Surrounded...

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

I just listen again, this time carefully, to the probably the most under-rated song in I&W.
It's just WOW. As in, it's probably one of the most prog song from DT. Gotta love the lyrics, though I don't really get it. XD

[BlobVanDam]

Definitely a good song, although the reason it seems underrated is because the rest of the album is even more incredible, rather than Surrounded not being liked

Also, I'm interested in hearing why you think it's one of their most prog songs.

[AcidLameLTE]

Definitely a good song, although the reason it seems underrated is because the rest of the album is even more incredible, rather than Surrounded not being liked

You could almost say that it's SURROUNDED by much better songs, right?

Also, I prefer the piano intro on Live at the Marquee.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

This is my second favorite song from I&W. I love it

[BlobVanDam]

Definitely a good song, although the reason it seems underrated is because the rest of the album is even more incredible, rather than Surrounded not being liked

You could almost say that it's SURROUNDED by much better songs, right?

Also, I prefer the piano intro on Live at the Marquee.

Terrible.
Personally I prefer the studio version intro to the piano one. I like 80s sounding synths

[Zydar]

Easily in my Top 3 DT songs, along with Learning To Live and Another Day (yes I'm an I&W fanboy).

[TheVoxyn]

One of my favorite DT songs.

[LTE]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

[BlobVanDam]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

Wither.

[Mebert78]

I also prefer the piano intro on Live in Tokyo, but that's also because it's beautifully setup with the lighting and spotlight on just KM and JLB.  It gives me chills.  But I think the songs really incredible overall.  It has a great build up.  It starts off delicate and beautiful, then has an intense guitar solo and climax, and finishes delicate and beautiful again.  It's a great formula.  The lyrics are really well-done and descriptive too.

[TheVoxyn]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

Wither.

padam-tsj

[xeper]

Damn fine song. Great solo. One of my favorites on I&W.

[Marvellous G]

Probably the catchiest solo Petrucci's ever written, other than maybe One Last Time. Am I the only one that LOVES the Chaos in Motion version, even though I miss the studio solo?

[ZKX-2099]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

Prophets Of Wahahahahahahahahaha

I can't even fake it.

[hefdaddy42]

It's just WOW. As in, it's probably one of the most prog song from DT. Gotta love the lyrics, though I don't really get it. XD

How is it one of the "most prog" songs from DT?  Also, if you don't get the lyrics, why do you "gotta love" them?

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

Wither.

This.

[juice]

Probably the catchiest solo Petrucci's ever written, other than maybe One Last Time. Am I the only one that LOVES the Chaos in Motion version, even though I miss the studio solo?

you're not alone!

[Global Laziness]

I like 80s sounding synths

Yeah, same here.

I'm kind of on the fence about Surrounded, though; it's a good song, but I find that it lacks some kind of hook that would propel it upwards from the bottom-third of my favourite Dream Theater songs.

[Ultimetalhead]

JLB owns the part before the intro reprise.

[LCArenas]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

Wither.

Definitely this.

[Scurvy!Dreams]

You really think a safe, average ballad like Wither compares to one of the most unique and interesting songs in the DT catalogue?

[LTE]

You really think a safe, average ballad like Wither compares to one of the most unique and interesting songs in the DT catalogue?

thank you.

I don't hate wither, but it's just kind of a meh ballad with a nice lyrical concept.
Whereas Surrounded has both great lyrics and really inventive instrumental parts.

[Plasmastrike]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

Wither.

As much an advocate I am for 'old DT', I gotta tip my hat to Wither. I think it's a really tasteful and enjoyable song. I'll find myself scanning through iTunes for an album to put on, and I'll just listen to Wither. I don't think it's even close to Surrounded, though.

[blackngold29]

Great song, love the CiM version.

[hefdaddy42]

You really think a safe, average ballad like Wither compares to one of the most unique and interesting songs in the DT catalogue?

Under the means of comparison listed, yes.  I mean, obviously Surrounded is the better song.  But Wither is a great short song without the normal JP/JR histrionics.

