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

[Adami]

I sent my list just now! Boy was that hard! 

I found it fairly easy to rank my bottom and top three, but the middle was really hard. I was actually surprised as I was moving them around at how high/low some of them ranked vs what I initially thought. It was fun though!

The ranking engine he linked to made it super easy. Otherwise I'm terrible at lists. I almost never do them for that same reason.

[RoeDent]

Where was all of this support when we needed it for the PT countdown?! That's what I wanna know! Disgraceful

[Setlist Scotty]

Where was all of this support when we needed it for the PT countdown?! That's what I wanna know! Disgraceful

Did you forget to make the font green? 

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally I didn't have the time/energy to go through well over 100+ songs, some of which I haven't listened to for the better part of a decade and try to rank them. I'm sure some of the people in this thread are only casual listeners of PT if fans at all and don't feel motivated to do a ranking. And for most of us, we have a pretty good idea of which DT album we prefer over another since we are all DT fans and likely (mostly) diehards. Plus ranking 15 albums is much easier than 100+ songs! 

[jammindude]

Totally agree and I hinted at this earlier. Even for those of us who know PTs stuff really well, putting together a top 75 list takes HOURS. I still have a lot of fun doing it, but my first draft would take about 4 hours, and it would take at least 2-3 more to refine it. But even if I run out of time and just decided to submit my rough draft with no changes, that's still 4 hours!

The DT album list took me 20 minutes. Big difference.

[Dublagent66]

Submitted 10/7.

Stads top 5:

The Astonishing
Systematic Chaos
Falling Into Infinity
When Dream and Day Unite
Black Clouds

Book it. 

Stadler, defying expectations since 2015. 

But you haven't submitted it yet and 10/7 will be too late. 

[Stadler]

Where was all of this support when we needed it for the PT countdown?! That's what I wanna know! Disgraceful

Did you forget to make the font green? 

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally I didn't have the time/energy to go through well over 100+ songs, some of which I haven't listened to for the better part of a decade and try to rank them. I'm sure some of the people in this thread are only casual listeners of PT if fans at all and don't feel motivated to do a ranking. And for most of us, we have a pretty good idea of which DT album we prefer over another since we are all DT fans and likely (mostly) diehards. Plus ranking 15 albums is much easier than 100+ songs! 

Or Porcupine Tree just sucks.  There's that.   

I kid, I don't say bands suck; they're clearly very talented, but just not for me.  I wasn't going to learn an entire catalogue for a list like that; I could do DT in my head if I wanted (though I used the Ranker).

[hefdaddy42]

Where was all of this support when we needed it for the PT countdown?! That's what I wanna know! Disgraceful

Did you forget to make the font green? 

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally I didn't have the time/energy to go through well over 100+ songs, some of which I haven't listened to for the better part of a decade and try to rank them. I'm sure some of the people in this thread are only casual listeners of PT if fans at all and don't feel motivated to do a ranking. And for most of us, we have a pretty good idea of which DT album we prefer over another since we are all DT fans and likely (mostly) diehards. Plus ranking 15 albums is much easier than 100+ songs! 

This exactly.

Not to mention that this forum in general has a weird obsession with ranking things.

[KevShmev]

Yeah, ranking 15 studio albums is a lot quicker than having to rank 75 songs out of 150+ total.

I think this might be the new trend, doing album countdowns by bands. Easier to rank for participants, easier for me to put together, and likely just as fun.

[The Letter M]

Yeah, ranking 15 studio albums is a lot quicker than having to rank 75 songs out of 150+ total.

I think this might be the new trend, doing album countdowns by bands. Easier to rank for participants, easier for me to put together, and likely just as fun.

Definitely a lot less for fans to work out, and probably less work for whoever runs the Countdown.

It would be fun to see an Album Countdown for other bands with a 10-20 album range - Rush, Yes, Genesis, whoever else here at DTF has a sizeable enough following that there would be plenty of submissions.

-Marc.

[KevShmev]

We'll see what tickles my fancy once this one finishes up. 

