Ayreon/Arjen Lucassen Thread (Star Three on the way)

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Fifth is Sherinian, Sixth is van der Broek.

[abydos]

Joost's solo on 6th is really nice and I generally enjoy his work but in this case I simply can't see a solid reason for changing it. Tomas did a perfect job and that solo is one of the most elegant things I've heard.

And Derek is \m/ as usual.

[Evermind]

Joost's solo on 6th is really nice and I generally enjoy his work but in this case I simply can't see a solid reason for changing it. Tomas did a perfect job and that solo is one of the most elegant things I've heard.

Yeah, the whole Waking Dreams is one of my favourite moments on the album after the epic Jorn / Floor showdowns in Liquid Eternity and Beneath the Waves.

[Cyclopssss]

Sorry guys my bad....so to make up for it, here´s some Gentle Storm live WITH Arjen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYUNZozU8l4&feature=youtu.be

[Cyclopssss]

Fuck it, here´s Fallout as well... (Devin Townsend song)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKo0BOi0epc

[Cyclopssss]

Official live video of The Storm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qpseRKIYuE&feature=youtu.be

edit-made a mistake posting the link

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Official live video of The Storm:

[urlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qpseRKIYuE&feature=youtu.be][/url]

Hmm did they forgot to private the video because they released it today?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qpseRKIYuE&feature=youtu.be

[Crow]

really I'm enjoying this album more than I expected to, though both discs seem to lose me a bit after The Storm, dunno why.
and i probably prefer the Storm version overall but both are good, not Arjen's best but still good

[CaelPetrucci]

i got into Ayreon through Dream Theater, and I gotta say, Arjen Anthony Lucassen is a mastermind. 01011001 has one of my favourite album closers ever in the Sixth Extinction, I absolutely love the song 'Pain' from The Human Equation and it helped me to land a role as the Narrator in my school's production of Into the Woods, and I've loved the songs ever since I heard them. Is this just me or do any of you out there like Ayreon's stuff too!

Also, this is the first topic I've ever started on the site!

[bl5150]

Hey there.    Ayreon thread is here 

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=77.msg1941824#msg1941824

[CaelPetrucci]

Oh, sorry. Hadn't seen it. Thanks for sharing! 

[CaelPetrucci]

Man, I owe Arjen big time. Sang Pain in my audition for my school production (which was only allowed because of Theater Equation) and landed the role of the Narrator (the production is Into the Woods). Also, 01011001 has the best opener and closer (to the album as a whole, I don't count Disc One and Two as separated in any way) with Age of Shadows and Sixth Extinction, I just love the effect at the beginning, and the fact that a single blast of it is what kills the universe of Planet Y's timeline is awesome.

I reckon I'll love this until I die, or at least well until 2085

[Evermind]

01011001 has some mediocre tunes, but I agree both Age of Shadows and The Sixth Extinction are stellar.

[CaelPetrucci]

Agreed, basically if it isn't on Timeline or titled 'Comatose', 'Liquid Eternity', 'Connect the Dots', 'Beneath The Waves' or 'E=MC2' (I don't know how to do the squared on here) it isn't really worth it to me. Still, I will buy 01... the second I see it. Same as I will with every Ayreon album, except Theory of Everything which I already have the super deluxe version with the 4CD+DVD+hard cover booklet version, which was purchased with the pay from my first paid gig EVER!

[Evermind]

Agreed, basically if it isn't on Timeline or titled 'Comatose', 'Liquid Eternity', 'Connect the Dots', 'Beneath The Waves' or 'E=MC2' (I don't know how to do the squared on here) it isn't really worth it to me. Still, I will buy 01... the second I see it. Same as I will with every Ayreon album, except Theory of Everything which I already have the super deluxe version with the 4CD+DVD+hard cover booklet version, which was purchased with the pay from my first paid gig EVER!

Yeah, that's cool. I didn't order the artbook from TTOE for some stupid reasons I don't remember, and got the 2CD+DVD mediabook instead, but I amended that by buying The Gentle Storm deluxe artbook pack. 01 is being sold on Arjen's site too, it comes in a nice box with the actual 2CDs and the bonus DVD.

And I'm not really too fond of Connect the Dots and E=MC^2, but to each his own. Scratch those tracks, Web of Lies and Newborn Race, this would've been an outstanding album for me. It's still great though.

[CaelPetrucci]

Ok, Arjen appreciation elevated! Sent him an eMail two weeks ago, he sent me a reply today, one that pretty much confirms something I really wanted. Man, I am so happy.

Hi Arjen!
My name is Cael McLeish and I live in Bunbury, Western Australia.

== Hi Cael

I love Drama and Music and perform in those areas whenever I can, and because of that, Ayreon really speaks to me.

== Good to read!

I first heard of your music as a Dream Theater fan, and while looking at one of their albums one day, The Final Experiment came up as a recommendation on YouTube. I instantly fell in love with it, and from there proceeded to check out The Human Equation, which was miles beyond anything I'd listened to before!

