Official Dream Theater studio albums countdown thread! (number 1 revealed!)

[TAC]

Why anyone would want to make The Wall longer is beyond me. 

[Deadeye21]

Whoever gets their list closest to the final list should get a prize of some sort.

Next time I change my guitar strings, I’ll send you the old E string. That’s your prize.

[Cool Chris]

Why anyone would want to make The Wall longer is beyond me. 

Oh, you!

[TAC]

Whoever gets their list closest to the final list should get a prize of some sort.

Next time I change my guitar strings, I’ll send you the old E string. That’s your prize.

So long as you don't send us your g string...

[Deadeye21]

Whoever gets their list closest to the final list should get a prize of some sort.

Next time I change my guitar strings, I’ll send you the old E string. That’s your prize.

So long as you don't send us your g string...

Ok, G string it is!

[TAC]

Whoever gets their list closest to the final list should get a prize of some sort.

Next time I change my guitar strings, I’ll send you the old E string. That’s your prize.

So long as you don't send us your g string...

Ok, G string it is!

Er...

[ReaperKK]

I said this in another thread but Our New World is a top 10 DT song for me. It has all the elements of well written DT song, killer vocals, killer riffs, amazing solo, great sound design. It stands starkly against the rest of TA which to me feels self-indulgent (which is saying a lot for DT) and meandering. TA is almost like the Use Your Illusion albums, there are snippets of brilliance in an otherwise forgettable album.

[bosk1]

I was just busy/tied up the first couple of days I guess.  So coming in the thread behind just makes it feel like it is moving really fast for me. 

[RoeDent]

Still a moral victory that The Astonishing is NOT bottom of this pile.

[SwedishGoose]

14. Systematic Chaos

Number 1 finishes: 1
Last place finishes: 4
Average finish: 9.9

13. The Astonishing
   
Number 1 finishes: 1
Last place finishes: 17
Average finish: 10.9

Same number of number 1 finishes but many more last place finishes for TA.

Would be interresting to see how the other votes fell. At least how many lower third votes, mid third votes and top third votes.

I guess it shows how divisive TA is. You either love it or loathe it unlike SC that a lot of people are just lukewarm for.

[Mladen]

That's my guess. TA ended up probably in the top five on many lists, whereas most people would put SC in the middle at best.

[Ben_Jamin]

#13 - The Astonishing (My Ranking: #2)

34 tracks clocking in with a total 2hrs 11min in length, with an immense story, it doesn't surprise me that it's an album that is either love or hate, and is ranked this low. The Astonishing is an album with a story that is very music based. It's an album that requires active listening and as it has proven..."people just don't have the time for music anymore."

There's many reasons why I enjoy this album enough that it's my 2nd favorite album by the band. The concept of music being central to the tale is something that really hasn't been done much at all, 2112 is another story with a concept that is music based and I enjoy it just as much. The decision to approach this story as more of an Opera than a standard concept album, which is shown by how they presented the album artwork and the lyrics written as a screenplay, having the lyrics as an actual screenplay format in the boxset was a nice treat. There's moments where I can imagine the scenes being played out on the stage with the orchestra playing beneath. (I have been to some Operas as the Santa Fe Opera when they have youth nights and I would go with other kids from my tribe, so that has helped me imagine it more with that venue in mind)

Since the Rock Opera concept was utilized for this album. There is still another aspect that I feel needs to also happen for this story and concept to really take form. Even though the band did the best they could on their own with their live show, which was amazing and also helped to imagine the world the story takes place in, the story needs to be told on the stage. The way Arjen told The Human Equation story was a nice blend that had enough acting and storytelling by the vocalists, this would be something the band could do for this album and it would be awesome if it could be done with an orchestra as well.

Lastly, there is another part of the story and that is there is this theme within it about "The Path That Divides." This concept isn't mentioned until after the NOMAC break of The Hovering Sojourn, where from then on each character has to face a decision of which path to walk, each having consequences they must weigh. The 2nd disc is where the decisions are made and they all culminate in Heaven's Cove where the 2nd half of the story mainly takes place. I found that to be a neat concept as well, because we will all come to a moment where we will face this "path of division" at least once in our lives.

