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Topic: Arjen Anthony Lucassen: The Theory of EverythingPosted By: Psychedelic Paul
Subject: Arjen Anthony Lucassen: The Theory of Everything
Date Posted: April 06 2022 at 12:06
Finally, I've realised an Actual Fantasy today On This Perfect Day by posting a tribute thread to the Dutch multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist, Arjen Anthony Lucassen, who is of course best-known for his epic Progressive Space Metal band, Ayreon. In line with The Theory of Everything, I'll also be journeying Into the Electric Castle by way of Arjen's side-projects too, including his three solo albums and his many other works under the various band-names:- Ambeon; The Gentle Storm; Guilt Machine; Star One & Stream of Passion. That's quite a line-up from a truly prolific composer! In The Human Equation, Ayreon also features an impressive cast of guest singers from the world of Metal, including James LaBrie (Dream Theater); Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)l Simone Simons (Epica); & Floor Jansen (After Forever & Nightwish) to name just four. And so, it's time now to Embrace the Storm of Progressive Metal coming our way as we Transitus back in time aboard the Universal Migrator to The Source of Ayreon and their ironically titled debut album, The Final Experiment.
1995: Ayreon - The Final Experiment - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxhFKL_PLyTB_i7Cv2hK8qhIp8UBo6JC0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxhFKL_PLyTB_i7Cv2hK8qhIp8UBo6JC0
1996: Ayreon - Actual Fantasy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kuZo0rkJOWSkm1nycw8m--Ny-6TBtvIE0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kuZo0rkJOWSkm1nycw8m--Ny-6TBtvIE0
1998: Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJN9lXkdyI331mwBfyksfLEdHoUekiH_Y" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJN9lXkdyI331mwBfyksfLEdHoUekiH_Y
2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU" rel="nofollow - 2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Navigator - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWTIYnQcuY" rel="nofollow - 2000: Ayreon - Ayreonauts Only - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF196C3634C5F864D" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF196C3634C5F864D
2004: Ayreon - The Human Equation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mMpiq68-g_4wYFjlhzTHZ8E5WrH_5hMYA" rel="nofollow - 2008: Ayreon - 01011001 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYS8mEf7sImnsoSiALQB9R9" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYS8mEf7sImnsoSiALQB9R9
2013: Ayreon - The Theory of Everything - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYgVxUVdExKacfWVz14pEs7" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYgVxUVdExKacfWVz14pEs7
2017: Ayreon - The Source - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k25tw7snlnbdnODw_E00PSEjzap9aJjWw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k25tw7snlnbdnODw_E00PSEjzap9aJjWw
2018: Ayreon - Ayreon's Universe: Best of Ayreon Live - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJGn3wi7b7b606GfoKAdOgm6rtX9OliRc" rel="nofollow - 2020: Ayreon - Transitus - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nH9h7WoPpVlqXcvYRvJB_p9CyuysIaSqw" rel="nofollow - 1994: Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3A7MsAKmnfIgAWZzQwqyiaxpvjH1Gif0" rel="nofollow - 1996: Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Strange Hobby - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB87CB1D16F331CFF" rel="nofollow - 2012: Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost in the New Real - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mHPJknQMxGE9JfUuZ519pzA2DmDQ_VdJQ" rel="nofollow - 2001: Ambeon - Fate of a Dreamer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOH-IdU-vnU" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOH-IdU-vnU
2002: Star One - Space Metal - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZ0_xdoEGlBYIT0gLBGQ-34qQqTNKUzyE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZ0_xdoEGlBYIT0gLBGQ-34qQqTNKUzyE
2003: Star One - Live On Earth - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kJ536zV5hsfESGFVxpswuat2beXSb1HTo" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kJ536zV5hsfESGFVxpswuat2beXSb1HTo
2010: Star One - Victims of the Modern Age - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kpf8Oz4oRysLsns0CififhblhJb4OPPgg" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kpf8Oz4oRysLsns0CififhblhJb4OPPgg
2022: Star One - Revel in Time - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mIwSdZMzm5Tew7mwqgGWbV_v0sNS7C4PM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mIwSdZMzm5Tew7mwqgGWbV_v0sNS7C4PM
2005: Stream of Passion - Embrace the Storm - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lKj9pcQq1zUwdl9U-2p84vlYhw-IzSYfs" rel="nofollow - 2009: Guilt Machine - On This Perfect Day - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mpgmV7Z8oI-p7PvKy1_J_EWqRSEWKak4A" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mpgmV7Z8oI-p7PvKy1_J_EWqRSEWKak4A
2015: The Gentle Storm - The Diary - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ltsoFOe1P4Sp39f9kVQxvOzaiwsa7a9oI" rel="nofollow -
Replies: Posted By: jamessavik
Date Posted: April 06 2022 at 17:34
Thanks for posting this. I'm listening to it now.
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: April 06 2022 at 18:06
I've listened to a lot of Arjen Anthony Lucassen in the past so I'm on this journey with you.
Listening to "The Final Experiment", it certainly sets up the template of bombast to come, and the spoken word stuff is pretty cringeworthy in my opinion. Musically it's pretty much what I would expect from experience.
Edit [after two runthru's of the posted playlist] There's no doubting the earnesty on display. The earnesty can be quite overwhelming at times. From the posted playlist I actually prefer the "acoustic/ semi acoustic" stuff on the end. Heck, it even starts sounding like Jethro Tull at times.
------------- I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 01:13
The Final Experiment is one of the first and finest examples of Metal Opera and a foretaste of even greater things to come from Ayreon, although it's hard to improve on a 5-star masterpiece. The album features an impressive ensemble of no less than thirteen (mainly Dutch) singers and seven instrumentalists in this epic production, combining science fiction and medieval themes.
1995: Ayreon - The Final Experiment - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxhFKL_PLyTB_i7Cv2hK8qhIp8UBo6JC0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxhFKL_PLyTB_i7Cv2hK8qhIp8UBo6JC0
Merlin's Will (featuring Floor Jansen)
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 01:48
^ Floor didn't sing on the original album, I hope you know that, she was probably in high school in 1995.
Ayreon Universe was something done recently, with different musicians.
Yes, I did know that, but thanks for pointing it out anyway. I could've just posted a studio track from Ayreon's first album, but then you wouldn't have the pleasure of watching Floor Jansen in action.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 02:00
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
^ Floor didn't sing on the original album, I hope you know that, she was probably in high school in 1995.
