Dream Theater Top 100 countdown - 2024 Version! (#01 Up!)

[geeeemo]

I always enjoy these. Sadly, I stopped participating 3 weeks ago when my mom suddenly passed away.  :'( I thought I would just share my top 20. I am a newish fan, and my lists typically are a bit different. But then so are many of them. Which is why Dream Theater is awesome! I could listen to anyones DT list and thourougly love it.

Looking at it, 4 of the top 20 are MM era songs. No Veiw songs made the top 20, even though that album has no skips. No WDaDu, Awake, TOT or TA  songs made it. But FII had 2.
Thank you for running the countdown.

1   Octavarium
2   The Count of Tuscany
3   Home
4   In the Presence of Enemies
5   Beyond This Life
6   Finally Free
7   Illumination Theory
8   Breaking All Illusions
9   Fatal Tragedy
10   A Nightmare To Remember
11   Learning To Live
12   Strange Deja Vu
13   Sacrificed Sons
14   Peruvian Skies
15   Bridges In the Sky
16   Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
17   Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
18   Trial of Tears
19   At Wit's End
20   The Glass Prison

[jammindude]

Wow geeeemo. I’m so sorry about your mom. My condolences to you and your family. 

[Wim Kruithof]

I always enjoy these. Sadly, I stopped participating 3 weeks ago when my mom suddenly passed away.

Now that's hard, wish you all the best to find peace.

I will loose my mother probably this spring, due to massive cancer. Somehow Surrounded hits me each time I hear it. It's not the lyrics, but the feel is so emotional and I listen to it plenty of times.

ReaperKK you did a wonderful job in here. Enjoy your vacation and we'll see you and your data soon.

[Jamesman42]

25. Illumination Theory (91st) DREAM THEATER, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, DO MORE STUFF IN THE VEIN OF THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THIS SONG. SO GOOD.
24. Beyond This Life (88th) I'm a SFAM hater, what can I say? It's an okay song though.
23. Bridges In The Sky (8th) This song could be top 5 but the intro is too long, it's otherwise a stellar song. When JLB sings "crossing bridges in the sky", it's so good.
22. In The Presence Of Enemies (28th) Cool epic on a weird album. I don't like the Dark Master part. Everything else is good. Odd song for DT, though.
21. Blind Faith (42nd) Easily the worst track of SDOIT but still just fine.
20. Surrounded (25th) What a lovely song. Just, so bouncy but then a bit serious. DT does this style of song nicely.
19. Finally Free (76th) SFAM, yeah....
18. Strange Deja Vu (89th) Lol. The "uncanny strange deja vu" does pop into my mind at times.
17. Take The Time (19th) The energy in this song is really vibrant. JLB is having fun and the music is good.
16. Under A Glass Moon (67th) It's a fine song, with a cool intro. It's always been the weakest or second weakest track on IaW to me, though.
15. The Glass Prison (3rd) This is 15th and I am shocked. I know some of the songs remaining, but I thought this was one of the most favored songs. Interesting. Anyway, this song is just pure gas for a long time.
14. Pull Me Under (77th) This and UAGM are fine songs, but they can swap being the worst or 2nd worst on the album, but they have stiff competition. Also surprised this is so high, is it because it's their most famous song?
13. Fatal Tragedy (90th) What a canyon between my ranking and the consensus. Yeah, it's a SFAM song, for some reason that album doesn't gel with me.
12. Scarred (69th) It's a fine song, but I often forget how it even sounds when I see it talked about.
11. In The Name Of God (13th) Hell yeah. I avoided this song for a while when this album was the new stuff, IDK why, I just was loving the rest of the album and this was the last song. It is pretty much flawless. I love the choir at the end, subtle enough to enjoy (and JLB's screaming as well).
10. The Count Of Tuscany (6th) This (and several other songs) are what DT do best in the modern era (I am thinking post-8VM). You can have the metal in "prog metal" but don't leave behind the prog, or the beautiful melodies and tight compositions. The intro might be a top 5, maybe a top 3 DT intro, musically speaking. The ending is great, it's fun to sing and play on the acoustic (capo on 4th fret).
09. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (4th) I hate ranking this as a single song. Like others, this is a collection of 8 different ideas/tracks/songs, but they're all great songs (maybe besides Goodnight Kiss, that one is decent). But since we have to bow to the wishes of the almighty band, here we are. Not my actual 4th favorite, but yeah, each part is a great picture of different mental illnesses. Favorites include Solitary Shell, The Test..., and Losing Time.
08. Breaking All Illusions (11th) 3rd best song from the MM era. It just slaps, and it does it better than Learning to Live.
07. Voices (40th) Excellent song, but 7th?! Wow. But I think I get it, it's not a prog epic but an emotional song with a lot of good stuff.
06. Trial Of Tears (31st) Great song from a weird era. Not on the hype train to be 6th best, that is pretty mind-blowing to me.
05. Home (65th) I don't get why people rate this so highly. I deduced it would be in the top 6, and I gave it a listen today and...yeah, there is some powerful music happening there, I can kinda see it being a big hit, but to make top 5, I don't know what I am missing.
04. Octavarium (2nd) This song is one of the best songs ever made to me. Intervals is especially awesome, but every part is its own little world, and I love visiting each part each time.
03. A Change Of Seasons (5th) Really 4th because we cannot dare break up SDOIT, this song is incredible. How can you not love "I'm sick of all you hypocrites holding me at bay!!!". In fact, that is a top 3 DT moment for me, it has an atmosphere that is indescribably beautiful.
02. Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle And The Sleeper (1st, top ranker) Maybe my favorite song ever? I am hard pressed to find a more perfect song. It's a nice length (heh), the instrumental is the best thing in music ever, JLB is awesome, intro, those outro chords. I try not to overplay it when I am in a DT mood.
01. Learning To Live (14th) Great song on an excellent album. And while I ranked it highly, I don't always want to hear it if I am listening to that album. But when I do, it's one of their best.

