Poll

Which 5-album run do you prefer?

Haken: Aquarias, Visions, The Mountain, Affinity and Vector
Steven Wilson: Insurgentes, Grace for Drowning, The Raven That Refused to Sing, Hand. Cannot. Erase and To the Bone

Voting closes: January 19, 2025, 05:50:11 PM

Author Topic: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?  (Read 1883 times)

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Offline KevShmev

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Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« on: August 26, 2019, 06:50:11 PM »
Vote for which 5-album run you prefer.

I can do it this way:

Aquarias vs. Insurgentes
Visions vs. Grace for Drowning
The Mountain vs. The Raven That Refused to Sing
Affinity vs. Hand. Cannot. Erase
Vector vs. To the Bone

Or I can do it this way:

1. The Raven That Refused to Sing
2. Grace for Drowning
3. Hand. Cannot. Erase
4. The Mountain
5. Aquarias
6. To the Bone
7. Affinity
8. Visions
9. Insurgentes
10. Vector

Either way, Steven Wilson's run comes out on top.  As big a fan of Haken as I have become in the last few years, they still cannot topple SW. :coolio :hat

Offline TAC

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2019, 06:52:32 PM »
Brave New World
Dance Of Death
A Matter Of Life And Death
The Final Frontier
The Book Of Souls
would have thought the same thing but seeing the OP was TAC i immediately thought Maiden or DT related
Winger Theater Forums........or WTF.  ;D
TAC got a higher score than me in the electronic round? Honestly, can I just drop out now? :lol

Offline bl5150

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2019, 06:54:55 PM »
Haha - my first thoughts when I saw this thread were:


1. TAC for first reply

2. "they both blow"

Score :  1/2  ;D
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Offline KevShmev

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2019, 06:57:28 PM »
Brave New World
Dance Of Death
A Matter Of Life And Death
The Final Frontier
The Book Of Souls

Go troll in another thread, thanks.

Offline TAC

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2019, 07:13:10 PM »
would have thought the same thing but seeing the OP was TAC i immediately thought Maiden or DT related
Winger Theater Forums........or WTF.  ;D
TAC got a higher score than me in the electronic round? Honestly, can I just drop out now? :lol

Offline Nekov

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2019, 07:16:32 PM »
Steven.
While I don't really like Insurgentes, the rest of Steven's record are all excellent. Haken on the other hand, has 2 albums that I don't really care for (Vector and The Mountain), 2 that I think are very solid albums (Auquarius, Visions) and a truly great one. Yes, I'm going to get some heat for that opinion.
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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2019, 07:18:13 PM »
1. The Mountain
2. Aquarius
3. Hand Cannot Erase
4. Vector
5. Affinity
6. The Raven
7. Visions
8. Grace For Drowning

i don't own Insurgentes or To The Bone because I didn't enjoy what I heard from them enough to want to buy them
I think my point is made

Offline Nick

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2019, 07:30:57 PM »
Man, this is really tough. My two favorite artists of the last ten years (counting Steven as a solo artist).

While Insurgentes may be the weakest of the bunch, Steven comes out on top otherwise. I still remember The Mountain and Raven coming out in the same year and having to pick between them for album of the year, and having to go with Raven. Past that I put To the Bone and HCE against Aquarius and Affinity and again have to give the very slight nod to Steven. I might even give Vector the nod over Grace, but even so that's 3-2 for Wilson. I know it's not really what's asked here, but if it came out in a tie I'd have to give it to Steven anyway based on his beyond stellar live show.
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Offline Stadler

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #8 on: August 26, 2019, 08:31:28 PM »
TAC, buddy, join me for a beer?   :)


Offline TAC

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2019, 08:39:23 PM »
TAC, buddy, join me for a beer?   :)

Cheers, brother!
would have thought the same thing but seeing the OP was TAC i immediately thought Maiden or DT related
Winger Theater Forums........or WTF.  ;D
TAC got a higher score than me in the electronic round? Honestly, can I just drop out now? :lol

Offline The Letter M

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2019, 08:41:51 PM »
As much as I love Haken and their work, the body of work that Steven Wilson has put out has been superb, and I never really disliked any of his albums as they came out, but with Haken, it took some getting used to with albums like The Mountain and Vector.

It's pretty close, though, and depending on what they both do next, I might prefer one over the other. To be honest, though, I haven't listened to any of SW's solo albums in a VERY long time, but I do recall the feelings they give me as I listened to them. I eagerly await his next album as I really enjoyed To The Bone!

