MP's Decade's End Album Poll

Dream Theater:
Six degrees of inner turbulence.
(Actually I love all of them, especially, Black Clouds..., Six Degrees & Systematic Chaos, all are great albums imo, but I guess Six degrees means much more to me. I love how the music on 6DOIT ranges from heavy (at times industrial) riffs to melodic -orchestral- sections. Also 6DOIT includes one of my all time favorite DT songs; The great debate . I appreciate how the music & lyrics match, & the 'loop' theme which's present in the song's intro & outro - I mean the intro building up, & then fading the same way in the outro.)

Neal Morse:
-
-unfortunately, haven't heard his stuff yet.-

Opeth:
Watershed -
This albums very well blends elements from both Deliverance & Damnation imo - the overall album has a very dark atmosphere which I appreciate. 

Porcupine Tree:
In absentia -

Pain of Salvation:
Be-
while many dislike the album's concept, i think it's very unique in its own way -

DT: Train of thought.  There's nothing like that album...  It contains some of the best and most focused music from DT.  It's really a life changing album for me.  It's not perfect but that makes it unique for Dream Theater.  It has a Metallica feel of just playing emotions with no holds barred.  Octavarium is honed and crafted to perfection, and I love it, but it feels lacking compared to ToT.  ToT feels real, true, and raw. Dream Theater's strive for perfection is a blessing and a curse to me.  I love the attention to detail in all of their music, but I feel like it loses a bit of feeling sometime.  Train of though goes above and beyond that and stands out as if the whole of it was really shouting "take me as I am".

That's about the best argument I can write for what Id think is the underdog album.  I do love the whole DT catalog,  but Tot stands out.  It's quite possibly my favorite album of all time.  It's just real and raw emotion with some unbelievable music.  Each song is unique and distinct however the whole album feels together. 
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Anyway, That's really the only band I've heard all of the albums in total.  Damn Coconuts for never stocking prog bands.  Or any bands really.  My local store blows.  I've been trying to buy master of puppets for several months now.  All I've seen is St.anger and tribute bands Cds.  WTF...  I wish I could comment on other bands but I feel I should stay out unless I've heard the all the albums.  That said I love Fear of a blank planet, Blackwater park, and Be.  Those are my picks from the Cds that i've  listened to.

DT - 6DOIT
Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
PT - In Absentia
POS - The Perfect Element


The fact that all these bands showed such consistent quality throughout an entire decade is truly impressive.

What a hard choice...mmmh..let's see...
Dream Theater: I'm for Black Clouds & Silver Linings...for me it's very powerful and proggy (The Count rules)

Neal Morse: I only listened to the last two albums...and I prefer Sola Scriptura to Lifeline...but I can't vote because I haven't listened to all his albums

Opeth: With no doubts I vote for Ghost Reveries... the masterpiece for me

Porcupine Tree: I'm not very into them but i absolutely love In Absentia

Pain Of Salvation: Well...it must Be Be :) Great concept and great music!

I'm surprised how many people here haven't heard some or even most of this stuff. Now that I think about it, a huge percentage of the music I've listened to over the last decade is right here. I already had these albums in order of preference in my mind, I didn't even need to think. Except for PT, I've been listening a lot to FOABP, that was a hard choice, I'm not really sure wich one is my favorite.

Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Neal Morse - One (This is the only cd I have heard by him though)
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane (tough choice between this one and TPE)

Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence         
Opeth- Blackwater Park
Porcupine Tree- Deadwing

Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane

Octavarium/Ghost Reveries/Fear of a Blank Planet
i don't really listen to the other two so can't make fair judgement

I could only answer for Dream Theater, and it's very tough.  I would have to pick between Six Degrees and Systematic Chaos...

I'll go with Six Degrees.

I can only really vote for DT and Opeth...but I haven't heard all the Opeth releases so I guess I can't really vote on that either.

But for DT it's Six Degrees, I love that album, my 2nd favorite album from you guys.  I think it might be my sister's favorite album.  Train of Thought and BC&SL are pretty close though. 

I won't vote on Opeth because it wouldn't be fair.  Give me a few months and I might be able to answer it.

DREAM THEATER:
-- Train Of Thought (2003)
Very tough choice.  BC&SL was a close second, and all the other releases were excellent, as well.  TOT just stands out to me as the most satisfying, visceral, cathartic, and downright fun album of theirs to listen to.  It may not be as diverse as 6DOIT or Octavarium, but it sounds amazing (the production & mix is perfect for the band IMO) and the lyrics, while not being as deep or thought-provoking as, say, Learning To Live or Scarred, fit the songs well and don't distract from the music (something I think happened a bit too often on their last few albums).  Plus it was the first DT album that I bought the day it came out, and I have many a fond high-school memory of driving around and blaring it from my car.

