Anyone else find Scenes from a Memory one of the best Albums?

[Sourcegamer101]

Its definitely my #1. Jammit kinda ruins the vocals and overall mixing compared to the original masters.

[puppyonacid]

I hope it's not just me, but Scenes from a Memory (metropolis pt.2) has to easily reach the top two album of dream theater. The brilliance, the music, the drums, keyboard, even the vocals.
I think this was Dream Theater's best album (it's all a matter of opinion.)
I have not been able to find many people who agree,
I understand.
For me it is,
1. Images & Words.
2. Scenes from a Memory.
I hope someone else agrees, because usually people will say DT was their favorite, which I do not agree one bit with that.

I just wish they'd rerecord both albums with Mike Mangini

[Zook]

lol

[jjrock88]

I would place it at number 5 or 6 for me

[noahl]

6DOIT
SFAM
I&W

In variously shifting other depending on the day, but yeah.

Noahl, what crazy-ass forums put DT 12 above I&W or SFAM?

Go to the DT ranked albums, a ton of guys put DT 12 VERY high, saying it was their favorite album, and it really showcases DT's work properly.

[noahl]

I'd probably rank WDADU above DT12, honestly.

100% Agreed.

[?]

Go to the DT ranked albums, a ton of guys put DT 12 VERY high, saying it was their favorite album, and it really showcases DT's work properly.

Three words: new car smell

[Daso]

I believe the "new car smell" left long ago for me, and that there's nothing wrong with liking DT12. I admit it is third on my ranking, below Images & Words and Awake. Masterful, concise and representative songwriting.

The thing with SFaM for me, as I have said on other threads, is that I heard it way too much because it was the first DT album I bought. I still appreciate it a lot and know the songs on it are phenomenal, but it's tiring for me to listen to it. Absolutely personal matters, I guess.

[goo-goo]

I prefer the Alternate mix, released on Ytsejam. Theirs a lot of things that got buried in the Kevin Shirley mixes, keyboards, guitars,  bass, drums. Beyond This Life really breathes and I enjoy it now, same with Through Her Eyes.

Glad I'm not the only one who feels the same.

But yes, it remains my favorite (or Top 2 behind Awake) although I haven't played either album in YEARS (probably 3-4).

[Sacul]

I'd probably rank WDADU above DT12, honestly.

I'd agree, but Illumination Theory exists, so nope.

[Randaran]

Three words: new car smell

For me, it was the opposite; I liked only a few songs on DT12 when it first came out. It only clicked about 2 or 3 months ago. Even though I consider it to be amazing, it still ranks near the middle of their discography.

Scenes is a bit different from their other albums. In general, I prefer to listen to all albums as a whole, though I can still listen to selections from them when I do not have much time. On the other hand, if I only listen to parts of SFaM, I come away unsatisfied. It is one of a few albums that I need to listen to from beginning to end in order to appreciate. Though most of the album, on its own, is not particularly amazing, each part complements the others really well, and elevates the record as a whole. It is much more than the sum of its parts.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

For me, it was the opposite; I liked only a few songs on DT12 when it first came out. It only clicked about 2 or 3 months ago. Even though I consider it to be amazing, it still ranks near the middle of their discography.

Absolutely this. It's right around my #6, which by DT standards, is still pretty amazing.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I'd probably rank WDADU above DT12, honestly.

I'd agree, but Illumination Theory exists, so nope.

I'd probably rank most of the songs from WDADU over IT.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

I'd probably rank WDADU above DT12, honestly.

I'd agree, but Illumination Theory exists, so nope.

I'd probably rank most of the songs from WDADU over IT.

IT is at the very least a top 20 DT song. Can't see any song from WDADU being that high honestly.

[Dublagent66]

Yes.  It's in my top 5.

I'd probably rank WDADU above DT12, honestly.

I'd agree, but Illumination Theory exists, so nope.

I'd probably rank most of the songs from WDADU over IT.

Same here.  There's nothing special about IT.

[Scorpion]

IT isn't anything special, that's true. That doesn't mean that I would rank most of the WDADU songs above it.

[BlobVanDam]

Even though I don't love IT as much as most here, it's still a no contest with anything from WDADU. There are a couple of songs from WDADU I would prefer over some songs from DT12 though. Put the instrumentals against each other (I mean Ytse Jam and EM), and that would be a close call for me!

[?]

I believe the "new car smell" left long ago for me, and that there's nothing wrong with liking DT12.