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Offline NoFred

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #11 on: August 26, 2019, 08:54:11 PM »
All good records here, but over time I’ve realized The Mountain and Affinity are special in the way they’re put together, so I voted Haken.

Offline King Puppies and the Acid Guppies

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2019, 09:16:05 PM »
TAC, buddy, join me for a beer?   :)

Cheers, brother!
I'm kind of with you guys here. I enjoy Maiden more than either Haken or Steven Wilson solo.


Having said that, I do enjoy both Haken and Steven Wilson, so I can give an answer here

Aquarias vs. Insurgentes
Visions vs. Grace for Drowning
The Mountain vs. The Raven That Refused to Sing (this one is a wash, I couldn't pick between these 2. They are both great)
Affinity vs. Hand. Cannot. Erase
Vector vs. To the Bone
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Offline nattmorker

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #13 on: August 26, 2019, 09:24:10 PM »
That's really easy for me: Haken! It's one of my top 3 bands and really love every album they've recorded. I only like 3-5 SW's songs.

Offline ProfessorPeart

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #14 on: August 26, 2019, 09:29:03 PM »
Haken, easy. Grace For Drowning is enough for SW to lose. That album is just not good. He does get 1 win though.

Aquarius vs. Insurgentes
Visions vs. Grace for Drowning
The Mountain vs. The Raven That Refused to Sing
Affinity vs. Hand. Cannot. Erase
Vector vs. To the Bone
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Offline FlyingBIZKIT

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #15 on: August 26, 2019, 09:29:51 PM »
Voted Steven Wilson, but honestly enjoy all of them.

1. Hand. Cannot. Erase.
2. Grace for Drowning
3. Affinity
4. The Raven That Refused to Sing
5. Visions
6. The Mountain
7. Insurgentes
8. To the Bone
9. Vector
10. Aquarius

Offline Evermind

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #16 on: August 26, 2019, 10:28:08 PM »
Very difficult, but I've got give the nod to SW.
This first band is Soen very cool swingy jazz fusion kinda stuff.

Offline jammindude

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #17 on: August 26, 2019, 11:08:36 PM »
TAC, buddy, join me for a beer?   :)

Cheers, brother!
I'm kind of with you guys here. I enjoy Maiden more than either Haken or Steven Wilson solo.


Having said that, I do enjoy both Haken and Steven Wilson, so I can give an answer here

Aquarias vs. Insurgentes
Visions vs. Grace for Drowning
The Mountain vs. The Raven That Refused to Sing (this one is a wash, I couldn't pick between these 2. They are both great)
Affinity vs. Hand. Cannot. Erase
Vector vs. To the Bone


This is my thoughts exactly.

It’s too bad that both artists most recent work are the weakest in their respective catalogs....but the nod just barely goes to Haken.
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Offline ariich

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #18 on: August 26, 2019, 11:33:27 PM »
Man, this is really tough. My two favorite artists of the last ten years (counting Steven as a solo artist).

While Insurgentes may be the weakest of the bunch, Steven comes out on top otherwise. I still remember The Mountain and Raven coming out in the same year and having to pick between them for album of the year, and having to go with Raven. Past that I put To the Bone and HCE against Aquarius and Affinity and again have to give the very slight nod to Steven. I might even give Vector the nod over Grace, but even so that's 3-2 for Wilson. I know it's not really what's asked here, but if it came out in a tie I'd have to give it to Steven anyway based on his beyond stellar live show.
I'm telling Hen and Ray. :P

Haken for me, perhaps unsurprisingly. Raven and Hand are wonderful albums but in the former's case, The Mountain still tops it as it's one of my all time favourites, and in the latter's case, I still slightly prefer Affinity. The others are all easy Haken wins for me.

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Offline Tomislav95

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #19 on: August 27, 2019, 01:33:37 AM »
I'm more of a SW fan but can't find anything wrong in any of Haken albums so Haken
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Offline Zantera

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #20 on: August 27, 2019, 02:03:16 AM »
I don't think Haken are any special at all so easy pick.

