Dream Theater Top 100 countdown - 2024 Version!

[Wim Kruithof]

Mine have changed, but I also tried the ranker and my original rankings don't even come close....

And do you think the ranking machine delivered a more valuable list, or is the original version closer to the truth?

[MirrorMask]

I did the ranking agains, and aside from the top 4, the results kinda changed 

Guess I'll compare them and then submit my final list.

[Setlist Scotty]

*wrong thread

[Ben_Jamin]

Mine have changed, but I also tried the ranker and my original rankings don't even come close....

And do you think the ranking machine delivered a more valuable list, or is the original version closer to the truth?

Well, the ranker is more valuable because it's more closer to my tastes right now. My original list was more to my tastes back when I first made the list. I think it's neat just how much my tastes changed.

[TAC]

Mine have changed, but I also tried the ranker and my original rankings don't even come close....

And do you think the ranking machine delivered a more valuable list, or is the original version closer to the truth?

Well, the ranker is more valuable because it's more closer to my tastes right now. My original list was more to my tastes back when I first made the list. I think it's neat just how much my tastes changed.

How long ago did you make your list?

[Ben_Jamin]

Mine have changed, but I also tried the ranker and my original rankings don't even come close....

And do you think the ranking machine delivered a more valuable list, or is the original version closer to the truth?

Well, the ranker is more valuable because it's more closer to my tastes right now. My original list was more to my tastes back when I first made the list. I think it's neat just how much my tastes changed.

How long ago did you make your list?

The original was when we first did the top 100. The ranker one I did last night.

[TAC]

That was only a couple of years ago.

[Ben_Jamin]

That was only a couple of years ago.

I said back then that when I made that list it was what I was feeling at that moment. I enjoy a lot of DT songs that it's hard for me to actually make a definitive ranking.

[Puppies_On_Acid]

OK, finally have some time to start hashing this out with the Ranking Engine.

Got some tough head-to-heads to start with, like Lord Nafaryus vs. Metropolis Pt.1 

[Wim Kruithof]

I enjoy a lot of DT songs that it's hard for me to actually make a definitive ranking.

Totally the same here. It's so darn hard to rank those pieces and divide good from perfect. I made several sub-categories but they all ended up as being useless. What I do know is that the epics are what I love the most from Dream Theater. So I decided to rank those first and then sum up the other 93 songs to fit the list. But if we do this again in 2025, it could have several changes overall.

[MirrorMask]

So, taken up by the moment I once did a ranking with ALL the songs, including the demos, the live jams, the NOMAC tracks and similar.

I trimmed "the fat", and got some results slightly different, even the top 10 was different from the 5th place downward.

Would it be too nerdy if I compare the two lists, cut out the songs that in both cases didn't make the top 100, and keep, say, 112-120 songs (some made the top 100 in one list but not in the other) and run the whole thing a THIRD time? 

[hefdaddy42]

Would it be too nerdy if I compare the two lists, cut out the songs that in both cases didn't make the top 100, and keep, say, 112-120 songs (some made the top 100 in one list but not in the other) and run the whole thing a THIRD time? 

It would be FOR ME.  Of course, I wouldn't have done two lists.

You do what makes you happy.  Nerdy be damned.

[TAC]

The whole damn exercise is nerdy. 

[OpenYourEyes311]

No Resurrection of Ernie? Denied!

[Dedalus]

The whole damn exercise is nerdy. 

The guy has a point. 

[wolfking]

I think the term 'nerdy' is being kind too. 

[Trav]

Has anyone else had trouble with the ranking engine lately? When I go to click to start a ranking, it does nothing. I've only used the mobile version.

[nobloodyname]

It's been okay here.

[twosuitsluke]

I'm back at this again after taking a break for few days.

My method for this has been run everything through the ranker, then relisten to everything from the bottom up, adjusting as I go.

I'm up to the song I'd initially ranked at 70, and it's the really tough stage. I know all the songs I love, and all the songs I don't care for, it's all the ones in the damn middle I have trouble separating.

One thing I know this has taught me though...

[TAC]

A Dramatic Turn Of Events has some great songs.

[twosuitsluke]

A Dramatic Turn Of Events has some great songs.

It really has. In all the years it's been out I think I only ever listened to it as a full album. I think because of this I've never really judged each song on it's own merits. Not sure if all the songs are gonna make my list but there's a damn good chance.

[geeeemo]

I have been re-listening. I wanted to give a lot of time to I&W, Awake, and FII. I already knew I really enjoyed FII, but Awake I have not been so interested in as of late, and I&W not as much as others I listen to frequently.  I think that since I have only been following DT and into them for almost 8 years, that the older music hasn't had as much "play time".  The two records that came out since my start - the last 2 - I have listened to many, many times.  You know to digest, let them grow. But I hadn't given the same treatment to some of the older stuff. I kinda know what I like, and then stick with it. So, if so many DT songs are growers, I wanted to see how that panned out with these 3 to begin with.