[TAC]

Rush it is!

[Deadeye21]

Starting my listen through. When Dream and Day Unite with Dominici is actually way stronger than I had ever given it credit for.

[TAC]

Starting my listen through. When Dream and Day Unite with Dominici is actually way stronger than I had ever given it credit for.

Whether or not you(not you personally, but generally) like Dominici or the production, this album is filled with great tunes.

[Deadeye21]

Starting my listen through. When Dream and Day Unite with Dominici is actually way stronger than I had ever given it credit for.

Whether or not you(not you personally, but generally) like Dominici or the production, this album is filled with great tunes.

Have to agree. I think this album may deserve more of a chance then it will likely receive in the course of this countdown.

[Deadeye21]

Didn't think it would happen, but Awake is better than I&W on this listen-through. .

To pass the time til the countdown occurs, how about some most and least favourite songs from each?

WDADU - Most: Only A Matter of Time, Least: One's Who Helped Set the Sun
I&W - Most: Learning to Live, Least: Another Day
Awake - Most: Scarred, Least: Space-Dye Vest
FII - Most: Lines in the Sand, Least: Anna Lee
Will update as I finish more albums

[DragonAttack]

We'll see what tickles my fancy once this one finishes up. 

Please feel free to take your time between the next one.  I always feel like we never totally complete the chats regarding what we've all chimed in on, and...most importantly, to let you take a breath regarding all the damn hard work you put into tallying these things.   

[bosk1]

Didn't think it would happen, but Awake is better than I&W on this listen-through. .

To pass the time til the countdown occurs, how about some most and least favourite songs from each?

WDADU - Most: Only A Matter of Time, Least: One's Who Helped Set the Sun
I&W - Most: Learning to Live, Least: Another Day
Awake - Most: Scarred, Least: Space-Dye Vest

Will update as I finish more albums

WDADU:  Favorite: The Killing Hand; least favorite:  Afterlife
I&W:  Favorite:  Metropolis; least favorite:  Another Day
Awake:  Favorite:  Scarred; least favorite: Space Dye Vest (but them playing it on the DT12 tour was fantastic and gave me a new appreciation)
FII:  Favorite:  Lines in the Sand; least favorite: You Not Me
SFAM:  Favorite:  Home; least favorite:  not sure
SDOIT:  Favorite:  SDOIT; least favorite: Blind Faith
TOT:  Favorite:  In the Name of God; least favorite:  Honor Thy Father
Octavarium:  Favorite:  Octavarium; least favorite:  The Answer Lies Within
Systematic Chaos:  Favorite:  Constant Motion; least favorite:  Prophets of War
BCSL:  Favorite:  A Nightmare To Remember; least favorite:  The Best of Times
ADTOE:  Favorite: Outcry; least favorite:  Breaking All Illusions
DT12:  Favorite:  Along for the Ride; least favorite:  don't really have one
The Astonishing:  Favorite: Ravenskill; least favorite:  not sure at the moment. Probably something off disk 2
Distance Over Time:  Favorite: At Wit's End; least favorite: Room 137, I guess...
A View from the Top of the World:  either Answering the Call or Sleeping Giant, but I'm not sure which; least favorite:  hard to pick one, but maybe Transcending Time

[Ben_Jamin]

Starting my listen through. When Dream and Day Unite with Dominici is actually way stronger than I had ever given it credit for.

I actually enjoy how it sounds dated. I enjoy the production, the mix, in a sort of way that it gives it charm.

