Was thinking about this today, and I'm wondering if it's just me. I will say that even though my favorite albums are in the MP era, I go back to the latest albums the most. Unless I'm just in a DT mood and listening to every album, I'm more likely to just throw on whatever the lasts release is. So while View isn't my favorite, I go back to it a lot and I'm not turned off by it. I can say the same for DOT. When that was the newest album is when I kind of got into this listening habit that I'm still in now.

Quote from: Herrick on August 05, 2024, 03:11:51 PMOff topic but Long Island sucks.

Dude!

Quote from: Trav86 on August 06, 2024, 09:06:24 AMWas thinking about this today, and I'm wondering if it's just me. I will say that even though my favorite albums are in the MP era, I go back to the latest albums the most. Unless I'm just in a DT mood and listening to every album, I'm more likely to just throw on whatever the lasts release is. So while View isn't my favorite, I go back to it a lot and I'm not turned off by it. I can say the same for DOT. When that was the newest album is when I kind of got into this listening habit that I'm still in now.

Something strange happens to me when I listen to AWFTTOTW. The more I hear it the less I like it 

I very rarely listen to my favorite DT albums, maybe because I listened to them too much several years ago.
On the other hand I can listen to FII or 8V at any time.

Quote from: naimad on August 06, 2024, 11:59:03 AMSomething strange happens to me when I listen to AWFTTOTW. The more I hear it the less I like it 

Oh, just the opposite! 

It's my #1 album 🥇✨

Quote from: crystalstars17 on August 06, 2024, 12:08:22 PMOh, just the opposite! 

It's my #1 album 🥇✨

That's great! I mean, it has a couple of good moments in The Alien and the title track, but overall I find it pretty forgettable.

What is interesting about View is that it's so even across the board. View, the self-titled, Dramatic Turn and Awake are the only albums in their catalog why I struggle with which song is my favorite and which is my least favorite.

Quote from: Trav86 on August 06, 2024, 12:31:10 PMWhat is interesting about View is that it's so even across the board. View, the self-titled, Dramatic Turn and Awake are the only albums in their catalog why I struggle with which song is my favorite and which is my least favorite.

For me, it's easy to pick out my favorite (Awaken the Master) and least favorite (Invisible Monster), but all of the others are fairly even, and a lot closer to favorite than non favorite.

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on August 06, 2024, 12:43:12 PMFor me, it's easy to pick out my favorite (Awaken the Master) and least favorite (Invisible Monster), but all of the others are fairly even, and a lot closer to favorite than non favorite.

Title song 🥇

The Alien 🥈
Answering the Call 🥈
Invisible Monster 🥈

Sleeping Giant 🥉
Awaken the Master 🥉

Transcending Time

Title song has over taken my previous favorites of ATM and TT. It is a mighty beast.

Just added a poll.. just because polls are.. fun (Why didn't I do it before?  )

I would have a different answer for each album

Quote from: naimad on August 06, 2024, 11:59:03 AMSomething strange happens to me when I listen to AWFTTOTW. The more I hear it the less I like it 

That happened to me with The Alien

Quote from: Trav86 on August 07, 2024, 07:43:36 AMI would have a different answer for each album

Well that's true, but I suppose it would be more appropiate to have such a poll in the respective thread for each album.

Quote from: naimad on August 07, 2024, 07:41:26 AMJust added a poll.. just because polls are.. fun (Why didn't I do it before?  )

Nice!

Went with Pretty Solid!

Quote from: naimad on August 07, 2024, 07:41:26 AMJust added a poll.. just because polls are.. fun (Why didn't I do it before?  )

Hmmm...

7. DT12
8. ADTOE
11. DOT
13. View
15. TA
Average ranking: 10.8

I want to say "pretty solid" because I think that's true.  However, since we're lumping all 5 albums together, I think my rankings compel "just ok."

Quote from: pg1067 on August 07, 2024, 08:08:35 AMHmmm...

7. DT12
8. ADTOE
11. DOT
13. View
15. TA
Average ranking: 10.8

I want to say "pretty solid" because I think that's true.  However, since we're lumping all 5 albums together, I think my rankings compel "just ok."

Those are your albums ranking right? It's interesting that you want to put such a high attribute to those lower albums. Perhaps that says something of the general level of the band, wich has been pretty much consistent overall.

Overall I'll say "just ok".

A Dramtic Turn of Events - a top 5 album

Dream Theater - underwhelming

The Astonishing - ummm... a Hail Mary pass that misses. A hell of a throw, but no touchdown.

Distance Over Time, A View from the Top of the World - just ok

Pretty solid. I think overall there are more misses than with MP behind the kit, but I have much more appreciation for something like the Astonishing than most people here. Even if it is ~20-30 minutes too long 

the best years of DT and I stand by it

I also picked "best years" because there are literally no songs I dislike anywhere near as much as my least favorites from the MP era: HTF, TDEN, YNM, BMS, POW, etc.