I guess that's all I have to say for now about my 2nd favorite album...


Favorite: Losing Faythe (This one fluctuates between 4 songs)
Least: Our New World

[SwedishGoose]

Very nice write up Ben.... thanks

[wolfking]

Here it is...
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1vESXL238jGArSrka94iLx?si=2c1cefa3379e408b

Don't have Spotify.  Oh what a shame, I guess I can't check it out. 

Aw gee, wouldn't you just know it..

Wait.. here's the list..

1. The Gift Of Music
2. Lord Nefaryus
3. A Savior In The Square
4. When Your Time Has Come
5. Act Of Faythe
6. Three days
7. Ravenskill
8. A Tempting Offer
9. The X Aspect
10. A New Beginning
11. Heaven's Cove
12. The Path That Divides
13. The Walking Shadow
14. My Last Farewell
15. Hymn Of A Thousand Voices
16. Moment Of Betrayal

Bugger.  Alright, I might rip the cd and make this playlist.

[KevShmev]

12. Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Number 1 finishes: 2
Last place finishes: 7
Average finish: 10.7

Good album, but a bit of a strange one for me, as it doesn't have a distinct personality that many other of the band's albums do.  And this is where they hit rock bottom lyrically, The Count of Tuscany being the most obvious culprit; that could have been a top 10 DT song if the lyrics were even just average.  Still, there are many moments of greatness here, from the bulk of A Nightmare to Remember to the solo at the end of The Best of Times to the volume swell section of the aforementioned Count.  I got a fair amount of mileage out of this when it was first released, A Rite of Passage notwithstanding as that stood out as a boring plodfest pretty quickly, but I still consider this a bottom tier record. I ranked it 13th.

My top 5 songs from the album:
1. The Count of Tuscany (despite the lyrics)
2. The Best of Times (great sentiment, even if I think the lyrics themselves are a bit lacking)
3. A Nightmare to Remember
4. Wither
5. The Shattered Fortress

[SwedishGoose]

I feel like I had heard it all before but soo much better. It's not a bad album, Dream Theater has never made a bad album. But a bit predictable and boring with lyrics that are not up to par with what they had done before.

To me Portnoy was right.... something had to change. I was sad that it was him leaving. But everyting was for the better later on.



15.
14. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
13. When Dream and Day Unite
12. Systematic Chaos
11.
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1. The Astonishing

[Deadeye21]

This is an album that kinda always sat weird for me. It’s an amazing album, but it’s nowhere near the level of others. It’s a short album, but it’s full of long songs. But at the end of the day, this album is one of two that mark the changing of the guard and I think it’s a great one for Portnoy to have left off on.

Black Clouds and Silver Linings
My rank: 9th of 15

Top 5:
The Count of Tuscany
A Nightmare to Remember
A Rite of Passage
The Shattered Fortress
The Best of Times

My current standing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
10.
11. Systematic Chaos
12.
13. When Dream And Day Unite
14.
15. The Astonishing

[Wim Kruithof]

With both The Shattered Fortress and The Count of Tuscany being top-tier tracks for me, this album is valuable. It also has beautiful artworks on the cover and the deluxe edition got some pearls on it. I think it deserves much more credit than it gets so often.

15)
14) When Dream and Day Unite
13)
12) The Astonishing
11) Systematic Chaos
10)
09) Black Clouds and Silver Linings
08)
07)
06)
05)
04)
03)
02)
01)

[wolfking]

Number 10 for me.  The only song I don't really like is TBOT.  I don't get the hate for AROP either, that's a pretty killer metal tune IMO.

[Wim Kruithof]

Number 10 for me.  The only song I don't really like is TBOT.  I don't get the hate for AROP either, that's a pretty killer metal tune IMO.

Exactly, I really like The Ride of Passage, can't follow the fuzz either.

[javidt]

Better than SC but a weak album compared to the rest of their discography.

The highlights for me are the beginning of ANTR and the "Hopelessly drifting, Bathing in beautiful agony" part and the end of TCOT.

No surprises in the ranking so far.

Really enjoying the countdown reading all the comments.

