Prog-Metal 2nd and 3rd position

Now that a solid portion of this thread has been discussing Planet X, I will give my input. They are incredible, incredible musicians. There is no denying all of their abilities. Their compositions are highly technical, both in speed and meter. They are always playing in ridiculous time signatures and patterns, and I appreciate what they do for sure. Planet X probably did one up Dream Theater with those, but they hardly show any emotion. As fascinating as the music itself is, I have minimal to no emotional response to it. Even when Dream Theater is doing highly technical, speedy things, they invoke emotion into it. There is never a dull moment. There is unarguable ingenuity in MoonBabies, but beyond that and a couple of hooks, there is a void.

And as for the poll topic, while I can see a handful of albums beating Images & Words, Second Life Syndrome is not one of them, at least not right now.

Rising Force wrote: King of Loss wrote: Rising Force wrote: King of Loss wrote: Rising Force wrote: King of Loss wrote: Rising Force wrote: Planet X - Moonbabies is the real #1. It's the best album of the past 20 years, IMO. I think that album sucks ass. Images and Words for me. I think Images and Words sucks ass. Planet X ass rapes DT.   Planet X with all its w**king and no emotion? The emotion comes out in their furious chops! C'mon now, tech. wise, they destroy DT.   McAlpine plays better than JP? Derek Sherinian plays better than JR? Mr. Donati I'll give to you, but JP and JR own McAlpine's mindless w**king and Sherinian's whatever that is! MacAlpine plays better than JP, absolutely! More versatile and more chops. Plus, MacAlpine's solo career is much better. Petrucci's solo album is weak! Rudess does take Sherinian, but Larue takes Myung! 3-1, Planet X. Let's not forget that Billy Sheehan, Tom Kennedy, Jimmy Johnson, and Brett Garsed have played for Planet X, and Allan Holdsworth is going to be on the next album!

Can you explain to me why McAlpine is a better player.  I've never heard McAlpine pull of solos like Home and despite the lack of depth in composition, The Glass Prison has some ripping solos from Petrucci.  I don't think McAlpine is as good of a player as Petrucci.  Petrucci has unrivaled clarity to his playing.  His versitility is definately there too.  Just look at the contrast between songs like Goodnight Kiss and The Test That Stumpted Them All.  Then look at the contrast between An Evening With John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess and Liquid Tension Experiment II.  I don't think LaRue or Tom Kennedy can take Myung.  Myung has excellent tapping skills to compliment his creative rythymn playing.  I didn't here Kennedy do anything that was beyond essential Jazz skills.  Kennedy is a great player, but he doesn't show the complete chops and creativity that John Myung does.