Haken v. new single Nightingale (April 26)

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

Interestingly, Affinity is my least favorite album of theirs. But it might be because for some reason, I never really listen to it. Every time I do, I think to myself "woah this album rips! Why don't I listen to it more often?" but then the next day I still just listen to Visions or Aquarius or The Mountain instead...

[Zydar]

I'd rank them this way:

1. The Mountain
2. Affinity
3. Aquarius
4. Visions

[KevShmev]

Once I got into all of their albums, which admittedly took quite a bit of time, Affinity became the album I listened to the least.  I thought it was their best album a year ago, but now I think it is probably my least favorite.  Still a very good effort, and most of it is really good, but the others are just better, I think.

[gzarruk]

I find that Affinity has some GREAT songs, but, as an album, it doesn't rank too high for me either. Songs like BBG and Earthrise just don't feel right to me. The Mountain is a complete masterpiece.

I rank them:

1. The Mountain
2. Visions
3. Affinity
4. Aquarius

[ariich]

YAY RANKINGS

1. The Mountain
2. Affinity
3. Restoration EP
4. Visions
5. Aquarius
6. Demo

[Evermind]

I feel like this is the third or fourth time I'm doing rankings in this thread.

1. The Mountain
2. Aquarius
3. Affinity
4. Visions

[The King in Crimson]

I find that Affinity has some GREAT songs, but, as an album, it doesn't rank too high for me either. Songs like BBG and Earthrise just don't feel right to me. The Mountain is a complete masterpiece.

I rank them:

1. The Mountain
2. Visions
3. Affinity
4. Aquarius

I think I might agree with this ranking the most, though Affinity might beat out Visions depending upon the day. Maybe.

[Ben_Jamin]

1. Affinity
2. The Mountain
3. Visions
4. Aquarius

[Nick]

1. The Mountain
2. Aquarius
3. Affinity
4. Visions

If I included Restoration it would be on par with Affinity.

[jakepriest]

1. Affinity
2. The Mountain
3. Restoration

4. Aquarius




5. Visions

[gzarruk]

Seems like many people here don't like Visions too much, can I ask why? I think it took all the good elements from Aquarius, but with a much more cohesive and mature sound.

[jakepriest]

Seems like many people here don't like Visions too much, can I ask why? I think it took all the good elements from Aquarius, but with a much more cohesive and mature sound.

Lack of good melodies and annoying instrumental parts imo.
Also Aquarius has Celestial Elixir, that song alone is better than the whole Visions album.

[home]

1. Affinity
2. The Mountain
3. Restoration

4. Aquarius




5. Visions

Perfect 

[twosuitsluke]

I'd probably rank as follows:

1. The Mountain
2. Affinity
3. Visions
4. Aquarius
5. Restoration

To be honest Affinity and Visions are very close. I think Affinity is a better album but the song Visions is easily my favourite Haken song, so there's that.

[YtseJamittaja]

1. Affinity
2. The Mountain
3. Visions

4. Restoration


5. Aquarius

[Nachtmerrie]

Seems like many people here don't like Visions too much, can I ask why? I think it took all the good elements from Aquarius, but with a much more cohesive and mature sound.

I totally agree with you. Love Visions and might even rate it higher then The Mountain with Affinity being my number 1.

[gzarruk]

I still think TM is their masterpiece. Visions is a close second for me, just love the whole vibe of the album.

Affinity is a mixed bag for me, love half of the album (Initiate, 1985, Lapse, The Architect and The Endless Knot) but the other half doesn't really do too much for me. I'm starting to like Red Giant more, though. Earthrise and BBG? Nothing.

Aquarius is a pretty solid debut album, in fact, Celestial Elixir was the first Haken song I listened to and was inmediately sold, but some other stuff just doesn't work, like those growls in the middle of streams 

[The Silent Cody]

I'm just listening to The Mountain and it's definitly best Haken album for me. Almost every song clicked from the first time, and I love that bass soooo much.... on every album to be precise

[jammindude]

I still think TM is their masterpiece. Visions is a close second for me, just love the whole vibe of the album.

Affinity is a mixed bag for me, love half of the album (Initiate, 1985, Lapse, The Architect and The Endless Knot) but the other half doesn't really do too much for me. I'm starting to like Red Giant more, though. Earthrise and BBG? Nothing.

