Official top 50 Fates Warning countdown thread!! - #1 Song Revealed!

[WardySI]

Also if Fates Warning does continue to make new music and Bobby Jarzombek ever decides to leave, they are going to need to find another drummer with a Z in their name...

Mike Zortnoy?   


Two more lists received today, and we're down to only five songs mentioned on every list.


Also, I'm going to extend the deadline to submit lists to the end of the day (Pacific time) next Saturday, October 8.  I'll then compile the master list on Sunday and start the reveal on Monday, October 10.

 

[Lethean]

I already sent my list, but used the ranker for kicks last night and it came out pretty similar.  I kind of rushed through it though because it was taking longer than I'd expected (with that many songs, I should have expected it).

This exercise has made me re-realize how much I prefer current Ray (though it's been more than 20 years) over really high pitched Ray.  I like high pitched vocals a lot - James, Geoff Tate, etc, but while Ray's were fine, I like it when it takes it down a bit.

[nick_z]

This exercise has made me re-realize how much I prefer current Ray (though it's been more than 20 years) over really high pitched Ray.  I like high pitched vocals a lot - James, Geoff Tate, etc, but while Ray's were fine, I like it when it takes it down a bit.

Couldn't agree more. I appreciate that he was going all in on No Exit (and, to some extent, Perfect Symmetry, even though the material was overall quite different), but it was really beneficial to the music when he toned it down a bit. His performances on Parallels, Inside Out and Pleasant are stellar, for my taste.

...and talking about later career resurgence, I think his singing on Theories of Flight is outstanding.

[TAC]

I just listened to Parallels today and Ray 

To me, that is Ray's best.

[nick_z]

Yes, along with some of my favorite guitar work ever - seriously, I have listened to Parallels again a few days ago, and the use of two guitars in that album is close to perfection. Basically a mini-orchestra. Such tasteful interplay, perfect clean and distorted tones...just amazing stuff.

[wolfking]

The whole sound of the album is beyond incredible.

Frank's Still Water solo is one of the most creative and challenging solos out there IMO.

[pg1067]

How many lists are we up to?


Only 5 songs? Wow, that's amazing!

Seven lists submitted so far, but I'm expecting more than twice that many.

Also, only 17 songs that haven't appeared on any of the lists.

[Samsara]

Not sure I will be able to contribute to this one. I planned to, but been busy.

[WardySI]

Not sure I will be able to contribute to this one. I planned to, but been busy.

Always busy and thought the same as wanting to relisten and invest properly but at very least a quick use of the ranker is a 10min exercise so I have no excuse 

Hope you can jump on board mate

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I think we forgot a song for the master list. Radio Underground. Or is that a cover? I can't even remember anymore and I can't find my Spectre Within liner notes to check.

[Samsara]

Okay, okay, I got to the office early this morning and did it. Submitted.

[pg1067]

I think we forgot a song for the master list. Radio Underground. Or is that a cover? I can't even remember anymore and I can't find my Spectre Within liner notes to check.

I only became familiar with that song this morning (I didn't buy the 2002 reissue).  It does appear to be an original, but the only version out there is the live recording, right?  If someone wants to include it in a top 50, I'd be happy to add it, but I doubt it'd impact the aggregate top 50.

Okay, okay, I got to the office early this morning and did it. Submitted.

 

EDIT:  yeah...I's can write good.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I think we forgot a song for the master list. Radio Underground. Or is that a cover? I can't even remember anymore and I can't find my Spectre Within liner notes to check.

I'm only became familiar with that song this morning (I didn't buy the 2002 reissue).  It does appear to be an original, but the only version out there is the live recording, right?  If someone wants to include it in a top 50, I'd be happy to add it, but I doubt it'd impact the aggregate top 50.

Yeah, I doubt it would be included in any top 50's, just thought I'd bring it up for thoroughness sake. I do wish there was a proper studio recording of the song. Oh well.

[nick_z]

I think we forgot a song for the master list. Radio Underground. Or is that a cover? I can't even remember anymore and I can't find my Spectre Within liner notes to check.

I'm only became familiar with that song this morning (I didn't buy the 2002 reissue).  It does appear to be an original, but the only version out there is the live recording, right?  If someone wants to include it in a top 50, I'd be happy to add it, but I doubt it'd impact the aggregate top 50.

Yeah, I doubt it would be included in any top 50's, just thought I'd bring it up for thoroughness sake. I do wish there was a proper studio recording of the song. Oh well.

I haven't checked it out from the Spectre reissue, but I think I remember reading from Jeff Wagner's book it was an early version of Pirates of the Underground...?

[pg1067]

I think we forgot a song for the master list. Radio Underground. Or is that a cover? I can't even remember anymore and I can't find my Spectre Within liner notes to check.

I'm only became familiar with that song this morning (I didn't buy the 2002 reissue).  It does appear to be an original, but the only version out there is the live recording, right?  If someone wants to include it in a top 50, I'd be happy to add it, but I doubt it'd impact the aggregate top 50.

Yeah, I doubt it would be included in any top 50's, just thought I'd bring it up for thoroughness sake. I do wish there was a proper studio recording of the song. Oh well.

I haven't checked it out from the Spectre reissue, but I think I remember reading from Jeff Wagner's book it was an early version of Pirates of the Underground...?

I just listened to it once yesterday.  It was a rather low-quality live recording.  Didn't sound like Pirates to me (and the lyrics were nothing alike), but I can't rule it out.

[nick_z]

I just listened to it once yesterday.  It was a rather low-quality live recording.  Didn't sound like Pirates to me (and the lyrics were nothing alike), but I can't rule it out.

