Author Topic: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.  (Read 29802 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Dream Team

  • Posts: 5627
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #245 on: March 27, 2021, 02:20:23 PM »
SFAM Intro (Regression/Overture/1928/Strange Deja Vu/Through My Words - this is a single piece of music)

No, it’s not. And if it were, why does it stop at Through My Words? That doesn’t make sense, since it’s basically a gapless transition into Fatal Tragedy, which you even have on your list.

This exactly. The reasoning makes NO sense.

Offline Enigmachine

  • Posts: 1331
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #246 on: March 27, 2021, 05:07:24 PM »
like I can understand:
-Regression / Overture 1928 together + Strange Deja Vu / Scene Three together
-Scene One / Scene Two / Scene Three together as well as all of them separate

but I can't understand it just stopping at Through My Words cause if there's anything it's linked to, it's Fatal Tragedy

Offline IDontNotDoThings

  • Posts: 3627
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #247 on: March 28, 2021, 01:31:53 AM »
It would make a lot more sense if Through My Words actually contained the full piano section instead of abruptly stopping before "alone at night...". If it actually stopped where the piano part stopped, then the transition from SDV to TMW would be smoother than the one from TMW to FT.
ドリームシアターはあまり好きではありませんが、ペンと紙を持っていたので、なんてこった。

Offline hefdaddy42

  • Et in Arcadia Ego
  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 52785
  • Gender: Male
  • Postwhore Emeritus
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #248 on: March 29, 2021, 08:08:41 AM »
It would make even MORE sense if each of these pieces were a separate song.  You know, like they are listed on the album.

Hef is right on all things. Except for when I disagree with him. In which case he's probably still right.

Offline Lonk

  • DTF.org Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6011
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #249 on: March 29, 2021, 08:16:03 AM »
It would make even MORE sense if each of these pieces were a separate song.  You know, like they are listed on the album.

I agree that they are separate songs, but a case against that could be made since Overture and Strange Deja Vu are marked as "Scene Two" and Through my Words and Fatal Tragedy as " Scene Three", meaning they do go together as a pair.
Vmadera has evolved into Lonk

Offline Enigmachine

  • Posts: 1331
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #250 on: March 29, 2021, 09:00:30 AM »
It would make even MORE sense if each of these pieces were a separate song.  You know, like they are listed on the album.

I agree that they are separate songs, but a case against that could be made since Overture and Strange Deja Vu are marked as "Scene Two" and Through my Words and Fatal Tragedy as " Scene Three", meaning they do go together as a pair.

One thing I do find pretty funny about the whole scene thing is that Scene Seven does definitely go together on the album, but live they seem to have a habit of playing The Dance of Eternity disconnected from One Last Time, whether it's in leaving it a solid minute or so after the former ends to play the latter as on Metropolis 2000, or forgoing the connection entirely with BtFW. It's weird because there's actually no musical gap between the two on the album, with those last three chords logically leading to the next one allowing to ring out in One Last Time.

Offline hefdaddy42

  • Et in Arcadia Ego
  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 52785
  • Gender: Male
  • Postwhore Emeritus
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #251 on: March 29, 2021, 09:00:56 AM »
It would make even MORE sense if each of these pieces were a separate song.  You know, like they are listed on the album.

I agree that they are separate songs, but a case against that could be made since Overture and Strange Deja Vu are marked as "Scene Two" and Through my Words and Fatal Tragedy as " Scene Three", meaning they do go together as a pair.
Yeah, they go together.  It's presented as a two act play, with multiple scenes.  But I see no reason to take it any further than that.
Hef is right on all things. Except for when I disagree with him. In which case he's probably still right.

Offline IDontNotDoThings

  • Posts: 3627
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #252 on: March 29, 2021, 04:20:29 PM »
It would make even MORE sense if each of these pieces were a separate song.  You know, like they are listed on the album.

I didn't dispute this
ドリームシアターはあまり好きではありませんが、ペンと紙を持っていたので、なんてこった。

Offline Metaldude

  • Posts: 10
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #253 on: May 13, 2021, 09:26:33 PM »
Is awesome to see so much love for Learning To Live, it's such an amazing song (and such a beautifully arranged ending).

