Illumination Theory vs The Count of Tuscany

[KevShmev]

It seems natural since they follow a somewhat similar format, and are literally about the same length. 

For me, it is a tough call.  I think TCOT gets the nod as far as having a better intro and ending, but I like the first several verses and choruses of Illumination Theory way better than those in The Count of Tuscany.  And while I love the guitar swelling section of TCOT, I like the ambient and (especially) orchestral sections in IT a little more.

For now, I'll give Illumination Theory the very slight nod, while acknowledging that the newness of it is making me tilt that way....for now.

[Jaffa]

I definitely prefer TCOT, by a pretty good margin. 

[BlobVanDam]

It's a bit of a tough one for me, as they both have a lot of exceptional sections, as well as sections that I think drag the songs down a bit.
For now I'll go with TCOT, as I think it has a few more of those exceptional sections, but they're close enough that it may change eventually.

[Bolsters]

I'm going with TCOT.

[TheGreatPretender]

The Count of Tuscany is Bookended by some amazing parts. The beginning and the ending are just awesome. But everything from the first verse and all the way until (but not including) the atmospheric part, is pretty good, but all in all, nothing too special.
With Illumination Theory, not only do I feel like it doesn't have anything to drag it down, but it also feels a lot more progressive, having more musical themes, and a lot more variety to the verses. So Illumination Theory gets this one for me.

[The Letter M]

TCOT - it's got a better intro and outro (oh GOD that outro is amazing), and for me it is more cohesive as a whole song. IT has some great parts and moments within it's various movements, but it is a bit of a patch-work piece in that it's really stop-and-go in some parts.

Both are amazing, though, in their own right, but TCOT just a bit more so.

-Marc.

[Edan the Man]

Illumination Theory is fantastic all the way up to the orchestra part, which while being a beautiful little piece of music in itself, kind of kills the momentum. Of course, its then followed by the best part on the whole album with JLB stealing the show. It's kind of downhill from there though, I really don't like the ending verses at all.

The Count of Tuscany has a wonderful start, but I'm sorry, the ridiculousness of the lyrics kinda drags it down for me once they come in . I like the chorus though, but again I feel the ambient section also kills the momentum here. Everything after that though (when the acoustic guitar comes back in) is AWESOME. So the ending is much better than IT's.

It's kind of close, but Illumination Theory wins for me.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I prefer The Count.

[theseoafs]

It blows my mind that Count is winning the poll right now.

[Tom Bombadil]

The Count of Tuscany. Not even close.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

It blows my mind that Count is winning the poll right now.

It blows my mind that that blows your mind.

[?]

I definitely prefer TCOT, by a pretty good margin.

This. The lyrics are what they are and the heavy parts aren't exactly amazing, but the intro, the ambient section and the ending are enough to make TCOT much stronger than IT in my eyes.

[adamack]

TCOT.

I'm going to get blasted for this, but I personally do not really like IT much anymore.

The orchestral break is absolutely beautiful and amazing, but it does not fit in the song. It would fit MUCH better in song which tells of a journey or a story.

The vocal melodies in many parts of the song have not aged well to me, and I just find them to be boring now.

The intro still kicks ass, when the first power riff comes in. And the chorus in the first part of the song ("We seek to understand" part) is still awesome to me.

This brings up something pretty interesting:

I did not like TCOT at first, and it finally grew on me a couple months back. IT was completely opposite. I LOVED it at first, but now it doesn't do much for me.

BTW, it hurts me to bash IT like I just did   I am not getting any pleasure out of this. It is just really unfortunate that I no longer like it very much.

[Evermind]

TCOT all the way. The songs do have similar structure, but while TCOT feels cohesive, IT feels disjointed for me. I like some parts here and there, but it doesn't feel right.

[JiM-Xtreme]

TCOT by some considerable margin. It tells a much better "story" - lyrically and musically. IT has some amazing sections, but as a whole I still find it a rather unconvincing "epic".

[Polarbear]

TCOT all the way. The songs do have similar structure, but while TCOT feels cohesive, IT feels disjointed for me. I like some parts here and there, but it doesn't feel right.

This!

[Zydar]

IT

[DreamerTV]

Illumination Theory. By far.

[hefdaddy42]

Illumination Theory. By far.

This.  For me, the music is much more epic in scale, scope, and ambition, and the lyrics aren't ridiculously stupid.  Win win.

[Sycsa]

TCOT is good and all, but not even close to IT. Surprised this is so close.

[krands85]

They're very closely matched for me, but I've slotted IT a couple of spots ahead of TCOT in my rankings.

I'm still sort of in the 'honeymoon period' with IT though, so it might change. Both fantastic tracks though and both in my top 10 

[jakepriest]

I don't like IT at all. An epic for the sake of "epic".

[Mladen]

I like them both, but Illumination is probably the one I'll go with. Neither can compete with Octavarium, A Change of seasons or In the presence of enemies, though...

[Onno]

TCOT, not even close.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

IT might be their best song.

TCOT is great as well, but for me this isn't close.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

IT by a lot. Count has a lot of good stuff but can't touch IT which has way better lyrics, a far better ambient section, a better outro, and a better lineup.

[Jaq]

Illumination Theory by so much it isn't even a thing.

I'm amused that the actual vote is very close but the comments make it sound like TCOT is universally considered their best song and IT is just a thing. 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Really? The comments seem divided pretty evenly to me.

[Xersiz]

IT is a great song,best of the album but it's not TCOT

[1neeto]

IT without a doubt.

[Dream Team]

IT. The ending is one of the best thing's DT has done.

[Sycsa]

IT features some of their greatest riffs ever and JLB's best performance in recent years ("Mothers for their children...").

[TheGreatPretender]

Really? The comments seem divided pretty evenly to me.

There we go, NOW they're starting to even out.

[Lucidity]

Tuscany by a landslide.

[MasterLomaxus]

The Count of Tuscany. Not even close.

I agree with this.  Illumination Theory feels like it's just a bunch of small sections thrown together, in a less than cohesive manner.  I do like all of the parts, other than the instrumental orchestral section.  It just doesn't catch me.