Author Topic: What Is Your Favorite Four-Album Run by Dream Theater? (Read 4384 times)

pg1067 · « **on:** April 16, 2021, 04:01:00 PM »

The question says it all. Have at it.

I'm torn between I&W through SFAM (three of my top four albums and one of my bottom four) and SFAM through 8VM (two of my top 4 and two from the mid-tier). Gonna have to give this some thought before voting myself.

TheCountOfNYC · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2021, 04:11:49 PM »

Scenes through Octavarium. The meta-album is bookended by my two favorite Dream Theater records, and Six Degrees also ranks in the top half of their albums for me.

HOF · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2021, 04:58:05 PM »

I&W, Awake, FII, SFAM

bosk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2021, 05:50:50 PM »

Really tough for me. SFAM and SDOIT are my top 2 DT albums, so I lean heavily toward runs that include those. The problem is, the albums that bracketed those two on either side rank in the bottom half for me. But that said, Awake, FII, TOT, and Octavarium ALL have top 10 DT songs, despite some songs I don't care for. So I am torn between the Awake - SDOIT run and the SFAM to Octavarium run. Also, the last 4 albums, as a group of 4, are right up there in the mix as well.

Of those, I guess I'll have to go with SFAM - 8VM. 8VM is my #3 DT song, so that carries a lot of weight. And there are plenty of other good songs in there as well.

Dedalus · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2021, 05:52:01 PM »

I&W, Awake, FII, SFAM

despite FII

bosk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2021, 06:11:41 PM »

Nothing wrong with that. I almost included it in my vote. Even if it is one of the weaker albums, as I said, it has some top 10 songs, and some other VERY good ones, like Trail of Tears, Lines in the Sand, Peruvian Skies, and Take Away My Pain.

Peter Mc · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2021, 06:16:26 PM »

Quote from: Dedalus on April 16, 2021, 05:52:01 PM

I&W, Awake, FII, SFAM

despite FII

My thoughts exactly. Not that FII is bad or anything but it’s patchy by DT standards.

Dedalus · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2021, 06:18:22 PM »

Quote from: bosk1 on April 16, 2021, 06:11:41 PM

Nothing wrong with that. I almost included it in my vote. Even if it is one of the weaker albums, as I said, it has some top 10 songs, and some other VERY good ones, like Trail of Tears, Lines in the Sand, Peruvian Skies, and Take Away My Pain.

It's true. FII's good songs are really good.

KevShmev · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2021, 07:28:06 PM »

I&W through Scenes, easily. Three of the four are my top 3 DT albums, and FII is damn good as well. If I spitballed a DT top 25, these are the only four DT albums that would have at least four songs each in there.

Cool Chris · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2021, 08:46:12 PM »

Quote from: Dedalus on April 16, 2021, 05:52:01 PM

I&W, Awake, FII, SFAM

despite FII

Same, though I had to think on it for a minute. It isn't a runaway victory.

Zydar · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2021, 12:39:36 AM »

I&W, Awake, FII, SFAM

Their 90s output was so good.

LudwigVan · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2021, 01:42:48 AM »

I surprised myself by picking ADTOE, DT12, TA, DOT.

SleeperAwake · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2021, 03:11:13 AM »

Pretty difficult (nigh impossible) to beat the I&W, Awake, FII, SFAM run.

Revenge319 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2021, 03:25:11 AM »

Tricky choice between SFAM-Octavarium and Octavarium-ADTOE. I ultimately went with Octavarium-ADTOE just because I like my least favorite song from that period (Forsaken) a lot more than my least favorite from the other (Honor Thy Father).

Renzo · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2021, 04:14:56 AM »

Although IAW is my favourite album of all time, I'd still go with SFAM-SDOIT-ToT-8VM.. I think it flows very well sonically speaking (even without the "meta album" concept) and it represents the perfect example of evolution from a 90's sound to the more modern one.. I would have gone with the IAW-Awake-FII-SFAM chain if it wasn't for Falling into Infinity..
No offence to all FII lovers, but I'm not particularly fond of that album even though it has IMO one of the best, if not THE best, sound production of all 90's DT albums..

Also, the 'Mangini line' would have been a good one if it wasn't for TA (BTW which I really liked, a lot) whose concept incredibly differs from all of DT standards, making me think that TA is to enjoy as a standalone album, not in a four-album run..

Also I can't wait to hear a ADTOE-DT12-DOT-DT15 run, just to see Mike's evolution in the band's writing.

krands85 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2021, 04:36:18 AM »

Well each run has one of my bottom few DT albums, but my first thought was Scenes-Octavarium. Even though I'm not a big fan of 6D, the run does have ToT and Scenes, which are my #2 and #4.

Then when I looked at the poll I realised that there's a run with I&W - my #1 - and Scenes, plus Awake is great too. So the power of I&W makes my mind up again

Those two are clear standouts for me though.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2021, 04:42:26 AM »

GOLD MEDAL

Scenes -> 6 Degrees -> Train of Thought -> Octavarium. Almost flawless. And bookended with 2 of their best albums.

SILVER MEDAL

A Dramatic Turn -> DT12 -> The Astonishing -> Distance Over Time. Almost as good save for the production choices on DT12.

PARTICIPATION TROPHY

When Dream & Day -> Images - Awake - FII. I like FII a lot but I can't get into the first 3 albums at all and RARELY listen to anything off them.

