Suggestions for my 1st DT cd?

[acwild]

Wow, I can't believe how many replies I got so quickly, this forum is just the best. I think I'm going to pick up Systematic Chaos & Train of Thought 1st. I've been in a mood for heavy stuff lately.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Petrucci/DT enthusiasts here? Shocking.

 

[Onzabar]

If you like the heaviness of Tool, I would go with Train of Thought. It is by far DT's heaviest album and it rips from beginning to end.

 

[the24thfret]

Train of Thought is not as diverse as other albums, so it doesn't get my vote for top DT albums.

Just want to say that listening to DT for the first time completely threw everything I thought about music out the window. I was a Floyd, Metallica, etc fan for many years but DT showed me that so much more was possible with rock music.

btw, Scenes From a Memory is plenty heavy. It's just not Nu-Metal. Don't miss it.

 

[the24thfret]

I think you're right too, but come on, doesn't that 12-string sound sweet?

Was there ever anything substantial written here about that guitar? I feel like I don't know much about it aside from what I've seen at shows.

Most other custom EBMM instruments get a lot of press here.

 

[marduke]

SS is on a 12-String. I still think you mean Hollow Years.

id say it would be hollow years too, what an amazing live version of it! and the extended solo is just mind blowing! i love it

 

[lonewolf74]

My top vote also goes for Scenes From A Memory (or the live version, since you get the other material). I just love the musicianship on that one! Plus, it's a pretty kick-ass concept album.

(BTW - I highly recommend watching the Live Scenes from New York DVD with the band commentary turned on... I learned a TON about that album by listening to those guys.)

I'd also recommend Once in a LIVEtime - that's a pretty good listen, too - though it was before Jordan joined the band.

I like Systematic Chaos, but there are a couple of tunes on there that I feel drag on just a bit too long... or have instrumental sections that are flashy for flashy's sake. But that's just me.

(Come to think of it... I don't think I've seen anyone mention Octavarium throughout this thread! Is that DT album really that forgettable?)

 

[the24thfret]

Octavarium is a good album it just doesn't stick out in anyone's mind.

 

[azazael]

Images & Words

 

[Axilla]

I'd go with "Images and words" first, then proceed to "Awake" and onwards to get some insight into DT's development in style. One of the greates prog metal bands EVER - 4 sure !

 

[MusicMan_Luke]

I think the best cd to discover DT is Scene From A Memory, this album is so intense.

 

[francric]

Go for Train of Thought as your first....................Tool fan here.

 

[kelvinlkt]

Well I am a huge fan as well, I'd suggest you to listen to 'Image and Words' or 'Scene from a memory'.

Even Jordan Rudess is undoubtly a great keyboard player, I don't know why I like 'Images and Words' very much.

But other than 'Images and Words', I'd say all other albums with Jordan are just splendid. A bit disappointed by the 'Systematic Chaos' tho...can't really hear Jordan's keyboard and stuff, I had thought that he was out of DT because of this....not.

 

[acwild]

A bit disappointed by the 'Systematic Chaos' tho...can't really hear Jordan's keyboard and stuff, I had thought that he was out of DT because of this....not.

I noticed in the videos that he's basically playing the same thing that Petrucci is and using a guitar sound with his synth. He's fattening the sound rather than adding to it. I would have liked to hear him stand out a little more too.

 

[Dizzy]

If only there was one with no singing ??

 

[dwells]

id go systematic chaos and go backwards from there its an amazing album

 

[acwild]

If only there was one with no singing ??

Liquid Tension Experiment is basically DT without LeBrie. Too bad they won't do any more of those.

 

[DT1607]

Awake.

Or get one of their live dvd's (Score, Budokan)

 

[jonyq]

I'm wondering the same too. Honestly that is my favourite album.

 

[the24thfret]

I noticed in the videos that he's basically playing the same thing that Petrucci is and using a guitar sound with his synth. He's fattening the sound rather than adding to it. I would have liked to hear him stand out a little more too.

SC is much better than Train of Thought for hearing Rudess... I agree though that we need more of him, he is the main reason I absolutely love Six Degrees and like Octavarium at all.

 

[paranoid70]

Octavarium is one of my least favorite Dream Theater records, but oddly enough, it contains my favorite song from them - Octavarium. That song kicks serious ass, especially live.

My vote for best albums are Scenes from a Memory and Images and Words. However, they are all really good in their own right.

By the way, where Dream Theater really shines is in concert. I have seen them 10 times already and they always put on a great show.