "real" debut.

[wasteland]

Well, the label pushed for Images And Words to be a self titled, and even though I love every bit of the outcome, it would have made some sense to go down on that road. Otherwise, WDADU.

[TheGreatPretender]

I like that too, although I don't think any of the bands I listen to personally have ever done it.
How about "Theater of Dreams?"

Or even better, "Symphonic Theater of Dreams"! ... Oh wait...

[BlobVanDam]

I like that too, although I don't think any of the bands I listen to personally have ever done it.
How about "Theater of Dreams?"

Or even better, "Symphonic Theater of Dreams"! ... Oh wait...

I forgot about that. That could have caused even more confusion.

[Lolzeez]

Images or ADTOE

[Elite]

I voted Images & Words, not because I don't like the album title, but because I still feel Images & Words contains everything Dream Theater represents, more so than any of their other albums. I really hope they don't screw up with this twelfth album of theirs.

[TheGreatPretender]

I voted Images & Words, not because I don't like the album title, but because I still feel Images & Words contains everything Dream Theater represents, more so than any of their other albums.

This, oh so very much.

[puppyonacid]

I like that too, although I don't think any of the bands I listen to personally have ever done it.
How about "Theater of Dreams?"

Or even better, "Symphonic Theater of Dreams"! ... Oh wait...

I forgot about that. That could have caused even more confusion.

I'd be interested to listen to an album entitled "Cream Theodore"

[wolfking]

I actually went with 6 Degrees.  It's not my favourite or anything, but I do think it's probably the most cohesive and covers the broadest array of sounds that would make me think that it could fit a self titled album.

[?]

WDADU - the cover wouldn't have needed to be changed then

[darkshade]

I like that too, although I don't think any of the bands I listen to personally have ever done it.
How about "Theater of Dreams?"

Or even better, "Symphonic Theater of Dreams"! ... Oh wait...

I forgot about that. That could have caused even more confusion.

I'd be interested to listen to an album entitled "Cream Theodore"

or "Cream Beer There"

[hefdaddy42]

Images And Words

" Haha. Just Kidding guys . THIS is out actual debut album! "

This.

[aprilethereal]

I voted Octavarium because it was the album with the grand concept and had the songs that related to the other albums and had the massive tribute to their inspirations in the title track... everything is so grandiose and with the album they were saying "this is us"

I voted SFAM but now as I thought about what you posted I agree that 8VM is probably the most fitting choice.

[jammindude]

I voted Octavarium because it was the album with the grand concept and had the songs that related to the other albums and had the massive tribute to their inspirations in the title track... everything is so grandiose and with the album they were saying "this is us"

I voted SFAM but now as I thought about what you posted I agree that 8VM is probably the most fitting choice.

Actually...hearing that argument...ya I agree.   I voted ToT, but 8V is better after some consideration.

[Kotowboy]

I would say Octavarium also.

It just seems to be everything that Dream Theater is about, incarnate.

It has a proggy concept. It has a massive epic track which is their best track ( imo ).

It wears it's influences on it's sleeve. It has a mixed grill of everything DT do.

Short, long, fast, slow, heavy, light. Etc. Etc. Plus for my money has the best production on a DT album besides FII.

[KevShmev]

I would say Octavarium also.

It just seems to be everything that Dream Theater is about, incarnate.

It has a proggy concept. It has a massive epic track which is their best track ( imo ).

It wears it's influences on it's sleeve. It has a mixed grill of everything DT do.

Short, long, fast, slow, heavy, light. Etc. Etc. Plus for my money has the best production on a DT album besides FII.

It also has, song for song, the worst songwriting of the band's career.  If that is indicative of the band, then God help us.

[darkshade]

Interesting that no one has voted for BC&SL, even MP touted the album as "a Dream Theater album with 'A Change of Seasons', 'Octavarium', 'Learning to Live', 'Pull Me Under' and 'The Glass Prison' all on one album." That sounds like an album the band could have self-titled, and it was (is) their tenth album.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

A lot of them, actually, feel like possibilities. You've got the first album, the first album with James (and first on a major label)...then, okay, Awake, FII, and SFAM wouldn't have made much sense, but SDOIT could've, with it being DT's longest work and the first with a "clean slate" for Jordan after the big breakthrough of SFAM. ToT's break from character makes it a bad fit for self-titling, but Octavarium was a "return to roots," so that qualifies too. And then there was Portnoy's whole hyping of BC&SL as this ultimate DT album with Metropolis, 8V, ACOS etc. all rolled into one album. And of course then there was the split and Mangini's entry with these past two.

So the only ones that seem like there's zero justification for self-titling are Awake, FII, SFAM, ToT, and SC. The others, you can kind of see it. But of course WDADU is the most obvious, being the first.

[Kotowboy]

I would say Octavarium also.

It just seems to be everything that Dream Theater is about, incarnate.

It has a proggy concept. It has a massive epic track which is their best track ( imo ).

It wears it's influences on it's sleeve. It has a mixed grill of everything DT do.

Short, long, fast, slow, heavy, light. Etc. Etc. Plus for my money has the best production on a DT album besides FII.

It also has, song for song, the worst songwriting of the band's career.  If that is indicative of the band, then God help us.

In Your opinion... I think there are much weaker songs on SC & BC&SL

[BlobVanDam]

A lot of them, actually, feel like possibilities. You've got the first album, the first album with James (and first on a major label)...then, okay, Awake, FII, and SFAM wouldn't have made much sense, but SDOIT could've, with it being DT's longest work and the first with a "clean slate" for Jordan after the big breakthrough of SFAM. ToT's break from character makes it a bad fit for self-titling, but Octavarium was a "return to roots," so that qualifies too. And then there was Portnoy's whole hyping of BC&SL as this ultimate DT album with Metropolis, 8V, ACOS etc. all rolled into one album. And of course then there was the split and Mangini's entry with these past two.

So the only ones that seem like there's zero justification for self-titling are Awake, FII, SFAM, ToT, and SC. The others, you can kind of see it. But of course WDADU is the most obvious, being the first.

SFAM would have made a lot of sense as a self titled, had it not needed to be made clear it was Metropolis pt 2, which is probably what you meant anyway!