Quote from: naimad on August 07, 2024, 08:18:32 AMThose are your albums ranking right? It's interesting that you want to put such a high attribute to those lower albums. Perhaps that says something of the general level of the band, wich has been pretty much consistent overall.

Yes.  It's how I ranked each of the MM albums when we did the albums countdown a couple years ago.  Not sure what you mean by "high attribute to those lower albums."  If you mean that I'm in the minority in ranking DT12 as the best of the MM-era, I'm aware.

Quote from: Trav86 on August 07, 2024, 08:21:18 AMThe Astonishing - ummm... a Hail Mary pass that misses. A hell of a throw, but no touchdown.

 

Quote from: pg1067 on August 07, 2024, 08:37:51 AMYes.  It's how I ranked each of the MM albums when we did the albums countdown a couple years ago.  Not sure what you mean by "high attribute to those lower albums."  If you mean that I'm in the minority in ranking DT12 as the best of the MM-era, I'm aware.

Oh sorry, that's because my english level is not so good.

I was trying to say that given that you rank those MM albums quite low, I find interesting thay you will go with options like "pretty solid" or "just ok". And that it really means that the DT level has been quite high in theirs entire carrer.

I understood it perfectly.

Quote from: naimad on August 07, 2024, 08:47:15 AMOh sorry, that's because my english level is not so good.

I was trying to say that given that you rank those MM albums quite low, I find interesting thay you will go with options like "pretty solid" or "just ok". And that it really means that the DT level has been quite high in theirs entire carrer.

Gotcha.  I mean...I don't like The Astonishing.  I gave it many tries.  I'll probably never listen to the whole thing again.  But it's still better than 90% of a lot of other bands' work.  With respect to DT12 and ADTOE, being the 7th or 8th best DT album is still pretty damn good.  To be frank, I think there is (or could be) a LOT of overlap between "pretty solid," "just ok" and "generally underwhelming."

Quote from: pg1067 on August 07, 2024, 08:54:11 AMGotcha.  I mean...I don't like The Astonishing.  I gave it many tries.  I'll probably never listen to the whole thing again.  But it's still better than 90% of a lot of other bands' work.  With respect to DT12 and ADTOE, being the 7th or 8th best DT album is still pretty damn good.  To be frank, I think there is (or could be) a LOT of overlap between "pretty solid," "just ok" and "generally underwhelming."

Well you have a point there. I also share (sadly) your sentiment towards TA.

Quote from: pg1067 on August 07, 2024, 08:37:51 AMYes.  It's how I ranked each of the MM albums when we did the albums countdown a couple years ago.  Not sure what you mean by "high attribute to those lower albums."  If you mean that I'm in the minority in ranking DT12 as the best of the MM-era, I'm aware.

I rate that one the best out of the MM era as well!

Bad poll options, as there is a lot of gray area between "the best of DT" and "pretty solid."

Pretty solid. 3 really good albums. One ok album and then my least favorite DT album.

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on August 06, 2024, 12:43:12 PMFor me, it's easy to pick out my favorite (Awaken the Master) and least favorite (Invisible Monster), but all of the others are fairly even, and a lot closer to favorite than non favorite.

This is where I'm at too. I thought the title track was my favorite, but in reality I'm biased towards the big epics. The Alien has fallen for me too, just too long and JP doesn't always have to put 56 solos in a song. So yes ATM-everything else-IM.

Quote from: emtee on August 07, 2024, 01:43:28 PMPretty solid. 3 really good albums. One ok album and then my least favorite DT album.

This is pretty much what I think about them as well but I'm guessing my one Ok album is not the same as yours.

I've coming back a lot to a playlist I made ever since MM's departure was announced. I collected my favorite songs/drum performances from his 5 albums with the band, 3h+ of music, that's a lot! So grateful for having had this guy on the kit for DT for so long, always wishing him all the luck.

If anyone is curious: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5MVpaP1WRIF3HjTplKWKgC?si=CbXzW4yfRHKXcKNqJl2jEQ

It brings me some sense of closure whenever I listen to it. I will get to the point when I will only listen to MP's stuff to get in the mood for the new album, but for now, this is my DT go to music.

Quote from: Mosh on November 06, 2023, 07:23:36 PM5: Distance Over Time - Ugh, honestly this is probably my least favorite Dream Theater album, even below When Dream and Day Unite. I know a lot of folks here love it which is great, but they really lost me with this one. Where the conciseness found on DT12 feels refreshing, here it just feels like they're churning out generic middle of the road Metal and frankly holding themselves back. Stuff like Paralyzed, just not what I want from my Dream Theater. A couple songs on there, like Room 137 or Viper King, are among my least favorite songs they've ever done.

Funny, viper king is in my top 10 DT songs.

Been a fan since 1992, but I've always dug the least proggy of their songs, like "I walk beside you."

Comment to bring this thread back to the top, since it was actually created this year, not in 2010.

As of how I'm feeling right now, I'd rank them in the following order, from favorite, to least favorite.

1. A Dramatic Turn of Events
2. Distance Over Time
3. A View From The Top Of The World
4. The Astonishing
5. DT12