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

[kirksnosehair]

I put each phase as one song....they go by fast.

Same here.   I understand why the songs were divided into such small chunks, but I'm not a fan of that approach. 


In any case, I've decided that this is my favorite Ayreon release to date.


However, I've decided to give The Human Equation another shot.  With so many people whose musical opinions I respect and generally agree with saying they love it, I'd say it's worthy of a few more spins to see if something clicks. 

[Evermind]

Well, this release is the closest one to THE in all aspects IMO. But, well, I can't say it surpassed THE for me, it still needs to pass the test of time.
Being not a big fan of DT12 I totally agree this one tops it easily though.

[Ben_Jamin]

I put each phase as one song....they go by fast.

Same here.   I understand why the songs were divided into such small chunks, but I'm not a fan of that approach. 


In any case, I've decided that this is my favorite Ayreon release to date.


However, I've decided to give The Human Equation another shot.  With so many people whose musical opinions I respect and generally agree with saying they love it, I'd say it's worthy of a few more spins to see if something clicks.

I like to put my ipod on shuffle, and it wouldn't make sense because most of the tracks are 1min. Long

[kirksnosehair]

I put each phase as one song....they go by fast.

Same here.   I understand why the songs were divided into such small chunks, but I'm not a fan of that approach. 


In any case, I've decided that this is my favorite Ayreon release to date.


However, I've decided to give The Human Equation another shot.  With so many people whose musical opinions I respect and generally agree with saying they love it, I'd say it's worthy of a few more spins to see if something clicks.

I like to put my ipod on shuffle, and it wouldn't make sense because most of the tracks are 1min. Long

Yeah, that's exactly why I don't like that approach.  You end up with a couple of dozen useless clips instead of (in the case of TTOE) 4 great epics.


I actually combined all of the pieces for each of the 4 parts into 4 individual songs.  Much better for the iPod, especially on shuffle.

[The Letter M]

My solution for that issue? Listen to the album as a whole, as it was meant to be (especially considering it's a concept album)

I never understood the point of shuffle, especially for prog and concept albums, where the album track listing was, in many cases, carefully crafted to create a cohesive work in many parts, songs and tracks. I have been tempted to just convert all my albums in to single tracks because I rarely listen to single songs/tracks anymore, and mostly just whole albums, and in some cases, like for Ayreon's albums, this would be a wonderful idea.

-Marc.

[SomeoneLikeHim]

My solution for that issue? Listen to the album as a whole, as it was meant to be (especially consider it's a concept album)

Exactly! Do you guys even prog?

[Ben_Jamin]

My solution for that issue? Listen to the album as a whole, as it was meant to be (especially consider it's a concept album)

Exactly! Do you guys even prog?

I don't have a problem with each part of the phase being seperated, as they are different moods for the concept. It was just easier for me to put them together, because I enjoy the phases and if they came up while I was listening to shuffle it'd feel odd.

[jingle.boy]

Finally got a chance to spend some quality time with this, and the booklet.  Great story/concept - on par with THE and ITEC.  Not nearly as many cringe-worthy moments as 01011001, but there are a couple.  Musically, it's a fantastic blend of Ayreon and Star One, moreso the former obviously, but enough heavy moments to quench my Star One cravings.  Vocally, I was a little disappointed in Wetton's parts... he's barely more than a spoken character.  Mills is stellar though, and steals the show.  Squandrani is pretty damn good too... gonna have to go check out some Ancient Bards.

Loving this album.

[kirksnosehair]

The trick for me now is to NOT OVER PLAY IT!!!

[jingle.boy]

I hear ya.  Fortunately, it really NEEDS to be played start to finish, and there aren't that many 85 minute stretches that I can commit to it.  Couple of times a week ought to do it nicely.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I need to buy this album sometime.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

OK, question here. Is it possible to buy The Universal Migrator I & II separately, or is the only version available the special edition with both? Not that it really matters, but I'm weird and would like to have both to put on my CD shelf.

[The Letter M]

OK, question here. Is it possible to buy The Universal Migrator I & II separately, or is the only version available the special edition with both? Not that it really matters, but I'm weird and would like to have both to put on my CD shelf.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The%20Universal%20Migrator

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.XTransatlantic+vinyl&_nkw=The+Universal+Migrator&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Seems like the original, individual releases are going for a lot. If you already have the first three albums (The Final Experiment, Actual Fantasy, and Into The Electric Castle) in their InsideOut Special Editions (all 2-CD sets with cardboard slip-covers), you might as well get the 2-disc set of TUM to match them. There's nothing different and, I believe, all the artwork and lyrics for both albums are contained in one thick booklet. I mean, I don't mind having the re-issue if only because both albums, while released separately, were conceived as a single album in mind, just released in two parts (a trend that seems to happen a lot lately).

-Marc.

[jingle.boy]

Since I know this thread will get more activity than the Flaming Row thread, thought I'd put this here.  Martin Schnella (the brains of Flaming Row) posted on his FB this morning.

