Systematic Chaos vs. Black Clouds and Silver Linings

Well? Both take a lot of heat as being terrible, but which one is less terrible?

Mm...Systematic Chaos, man. I doubt that this'll be much of a competition.

BC & SL is far less terrible

Both suck dick.

Tough call...
SC has some interesting musical ideas, but so many cringeworthy sections, especially with lame melodramatic singing by James and plenty of ripoffs. BCSL is more palatable, but not very exciting. Gonna go with BCSL just as a matter of preference.

Systematic chaos

(it's more fun)

Not even a contest, Black Clouds is better.

BC but they're both bad.

I liked black clouds a little at first but it's the album where I officially got sick of the band. I would be listening to a nightmare to remember and it would be, say, three minutes until the end of the song and it would feel just about wrapped up, but dream theater decides that they need to stretch it out as long as they possibly can. it has gotten so old, I don't think I could stand to listen to something so pointless again.

some moments are better than anything on systematic chaos, but the best of times, the shattered fortress, a rite of passage, and parts of a nightmare to remember just aren't good at all, whereas the only song I legitimately hate on sc is constant motion, and I actually get a bit of enjoyment from that album as a whole.

I like BC&SL more overall than SC, but the first part of In the Presence of Enemies is better than anything else on either album. BC&SL gets my vote.

Lol @ Black Clouds winning.

Thats funny cause Repentance is the 3rd, maybe 4th best song out of both those albums.

SC because I like Constant Motion.

God, I actually have to say after listening to SC that overall it's not as bad as I thought. The bad parts are seriously laughable, but the good parts are pretty good. I have to stand corrected I think.

SC is their worst album, so this is an easy choice.

He's probably right actually, and it's still fucking shit. I reckon I'd only place ItPoE pt 1, Count of Tuscany, and possibly The Shattered Fortress above it.

this is like comparing drinking a glass of piss to eating a bowl of shit

SC because The Dark Eternal Night is one of the few Dream Theater songs I like.

This is difficult. I really only like the first and last song on each album. After recently listening to both albums, ItPoE 1&2 just seemed to be a little more creative. However, I really enjoy JPs work in BC&SL. I think I'm gonna have to go with SC.

which one is which

i would much rather drink a glass of piss

BC&SL

I think BC&SL is a very good album and don't understand the hatred for that and Octavarium.

Both album are enjoyable for me, brought down by the stinkers Repentance and The Best Of Times, as well as the directionless wanking that sucks all the emotional energy from key songs (ITPOE2, TMOLS, ANTR, BLEEPANDBLOOP). But only one has The Count Of Tuscany.

It's called mediocrity.

Both albums have such a wide range. You cant tell me In The Presence of Enemies and Ministry of Lost souls aren't absolutely fantastic, as well as The Best of Times, a Nightmare to Remember and The Count of Tuscany (not including lyrics on that one EL OH EL). At the same time you have, Constant motion (although I loved their live performance of it on Chaos in Motion), The Dark Eternal Night, Prophets of war, and a Rite of Passage........

Neither of these albums in whole are BAD. Come on people, if any other band besides Dream Theater released these albums they would be getting praised. I go with BC&SL because there is a higher ratio of Good:"Bad" content overall.

Why do you hate America, DKalens1?

ItPoE is great for the first part, the second is let down by the dark master bullshit. Musically it's got still got some good stuff though, I'll admit.
Ministry of Silly Walks would be fine if it was about 8 minutes shorter. The good parts really are good, and the closing solo is nice. The instrumental in the middle is shit.
Best of Times is dull as ditchwater, apart from JP's closing solo again.
Nightmare to Remember defines the 'Good Parts Surrounded by Shit' ethos of modern DT more or less perfectly.
The Count of Tuscany is The Count of Tuscany.

Prophets of War and Constant Motion are two of the gayest songs I've ever heard. Certainly the gayest in DT's repertoire.

I'm a fanboy and I agree with all of that aside from ITPOE2 and POW.

Portnoy, go post at your own forum, fuck.

5/8: too cool for DT.

Nah man, I still love Dream Theater, I just pretend they broke up right after Octavarium.

But seriously, if I was stranded on an island with five CD's at least one of them would be a DT CD.

Their best album still has yet to be made.

Are they re-recording Awake with bebot solos and blast beats?

I said their best album, not their most overrated album with bebot solos and blast beats. Anyways it's all about the harpeji and iPad solos nowadays, try to keep up.

Prophets of War would be a really nice song if I could stand the lyrics.


Debate this faggot's just cause

Yes you are right, taking the middle ground on an issue and not completely demonizing them or blindly praising them makes me such a fanboy.

"You cant tell me In The Presence of Enemies and Ministry of Lost souls aren't absolutely fantastic, as well as The Best of Times, a Nightmare to Remember and The Count of Tuscany"

that's not the middle ground, you're basically saying no one can have a different opinion to you and yeah that sort of is blind praise

nice try though, you can go home now

Holy shit, reading comprehension please? My post said that there were songs which were fantastic and others that were terrible. The albums as a whole are incredibly inconsistent and nowhere near the quality of their older stuff. So yes, they are still a great band and aren't deserving of the shit-storm their name generates on these forums, but no their latest releases are nothing that will make your jaw drop and are understandably disappointing to the long time fans. Pointing out both the positives and the negatives is taking the middle ground jackalope.

Mike, relax. We still think you're a pretty good drummer, okay?

Better than that Peart asshole?

Seriously? How the FUCK is BC&SL winning?

I mean, they both suck, but BC&SL is just complete shit.

Because The Count Of Tuscany.

BC&SL because of the brilliant troll lyrics to TCOT. Anything else on either album is almost complete shit with few redeeming features. Same for octavarium.