OPETH:
-- Ghost Reveries (2005)
The first album of theirs that I bought, and the album that really got me into the band and death-metal vocals in general.  Watershed is amazing, and their older stuff is great too.  But I'll never forget the first time I pressed Play and heard the beginning of Ghost Of Perdition - I nearly shat myself.  Any band that makes me react that way deserves a spot on this list.

PORCUPINE TREE:
-- Fear Of A Blank Planet (2007)
The perfect PT album in my book.  This is exactly what I was hoping for when it was released, and not one note of music was a letdown.  Heavy, melancholy, and downright creepy in all the right places.  Anesthetize is still one of my all-time favorite songs by anybody ever.

And I can't say I'm qualified to give an opinion on Neal Morse's solo albums or POS.  Haven't gotten around to listening to much of their stuff.

DT - Train of thought
I like the fact that it doesn´t try to be diverse. To me the strongest albums have always been the ones that were cohesive and with a certain mood throughout. It perfectly represents the dark side of DT (and I much prefer DT´s more progressive and melodic side, but the dark side is top quality on this one more than the progressive/melodic on other ´00-´09 albums). I love the way it sounds: heavy riffs with clean vocals by James perfectly complement each other on this one, every single riff makes sense in its place as well as all the crazy solos. The flow is so natural.
To me it´s 21st century Awake.

Opeth - Ghost reveries
It perfectly sums up what this band was all about from ´00 to ´09. Every single song is so epic and so strong on its own that it´s unbelievable. So many musical ideas, such a variety yet perfect cohesiveness. (Watershed is close second to me for only reason called Ghost reveries)

PT - The incident
If I am to say which album, then it´s this one. In absentia has better standalone songs, it´s almost like a collection of best hit songs by PT. But The incident has the highest ambition in PT´s cataloque as an album. And I think they achieved everything they wanted with this one as far as that ambition is concerned. Great balance of everything PT have ever been about. After this one I am almost sure it won´t be possible for them to top it. In fact this may be my second favourite album in this century so far, right after Up by Peter Gabriel.

Hi
It is very hard to pick one favourite, but I`ve tried.
 
Dream Theater
Black clouds and silver linings
Been a fan since `92 i have loved every album, but Black clouds and silver linings is my favourite of the decade.  
 
Neal Morse
Testimony
After Neal left Spock`s Beard I was afraid that I had lost one of my favourite musicians, and that Spock`s Beard wasn`t able to continue making great music without him. Fortunately I was wrong
When Testimony was released, I was very happy, and that`s why this is my favourite NM album, but all of the other albums are fantastic too. And of course Mike`s drumming are great.
 
Opeth
Watershed
This has to be one of the best albums made ever!!
Mikael is a genius, and his Joey Tempest imitation rules
 
Porcupine tree
Fear of a blank planet
 
Pain of Salvation
Scarsick
 
Wishing all the best to all the prog fans in the world
take care and happy holidays:-)
 
 
 
 
 

This was a very hard job indeed.. here`s my choices:

Dream Theater - 6DoiT

Neil Morse - Testimony

Opeth - Damnation

Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet

Pain of Salvation - BE

Since this is un-sticky'd, I'm not sure if you're still checking it for our opinions, but I'll give you mine anyway.  :)

DT-  Octavarium

This is my second favorite DT album after Awake.  I love the title track and the concept behind the whole album and the NUGGETZ!

Opeth - Deliverance

The title track is my favorite Opeth song period, so this disc gets the nod from me.

PT - In Absentia

I think PT really hit their sweet-spot with this album.  It has just the right amount of proggy bits and metal bits to be my favorite.

PoS - Remedy Lane

This album is perfect in every way.  A Trace of Blood, Undertow, Chain Sling, Beyond the Pale.  Almost every song on the album gives me chills.

I just scanned the thread and I don't think I saw a single vote for Systematic Chaos which is surprising.  I love that album.  All kinds of love for 6DoiT as well, which is probably my least favorite of the bunch(despite having my favorite tune in the Glass Prison on it).

Dream Theater :: Systematic Chaos 
-- I like all the tunes on 6 degrees but title track aside 4 songs is too few.  Yes, four, because I just can't get into Disappear.  I'd probably rank them: SC -> Train -> Octo -> BC&SL -> 6 Degrees.

Pain of Salvation :: Be 
-- I fell in love with them with TPE but it's been a while since I listened to it.  I think a lot of it runs together though which hurts it a bit.  Scarsick on the flipside is full of good 'singles' but not as cohesive.  Be seems to be the perfect blend of the two.