My top ten (not in any particular order)

-Learning To Live
-Stream of Consciousness
-At Wits End
-A Change of Seasons
-In The Presence of the Enemies (Pt 1/2)
-Panic Attack
-Lines in the Sand
-Metropolis Pt.1
-The Glass Prison
- Home
Yes! Someone else gets it about Learning to live. I wish that ending would never end.
My top ten:-
Bridges in the Sky
Breaking all illusions
In the presence of enemies 1&2
Learning to live
In the name of god.
Streams of consciousness.
Outcry
Wither
Ministry of lost souls
On the backs of angels.

List subject to change due to so many I haven't heard.
All recommendations will be listened to :)

Offline mariner

  • Posts: 48
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #254 on: May 15, 2021, 07:46:15 AM »
1.  The Spirit Carries On, narrowly ahead of
2.  Octavarium
3.  Pull Me Under
4.  Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (if I had to break it apart, Solitary Shell into About to Crash Reprise)
5.  Fatal Tragedy
6.  Wait for Sleep/Learning to Live (love the reprise of Wait in the middle of LTL)
7.  Peruvian Skies (live version with Wish You Were Here and Wherever I May Roam)
8.  As I Am
9.  The Count of Tuscany
10. Lost Not Forgotten

Offline Metaldude

  • Posts: 10
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #255 on: May 16, 2021, 06:03:32 AM »
Updated list of all the songs that have received a mention (and far be it from me to tell DT what to put on the setlist for their upcoming European tour but...well, some of the songs on their recent DOT festival tour are notably absent...)

When Dream And Day Unite

A Fortune In Lies
The Killing Hand
Light Fuse And Get Away
The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun
Afterlife
Only A Matter of Time

Images and Words:

Pull Me Under
Another Day
Take The Time
Surrounded
Metropolis
Under A Glass Moon
Wait For Sleep
Learning To Live

Awake:

6:00
Voices
The Mirror
Lie
Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
Scarred
Space Dye Vest

Falling Into Infinity:

New Millennium
Peruvian Skies
Hollow Years
Hell's Kitchen
Lines In The Sand
Take Away My Pain
Anna Lee
Trial of Tears

Scenes From A Memory:

Strange Deja Vu
Fatal Tragedy
Beyond This Life
Home
The Dance of Eternity
The Spirit Carries On
Finally Free

Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence:

The Glass Prison
Blind Faith
Misunderstood
The Great Debate
Disappear
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
About To Crash
Solitary Shell

Train of Thought:

Endless Sacrifice
Vacant
Stream of Consciousness
In The Name Of God

Octavarium:

The Root Of All Evil
Panic Attack
Sacrificed Sons
Octavarium

Systematic Chaos:

Constant Motion
In The Presence of Enemies

Black Clouds and Silver Linings:

The Count of Tuscany

A Dramatic Turn of Events:

On The Backs Of Angels
This Is The Life
Bridges In The Sky
Breaking All Illusions
Beneath The Surface

Dream Theater:

The Looking Glass
Enigma Machine
The Bigger Picture
Surrender To Reason
Illumination Theory

The Astonishing:

Three Days
A Life Left Behind
Chosen
Moment of Betrayal
Our New World

Distance Over Time:

Fall Into The Light
Room 137
S2N
At Wit's End
Pale Blue Dot

Non-album tracks:

A Change of Seasons
Another Won
Speak To Me
To Live Forever
Eve
Raise The Knife
Don't Look Past Me
Good job man.
I have a suggestion for a little project if you feel up to it and it might prove an interesting one at that - collate the data to see if you can find a (loosely) definitive consensus as to the top ten DT songs...Hmmmm.

Offline Wim Kruithof

  • Posts: 728
  • Gender: Male
  • Official Guardian of The Shattered Fortress
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #256 on: June 03, 2021, 07:59:23 AM »
However there could be a hundred that fits in the top 10, mostly this would be mine...

Killing Hand
Mirror / Lie
Change of Seasons
Glass Prison
This Dying Soul
Shattered Fortress
Count of Tuscany
Illumination Theory
Bridges in the Sky / Outcry
Breaking all Illusions

Both Black Clouds & Silver Linings and A Dramatic Turn of Events are absolute pearls, overlooked by way too many prog-aholics.