Ayreon Universe was something done recently, with different musicians.
Yes, I did know that, but thanks for pointing it out anyway. I could've just posted a studio track from Ayreon's first album, but then you wouldn't have the pleasure of watching Floor Jansen in action.
I don't need to listen to anything, I gave up on Ayreon altogether a little while ago and Transitus literally ruined the band for me for good. I cringe these days to anything Ayreon/Star One and so on.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 02:16
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
^ Floor didn't sing on the original album, I hope you know that, she was probably in high school in 1995.
Ayreon Universe was something done recently, with different musicians.
Yes, I did know that, but thanks for pointing it out anyway. I could've just posted a studio track from Ayreon's first album, but then you wouldn't have the pleasure of watching Floor Jansen in action.
I don't need to listen to anything, I gave up on Ayreon altogether a little while ago and Transitus literally ruined the band for me for good. I cringe these days to anything Ayreon/Star One and so on.
It's usually me that's in the minority here, so it makes a nice change that you're in a minority in not liking Ayreon.
I was floored by Miss Jansen's performance in the video above, so what is there not to like!?
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 02:33
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
^ Floor didn't sing on the original album, I hope you know that, she was probably in high school in 1995.
Ayreon Universe was something done recently, with different musicians.
Yes, I did know that, but thanks for pointing it out anyway. I could've just posted a studio track from Ayreon's first album, but then you wouldn't have the pleasure of watching Floor Jansen in action.
I don't need to listen to anything, I gave up on Ayreon altogether a little while ago and Transitus literally ruined the band for me for good. I cringe these days to anything Ayreon/Star One and so on.
It's usually me that's in the minority here, so it makes a nice change that you're in a minority in not liking Ayreon.
I was floored by Miss Jansen's performance in the video above, so what is there not to like!?
again, you're a newbie to the world of Ayreon. They're fine when you discover them. But to me they got predictable after a while, same recipe applied over and over again, I got tired. Last three albums were a chore to listen, and the last one was dreadful.
I know I am a minority when it comes to Ayreon. And it's fine. There are also a lot of bands I enjoy that everyone else does not, and that's fine, too.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 02:45
^ I'm hardly "a newbie" to the wonderful world of Ayreon. I was listening to Progressive Metal while you were still at school in short trousers.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 02:48
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I'm hardly "a newbie" to the wonderful world of Ayreon. I was listening to Progressive Metal while you were still at school in short trousers.
I very much doubt that.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 02:55
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I'm hardly "a newbie" to the wonderful world of Ayreon. I was listening to Progressive Metal while you were still at school in short trousers.
I very much doubt that.
I listened to my first Progressive Metal album thirty years ago in 1992, the same year as it was released, although there's no prizes for guessing which well-known album that was.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 02:58
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I'm hardly "a newbie" to the wonderful world of Ayreon. I was listening to Progressive Metal while you were still at school in short trousers.
I very much doubt that.
I listened to my first Progressive Metal album thirty years ago in 1992, the same year as it was released, although there's no prizes for guessing which well-known album that was.
what was it that you listened to and how did you discover it?
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 03:12
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I'm hardly "a newbie" to the wonderful world of Ayreon. I was listening to Progressive Metal while you were still at school in short trousers.
I very much doubt that.
I listened to my first Progressive Metal album thirty years ago in 1992, the same year as it was released, although there's no prizes for guessing which well-known album that was.
what was it that you listened to and how did you discover it?
Dream Theater's Images & Words. I discovered the album in a really bizarre way. My friend's daughter won the album in a radio competition back in 1992, but she was only seven years old at the time, so she was a little too young to appreciate the finer intricacies of Dream Theater and Progressive Metal generally. My friend asked me if I'd like to give her £10 for the album after hearing it for the first time, so obviously, I jumped at the chance and I've been a fan of Dream Theater ever since.
It was another twenty years before I discovered Ayreon though.
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 05:43
I remember when Theory of Everything came out I swooped it up with great excitement because of A) the title/subject (I was hoping Arjen & Co, could do it justice), B) the lineup of collaborators (Emerson, Wakeman, Rudess, Wetton), and C) the quality of Arjen's inputs into his projects.
My first impressions were favorable but then the material just didn't keep drawing me back for more, so I gave it up. While I don't think it's my favorite release of his, (that would be The Human Equation) it is up there and far better, in my opinion, than the PA average ratings would have you believe.
I think where Arjen suffers is in length: like The Flower Kings, they throw too much at you with each release. At least, however, Arjen's projects usually have a single theme to try to keep you engaged. I mean: 42 songs! 90+ minutes! Especially when you're given a concept album, you want to be able to sit and go with it from start to finish. That's just too hard (for me) with albums over 45 minutes in length. Perhaps its my vinyl LP programming, perhaps its my computer age short attention span, but I find sitting for anything for over 45 minutes is hard!
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 06:37
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I'm hardly "a newbie" to the wonderful world of Ayreon. I was listening to Progressive Metal while you were still at school in short trousers.
I very much doubt that.
I listened to my first Progressive Metal album thirty years ago in 1992, the same year as it was released, although there's no prizes for guessing which well-known album that was.
what was it that you listened to and how did you discover it?
Dream Theater's Images & Words. I discovered the album in a really bizarre way. My friend's daughter won the album in a radio competition back in 1992, but she was only seven years old at the time, so she was a little too young to appreciate the finer intricacies of Dream Theater and Progressive Metal generally. My friend asked me if I'd like to give her £10 for the album after hearing it for the first time, so obviously, I jumped at the chance and I've been a fan of Dream Theater ever since.
It was another twenty years before I discovered Ayreon though.
cute and strange story, if you are inventing it, you're very creative.
I also discovered DT back in the 90s, 1993 if I remember right, Pull Me Under video got played a bit so I looked for the album. Unlike you, I explored this kind of music ever since then.
Posted By: Gentle and Giant
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 07:40
I recall when my wife was in hospital for a while and someone gave me a copy of The Human Equation which I played non-stop every time I drove to an from to see her and I loved it. Nothing else Ayreon has done really gelled with me but I still love The Human Equation a lot.
