The Odyssey vs Octavarium

The Odyssey is far better than Octovarium

And it does justice to Homer’s poem.

W.Chuck wrote: AtLossForWords wrote: The Odyssey is a much more variant and innovative song. [IMG]style="WIDTH: 397px; HEIGHT: 245px" height=119 src="smileys/smiley36.gif" width=17> The rhythm section (guitar and drums) of the Odyssey is more complex and diverse. That's a joke too.  John Myung is exponentially better than Mike LePond.  LePond is a straight rythymn bass player.  The only melodic line he has is the the tapping part of Egypt back on V.  LePond's bass lines add nothing to the music of Symphony X.  John Myung on the other hand plays parts that are reasonably separate from Petrucci's guitar line.  Myung uses much more of his bass and plays much more melodic lines.  The unison part in the insturmental section of Octavarium alone is enough to show the bass playing in Octavarium is exponentially better than the bass playing in The Odyssey. omg, that's so sad... Can't you even read? I've extra written (GUITAR AND DRUMS)... I wouldn't have written that if I would have meant the bass too... PLEASE read a text carefully before making a mock of you... AtLossForWords wrote: Do you really want to compare Mike Portnoy to Jason Rullo? Rullo inevitably uses a four on the floor beat with his bass drum. Rullo isn't variant. He may be underrated by some, but to say that his work is more complex and diverse than Portnoy's is rubbish. Portnoy has consistently shown the ability to throw fills in unconventional spots in songs. Portnoy is a master at creating different solos. I don't even really catch Rullo's solos, but Portnoy never fails to create a solo that surprises the listener. same here... I talked about THE ODYSSEY!!!!!!... NOT about both of them in general!!!...in general Mike Portnoy is much better, but in the Odyssey Jason Rullo is simply amazing, just listen to the song carefully in a bass mode and listen carefully to the drums! I don't know what's wrong with you? Are you ignoring some words to show off in your answer how bad Symphony X and how great Dream Theater is, like you always do, when there is any opportunity?

So in your musical world, a rythymn section is made up of guitars and drums, not bass and drums?  I'm sorry, but when there is a discussion over a rock/metal band, and I hear someone mention rythymn section, I think bass and drums.  Why, because that's a what a rythymn section is.

So Rullo is selectively better than Mike Portnoy?  Did Mike Portnoy just decide not to be as skillfull in the song Octavarium?  If Mike Portnoy is better than Rullo, why wouldn't that be evident when two songs are of comparable quality are being compared?  Maybe if it's The Odyssey vs. You Not Me, I could understand that.  This is Octavarium vs. The Odyssey, I think it's fair to compare these drum parts by technique.

Octavarium, because I usually vote for Dream Theater over Symphony X!

Nah, Jus' Kiddin'. I really like Octavarium over the title track, the Odyssey. You know why? Despite the lack of originality and the lack of proper melody, I still find the overall epic to more better and more creative than the Odyssey. The usage of the Pink Floyd entrance, Genesis-like phrases, along with more melodic Dream Theater riffs (As compared to harsh Michael Romeo chug-chug riffs ), more melodic singing by Labrie (Even though I find Russell Allen's voice to better on this song that on the entire Odyssey album, I which I must say was not a good one ).

Overall, despite the lack of originality, Dream Theater pulls off this epic very well, it is among my favorite songs of 2005 because of that.

Also here, we are comparing different styles. As mentioned before, Symphony X is a Neo-Classically influenced band with a lot of Neo-Classical Symphonic sections, the beginning of the epic sounds like Lord of the Rings soundtrack music! While, on the other hand, even though Dream Theater on this song uses strings and a small symphony, they still manage to sound like Dream Theater, which is the more Jazzier style as compared to Neo-Classical Metal.

I wouldn't want to vote in this poll as it is to compare styles, but I see Dream Theater desperately needs help!