Into the Electric Castle vs The Human Equation (AYREON)

[KevShmev]

My preference is still Into the Electric Castle, but it's closer than it used to be.  I used to resist the idea of THE being a top level album, but I finally got there with it in the last year or so. However, ... Electric Castle is still the best.

[Zydar]

Into The Electric Castle is my favourite Ayreon album. The Human Equation hasn't really grabbed me the same way, despite having JLB as the main vocalist.

I explored his discography last year, and Electric Castle stood out for me right away.

[wolfking]

THE.  No contest.

[MirrorMask]

THE.  No contest.

This.

Who cares if THE is more accessible. I love it.

[Deadeye21]

I can’t choose between them, they’re really very different albums.

The standout tracks are probably stronger on Electric Castle, but I love the whole Human Equation experience and have much less that I find myself skipping with THE. But all up, I don’t think I could choose.

[Adami]

I love them both. Today I’d vote for ITEC but tomorrow? Who knows.

[Stadler]

I'm still going with THE.  I was recommended ITEC by Chad and it was solid on first listen, then sort of fell off (I like 01011001 better than both) but it's grown on me.  They are both close, but I'm giving the nod to THE. 

[ProfessorPeart]

I love both. Human Equation was my first Ayreon album, but Electric Castle is where its at.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

They're pretty close to tied for me.  THE has more vocalists I like, but ITEC has more classic songs. 

[Skeever]

THE.

It really captures the "progressive metal" moment for me - JLB, Devin, Mikael, Mike Baker - in a way that ItEC doesn't. Arjen got these guys just in time too, I think. It wouldn't be as special to do it now, or even a few years later.

ItEC may be the better album in a lot of ways, but it just doesn't feel as special.

[Elite]

The

[425]

The Human Equation, pretty easily. I find ItEC too cheesy, and I have a hard time getting into the second disc.

However, I would put 01011001 and The Source above both.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Favorite song on the two albums?

On THE it's easily "Isolation".  Akerfeldt, Clayton, Irene, and Findlay in particular have great parts.  Even JLB continues his trend of sounding better outside of DT than in their main output itself.  Arjen has a knack for getting the most out of vocalists.  His first usage of the 7-string guitar, juicy Hammond parts, Goosens' flute passages, that killer Moog section with the sweeping, evolving timbres, one of Arjen's better solos, which turns into a duel and harmony with Joost, it's easily my most played song from the album. 

On ITEC it has to be "Amazing Flight".  Stellar production with that great groove with the crunchy electric, Hammond, and a great pocket from Warby.  Cool choral part punctuated by Feggelen, then into Sharon's floating vocals, all the dueling guitar, synthesizer, piano, flute, and acoustic guitar solos, and another outstanding ride groove from Warby at 7:07. 

As a bonus, "Valley of the Queens" has become such a staple of Arjen's material.  Anneke's original is splendid, but it also launched superb versions from Floor, Marcela, and Marjan. 

[jingle.boy]

THE is my #2 Album of All Time.  ITEC made the top 40, if I recall though.  Top 2 Ayreon albums without a doubt, but THE gets the nod.

[Adami]

With the exception of the heavy Devy songs (mostly Loser), I prefer the live version of THE. The album production just always rubs me the wrong way and I'm not sure I can articulate exactly why.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

As much as I love Anneke, having her replace Akerfeldt's vocal parts just didn't work for me.  Particularly the parts with growls, having them be more melodic, and maybe with Oosthoek doing backing growls like on "Trauma" really reduced the effectiveness of the parts to me.  The section with "Then you hear his voice, cold and merciless.  You worthless fool, you let her die" was one of my favorite line deliveries in all of Akerfeldt's oeuvre. 

[KevShmev]

With the exception of the heavy Devy songs (mostly Loser), I prefer the live version of THE. The album production just always rubs me the wrong way and I'm not sure I can articulate exactly why.

I've always felt like the drum sound on THE wasn't as great as the previous Ayreon albums. I still think that, but everything else is good enough to where I can live with it.

[wolfking]

THE is my #2 Album of All Time.

I'm not an Ayreon fanboy by any means, but I can respect this.  There's just something about this album that is fucking amazing from start to finish.  The atmosphere and feel of the whole thing is immense.

[Cool Chris]

I haven't listened to either in a really long time, but I do recall not enjoying some of the male vocal parts on ItEC. I haven't listened to THE is years either. I got a long road trip coming up; will add those to the queue.

Neither are among my favorite or most listened to Ayreon albums, nor does either have any of my favorite Ayreon songs.

[Bolsters]

ITEC

[Adami]

With the exception of the heavy Devy songs (mostly Loser), I prefer the live version of THE. The album production just always rubs me the wrong way and I'm not sure I can articulate exactly why.

I've always felt like the drum sound on THE wasn't as great as the previous Ayreon albums. I still think that, but everything else is good enough to where I can live with it.

It definitely is largely the drums, but whole album just has a weird tinny sound. Hard to describe, but the live version is a big improvement. Sadly the lack of Akerfeldt and Devy is a big knock.

[ErHaO]

Used to be ITEC for me. But after the liveshow and listening to THE a lot, THE wins for me. They are incredibly close though and both offer a different experience. I do think THE is also helped by having a relatable emotional core on top of the music. I know Arjen isn't the greatest writer, but it just works really well with the music on THE.

[The Letter M]

I voted for THE. I do enjoy ITEC quite a bit and it's probably in my Top 3 Ayreon albums but THE was one of the first Ayreon albums I ever listened to, and it was their newest album when I discovered them, so it got a LOT of play when I got into the band/Arjen's music.

I really love the vocal interplay in THE, the way the characters come and go, the amount of duets and trios, etc. There's some of that in ITEC, but it feels very much like "This is so-and-so's song, and next is another's song, etc. etc." Whereas THE has a central character and everyone else circles around him, and JLB gives one of his best vocal performances on any album ever.

-Marc.

[Cool Chris]

I gave THE a good listen on my flight last weekend, and musically there just isn't much there for me. It is by no means bad; there's just so much Ayreon I like more.