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

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions guys. I'll start my Ayreon journey with Into the Electric Castle and work my way forward mostly chronological.

[MirrorMask]

The source is actually the prequel to 01011001. I was really happy when i heard "The Age of Shadows will begin." Before Age of Shadows on Ayreon Universe, that made it have a nice impact.

Yeah, it makes you feel like wanting to go to listen to it right after.

It would even work as a concert encore experience. You end the show with Journey to Forever, the band leaves the stage while the last track plays over the PA, and then the encore begins with Age of Shadows.

[kaos2900]

Just spend the last couple of weeks revisiting the Ayreon catalog and my top 3 as of now would be:

The Human Equation
The Source
The Universal Migrator

Though I really do enjoy them all Into the Electric Castle is probable my least favorite.

[ErHaO]

My top 3 as is now:

-The Human Equation
-The Theory of Everything
-01011001 or The Source, can't decide at this moment. But I can say at this point in time I absolutely love The Source.

[Kwyjibo]

Not that it's changing anything, but here's my top 3 at the moment

1. The Human Equation
2. The Theory Of Everything
3a. The Source/3b. Flight Of The Migrator (single disc)

Yeah, that's 4, so what. 

[Nick]

1. The Human Equation
2. Into the Electric Castle

Not even going to both explaining those as plenty of others have/will.

3. The Final Experiment

Along with When Dream and Day Unite one of the absolutely most undervalued debuts in all of prog. All the greatness of Ayreon is right there on the very first album, and even though the names aren't as big, all the vocal talent is there and amazing. It's easy to follow and has a good amount of killer tracks.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

1. The Human Equation
2. Into the Electric Castle

Not even going to both explaining those as plenty of others have/will.

3. The Final Experiment

Along with When Dream and Day Unite one of the absolutely most undervalued debuts in all of prog. All the greatness of Ayreon is right there on the very first album, and even though the names aren't as big, all the vocal talent is there and amazing. It's easy to follow and has a good amount of killer tracks.

Damn, I'll have to circle back and listen to that one next once I'm done with the Electric Castle, or rather, when it's done with me.

[MirrorMask]

I was never the biggest fan of the more cerebral, proggy early era, I'm a "commercial" sellout who likes the later albums 

So it'd be
1 The Human Equation
2 01011001
3 The Source

I'm fine with The Theory of Everything but I never completely warmed up to it.

[Ben_Jamin]

The source is actually the prequel to 01011001. I was really happy when i heard "The Age of Shadows will begin." Before Age of Shadows on Ayreon Universe, that made it have a nice impact.

Yeah, it makes you feel like wanting to go to listen to it right after.

It would even work as a concert encore experience. You end the show with Journey to Forever, the band leaves the stage while the last track plays over the PA, and then the encore begins with Age of Shadows.

That would be awesome actually.

[ErHaO]

1. The Human Equation
2. Into the Electric Castle

Not even going to both explaining those as plenty of others have/will.

3. The Final Experiment

Along with When Dream and Day Unite one of the absolutely most undervalued debuts in all of prog. All the greatness of Ayreon is right there on the very first album, and even though the names aren't as big, all the vocal talent is there and amazing. It's easy to follow and has a good amount of killer tracks.

Gotta admit, The Final Experiment surprised me with it's awesomeness when I revisited it recently. I agree it is very and undeservedly overlooked. It is indeed a killer album. And the semi-acoustic bonus disc included in it's rereleases is, for me personally, even better.

[Evermind]

For me, it's:

1. The Human Equation (one of the best albums ever made)
2. The Theory of Everything (one of the best Ayreon albums ever made)
3. The Dream Sequencer (I love ballads and this record is full of them)

However, 01011001 has some of the best Ayreon songs, so this is a good one to check out, too.

[SleeperAwake]

I'd go with:

1. Into the Electric Castle
2. Universal Migrator 1 & 2
3. The Human Equation


Anyway, I'm loving the Ayreon Universe release. It has made me want to check out some of Damian Wilson's work. What would you fine folk recommend as a good starting place?

