Author Topic: "Best/favorite" songs of the 2010s (Read 4948 times)

bosk1 · « **on:** July 19, 2019, 08:27:03 AM »

Hey, y'all! I was thinking the other day of doing this in GMD after the new year since we are coming up on the end of the 2010s. And then I realized that we can do that right now with DT, since they are not coming out with another album this decade. Interesting to think that we are now a solid decade into the Mangini era!

Where does the time go?

So, vote for your top 10 (I went with so many because there are so many songs). Feel free to provide longer lists below. And as always, further explanation and discussion is great.

Also, feel free to mention any significant live renditions during this timeframe. The only one I can think of that is sort of "new" (i.e., not on a studio album) is how they reworked Space Dye Vest so that it's different from the album version. That was a very cool thing to do for the first time playing it EVER after all these years. And it took a song that is at my personal bottom of the barrel and made it thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable. I can only think of one other song that is a non-album track, and no other ones that were presented vastly different from their album counterparts, but I may just not be remembering.

On a personal note, I'm curious to see how many votes the songs from TA get. As much as I love some of those songs personally, it's hard to view them separately as stand-alone pieces that I can rank up against songs from the other albums. I wonder how many others feel the same way, and I wonder how others feel that some of the best from that album stand up on their own.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2019, 08:33:43 AM »

I voted for:

Bridges in the Sky and Breaking All Illusions as they're the standouts and masterpieces of Mangini's debut.

Sadly, I had to leave out Beneath the Surface, such a cool and moving song.

Then The Bigger Picture and Behind the Veil - respectevly best song overall and best chorus of the album.

I love The Astonishing, and I voted for:

The Gift of Music
A Better Life (So much emotion in so little time)
When your Time has Come (As good as any uplifting slow piece they've done)
Ravenskill (Great buildup all around)

With my 11th option I would have picked the title track, a very worthy climax and seeing it live was tears inducing.

Then for the new album I picked At Wit's End (best song) and Barstool Warrior.

bosk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2019, 08:39:00 AM »

All very good choices (as if there are any bad ones).

Album by album, I went with:
-Bridges in the Sky
-Outcry
-Beneath the Surface

-Behind the Veil
-Along for the Ride
-Illumination Theory (I almost went with The Bigger Picture or Surrender To Reason, but I gave it to IT for its creativity)

-Ravenskill
-Moment of Betrayal

-S2N
-At Wit's End

cramx3 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2019, 08:45:17 AM »

Lost Not Forgotten
Breaking All Illusions
The Enemy Inside
Illumination Theory
The Gift of Music
Chosen
A New Beginning
S2N
At Wits End
Pale Blue Dot

Lonk · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2019, 08:45:50 AM »

From TA, the only songs I constantly revisit are "Moment of Betrayal", "The Path that Divide" and "TGOM". I picked 4 songs from DOT and 4 from ADTOE, both great albums. The other 2 albums are great but not as strong as those two.

The only song I could've included on a top-10 but did not make it was "Outcry". I really like that song but LNF and BITS are better IMO.

bosk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2019, 08:50:23 AM »

Quote from: Vmadera00 on July 19, 2019, 08:45:50 AM

From TA, the only songs I constantly revisit are "Moment of Betrayal", "The Path that Divide" and "TGOM".

See, I still have a tough time just going an listening to individual songs from that album. Part of it is that I generally listen to entire albums anyway. But the other part is just that, again, I have a mental block to listening to pieces of the story out of sequence. But the flip side to that is, I rarely have time to listen to that entire album, so it suffers a bit on my play list. The only times I listen to it are sometimes on my bike ride home from work (which is long enough to get through about Moment of Betrayal or Heaven's Cove, which is kind of an injustice to the rest of disk 2) or as background music at work (which is kind of an injustice to the whole thing).