[BRGM]

WDADU:  Favorite: The Killing Hand; least favorite:  Light Fuse and Get Away
I&W:  Favorite:  Learning To Live; least favorite:  Pull Me Under
Awake:  Favorite:  Voices; least favorite: Lie
FII:  Favorite:  Lines in the Sand; least favorite: You Not Me
SFAM:  Favorite:  Finally Free; least favorite:  not sure, I guess Regression?
SDOIT:  Favorite:  SDOIT; least favorite: Disappear
TOT:  Favorite:  In the Name of God; least favorite:  As I Am
Octavarium:  Favorite:  Octavarium; least favorite:  The Answer Lies Within
Systematic Chaos:  Favorite:  In the Presence of Enemies; least favorite:  Forsaken
BCSL:  Favorite:  The Count of Tuscany; least favorite:  Wither
ADTOE:  Favorite: Outcry; least favorite:  Beneath the Surface
DT12:  Favorite: Illumination Theory; least favorite:  Along for the Ride
The Astonishing:  Favorite: A New Beginnings; least favorite:  Except for the NOMAC tracks I'd say Losing Faythe
Distance Over Time:  Favorite: Pale Blue Dot; least favorite: Room 137
A View from the Top of the World: Favorite: A View from the Top of the World; least favorite: Invisible Monster

[Ben_Jamin]

To pass the time til the countdown occurs, how about some most and least favourite songs from each?

WDADU:
Favorite: The Ones Who Helped to Set The Sun
Least: Status Seeker

I&W:
Favorite: Surrounded
Least: Under A Glass Moon

Awake:
Favorite: Scarred
Least: Lie

FII:
Favorite: Trial of Tears
Least: You Not Me (But if they were to have kept the structure of "You or Me" with the chorus of "You Not Me", it would be higher up and another song would take this spot)

SFAM:
Favorite: Finally Free
Least: Beyond This Life

6DOIT:
Favorite: Blind Faith
Least: The Glass Prison (This one was hard to choose and I will explain when this album comes up in the future rankings)

TOT:
Favorite: Stream of Consciousness
Least: As I Am

8VM:
Favorite: These Walls
Least: The Answer Lies Within

SC:
Favorite: In The Presence of Enemies pt.1
Least: Constant Motion

BC&SL:
Favorite: The Count of Tuscany
Least: A Rite of Passage

ADTOE:
Favorite: This is The Life
Least: Build Me Up, Break Me Down

DT:
Favorite: The Bigger Picture
Least: The Looking Glass

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

D/T:
Favorite: At Wit's End
Least: Untethered Angel

AVFTTOTW:
Favorite: Answering The Call
Least: Invisible Monster

[KevShmev]

As I have now received like 7-8 lists that didn't do this, I guess I should have bolded and underlined it in the OP, but...

The rules:
-Albums must be listed from 15 to 1 in order (in reverse order), with no ties.  No having three albums at number 4 or anything like that.  DO NOT list your albums with the points total. List them in your order (I will figure out the points on my end).  Any list submitted with the albums not numbered will be ignored.

This close to the end of the submissions period, I will stop doing the courtesy "please number them and resend the list" replies, so, to anyone still looking to do one and send, get it right. 

[Stadler]

Where was all of this support when we needed it for the PT countdown?! That's what I wanna know! Disgraceful

Did you forget to make the font green? 

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally I didn't have the time/energy to go through well over 100+ songs, some of which I haven't listened to for the better part of a decade and try to rank them. I'm sure some of the people in this thread are only casual listeners of PT if fans at all and don't feel motivated to do a ranking. And for most of us, we have a pretty good idea of which DT album we prefer over another since we are all DT fans and likely (mostly) diehards. Plus ranking 15 albums is much easier than 100+ songs! 

This exactly.

Not to mention that this forum in general has a weird obsession with ranking things.

I rank this post very high.

[Laughingplace56]

To pass the time til the countdown occurs, how about some most and least favourite songs from each?

*snip*

Stealing your format

WDADU:
Favorite: Only a Matter of Time
Least: The Killing Hand

I&W:
Favorite: Under A Glass Moon
Least: Another Day

Awake:
Favorite: Scarred
Least: Innocence Faded

FII:
Favorite: Trial of Tears
Least: You Not Me

SFAM:
Favorite: Finally Free
Least: Through Her Eyes

6DOIT:
Favorite: The Glass Prison
Least: N/A

TOT:
Favorite: This Dying Soul
Least: Stream of Consciousness

8VM:
Favorite: Octavarium
Least: I Walk Beside You

SC:
Favorite: Constant Motion (after this last tour it could've been TMoLS)
Least: Repentance