Max Kuehnau · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2021, 04:58:31 AM »

2011-2019 (despite D/T)

Elite · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2021, 06:00:33 AM »

I&W - SFAM

Second place would go to Awake - SDOIT

RandalGraves · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2021, 10:18:24 AM »

The two most popular votes are easily the ones to go for but I sided with SFAM-8VM. While TOT is the weakest of those three, I still quite enjoy the bulk of it and that's also the first album that was released after I became a fan of Dream Theater.

pg1067 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2021, 01:46:23 PM »

I ended up voting SFAM through 8VM. It pains me not to include I&W, but the SFAM through 8VM run includes no bottom four albums, and I'd rather not vote for a choice "in spite of" an album.

Interesting to see a couple of the outlier votes -- particularly the two votes for BC&SL through TA, which is unfathomable to me.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #21 on:** April 17, 2021, 02:11:19 PM »

As much as I enjoy Falling Into infinity - ( The album not the physical act ) - My weakest 4 in a row would be WDADU until FII.

TheCountOfNYC · « **Reply #22 on:** April 17, 2021, 02:50:01 PM »

Another thing to consider is that the IaW-SFaM run also includes ACoS right in between Awake and FII.

pg1067 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 17, 2021, 02:56:55 PM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on April 17, 2021, 02:11:19 PM

My weakest 4 in a row would be WDADU until FII.

For me, the weakest run is BC&SL through TA, followed closely by SC through DT12. While I think both ADTOE and DT12 are strong, SC, BC&SL and TA are my bottom three albums.

Trav86 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 17, 2021, 03:17:08 PM »

SFAM->8V

Kotowboy · « **Reply #25 on:** April 18, 2021, 03:11:11 AM »

Quote from: TheCountOfNYC on April 17, 2021, 02:50:01 PM

Another thing to consider is that the IaW-SFaM run also includes ACoS rich in between Awake and FII.

You're right and I hate A change of Seasons. I've tried to like it several times but Octavarium it is not.

Quote from: Trav86 on April 17, 2021, 03:17:08 PM

SFAM->8V

Super Dude · « **Reply #26 on:** April 18, 2021, 05:13:04 AM »

Unsurprisingly, IAW-SFAM is the undisputed winner. It's little wonder, that whole '90s run is just pure magic.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #27 on:** April 18, 2021, 05:47:08 AM »

^ Despite containing Falling Into infinity - which on any other day - most people regard as one of their worst.

Scenes - Octvarium doesn't contain one album that is regularly at the bottom end of everyone's ranking.

Super Dude · « **Reply #28 on:** April 18, 2021, 05:52:07 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on April 18, 2021, 05:47:08 AM

^ Despite containing Falling Into infinity - which on any other day - most people regard as one of their worst.

Scenes - Octvarium doesn't contain one album that is regularly at the bottom end of everyone's ranking.

I mean, yeah, but that's kinda where I differ from most everyone else anyway. I have Awake and FII as my top 2 of all time from DT. Also ToT is at the bottom of my ranking...just below The Astonishing.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #29 on:** April 18, 2021, 05:57:48 AM »

My 4 least fave DT albums ( not n a row )

are

11.Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
12. Awake
13. Systematic Chaos
14. When Dream & Day Unite

Super Dude · « **Reply #30 on:** April 18, 2021, 06:06:18 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on April 18, 2021, 05:57:48 AM

My 4 least fave DT albums ( not n a row )

are

11.Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
12. Awake
13. Systematic Chaos
14. When Dream & Day Unite

Oof. I mean I agree with BCSL and WDADU, but...oof.

HOF · « **Reply #31 on:** April 18, 2021, 10:04:12 AM »

Quote from: Super Dude on April 18, 2021, 05:52:07 AM

Quote from: Kotowboy on April 18, 2021, 05:47:08 AM
^ Despite containing Falling Into infinity - which on any other day - most people regard as one of their worst.

Scenes - Octvarium doesn't contain one album that is regularly at the bottom end of everyone's ranking.

I mean, yeah, but that's kinda where I differ from most everyone else anyway. I have Awake and FII as my top 2 of all time from DT. Also ToT is at the bottom of my ranking...just below The Astonishing.

Both ToT and Octavarium would be near the bottom of my rankings. With Awake and FII my top two as well.

Super Dude · « **Reply #32 on:** April 18, 2021, 10:54:06 AM »

Quote from: HOF on April 18, 2021, 10:04:12 AM

Quote from: Super Dude on April 18, 2021, 05:52:07 AM
Quote from: Kotowboy on April 18, 2021, 05:47:08 AM
^ Despite containing Falling Into infinity - which on any other day - most people regard as one of their worst.

Scenes - Octvarium doesn't contain one album that is regularly at the bottom end of everyone's ranking.

I mean, yeah, but that's kinda where I differ from most everyone else anyway. I have Awake and FII as my top 2 of all time from DT. Also ToT is at the bottom of my ranking...just below The Astonishing.

Both ToT and Octavarium would be near the bottom of my rankings. With Awake and FII my top two as well.

Yeah!

Well actually I don't mind Octavarium all that much, but I'm glad someone else appreciates FII's criminally underrated genius.

WildRanger · « **Reply #33 on:** April 18, 2021, 11:13:55 AM »

I&W, Awake, FII, SFAM slightly over SFAM, SDOIT, TOT, 8VM.
FII and Octavarium are average DT albums, but other 4 are strong.

WildRanger · « **Reply #34 on:** April 18, 2021, 11:15:03 AM »

Quote from: pg1067 on April 16, 2021, 04:01:00 PM

The question says it all. Have at it.

I'm torn between I&W through SFAM (three of my top four albums and one of my bottom four) and SFAM through 8VM (two of my top 4 and two from the mid-tier). Gonna have to give this some thought before voting myself.

Which two are mid-tier? Octavarium and?

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What Is Your Favorite Four-Album Run by Dream Theater?

Author Topic: What Is Your Favorite Four-Album Run by Dream Theater? (Read 4384 times)