I have listened to these three records at least 3 times in the last week or two. I think it will change my list from the last ranking. I also wanted to give special listens to the songs I thought I didn't like. (very few).

I can say I feel the same way as twosuitsluke about I&W as he does about ADToE (one of my faves). There are songs that I have now gotten hooked on - and want to hear more.

Honestly it's just going to make it harder. Not every song can be the best song!

[Puppies_On_Acid]

A Dramatic Turn Of Events has some great songs.

It really has. In all the years it's been out I think I only ever listened to it as a full album. I think because of this I've never really judged each song on it's own merits. Not sure if all the songs are gonna make my list but there's a damn good chance.

ADToE has aged really well for me. Not sure where each song will fall yet, but there's a good chance some make it in my top 100.

[Trav]

List sent!

[Setlist Scotty]

I can say I feel the same way as twosuitsluke about I&W as he does about ADToE (one of my faves). There are songs that I have now gotten hooked on - and want to hear more.

Honestly it's just going to make it harder. Not every song can be the best song!

That's the beauty of these countdowns - it really gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate their entire catalog and in the process rediscover (or discover in some cases) some gems that maybe we overlooked in the past. Have fun!   

[porcacultor]

Just submitted my list! Very funny to see how some favorites from around the time their albums came out didn't really survive in terms of being favorites. Also funny how the top spot has ALWAYS been my favorite, something I only became cognizant of in recent years. Such a fun exercise!

[MirrorMask]

In the end I decided I will run the matches one third and last time.

I did it twice - once with everything, and the second time leaving out the "fat" like Raw Dog, the demos, the Nomacs, the live jams etc...

I will compare the two lists and I will cut off songs that in both lists didn't go past the top 120; a song that at least once arrived in the top 120 will be given a chance (I'm staying large 'cause some results varied, I got a song at 99 once and 120 or so the second time....).

And then I'll finally send my list 

[Zydar]

I have made a list of 100 songs, still have to run them through the ranker. Seems like a daunting task, but it will happen.

[wolfking]

I'm back at this again after taking a break for few days.

My method for this has been run everything through the ranker, then relisten to everything from the bottom up, adjusting as I go.

I'm up to the song I'd initially ranked at 70, and it's the really tough stage. I know all the songs I love, and all the songs I don't care for, it's all the ones in the damn middle I have trouble separating.

In the end I decided I will run the matches one third and last time.

I did it twice - once with everything, and the second time leaving out the "fat" like Raw Dog, the demos, the Nomacs, the live jams etc...

I will compare the two lists and I will cut off songs that in both lists didn't go past the top 120; a song that at least once arrived in the top 120 will be given a chance (I'm staying large 'cause some results varied, I got a song at 99 once and 120 or so the second time....).

And then I'll finally send my list 

Damn, some of you lads really get into this.

I might just send my last list cause I don't think I could be fucked.

[nobloodyname]

Meanwhile, I find myself liking a couple of tunes from DT12 more than I thought I did. Huh. Nice to go back and listen with an open mind.

[MirrorMask]

Damn, some of you lads really get into this.

It's only because the system does the job all by itself.

I could never be able to do myself the list, sure I could come up with a top 10 but I don't know how people mantaining DIY top 100 lists can determine that a song ranks at 38 and another at 75.

[SwedishGoose]

I have run the songs through the ranking engine and have a 1 to 100 list.
Looking through it I like the top bit.
After a while it gets quite blurry.
I think I might just send the list as is.

[Dream Team]

I have run the songs through the ranking engine and have a 1 to 100 list.
Looking through it I like the top bit.
After a while it gets quite blurry.
I think I might just send the list as is.

That's really the best option, choice #2 is to go down a rabbit hole you never escape from and 3 years later everyone is wondering what happened to SwedishGoose.

[ReaPsTA]

I have run the songs through the ranking engine and have a 1 to 100 list.
Looking through it I like the top bit.
After a while it gets quite blurry.
I think I might just send the list as is.

I made a couple obvious adjustments to mine and just sent it in. The ranking engine was already such a huge time investment. No need to go crazy

[Puppies_On_Acid]

I have run the songs through the ranking engine and have a 1 to 100 list.
Looking through it I like the top bit.
After a while it gets quite blurry.
I think I might just send the list as is.

That's really the best option, choice #2 is to go down a rabbit hole you never escape from and 3 years later everyone is wondering what happened to SwedishGoose.