== I'm honored...

The idea of having so many different vocalists and musicians all coming together to do such a project seems like such a difficult task, but yet listening to your albums, it seems like such a great joy to be able to work on for a living.

== Not difficult at all, quite the contrary... all these great vocalists and musicians make my work a lot easier!

Recently, I auditioned for my School's production of Into the Woods, and they wanted both an acting and musical component, so I chose to do the song Pain, and through that I managed to get the role of the narrator for the show.

== Congrats!

Your music has also inspired me to start working on more 'epic' music and get more people involved in my projects.

== Glad I've been able to inspire you.

So for all of this and more, I would like to say a great thank you.

== You're very welcome, my pleasure.

Your music is truly awesome and unique and I'm very glad that I made the choice to spend my first ever payment from a gig to buying the special edition of The Theory of Everything, it is one of my favourite possessions as a progressive fan.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.
Cael McLeish
Bunbury, Western Australia

== Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated!

PS. Please make a DVD of The Theater Equation!

== I'm working on it! It's pretty expensive, but it would be a shame not to do it :-)

Cheers,
Arjen.

[bl5150]

It always makes me feel good seeing an artist giving such respect to his fans.   Welcome to another Aussie too 

[Big Hath]

Arjen is awesome.  I sent him an email a couple of years ago, and similar to this he sent a very thoughtful reply that touched on everything I had written.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Once again i'm reminded how good sonically Victims Of The Modern Age is. Had a listen in my car today and I feel that the album shine when you blast it on speakers rather than headphones. The guitar sounds is so freakin good imo. Hearing Closer to the Stars on speakers at a good volume is epic!

[ErHaO]

Heads up, there will be a try out for the theater equation show, featuring the original band and the choir/understudies performing the whole album. Nice appetizer for the actual theater production and I love being able to see the album in regular concert form as well. I am definitely going to this 

https://www.bibelot.net/agenda/775/The-Theater-Equation



Also, for those going to the show (only Evermind here, I guess?), there is a forum dedicated to help you out if there are any questions or complications (travelling, accomodation etc.) https://shadowfreaks.com/forum/index.php.

Once again i'm reminded how good sonically Victims Of The Modern Age is. Had a listen in my car today and I feel that the album shine when you blast it on speakers rather than headphones. The guitar sounds is so freakin good imo. Hearing Closer to the Stars on speakers at a good volume is epic!

Agreed. His modern albums always sound so clean and clear yet bombastic/epic. And that without being overproduced/unnatural sounding or anything. VotMA rocks 

[Cedar redaC]

I always thought it would be cool to see The Human Equation live. This is awesome!

[goo-goo]

I always thought it would be cool to see The Human Equation live. This is awesome!

I've been spinning THE a couple of times this past week. This album aged pretty well. When it was first released, Akerfeldts vocals were a turn-off. But now that I LOVE Opeth, it's a whole different animal.

[Evermind]

Yeah, I'll certainly look through the forum ErHaO posted. I'm most interested in the Luxor Theater description, I think I can handle travelling and accomodation.

I won't be able to visit the try-out show of course, but I also kind of don't want to. I'd like to see this show fresh and with the original singers (well, mostly), that's why I booked the first Friday show. I think I'll be avoiding this thread from 6th of September so I wouldn't get spoiled at all (I want to know if the try-out show was awesome or not though )

We can also do some sort of meet-up before the main show too.

[ErHaO]

Yesterday I put the storm disc of The Diary on repeat when I was travelling, great album and while it clearly has Arjen's signature songwriting/sound, I think it has a fresh feeling. The Storm/Gentle dynamic is interesting (still not sure which I like the most though, depends on my mood I guess) and Anneke's performance is great. Too bad I did not have the time to go to the live shows. But at least I will see Anneke live later on this year   

As for future Arjen projects, I hope we will get some Star One goodness again before he goes the Ayreon route (since TTOE and GS:TD were more progrock and folkrock respectively and SO is more straight on metal).

Yeah, I'll certainly look through the forum ErHaO posted. I'm most interested in the Luxor Theater description, I think I can handle travelling and accomodation.

I won't be able to visit the try-out show of course, but I also kind of don't want to. I'd like to see this show fresh and with the original singers (well, mostly), that's why I booked the first Friday show. I think I'll be avoiding this thread from 6th of September so I wouldn't get spoiled at all (I want to know if the try-out show was awesome or not though )

We can also do some sort of meet-up before the main show too.

Yeah, I was having some second thoughts whether I wanted to keep the real-deal fresh or not, but decided to go (tickets are in!). Since it is only an hour away, about 20 euro's and features all the understudies in a small venue concert setting, it might be a cool appetizer for the show. All the vocalists on THE (and the show) have pretty distinct voices, so it is going to be interesting to hear others perform the piece. And offcourse I'll post about it here! I might try to make a decent sound bootleg, but cannot promise anything (they better make a pro-shot live recording of the full show!).