Remarkable that the Shattered Fortress is never listed up in all the reactions before.
Wim pointed out something I don't see mentioned very often...

Offline TheCountOfNYC

  • Posts: 5411
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #257 on: June 03, 2021, 08:15:34 AM »
Updated list of all the songs that have received a mention (and far be it from me to tell DT what to put on the setlist for their upcoming European tour but...well, some of the songs on their recent DOT festival tour are notably absent...)

When Dream And Day Unite

A Fortune In Lies
The Killing Hand
Light Fuse And Get Away
The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun
Afterlife
Only A Matter of Time

Images and Words:

Pull Me Under
Another Day
Take The Time
Surrounded
Metropolis
Under A Glass Moon
Wait For Sleep
Learning To Live

Awake:

6:00
Voices
The Mirror
Lie
Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
Scarred
Space Dye Vest

Falling Into Infinity:

New Millennium
Peruvian Skies
Hollow Years
Hell's Kitchen
Lines In The Sand
Take Away My Pain
Anna Lee
Trial of Tears

Scenes From A Memory:

Strange Deja Vu
Fatal Tragedy
Beyond This Life
Home
The Dance of Eternity
The Spirit Carries On
Finally Free

Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence:

The Glass Prison
Blind Faith
Misunderstood
The Great Debate
Disappear
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
About To Crash
Solitary Shell

Train of Thought:

Endless Sacrifice
Vacant
Stream of Consciousness
In The Name Of God

Octavarium:

The Root Of All Evil
Panic Attack
Sacrificed Sons
Octavarium

Systematic Chaos:

Constant Motion
In The Presence of Enemies

Black Clouds and Silver Linings:

The Count of Tuscany

A Dramatic Turn of Events:

On The Backs Of Angels
This Is The Life
Bridges In The Sky
Breaking All Illusions
Beneath The Surface

Dream Theater:

The Looking Glass
Enigma Machine
The Bigger Picture
Surrender To Reason
Illumination Theory

The Astonishing:

Three Days
A Life Left Behind
Chosen
Moment of Betrayal
Our New World

Distance Over Time:

Fall Into The Light
Room 137
S2N
At Wit's End
Pale Blue Dot

Non-album tracks:

A Change of Seasons
Another Won
Speak To Me
To Live Forever
Eve
Raise The Knife
Don't Look Past Me
Good job man.
I have a suggestion for a little project if you feel up to it and it might prove an interesting one at that - collate the data to see if you can find a (loosely) definitive consensus as to the top ten DT songs...Hmmmm.

I would assume that Metropolis, Learning to Live, A Change of Seasons, Octavarium, and Breaking All Illusions are somewhere in there.
People figured out that the white thing that comes out of cows' titties could be drunk, and the relation between sweet desires and women's bellies growing up for 9 months. It can't be THAT hard to figure out how a trumpet works.”

-MirrorMask

Offline finzeo

  • Posts: 6
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #258 on: May 09, 2022, 01:04:45 PM »
Mmm,

1. Metropolis - Part. 1: The Miracle and The Sleeper
2. Octavarium
3. A mind beside itself (if it's not possible, Voices tied with next)
4. A change of seasons
5. The dance of eternity
6. Home (in the context of the album)
7. Six degrees of inner turbulence
8. At wit's end
9. Breaking all illusions
10. Hell's kitchen (with orchestra)

Some interesting points:

- 8/10 songs are from 1992-2005 era.
- At wit's end is a jewel in their recent work. If it had been written in the 90s, before most of their classic songs, it would be considered a top song for most of us.
- By far Hell's kitchen is the shortest (4:17) and the simplest (but it seems the soundtrack of an epic supernatural event). Think it's so personal, particularly.
- Learning to live is 11th (It was hard).
- 2/10 are instrumental songs.
- DT is not a band measured according to how good are some particular songs. It feels weird, for example, to consider only two SFAM tracks, or putting some songs without their context in the album.
- Considering the very high peaks that some songs have, the list could be extended a lot (perhaps towards a top 40). I tried to pick the songs that consistently maintain their epicness from start to finish. Honestly, any top 10 fails to faithfully represent the dimension of the band.