[ReaperKK]

I remember really not liking this album when it first came out. It seem really uninspired and the songs didn't really hook me. It's grown a lot on my throughout the years and now I listen to it more frequently, with the except of the The Shattered Fortress, I thought it a pretty uninspired ending to the 12 step suite.

1. Systematic Chaos
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. Black Clouds And Silver Linings
11.
12.
13.
14. When Dream And Day Unite
15. The Astonishing

[Podaar]

I dig A Rite of Passage--always have. Wither is good. Nightmare is passable. If I can successfully tune out the lyrics, I enjoy the solo in The Best of Times and The Count of Tuscany. On most days, it's a chore to listen to so I don't bother.

Honestly, I've listened to the covers album from black clouds way more. I really enjoy that.

15   When Dream and Day Unite
14   
13   Black Clouds and Silver Linings
12   The Astonishing
11   Systematic Chaos
10   
9   
8   
7   
6   
5   
4   
3   
2   
1   

[devieira73]

12.   Black Clouds and Silver Linings (#13); grade: (7.3/10)

Top 3 songs: Count of Tuscany, A Nightmare to Remember and Wither

It’s a good album, with some amazing instrumental sections, but it seems it could benefit of a little editing in some songs, like ANTR, AROP, TSF and cutting the intro of TBOT (I know I’m alone on this last one). Also the production has something that sucks a bit the energy of the album, specially if we compare it with the vibe of the bonus CD of covers.

[krands85]

Yeah, it was about time for this one, I would have been a bit surprised had it come any higher. I have it in 14th, though it's by no means a terrible album, there's still some good stuff here.

15. When Dream and Day Unite
14. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
13.
12.
11.
10. The Astonishing
9. Systematic Chaos
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.

TCOT is the clear standout and a top 10 DT song for me, despite the lyrics. I've always really liked ANTR too, but I think it would have been better if it was a little shorter. Normally, I find DT are at their best with their longer tracks, but even I feel like this album (and SC to a lesser extent) needed a bit of trimming. AROP is another one that goes on for too long, it doesn't feel like it should be an 8 and a half minute song and I just always end up finding it quite boring.

Wither is a nice softer track, but I was disappointed by The Shattered Fortress as a conclusion to the 12 step suite. It has grown on me a fair bit though and is a pretty good live song. The Best of Times is one of my least favourite DT songs, despite a promising intro and great JP solo. The middle of the song, lyrics and vocals are really grating to me, even though I'm not normally too concerned with lyrics (as evidenced by TCOT).

[Elite]

My list (that never got sent) so far:

1   
2   
3   
4   
5   
6   Systematic Chaos
7   
8   
9   
10   The Astonishing
11   
12   When Dream and Day Unite
13   
14     
15   Black Clouds and Silver Linings

[The Letter M]

01.
02.
03.
04.
05.
06.
07.
08.
09. Black Clouds & Silver Linings
10.
11.
12. Systematic Chaos
13.
14. When Dream And Day Unite
15. The Astonishing

When this came out, I loved it more than SC. The opening and closing songs were epic in their own ways, and then there's the conclusion to the Twelve-Step Suite, as well as the emotional  "The Best Of Times". Despite some the lyrical clunkiness, I felt it was overall better than most of SC's lyrics, and the music was better too. I still occasionally reach for this one when I want a dose of DT.

-Marc.

[KevShmev]

I don't get the hate for AROP either, that's a pretty killer metal tune IMO.

I don't hate it. I just think it is boring. Every time I try to give it another chance, I am bored and lose interest before they even get to the first chorus.

[T-ski]

#7 for me.

Count is a top tune which helps its overall rating. This is one of many albums that were hard to pin the exact spot for.

[Elite]

Not for me, this was dead last before even doing the ranker.

[Adami]

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
10. The Astonishing
11. Systematic Chaos
12. When Dream and Day Unite
13.
14.
15.


Continuing my trend of correct order, offset by 3.

Honestly it was a pretty disappointing album with some highs.

I do enjoy the first...half maybe of Nightmare. The instrumental stuff onward is just boring to me, so I lose interest. A Rite of Passage is fine but not something I need to listen to much. I love Wither, one of their best ballads. The Shattered Fortress is similar to Nightmare as I lose interest when it goes instrumental. I mostly like The Best of Times, but cannot stand The Count of Tuscany.

