Recently listened to some non-album songs, FII, SFAM, and SDOIT. The non-album tracklist was this:
Raise the Knife (Score version)
Where Are You Now?
To Live Forever ('94 version)
Another Won (Score version)
The Way It Used to Be
Eve
Don't Look Past Me
Cover My Eyes
Speak To Me
A Change of Seasons
Needless to say, this doesn't make for a complete and well-fitting album experience, but it's not bad. The only ones really out of place are Another Won (which was my least favourite song of this bunch) and DLPM (which is also one of my least favourites of the set). Both of those just feel out of place musically too. If you cut those, it has an alright flow, and runs about 74 minutes long. ACOS is just close enough to the Awake/FII sound that it fits with the others. Favourites of this bunch were ACOS, Cover My Eyes, and To Live Forever.
For FII, I actually didn't love it as much as I've been saying I loved it for years -- it was one of my top 4 for a loong time, but this time it just didn't excite me in the same way. It's still great, but I like almost every album so far a bit better, minus WDADU. Favourite song was still Lines in the Sand, with Peruvian Skies and Trial of Tears being close behind. Least favourite was Burning My Soul probably. I would tie it with You Not Me, but the weird vocal sound in the third verse throws me off a bit.
SFAM didn't surprise me at how much a liked it -- better than every other album so far. Still don't like Dance of Eternity a whole lot, but it's cool. Favourite songs were Home, Finally Free, and Beyond This Life.
SDOIT surprised me a bit, because I thought it started with its weakest song this time around -- The Glass Prison opens magnificently, and it doesn't really drag on despite being almost 14 minutes long, but I just feel like the musical content is at least a bit better on every other song. Favourite song is the title track. It's just SO full of fantastic melodies, and excellent orchestration. Misunderstood is usually my favourite from Disc 1, but I might actually choose Blind Faith over it this time. Something about it this time really got me.
Since I got really behind and the new album is out already, I'll still give it a listen, then finish the discography and revisit it. I can't wait any longer, I'll fall behind all the discussion