Offline FlyingBIZKIT

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #21 on: August 27, 2019, 05:19:08 AM »
Does anyone else think Haken’s best album is Affinity? :)


Offline KevShmev

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #22 on: August 27, 2019, 05:30:52 AM »
Does anyone else think Haken’s best album is Affinity? :)

I think it could have been had the first full length song been good.  Initiate being as weak as it is, is the main reason why I only list it 3rd (on my rankings of their albums).  Had the opening song (minus the short little intro) been as strong a song as those on the rest of the album, it could have been their best.  Neither The Mountain nor Aquarias have any weak songs, and their highs are just as high, which is why I put both a little ahead of Affinity.

Offline FlyingBIZKIT

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #23 on: August 27, 2019, 05:44:04 AM »
Does anyone else think Haken’s best album is Affinity? :)

I think it could have been had the first full length song been good.  Initiate being as weak as it is, is the main reason why I only list it 3rd (on my rankings of their albums).  Had the opening song (minus the short little intro) been as strong a song as those on the rest of the album, it could have been their best.  Neither The Mountain nor Aquarias have any weak songs, and their highs are just as high, which is why I put both a little ahead of Affinity.

I kinda feel that same way about Initiate being the weakest. But then again, I'm not huge on Atlas Stone nor The Cockroach King. Red Giant is my favorite Haken song so that middle stretch of songs in the album is some of the best I've ever heard.

Offline Nekov

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #24 on: August 27, 2019, 05:50:05 AM »
Does anyone else think Haken’s best album is Affinity? :)

I think it is their best by far  :tup
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Offline FlyingBIZKIT

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #25 on: August 27, 2019, 05:51:49 AM »
Does anyone else think Haken’s best album is Affinity? :)

I think it is their best by far  :tup

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Offline ariich

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #26 on: August 27, 2019, 06:04:54 AM »
The Architect is what slightly brings down Affinity for me. In relative terms obviously, I still love the album.

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Offline Ninjabait

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #27 on: August 27, 2019, 06:56:02 AM »
Haken, easily. I only really listen to two of SW's albums and tbh lately I haven't been listening to them that much either.

1. The Mountain
2. Hand. Cannot. Erase
3. Affinity
4. Visions
5. The Raven That Refused to Sing
6. Aquarius
7. Grace for Drowning
8. Insurgentes
9. Vector
10. To the Bone

Aquarias vs. Insurgentes
Visions vs. Grace for Drowning
The Mountain vs. The Raven That Refused to Sing
Affinity vs. Hand. Cannot. Erase
Vector vs. To the Bone

Offline Dublagent66

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #28 on: August 27, 2019, 11:36:46 AM »
Haken.  Not a SW fan.
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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #29 on: August 27, 2019, 11:37:59 AM »
Steven Wilson by a country mile. And I'm not even a huge SW fan - although, I suppose that's starting to change. My honest opinion is that he's gotten better with each album, for at least 3 consecutive albums now, maybe even 4. HCE was my favorite thing he's ever done, and then To The Bone came out and I liked that one even more.
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Offline SoundscapeMN

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #30 on: August 27, 2019, 12:09:30 PM »
Wilson.

I'm not even a fan of Haken.

Offline me7

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #31 on: August 27, 2019, 12:25:07 PM »
Haken, easily. I only really listen to two of SW's albums and tbh lately I haven't been listening to them that much either.

Same here. Raven and Hand are the only SW albums that had staying power for me.

Offline DTA

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #32 on: August 28, 2019, 03:20:50 PM »
Haken. GFD and TRTRTS are not really up to the level of the others for me but every single Haken release has been excellent so far.

Offline bosk1

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #33 on: August 28, 2019, 03:27:24 PM »
TAC, buddy, join me for a beer?   :)

Cheers, brother!

I'm grabbing my coat and will meet you guys there.
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Offline The Letter M

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Re: Which 5-album run do you prefer: Haken vs Steven Wilson?
« Reply #34 on: August 28, 2019, 04:56:06 PM »
This has been a pretty close race so far, and I have to wonder if it's because there have been fans of one group that aren't necessarily fans (nor even heard much of) the other group?

I guess that's what happens with a public poll - you can't guarantee that every voter is equally familiar with both options, at least enough to fairly weigh each group against the other on their own merits. I'm sure there are more than a few voters who came in this thread and voted for their favorite of the two wherein the other is a group they have barely heard anything of, or even actively dislike for one reason or another.

Personally speaking, I do love both Haken and SW's solo career, so it made the decision pretty tough, and I'm sure I could change my mind later on, as I really do enjoy both!

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