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

[ErHaO]

So I spoke to Arjen this saturday at the record fair! The line wasn't too long and as I was buying some of his projects, I decided to break my rule of never directly meeting people I am a fan of. Thankfully he is a genuinely nice guy to meet 

Got my HE vinyl signed by him and Guilt Machine signed by him and Lori. I said to him that Equation Theater was the best show I ever attended  and that the try out was also amazing. He told me he cried during the show and interestingly, he specifically mentioned Wudstik and Marcela singing together as one of the parts that touched him (I agree that they were great! But then again, all people on stage were  ). He said the progress on the DVD is going great and expects to finish his work somewhere in January and that, offcourse, it will be really awesome (my guess the actual release will be later). Really looking forward to that one 

[Cyclopssss]

Told you you could just go up to him. Arjen's a really, genuinely nice, down to earth, allround friendly person. You can really tell he's all about the music. He always seem genuinely surprised when you tell him his work is awesome! Great news about the DVD, thanks for that!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

NEXT AYREON TO BE WESTERN THEMED!!!

[Enigmachine]

 

[jingle.boy]

What a tease... I got all giddy thinking this was going to be Theater Equation news!   

[Anguyen92]

What a tease... I got all giddy thinking this was going to be Theater Equation news!   

I thought so too.  I need this DVD in my life.  I think asking for this to be sold at Best Buy may be too much of a stretch.  As long as they have it at Amazon for roughly $20-25, easy buy for me.

The youtube clip is really good though.  I wouldn't mind hearing a western themed Ayreon album.

[Evermind]

What a tease... I got all giddy thinking this was going to be Theater Equation news!   

Same.

I think I'm ready to pay $100+ for the super deluxe edition of the DVD. I hope they'll be also selling the leftover T-shirts from the merchandise stand, I might get another one just in case the one I own becomes too worn-out.

I hope they won't be offering the show programs in that deluxe edition because while they're pretty, I don't need another one of these.

[Cyclopssss]

First of all, I think this was only a one-off joke track they recorded. Secondly, I read on his Facebook page that the sound mastering for the dvd release is finished, and Lori finished editing the behind the scenes feature for the dvd. What this all means for the total status of the product I do not know, but I think this will be a summer release.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

He writes about it in the description, just a fun cover they recorded some time ago as a tribute to Arjens father.
I'm all for a western themed album though! 

[Gh101]

Hi, just listened to The Human Equation for the first time and absolutely love it! I was wondering if anyone had any other recommendations of similar albums. I've tried to get into 01 and Electric Castle but I'm more of a fan than the human side than the space stuff - thanks!

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Probably The Theory of Everything. I think The Human Equation is his best album by far, but Theory of Everything was a nice return to the organic side of things.

[Crow]

get guilt machine - on this perfect day, as well

[Cyclopssss]

Or you could Ambeon (preverably the double reissue with a second disc with accoustic demo´s) or his solo album.

[Evermind]

Yeah, get The Theory of Everything.

[Nick]

Well, there is not album quite like THE, but I'd say your next best bet is definitely his newest, The Theory of Everything.

[Adami]

I'm very mixed on The Theory of Everything. I think the music is largely great, and the vocalists are incredible. The lyrics, though are probably among his worst, actually distractingly bad. I also don't like the fact that every song is 24 or something minutes, it just means I'm less likely to listen.

[Evermind]

There are a few moments in the lyrics which are bad ("Oh no, I can't believe you're falling for that loser" part in particular), but otherwise I think they were pretty much down to earth and well-written. The Human Equation is obviously better - and it's very relatable for me too - but TTOE is fine in the lyrics department if you ask me.

I don't even think about the songs when I'm listening to it. It's just one huge musical experience.

[Crow]

TToE is fine but i never really found myself getting too into it, the "songs" don't feel cohesive as a whole but the short tracks are all not long enough to leave an impact nor particularly strong on their own. same as The Astonishing really, except the story is a lot better on TToE

[Evermind]

Could be a blasphemy to say this on DT forum, but everything on TTOE is better than The Astonishing. I don't agree about the short tracks part though, I've got plenty that are amazing and particularly touching for me, the examples being TTOE pt. 1, The Consultation, Dark Medicine, Fluctuations / Transformation, Side Effects, Mirror of Dreams and The Lighthouse. I know I have this unusual fondness for this album, and I can see how some people can dislike it, but I will defend it with whatever I have. I think it's a brilliant album.