------------- Oh, for the wings of any bird, other than a battery hen
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 07:48
^^ That same song pulled me under the spell of Dream Theater too and it still remains their only Top 10 hit.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 08:03
Gentle and Giant wrote:
I recall when my wife was in hospital for a while and someone gave me a copy of The Human Equation which I played non-stop every time I drove to an from to see her and I loved it. Nothing else Ayreon has done really gelled with me but I still love The Human Equation a lot.
t's a good thing they didn't give you a Leonard Cohen album instead. In The Human Equation of life, there's something joyously uplifting and optimistic about the music of Ayreon.
I became an instant Ayreonaut after hearing My first Ayreon album, which wasn't actually The first Ayreon album, if you follow my meaning.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 08:07
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I'm hardly "a newbie" to the wonderful world of Ayreon. I was listening to Progressive Metal while you were still at school in short trousers.
I very much doubt that.
I listened to my first Progressive Metal album thirty years ago in 1992, the same year as it was released, although there's no prizes for guessing which well-known album that was.
what was it that you listened to and how did you discover it?
Dream Theater's Images & Words. I discovered the album in a really bizarre way. My friend's daughter won the album in a radio competition back in 1992, but she was only seven years old at the time, so she was a little too young to appreciate the finer intricacies of Dream Theater and Progressive Metal generally. My friend asked me if I'd like to give her £10 for the album after hearing it for the first time, so obviously, I jumped at the chance and I've been a fan of Dream Theater ever since.
It was another twenty years before I discovered Ayreon though.
cute and strange story, if you are inventing it, you're very creative.
I also discovered DT back in the 90s, 1993 if I remember right, Pull Me Under video got played a bit so I looked for the album. Unlike you, I explored this kind of music ever since then.
Yes, unlike you, I didn't even know there was such a music genre as Progressive Metal until I first went online in 2010.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 12:06
The second awesome Ayreon album. Is this the real life, or is this just Actual Fantasy? Is this another 5-star masterpiece!? You decide. Any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me. If you like operatic rhapsodies of a bohemian nature, then this is the album for you.
1996: Ayreon - Actual Fantasy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kuZo0rkJOWSkm1nycw8m--Ny-6TBtvIE0" rel="nofollow -
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: April 07 2022 at 18:19
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
The second awesome Ayreon album.
1996: Ayreon - Actual Fantasy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kuZo0rkJOWSkm1nycw8m--Ny-6TBtvIE0" rel="nofollow -
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 08 2022 at 09:57
Ayreon completes the hat-trick of 5-star masterpieces with another Dutch treat! Once you've ventured Into the Electric Castle, you won't want to leave. It's such a lovely place, any time of year, and if you want an all-star line-up, you can find it here, including:- Martin Westerholt & Sharon Den Adel (Within Temptation); Damian Wilson (Threshold); Fish (Marillion); Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering); & Edward Reekers (Kayak).
1998: Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJN9lXkdyI331mwBfyksfLEdHoUekiH_Y" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJN9lXkdyI331mwBfyksfLEdHoUekiH_Y
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: April 08 2022 at 10:24
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
The second awesome Ayreon album. Is this the real life, or is this just Actual Fantasy that this is another 5-star masterpiece!? You decide. Any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me. If you like operatic rhapsodies of a bohemian nature, then this is the album for you.
1996: Ayreon - Actual Fantasy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kuZo0rkJOWSkm1nycw8m--Ny-6TBtvIE0" rel="nofollow -
------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 08 2022 at 10:36
^ The album link above is actually for Actual Fantasy Revisited, mainly because I couldn't find the original Actual Fantasy album on YouTube.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 01:32
Take a musical trip through time and space with Ayreon aboard the Universal Migrator - and you don't even need a TARDIS! The Dream Sequencer album features an all-star ensemble of intergalactic travellers, including:- Lana Lane; Floor Jansen (After Forever); Edward Reekers (Kayak); Damian Wilson (Threshold): & Neal Morse (Spock's Beard).
2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 01:39
I predict the way this is going, Ayreon will have a 5 star discography.
If you give Transitus 5 stars, I'm gonna roll on the floor laughing.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 01:44
Cristi wrote:
I predict the way this is going, Ayreon will have a 5 star discography.
If you give Transitus 5 stars, I'm gonna roll on the floor laughing.
I was thinking the same thing too, but I'm afraid the Universal Migrator Part 2 "only" gets a 4-star rating from me.
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 01:46
Cristi wrote:
I predict the way this is going, Ayreon will have a 5 star discography.
All these 5 star reviews....
Cristi, is it possible that I might have missed something, and should revisit their entire discography?
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 01:47
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
I predict the way this is going, Ayreon will have a 5 star discography.
If you give Transitus 5 stars, I'm gonna roll on the floor laughing.
I was thinking the same thing too, but I'm afraid the Universal Migrator Part 2 "only" gets a 4-star rating from me.
When I was listening to them, I found the second Migrator album better, more entertaining than the first one.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 01:50
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
I predict the way this is going, Ayreon will have a 5 star discography.
If you give Transitus 5 stars, I'm gonna roll on the floor laughing.
I was thinking the same thing too, but I'm afraid the Universal Migrator Part 2 "only" gets a 4-star rating from me.
When I was listening to them, I found the second Migrator album better, more entertaining than the first one.
It comes as no surprise that you have a different opinion to me again.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 01:57
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
I predict the way this is going, Ayreon will have a 5 star discography.
If you give Transitus 5 stars, I'm gonna roll on the floor laughing.
I was thinking the same thing too, but I'm afraid the Universal Migrator Part 2 "only" gets a 4-star rating from me.
When I was listening to them, I found the second Migrator album better, more entertaining than the first one.
It comes as no surprise that you have a different opinion to me again.
the first Migrator if I remember right is more synth driven, space rock pastiche, well, sort of.
The second Migrator is more metal oriented, quite the opposite to the first I guess.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 02:09
^ I prefer Space Rock pastiche over Metal every time.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 02:12
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I prefer Space Rock pastiche over Metal every time.
It depends, I would not make that a rule.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 02:16
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I prefer Space Rock pastiche over Metal every time.
It depends, I would not make that a rule.
That's true. I've heard some poor Space Rock albums and some very good Metal albums.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 09 2022 at 12:33
The journey continues for Ayreon's Universal Migrator. Whereas the first melodic Migrator album was clearly aimed at Prog-rockers, this heavier sequel is designed to appeal to the Metal-heads amongst us.