[KevShmev]

You really think a safe, average ballad like Wither compares to one of the most unique and interesting songs in the DT catalogue?

Under the means of comparison listed, yes.  I mean, obviously Surrounded is the better song.  But Wither is a great short song without the normal JP/JR histrionics.

Well, yeah, they are both short songs without both guitar and key solos, but that is where the comparison end.  "Wither" is a by-the-numbers power ballad (in melody AND in structure), while "Surrounded" has a somewhat unusual structure, given what kind of song it is.

[hefdaddy42]

You really think a safe, average ballad like Wither compares to one of the most unique and interesting songs in the DT catalogue?

Under the means of comparison listed, yes.  I mean, obviously Surrounded is the better song.  But Wither is a great short song without the normal JP/JR histrionics.

Well, yeah, they are both short songs without both guitar and key solos, but that is where the comparison end.  "Wither" is a by-the-numbers power ballad (in melody AND in structure), while "Surrounded" has a somewhat unusual structure, given what kind of song it is.

It's "by the numbers" for most other bands, but for DT, it's a stretch.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

I find Wither a very boring song, actually . At least Surrounded has a lot if intensity to it

[LTE]

Wither is pretty average by DT standards (not a bad thing), I like the lyrics, but I hate that stereotypical acoustic break with the chorus reprise before the guitar solo, its so mainstream it seems.

[Perpetual Change]

Surrounded is so strange.  It's like Christmas morning, and then your favorite TV show comes on.

[BlobVanDam]

You really think a safe, average ballad like Wither compares to one of the most unique and interesting songs in the DT catalogue?

Under the means of comparison listed, yes.  I mean, obviously Surrounded is the better song.  But Wither is a great short song without the normal JP/JR histrionics.

Exactly. I wasn't saying it's necessarily better, just that they're capable of writing good short songs and aren't always using long instrumental breaks like some people think. But I didn't mean to start a Wither vs Surrounded debate. Surrounded is a great song, and unique among DT's discography.

[Global Laziness]

Wither is pretty average by DT standards (not a bad thing), I like the lyrics, but I hate that stereotypical acoustic break with the chorus reprise before the guitar solo, its so mainstream it seems.

Yeah, but for a band like Dream Theater, an occasional dapple into the mainstream isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think Wither could've been a good radio hit.

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Well my point of view of "prog" is something that transcends the original genre. And I think Surrounded is probably one of the most unique and original song from DT. It has various verses, and very complex/unique song structure. Sorry if my definition of prog.

About the lyrics, I'll rephrase it to "I love the lyrics" instead of "gotta". Even if I don't get it that much, there's this deep feeling when I read the lyrics, I don't know how to express it though.

[wasp2020]

One of the first DT songs I really got into, and still probably my favorite DT songs of all. Very emotional, energetic, uplifting, rocking, and soulful, all in one, it explores so much emotions in such a short song. I love the lyrics, descriptive yet ambiguous and poetic (I posted my interpretation in some old thread I can't find, but basically to me it's about a depressed man who breaks out of his shell when he finds love). The whole 3:35-4:30 section is especially amazing, everything works together for a big climax.
It's also just so damn uplifting, which is my favorite aspect. I&W's sort of brighter sound helped with that. I don't think Surrounded could've been on any other album.

[Global Laziness]

One of the first DT songs I really got into, and still probably my favorite DT songs of all. Very emotional, energetic, uplifting, rocking, and soulful, all in one, it explores so much emotions in such a short song. I love the lyrics, descriptive yet ambiguous and poetic (I posted my interpretation in some old thread I can't find, but basically to me it's about a depressed man who breaks out of his shell when he finds love). The whole 3:35-4:30 section is especially amazing, everything works together for a big climax.
It's also just so damn uplifting, which is my favorite aspect. I&W's sort of brighter sound helped with that. I don't think Surrounded could've been on any other album.

I thought Surrounded was about AIDS...

[LTE]

I thought Surrounded was about AIDS...

me too.