[Evermind]

Anyway, I'm loving the Ayreon Universe release. It has made me want to check out some of Damian Wilson's work. What would you fine folk recommend as a good starting place?

I have yet to check out Threshold albums he fronted, but I can definitely recommend Headspace - I Am Anonymous. This album is just amazing, as far as I'm concerned.

[kaos2900]

Threshold for sure. His album with Wakeman is really good too and I believe there is another one coming this year. Headspace is hit and miss for me. Love the first album, the second one did nothing for me.

[jingle.boy]

I'd go with:

1. Into the Electric Castle
2. Universal Migrator 1 & 2
3. The Human Equation


Anyway, I'm loving the Ayreon Universe release. It has made me want to check out some of Damian Wilson's work. What would you fine folk recommend as a good starting place?

Star One as well - Swano, Allen, Wilson and Jansen provide incredible chemistry for Arjen to write his heaviest music for.

Threshold - March of Progress is my fave Wilson fronted album.  His solo stuff isn't heavy at all, but very enjoyable.

[KevShmev]

Into the Electric Castle and The Dream Sequencer stand far above every other Ayreon album in existence (the majority of which are still very good).

[goo-goo]

Check out both Wilson/Wakeman albums and the 1st Headspace album. The stuff with Threshold is also good however, Threshold sometimes sounds a bit samey after a while. They are a very formulaic band

[kaos2900]

Wait, the new Wilson/Wakeman album is out already? (Runs to Amazon...)

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Into the Electric Castle was insane! After the first listen I didn't have a much of a clue of what actually happened in the story, so I had to read up on it. Could have used a bit more metal, but the music was very good, and I didn't find the spoken parts to be unbearably cheesy. Will spin this one a few more times before moving on.

[goo-goo]

Wait, the new Wilson/Wakeman album is out already? (Runs to Amazon...)

LOL. It's been out for a while, at least a couple of months. I got it through their campaign.

[kaos2900]

Yeah I'm a couple months late to the party it looks like. How is it compared to the first?

[PixelDream]

1. The Human Equation
2. Into the Electric Castle
3. 01010101111 or whatever
4. The Dream Sequencer

The first Star One album can go head to head with every one of these.

[MirrorMask]

3. 01010101111 or whatever

Tip to remember: they're four pairs of 01, but the second to last is inverted.

01, 01, 10 (invert this one), 01.

01011001.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

3. 01010101111 or whatever

Tip to remember: they're four pairs of 01, but the second to last is inverted.

01, 01, 10 (invert this one), 01.

01011001.

Would it be appropriate to refer to it as "Y"?

[MirrorMask]

Well, technically no, since it's the name of the first disc, while the second disc is named Earth.

But I grew up talking about "Master" and "Justice", I doubt that anyone would be confused by reading "I like the 0101 album".

[Ninjabait]

3. 01010101111 or whatever

Tip to remember: they're four pairs of 01, but the second to last is inverted.

01, 01, 10 (invert this one), 01.

01011001.

Would it be appropriate to refer to it as "Y"?

I don't see Y not, usually I just see it abbreviated as 01

[Nick]

3. 01010101111 or whatever

Tip to remember: they're four pairs of 01, but the second to last is inverted.

01, 01, 10 (invert this one), 01.

01011001.

Would it be appropriate to refer to it as "Y"?

While MirrorMask is correct, I still find Y acceptable as it is the literal translation of the title. 01 is also good.

[jammindude]

Guys, I don’t do this all the time...but once in awhile I have to pimp these guys because it’s just criminal how overlooked they are.

I was spinning Odd Logic’s 2 part rock opera today and falling in love with it all over again. And it occurred to me that it sounded a lot like a really kick ass Ayreon album (admittedly in demo form). I still think the material is strong enough that you guys would dig it. AND THEY ARE FREE!

Please give them a couple of spins and let it sink in.