2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Navigator - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWTIYnQcuY" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWTIYnQcuY
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 10 2022 at 08:32
Calling All Ayreonauts! This is the first compilation album from Ayreon, only this is a compilation with a difference, as it consists entirely of previously unreleased material with alternate versions of Ayreon songs. If you want to save money and buy only one Ayreon album, then this is the one to buy. Ayreonauts Only represents the best of the best of Ayreon's five previous studio masterpieces.
2000: Ayreon - Ayreonauts Only - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF196C3634C5F864D" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF196C3634C5F864D
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: April 10 2022 at 14:00
3 fantastic musical things happened to me within a month during late 2011: I saw Marillion live for the first time (in Birmingham), I saw Les Miserables in the West End for the first time with my wife, and I bought my first Ayreon album - The Human Equation. No album before or since has blown me away so much on first listen, and it remains in my top 5 albums, very possibly it’s my favourite.
The Theory Of Everything and Into The Electric Castle are not far behind; The Dream Sequencer is also a 5-star album. The other early albums are also extremely good. I found The Source to be somewhat of a letdown and Transitus was a real disappointment….
But I absolutely adore the gentle giant that is Arjen Lucassen and will never miss an Ayreon album, or any of his other side projects come to that! Love Star One!!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 10 2022 at 15:05
^ I'm still looking forward to checking out Transitus for the first time, despite some of the negative things I've heard about the album, and Star One will be coming up here soon when I run out of Ayreon albums to listen to.
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: April 10 2022 at 19:39
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU
[tube]https://youtu.be/p-_BhSaG0qU[/tube
Sorry, you're moving a bit fast for me, so I've got a bit of catching up to do.
Here is where the saga well and truly takes shape. A concept for sure, but a loose concept that is designed to be able to join up a number of subjects across time into a single bundle. It is meant to be listened to as a whole and as such nothing really stands out. Unless you've got the time to listen to the thing as a whole there is little point in listening to it at all IMHO.
There is no doubting the musicianship and professionalism on display here but the lyrics tend towards the mundane for me. Not unpleasant but not essential, except as part of the bigger picture.
Three stars for me.
------------- I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: April 10 2022 at 22:30
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Navigator - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWTIYnQcuY" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWTIYnQcuY
The subject matter gets heavier and so does the music. I prefer this both sonically and lyrically to its predecessor. The meat is in the middle with "To the Quasar", "Into the Black Hole" and "Through the Wormhole" with Bruce Dickinson doing a particularly fine vocal turn on "...Black Hole".
I give it a 3.5 bordering on a 4.
------------- I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 11 2022 at 12:05
The concept album is King in the world of Ayreon and in The Human Equation, each of the singers in the multi-star & multi-national cast represents a different character in this story of psychological rebirth and mixed emotions. There's no mixed emotions about the quality of this epic album though as this is another Ayreon classic. In the Theater of Dreams, the album is destined to be brought to life on DVD twelve years later in The Theater Equation with James LaBrie (of Dream Theater) as the main character in the story.
2004: Ayreon - The Human Equation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mMpiq68-g_4wYFjlhzTHZ8E5WrH_5hMYA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mMpiq68-g_4wYFjlhzTHZ8E5WrH_5hMYA
James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as Me
Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) as Fear
Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine) as Reason
Heather Findlay (Mostly Autumn) as Love
Irene Jansen (younger sister of Floor Jansen) as Passion
Magnus Ekwall (The Quill) as Pride
Devon Graves (Psychotic Waltz) as Agony
Arjen Anthony Lucassen as Best Friend
Marcela Bovio (Effonia) as Wife
Mike Baker (Shadow Gallery) as Father
Devin Townsend as Rage
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 11 2022 at 12:38
Hugh Manatee wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU
[tube]https://youtu.be/p-_BhSaG0qU[/tube
Sorry, you're moving a bit fast for me, so I've got a bit of catching up to do.
Don't worry if you fall behind. I've posted all of the albums featured so far at the top of Page 1.
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: April 11 2022 at 20:14
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
2004: Ayreon - The Human Equation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mMpiq68-g_4wYFjlhzTHZ8E5WrH_5hMYA" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mMpiq68-g_4wYFjlhzTHZ8E5WrH_5hMYA
After exploring the depth of space we go from the outer universe to the inner mind, and what a troubled mind it is.
There is a lot of angst on display here and although the music is once again top notch, even quite poppy in places, the lyrics are just terrible at times.
Try this from Day Seventeen: Accident:
Tears of sorrow fill your eyes Your cold and wretched life flashes by Is that your father standing there? You turn the wheel, you no longer care...
or this from Day Eleven: Love:
Of all these guys it's you she desires Secretly her heart is on fire Waiting for you to ask her to dance Go ahead, make your move, now's your chance
Nice little shift at the end when we find that we've been in the Dream Sequencer all along (if you get that far) but overall it's a bit of a chore to make it all that way.
I'll give it 3 stars for the musicianship.
------------- I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 13 2022 at 09:21
Another epic 100-minute-plus production featuring more guest vocalists (16 in total) than any other Ayreon album. Here are just some of the big names featured from the world of Metal:-
Bob Catley (Magnum)
Tom S. Englund (Evergrey)
Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering)
Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation)
Floor Jansen (After Forever)
Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian)
Jorn Lande (Masterplan)
Steve Lee (Gotthard)
Janas Renske (Katatonia)
Simone Simons (Epica)
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: April 13 2022 at 19:04
Here's where the whole thing comes together. Not only does the music reach a new level of excellence the lyrics do not detract from the experience this time. Yes, we are still firmly in the realms of SF/ Fantasy but the story is more cohesive despite the wide ranging nature of the narrative.
While twisting and turning all over the place the storyline brings in something new while weaving previous elements into it in a way that kept me engaged and that reminded me of Kurt Vonneguts novels.
All in all a pleasant way to spend 100 minutes. 4 stars for me.
------------- I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: April 26 2022 at 10:08
Timeline: a mammoth 33-track career retrospective featuring the best songs from all of the previous Ayreon albums, so there was never any doubt that this would amount to an Earth-shattering album of epic proportions that would shatter the Earth to its very proportions. It may be the end of an era but you ain't seen nothing yet, b-b-b-baby, you ain't seen nothing yet....