Ben_Jamin · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2019, 08:55:30 AM »

ADTOE:
Outcry
Breaking All Illusions

DT
The Bigger Picture

The Astonishing
Chosen
The X Factor
The Road to Revolution
Begin Again
Losing Faythe

D/T
Barstool Warrior
At Wits End

I have many more Astonishing songs I enjoy a lot. I enjoy that album immensely, I can imagine it all playing out, the visuals live also were great. Too bad it wasn't used for the enitre songs, but those NOMAC tracks really were brought to life live.

Those two D/T songs are among the most emotional for me at the moment, they really speak to me with what I'm dealing with personally.

The Bigger Picture has always been my favorite since DT was released. Was so happy when they played it live, the ending came out really awesome. Funny that this is my least favorite of the Mangini era, It has great songs.

I've always liked Outcry and would like to see it live someday. Breaking All Illusions was epic live, because when they played it here, During the soft guitar solo, JP sat down on his foot stands and played it basically in front of me.

jingle.boy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:01:41 AM »

I couldn't even pick 10.

What I find shocking is there are (atm) 7 voters, and only 5 for Breaking All Illusions.

Ben_Jamin · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:03:00 AM »

Quote from: jingle.boy on July 19, 2019, 09:01:41 AM

I couldn't even pick 10.

What I find shocking is there are (atm) 7 voters, and only 5 for Breaking All Illusions.

I like how diverse it is with only 7 votes.

bosk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:05:36 AM »

Quote from: Ben_Jamin on July 19, 2019, 08:55:30 AM

Breaking All Illusions was epic live, because when they played it here, During the soft guitar solo, JP sat down on his foot stands and played it basically in front of me.

That's so cool! I've made no secret that it is among my least favorite on ADTOE. But it has quite a few great moments, and it really DOES take on a new life in a live setting.

jingle.boy · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:10:51 AM »

Quote from: Ben_Jamin on July 19, 2019, 08:55:30 AM

Breaking All Illusions was epic live, because when they played it here, During the soft guitar solo, JP sat down on his foot stands and played it basically in front of me.

Same... I also got a fist-bump from him after

#FanGirlMoment

pg1067 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:30:51 AM »

I initially voted for only one song...glad the option to change the vote was there.

BAI is still my favorite song from the Mangini era, and I had a pretty easy time picking nine. Picking #10 was a bit tough. Eventually, I gave the #10 vote to Untethered Angel. Probably would have been much harder if I thought anything from TA was worth considering.

In album order:

Bridges in the Sky
Outcry
Breaking All Illusions

The Looking Glass
Along for the Ride
Illumination Theory

Untethered Angel
Barstool Warrior
S2N
Pale Blue Dot

bosk1 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:36:45 AM »

Quote from: pg1067 on July 19, 2019, 09:30:51 AM

Along for the Ride

Good to know I'm not the only one.

TAC · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:41:04 AM »

Nice thread. I’ll do mine this afternoon after work.

They have put out some great music this decade.

MarkFitDT · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:42:19 AM »

I could have easily picked more than 10 as I love the Mangini era.

In order :-

This is the Life
Breaking All Illusions (best MM era song and possibly best DT song for me)

Along for the Ride
Illumination Theory

The Gift of Music
When Your Time Has Come
The X Aspect

Fall Into The Light
S2N
Pale Blue Dot.

JayOctavarium · « **Reply #15 on:** July 19, 2019, 09:43:43 AM »

Is the full band outro to The Root of All Evil significant enough to count here? Because I still say that was freaking awesome.

Sebastián Pratesi · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2019, 10:09:54 AM »

Quote from: bosk1 on July 19, 2019, 08:27:03 AM

Hey, y'all!

Bosk, you forgot to include "Raw Dog"!

Quote from: Ben_Jamin on July 19, 2019, 08:55:30 AM

Those two D/T songs are among the most emotional for me at the moment, they really speak to me with what I'm dealing with personally.

May I ask what it is that you are dealing with?
_ _ _ _ _

I chose:

"Breaking All Illusions",

"The Enemy Inside", "Behind the Veil" and "Illumination Theory",

"Three Days", "A New Beginning", "Heaven's Cove" and "Begin Again",

"Room 137" and "Pale Blue Dot".

The outro to "Begin Again" is some of the most beautiful I've heard. Last year, I showed the song to my English teacher, and she loved it - she said it has a 'cinematic' feel.

However my favourite section of the album (and probably the band's discography) is the outro to "The Walking Shadow". So creative!

The band's latest three albums have been very special to me, as they also represented my getting involved with DTF and fan-clubs, getting to know JP and JR in a Q&A, etc.

RoeDent · « **Reply #17 on:** July 19, 2019, 10:21:52 AM »

Bridges in the Sky
Outcry
Breaking All Illusions
The Bigger Picture
Illumination Theory
Chosen
A New Beginning
Room 137
At Wit's End
Pale Blue Dot

-------------------------------------

This is a great idea for a thread. It's a good time to reflect on a major chunk of Dream Theater's career, one that started with the biggest upheaval of their career. In Breaking All Illusions, we have this decade's entry into the Pantheon of near-universal DT classics.

bosk1 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2019, 10:24:30 AM »

Quote from: RoeDent on July 19, 2019, 10:21:52 AM

It's a good time to reflect on a major chunk of Dream Theater's career, one that started with the biggest upheaval of their career. In Breaking All Illusions, we have this decade's entry into the Pantheon of near-universal DT classics.

Very well put.

Zydar · « **Reply #19 on:** July 19, 2019, 11:00:09 AM »

Bridges in the Sky
Breaking All Illusions

The Enemy Inside
Surrender to Reason
Illumination Theory

Moment of Betrayal

Fall into the Light
Barstool Warrior
At Wit's End
Viper King

Mladen · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2019, 11:22:09 AM »

Great poll, bosk! I hope we will have as many voters as possible in this one.

Here are the songs I went with:

On the Backs of Angels
Bridges in the Sky
Outcry
Breaking All Illusions
Beneath the Surface
Illumination Theory
A Tempting Offer
A New Beginning
The Path That Divides
Pale Blue Dot

Honorable mentions:

Build Me Up, Break Me Down
Far from heaven
Enigma machine
Surrender to Reason
Paralyzed
And a whole bunch of songs from The Astonishing.

The Walrus · « **Reply #21 on:** July 19, 2019, 11:28:28 AM »

Breaking All Illusions
Beneath the Surface

The Looking Glass

Three Days
A Life Left Behind
A New Beginning
Our New World

Untethered Angel
S2N
Pale Blue Dot

MirrorMask · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2019, 11:32:41 AM »

Granted, 10 options are A LOT, but I'm glad to see all the votes spread out, and especially no big void gap between the self titled and d/t.

bosk1 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 19, 2019, 11:36:22 AM »

Yeah, I was going to go with 5 options. And then 7. I got to 10 because there were just so many songs, and I wanted to include all full songs (no NOMAC tracks) to allow people the opportunity to vote for anything in this decade. With so many choices, a top 10 just felt logical. People are certainly free to choose less than that if they would like.

geeeemo · « **Reply #24 on:** July 19, 2019, 12:19:25 PM »

On the Backs of Angels
This is the Life
Bridges in the Sky
Outcry
Breaking All Illusions - My top 5, maybe 3 of all DT songs.

ADToE is my fave album

Illumination Theory
Three Days
A New Beginning
At Wit's End
Pale Blue Dot

The Astonishing posed a problem. I have listened to it many, many times - and love it. But I can't distinguish which song is what by name except for a few - but I know how much I dig them. I always listen to the whole album. So, sitting at my desk here, I went to listen to several to judge and was compelled to play the whole thing

cramx3 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 19, 2019, 12:22:38 PM »

Quote from: bosk1 on July 19, 2019, 11:36:22 AM

I got to 10 because there were just so many songs, and I wanted to include all full songs (no NOMAC tracks) to allow people the opportunity to vote for anything in this decade.

oh man that would have changed things immensely

KevShmev · « **Reply #26 on:** July 19, 2019, 12:42:46 PM »

Bridges in the Sky
Breaking All Illusions
Surrender to Reason
Illumination Theory
Three Days
Ravenskill
Chosen
A New Beginning
Fall into the Light
At Wit's End

TAC · « **Reply #27 on:** July 19, 2019, 01:42:59 PM »

Breaking All Illusion
Lost Not Forgotten
Outcry
The Gift Of Music
A Savior In The Square
Ravenskill
The X Aspect
A New Beginning
Fall Into The Light
At Wit's End

Setlist Scotty · « **Reply #28 on:** July 19, 2019, 02:03:50 PM »

It was *very* difficult to narrow it down to just 10 songs! I managed to do, but there were plenty of honorable mentions that just missed the cut.

My choices:
ADToE
• Lost Not Forgotten
• Bridges in the Sky
• Breaking All Illusions

s/t
• The Bigger Picture
• Behind the Veil
• Illusion Theory

TA
• Heaven's Cove

d/t
• Fall Into the Light
• At Wit's End
• Pale Blue Dot

honorable mentions: False Awakening Suite (really amazing what they packed into less than 3 minutes), Dystopian Overture, A New Beginning (that outro solo!), Untethered Angel, S2N

bosk1 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 19, 2019, 02:05:27 PM »

You actually like 10 songs in this era, Scott? You do know Mike Portnoy isn't on any of them, right?

Setlist Scotty · « **Reply #30 on:** July 19, 2019, 02:08:23 PM »

Quote from: bosk1 on July 19, 2019, 02:05:27 PM

You actually like 10 songs in this era, Scott? You do know Mike Portnoy isn't on any of them, right?

I may not like everything that's happened to DT since MP's left, but that doesn't take away from enjoying most of what they've released...even some of TA!

robwebster · « **Reply #31 on:** July 19, 2019, 04:19:51 PM »

On the Backs of Angels
Bridges in the Sky

False Awakening Suite
The Bigger Picture
Illumination Theory

Three Days

Barstool Warrior
Room 137
S2N
At Wit's End

Honourable mentions to Viper King, The Enemy Inside, and particularly Beneath the Surface, which would probably have sneaked in on a different day; I was absolutely obsessed with that song when it came out.

They have put out a *lot* of good songs in ten years! And since I got into them in the mid noughts, Mangini has been in the band for most of the time I've been a fan. That"s a profoundly weird thought. Huh!

Max Kuehnau · « **Reply #32 on:** July 20, 2019, 05:37:54 AM »

This was hard for me, because ADTOE and DT12 are the ones I listen to the most. But I went with all the longer pieces on ADTOE plus OTBOA, Illu, Enigma Machine, Lord Nafaryus, 3 Days and PBD.
Honourable mentions: This Is The Life, everything on DT12 that I didn't mention above,Ravenskill, The Path and Out Of Reach. That's about it I think.

TheCountOfNYC · « **Reply #33 on:** July 20, 2019, 09:23:12 AM »

A Dramatic Turn of Events
Bridges in the Sky
Breaking All Illusions (favorite song of the Mangini era)
Beneath the Surface

Dream Theater
Surrender to Reason
Illumination Theory (favorite song on the album)

The Astonishing
A New Beginning
Our New World (favorite song on the album)

Distance Over Time
S2N
At Wit’s End
Pale Blue Dot (favorite song on the album)

54_diplomats · « **Reply #34 on:** July 20, 2019, 11:36:31 AM »

ADToE
Bridges in the Sky
Outcry
Breaking All Illusions (easily the best song of the 2010's)

Dream Theater
The Enemy Inside
The Looking Glass
The Bigger Picture
Illumination Theory

Distance Over Time
At Wits End
Pale Blue Dot
Viper King

Feel bad leaving Lost Not Forgotten out but I guess I could easily swap that and The Looking Glass depending on the day.

News: Track-by-track video for Fall Into the Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ezfzdMpRc0

Poll

What are your top 10 "best" or "favorite" songs of this decade?

Author Topic: "Best/favorite" songs of the 2010s (Read 4948 times)