[nick_z]

Because I think Hymn is the perfect ending. Our New World seems so detached from the mood of that final act. I understand why people like it and its resolution, but to me, ending it at Hymn gives it a more ethereal feeling. Plus....I think Our New World is one of the weaker tracks on the album, and the whole point of making an Abridged version is to cut out the fluff.

Strongly agreed Kev!

Yeah, Our New World is a highlight for me too 

The one thing I can't quite comprehend about the album is the inclusion of Astonishing to close things off. ONW and then "Power Down" do just that, and then you have this pretty long, slightly over-baked piece...I guess its purpose is some sort of end credits, where a bunch of themes are reprised?

[Cool Chris]

A pretty big disappointment coming off SC, which I was still pretty fond of upon the time of this release. This one didn't land well with me, and didn't improve with age.

ANtR is a good 9 minute song in a 16 minute package.
ARoP has too much crap at the beginning, lame vocals for James in the verses, and awful solos.
Wither is... fine.
Shattered Fortress is good, but I was so over the 12SS by then.
TBoT was and still is enjoyable. I never would have thought the lyrics would be a thing if I didn't read about it on these forums.
TCoT is good, but not strong enough to bear the weight of everything on the album that preceded it.


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Systematic Chaos
8.
9.
10.
11. The Astonishing
12.
13. Black Clouds and Silver Linings
14.
15. When Dream And Day Unite

[bosk1]

Good album.  But my least favorite that James sings on.  I know they like writing long songs, but the problem with an album like this is, if you aren't in the mood for 2-3 songs, it's such a huge portion of the overall album that it drags down the entire listening experience.  I kind of feel like their general songwriting template took over for a bit too much of this album.  Still, pretty enjoyable overall.  And I think it's telling that on the last 5 album tours, they managed to work 3 of the longest songs into their sets.  They clearly stand by the material, and that's cool.  As for the songs themselves, Nightmare is great.  I feel like the last minute or so of the instrumental section overstays its welcome, and the "roar" at the end of the harsh vocal section doesn't seem to fit.  But otherwise, I love this song.  It is a highlight of the album.  AROP isn't bad, but never something I seek out.  Wither isn't very exciting to me.  I mostly really like The Shattered Fortress.  And I see what they were going for and get why they did everything they did in the song.  But at the end of the day, parts of it just seem a bit too stitched together.  This is one of the few instances where I feel like letting the song sit longer and maybe getting some outside feedback could have produced something better.  TBOT has some really cool parts, but just doesn't work for me overall.  And the lyrics are SO specifically personal that, while I get it and can understand how it impacts Mike, it's hard for me to relate to as an outsider to that relationship.  TCOT is pretty good.  I think it could have benefitted from some editing to make the middle section feel like it fits more instead of being such a momentum killer.  But really good song overall. 

I think it's telling that the overall theme that keeps coming up for me throughout this entire album is along the lines of, "I mostly really like this song.  But..."  Unlike their other albums, there isn't a single song that I like, without exception, from start to finish.  No other DT album does that.  That's why it finishes near the bottom for me.  I still enjoy it.  But there are a few things here and there that hold it back. 

Although I don't listen to the bonus material much, it's cool that they gave us the instrumental disk and the covers disk as well.  I love the extra content when I do listen to it. 

[bosk1]

The one thing I can't quite comprehend about the album is the inclusion of Astonishing to close things off. ONW and then "Power Down" do just that, and then you have this pretty long, slightly over-baked piece...I guess its purpose is some sort of end credits, where a bunch of themes are reprised?

Yeah, it really is written in stage musical format in that regard.  Typically, the musical and lyrical climax is 2-3 songs before the end, and you have a curtain call, with or without music, where each of the characters comes out, one at a time, for their final appearance and round of applause.  That's what they are doing here.  You get each character's musical theme, in succession, and the major themes of the album.  If you are picturing it like a stage production in your mind, that's when each character would come back to the stage.  It isn't meant to be a the climax or the big closing.  It's the final curtain call for the characters and the themes of the story.  I think you kind of have to understand that musical role for it to make sense and not seem like surplussage and a letdown.