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: May 02 2022 at 05:45
2013: Ayreon - The Theory of Everything - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYgVxUVdExKacfWVz14pEs7" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYgVxUVdExKacfWVz14pEs7
The Theory of Everything is the eighth studio album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Ayreon project. Again, the album has an epic running time of 90 minutes, divided into four distinct phases (or album sides) with the total number of individual tracks amounting to 42 which, not entirely by coincidence, is the magic number in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where the theoretical "Level 42" is the unattainable Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything!
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 20 2022 at 06:32
2016: Ayreon - The Theatre Equation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRPhKLgNffpwY267Kw2NOx5pBMVV7L6iJ" rel="nofollow -
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 24 2022 at 10:41
2017: Ayreon - The Source - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k25tw7snlnbdnODw_E00PSEjzap9aJjWw" rel="nofollow -
Where's the Governator when you need him the most!?
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 26 2022 at 12:02
Wow! I've just experienced an Actual Fantasy by taking a Fantastic Voyage aboard Ayreon's bright shining Transitus album, which includes deep and meaningful narration by none other than Doctor Who himself (Mr. Tom Baker!). Could this be the best album ever in the Ayreon Equation!? YES!! If ever an album deserved a maximum Pleiades rating (7 stars!), then it's Transitus! Before I feature the magnificent supernova brilliance of the Transitus album here though, I need to step aboard Doctor Who's T.A.R.D.I.S. and travel back two years in time to explore Ayreon's Universe: The Best of Ayreon Live.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 26 2022 at 23:35
2018: Ayreon - Ayreon's Universe: Best of Ayreon Live - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJGn3wi7b7b606GfoKAdOgm6rtX9OliRc" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJGn3wi7b7b606GfoKAdOgm6rtX9OliRc
One of the best Live albums you'll ever hear in the entire universe, and not just in Ayreon's Universe as....
Miss Jansen takes the Floor!
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 05:14
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Wow! I've just experienced an Actual Fantasy by taking a Fantastic Voyage aboard Ayreon's bright shining Transitus album, which includes deep and meaningful narration by none other than Doctor Who himself (Mr. Tom Baker!). Could this be the best album ever in the Ayreon Equation!? YES!! If ever an album deserved a maximum Pleiades rating (7 stars!), then it's Transitus! Before I feature the magnificent supernova brilliance of the Transitus album here though, I need to step aboard Doctor Who's T.A.R.D.I.S. and travel back two years in time to explore Ayreon's Universe: The Best of Ayreon Live.
Best Ayreon album?!! Er……………NO🤔😱
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 05:16
essexboyinwales wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Wow! I've just experienced an Actual Fantasy by taking a Fantastic Voyage aboard Ayreon's bright shining Transitus album, which includes deep and meaningful narration by none other than Doctor Who himself (Mr. Tom Baker!). Could this be the best album ever in the Ayreon Equation!? YES!! If ever an album deserved a maximum Pleiades rating (7 stars!), then it's Transitus! Before I feature the magnificent supernova brilliance of the Transitus album here though, I need to step aboard Doctor Who's T.A.R.D.I.S. and travel back two years in time to explore Ayreon's Universe: The Best of Ayreon Live.
Best Ayreon album?!! Er……………NO🤔😱
it's the album described as a waste of talent by almost everyone. And i agree here.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 05:43
Cristi wrote:
essexboyinwales wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Wow! I've just experienced an Actual Fantasy by taking a Fantastic Voyage aboard Ayreon's bright shining Transitus album, which includes deep and meaningful narration by none other than Doctor Who himself (Mr. Tom Baker!). Could this be the best album ever in the Ayreon Equation!? YES!! If ever an album deserved a maximum Pleiades rating (7 stars!), then it's Transitus! Before I feature the magnificent supernova brilliance of the Transitus album here though, I need to step aboard Doctor Who's T.A.R.D.I.S. and travel back two years in time to explore Ayreon's Universe: The Best of Ayreon Live.
Best Ayreon album?!! Er……………NO🤔😱
it's the album described as a waste of talent by almost everyone. And i agree here.
Based on past experience, I wasn't expecting you to agree with me on Transitus being Ayreon's best album by far. If you did agree with me for a change, I'd probably fall out of my chair in shock.
1995: Ayreon - The Final Experiment - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxhFKL_PLyTB_i7Cv2hK8qhIp8UBo6JC0" rel="nofollow - 1996: Ayreon - Actual Fantasy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kuZo0rkJOWSkm1nycw8m--Ny-6TBtvIE0" rel="nofollow - 1998: Ayreon - Into the Electric Castle - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nJN9lXkdyI331mwBfyksfLEdHoUekiH_Y" rel="nofollow - 2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOsr4GKrzU" rel="nofollow - 2000: Ayreon - Universal Migrator Part 2: Flight of the Navigator - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWTIYnQcuY" rel="nofollow - 2000: Ayreon - Ayreonauts Only - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF196C3634C5F864D" rel="nofollow - 2004: Ayreon - The Human Equation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mMpiq68-g_4wYFjlhzTHZ8E5WrH_5hMYA" rel="nofollow - 2008: Ayreon - 01011001 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYS8mEf7sImnsoSiALQB9R9" rel="nofollow - 2008: Ayreon - Timeline - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCaaIqx6bSc6J8nJdNIGUTL6" rel="nofollow - 2013: Ayreon - The Theory of Everything - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYgVxUVdExKacfWVz14pEs7" rel="nofollow - 2016: Ayreon - The Theatre Equation - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRPhKLgNffpwY267Kw2NOx5pBMVV7L6iJ" rel="nofollow - 2017: Ayreon - The Source - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k25tw7snlnbdnODw_E00PSEjzap9aJjWw" rel="nofollow - 2018: Ayreon - Ayreon's Universe: Best of Ayreon Live - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJGn3wi7b7b606GfoKAdOgm6rtX9OliRc" rel="nofollow - 2020: Ayreon - Transitus - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nH9h7WoPpVlqXcvYRvJB_p9CyuysIaSqw" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nH9h7WoPpVlqXcvYRvJB_p9CyuysIaSqw
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 05:52
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
essexboyinwales wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Wow! I've just experienced an Actual Fantasy by taking a Fantastic Voyage aboard Ayreon's bright shining Transitus album, which includes deep and meaningful narration by none other than Doctor Who himself (Mr. Tom Baker!). Could this be the best album ever in the Ayreon Equation!? YES!! If ever an album deserved a maximum Pleiades rating (7 stars!), then it's Transitus! Before I feature the magnificent supernova brilliance of the Transitus album here though, I need to step aboard Doctor Who's T.A.R.D.I.S. and travel back two years in time to explore Ayreon's Universe: The Best of Ayreon Live.
