100 Artists I Love or Hate
 

• Thumbs up rating or thumbs down rating
  For example:
  
  http://i40.tinypic.com/15mmcxw.png - For a band or artist that I love.
  
  http://i44.tinypic.com/j5b3f6.png - For a band or artist that I hate.
  
  
• key points about the artist or band
• 1 or 2 youtube videos I love or hate from the band

That's pretty much the jist of it. Nothing too flashy and nothing too special but it's exactly the way I have it in my head, so I think it will work great.

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#100 - #1:

100: Dream Theater
99: Nightwish (Anette)
98: Elliott Smith
97: Alesana
96: Devin Townsend (Band / Project)
95: Opeth
94: The Smashing Pumpkins
93: Pink Floyd (Syd Barrett)
92: Jon Anderson (Vocalist / Solo)
91: Tarja (Vocalist / Solo)
90: Madonna
89: Sufjan Stevens
88: Steely Dan
87: Miss May I
86: Nick Drake

Yay, nothing like some good old fashioned hate

#100: Dream Theater

http://i40.tinypic.com/15mmcxw.png

• James LaBrie is an incredible vocalist, and sure, he has his off moments, but he's got range which is very important for a vocalist to have.
• Though some people are pretty disappointed with the lack of Portnoy on the drums, I think it did the band some good to get a new (more talented) drummer. Mangini fits the part well.
• Though some of their releases lack in talent compared to the rest, there are very VERY few albums that I dislike from this band, mostly the pre-LaBrie releases.
• The band itself is full of great musicians. That's evident on it's own.
• Though some would disagree, Dream Theater are NOT a prog band. They are hard rock with some progressive elements.

The Live at Budokan DVD on it's own is fantastic, but this particular song takes the cake, especially with Petrucci's solo:



And this song is great as well, I love the Images and Words release. I would easily rank this song as one of my top 5 favorite Dream Theater songs of all time:



Than you've got the new release, which still continues to get some mixed opinions, I personally thought it was great, especially with the closing track:

Well, there are definitely some bands that I 100% do not like, and there are reasons for it. There'll probably be 95% more like than hate in this thread though.

#99: Nightwish (Anette)

http://i44.tinypic.com/j5b3f6.png

• Anette does not fit the band at all, especially when a lot of Nightwish fans listen to her with a bias of Tarja's voice.
• They seem like such an unoriginal hard rock band now. It's not favorable or enjoyable.
• The guitarist still shows a lot of talent and passion in his playing, which is nice to hear.
• My chances of seeing Nightwish w/ Tarja perform live are pretty much out the window. Something I would have done in a heartbeat.
• I'll say that Anette does have a nice voice, but it's a voice that would work better with "Anette Solo Albums" or in a band like Flyleaf or an artist like Emilie Autumn. Not a metal band.

There's one song that always comes to mind when I think of Nightwish with Anette, and it's this one:



The song starts off really really good. Exactly what you would expect from Nightwish, if not more. With the heavy guitar riffs and all that. But than Anette starts singing and the feel of the song is just...completely gone. I wish I could enjoy the band again with this vocalist, but she just does not fit. Simple as that.

I agree with both of your picks so far, DT are universally hated on here and since you love Asia, its obvious your going to dig DT like me. I've always said DT are basically a rock band that just added prog and metal elements to their sound.

I saw Dream Theater last year and they put on an incredible show. They looked like they have a blast performing, which is always a good sign.

And yes, I have loved DT for quite some time. I got into them around when they released Systematic Chaos, but eventually worked my way toward their other releases.

Milano, I was looking at doing an album countdown later this year which would have included the likes of BMTH and Alesana amongst other bands prone to prejudice, but I reckon you're way ahead of me on that with your inclusion of Dream Theater.

Will read this with interest as you're a man who knows a good tune.

Its a good album, but I'd still say their best four albums were Images and Words, Awake, Metroplis Pt.2 and Six Degree of Inner Turbulence. As for James LaBrie's voice that is touch and go, he's had a history of problems with it.

I'm glad there is some DT love on here, it seems like a band that's hated on quite often. I used to literally have an obsession with them (basically when I discovered what prog was, and it blew my young and innocent mind away), but I've calmed down a bit since then. As for the albums, I agree with most of your picks, but I really digged the most recent one, and I'd even dare swap it with Awake. There are some weak tracks on it, but I think Breaking all illusions and Outcry make up for it on their own.

Another thing I've noticed about DT is that 2 of their epics are on pretty weak albums (A change of seasons and Octavarium)