BC&SL:
Favorite: The Count of Tuscany
Least: A Rite of Passage

ADTOE:
Favorite: Bridges in the Sky
Least: Build Me Up, Break Me Down

DT:
Favorite: Surrender to Reason
Least: Along For the Ride

The Astonishing:
Favorite: Ravenskill
Least: Astonishing (don't which one is my actual least favorite, but this is such a dud of and ending to a 150 min album that this had to be my pick)

D/T:
Favorite: Pale Blue Dot
Least: Out of Reach

AVFTTOTW:
Favorite: A View From the Top of the World
Least: Transcending Time

[Stadler]

WDADU:
Favorite: Status Seeker
Least: A Fortune In Lies

I&W:
Favorite: Surrounded
Least: Another Day

Awake:
Favorite: Voices
Least: Space Dye Vest (this was HARD; I prefer I&W, but Awake is probably their most consistent record)

FII:
Favorite: Trial of Tears
Least: Lines In The Sand

SFAM:
Favorite: Beyond This Life
Least: Can't really do it; maybe "The Spirit Carries On", but that doesn't seem fair, does it?

6DOIT:
Favorite: Misunderstood
Least: Dissappear

TOT:
Favorite: As I Am
Least: Stream of Consciousness

8VM:
Favorite: Octavarium/I Walk Beside You
Least: Never Enough

SC:
Favorite: Foresaken
Least: The Dark Eternal Night

BC&SL:
Favorite: The Count of Tuscany
Least: Shattered Fortress

ADTOE:
Favorite: This Is The Life
Least: Outcry

DT:
Favorite: The Bigger Picture
Least: The Enigma Machine

The Astonishing:
Favorite: Gift Of Music
Least: Astonishing (don't which one is my actual least favorite, but this is such a dud of and ending to a 150 min album that this had to be my pick) <---- I'm stealing this.  Verbatim! 

D/T:
Favorite: Fall Into The Light
Least: Untethered Angel

AVFTTOTW:
Favorite: A View From the Top of the World/Transcending Time
Least: Invisible Monster

[WilliamMunny]

This is fun!

WDADU:
Favorite: Only a Matter of Time
Least: Status Seeker

I&W:
Favorite: Learning to Live
Least: Wait for Sleep (I know, I know)

Awake:
Favorite: Voices/Innocence Faded/SDV
Least: Silent Man

FII:
Favorite: Trial of Tears
Least: You Not Me

SFAM:
Favorite: Home
Least: Through Her Eyes

6DOIT:
Favorite: 6D
Least: Overture (only bc I often skip it...the record is honestly flawless)

TOT:
Favorite: This Dying Soul
Least: Stream of Consciousness

8VM:
Favorite: Octavarium
Least: N/A (love. every. single. second.)

SC:
Favorite: ITPOE (both parts)
Least: Constant Motion

BC&SL:
Favorite: The Count of Tuscany
Least: A Rite of Passage

ADTOE:
Favorite: Bridges in the Sky
Least: Build Me Up, Break Me Down

DT:
Favorite: The Looking Glass
Least: Enigma Machine? (this is hard, bc the album is sooooo mediocre from start to finish)

The Astonishing:
Favorite: A Life Left Behind
Least: Any one of the 15 ballads 

D/T:
Favorite: At Wits End
Least: Room 137

AVFTTOTW:
Favorite: A View From the Top of the World
Least: Awaken the Master

[Lethean]

Sent my list - the top 4 were pretty easy and the last 2 were, but the rest could probably move around a lot.

[Dublagent66]

Album                    Fav Song                       Least Fav Song
WDADU                  The Killing Hand              Only a Matter of Time
I&W                       Learning to Live               Another Day
Awake                    Scarred                           6:00
FII                          Trial of Tears                  You Not Me
SFAM                      Home                             Regression
SDOIT                     SDOIT                           Disappear
ToT                         Honor Thy Father            Vacant
8VM                        8VM                               Never Enough
SC                          TMoLS                            Prophets of War
BC&SL                     TCoT                              The Best of Times
ADTOE                    Breaking All Illusions        Far From Heaven
DT12                       Behind the Veil                Illumination Theory
TA                                                            
DoT                         Barstool Warrior               Room 137
AVFTTOTW               AVFTTOTW                      Transcending Time

[Lethean]

OK I'm stealing that format.