Best Ayreon album?!! Er……………NO🤔😱
it's the album described as a waste of talent by almost everyone. And i agree here.
Based on past experience, I wasn't expecting you to agree with me on Transitus being Ayreon's best album by far. If you did agree with me for a change, I'd probably fall out of my chair in shock.
My post was a reaction to essexboyinwales post who (as i remember) really loves Ayreon. If he dislikes that album, then it must be really bad.
The album is so bad it made me give up on the band altogether.
Also Arjen has repeated the same formula over and over. I became tired TBH, His work in the last decade or so were less and less interesting & entertaining IMO.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 06:08
^ I honestly don't know what there is to dislike about the Transitus album. It's the best album I've heard since The Quest by YES, which I know you're not a fan of either.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 06:15
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I honestly don't know what there is to dislike about the Transitus album. It's the best album I've heard since The Quest by YES, which I know you're not a fan of either.
Such an unique opinion, it rather sounds like a joke TBH. But if you say so...
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 06:27
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I honestly don't know what there is to dislike about the Transitus album. It's the best album I've heard since The Quest by YES, which I know you're not a fan of either.
Such an unique opinion, it rather sounds like a joke TBH. But if you say so...
You know me well enough by now to know that I have an unfortunate habit of loving the albums that almost everyone else here loves to hate. I wasn't expecting to like the Transitus album after what you said about it earlier, so I was very pleasantly surprised.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 06:33
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I honestly don't know what there is to dislike about the Transitus album. It's the best album I've heard since The Quest by YES, which I know you're not a fan of either.
Such an unique opinion, it rather sounds like a joke TBH. But if you say so...
You know me well enough by now to know that I have an unfortunate habit of loving the albums that almost everyone else here loves to hate. I wasn't expecting to like the Transitus album after what you said about it earlier, so I was very pleasantly surprised.
I have my share of albums I enjoy that others dislike, but in all honesty, none of my choices are ever as outrageous, over the top as yours.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 06:46
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
^ I honestly don't know what there is to dislike about the Transitus album. It's the best album I've heard since The Quest by YES, which I know you're not a fan of either.
Such an unique opinion, it rather sounds like a joke TBH. But if you say so...
You know me well enough by now to know that I have an unfortunate habit of loving the albums that almost everyone else here loves to hate. I wasn't expecting to like the Transitus album after what you said about it earlier, so I was very pleasantly surprised.
I have my share of albums I enjoy that others dislike, but in all honesty, none of my choices are ever as outrageous, over the top as yours.
That's okay. Our musical tastes are so different that if I dislike an album, then you'd probably take that as a recommendation, and vice versa too.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 06:48
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
I have my share of albums I enjoy that others dislike, but in all honesty, none of my choices are ever as outrageous, over the top as yours.
That's okay. Our musical tastes are so different that if I dislike an album, then you'd probably take that as a recommendation, and vice versa too.
I wouldn't go this far.
Posted By: Archisorcerus
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 07:11
Cristi wrote:
My post was a reaction to essexboyinwales post who (as i remember) really loves Ayreon. If he dislikes that album, then it must be really bad.
Lol, this "deduction" is too funny.
I think Transitus is a very good album. I gave it a 8/10.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 07:14
If there's one thing that transforms the Transitus album from a decent 4-star album into a 5-star masterpiece, then it's the masterstroke of having the sonorous tones of Mr. Tom Baker (the 4th Doctor Who) providing narration. Here he is, travelling in space and time... and trains.
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 15:25
I will say that I think Tom Baker's narration was the best narration on any of the Ayreon albums. Musically, it's about a 7/10 album for me, so sort of in between 3/5 and 4/5 on PA. I guess I had high expectations for it, and it didn't really meet them for me. Still, it's not a bad album. It's just there are a lot of better albums in Ayreon's discography.
------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 15:51
For what it’s worth (feck all I expect!) I don’t think the Transitus album is awful, but after one listen I just didn’t want to hear all the narration again. TB does it well, and exactly as you would want it done, but there’s too much of it. It’s super cheesy (which is really saying something when we’re talking about Ayreon!) and there aren’t enough really memorable songs….
I should give it another go I suppose….but over THE, ITEC, TTOE, 01011001?……….
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: July 27 2022 at 19:16
essexboyinwales wrote:
For what it’s worth (feck all I expect!) I don’t think the Transitus album is awful, but after one listen I just didn’t want to hear all the narration again. TB does it well, and exactly as you would want it done, but there’s too much of it. It’s super cheesy (which is really saying something when we’re talking about Ayreon!) and there aren’t enough really memorable songs….
I should give it another go I suppose….but over THE, ITEC, TTOE, 01011001?……….
I agree on a number of counts (especially concerning the at times Godawful narration). After listening to the first cd I was ready to dump it altogether. It does pick up on the second cd especially the section from "Hopelessly Slipping Away" to "Message From Beyond" (excluding the narration).
There may well be a good single albums worth of music here but as an overall project (which is how it's meant to be listened to) it fails to live up to its lofty ambitions as far as I'm concerned.
It's a (generous) 2.0 from me.
------------- I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 28 2022 at 00:34
essexboyinwales wrote:
For what it’s worth (feck all I expect!) I don’t think the Transitus album is awful, but after one listen I just didn’t want to hear all the narration again. TB does it well, and exactly as you would want it done, but there’s too much of it. It’s super cheesy (which is really saying something when we’re talking about Ayreon!) and there aren’t enough really memorable songs….
I should give it another go I suppose….but over THE, ITEC, TTOE, 01011001?……….
If Tom Baker's narration on Transitus really does become irritating after a while, then maybe it's an album that's best listened to once only, but from my point of view, I can't think of anyone who would have given Transitus more gravitas than the Time Lord.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 06:10
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums, but that's pretty much par for the course for me, just like the unfortunate chap below who's going to struggle to make par after having his golf game rudely interrupted by the annoying devil.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 06:18
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 06:27
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
If the comments about Tom Baker's "annoying narration" are anything to go by, I have a feeling that the more times I listen to the Transitus album, the less I'll like it, so maybe it's an album that''s best listened to once only, especially in your case.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 06:35
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
If the comments about Tom Baker's "annoying narration" are anything to go by, I have a feeling that the more times I listen to the Transitus album, the less I'll like it, so maybe it's an album that''s best listened to once only, especially in your case.
