The Odyssey vs Octavarium

decypher wrote: You can laugh as much as you like, no problem. For me it's not about complexity (which actually is an advantage for Symphony X, regarding to their very simple song structures around the (mostly very good) instrumental parts - it's the Malmsteen-Thing, boring songs, good solos, next one please - sounded 1985 like it did 1995 and 2005 and will sound the same in 2015). (I do like "Accolade") Yep I voted for DT (of course), even though they definitely made very cheesy songs in the past, I just think they have much more variety to offer than the neoclassical-lalala-stuff from symphony x, which seems far more limited to me than DT's style.

I agree with most everything you said.  Symphony X lacks variation.  Octavarium is a wonderfully composed song.  The piece is always building and has a lot more character to it than The Odyssey does.  I see Octavarium as a much more passionate piece because it's a song that is an invention all to Dream Theater.  I don't see much passion with Symphony X basically narrating a Homer Poem.  That's like Iced Earth being passionate over a comic book.

The complexity of Octavarium is far beyond that of The Odyssey.  With Octavarium we have excellent chromatic and modal passages.  With Octavarium we have more time signatures and hemiolas. With Octavarium we have a more variant song structure.  With The Odyssey, we don't really have any of that. 

I also agree with Ed.  A Change of Seasons vs. Divine Wings of Tragedy.  (As usuall I'd vote for Dream Theater.)

Octavarium, although both Songs are FAR form being masterpieces... Actually far from being great songs...

There should be a poll bout the real masterpieces:

A Change of Seasons vs The Divine Wings of Tragedy

Xymphony wrote: decypher wrote: and a very obvious and shallow kind of "complexity", DT is a different class.   Oh that's right, Octavarium is much much much much more complex song than The Odyssey.   Oh please, don't make me laugh

Octavarium is Extreamly complex in concept.

This is a page that explains the concept of octavarium. It talks about the whole album, but goes into detail about the song twards the bottom.

Majestic_Mayhem wrote: Yep, John Petrucci has that jazzy "edge" compared to Mike Romeo.

But the edge of Romeo is mich sharper ... he really rocks.

I think that Octavarium is really well composed and contains some stunning parts, great musicianship. The Odyssey is simpler ... but also much more interesting. And the different parts really work in the context of the story, which can't really be said for Octavarium.

You can laugh as much as you like, no problem.
For me it's not about complexity (which actually is an advantage for Symphony X, regarding to their very simple song structures around the (mostly very good) instrumental parts - it's the Malmsteen-Thing, boring songs, good solos, next one please - sounded 1985 like it did 1995 and 2005 and will sound the same in 2015). (I do like "Accolade")
Yep I voted for DT (of course), even though they definitely made very cheesy songs in the past, I just think they have much more variety to offer than the neoclassical-lalala-stuff from symphony x, which seems far more limited to me than DT's style.


Edited by decypher

The Odyssey...

decypher wrote: The Odyssey is ok but like all Symphony X stuff that I have heard so far, typical "symphonic 'progressive'(?) power metal cheese" - I just hate that typical neoclassical thing like "Kings of Terror" (hehe, such a title makes me think they must be swedish!) and a very obvious and shallow kind of "complexity", DT is a different class.

Symphony x makes good cheese!, DT has their share of cheese too..

I like both none the less!... and so you voted for DT i guess???

Odyssey this time...

definitely THE ODYSSEY !

Gosh, these are both great songs. The later portions of Octavarium are some of my favorite passages ever, but the first ten or so minutes, while still being good, don't always please me as much as the later half, possibly due to their longevity, with lack of energy. Now, The Odyssey has a brilliant intro, and too has a climatic ending, with some good stuff in between. Hmm, I'm not sure.