DREAM THEATER:
-- Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (2002)
NEAL MORSE:
-- Testimony (2003)

OPETH:
-- Blackwater Park (2001)

PORCUPINE TREE:
-- In Absentia (2002)

PAIN OF SALVATION:
-- Be (2004)

Train of Thought - My favorite, but Black Clouds is my 2nd favorite, and I think it is not only more universally liked, but is generally more balanced, and so it should be the one picked.
? - Neal has a track record of great albums, but this one stands above all others as the masterpiece in my mind.
In Absentia or Deadwing - Both of these are equally good picks. In Absentia works slightly better as a full album, but Deadwing has more standout song goodness like Arriving Somewhere, Lazarus, and Halo.
Scarsick - I know this isn't going to win out, but it's my favorite. I think the fan consensus will easily go to Remedy Lane or TPE Pt. 1.

And I hope Bridge Across Forever is making this list! Easily a top 5 album of all time, let alone of this decade!

Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
(no opinion on Neal Morse)
Blackwater Park
In Absentia
The Perfect Element, Pt. 1

easy

Only able to select from 2 bands (not familiar enough with the others)...

DT - Train of Thought

Neal Morse - ?

My personal favourite DT album out of them all is Six Degrees, so I'll defs go with that.

DT- 6DOIT
Neal Morse- Sola Scriptura
Opeth- GR
Pain of Salvation- BE

DREAM THEATER:
-- Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (2002)
-- Octavarium (2005)

Octavarium is my favourite, but I think Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the "best" as it were!



OPETH:
-- Ghost Reveries (2005)


PORCUPINE TREE:
-- The Incident (2009)
Lightbulb Sun and Deadwing are my favourites, but this is my third and I'm so SO in love with this album right now. I think it's the most monumental achievement of their career so far.


PAIN OF SALVATION:
-- Be (2004)

This is the only one I'm not ambivalent about. This is definitely their finest moment. Swooping and soaring and effortlessly beautiful.

DT - Octavarium
PT - In Absentia
Opeth - Ghost Reveries

Dream Theater - Almost impossible...But I vote for 6DoiT

Neal Morse - One

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing...Without a doubt

Late as usual...


DREAM THEATER:  Octavarium 

NEAL MORSE: ? 

OPETH:  Ghost Reveries 

PORCUPINE TREE: Deadwing

PAIN OF SALVATION:  The Perfect Element Pt 1 



(is it itme to count votes?)

Dream Theater - Train Of Thought
Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura
Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Porcupine Tree - In Absentia
Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane

DREAM THEATER: 
-- Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (2002) 

NEAL MORSE: 
-- Testimony (2003) 

OPETH: 
-- Blackwater Park (2001) 

PORCUPINE TREE: 
-- In Absentia (2002) 

PAIN OF SALVATION: 
-- Remedy Lane (2002) 

DT - Octavarium
NM - One  (also MP's best performance of the decade, IMO)
Opeth - Blackwater Park
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Pain of Salvation - Scarsick

DT: Octavarium
Really because it's the end of the long series of follow-up albums from Scenes from a Memory.

PT: Deadwing

Opeth: Damnation
Because I like the "not way too heavy" site of Opeth:) 

DT - 6DoIT .....definately! even though ToT is my personal favourite
Opeth - Watershed

  Wooo! first post!!

DREAM THEATER:
-- Train Of Thought (2003)
  This is a metal masterpiece that totally blew my mind when I first heard it and still does to this day everytime.  Of course all of DT's releases blow my mind but there's something undescribable and really special about this album!

OPETH:
-- Damnation (2003) 
 This album is just plain awesome.  One of those albums that can be listened to start to finish without a dull moment.

PORCUPINE TREE:
-- Fear Of A Blank Planet (2007)

DT: Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Almost went ToT on this, as it has my favorite tracks of this decade. But it also has songs I tend to skip. BC&SL is the versatile and all six tracks are extremely strong.

Morse: ?
Another tough choice here, just slightly over Testimony.

Opeth: No vote

PT: Deadwing
Easy choice for me on this one.

PoS: Remedy Lane
Easy choice for me on this one as well.

DT- SDOIT
PT- IA
Opeth- BP
PoS- TPE

DT
Black Clouds
 
Neal Morse
Sola Scriptura
 
Opeth
Damnation
 
Porcupine Tree
Deadwing
 
 
Haven't heard any PoS so I can't choose
 

Opeth-Blackwater Park
Porcupine Tree-eadwing
Dream Theater-Train of Thought

thanks for all the DT albums mike, pure magic!!!!!

Dream Theater: Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence

Neal Morse: ?

Opeth: Blackwater Park

Porcupine Tree: In Absentia

Dream Theater: Six Degrees, although Octavarium and Count of Tuscany are my two favourite songs right now

Neal Morse: ? (Pure masterpiece. I still cannot get enough of this album)

Opeth: Blackwater Park

Porcupine Tree: DEADWING!!

Pain of Salvation: Perfect Element