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 06:39
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
If the comments about Tom Baker's "annoying narration" are anything to go by, I have a feeling that the more times I listen to the Transitus album, the less I'll like it, so maybe it's an album that''s best listened to once only, especially in your case.
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
It appears I've just ruined any credibility I had left remaining here by giving Transiitus a 5-star rating.
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 07:08
Cristi wrote:
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
Good grief Cristi... Arjen at his cheesiest? That sounds truly excruciating.
I guess that really must be heard to be believed... (and believe me, I have absolutely no intention of doing so)
------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 07:15
Jared wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
Good grief Cristi... Arjen at his cheesiest? That sounds truly excruciating.
I guess that really must be heard to be believed... (and believe me, I have absolutely no intention of doing so)
Is it too late to downgrade the Transitus album to a 4-star rating to try and salvage what's left of my prog credibility?
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 07:19
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Is it too late to downgrade the Transitus album to a 4-star rating to try and salvage what's left of my prog credibility?
Paul, you've got plenty of Prog credibility in my eyes... Mostly Autumn, Magenta, Karnataka, Spock's, Pendragon, IQ, Jadis, Eloy... you are into some great bands my friend. I'm afraid I've never 'got' Ayreon, but that's a small matter in the scheme of things..
------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 07:26
Jared wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Is it too late to downgrade the Transitus album to a 4-star rating to try and salvage what's left of my prog credibility?
Paul, you've got plenty of Prog credibility in my eyes... Mostly Autumn, Magenta, Karnataka, Spock's, Pendragon, IQ, Jadis, Eloy... you are into some great bands my friend. I'm afraid I've never 'got' Ayreon, but that's a small matter in the scheme of things..
Thanks Jared. It's good to know I've still got some prog credibility left here, although I'm sure Cristi would most definitely disagree.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 09:55
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
It's good to know I've still got some prog credibility left here, although I'm sure Cristi would most definitely disagree.
Please do not put words in my mouth.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 10:03
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
If the comments about Tom Baker's "annoying narration" are anything to go by, I have a feeling that the more times I listen to the Transitus album, the less I'll like it, so maybe it's an album that''s best listened to once only, especially in your case.
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
Okay, I give in. I've now downgraded Transitus to a 4-star album, which makes it the best 4-star album I've ever heard and not Cheddar cheesy at all.
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: July 29 2022 at 17:13
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
If the comments about Tom Baker's "annoying narration" are anything to go by, I have a feeling that the more times I listen to the Transitus album, the less I'll like it, so maybe it's an album that''s best listened to once only, especially in your case.
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
Okay, I give in. I've now downgraded Transitus to a 4-star album, which makes it the best 4-star album I've ever heard and not Cheddar cheesy at all.
It’s remarkable how easily DOWNGRADE TO 3 STARS influenced by others you appear DOWNGRADE TO 2 STARS to be Paul. You should stand by your DOWNGRADE TO 1 STAR original assessment…..
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: July 30 2022 at 01:10
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
If the comments about Tom Baker's "annoying narration" are anything to go by, I have a feeling that the more times I listen to the Transitus album, the less I'll like it, so maybe it's an album that''s best listened to once only, especially in your case.
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
Okay, I give in. I've now downgraded Transitus to a 4-star album, which makes it the best 4-star album I've ever heard and not Cheddar cheesy at all.
I didn't post with the intent to make you downgrade the album, never my intention.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 30 2022 at 02:20
essexboyinwales wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I seem to be in a minority of one here in preferring Transitus over all of Ayreon's other albums
of course you are, I saw this coming a mile away.
If the comments about Tom Baker's "annoying narration" are anything to go by, I have a feeling that the more times I listen to the Transitus album, the less I'll like it, so maybe it's an album that''s best listened to once only, especially in your case.
Not just the narration, but the music is Arjen's cheesiest I'm afraid, in the worst possible way.
Okay, I give in. I've now downgraded Transitus to a 4-star album, which makes it the best 4-star album I've ever heard and not Cheddar cheesy at all.
It’s remarkable how easily DOWNGRADE TO 3 STARS influenced by others you appear DOWNGRADE TO 2 STARS to be Paul. You should stand by your DOWNGRADE TO 1 STAR original assessment…..
On the subject of "one star", I'm currently in Transitus aboard the T.A.R.D.I.S. and travelling back in time from the latest Ayreon album to the Turn of the Century and the first album in the Star One galaxy cluster, because it's time for some Space Metal!
But before that: YES, it's time for a brief interlude...
Posted By: RockHound
Date Posted: July 30 2022 at 18:19
I love Into the Electric Castle through The Theory of Everything. The Human Equation is my favorite. I haven’t checked out Transitus, but based on the reviews and descriptions I don’t think it’s for me.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 31 2022 at 00:54
RockHound wrote:
I love Into the Electric Castle through The Theory of Everything. The Human Equation is my favorite. I haven’t checked out Transitus, but based on the reviews and descriptions I don’t think it’s for me.
To be honest, a week on from listening to Transitus for the first time, I'm now struggling to remember any of the songs from the album, but I could say the same thing about any Ayreon album. The songs on an Ayreon album tend to meld together into one long suite. It's still great music though, even if the individual songs aren't especially memorable. One thing's for sure, if you do happen to check out the Transitus album, you won't forget Tom Baker's narration in a hurry. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, I'll leave you to decide.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 31 2022 at 10:51
Prepare for launch! Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Space Metal band, Star One, have released four albums to date (three studio & one live album). They're all good, but it's advisable not to listen to all four albums in one day - as I did today - or you might suffer from a serious case of metal fatigue.
2002: Star One - Space Metal - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZ0_xdoEGlBYIT0gLBGQ-34qQqTNKUzyE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZ0_xdoEGlBYIT0gLBGQ-34qQqTNKUzyE
2003: Star One - Live On Earth - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kJ536zV5hsfESGFVxpswuat2beXSb1HTo" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kJ536zV5hsfESGFVxpswuat2beXSb1HTo
2010: Star One - Victims of the Modern Age - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kpf8Oz4oRysLsns0CififhblhJb4OPPgg" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kpf8Oz4oRysLsns0CififhblhJb4OPPgg
2022: Star One - Revel in Time - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mIwSdZMzm5Tew7mwqgGWbV_v0sNS7C4PM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mIwSdZMzm5Tew7mwqgGWbV_v0sNS7C4PM
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: July 31 2022 at 12:22
Star One - Fate of Man (from the latest album "Revel in Time" and featuring Brittney!)