Album                    Fav Song                            Least Fav Song
WDADU                  The Killing Hand                   Status Seeker
I&W                       Learning to Live                   Another Day
Awake                    Scarred                               Innocence Faded
FII                         Trial of Tears                        You Not Me
SFAM                      Finally Free                         Regression
SDOIT                    SDOIT                                 Disappear
ToT                         In the Name of God             Honor Thy Father
8VM                       Octavarium                         Never Enough
SC                         The Ministry of Lost Souls     Constant Motion
BC&SL                    The Count of Tuscany           Wither
ADTOE                    Breaking All Illusions            Build Me Up, Break Me Down
DT12                      Illumination Theory              False Awakening Suite
TA                          A New Beginning                  The Hovering Sojourn (just because it's the shortest...)
DoT                       At Wit's End                          Viper King
AVFTTOTW             Answering the Call                Transcending Time

[Stadler]

Stunned at how many people think what might be my favorite song on the new album is actually their LEAST favorite.  Huh.

[Lethean]

Stunned at how many people think what might be my favorite song on the new album is actually their LEAST favorite.  Huh.

I think it's a great song Stadler.  I just had to pick one but I think the whole album is great.

[Dublagent66]

Stunned at how many people think what might be my favorite song on the new album is actually their LEAST favorite.  Huh.

I think it's a great song Stadler.  I just had to pick one but I think the whole album is great.

I'll 2nd that.

[hefdaddy42]

OK I'm stealing that format.

Me too


Album                    Fav Song                            Least Fav Song
WDADU                  The Ytse Jam                          Status Seeker
I&W                       Learning to Live                        Another Day
Awake                    Scarred                                 Caught in a Web
FII                         Lines in the Sand                     You Not Me
SFAM                     The Spirit Carries On              Regression
SDOIT                    The Glass Prison                    The Great Debate
ToT                        Vacant                                    Honor Thy Father
8VM                       Octavarium                              The Answer Lies Within
SC                         ITPOE Pt. 1                             Prophets of War
BC&SL                    Wither                                  The Count of Tuscany
ADTOE                    Breaking All Illusions            Build Me Up, Break Me Down
DT12                      Illumination Theory              The Looking Glass
TA                          The Path That Divides           Act of Faythe
DoT                       Pale Blue Dot                        Room 137
AVFTTOTW             Transcending Time                Invisible Monster

[Lethean]

SFAM:
Favorite: Beyond This Life
Least: Can't really do it; maybe "The Spirit Carries On", but that doesn't seem fair, does it?

That's why Regression is the perfect choice for Scenes...

[Dublagent66]

SFAM:
Favorite: Beyond This Life
Least: Can't really do it; maybe "The Spirit Carries On", but that doesn't seem fair, does it?

That's why Regression is the perfect choice for Scenes...

I'll 2nd that too! 

[devieira73]

Album                    Fav Song                       Least Fav Song
WDADU                  The Killing Hand              Only a Matter of Time
I&W                       Learning to Live               Another Day
Awake                    Scarred                           6:00
FII                          Trial of Tears                  You Not Me
SFAM                      Home                             Regression
SDOIT                     SDOIT                           Disappear
ToT                         Honor Thy Father            Vacant
8VM                        8VM                               Never Enough
SC                          TMoLS                            Prophets of War
BC&SL                     TCoT                              The Best of Times
ADTOE                    Breaking All Illusions        Far From Heaven
DT12                       Behind the Veil                Illumination Theory
TA                                                            
DoT                         Barstool Warrior               Room 137
AVFTTOTW               AVFTTOTW                      Transcending Time

Cool idea and presentation! I'll think about it...