About a meet-up, that's cool. I am attending the sunday afternoon show. But I live about 20 min away from Amsterdam's centrum, so if you want to meet up before/afterwards, you are welcome! And I frequently visit/travel trough Rotterdam as well, so chances are I am close-by anyways. If you have any questions about the Netherlands, be it transport or general cultural stuff, don't hesitate to ask Goes for other DTF'ers as well.

I always thought it would be cool to see The Human Equation live. This is awesome!

I've been spinning THE a couple of times this past week. This album aged pretty well. When it was first released, Akerfeldts vocals were a turn-off. But now that I LOVE Opeth, it's a whole different animal.

Yeah, it is a personal classic. Cannot imagine why Akerfeldts were a turnoff though, or do you specifically mean the growling? In that case, I think I would've had the same without some Opeth listening experience (but I am not too fond of growling in general, exceptions aside).

[Mosh]

Checked this out the other day. I liked the gentle disc a lot but couldn't really get into the storm disc. The heavier orchestrations and distorted guitars took me out of the album at times. Some good moments there but the gentle disc was far superior IMO.

[Evermind]

About a meet-up, that's cool. I am attending the sunday afternoon show. But I live about 20 min away from Amsterdam's centrum, so if you want to meet up before/afterwards, you are welcome! And I frequently visit/travel trough Rotterdam as well, so chances are I am close-by anyways. If you have any questions about the Netherlands, be it transport or general cultural stuff, don't hesitate to ask Goes for other DTF'ers as well.

I'm attending Friday evening show, and I'm going to stay in Rotterdam for ten days, so I'm sure we'll figure something out for the meet-up. After the show would be the best option to meet probably, this way we can discuss the show too without spoiling each other.

I will definitely need some advices about general cultural stuff and all that, maybe also some advices about what places to visit and so on. I'll be sure to ask some questions in a few months, probably some time at the end of August.

Checked this out the other day. I liked the gentle disc a lot but couldn't really get into the storm disc. The heavier orchestrations and distorted guitars took me out of the album at times. Some good moments there but the gentle disc was far superior IMO.

I agree, Gentle version is where it's at.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Hi Arjen!, The Theater Equation will be recorded for Blu-ray?

I hope so, Bastian, we are working on it!

 

[jingle.boy]

Hi Arjen!, The Theater Equation will be recorded for Blu-ray?

I hope so, Bastian, we are working on it!

 

Oh.  Hell.  Yes!!!

[rumborak]

Don't know if you guys are aware of this:

https://omegataupodcast.net/2014/02/142-making-ayreons-music/

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Don't know if you guys are aware of this:

https://omegataupodcast.net/2014/02/142-making-ayreons-music/

That's cool, will check it out.

As always I’m curious to your thoughts... which WELL-KNOWN singer would you most like to hear on a new album of mine? It’s okay if I already worked with him/her. ONLY ONE NAME please, thanks!

I would love to see a collab with Bruce Dickinson again or Tony Martin. I think i'm ready for a new Star One.

[jingle.boy]

I think i'm ready for a new Star One.

I don't have to think, I KNOW I'm ready.  Two of my fave albums of all time.  Though, I wouldn't want the lineup to change - those four are magic together.

I voted Todd LaTorre... but really, there's an endless list of vocalists I'd love to see him work with - Rick Altzi, Andy Kuntz, Ted Leonard, Michael Eriksen come to mind.

[abydos]

So many names I wanted to list but since i had to go with one, I picked Sebastian Bach. His vocals on Frameshift are nothing short of amazing.

[kaos2900]

So many names I wanted to list but since i had to go with one, I picked Sebastian Bach. His vocals on Frameshift are nothing short of amazing.

Speaking of Frameshift. What's up with that? Two great albums and then gone.

As far as Star One goes, I only have on of the albums. They are hard to track down with spending a huge amount of money.

[abydos]

/off

From my emails with Henning.

I’d also have a blast finishing the album with Adrian, no doubt. FS3 is completely finished and rocking’ and the 4th one with Adrian would be killer…

I have all that stuff sitting here, but no label giving me any money for it… I want peanuts… next to nothing…. but no interest… but I do need something… this stuff is worth money and I don’t see the point in releasing it only for the „fans“ to download it for free and share it like it belongs to them… this is my job and I need to make a living with it.

So… I don’t know if, how and when this music will ever be released… I just need a few bucks for it to send it out into the world !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rRrHd_8L_8 His YT channel has a lot of cool vids, demos and "tutorials".

[jingle.boy]

re: Henning and FS/3 - which was at first titled The God Delusion, but I think that is his goal for FS/4.  FS/3 is actually titled Loading Oakfield.  I remember him saying what you've quoted above about 3 years ago, when he actually shared a copy of the album (which I still have).  It's good, but not nearly as good as either of the first two.  Henning seems completely ambivalent to releasing his music nowadays, focused on other things.

Back on Arjen... it'll be interesting to see the results of his little FB poll - and what he intends to do with it.