And speaking of that, everything on The Human Equation is better than TTOE.

[Crow]

yeah, TTOE is better than The Astonishing, i'll give it that much. just never liked it as much as i wanted to.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

TTOE is pretty great, though not my favorite Ayreon album. I'd agree it's better than The Astonishing, but honestly I still haven't gotten through the whole thing yet, so maybe that opinion isn't very solid.

[jingle.boy]

Could be a blasphemy to say this on DT forum, but everything on TTOE is better than The Astonishing. I don't agree about the short tracks part though, I've got plenty that are amazing and particularly touching for me, the examples being TTOE pt. 1, The Consultation, Dark Medicine, Fluctuations / Transformation, Side Effects, Mirror of Dreams and The Lighthouse. I know I have this unusual fondness for this album, and I can see how some people can dislike it, but I will defend it with whatever I have. I think it's a brilliant album.

And speaking of that, everything on The Human Equation is better than TTOE.

I wouldn't say "everything" is better - the (few) high points on The Astonishing are better than the best parts of the TTOE, but overall, TTOE > TA - musically, lyrically, performance, story ... everything.

[Kwyjibo]

Haven't made up my mind if TTOE is better than TA, but TTOE is great and I have no problem with the story or the lyrics. And the short songs are more part of a longer song than individual songs. And as four longer songs they work really good.

Second best Ayreon album behind Human Equation.

[Evermind]

Oh my god oh my god here it comes!

'The Theater Equation', the full blown musical production of Ayreon's legendary concept album 'The Human Equation', will be released as both DVD & Blu-Ray packages on the 17th June 2016!

Arjen comments: “Even today as I write this, I am amazed and touched by how hard everyone worked and how much love and care they generously gave to make it all happen. Sometimes the dream becomes reality!”

‘The Theater Equation’ will be available as a deluxe artbook version including blu-ray, 2DVD’s & 2CD’s, as well as a special edition 2CD & DVD digipak, standalone blu-ray & digital download.



Definitely the artbook for me.

[jingle.boy]

[kaos2900]

I'll be buying this.

[jingle.boy]

‘The Theater Equation’ will be available as a deluxe artbook version including blu-ray, 2DVD’s & 2CD’s, as well as a special edition 2CD & DVD digipak, standalone blu-ray & digital download.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Yep, that's an instabuy for me!

[Crow]

man, i kinda want the artbook, but i don't want a second copy of the album as well 
also i dunno if i actually have a blu-ray player, dunno if my computer can play blu-ray but prob not

[Evermind]

man, i kinda want the artbook, but i don't want a second copy of the album as well 

It's not the exact copy, there are some additional small tracks and interludes, plus two acapella sections. Besides, as I'm sure you know there are different vocalists, especially noticeable in case of Anneke (Fear) and Mike Mills (Rage / Father), so I think adding the two CDs to the package is a good idea.

[Enigmachine]

Gonna definitely get this some time.

[Cyclopssss]

Instant buy for me too as well.   

[Anguyen92]

Uhhhhh, let's see here.  YES, PLS.  Of course, I want to buy that.  I just need to make sure that I can buy it at either Amazon or Best Buy or any common stores that sells live DVDs (Target, Walmart, whatever).  I just don't want to travel far and/or search obscure areas to get this DVD.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Uhhhhh, let's see here.  YES, PLS.  Of course, I want to buy that.  I just need to make sure that I can buy it at either Amazon or Best Buy or any common stores that sells live DVDs (Target, Walmart, whatever).  I just don't want to travel far and/or search obscure areas to get this DVD.

What do you mean travel? Just order it online?!

[Anguyen92]

See, the thing is.  I don't have a credit card, so I would prefer it to buy it with cash or for Amazon, a gift card.  Now, I'm probably making an assumption, but I do not know if this is going to be distributed in a lot of outlets (online or stores) that is convenient for me like DT's The Astonishing was for me (got it at Best Buy).  Maybe it is going to be.  That would be awesome.