Legends of Monta Part 1:

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/oddlogic2

Legends of Monta Part 2:

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/oddlogic3

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Am I the only one still diggin this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7nS3IzBD10
 

He definitely should do a project in the same vein.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Into the Electric Castle was insane! After the first listen I didn't have a much of a clue of what actually happened in the story, so I had to read up on it. Could have used a bit more metal, but the music was very good, and I didn't find the spoken parts to be unbearably cheesy. Will spin this one a few more times before moving on.

So after listening to Into the Electric Castle more times than I can remember, I was ready to move on to something else. So I listened to The Final Experiment. And while there were some good parts, and it was cool learning what "Ayreon" means, or rather, who it was,  I just wanted to listen to Into the Electric Castle again. So after finishing the debut album, I went right back to Castle.

Now I am giving my first listen to The Human Equation. I'm currently on day 14...and I am totally underwhelmed. Of all the praise that this album gets, I'm just not hearing it. I'll push through and give it a few more spins to see if it grows on me.

[Evermind]

DoC, I seem to remember you're more into "heavy" approach in music, so my guess is that you'll dig 01011001 a lot.

I, for one, absolutely adore The Human Equation, which I probably said in this thread like twenty times already. 

[ErHaO]

Into the Electric Castle was insane! After the first listen I didn't have a much of a clue of what actually happened in the story, so I had to read up on it. Could have used a bit more metal, but the music was very good, and I didn't find the spoken parts to be unbearably cheesy. Will spin this one a few more times before moving on.

So after listening to Into the Electric Castle more times than I can remember, I was ready to move on to something else. So I listened to The Final Experiment. And while there were some good parts, and it was cool learning what "Ayreon" means, or rather, who it was,  I just wanted to listen to Into the Electric Castle again. So after finishing the debut album, I went right back to Castle.

Now I am giving my first listen to The Human Equation. I'm currently on day 14...and I am totally underwhelmed. Of all the praise that this album gets, I'm just not hearing it. I'll push through and give it a few more spins to see if it grows on me.

Did you also check out the semi-acoustic second disc of The Final Experiment? I personally love that disc, and it was included with later rereleases (so not originally).

[kaos2900]

It took me a LONG time to appreciate The Human Equation. After listening to pretty much nothing but Ayreon for the last month or so I can easily say that The Source is my favorite and a top 5 album of all time for me.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

DoC, I seem to remember you're more into "heavy" approach in music, so my guess is that you'll dig 01011001 a lot.

I, for one, absolutely adore The Human Equation, which I probably said in this thread like twenty times already. 

I'm tempted to save 01011001 and The Source for last.... I think they'll be my favorites.

But Electric Castle isn't too "heavy" and I fn love it. Hopefully THE will click for me. I'll keep spinning it.

Into the Electric Castle was insane! After the first listen I didn't have a much of a clue of what actually happened in the story, so I had to read up on it. Could have used a bit more metal, but the music was very good, and I didn't find the spoken parts to be unbearably cheesy. Will spin this one a few more times before moving on.

So after listening to Into the Electric Castle more times than I can remember, I was ready to move on to something else. So I listened to The Final Experiment. And while there were some good parts, and it was cool learning what "Ayreon" means, or rather, who it was,  I just wanted to listen to Into the Electric Castle again. So after finishing the debut album, I went right back to Castle.

Now I am giving my first listen to The Human Equation. I'm currently on day 14...and I am totally underwhelmed. Of all the praise that this album gets, I'm just not hearing it. I'll push through and give it a few more spins to see if it grows on me.

Did you also check out the semi-acoustic second disc of The Final Experiment? I personally love that disc, and it was included with later rereleases (so not originally).

No I did not. I'll circle back and check it out at some point.

[jingle.boy]

I'm a concept album junkie, and the story behind THE was unique enough for me (and my first Ayreon experience), so that's why it's #2 Album of All-Time for me.  So many nuances to it, it's a lot to digest.  I'd recommend giving it a couple more chances, but if it doesn't click, no need to keep trying.  I'm a firm believer in not wasting time with music that doesn't click.  There's lots out there to enjoy, no need to force anything that isn't working.