Not sure, but as much as it's difficult to hear stuff properly (given the low quality), I can hear bits and pieces of Pirates in there...the opening, faster riff, and then slower-tempo one that follows are basically the same, no? And most of the lyrics in the first verse, too, I think.

Doesn't really matter, I guess. Not for the ranking, at least

[nick_z]

List sent!

My top 50 breakdown by album:

Night on Bröcken: 0
The Spectre Within: 1
Awaken the Guardian: 4
No Exit: 5
Perfect Symmetry: 6
Parallels: 8
Inside Out: 8
A Pleasant Shade of Gray: 6
Disconnected: 3
FWX: 1
Darkness In a Different Light: 1
Theories of Flight: 5
Long Day Good Night: 2

[TAC]

I like the breakdown Nick. I just don't get that excited for Perfect Symmetry which doesn't really make sense, and I love a number of songs on Broken. But other than those two albums being reversed, we're very close.

[nick_z]

I like the breakdown Nick. I just don't get that excited for Perfect Symmetry which doesn't really make sense, and I love a number of songs on Broken. But other than those two albums being reversed, we're very close.

You know, NOB for me suffers a bit from a similar syndrome to Rush's first album. It's a very enjoyable listen per se, but it's a very different beast than what came after and I find it especially hard to compare. To be fair, in this case, Spectre is not hugely different from it (and it's literally all the same guys). And indeed I do still find it to be a "work-in-progress" version of FW. Although you can hear some of that arcane, special FW sauce find its way. Awaken the Guardian is the one record that benefitted the most from my full revisit of the band's discography. I listened to that one several times in the past couple of weeks. Arch is still a very tough nut to crack, but there's some real magic in those songs. Again, a different sound than my favorite version of FW, but in this case several songs were able to creep in 

But yes, Perfect Symmetry/Parallels/Inside Out is the real sweet spot for me. And as for the post-Disconnected material, Theories of Flight is head and shoulders above all the rest.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Just sent in my list. I hope I didn't screw it up....

Anyway my top 50 breakdown is as follows:

Night on Bröcken: 0
The Spectre Within: 7
Awaken the Guardian: 7
No Exit: 3
Perfect Symmetry: 6
Parallels: 7
Inside Out: 4
A Pleasant Shade of Gray: 3
Disconnected: 4
FWX: 6
Darkness In a Different Light: 0
Theories of Flight: 2
Long Day Good Night: 0

I thought maybe 1 or 2 would sneak in from LDGN, but not quite. If it were a top 60 one would have made it. So many good songs just outside my top 50........Can we make this a top 75 instead? 

[jammindude]

I SECOND THAT MOTION!!!

[TAC]

I couldn’t go 75 deep on FW.

[Dublagent66]

Still pairing down my list. 

[pg1067]

Just sent in my list. I hope I didn't screw it up....

You did not.   

I thought maybe 1 or 2 would sneak in from LDGN, but not quite. If it were a top 60 one would have made it. So many good songs just outside my top 50........Can we make this a top 75 instead? 

If we had started it as 60 or 75....


- It's really interesting watching some songs teeter on the edge of making or not making the top 50.

- We're still holding at five songs mentioned on every list (but they're not, at the moment, the consensus top 5).

- Only 14 songs not mentioned on any list.

- As the top 10 currently stands, 6 albums are represented.

- As things stand, Tim's list holds a distinction that is true of none of the other lists.

[TAC]

- As things stand, Tim's list holds a distinction that is true of none of the other lists.

You're not using it?

[jammindude]

Just chiming in to say that you will definitely get a list from me…but it will definitely be at The Eleventh Hour.

[pg1067]

- As things stand, Tim's list holds a distinction that is true of none of the other lists.

You're not using it?

 

Just chiming in to say that you will definitely get a list from me…but it will definitely be at The Eleventh Hour.

I guess you felt the need to explain.   

[The Realm]

I will be submitting a list for this, nearly there! This has been the most challenging list countdown to do so far. I also have no idea how this one is going to play out, so is going to be really interesting and looking forward to hearing everyone's views on the songs.

[Samsara]

I used the ranker, which I did NOT do for Queensryche. It made things easier, but I had to adjust some stuff after I did it. Still not happy totally (the top-15 are just about right), but it is what it is.

It was a lot harder with Fates for me.

[Dublagent66]

Just chiming in to say that you will definitely get a list from me…but it will definitely be at The Eleventh Hour.

Ha!  Same here.  It has been more difficult than I originally thought to get my list down to 50 with just Alder era material.

I couldn’t go 75 deep on FW.

For me, 75 would've been much easier than 50.  At least until I got to the ranker. 

[wolfking]

Mine will come right at cut-off too.  Did the ranked on the weekend but work has been non-stop this week so I'll look over it again Saturday and send.  There were a few surprising things going on in my list, but I probably won't bother changing much.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

The more I look at my list the more I want to change things. But now that I've sent.....oh well   

[WardySI]

PM'd you my list thanks pg1067!

Fingers crossed is all good, like others have said that was much harder than any the lists so far. What a great discography these guys have, don't think I've ever tried going beyond 10 FW faves so this was difficult but fun!

[Awaken]

I'll be sending my list over shortly.  Any one else run through the ranker multiple times and get different results each time?!  I guess my tastes change day to day w FW   Anyway, the last one was as good as any I did so it's on the way!

[pg1067]

- As things stand, Tim's list holds a distinction that is true of none of the other lists.

And...just like that...this is no longer true.


The diversity I've seen in the 12 lists I've received so far is really impressive.  I expect Kev saw the same with the Rush and Maiden countdowns.  This is fun being on the other side of this one.