Dream Theater Top 100 countdown - 2024 Version!

[Jamesman42]

Thank you Kev for the good work.

Not to spoil the fun and nothing major, but could it be possibile to differentiate between Hollow Years and Hollow Years Budokan?

There's at least a 50 ranks difference between the two versions.

I am right there with you and I am just ranking HY based on the best (LaB) version. Let it represent.

[Setlist Scotty]

Almost all of these songs for me ended up at the bottom, mixed with the Nomacs tracks.

Anyway, one of these made my top 25! and three others made the top 100 (actually top 90, to stay vague).

There ya go! You never know which ones may possibly make the final cut, even if it's an outside chance.   Right now I'd say definitely more than a third of those songs will make my list - maybe even closer to half. 

I'm in! This will be my first time doing this, so I'm excited about crafting my list

Have fun Gabriel! It's gonna be harder and take more time than you think!!   

At first I thought it was going to be "oh I'll just make a playlist with 100 and then rank them, no big deal", but now I'm starting to worry a little bit, specially since the next couple weeks my wife and I are moving to another apartment while still trying to do everything else. Should be an interesting month

To at least help simplify it a little bit, I'd encourage you (and anyone else reading this) to group the songs in tiers. So have a "top favorites" group, a "favorites" group, a "good" group, an "OK" group, a "meh" group and a "no way they'll make my list" group. It should be somewhat easy to fit most of the songs in one of those groups, and then sorting them just within that group will be much easier. At the end as you put your list together, you can make some final tweaks if necessary. But at least this way you won't spend so much time sorting through them, especially if you use the ranking engine website. 

[KevShmev]

So we can send in the list counting 1-100? We don't have to reverse and send it to you going 100-1?

Yep, either way works.  Just take heed of the special notes in the OP.

The biggie is proofread your list before sending, because it's one strike and you're out on this. 

[Trav]

So we can send in the list counting 1-100? We don't have to reverse and send it to you going 100-1?

Yep, either way works.  Just take heed of the special notes in the OP.

The biggie is proofread your list before sending, because it's one strike and you're out on this. 

Ok, You Majesty 

[hefdaddy42]

If you're interested in using the ranker, just remember, the more choices you enter, the longer it takes.

So if you can eliminate a big chunk of these, that you KNOW wouldn't make your final list, before chucking it in there, the better.

I got my list down to 107 songs before using the ranker, by getting rid of the Majesty songs, most of The Astonishing (because most of those songs are, IMO, better as part of the whole than as individual songs), and weirdo things like Moon Bubbles and Barfbag, along with other songs of theirs that I just don't like (Raw Dog, Prophets of War, etc).

[TAC]

If you're interested in using the ranker, just remember, the more choices you enter, the longer it takes.

So if you can eliminate a big chunk of these, that you KNOW wouldn't make your final list, before chucking it in there, the better.

I got my list down to 107 songs before using the ranker, by getting rid of the Majesty songs, most of The Astonishing (because most of those songs are, IMO, better as part of the whole than as individual songs), and weirdo things like Moon Bubbles and Barfbag, along with other songs of theirs that I just don't like (Raw Dog, Prophets of War, etc).

Right. Widdle out what you know you won't consider. And as Scotty says, if you can pre sort your songs in tiers, then you only have to run each tier through the ranker.

[MirrorMask]

If you're interested in using the ranker, just remember, the more choices you enter, the longer it takes.

So if you can eliminate a big chunk of these, that you KNOW wouldn't make your final list, before chucking it in there, the better.

I got my list down to 107 songs before using the ranker, by getting rid of the Majesty songs, most of The Astonishing (because most of those songs are, IMO, better as part of the whole than as individual songs), and weirdo things like Moon Bubbles and Barfbag, along with other songs of theirs that I just don't like (Raw Dog, Prophets of War, etc).

I wish I realized that before I sat through 740 votes. Still fun nevertheless.

[KevShmev]

So we can send in the list counting 1-100? We don't have to reverse and send it to you going 100-1?

