No reason why?
Actually, I wanted to see if I could challenge my own assumptions about what I thought I knew about the DT catalog.
They seem to get a lot of love (except for poor James!), and many believe they have maybe become a caricature of
their own greatness and have lost their edge just a bit. Even Ola Englund asked John in a recent "Coffee with Ola"
episode if John ever felt like he or the band was repeating itself.
So I started to listen to an entire Album every day. Sometimes two. I only took days off when I had band practice. It's
kind of revelatory. I liked albums and songs I didn't think I would, and sort of had to revise what I thought was peak
Dream Theater.
This is my post-listening ranking. Take it for what it's worth. And please no James jokes. Those are as tired and worn
out as the old men that spew them. Save it for reddit!
1.
Images And Words: Without it there would be no Dream Theater catalog. It holds up. Big time!
2.
Falling Into Infinity: Listening to it again now. Has some of John's best tones and playing on it, and the songs are diverse. Lines In The Sand!
3.
Octavarium: This one surprised. The writing and arrangements are as tight as any album in their catalog.
4.
Scenes From A Memory Pt. 2: They should have stopped making concept albums right here. A classic!
5.
Train Of Thought: This is HEAVY Dream Theater. Punishing. Brutal. Brilliant.
6.
Black Clouds And Silver Linings: Portnoy's last album with the band. Enough said.
7.
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence: Has a 42 minute entire 2nd Disc song. How much more Dream Theater can you get. Indulgence at its finest!
8.
Awake: I remember liking this more than I did this time around. It felt phoned in in places and disjointed. Kevin Moore's last album.
9.
Dream Theater: Apart from The Astonishing the back end of their catalog is f*****g great. I wanted to NOT like it. This is where my assumptions caved!
10.
Distance Over Time: The production alone on the last few albums alone is worth the effort. Also, James and Auto-tune.
11.
A View From The Top Of The World: Any other band and these albums would be higher
12.
A Dramatic Turn Of Events: Mangini's first album with the band. Can really notice the drums pulled back in the mix and the keys more forward. Meh.
13.
Systematic Chaos: Sorry, but my least favourite Portnoy on drums album. Just felt like a lot of wankery. Systematic Chaos indeed!
14.
When Dream And Day Unite: Very Rushy. Very cool. Just a little too indebted to their Heroes, and not yet having found their own voice. Still cool.
15.
The Astonishing: Why? Just aiming too high here. Missed the mark. The ONLY Dream Theater album I probably will never listen to again. Just a slog.
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