[nobloodyname]

I like Learning to Live enough for it to be in my top 20. But every time I listen to it I find the sound of the snare drum getting in the way of it being in my top ten.

Thanks for running it ReaperKK. It's been great fun! And it's kinda nice, and serendipitous, that the end has coincided with that fantastic photo of the band being back together.

[hefdaddy42]

I always enjoy these. Sadly, I stopped participating 3 weeks ago when my mom suddenly passed away. 

So sorry for your loss.

[Evermind]

I always enjoy these. Sadly, I stopped participating 3 weeks ago when my mom suddenly passed away.  :'( I thought I would just share my top 20. I am a newish fan, and my lists typically are a bit different. But then so are many of them. Which is why Dream Theater is awesome! I could listen to anyones DT list and thourougly love it.

Looking at it, 4 of the top 20 are MM era songs. No Veiw songs made the top 20, even though that album has no skips. No WDaDu, Awake, TOT or TA  songs made it. But FII had 2.
Thank you for running the countdown.

1   Octavarium
2   The Count of Tuscany
3   Home
4   In the Presence of Enemies
5   Beyond This Life
6   Finally Free
7   Illumination Theory
8   Breaking All Illusions
9   Fatal Tragedy
10   A Nightmare To Remember
11   Learning To Live
12   Strange Deja Vu
13   Sacrificed Sons
14   Peruvian Skies
15   Bridges In the Sky
16   Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
17   Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
18   Trial of Tears
19   At Wit's End
20   The Glass Prison

I'm sorry about your loss man. Nothing I could say to help really, but this thread actually helped me somewhat to focus on something else when I needed it. You've got a solid top 5, that's for sure.

[Indiscipline]

A big hug to geeeemo.

[MirrorMask]

I always enjoy these. Sadly, I stopped participating 3 weeks ago when my mom suddenly passed away.  :'( I thought I would just share my top 20. I am a newish fan, and my lists typically are a bit different. But then so are many of them. Which is why Dream Theater is awesome! I could listen to anyones DT list and thourougly love it.

Oh no : ( I am so very sorry, with an elder frail mother I can only sympathize, I hope the music can be an helping and healing factor too. The spirit carries on, indeed..... 

[Awaken]

Sorry for your loss, geeeemo 

[Mladen]

My condolences, geeeemo.

Learning to live was my #7. Absolutely nothing wrong about having such a masterpiece at #1, though.

Reaper, well done for doing this, and kudos to Kev for starting it. This was so much fun. 

[romdrums]

Had LtL at #3. One of DT's best for sure.

Here's my list:

100. Take Away My Pain
99. Paralyzed
98. Another Day
97. Where Are You Now
96. The Gift of Music
95. The Dark Eternal Night
94. Bombay Vindaloo
93. The Root of All Evil
92. Wait For Sleep
91. Status Seeker
90. The Killing Hand
89. Eve
88. Vacant
87. Surrounded
86. Endless Sacrifice
85. Sleeping Giant
84. The Spirit Carries On
83. Far From Heaven
82. Octavarium
81. Stream of Consciousness
80. Cover My Eyes
79. Speak to Me
78. Hollow Years
77. Out of Reach
76. One Last Time
75. The Way It Used to Be
74. Peruvian Skies
73. The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun
72. Moment of Betrayal
71. Outcry
70. The Silent Man
69. Beneath the Surface
68. Ytse Jam
67. Surrender to Reason
66. Fall Into the Light
65. The Count of Tuscany
64. Honor Thy Father
63. The Ministry of Lost Souls
62. The Looking Glass
61. Room 137
60. New Millennium
59. Untethered Angel
58. A View From the Top of the World
57. On the Backs of Angels
56. To Live Forever
55. Only a Matter of Time
54. Transcending Time
53. Innocence Faded
52. The Shattered Fortress
51. Awaken the Master
50. Finally Free
49. Viper King
48. I Walk Beside You
47. A Fortune In Lies
46. Light Fuse and Get Away
45. Panic Attack
44. The Glass Prison
43. These Walls
42. This Dying Soul
41. Hell’s Kitchen
40. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
39. Lie
38. Caught In A Web
37. Pull Me Under
36. As I Am
35. Take the Time
34. Lines in the Sand
33. Raise the Knife
32. Disappear
31. In the Presence of Enemies
30. Space-Dye Vest
29. Overture 1928
28. Erotomania
27. Misunderstood
26. Pale Blue Dot
25. The Alien
24. 6:00
23. Beyond This Life
22. Trial of Tears
21. The Dance of Eternity
20. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
19. Answering the Call
18. Barstool Warrior
17. At Wit’s End
16. S2N
15. Fatal Tragedy
14. Strange Deja Vu
13. Blind Faith
12.The Great Debate
11. In the Name of God
10. Home
9. The Mirror
8. Voices
7. Bridges in the Sky
6. Under A Glass Moon
5. Breaking All Illusions
4. Scarred
3. Learning to Live
2. Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
1. A Change of Seasons

[Setlist Scotty]

Very sorry to hear of you losing your mama geeeemo - my condolences. I know of several older ones who either passed away recently or who are near to it now, so I feel your pain at least to some extent.   :'(

On a brighter note, thanks so much for doing this Reaper! Was a lot of fun to do, read everyone's comments and see how my favorites stack up to the general consensus. And high fives to the other 9 who also rated LtL as their #1! Wooohooo!! 

[The Letter M]

So I didn't really have the time to really participate in this countdown, but I have popped in to see the OP lately to see what the Top Ten looked like. For those curious, here's the Top Ten from the 2021 DT Survivor I did not long after AVFTTOTW came out (although it took so long, the Survivor itself ended in June 2022):

01. Learning To Live
02. A Change Of Seasons
03. Metropolis Part 1: The Miracle And The Sleeper
04. Octavarium
05. Scarred
06. Voices
07. Breaking All Illusions
08. Home
09. Trial Of Tears
10. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence

I'm not surprised that the Top 4 in my survivor are the same Top 4 here, while five of the other six also made it. "Scarred" is the odd one out but I see it placed 12th in the Countdown. While TCOT placed 10th here, it was 16th in my survivor. Glad to see the classics never change here!

-Marc.

[Dream Team]

Had LtL at #3. One of DT's best for sure.

Here's my list:

100. Take Away My Pain
99. Paralyzed
98. Another Day
97. Where Are You Now
96. The Gift of Music
95. The Dark Eternal Night
94. Bombay Vindaloo
93. The Root of All Evil
92. Wait For Sleep
91. Status Seeker
90. The Killing Hand
89. Eve
88. Vacant
87. Surrounded
86. Endless Sacrifice
85. Sleeping Giant
84. The Spirit Carries On
83. Far From Heaven
82. Octavarium
81. Stream of Consciousness
80. Cover My Eyes
79. Speak to Me
78. Hollow Years
77. Out of Reach
76. One Last Time
75. The Way It Used to Be
74. Peruvian Skies
73. The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun
72. Moment of Betrayal
71. Outcry
70. The Silent Man
69. Beneath the Surface
68. Ytse Jam
67. Surrender to Reason
66. Fall Into the Light
65. The Count of Tuscany
64. Honor Thy Father
63. The Ministry of Lost Souls
62. The Looking Glass
61. Room 137
60. New Millennium
59. Untethered Angel
58. A View From the Top of the World
57. On the Backs of Angels
56. To Live Forever
55. Only a Matter of Time
54. Transcending Time
53. Innocence Faded
52. The Shattered Fortress
51. Awaken the Master
50. Finally Free
49. Viper King
48. I Walk Beside You
47. A Fortune In Lies
46. Light Fuse and Get Away
45. Panic Attack
44. The Glass Prison
43. These Walls
42. This Dying Soul
41. Hell’s Kitchen
40. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
39. Lie
38. Caught In A Web
37. Pull Me Under
36. As I Am
35. Take the Time
34. Lines in the Sand
33. Raise the Knife
32. Disappear
31. In the Presence of Enemies
30. Space-Dye Vest
29. Overture 1928
28. Erotomania
27. Misunderstood
26. Pale Blue Dot
25. The Alien
24. 6:00
23. Beyond This Life
22. Trial of Tears
21. The Dance of Eternity
20. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
19. Answering the Call
18. Barstool Warrior
17. At Wit’s End
16. S2N
15. Fatal Tragedy
14. Strange Deja Vu
13. Blind Faith
12.The Great Debate
11. In the Name of God
10. Home
9. The Mirror
8. Voices
7. Bridges in the Sky
6. Under A Glass Moon
5. Breaking All Illusions
4. Scarred
3. Learning to Live
2. Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
1. A Change of Seasons

Wow our top 15 are very similar 

[jammindude]

Here’s my final top 100! As you can see, I also had Learning to Live at #1.  Just not sure that one can ever be outdone.

Although I will take this moment to say that I absolutely hate separating it from Wait for Sleep. It’s not just the repeated theme at the end of LTL, it’s the way they seamlessly blend into one another. It’s almost impossible to separate the two in my mind. It’s like trying to separate AD 1928 from Rockin the Paradise. I just can’t do it.

100. Untethered Angel
99. Invisible Monster
98. The Silent Man
97. Answering the Call
96. In the Name of God
95. Innocence Faded
94. Speak to Me
93. Moment of Betrayal
92. Hell’s Kitchen
91. Endless Sacrifice
90. Lines in the Sand
89. Along for the Ride
88. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
87. This is the Life
86. Lost Not Forgotten
85. Vacant
84. The Count of Tuscany
83. The Looking Glass
82. Enigma Machine
81. The Dance of Eternity
80. At Wit’s End
79. Don’t Look Past Me
78. Take Away My Pain
77. Home
76. This Dying Soul
75. Honor Thy Father
74. The Enemy Inside
73. Outcry
72. A Fortune in Lies
71. Blind Faith
70. Just Let Me Breathe
69. Disappear
68. A Vision
67. Paralyzed
66. The Alien
65. Anna Lee
64. Surrender to Reason
63. Panic Attack
62. Another Day
61. Transcending Time
60. Misunderstood
59. The Answer Lies Within
58. A View From the Top of the World
57. Afterlife
56. A Nightmare to Remember
55. Hollow Years
54. I Walk Beside You
53. The Way It Used to Be
52. Barstool Warrior
51. One Last Time
50. Space Dye Vest
49. Ytse Jam
48. Wait for Sleep
47. The Dark Eternal Night
46. These Walls
45. Fall Into the Light
44. As I Am
43. The Spirit Carries On
42. Overture 1928
41. Our New World
40. Behind the Veil
39. Caught in a Web
38. Sacrificed Sons
37. 6:00
36. Raise the Knife
35. Beneath the Surface
34. Erotomania
33. Illumination Theory
32. Never Enough
31. Stream of Consciousness
30. Light Fuse and Get Away
29. New Millennium
28. The Killing Hand
27. Bridges in the Sky
26. A Life Left Behind
25. The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun
24. The Bigger Picture
23. Metropolis Pt 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper
22. Eve
21. Peruvian Skies
20. Pull Me Under
19. Surrounded
18. Strange Déjà Vu
17. Breaking All Illusions
16. Under a Glass Moon
15. The Root of All Evil
14. Fatal Tragedy
13. Take the Time
12. Voices
11. The Mirror
10. The Glass Prison
9. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
8. Scarred
7. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
6. Trial of Tears
5. Finally Free
4. A Change of Seasons
3. Beyond This Life
2. Octavarium
1. Learning to Live

[Wim Kruithof]

I'm sorry for all of you, but it turns out I have the finest list. Although Learning to Live should be higher. Learning curve.

I am curious though which was song 101 on the forumranking.

100: Untethered Angel
099: Anna Lee
098: A Savior In the Square
097: Invisible Monster
096: Beyond This Life    72
095: I Walk Beside You     15
094: S2n     spot on
093: Never Enough     7
092: The Great Debate     39
091: Caught In a Web     40
090: The Alien     21
089: Only a Matter of Time     7
088: Surrender to Reason     5
087: Forsaken     8
086: Through Her Eyes     12
085: The Silent Man     19
084: Constant Motion     2
083: Fall Into the Light     11
082: The Best of Times     5
081: Repentance
080: Wait for Sleep     36
079: On the Backs of Angels     23
078: Behind the Veil     11
077: Afterlife     19
076: Hollow Years     17
075: Ravenskill
074: Sacrified Sons     9
073: 6:00     39
072: Erotomania     32
071: Prophets of War
070: These Walls     16
069: Innocence Faded     27
068: The Enemy Inside     15
067: Pale Blue Dot     3
066: Fatal Tragedy     53
065: Another Day     27
064: Pull Me Under     50
063: Disappear     22
062: Peruvian Skies     18
061: Misunderstood     30
060: A Fortune in Lies     18
059: Hell's Kitchen     2
058: Status Seeker
057: A Rite of Passage
056: A Nightmare to Remember     6
055: Blind Faith     34
054: The Looking Glass     38
053: Raise the Knife     12
052: Under a Glass Moon     36
051: Panic Attack     5
050: Wither     49
049: Lifting Shadows Off a Dream     14
048: Transcending Time     42
047: Home     42
046: Barstool Warrior     6
045: The Root of All Evil     9
044: Ytse Jam     23
043: The Spirit Carries On     17
042: The Killing Hand     26
041: Sleeping Giant     44
040: Answering the Call     45
039: Another Hand - The Killing Hand
038: The Dance of Eternity     5
037: The Bigger Picture     23
036: Lines In the Sand     8
035: Bombay Vindaloo
034: As I Am     9
033: At Wit's End   4
032: Another Won
031: Endless Sacrifice     2
030: Space-Dye Vest     spot on
029: Awaken the Master     52
028: Stream of Conciousness     11
027: Honor Thy Father     44
026: Learning to Live     25
025: Lie     22
024: One Last Time     22
023: In the Name of God     12
022: Finally Free     3
021: Voices     13
020: Breaking All Illusions     13
019: Trial of Tears     14
018: Outcry     47
017: Beneath the Surface     49
016: The Shattered Fortress     63
015: The Mirror     12
014: This Dying Soul     33
013: The Glass Prison     2
012: Bridges In the Sky     11
011: Metropolis pt. I     9
010: The Ministry of Lost Souls     51
009: Scarred     3
008: Surrounded     12
007: A View From the Top of the World     42
006: In the Presence of Enemies     16
005: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence     4
004: Illumination Theory     21 highest
003: The Count of Tuscany     7
002: A Change of Seasons     2
001: Octavarium     3 highest

not ranked: 12 The Gift of Music / Vacant / Our New World / A New Beginning / This Is the Life / New Millennium / To Live Forever / Lost Not Forgotten / The Dark Eternal Night / Overture 1928 / Strange Deja Vu / Take the Time

[CharlesPL]

1. Learning To Live
2. Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
3. A Change of Seasons
4. Trial of Tears
5. Scarred
6. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
7. Another Day
8. Take the Time
9. Surrounded
10. Under a Glass Moon
11. Hell's Kitchen
12. Eve
13. The Count of Tuscany
14. Lie
15. Light Fuse and Get Away
16. Voices
17. Finally Free
18. The Killing Hand
19. Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
20. The One Who Helps to Set the Sun
21. Innocence Faded
22. Home
23. Bombay Vindaloo
24. Pull Me Under
25. Wait For Sleep
26. A Vision
27. 6:00
28. Erotomania
29. The Mirror
30. Space-Dye Vest
31. Barfbag
32. Don't Look Past Me
33. Blind Faith
34. Disappear
35. In the Name of God
36. Only a Matter of Time
37. Caught In a Web
38. Peruvian Skies
39. Lines In the Sand
40. Another Hand
41. The Silent Man
42. Slow Motion
43. The Spirit Carries On
44. Octavarium
45. Your Majesty
46. Afterlife
47. A Fortune in Lies
48. Awake Jam
49. Take Away My Pain
50. One Last Time
51. Illumination Theory
52. Ytse Jam
53. To Live Forever
54. Two Far
55. Vital Star
56. Strange Deja Vu
57. Status Seeker
58. Speak To Me
59. Moon Bubbles
60. Raise The Knife
61. In the Presence of Enemies
62. Raw Dog
63. Overture 1928
64. Gladiator Theme
65. Misunderstood
66. Cry for Freedom
67. Another Won
68. Beyond This Life
69. Fatal Tragedy
70. March of the Tyrant
71. The Great Debate
72. The Way It Used to Be
73. Where Are You Now
74. The Dance of Eternity
75. Panic Attack
76. New Millennium
77. Hollow Years
78. Cover My Eyes
79. Anna Lee
80. Burning My Soul
81. Breaking All Illusions
82. As I Am
83. I Walk Beside You
84. Sacrificed Sons
85. Through Her Eyes
86. Wither
87. This Dying Soul
88. The Glass Prison
89. Endless Sacrifice
90. Honor Thy Father
91. Just Let Me Breathe
92. Stream of Consciousness
93. The Path That Divides
94. You Not Me
95. These Walls
96. The Bigger Picture
97. A New Beginning
98. Bridges In the Sky
99. The Answer Lies Within
100. Never Enough

[TAC]

And we have reached the end! First off big thanks for pg1067 for putting this idea out there, and Kev for getting the ball rolling. Also thanks to all of you submitting lists and being patient while I cobbled together speadsheets of Dream Theater lists. When I get back from vacation later next week I'll post the whole list with final point values for each song.

01. Learning To Live
Highest Finish: 1 (CharlesPL, Dittomist, Indiscipline, jammindude, JiM-Xtreme, Peter MC, Setlist Scotty, TAC, The Realm, Zydar)
Number of Lists appeared on: 66 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

I had Learning To Live at #1!!
In fact, it's my favorite song by any band. Just magical.
I saw them in late '92 and early '93 in Boston, and both nights it was snowing. they ended the shows with Learning To Live and that outro was still ringing in my ears and as I left the clubs, the snow was falling. Magical.



List                                                    Not Ranked         
100 Cover My Eyes                           Wither
99  Light Fuse And Get Away             Vacant
98  6:00                                           Our New World
97   A Rite Of Passage                      The Looking Glass
96  The Root Of All Evil                      Transcending Time
95  Lie                                              Behind The Veil
94  Raw Dog                                     New Millenium   
93  Caught In A Web                          Constant Motion
92  The Glass Prison                           The Shattered Fortress
91  Eve                                           To Live Forever
90  Forsaken                                       Answering The Call
89  The Walking Shadow                   Honor Thy Father
88  Heaven's Cove                           The Silent Man
87  False Awakening Suite                 Hell's Kitchen
86  Zydar                                          The Great Debate
85  Pale Blue Dot                               As I Am
84  My Last farewell                         Misunderstood
83  Lord Nefaryus                            The Mirror
82  Three Days                                 Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
81  Far From Heaven                         Home
80  Awaken The Master
79  On The Backs Of Angels
78  Stream Of Consciousness
77  A Nightmare To Remember
76  S2N
75  These Walls
74  Afterlife
73  This Is The Life
72  Beyond This Life
71  Pull Me Under
70  One Last Time
69  Surrender Of Reason
68  A Tempting Offer
67  Moment Of Betrayal
66  A Saviour In The Square
65  Sacrificed Sons
64  Beneath The Surface
63  Through Her Eyes
62  The Bigger Picture
61  I Walk Beside You
60  Never Enough
59  A New Beginning
58  Wait For Sleep
57  Illumination Theory
56  The Spirit Carries On
55  Under A Glass Moon
54  Barstool Warrior
53  The Path That Divides
52  Finally Free
51  Erotomania
50  In The Name Of God
49  Strange Deja Vu
48  Bridges In The Sky
47  Blind Faith
46  Prophets Of War
45  Overture 1928
44  Panic Attack
43  Innocence Faded
42  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
41  Sleeping Giant
40  Another Won
39  A View From The Top Of The World
38  At Wits End
37  Fall Into The Light
36  In The Presence Of Enemies
35  The Gift Of Music
34  The Dance Of Eternity
33  Peruvian Skies
32  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
31  Ytse Jam
30  Trial Of Tears
29  Ravenskill
28  The Enemy Inside
27  Voices
26  Only A Matter Of Time
25  Surrounded
24  Raise The Knife
23  Hollow Years
22  The Dark Eternal Night
21  Outcry
20  This Dying Soul
19  The X Aspect
18  A Fortune In Lies
17  A Change Of Seasons
16  The Alien
15  Fatal Tragedy
14  The Best Of Times
13  Endless Sacrifice
12  Metropolis Pt.1
11  Lost Not Forgotten.
10  Take The Time
9  Breaking All Illusions
8  Lines In The Sand
7  Disappear
6  The Count Of Tuscany
5  Space Dye Vest
4  The Killing Hand
3  Scarred
2  Octavarium
1  Learning To Live




80-20

[TAC]

Thank you so much Karolis for doing this. Much appreciated! Great job.

[Indiscipline]

I apologise in advance if somebody has already pointed it out and I've missed it, but isn't it cool 66 people joined in this and it went 66 pages long?

[TAC]

Nuggetz!!!

[jingle.boy]

Lock the thread now!

#forgotthebouncinglockemotecode

[Cool Chris]

[axeman90210]

Learning to Live - Came in at #2 on my list. What a jaw-dropping piece of music. Beautiful lyrics from JM, JP is tasteful throughout, and I love the WFS reprise. JLB is what really elevates the song though with his performance. Obviously the F#, but he crushes it from bell to bell.

[wolfking]

Number 4 for me!


List                                                        Not Ranked         
100 Build Me Up, Break Me Down            The Gift of Music
99 The Best of Times                          A New Beginning
98 Constant Motion                             New Millenium
97 Burning My Soul                             Sleeping Giant
96 A Fortune in Lies                            Awaken the Master
95 The Alien                                       To Live Forever
94 Our New World                               The Killing Hand
93 This is the Life                                Ytse Jam
92 Disappear                                       The Silent Man
91 Hollow Years                                   Raise the Knife
90 Sacrificed Sons                               Beneath the Surface
89 Only A Matter of Time
88 Vacant
87 Prophets of War
86 Through Her Eyes
85 Paralyzed
84 Stream Of Consciousness
83 Just Let Me Breathe
82 Transcending Time
81 Untethered Angel
80 Hell's Kitchen
79 Pale Blue Dot
78 Wither
77 Lines in the Sand
76 Room 137
75 The Ministry of Lost Souls
74 The Enemy Inside
73 One Last Time
72 Peruvian Skies
71 Forsaken
70 Lost Not Forgotten
69 Moment of Betrayal
68 Far From Heaven
67 S2N
66 Fall Into the Light
65 A Rite of Passage
64 The Looking Glass
63 Panic Attack
62 Surrounded
61 On the Backs of Angels
60 Beyond This Life
59 Trial of Tears
58 Afterlife
57 Caught In A Web
56 Breaking All Illusions
55 Visions
54 The Great Debate
53 A Nightmare to Remember
52 Erotomania
51 Answering the Call
50 The Spirit Carries On
49 Space-Dye Vest
48 The Shattered Fortress
47 Finally Free
46 As I Am
45 Bridges in the Sky
44 The Dark Eternal Night
43 Out of Reach
42 Never Enough
41 Wait For Sleep
40 6:00
39 Strange Deja Vu
38 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulance
37 The Bigger Picture
36 Outcry
35 Take the Time
34 Lie
33 The Root of All Evil
32 I Walk Beside You
31 Overture 1928
30 A View From the Top of the World
29 Surrender to Reason
28 Barstool Warrior
27 Another Day
26 Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
25 Endless Sacrifice
24 Innocence Faded
23 Misunderstood
22 Under A Glass Moon
21 In the Presence of Enemies
20 Behind the Veil
19 Honor Thy Father
18 Pull Me Under
17 The Dance of Eternity
16 In the Name of God
15 Fatal Tragedy
14 The Count of Tuscany
13 These Walls
12 At Wit's End
11 The Mirror
10 Scarred
9 Home
8 The Glass Prison
7 Metropolis
6 Blind Faith
5 Illumination Theory
4 Learning to Live
3 A Change of Seasons
2 This Dying Soul.
1 Octavarium

[The Realm]

Metropolis - my number 4.

Learning to Live - my number 1.

Finished at 90/10.

Highest ranking song that didn't make it was Through My Words at 43 and then Untethered Angel at 55 (still very surprised that song didn't sneak in).

Great countdown. Thanks for running it Reaper and thanks to Kev for organising.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Here's my full list.

171   The Hovering Sojourn
170   Power Down
169   Digital Discord
168   Machine Chatter
167   Descent of the NOMACS
166   Hymn of A Thousand Voices
165   Another Hand
164   Just Let Me Breathe
163   Your Majesty
162   Prophets of War
161   Moon Bubbles
160   Bombay Vindaloo
159   Viper King
158   Room 137
157   Whispers On The Wind
156   2285 Entr'acte
155   Cry for Freedom
154   Chosen
153   A Rite of Passage
152   Through My Words
151   Lord Nafaryus
150   Ravenskill
149   Begin Again
148   False Awakening Suite
147   Beneath the Surface
146   Losing Faythe
145   Far From Heaven
144   The Great Debate
143   Vacant
142   The Walking Shadow
141   A Tempting Offer
140   Act of Faythe
139   Build Me Up, Break Me Down
138   The Answer
137   Enigma Machine
136   Ytse Jam
135   Astonishing
134   A Life Left Behind
133   The Path That Divides
132   My Last Farewell
131   Where Are You Now
130   Vital Star
129   Two Far
128   A Vision
127   The Road To Revolution
126   A Better Life
125   Out Of Reach
124   Burning My Soul
123   Dystopian Overture
122   You Not Me
121   Eve
120   Raw Dog
119   A Savior In The Square
118   Paralyzed
117   Untethered Angel
116   The Dark Eternal Night
115   The X Aspect
114   The Enemy Inside
113   Repentance
112   Speak To Me
111   This is the Life
110   Heaven's Cove
109   Brother, Can You Hear Me?
108   Wither
107   Never Enough
106   Constant Motion
105   The Bigger Picture
104   Along For the Ride
103   Fall Into The Light
102   Three Days
101   The Answer Lies Within
100   A New Beginning
99   Cover My Eyes
98   Barstool Warrior
97   The Way It Used to Be
96   Moment of Betrayal
95   Invisible Monster
94   When Your Time Has Come
93   Lost Not Forgotten
92   Sacrificed Sons
91   Forsaken
90   Pale Blue Dot
89   Overture 1928
88   Behind the Veil
87   Don't Look Past Me
86   Wait For Sleep
85   The Silent Man
84   I Walk Beside You
83   Only a Matter of Time
82   Take Away My Pain
81   New Millennium
80   The Alien
79   As I Am
78   Outcry
77   Light Fuse and Get Away
76   Our New World
75   Sleeping Giant
74   The Root of All Evil
73   Transcending Time
72   On the Backs of Angels
71   Anna Lee
70   Peruvian Skies
69   Status Seeker
68   S2N
67   Through Her Eyes
66   The One Who Helps to Set the Sun
65   Raise The Knife
64   Stream of Consciousness
63   The Shattered Fortress
62   A Fortune in Lies
61   Hollow Years
60   Surrender To Reason
59   Answering the Call
58   The Gift of Music
57   Bridges In the Sky
56   These Walls
55   One Last Time
54   A Nightmare To Remember
53   Erotomania
52   Honor Thy Father
51   Illumination Theory
50   The Looking Glass
49   At Wit's End
48   Awaken the Master
47   The Ministry of Lost Souls
46   In the Name of God
45   Caught In a Web
44   Hell's Kitchen
43   Breaking All Illusions
42   A View from the Top of the World
41   Space-Dye Vest
40   Lines In the Sand
39   To Live Forever
38   The Best of Times
37   This Dying Soul
36   Blind Faith
35   Strange Deja Vu
34   Endless Sacrifice
33   6:00
32   Another Day
31   The Dance of Eternity
30   Afterlife
29   The Killing Hand
28   The Glass Prison
27   Fatal Tragedy
26   Disappear
25   Panic Attack
24   The Mirror
23   Under a Glass Moon
22   Finally Free
21   Surrounded
20   Scarred
19   Home
18   The Count of Tuscany
17   Pull Me Under
16   Another Won
15   Innocence Faded
14   Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
13   Take the Time
12   Lie
11   Misunderstood
10   Beyond This Life
9   The Spirit Carries On
8   Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
7   Voices
6   Learning To Live
5   Trial of Tears
4   In the Presence of Enemies
3   Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2   A Change of Seasons
1   Octavarium

[WardySI]

Got a little waylaid this past week and need get and reread some of the relative ranking comments, but a few notable mentions of my own that I did notice...

Under A Glass Moon #16
Lost Not Forgotten #14
Take The Time #11
Surrounded #12
A Change Of Seasons #17
Metropolis Pt.1 #2 (nailed it)
Learning To Live #10

Loved this countdown thanks Reaper and Kev!
One thing I will be doing fer sure is grabbing the Falling Into Infinity Demos set asap.

And my sympathies to you geeeemo  :'(

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Lock the thread now!

#forgotthebouncinglockemotecode

[Mladen]

My top ten unranked songs:

1.    Cover My Eyes

This is what I was waiting for. Now you can lock the thread. 

It's a fantastic song, by the way, one of the best tracks from the entire FII sessions, even including the songs that did end up on the record. They had a four minute hit and decided not to put it on the album. To this day, that's beyond me.

[MustActFastToCoverUp]

06.   Trial Of Tears my #4
I thought it might be an outsider pick ranking it that high, but apparently not. It took L@B for me to appreciate this song, before that it was just the odd long song at the end of an album I rarely listen to. But once it clicked, it grew and grew.
05.   Home my #19
04.   Octavarium my #3
03.   A Change Of Seasons my #2
02.   Metropolis Pt. 1 my #1
01.   Learning To Live my #13
For some reason LTL never was as special to me as it is to most (I rated UAGM higher, at 11). I can't really say why.

My highest ranked song not making the list is, of all things, Burning My Soul at my 58. I always kind of liked the pairing of BMS and JLMB and I stand by it. But seeing it higher in my list than, for example, SOC or Surrounded, there definitely must have been a glitch in the matrix.

[MustActFastToCoverUp]

[...] I absolutely hate separating it from Wait for Sleep.[...]

Oh, and this.
Counting the two as a unit surely would have pushed it up a few spots on my list. (I know, I know, we don't do that ).

[MirrorMask]

Here is my final list. I probably overranked some songs but hey, the system got my top three right and I trusted it. In the end, I checked the list from 101 onwards and wondered if I missed any of those songs being in the top 100, the answer was no, so I went for it.

I even ran the list thrice, obtaining some different results save for the top 4, and I kept the third attempt. First, I ranked everything; then I did it a second time without "the fat" (Nomacs, live jams, Majesty demos....) and then I did a third and decisive ranking leaving out songs that in both previous occasions failed to go past 120 - what's the point of trying again to rank songs I already know won't make it? I figured that with less choices, my preferences would have been more focused.

Anyway, here we go, between parenthesis DTF's position and then the difference:


1 Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper (2) +1
2 A Change of Seasons (3) +1
3 Voices (7) +4
4 The Mirror (27) +23
5 Octavarium (4) -1
6 Take the Time (17) +11
7 Home (5) -2
8 Scarred (12) +4
9 Finally Free (19) +10
10 Learning To Live (1) -9
11 Strange Deja Vu (18) +7
12 Fatal Tragedy (13) +1
13 The Spirit Carries On (26) +13
14 Pull Me Under (14) 0                            only song I ranked exactly as DTF
15 Trial of Tears (6) -9
16 Beyond This Life (24) +8
17 The Silent Man (66) +49
18 Space-Dye Vest (30) +12
19 The Glass Prison (15) -4
20 Lie (47) +27
21 Peruvian Skies (44) +23
22 The Root of All Evil (36) +14
23 Through Her Eyes (73) +50
24 Innocence Faded (42) +18
25 Endless Sacrifice (29) +4
26 The Count of Tuscany (10) - 16
27 Bridges In the Sky (23) -4
28 Wither (99) +71                                     song with the biggest positive delta
29 Forsaken (95) +66
30 These Walls (54) +24
31 Under a Glass Moon (16) -15
32 As I Am (43) +11
33 Surrounded (20) -13
34 Wait For Sleep (44) + 10
35 Disappear (41) +6
36 A Better Life                                          top ranking song that didn't make DTF's list
37 Breaking All Illusions (8) -29
38 Beneath the Surface (64) +26
39 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (9) -30
40 Ravenskill
41 When Your Time Has Come
42 The Bigger Picture (60) +18
43 In the Presence of Enemies (22) -21
44 In the Name of God (11) +33
45 Hollow Years (59) +14
46 Caught In a Web (51) +5
47 Another Day (38) -9
48 I Walk Beside You (80) +32
49 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream (35) -14
50 Outcry (58) +8
51 6:00 (34) -17
52 Speak To Me
53 Only a Matter of Time (82) +29
54 Misunderstood (31) -23
55 One Last Time (46) -9
56 The Ministry of Lost Souls (61) +5
57 At Wit's End (37) -20
58 Behind the Veil (89) +31
59 Astonishing
60 Blind Faith (21) -39
61 Far From Heaven
62 The Killing Hand (68) +6
63 On the Backs of Angels (56) -7
64 Three Days
65 A Nightmare To Remember (50) -15
66 Barstool Warrior (52) -14
67 Don't Look Past Me
68 A Fortune in Lies (78) +10
69 Chosen
70 The Gift of Music (98) +28
71 Erotomania (40) -31
72 Raise The Knife (65) -7
73 Panic Attack (55) -18
74 A Savior In The Square
75 Overture 1928 (32) -43
76 The Dance of Eternity (33) -43
77 Cover My Eyes
78 The Best of Times (77) -1
79 Burning My Soul
80 The Answer Lies Within
81 Lines In the Sand (28) - 53
82 Lord Nafaryus
83 Transcending Time (90) +7
84 Illumination Theory (25) -59                     song with the biggest negative delta
85 The Path That Divides
86 Vacant (97) +11
87 The Shattered Fortress (79) -8
88 The Answer
89 Fall Into The Light (72) -17
90 You Not Me
91 Paralyzed
92 A View from the Top of the World (49) -43
93 Build Me Up, Break Me Down
94 A Rite of Passage
95 Along For the Ride
96 Never Enough (100) +4
97 Answering the Call (76) -21
98 Anna Lee
99 The Enemy Inside (83) -16
100 S2N (94) -6


=====================


101 Act of Faythe
102 New Millennium (87) -15
103 Moment of Betrayal
104 This Dying Soul (47) -57
105 Prophets of War
106 Sacrificed Sons (63) -43
107 The Alien (69) -38
108 Brother, Can You Hear Me?
109 Repentance
110 This is the Life (88) -22
111 Room 137
112 Through My Words
113 Regression
114 The Road To Revolution
115 Surrender To Reason (84) -31
116 Untethered Angel
117 Ytse Jam (67) -50
118 The Walking Shadow
119 Stream of Consciousness (39) -80           song with the biggest negative delta in general
120 Take Away My Pain
121 Heaven's Cove
122 Out Of Reach
123 Our New World (93) -30
124 Pale Blue Dot (62) -62
125 My Last Farewell
126 Hymn of A Thousand Voices
127 Just Let Me Breathe
128 Hell's Kitchen (57) -71
129 The Great Debate (53) -76

These songs I didn't even include in the final ranking, but made DTF's top 100:

NR The Dark Eternal Night (70)
NR Honor Thy Father (71)
NR Lost not Forgotten (73)
NR To Live Forever (76)
NR Awaken the Master (81)
NR Sleeping Giant (85)
NR Constant Motion (86)
NR A New Beginning (91)
NR The Looking Glass (92)
NR Afterlife (96)

[axeman90210]

Thanks to Kev and then Reaper for running this, and everyone who participated both with your lists and your activity in this thread. For me, my top three songs to not make the master list were the below. I thought Eve would've snuck in somewhere in the countdown.

40   Eve
57   Moment of Betrayal
66   Speak To Me