Aquarius is a pretty solid debut album, in fact, Celestial Elixir was the first Haken song I listened to and was inmediately sold, but some other stuff just doesn't work, like those growls in the middle of streams 

I was really lukewarm on BBG for awhile. But then I saw it in a fan video over some nature shots (since been removed....total bummer) and that ending just hit me really hard. That song is literally like  sex with really slow foreplay followed by an amazing pay off!

[Zydar]

They just released a music video for 'Lapse'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdabtT7mUGI

[cramx3]

They just released a music video for 'Lapse'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdabtT7mUGI

  cool video, I'm guessing they plan on playing it this tour

[ariich]

There's a bit of a campaign to gauge/generate support for the label to support a Haken DVD release. Someone set up a pretty basic way to get people to express interest for now using Google Docs, but encourage anyone vaguely interested to tick the box (just needs a valid email address).

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1l2IileRs0TydxDccQg24NwfIQxiUW22ycD61Ysv1r4c/edit

[King Postwhore]

Just did Rich!

[gzarruk]

I did it too! I've been waiting for a Haken live DVD (or, at least some good pro-shot footage) for ages!

[JayOctavarium]

DONE

There is ONE soundboard recording I've found on Youtube. Celestial Elixir from Progpower a few years ago. THAT is what actually hooked me.

SO YES for a live album. YES YES YES

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

So hilarious that the only option is "Yes". I mean, I can't see anyone not wanting one, so I guess having a "No" option would technically be pointless, but still. xD

[cramx3]

Done as well.  I saw a lot of those comments on facebook.  Honestly though, if the band isn't quite there yet to be a full time thing, I can see why maybe a live DVD is not something the label wants to do yet.  However, the ability to make these is easier these days I believe.  They are headlining a night at progpower this year.  Progpower has the cameras set up and Pagan's Mind and Seventh Wonder have used it before to make DVDs (Pagan's Mind blu-ray is amazing quality).  I think it could be done.  I'd buy it, I love concert videos.

[goo-goo]

The reality is that out of those 400 or so entries, I'm estimating that only 200-300 would be sold. In my opinion, a crowd funding campaign would be a better way to go. A campaign, that if the funds are not reached, then the show wouldn't be filmed so everybody doesn't lose any money (including band and label).

[home]

The reality is that out of those 400 or so entries, I'm estimating that only 200-300 would be sold. In my opinion, a crowd funding campaign would be a better way to go. A campaign, that if the funds are not reached, then the show wouldn't be filmed so everybody doesn't lose any money (including band and label).

Crowdfunding a live dvd worked for Leprous. But I think the idea here is more to see if there's any substantial interest at all.

[ariich]

The reality is that out of those 400 or so entries, I'm estimating that only 200-300 would be sold. In my opinion, a crowd funding campaign would be a better way to go. A campaign, that if the funds are not reached, then the show wouldn't be filmed so everybody doesn't lose any money (including band and label).

That's a good point. Might mention that to Ray or Hen next time I speak to them to see if they've considered it.

But I think the idea here is more to see if there's any substantial interest at all.

As I understand it, that's right. Just to have something to say to the label "just from some quick interest-gauging on facebook and some internet forums hundreds/thousands of people have expressed an interest".

[gzarruk]

The reality is that out of those 400 or so entries, I'm estimating that only 200-300 would be sold. In my opinion, a crowd funding campaign would be a better way to go. A campaign, that if the funds are not reached, then the show wouldn't be filmed so everybody doesn't lose any money (including band and label).

Crowdfunding a live dvd worked for Leprous. But I think the idea here is more to see if there's any substantial interest at all.

Crowdfunding worked for Circus Maximus as well. I think Haken could pull it off very well, specially now that the Haken Heaven official Facebook group has more than 2k people in it, they could reach a large amount of fans pretty easily.

[gmillerdrake]

Just checked out how tickets were selling for HAKEN for their St. Louis show and it looks like there are only (8) regular seats left and a handful of standing room. the venue is only a 750 seat venue but considering there were probably 100 seats still open for The Neal Morse band when they were in town....it'll be neat to see a sold out show..

[Dublagent66]

They just released a music video for 'Lapse'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdabtT7mUGI

  cool video, I'm guessing they plan on playing it this tour

Yes, I like it a lot. 

[Zydar]

https://youtu.be/aLSmk1p9Fi0

A short interview with Hen and Charlie, and then a live clip of 1985 in full.

[ariich]

Cool interview and awesome performance (bar a couple of moments in the backing vocals )