It’s too early into the new album cycle to cast an official vote, so for now I’ll say this:
-ADToE/AVFtTotW: I know after a few listens that I like AVFtTotW better than the three that came immediately before it, but I’m not quite ready to rank it above ADToE yet, so for now I’ll call it a tie.
-TA: I listened to it all the way through for the first time in a while and remembered how great it is. Outside of Our New World you can’t really listen to any of these songs on their own, but on the rare occasion that I have two and a half hours of free time, this album is always an incredible experience.
-DoT: This didn’t quite have the staying power I thought it would at first, but there’s plenty of great music to be had here. S2N, At Wit’s End, and Pale Blue Dot are all great, but the rest is just good at best and mediocre at worst.
-DT12: As middle of the road as they come. I like every song on this album but don’t love any of them.
Favorite and least favorite song on each album.
-ADToE
Favorite: Breaking All Illusions
Least Favorite: Build Me Up, Break Me Down (my least favorite Dream Theater song)
-DT12
Favorite: Surrender to Reason
Least Favorite: Enigma Machine
-TA
Favorite: A New Beginning
Least Favorite: The Walking Shadow
-DoT
Favorite: Pale Blue Dot
Least Favorite: Room 137
-AVFtTotW (early impressions, ranking subject to change)
Favorite: Sleeping Giant
Least Favorite: The Alien