My favorite album, and crazy how it is almost 20 years old now. I bought the album because I liked Solitary Shell from Budakon. My friend from school, had all the albums, so I borrowed his 6DOIT and ripped it onto my computer.
The Glass Prison: The first time I actually heard this song was on Gigantour. I was meeting my cousin who was going to get us to the lower section, and since my cuz pulled out the wrong ticket, we had to go around the other side. As we were going around the outer edges of the venue where the stage isn't visible, I heard the audience begin to roar, and then the intro tape of the record ending began, and as I got up to the grass to see the band as we could still reach the lower bowl entrance from there, JM began his opening notes, so we stood until the band came on then headed on down. We got to our seats just as JLB came out to start his verse. That was an amazing moment.
Blind Faith: Another song that opens with John Myung, and as I was beginning to get into Bass at the time, it really intrigued me. I really enjoy the atmosphere of the keyboards, guitar, and bass, while the drums keep a nice groove, complimenting the other instruments well. The instrumental section is one of their coolest, I think, it has ideas that I haven't heard in much of their songs since, and I think it's the key of the song that plays a part in that.
Misunderstood: One song I want to hear live at some point, along with Blind Faith. I like how simple the guitar is keeping the beat, while the bass keeps a nice background, and the drums adds it's little beats, until the full band comes in with the "If I seem superhuman" the second time around. I really like the ending too, as it reflects that struggle and frustrating feeling, of being misunderstood.
The Great Debate: Another JM opening song (The first disc really was inspired by Tool and their Bass intro openings specifically Aenima), I don't mind the subject matter of the song. I find the way they utilized the Left and Right pan, and also how the lyrics end with "Pay attention to the questions we have raised" as it doesn't come to a resolve. And the music reflects that as it keeps going, and I like how it comes down gradually ending with the volume swells.
Disappear: A great way to end the first disc, and with the album dealing with mental struggles, ending with one of Death and Grief is a good way to end the first disc. I find the opening atmospheric high noises to represent the death rattle and the moment one feels the moment the person dies, and the moment of the death is the first guitar chord strum. I personally prefer the soft spoken JLB background vocals over the lead ones he does live on budakon. I would love to hear this one live too, but I ain't expecting it at all.
6DOIT: Overall, I enjoy how they made an epic 42 min. long song to represent some Mental Illnesses that were/are major subjects at the time. I like how they portray these in the moods of About to Crash and Reprise, Goodnight Kiss, and Solitary Shell. I also like how WIMH has this frantic feel and it's a good lead into the other frantic chaotic of the mind with TTTSTA.
Summary: I really find it neat, how Grand Finale, in a way, is the Grand Finale of the entire album, which it is about "The journey to find, the answers inside our illusive mind" and perfectly sums up the album for me.
This is why it is my favorite Dream Theater Album, and The Astonishing and D/T are tied at second, and really close to hitting the spot that 6DOIT does.