Offline pg1067

  • Posts: 12439
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #259 on: May 09, 2022, 03:29:40 PM »
When was Hell's Kitchen done with an orchestra?
"There's a bass solo in a song called Metropolis where I do a bass solo."  John Myung

Offline gzarruk

  • Posts: 5141
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #260 on: May 09, 2022, 06:12:57 PM »
When was Hell's Kitchen done with an orchestra?

At that Sons of Apollo show :lol :P
It sounds like, "ruk, ruk, ruk, ruk, ruk." Instead of the more pleasing kick drum sound of, "gzarruk, gzarruk, gzarruk, gzarruk."

Offline The Curious Orange

  • Lord of the Night
  • Posts: 1444
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #261 on: May 10, 2022, 04:19:49 AM »
Top Ten, no particular order, and they're all so last century:

Pull Me Under
The Killing Hand
Under a Glass Moon
Learning to Live
The Mirror / Lie
Erotomania/Voices/TSM
Peruvian Skies
Lines In The Sand
Home
The Spirit Carries On

Not that they haven't done some great stuff this century (The Count of Tuscany, Dark Eternal Night) but it just doesn't compare IMO, probably because I don't have the same emotional connection to it.
"And if love remains, though everything is lost,
We will pay the price, but we will not count the cost..."

Offline Volante99

  • Posts: 1044
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #262 on: May 10, 2022, 08:56:52 PM »
In chronological order- the best of the best

Pull Me Under
Learning to Live
6:00
Scarred
A Change of Seasons
Fatal Tragedy
Blind Faith
The Glass Prison
Octavarium
Breaking All Illusions

…damn what a lineup of songs!


Offline svisser

  • Pineapple. I like to eat it.
  • Posts: 208
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #263 on: June 17, 2022, 10:23:27 PM »
This is 100% set in stone and NEVER changes.................... :biggrin:

1. Lifting Shadows off a Dream
2. Octavarium
3. In the Name of God
4. Endless Sacrifice
5. Our New World
6. Best of Times
7. Count of Tuscany
8. Take the Time
9. Metropolis Pt. 1
10. Trial of Tears


Yup, that never changes. Ever.

Actually, the first one never changes. Lifting Shadows will always be #1.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2022, 10:25:14 AM by svisser »
She can turn a drop of water
         Into an ocean
                                           In the room the women come and go
                                                 Talking of Michelangelo.

Offline CharlesPL

  • Posts: 4186
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #264 on: July 04, 2022, 12:55:18 PM »
Top 10:

10. Surrounded
9. Take the Time
8. Octavarium
7. Another Day
6. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
5. Trial of Tears
4. Scarred
3. A Change of Seasons
2. Metropolis pt.1
1. Learning to Live

Offline Dave_Manchester

  • Posts: 2178
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #265 on: September 04, 2023, 07:52:23 PM »
So I asked in another thread if a thread like this already existed and apparently it doesn't; or at least, not recently.

The Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence thread got me thinking about my favourite DT songs, and this is what I have for my top 10:

1. Octavarium
2. Misunderstood
3. Disappear
4. A Change of Seasons.
5. Trial of Tears
6. Stream of Consciousness
7. In The Name of God
8. The Count of Tuscany
9. Home
10. Breaking All Illusions

Yours?

It's over 4 years since I made this thread so I decided to revisit the DT catalogue over the last month and see how my top ten has changed. This is the updated version:

1. Trial of Tears
2. Disappear
3. Breaking All Illusions
4. Misunderstood
5. Home
6. A Change of Seasons
7. Voices
8. Outcry
9. Blind Faith
10. Bridges in the Sky

My former #1 Octavarium has dropped out altogether (still love the song though), as have The Count of Tuscany and the 2 Train of Thought tracks. Regarding the latter, ToT used to be my favourite DT album but I find that I'm less and less drawn to the more 'metallic' side of the band these days (though with that said the finale of Stream of Consciousness is still my all-time favourite DT moment).

If you can seek out your original lists somewhere in this thread I'll be interested to see how your own top tens have changed, if at all.

Offline Jamesman42

  • There you'll find me
  • DT.net Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 21714
  • Spiral OUT
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #266 on: September 04, 2023, 08:03:17 PM »
Not sure if this is the order:

1. Octavarium
2. Metropolis Pt. 1
3. A Change of Seasons
4. The Glass Prison
5. Endless Sack of Rice
6. The Count of Tuscany
7. On the Backs of Angels
8. Panic Attack
9. In the Name of God
10. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

Honorable mention: Bridges in the Sky but without that long intro.