Yep, either way works.  Just take heed of the special notes in the OP.

The biggie is proofread your list before sending, because it's one strike and you're out on this. 

Ok, You Majesty 

Haha, it's a matter of courtesy, IMO.  Remember that I enter the scores manually into Excel, so if I take 10 minutes to enter a list and then get near the end and there was an error, I just wasted my time entering scores that I now have to delete from the spreadsheet.  I don't think people expecting everyone to proofread their lists before sending them is too big of an ask.

[MirrorMask]

You misunderstood; he pointed out how one of the choices is "You Majesty" instead of YOUR Majesty 

[KevShmev]

It is?

[hefdaddy42]

You misunderstood; he pointed out how one of the choices is "You Majesty" instead of YOUR Majesty 

Good thing no one (other than Scotty) will include that one in their Top 100.

[Stadler]

So we can send in the list counting 1-100? We don't have to reverse and send it to you going 100-1?

Yep, either way works.  Just take heed of the special notes in the OP.

The biggie is proofread your list before sending, because it's one strike and you're out on this. 

Ok, You Majesty 

Haha, it's a matter of courtesy, IMO.  Remember that I enter the scores manually into Excel, so if I take 10 minutes to enter a list and then get near the end and there was an error, I just wasted my time entering scores that I now have to delete from the spreadsheet.  I don't think people expecting everyone to proofread their lists before sending them is too big of an ask.

Yeah, second that; Kev is taking on a pretty monumental task here; the least we can do is to make it as easy as possible for him.


Oh, and for me, I'm going to rank them all. I'm just as interested in the bottom 15 or so as I am the top, and it's always fun/handy to have the list in future conversations.

[Zydar]

If you're interested in using the ranker, just remember, the more choices you enter, the longer it takes.

So if you can eliminate a big chunk of these, that you KNOW wouldn't make your final list, before chucking it in there, the better.

That's my tactic as well. Eliminate until there's 100 left, then use the ranker.

[Trav]

Yeah, like MirrorMask pointed out, I was just making a joke at it saying "You Majesty" at first. I have nothing but respect for Kev doing this. 

[Jamesman42]

Definitely follow my dad's advice, it still took a while even trimming it down.

Also, I looked at my list and I felt some of the rankings were a bit off. Maybe seeing it in list form gave me that feeling.

[Dedalus]

If you're interested in using the ranker, just remember, the more choices you enter, the longer it takes.

So if you can eliminate a big chunk of these, that you KNOW wouldn't make your final list, before chucking it in there, the better.

I got my list down to 107 songs before using the ranker, by getting rid of the Majesty songs, most of The Astonishing (because most of those songs are, IMO, better as part of the whole than as individual songs), and weirdo things like Moon Bubbles and Barfbag, along with other songs of theirs that I just don't like (Raw Dog, Prophets of War, etc).

Indeed. I was trying to make my list and had great difficulty dealing with several Astonishing songs in isolation and not in the context of a single long piece (the entire album).

I got a final list using Ranking Engine. The strangest thing for me was Another Day being left out of the top 100, because I like Another Day. 

[KevShmev]

I shall point out as well that I reserve the right to call out anyone who leaves a big dog off their top 100.    

That could be a fun addition to the top 10....I will list out the submitters who did NOT have those songs in their top 100.  This could be fun. 

[romdrums]

I'm in.

[nobloodyname]

I'm having to listen to a chunk of tunes from The Astonishing. There's actually some rather good stuff here. What a shame the overall effect is one of tedium when it's all put together.

[hefdaddy42]

I got a final list using Ranking Engine. The strangest thing for me was Another Day being left out of the top 100, because I like Another Day. 

Don't let the ranker be the boss of you.  Replace whatever came out as # 100 with Another Day.

[bosk1]

I shall point out as well that I reserve the right to call out anyone who leaves a big dog off their top 100.    

That could be a fun addition to the top 10....I will list out the submitters who did NOT have those songs in their top 100.  This could be fun. 