Today we will announce the last Guest Appearance for the new album "Mirage - A Portrayal Of Figures".

I am very happy to say, that Arjen Anthony Lucassen, the mastermind of Ayreon, plays a guitar solo on one of the songs. It is more than an honour to me. He also made compliments to the parts of music he heard and joined playing on it.

Further news about the release and pre-order will follow later.

Seriously, any/all fans of Ayreon should listen to Flaming Row's album, Elinoire.  I can't pimp that album enough.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

It is on my list of albums to buy.

[jingle.boy]

It is on my list of albums to buy.

Go check out either Rage of Despair, or Unearth the Truth on YT.  Curse me later for lightening your wallet.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

The pit I'm currently mired in unfortunately boasts internet that moves with all the haste of a sloth wading through molasses, but I'll give it a shot.

[haceeb]

The Theory of Everything was my favorite album of 2013 along with D12 and The Raven That Refused to Sing....

[NotePad]

I'v always been interested in listening to Ayreon. The Human Equation has always sounded like something intriguing, so if i try some out, it will probably be The Human Equation

I don't know much about Ayreon, other then the fact that it's mainly written by one guy(?) and has many well-known metal singers on each album. Is Ayreon's music really metal? Because I always see them put in that category. I know they're progressive. A lot of progressive bands are thought of as metal, so they're losing a lot of potential fans with that. Just a thought.

[jcmoorehead]

There are definitely metal elements on each album, some show more metal influence than others. as an example Universal Migrator is split into two parts with part one being more pure prog rock and part two being more metal focused. Overall though there tends to be a balance.

I don't really think of Ayreon belonging to any genre beyond just being Ayreon. It's prog, rock, metal, over the top and ridiculous at times yet that is what makes it so brilliant.

[jingle.boy]

Ayreon is one person - Arjen A. Lucassen.  For the Ayreon projects, he writes incredible concepts, and recruits a different mix of vocalists to play the characters he writes.  Ayreon is definitely more progressive than metal.  There are certainly tunes with a metal flair, but by-and-large, prog.  Heavier than, say, Spock's Beard or Transatlantic prog though.

If you want a metal version, check out Arjen's project, Star One.  Two albums - one written with each song based on a Sci-Fi movie/TV show; the other with each song based on a dystopian movie.  Two of my favorite albums of all time.

[NotePad]

I was reading up about Ayreon on wikipedia. Some of the concepts and stories he comes up with for those albums are quite amazing. The guy has a great mind for science-fiction. And I'v heard of Star One. I'll have to give them a good listen too.

[haceeb]

Arjen A. Lucassen is really a nice, kind and down to earth guy........ 

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

So I just ordered my Artbook copy of TtoE. There's few artists that makes me wanna buy any special edition of their releases and Arjen is always on that list for me. I always feel like I wanna support him no matter what. This time I had to wait a few months because of financial reasons. Because of that I had a very strict agenda not to spoil the music for me before I got the physical copy in my hands, again not many artists that I would care to do such a thing for. I even backed away from this thread to avoid any spoilers. So now with freah ears and a clear mind a can dig my teeth into his work. Should be an interesting experience.

[jcmoorehead]

Arjen A. Lucassen is really a nice, kind and down to earth guy........ 

^ This.

Incredibly nice guy, very passionate about what he does and has a lot of time for the fans.

[haceeb]

Arjen A. Lucassen is really a nice, kind and down to earth guy........ 

^ This.

Incredibly nice guy, very passionate about what he does and has a lot of time for the fans.

indeed 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Well, I ordered The Theory Of Everything, and it arrived at its destination today.

Unfortunately, due to the individual in charge of placing the order (me), the disc was shipped to my parents' house, instead of to the school.

Alas. Whenever I go down for a weekend I'll pick it up, along with my copy of Collective Oblivion.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Arjen has just started doing an AMA at Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/progmetal/comments/1wt4mc/hi_this_is_arjen_anthony_lucassen_ama/

You can ask him what ever you want.

[Fisi]

https://www.reddit.com/r/progmetal/comments/1wt4mc/hi_this_is_arjen_anthony_lucassen_ama/cf54r21

James. 

[The Letter M]

https://www.reddit.com/r/progmetal/comments/1wt4mc/hi_this_is_arjen_anthony_lucassen_ama/cf54r21

James. 

Sounds scary. I'm glad that...

...EVERYONE SURVIVED.

ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

-Marc.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Finally got my copy of The Theory Of Everything, gonna run through it later today. Though, I apparently purchased the 3 disc special edition, even though I was almost completely sure that I hadn't. Oh well, not going to complain...

[Implode]

What's on the third disc?

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

According to the case, it has:

Making Of The Theory Of Everything
Full-Length Artist Interviews
Recording Sessions Time Lapse

Also, reading the liner notes, it has the "Arjen Thanks" section, then "Lori Thanks", and then "Nobody Thanks", which had only one name, Gjalt.

[Implode]

Well I hope you enjoy the album! It's definitely one of my favorites.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I imagine I will, I love almost everything Arjen touches.