Posted By: Hugh Manatee
Date Posted: July 31 2022 at 17:58
2002: Star One - Space Metal. This album is pretty much straight ahead standard metal which in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Each song is based on a different sci fi story such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Dune, Alien, 2001 etc. and as usual some of the songs work and some don't. For me the standout track is the light metal of "Songs of the Ocean" based on Star Terk IV:The Voyage Home but there is nothing here too hard to listen to, although there is also nothing here that is vital listening.
I would rate it a solid 3.0.
------------- I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 01 2022 at 01:12
Hugh Manatee wrote:
2002: Star One - Space Metal. This album is pretty much straight ahead standard metal which in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Each song is based on a different sci fi story such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Dune, Alien, 2001 etc. and as usual some of the songs work and some don't. For me the standout track is the light metal of "Songs of the Ocean" based on Star Terk IV:The Voyage Home but there is nothing here too hard to listen to, although there is also nothing here that is vital listening.
I would rate it a solid 3.0.
A 3-star rating seems fair, considering I listened to the Space Metal album only yesterday, but I don't remember any of the songs on the album. I do remember the song "Lost Children of the Universe", although it's from Star One's latest album, "Revel in Time".
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 01 2022 at 08:30
We're in Transitus again aboard The Universal Migrator and journeying back to The Source of Arjen Anthony Lucassen's inspiration with the release of his first solo album: "Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy (1994), recorded nearly two years before the first Ayreon album, which was quickly followed by a tribute album: "Strange Hobby" (1996), featuring cover versions of some of Arjen's favourite songs. And then it's Back to the Future for Arjen's third and final solo album to date: "Lost in the New Real" (2012), which includes an absolutely fabulous tribute to The Fab Four. You might also recognise the voice of Dutch actor Rutger Hauer from the Blade Runner movie and also the Guinness ads in the 1980's.
1994: Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3A7MsAKmnfIgAWZzQwqyiaxpvjH1Gif0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3A7MsAKmnfIgAWZzQwqyiaxpvjH1Gif0
2012: Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost in the New Real - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mHPJknQMxGE9JfUuZ519pzA2DmDQ_VdJQ" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mHPJknQMxGE9JfUuZ519pzA2DmDQ_VdJQ
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 02 2022 at 03:17
Two memorable cover versions from Arjen Anthony Lucassen's most recent album: Lost in the New Real (2012)
For Pink Floyd fans....
....And for fans of Blue Oyster Cult....
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 02 2022 at 03:20
^ I don't like the PF cover, the second song is quite good though.
Antimatter did a much better Welcome to the Machine cover.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 02 2022 at 03:42
^ If you don't like Arjen's cover of Welcome to the Machine, then you'd probably like the 18 cover versions on his "Strange Hobby" album even less.
I like Antimatter's cover too, even though I've never heard of Antimatter before. Not that it matters though.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 02 2022 at 03:50
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I like Antimatter's cover too, even though I've never heard of Antimatter before. Not that it matters though.
Actually it matters because Antimatter is an excellent band.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 02 2022 at 03:53
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I like Antimatter's cover too, even though I've never heard of Antimatter before. Not that it matters though.
Actually it matters because Antimatter is an excellent band.
Well, at least I've heard of Antimatter now, thanks to you.
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: August 02 2022 at 03:54
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
Cristi wrote:
Psychedelic Paul wrote:
I like Antimatter's cover too, even though I've never heard of Antimatter before. Not that it matters though.
Actually it matters because Antimatter is an excellent band.
Well, at least I've heard of Antimatter now, thanks to you.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 03 2022 at 02:00
2001: Ambeon - Fate of a Dreamer - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUpIVP6xDDHK2fPAkVsMb7-CgO3RTPX9i" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUpIVP6xDDHK2fPAkVsMb7-CgO3RTPX9i
Ambeon: an impressive one-off album project from Arjen Anthony Lucassen in which the songs of Ayreon are given a dramatic re-working, just like the song below, which sounds like something Tangerine Dream might have recorded back in their heyday.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 04 2022 at 07:52
2015: The Gentle Storm - The Diary - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ltsoFOe1P4Sp39f9kVQxvOzaiwsa7a9oI" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ltsoFOe1P4Sp39f9kVQxvOzaiwsa7a9oI
Arjen Anthony Lucassen & Anneke van Giersbergen get together in this unique one-off album project, which consists of two completely different versions of the same eleven songs on the album. Disc One features the gentler, folkier side of The Gentle Storm and Disc Two features the stormier Progressive and Symphonic Metal versions of the same songs. Hence the title: The Gentle Storm.
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 05 2022 at 08:42
2009: Guilt Machine - On This Perfect Day - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mpgmV7Z8oI-p7PvKy1_J_EWqRSEWKak4A" rel="nofollow -
Guilt Machine:- More Heavy Metal mayhem from Arjen Anthony Lucassen in this one-album side-project, recorded in-between recording sessions for albums by Ayreon & Star One.
Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: August 05 2022 at 11:46
Arjen Anthony Lucassen & Anneke van Giersbergen get together in this unique one-off album project, which consists of two completely different versions of the same eleven songs on the album. Disc One features the gentler, folkier side of The Gentle Storm and Disc Two features the stormier Progressive and Symphonic Metal versions of the same songs. Hence the title: The Gentle Storm. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
I do like this but I wanted it to be better….
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 05 2022 at 12:46
^ That quotation of mine has an extra-long <<s--p--a--n>>
The final album - by Stream of Passion - is coming up here tomorrow.
1995: Ayreon - The Final Experiment - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxhFKL_PLyTB_i7Cv2hK8qhIp8UBo6JC0" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lxhFKL_PLyTB_i7Cv2hK8qhIp8UBo6JC0 
2013: Ayreon - The Theory of Everything - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYgVxUVdExKacfWVz14pEs7" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDp_PtuyOwCYgVxUVdExKacfWVz14pEs7 
2002: Star One - Space Metal - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZ0_xdoEGlBYIT0gLBGQ-34qQqTNKUzyE" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZ0_xdoEGlBYIT0gLBGQ-34qQqTNKUzyE 
Cristi wrote:
