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

[Evermind]

Full list:

1   In the Presence of Enemies
2   Breaking All Illusions
3   Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
4   This is the Life
5   Beneath the Surface
6   Space-Dye Vest
7   Learning To Live
8   Octavarium
9   Endless Sacrifice
10   Finally Free
11   The Spirit Carries On
12   The Silent Man
13   In the Name of God
14   The Count of Tuscany
15   Vacant
16   Stream of Consciousness
17   Wait For Sleep
18   Sacrificed Sons
19   Hollow Years
20   Home
21   The Ministry of Lost Souls
22   Another Day
23   Pull Me Under
24   These Walls
25   Panic Attack
26   Moment of Betrayal
27   On the Backs of Angels
28   Voices
29   The Bigger Picture
30   One Last Time
31   Scarred
32   Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
33   At Wit's End
34   Forsaken
35   Beyond This Life
36   The Mirror
37   Fatal Tragedy
38   Blind Faith
39   Strange Deja Vu
40   Wither
41   Barstool Warrior
42   Out Of Reach
43   Overture 1928
44   The Root of All Evil
45   Three Days
46   Trial of Tears
47   A Rite of Passage
48   When Your Time Has Come
49   Repentance
50   Ravenskill
51   Outcry
52   The Answer Lies Within
53   Take the Time
54   A Nightmare To Remember
55   Bridges In the Sky
56   Peruvian Skies
57   Paralyzed
58   Surrounded
59   Never Enough
60   A Better Life
61   As I Am
62   Chosen
63   Surrender To Reason
64   A Savior In The Square
65   Far From Heaven
66   The Enemy Inside
67   Lord Nafaryus
68   Behind the Veil
69   Disappear
70   Fall Into The Light
71   The X Aspect
72   Through Her Eyes
73   I Walk Beside You
74   The Dance of Eternity
75   Prophets of War
76   The Best of Times
77   Along For the Ride
78   A New Beginning
79   Answering the Call
80   Burning My Soul
81   Under a Glass Moon
82   Lie
83   Untethered Angel
84   The Looking Glass
85   The Killing Hand
86   The Glass Prison
87   The Shattered Fortress
88   Build Me Up, Break Me Down
89   Illumination Theory
90   Innocence Faded
91   Caught In a Web
92   Afterlife
93   Misunderstood
94   This Dying Soul
95   A Life Left Behind
96   Honor Thy Father
97   The Dark Eternal Night
98   Constant Motion
99   6:00
100   A Tempting Offer

Apparently I do like The Astonishing more than the usual DTF poster.

[jingle.boy]

Songs that made the list which I did not rank:
95 - Forsaken
99 - Wither
97 - Vacant
91 - A New Beginning
90 - Transcending Time
85 - Sleeping Giant
83 - The Enemy Inside
81 - Awaken the Master
75 - Answering the Call
73 - Lost Not Forgotten
70 - The Dark Eternal Night
69 - The Alien
56 - On the Backs of Angels
49 - A View from the Top of the World

The songs that I *did* rate that did not make the DTF Top 100:
100 - Take Away My Pain
97 - Moment of Betrayal  , iknowrite?
96 - The One Who Helps to Set the Sun
95 - Prophets of War
94 - Along For the Ride
89 - The Answer Lies Within
86 - Far From Heaven
82 - Light Fuse and Get Away
76 - The Way It Used to Be
73 - Just Let Me Breathe
53 - Don't Look Past Me
51 - Room 137
48 - Speak To Me
20 - Another Won

Biggest differences that I outranked DTF:
A Fortune In Lies - 63 (78-15)
The Killing Hand - 52 (68-16)
YtseJam - 49 (67-18)
Never Enough - 48 (100-52)
I Walk Beside You - 48 (80-32)

Biggest differences that DTF outranked me:
Illumination Theory - 65 (90-25)
Beyond This Life - 63 (87-24)
The Count of Tuscany - 54 (64-10)
Misunderstood - 52 (83-31)
Disappear - 50 (91-41)

[ReaperKK]

[...] 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 ).

I can see the arguments for keeping/separating songs like ITPOE or Six Degrees but I've never considered Wait For Sleep and Learning To Live as a singular piece. Did DT ever say they could be considered one?

[MirrorMask]

I agree with you, it's not Through My Words / Fatal Tragedy here, I consider Wait for Sleep a full, legitimate song, and the reprise of its melody into Learning to Live, beside the obvious back to back placement on the album and therefore the often used tactic of playing them in sequence live, is not enough for me to consider them as a single unit.

[MustActFastToCoverUp]

I agree with you, it's not Through My Words / Fatal Tragedy here, I consider Wait for Sleep a full, legitimate song, and the reprise of its melody into Learning to Live, beside the obvious back to back placement on the album and therefore the often used tactic of playing them in sequence live, is not enough for me to consider them as a single unit.

No, definitely not, and I really didn't want to bring THAT discussion up again. But to me – totally subjective – songs like WTFWFS/LTL, HK/LITS, Vacant/SoC, FFH/BAI are strongly tied in my listening experience.
Edit:

[hefdaddy42]

[...] 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 ).

I can see the arguments for keeping/separating songs like ITPOE or Six Degrees but I've never considered Wait For Sleep and Learning To Live as a singular piece. Did DT ever say they could be considered one?

No.

[Jamesman42]

[...] 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 ).

I can see the arguments for keeping/separating songs like ITPOE or Six Degrees but I've never considered Wait For Sleep and Learning To Live as a singular piece. Did DT ever say they could be considered one?

No.

 

[Jamesman42]

Here is my full list. Reaper, you are the MAN. 

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

[Ben_Jamin]

Here is my full list.


1. Scarred
2. At Wit’s End
3. Voices
4. Learning to Live
5. Chosen
6. Finally Free
7. Surrounded
8. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
9. Stream of Consciousness
10. The Bigger Picture
11. Answering The Call
12. Blind Faith
13. Awaken The Master
14. Home
15. These Walls
16. Trial of Tears
17. Octavarium
18. Along For The Ride
19. In The Presence of Enemies
20. Misunderstood
21. Losing Faythe
22. Erotomania
23. Disappear
24. Barstool Warrior
25. Act of Faythe
26. Breaking All Illusions
27. The Count of Tuscany
28. Lifting Shadows off A Dream
29. A Change of Seasons
30. Lines In The Sand
31. The Glass Prison
32. Road To Revolution
33. The Great Debate
34. Through Her Eyes
35. The Shattered Fortress
36. Don’t Look Past Me
37. Begin Again
38. Speak To Me
39. Space Dye-Vest
40. Outcry
41. Endless Sacrifice
42. Only A Matter of Time
43. The Root of All Evil
44. The X Aspect
45. The Ministry of Lost Souls
46. A Nightmare to Remember
47. Bridges In The Sky
48. Fall Into The Light
49. This Is The Life
50. The Best of Times
51. A Better Life
52. Beneath The Surface
53. Strange Deja-Vu
54. The Gift of Music
55. Where Are You Now?
56. When Your Time Has Come
57. Take Away MY Pain (Demo)
58. Metropolis Pt.1
59. In The Name of God
60. Another Won
61. The Path That Divides
62. The Mirror
63. Raise The Knife (Score)
64. I Walk Beside You
65. Prophets of War
66. Light Fuse and Get Away
67. Behind The Veil
68. Three Days
69. Fatal Tragedy
70. A Tempting Offer
71. On The Backs of Angels
72. Moment of Betrayal
73. S2N
74. Surrender to Reason
75. Hell’s Kitchen
76. To Live Forever
77. Another Day
78. One Last Time
79. The Spirit Carries On
80. Eve
81. Panic Attack
82. Wait For Sleep
83. The Ones Who Helped To Set The Sun
84. A Life Left Behind
85. Innocence Faded
86. Ravenskill
87. Illumination Theory
88. Ytsejam
89. A Fortune In Lies
90. Caught In A Web
91. Afterlife
92. The Walking Shadow
93. Pale Blue Dot
94. The Silent Man
95. Hymn of A Thousand Voices
96. Whispers On The Wind
97. A New Beginning
98. Sacrificed Sons
99. Honor Thy Father
100. Status Seeker

[DragonAttack]

#3.  A Change Of Seasons (#72)  mad props and such, but it’s like ‘Close To The Edge’….I don’t listen to long songs that often

#2.  Metropolis (#15)  can't add much to past, present, and future comments (other than we also got a great concept album out of it as well )

#1.  Learning To Live (#16) ditto (other than the concept album part )

I’ll end up 75/100 with four oversights. 

[Wim Kruithof]

ReaperKK I would suggest you open the curtain and announce Anna Lee was the forums #101.

[ReaperKK]

ReaperKK I would suggest you open the curtain and announce Anna Lee was the forums #101.

It's more like #115

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

The songs that I *did* rate that did not make the DTF Top 100:
20 - Another Won

Yeah, what happened here DTF? I had this at 16. Great song made even better by the Score version.

[wolfking]

I for one am quite enraged that after all my Astonishing critiquing and bashing, I throw it a bone and put A Moment of Betrayal on my list, at number 69 of all numbers and the fucker couldn't even come to the party!! 

[jingle.boy]

I for one am quite enraged that after all my Astonishing critiquing and bashing, I throw it a bone and put A Moment of Betrayal on my list, at number 69 of all numbers and the fucker couldn't even come to the party!! 

Yeah.... and all the talking up you did of it made me slide it in just under the cut as well.

[wolfking]

I for one am quite enraged that after all my Astonishing critiquing and bashing, I throw it a bone and put A Moment of Betrayal on my list, at number 69 of all numbers and the fucker couldn't even come to the party!! 

Yeah.... and all the talking up you did of it made me slide it in just under the cut as well.

We must now somehow hate the album even more.  It's the only right thing to do.

[Stadler]

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 to 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

You only had THREE songs that didn't make the list? That's amazing!!! (In a good way.)

[Wim Kruithof]

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 to 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

You only had THREE songs that didn't make the list? That's amazing!!! (In a good way.)

I think he meant to say 'top 3', instead of just 3.

[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 to 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

You only had THREE songs that didn't make the list? That's amazing!!! (In a good way.)

I think he meant to say 'top 3', instead of just 3.

Correct, missed a letter when typing that up, those are just my top 3 of 17 total songs that I ranked but didn't make the list.

[Stadler]

157. The Dark Eternal Night
155. Hell's Kitchen
154. S2N
150. The Killing Hand
146. Disappear
145. Vacant
143. Honor Thy Father
142. Ytsejam
139. Panic Attack
138. Wither
135. Only A Matter Of Time
132. Barstool Warrior
127. Lines In The Sand
125. Stream Of Consciousness
124. Through Her Eyes
123. Never Enough
122. The Alien
121. Afterlife
120. A Fortune In Lies
118. In The Presence Of Enemies
117. Breaking All Illusions
109. Outcry
105. Sleeping Giant
104. Surrender To Reason
103. A Change Of Seasons
----
100.Scarred
99.  Begin Again Unranked
98.  Another Day
97.  Awaken The Master
96.  Behind The Veil
95.  The Great Debate
94.  Moment Of Betrayal Unranked
93.  When Your Time Has Come Unranked
92.  The X Aspect Unranked
91.  The Glass Prison
90.  On The Backs Of Angels
89.  Eve Unranked
88.  Anna Lee Unranked
87.  Finally Free
86.  Don't Look Past Me Unranked
85.  Constant Motion
84.  Beneath The Surface
83.  At Wit's End
82.  Peruvian Skies
81.  Space Dye Vest
80.  The Enemy Inside
79.  The Count Of Tuscany
78.  Hollow Years
77.  Fatal Tragedy
76.  The Shattered Fortress
75.  The Holiday Spirit Carries On Unranked
74.  Out Of Reach Unranked
73.  Lie
72.  Where Are You Now Unranked
71.  Repentance Unranked
70.  Whispers On The Wind Unranked
69.  The Mirror
68.  A Nightmare To Remember
67.  The Silent Man
66.  The Root Of All Evil
65.  The Spirit Carries On
64.  Paralyzed Unranked
63.  Heaven's Cove Unranked
62.  As I Am
61.  These Walls
60.  Hymn Of A Thousand Voices Unranked
59.  The Gift of Music
58.  Illumination Theory
57.  The Bigger Picture
56.  One Last Time
55.  Pale Blue Dot
54.  Answering The Call
53.  Trial Of Tears
52.  Lost Not Forgotten
51.  Fall Into The Light
50.  False Awakening Suite Unranked
49.  Speak To Me Unranked
48.  Endless Sacrifice
47.  Status Seeker Unranked
46.  A New Beginning
45.  A Life Left Behind Unranked
44.  Forsaken
43.  A View From The Top Of The World
42.  A Rite Of Passage Unranked
41.  The Looking Glass
40.  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
39.  The Answer Lies Within Unranked
38.  The Dance Of Eternity
37.  Beyond This Life
36.  New Millenium
35.  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
34.  Wait For Sleep
33.  Transcending Time
32.  Blind Faith
31.  The Best Of Times
30.  Erotomania
29.  Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
28.  Our New World
27.  In The Name Of God
26.  Bridges In The Sky
25.  Raise The Knife
24.  6:00
23.  I Walk Beside You
22.  Take Away My Pain Unranked
21.  Sacrificed Sons
20.  Take The Time
19.  Caught In A Web
18.  The Way It Used To Be Unranked
17.  Learning To Live Lock to make the list
16.  Octavarium
15.  Under A Glass Moon
14.  To Live Forever
13.  Home
12.  Along For The Ride Unranked
11.  Surrounded
10.  Metropolis, Pt. 1 Lock to make the list
9.    Innocence Faded
8.    Pull Me Under
7.    This Dying Soul
6.    Misunderstood
5.    This Is The Life
4.    Overture 1928
3.    Strange Deja Vu
2.    Voices
1.    Cover My Eyes Unranked


A LITTLE surprised that Learning To Live was number one; not because it's not a great song - it is - but because it's not always talked about as one of those "iconic" songs, like ACOS, or Metropolis.   It's certainly worthy, though.  Wonderful song.  Love the ending of that; it's some of my favorite of JP's playing.

[Mladen]

Dang, I already miss checking out this thread every afternoon.

[MirrorMask]

Dang, I already miss checking out this thread every afternoon.

Yeah, DT better giving us updates from the studio regularly 'cause our main source of daily fun is now gone.

[Zydar]

Dang, I already miss checking out this thread every afternoon.

Yeah, DT better giving us updates from the studio regularly 'cause our main source of daily fun is now gone.

Maybe time to start another countdown?

[pg1067]

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)

Not surprised with how this ended. Learning To Live is a fantastic song, with fantastic lyrics from JM. I don't listen to this song as much as I used to, largely due to how my tastes have changed but it always puts a smile on my face when I hear it.

What's there to say about LTL that hasn't already been said.  Just a fantastic song and a worthy repeat winner



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



Thanks for all the hard work on this, Reaper!!!

[porcacultor]

Boy, last update! This was a fantastic ride, really grateful for ReaperKK for organizing this for us!

I had Learning to Live at #16. It's so funny, I didn't rank Wait for Sleep, but the reprise of that theme in the track is a good part of what makes it so high in my own list. Go figure! There's little for me to say that hasn't been said about such a killer track.

Here's my own odd little list, since it's kosher to post!

1    Caught In a Web
2    6:00
3    Blind Faith
4    Metropolis, Pt. 1: the Miracle and the Sleeper
5    Space-Dye Vest
6    Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
7    These Walls
8    Ytse Jam
9    In the Name of God
10    Take Away My Pain
11    The Glass Prison
12    Hell's Kitchen
13    Pull Me Under
14    Erotomania
15    Hollow Years
16    Learning To Live
17    Status Seeker
18    The Great Debate
19    Never Enough
20    Lines In the Sand
21    Misunderstood
22    Fatal Tragedy
23    The Dark Eternal Night
24    Just Let Me Breathe
25    I Walk Beside You
26    New Millennium
27    Burning My Soul
28    Honor Thy Father
29    Strange Deja Vu
30    S2N
31    Innocence Faded
32    Beyond This Life
33    Octavarium
34    Disappear
35    One Last Time
36    Enigma Machine
37    Under a Glass Moon
38    A Change of Seasons
39    Take the Time
40    Overture 1928
41    Stream of Consciousness
42    Surrender To Reason
43    To Live Forever
44    Trial of Tears
45    Along For the Ride
46    As I Am
47    The Killing Hand
48    The Root of All Evil
49    The Looking Glass
50    Constant Motion
51    Home
52    You Not Me
53    The Dance of Eternity
54    Endless Sacrifice
55    Another Day
56    The Spirit Carries On
57    Three Days
58    This Dying Soul
59    Our New World
60    Only a Matter of Time
61    The Bigger Picture
62    The Walking Shadow
63    The X Aspect
64    Bridges In the Sky
65    The Count of Tuscany
66    The Answer Lies Within
67    A Fortune in Lies
68    The Mirror
69    Voices
70    Beneath the Surface
71    Repentance
72    In the Presence of Enemies
73    Illumination Theory
74    Raise The Knife
75    Sacrificed Sons
76    Surrounded
77    Behind the Veil
78    Scarred
79    Panic Attack
80    On the Backs of Angels
81    Breaking All Illusions
82    The Gift of Music
83    Prophets of War
84    Lie
85    Peruvian Skies
86    Moment of Betrayal
87    Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
88    Transcending Time
89    Viper King
90    Out Of Reach
91    Room 137
92    Lost Not Forgotten
93    A New Beginning
94    The Shattered Fortress
95    The Ministry of Lost Souls
96    Afterlife
97    False Awakening Suite
98    A Nightmare To Remember
99    A View from the Top of the World
100    Through Her Eyes

18 unranked songs. If I had done this list after a recent re-listen of The Astonishing there would have definitely been more tracks that made the cut (especially Ravenskill, A Tempting Offer and The Path That Divides), but I'm fine with that. I'll bet I ranked Take Away My Pain, Burning My Soul, Just Let Me Breathe and Status Seeker the highest 

The only albums that appear in their entirety in my list are SDOIT, Octavarium and Systematic Chaos, which definitely tracks (although the highest highs in the list are definitely Awake-heavy). Falling into Infinity would've made it in full (surprising for an album with so many tracks, comparatively), but sadly Anna Lee didn't make it for me.

My biggest surprises were Along for the Ride and Enigma Machine not ranking.

What a cool way to get reacquainted with a band's output.

[pg1067]

THE FINAL SCORE

1T. Awake (11 songs, 720 points):  The Silent Man (66), Caught in a Web (51), Lie (47T), Innocence Faded (42), Erotomania (40), Lifting Shadows off a Dream (35), 6:00 (34), Space-Dye Vest (30), The Mirror (27), Scarred (12), Voices (7)

1T. Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (10 songs, 720 points):  Through Her Eyes (74), One Last Time (46), The Spirit Carries On (26), Beyond This Life (24), Finally Free (19), Strange Deja Vu (18), Fatal Tragedy (13)

3. Images and Words (8 songs, 656 points):  Wait for Sleep (44), Another Day (38), Surrounded (20), Take the Time (17), Under a Glass Moon (16), Pull Me Under (14), Metropolis (2), Learning to Live (1)

4. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (6 songs, 436 points):  The Great Debate (53), Disappear (41), Misunderstood (31), Blind Faith (21), The Glass Prison (15), Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (9)

5. Train of Thought (7 songs, 370 points):  Vacant (97), Honor Thy Father (71), This Dying Soul (47T), As I Am (43), Stream of Consciousness (39), Endless Sacrifice (29), In the Name of God (11)

6. A Dramatic Turn of Events (7 songs, 337 points):  This Is the Life (88), Lost Not Forgotten (73), Beneath the Surface (64), Outcry (58), On the Backs of Angels (56), Bridges in the Sky (23), Breaking All Illusions (8)

7. Falling into Infinity (6 songs, 325 points):  New Millennium (87), Hollow Years (59), Hell’s Kitchen (57), Peruvian Skies (44T), Lines in the Sand 28, Trial of Tears (6)

8. Octavarium (7 songs, 315 points):  Never Enough (100), I Walk Beside You (80), Sacrificed Sons (63), Panic Attack (55), These Walls (54), The Root of All Evil (36), Octavarium (4)

9. Black Clouds & Silver Linings (5 songs, 190 points):  Wither (99), The Shattered Fortress (79), The Best of Times (77), A Nightmare to Remember (50), The Count of Tuscany (10)

10. Distance over Time (5 songs, 188 points):  S2N (94), Fall into the Light (72), Pale Blue Dot (62), Barstool Warrior (52), At Wit’s End (37)

11. Dream Theater (6 songs, 174 points):  The Looking Glass (92), Behind the Veil (89), The Enemy Inside (83T), Surrender to Reason (83T), The Bigger Picture (60), Illumination Theory (25)

12. Systematic Chaos (5 songs, 171 points):  Forsaken (95), Constant Motion (86), The Dark Eternal Night (70), The Ministry of Lost Souls (61), In the Presence of Enemies (22)

13. Other (3 songs, 159 points):  To Live Forever (76), Raise the Knife (65), A Change of Seasons (3)

14. A View from the Top of the World (6 songs, 157 points):  Transcending Time (90), Sleeping Giant (85), Awaken the Master (81), Answering the Call (75), The Alien (69), A View from the Top of the World (49)

15. When Dream and Day Unite (5 songs, 114 points):  Afterlife (96), Only a Matter of Time (82), A Fortune in Lies (78), The Killing Hand (68), Ytse Jam (67)

16. The Astonishing (3 songs, 21 points):  The Gift of Music (98), Our New World (93), A New Beginning (91)


Notables:

- The top four albums are unchanged from the prior countdown (the only change is that Awake and SFAM tied, whereas Awake won the last one outright).

- No surprise that Awake and SFAM finished in the top two spots because they have more songs than any album other than the not-as-well-regarded FII.

- In the prior countdown, ADTOE, 8VM, FII and TOT took spots 5-8 (in that order).  TOT fared much better this time.

- As I pointed out previously, TA had a huge fall.  TEN TA songs made the last countdown, with A New Beginning doing best at #68.  Seven of those songs fell completely off the board this time, and none of the three that survived placed in the top 90.

[pg1067]

SONG RANKINGS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR COUNTDOWN:

100. Never Enough – 99 (-1)

99. Wither – NR

98. The Gift of Music – 83 (-15)

97. Vacant – 89 (-8)

96. Afterlife – 96 (+0)

95. Forsaken – 95 (+0)

94. S2N – 70 (-24)

93. Our New World – 97 (+4)

92. The Looking Glass – 92 (+0)

91. A New Beginning – 68 (23)

90. Transcending Time

89. Behind the Veil – 64 (-25)

88. This Is the Life – 74 (-14)

87. New Millennium – 90 (+3)

86. Constant Motion – 82 (-4)

85. Sleeping Giant

83T. The Enemy Inside – 56 (-27)

83T. Surrender to Reason – 58 (-25)

82. Only a Matter of Time – 75 (-7)

81. Awaken the Master

80. I Walk Beside You – 93 (+13)

79. The Shattered Fortress – 62 (-17)

78. A Fortune in Lies – 76 (-2)

77. The Best of Times – 77 (+0)

76. To Live Forever – 91 (+15)

75. Answering the Call

74. Through Her Eyes – 94 (+20)

73. Lost Not Forgotten – 59T (-14)

72. Fall into the Light – 43 (-29)

71. Honor Thy Father – 81 (+10)

70. The Dark Eternal Night – 78 (+8)

69. The Alien

68. The Killing Hand – 48 (-20)

67. Ytse Jam – 79 (+12)

66. The Silent Man – 80 (+14)

65. Raise the Knife – 72 (+7)

64. Beneath the Surface – 67 (+3)

63. Sacrificed Sons – 53 (-10)

62. Pale Blue Dot – 49 (-13)

61. The Ministry of Lost Souls – 66 (+5)

60. The Bigger Picture – 35T (-25)

59. Hollow Years – 69 (+10)

58. Outcry – 37 (-21)

57. Hell’s Kitchen – 42 (-15)

56. On the Backs of Angels – 73 (+17)

55. Panic Attack - 45 (-10)

54. These Walls - 41 (-13)

53. The Great Debate - 46 (-7)

52. Barstool Warrior - 39 (-13)

51. Caught in a Web - 63 (+12)

50. A Nightmare to Remember - 55 (+5)

49. A View from the Top of the World

47T. Lie – 59T (+12)

47T. This Dying Soul - 51 (+4)

46. One Last Time - 65 (+19)

44T. Peruvian Skies - 61 (+17)

44T. Wait for Sleep - 32 (-12)

43. As I Am - 71 (+28)

42. Innocence Faded - 57 (+15)

41. Disappear - 31 (-10)

40. Erotomania - 52 (+12)

39. Stream of Consciousness - 50 (+11)

38. Another Day - 44 (+6)

37. At Wit’s End - 20 (-17)

36. The Root of All Evil - 34 (-2)

35. Lifting Shadows off a Dream – 35T (+0)

34. 6:00 – 54 (+20)

33. The Dance of Eternity – 47 (+14)

32. Overture 1928 – 38 (+6)

31. Misunderstood – 33 (+2)

30. Space-Dye Vest – 21 (+9)

29. Endless Sacrifice – 40 (+11)

28. Lines in the Sand – 17 (+11)

27. The Mirror – 19 (-8)

26. The Spirit Carries On – 28 (+2)

25. Illumination Theory – 23 (-2)

24. Beyond This Life – 30 (+6)

23. Bridges in the Sky – 16 (-7)

22. In the Presence of Enemies – 25 (+3)

21. Blind Faith – 22 (+1)

20. Surrounded – 15 (-5)

19. Finally Free – 10 (-9)

18. Strange Deja Vu – 24 (+6)

17. Take the Time – 26 (+9)

16. Under a Glass Moon – 29 (+13)

15. The Glass Prison – 13 (-2)

14. Pull Me Under – 27 (+13)

13. Fatal Tragedy – 18 (+5)

12. Scarred – 9 (-3)

11. In the Name of God – 11 (+0)

10. The Count of Tuscany – 14 (+4)

9. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence – 12 (+2)

8. Breaking All Illusions – 6 (-2)

7. Voices – 5 (-2)

6. Trial of Tears – 7 (+1)

5. Home – 8 (-3)

4. Octavarium – 3 (-1)

3. A Change of Seasons – 2 (-1)

2. Metropolis – 4 (+2)

1. Learning to Live – 1 (+0)


NOTABLES:

- The biggest jump was As I Am (from 71 to 43).

- The biggest drop was Fall into the Light (43 to 72).

- 3 songs jumped at least 20 places:  Through Her Eyes (from 94 to 74), As I Am (from 71 to 43), and 6:00 (from 54 to 34).

- 8 songs fell at least 20 places:  S2N (from 70 to 94), Behind the Veil (from 64 to 89), The Enemy Inside (from 56 to 83T), Surrender to Reason (from 58 to 83T), Fall into the Light (from 43 to 72), The Killing Hand (from 48 to 68), The Bigger Picture (from 35T to 60), and Outcry (from 37 to 58).

[pg1067]

THE TOP 10 LAST TIME COMPARED TO THIS TIME

Last Time                                                           This Time
1. Learning to Live                                                         1. Learning to Live
2. A Change of Seasons                                                  2. Metropolis Part 1
3. Octavarium                                                                3. A Change of Seasons
4. Metropolis Part 1                                                        4. Octavarium
5. Voices                                                                       5. Home
6. Breaking All Illusions                                                  6. Trial of Tears
7. Trial of Tears                                                              7. Voices
8. Home                                                                        8. Breaking All Illusions
9. Scarred                                                                     9. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
10. Finally Free                                                              10. The Count of Tuscany

[pg1067]

ALBUM RANKINGS ON A POINTS PER SONG BASIS

1. I&W (82.00)
2. SDOIT (72.67)
3. SFAM (72.00)
4. Awake (65.45)
5. FII (54.17)
6. Other (53.00)
7. TOT (52.86)
8. ADTOE (48.14)
9. 8VM (45.00)
10. BC&SL (38.00)
11. DOT (37.60)
12. SC (34.20)
13. DT12 (29.00)
14. View (26.17)
15. WDADU (22.80)
16. TA (7.00)

[Stadler]

Reap, nice job buddy and THANK YOU SO MUCH for running this!

[MirrorMask]

And thanks also to PG for these stats!

[Animal]

A bit late to the Top 2 party. I feel about these two a bit similar Stadler feels about ACOS, but to lesser extent. I still rate both songs very high, they are just not in my DT pantheon.

Metropolis - 40  It's a DT signature song for a reason and I understand why people get blown away by it. I just don't much care for Moore's key sounds in many parts of IaW. And Metropolis is a song that suffers the most, to my ears. A bit like, say, Bach's Chaconne played on 70 bucks violin, the composition is genius, but I can't fully enjoy it as I do not like the sonics. I used to dislike the vocal melody but I have come around on it. It's great, even without a chorus. Kudos to Charlie for writing that.

Learning to Live - 26 I made a point of listening to this song more to see why it was a clear winner in the first countdown - and I fully expected it to win again. I hear it, the way this songs flows is somehow perfect,  almost magical. But there is this part between appx. 0:52 - 1:10, which always reminds me of some old PC game music played on bad Sound Blaster card (I wonder if it's just me). I know, it's stupid to let such a short part spoil your song experience, but it does – a little. After that part is over, I always need to make a conscious effort to get back into the song. And I usually do. The rest of the song is glorious.

[Mladen]

Dang, I already miss checking out this thread every afternoon.

Yeah, DT better giving us updates from the studio regularly 'cause our main source of daily fun is now gone.

Maybe time to start another countdown?

Sure. How about bottom 25 Dream Theater songs? What's more fun than that? 

[Cool Chris]

My point totals. Looks about right. "Non-album" really needs to broken in to 2 categories: a) A Change of Seasons and b) Everything else.

Awake 771
A Dramatic Turn of Events 588
Images and Words 548
Scenes From a Memory 474
Octavarium 348
Train of Thought 347
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence 331
A View From the Top of the World 305
The Astonishing 287
Distance Over Time 265
Systematic Chaos 230
Dream Theater 177
Falling Into Infinity 133
Non-Album 118
Black Clouds and Silver Linings 77
When Dream and Day Unite 51

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Dang, I already miss checking out this thread every afternoon.

Yeah, DT better giving us updates from the studio regularly 'cause our main source of daily fun is now gone.

Maybe time to start another countdown?

Sure. How about bottom 25 Dream Theater songs? What's more fun than that? 

We're always looking for fresh blood in the roulettes over on the General Music side of the forum.