I have no problem getting called out when my choices go against the grain.

[hefdaddy42]

I shall point out as well that I reserve the right to call out anyone who leaves a big dog off their top 100.    

That could be a fun addition to the top 10....I will list out the submitters who did NOT have those songs in their top 100.  This could be fun. 

I have no problem getting called out when my choices go against the grain.

Boy, that's good to hear, boss!

*gets started on outcalling comments*

[Stadler]

I'm in the car for 5 1/2 hours today, then again on Wednesday. I'm hoping to get some good listening in, including - MAYBE - The Astonishing. 

[hefdaddy42]

I'm in the car for 5 1/2 hours today, then again on Wednesday. I'm hoping to get some good listening in, including - MAYBE - The Astonishing. 

*faints*

[nobloodyname]

I'm in the car for 5 1/2 hours today, then again on Wednesday. I'm hoping to get some good listening in, including - MAYBE - The Astonishing. 

Yeah... don't do that while driving

[pg1067]

First of all, thanks Kev for doing this!
Secondly, can we petition the band to never title a song with "The" at the beginning ever again?

I second that. Maiden does it way too often also. I never really watched Friends, but didn't every episode title begin with "The"?

Yes.  Almost all of them start with "The One."  Most are "The One with" or "The One Where" (e.g., "The One Where Joey Speaks French" or "The One with Phoebe's Cookies").  The only exceptions were the pilot (which was retroactively given a few alternate "The One" titles) and "The Last One."

[Revenge319]

I shall point out as well that I reserve the right to call out anyone who leaves a big dog off their top 100.    

That could be a fun addition to the top 10....I will list out the submitters who did NOT have those songs in their top 100.  This could be fun. 

There's at least two or three songs that I'll get called out for. This'll be exciting!

[Setlist Scotty]

You misunderstood; he pointed out how one of the choices is "You Majesty" instead of YOUR Majesty 

Good thing no one (other than Scotty) will include that one in their Top 100.

It wasn't on my list, but now I think I'll make it #1 just so it makes the cut! 

[Dedalus]

I got a final list using Ranking Engine. The strangest thing for me was Another Day being left out of the top 100, because I like Another Day. 

Don't let the ranker be the boss of you.  Replace whatever came out as # 100 with Another Day.

Yes, I thought about that. I saved my ranker list but didn't send it. I need to work on it a bit later.

[MirrorMask]

I trust the ranker. It placed at top 3 the songs I actually consider my three fav songs of DT. I'll trust it for the rest, I never was a big ranker anyway and I would have never took part if it wasn't for that system. I mean, how can I even compare Sacrificed Sons to Status Seeker? I know which song I prefer but don't ask me to contestualize it in a list of other 98 songs 

[hefdaddy42]

You misunderstood; he pointed out how one of the choices is "You Majesty" instead of YOUR Majesty 

Good thing no one (other than Scotty) will include that one in their Top 100.

It wasn't on my list, but now I think I'll make it #1 just so it makes the cut! 

I kid because I care, Scotty!

[Jamesman42]

I had to make some changes to what the ranker gave me. It put Learning to Live too far down at the 40s. A lot of other changes.

I also used Google Sheets to sort my final list to check for duplicates.

Mine is sent!

[pg1067]

I've got my list down to 131 songs that I'll use to determine the top 100.  I did 166 songs when we did the Rush top 75 countdown.  There's at least one "big dog" that almost certainly won't make my top 100.

[TAC]

My first pass got me down to 133. I think I removed another 10 tracks.

This is already painful.

[DragonAttack]

I trust the ranker. It placed at top 3 the songs I actually consider my three fav songs of DT. I'll trust it for the rest, I never was a big ranker anyway and I would have never took part if it wasn't for that system. I mean, how can I even compare Sacrificed Sons to Status Seeker? I know which song I prefer but don't ask me to contestualize it in a list of other 98 songs 

I'm hoping people here don't think I'm a big wanker after I submit my list 😉