Yeah, but I remember some people were updating their rankings after listening to the stream 2-3 times and ranked DT12 pretty high, and maybe the OP observation was based on those posts.

[Zook]

Is there a completely different vocal track on the alternate mixes or is that just the weird mix?

I think it's just the weird mix. There are some small but noticable differences, but the majority is the same vocal tracks.

[mikeyd23]

Ah man, I'd take IT over any song off of WDADU pretty much any day of the week...

Even though I don't love IT as much as most here, it's still a no contest with anything from WDADU. There are a couple of songs from WDADU I would prefer over some songs from DT12 though. Put the instrumentals against each other (I mean Ytse Jam and EM), and that would be a close call for me!

I agree with your thought on the instrumental comparison. For me, Ytse Jam is one of the strongest songs on WDADU and EM is one of the weakest on DT12, so it would be a tough call to pick a favorite for me personally.

[Implode]

This thread is like, "Does anyone else like chocolate cake?"

Sure, there are people who don't like it, but come on! Is water wet?

[kirksnosehair]

Images
SFAM
6DOIT


The triumvirate of Dream Theater 👑

[Tick]

This thread is like, "Does anyone else like chocolate cake?"

Sure, there are people who don't like it, but come on! Is water wet?

[Enalya]

My brain always hurts too much if I have to decide about favorites or rankings
I love to listen to SFAM, but wouldn't call it a favorite. I mostly dislike James' vocals on it, though I'm normally very fond of them..

[MoraWintersoul]

This thread is like, "Does anyone else like chocolate cake?"

Sure, there are people who don't like it, but come on! Is water wet?

basically. it's not exactly a controversial opinion.

I have to find the alternate mixes.

[rumborak]

Who knows how many more years are in DT, but I think it's likely that when they retire, SFAM will be held as the quintessential DT album. It was daring,  and yet achieved its aim. Rich, without being cluttered.

[BlobVanDam]

Who knows how many more years are in DT, but I think it's likely that when they retire, SFAM will be held as the quintessential DT album. It was daring,  and yet achieved its aim. Rich, without being cluttered.

Even though it's actually my 2nd favourite DT album, I'd call it the DT album, in terms of being the best representation of unrestrained DT at their finest.

[ytserush]

Not in my top 5 and I'd put When Dream and Day Unite above it.

[Zook]

Not in my top 5 and I'd put When Dream and Day Unite above it.

You monster!

[bl5150]

Not in my top 5 and I'd put When Dream and Day Unite above it.

Wow - same here 

[Tick]

Yes.  It's in my top 5.

I'd probably rank WDADU above DT12, honestly.

I'd agree, but Illumination Theory exists, so nope.

I'd probably rank most of the songs from WDADU over IT.

Same here.  There's nothing special about IT.

This blows my mind actually. The maturity level of song writing on DT12 is sooo much better than WDADU on every level possible its hard to take anyone thinking its better than the latest album seriously.

[Outcrier]

Who knows how many more years are in DT, but I think it's likely that when they retire, SFAM will be held as the quintessential DT album. It was daring,  and yet achieved its aim. Rich, without being cluttered.

That would be Images and Words (SFAM is the closest to it though).

This blows my mind actually. The maturity level of song writing on DT12 is sooo much better than WDADU on every level possible its hard to take anyone thinking its better than the latest album seriously.

Not that much, it's just a mere illusion imo.

[thedrumanimal]

I spinned this album for one year at least once a day, starting with the day it was released back in 1999. When I heard Overture 1928 the first time - and the Metropolis 1 riff started... I was crying like a baby... 

So yes... it is not only one of the best DT albums. For me there are only very few albums which had such a musical impact on me.

I still remember practicing hard to get DoE right on the drums... 

[?]

This blows my mind actually. The maturity level of song writing on DT12 is sooo much better than WDADU on every level possible its hard to take anyone thinking its better than the latest album seriously.

Not that much, it's just a mere illusion imo.

Yeah, the songwriting on WDADU may be all over the place, but that's part of its charm. I don't think sticking an orchestral section into the middle of a song is a great example of "mature" songwriting.

[bosk1]

I don't even understand the purpose of this thread.  Since its release, SFAM has been praised by the vast majority of the fanbase, and it remains in the majority of fans' top 3 albums.  I even took a look at a random sampling of pages from the album ranking thread, and on every single page I looked at, it was in the majority's top 3 on every single page.  I really don't get threads that take the majority opinion and say "My opinion is [insert majority opinion here].  Why doesn't anyone else agree with me?"  Sounds like just attention seeking to me.