Online Stadler

  • DTF.org Alumni
  • ****
  • Posts: 43016
  • Gender: Male
  • Pointing out the "unfunny" since 2014!
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #267 on: September 05, 2023, 06:31:11 AM »
So I asked in another thread if a thread like this already existed and apparently it doesn't; or at least, not recently.

The Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence thread got me thinking about my favourite DT songs, and this is what I have for my top 10:

1. Octavarium
2. Misunderstood
3. Disappear
4. A Change of Seasons.
5. Trial of Tears
6. Stream of Consciousness
7. In The Name of God
8. The Count of Tuscany
9. Home
10. Breaking All Illusions

Yours?

It's over 4 years since I made this thread so I decided to revisit the DT catalogue over the last month and see how my top ten has changed. This is the updated version:

1. Trial of Tears
2. Disappear
3. Breaking All Illusions
4. Misunderstood
5. Home
6. A Change of Seasons
7. Voices
8. Outcry
9. Blind Faith
10. Bridges in the Sky

My former #1 Octavarium has dropped out altogether (still love the song though), as have The Count of Tuscany and the 2 Train of Thought tracks. Regarding the latter, ToT used to be my favourite DT album but I find that I'm less and less drawn to the more 'metallic' side of the band these days (though with that said the finale of Stream of Consciousness is still my all-time favourite DT moment).

If you can seek out your original lists somewhere in this thread I'll be interested to see how your own top tens have changed, if at all.

I'm kind of surprised at The Count Of Tuscany; you've always spoken so highly of that song (that even got me to give it a sort of new appreciation; it certainly was a welcome addition to the set this past go-round because of that). 

1. Cover My Eyes
2. This Is The Life
3. Strange Deja Vu
4. Surrounded
5. To Live Forever
6. I Walk Beside You
7. Misunderstood
8. Voices
9. Fatal Tragedy
10. Fall Into The Light

I didn't give a full listen-to to the catalogue, but the only real obvious change is replacing Raise The Knife with Fall Into The Light.  I LOVE that song.  Having said that, I think if I did a top 100 or so, the 10 to, say, 30 range would have changed A LOT.  I know I've softened a bit - but just a bit - on WDADU, and there are tracks from the Mangini era - the recent title track, Transcending Time - that have "stuck" with me more than some of the previous Mangini tunes. 

It's hard with a band like DT, though; I've been a fan so long, and there are so many memories tied to these songs... but having said that, of the monumentous things that have happened to me over the past year or two, the emotional impact wasn't really tied to DT.  If anything, my recent past has given life to albums like Innocence and Danger (NMB) and Welschmerz (Fish), if that makes any sense.
« Last Edit: September 05, 2023, 06:36:46 AM by Stadler »

Online Stadler

  • DTF.org Alumni
  • ****
  • Posts: 43016
  • Gender: Male
  • Pointing out the "unfunny" since 2014!
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #268 on: September 05, 2023, 06:31:46 AM »
Not sure if this is the order:

1. Octavarium
2. Metropolis Pt. 1
3. A Change of Seasons
4. The Glass Prison
5. Endless Sack of Rice
6. The Count of Tuscany
7. On the Backs of Angels
8. Panic Attack
9. In the Name of God
10. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

Honorable mention: Bridges in the Sky but without that long intro.

Your number 5 just missed my list.  :) ;) :) ;)

Offline Trav86

  • Posts: 1914
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #269 on: September 05, 2023, 07:02:10 AM »
I’ve had the same go-to top ten list for probably ten years now. I should go through and see if it’s any different. I doubt any songs from the last ten years would break in, but those old ones may not hit me the same way they used to.
Can't we find the minds
to lead us closer to the heart?

Offline krands85

  • Posts: 3009
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #270 on: September 05, 2023, 07:28:36 AM »
My top 10 hasn't changed I don't think, some things further down probably have though. I have a playlist file with my favourite tracks in order and I noticed that it hasn't been modified since the exact day this thread was first posted  :lol
Whoaaaahh, ohhh, ohhhhh. Whoaaaahh, ohhhhh, ohhhhhh. Waaah, ahhh, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaowwwwww

Offline WilliamMunny

  • Generation Mixtape
  • Posts: 1359
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #271 on: September 05, 2023, 07:35:57 AM »
I'd like to say my top-10 is etched in stone, but my thoughts on this band's music are constantly evolving–a testament to the quality of their output!

My 'as of today' list below:

1: OctavariumEven after hundreds of listens, this one never ceases to move me.
2: Breaking All IllusionsEasily my favorite moment of the Mangini era.
3: Trial of TearsFor years, this was my number 1.
4: Blind FaithFantastic...everything I love about the band in one song.
5: DisappearProbably JLB's best lyric to date.
6: Bridges in the Sky Man, what a chorus!
7: This is the LifeMy favorite ballad from the band. Genius lyric from JP.
8: VoicesProbably my favorite JLB vocal to date.
9: I Walk Beside YouJust a perfect song.
10: HomeMan, what a fist-raising anthem!

Online Stadler

  • DTF.org Alumni
  • ****
  • Posts: 43016
  • Gender: Male
  • Pointing out the "unfunny" since 2014!
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #272 on: September 05, 2023, 07:52:30 AM »
I'd like to say my top-10 is etched in stone, but my thoughts on this band's music are constantly evolving–a testament to the quality of their output!

My 'as of today' list below:

1: OctavariumEven after hundreds of listens, this one never ceases to move me.
2: Breaking All IllusionsEasily my favorite moment of the Mangini era.
3: Trial of TearsFor years, this was my number 1.
4: Blind FaithFantastic...everything I love about the band in one song.
5: DisappearProbably JLB's best lyric to date.
6: Bridges in the Sky Man, what a chorus!
7: This is the LifeMy favorite ballad from the band. Genius lyric from JP.
8: VoicesProbably my favorite JLB vocal to date.
9: I Walk Beside YouJust a perfect song.
10: HomeMan, what a fist-raising anthem!

Love to see the love for I Walk Beside You. 

Offline Trav86

  • Posts: 1914
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #273 on: September 05, 2023, 08:14:03 AM »
I'd like to say my top-10 is etched in stone, but my thoughts on this band's music are constantly evolving–a testament to the quality of their output!

My 'as of today' list below:

1: OctavariumEven after hundreds of listens, this one never ceases to move me.
2: Breaking All IllusionsEasily my favorite moment of the Mangini era.
3: Trial of TearsFor years, this was my number 1.
4: Blind FaithFantastic...everything I love about the band in one song.
5: DisappearProbably JLB's best lyric to date.
6: Bridges in the Sky Man, what a chorus!
7: This is the LifeMy favorite ballad from the band. Genius lyric from JP.
8: VoicesProbably my favorite JLB vocal to date.
9: I Walk Beside YouJust a perfect song.
10: HomeMan, what a fist-raising anthem!

That’s a great list!
Can't we find the minds
to lead us closer to the heart?

Offline pg1067

  • Posts: 12439
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #274 on: September 05, 2023, 09:15:05 AM »
I don't remember if I participated previously in this thread, but no new songs have been added to my list in the last three years.

Unfortunately, I didn't do Kev's Dream Theater countdown, but my top 10 would likely come from the following list (not in order necessarily):

- A Change of Seasons
- Metropolis Part 1
- Learning to Live
- Scarred
- Home
- Blind Faith
- Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (although I don't regard it as a single song, and none of the individual pieces would crack the top 10)
- Stream of Consciousness
- Octavarium
- Breaking All Illusions
- Illumination Theory
"There's a bass solo in a song called Metropolis where I do a bass solo."  John Myung

Offline PMSummer

  • Posts: 179
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #275 on: September 05, 2023, 10:03:42 AM »
Here goes nothing;

1. Disappear
2. Metropolis Pt. 1: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
3. A Change of Seasons
4. The Glass Prison
5. Octavarium
6. Home
7. Learning to Live
8. Take the Time
9. The Count of Tuscany
10. Space-Dye Vest

This was hard!

Offline Trav86

  • Posts: 1914
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #276 on: September 05, 2023, 05:17:45 PM »
1. Octavarium - It’s their masterpiece. I think it took me a while to realize that, but now I couldn’t put anything above it.

2. Breaking All Illusions - This is the best song of the Mangini-era. I’ve loved it since it came out and it has remained a favorite since.  It’s like an improved Learning to Live. I know that’s sacrilege.

3. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - I typically don’t count this as one song, I think of it more as a suite. But there are at least three sections that could be in my top ten. Might as well count the whole thing.  Overture and Goodnight Kiss being dragged out a little is the only think keeping it from number one.

4. Trial of Tears - A beautiful song. Sherinian and Myung’s shining moment.  The groove laid down throughout it is unbeatable. It never gets old.

5. Blind Faith - I just love this one. It sounds like they took my favorite parts of LTE and turned them into a DT song. Jordan’s solos plus the guitar unison section are brilliant. Add Portnoy’s playing underneath and… well…it’s top 5 for a reason!

6. Lifting Shadows off a Dream - Another beautiful Myung moment. Possibly my favorite JLB performance.  He’s known for his power style, but the way he sings on here is what I think puts him above his peers. The breathy style at the beginning up to the angelic rise. I could listen to him sing this song all day.

7. Surrounded - This is one I’ve just loved more and more over the years. My favorite Kevin Moore lyric and performance. James once again shines and it’s such an interesting and unique song for them. 

8. Finally Free - A song they couldn’t do without Jordan. That haunting orchestral part he does at the beginning sounds a little dated now, but it’s so cool.  These are my favorite Portnoy lyrics, I’m usually not big on his, but he did a great job. Seeing it  live in 2019 put it in my top 10.

9. Ministry of Lost Souls -  I know this is a “love it or hate it” song. I love it. It’s emotional, lyrically gut-wrenching and that unison line coming out of the instrumental section is my favorite of theirs. Again, seeing it live last year solidified it for me. 

10.The Count of Tuscany - And once again, just like the last one, a song I always liked but seeing it live last year just raises its status. The lyrics that I found cringy when it came out, I now find kinda charming. I guess the finest wines really do improve with age!
« Last Edit: September 06, 2023, 04:47:41 AM by Trav86 »
Can't we find the minds
to lead us closer to the heart?

Offline TheHoveringSojourn808

  • fun committee president, sloth gang initiate, and annie clark lover
  • Posts: 1691
  • JLB + MP friendship stan
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #277 on: September 05, 2023, 09:57:45 PM »
in no particular order

Disappear
A Change of Seasons
The Count of Tuscany
Space-Dye Vest
Blind Faith
Surrounded
Octavarium
Fatal Tragedy
Raise The Knife
Solitary Shell
harusame ni nuretsutsu yane no temari kana
RIP the Great Ape, 2024.02.01
Welcome to the Forums!

Offline nobloodyname

  • DTF.org Alumni
  • ****
  • Posts: 1942
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #278 on: September 06, 2023, 04:31:25 AM »
My original list
Metropolis Part I
The Glass Prison
Trial of Tears
A Nightmare to Remember
Honor Thy Father
The Root of All Evil
6:00
Beyond This Life
Only a Matter of Time
Bridges in the Sky

My revised list
Metropolis Part I
The Glass Prison
Trial of Tears
Octavarium
Honor Thy Father
Beyond This Life
The Count of Tuscany
The Root of All Evil
Only a Matter of Time
Bridges in the Sky

I'd forgotten what a great song Octavarium is.
Paul
Gamer, rocker, humanist, womble
Leicestershire, UK
Getting right out of my comfort zone: www.youtube.com/@paulplayspoorly Go on, you can do it, too! (24/3/2024: Now playing on Paul Plays Poorly!, The Answer Lies Within by Dream Theater)

Online nick_z

  • Posts: 3654
  • Gender: Male
Re: Your top ten Dream Theater songs.
« Reply #279 on: September 09, 2023, 09:27:17 AM »
Not sure if I've posted a top 10 before, but mine goes like this:

1. Learning to live
2. A change of seasons
3. Take the time
4. Metropolis Pt.1
5. Space-dye vest
6. Lines in the sand
7. Voices
8. Surrounded
9. Lifting shadows off a dream
10. Trial of tears

My top Mangini-era track is Breaking all illusions, which makes my top 20. My top instrumental is Hell's kitchen (also top 20)