Quote from: Dedalus on November 08, 2024, 12:06:58 PMReally?

I've completely ignored Haken since the release of Virus that I haven't even seen any comments or reviews about the new album (and I only realized this now, with your comment).

Who knows, maybe I'll listen to it one day lol

I never could get into Haken, with the exception of the Affinity album. I like that one, what with the 80s vibe and all. But beyond that, I just think they either sound too much like Dream Theater, or too much like King Crimson, or too much like this or that band. They're great at what they do, but they sound like an amalgamation of other bands that I'd rather listen to in the first place, if I'm in the mood for that sound or style.

The Astonishing is my jam. I think I've listened to it 8 times front to back at this point. It captures so much of the sound that makes them Dream Theater. I mean... come on, it's Dream THEATER!

I'm waiting for the Daily Doug to spin that.

Quote from: Dark Sky on November 10, 2024, 04:09:51 PMThe Astonishing is my jam. I think I've listened to it 8 times front to back at this point. It captures so much of the sound that makes them Dream Theater. I mean... come on, it's Dream THEATER!

I'm waiting for the Daily Doug to spin that.

It would certainly cut his air drumming time in half.

Quote from: Dark Sky on November 10, 2024, 04:09:51 PMThe Astonishing is my jam. I think I've listened to it 8 times front to back at this point. It captures so much of the sound that makes them Dream Theater. I mean... come on, it's Dream THEATER!

I'm waiting for the Daily Doug to spin that.

Welcome to the forums!!

The Astonishing posts in the Euro tour got me thinking:

I -greatly- disliked TA after a low number of listens relatively speaking but I'm also excited by the idea that one day I'm going to revisit TA and get one last record from my favorite DT era. It's going to have nuggets for me to find and maybe I still will hate it as a whole but enjoying maybe 10% is better than nothing!

Also holy smokes I just listened to GOM and the drum mix is horrible. Maybe it's my headphones but I can barely hear the cymbals at all. It might be worse than DT12. Does anyone have this in HDTracks and hear a major upgrade in sound?

Quote from: TheBarstoolWarrior on November 12, 2024, 03:00:23 PMAlso holy smokes I just listened to GOM and the drum mix is horrible. Maybe it's my headphones but I can barely hear the cymbals at all. It might be worse than DT12. Does anyone have this in HDTracks and hear a major upgrade in sound?

I do and it's almost the same mastering, differences are very minute (it's not like the differences are those of especially Dramatic Turn, DT12, D/T and View), to me anyway (and I usually notice lots of things), doesn't warrant buying it in 24 bit IMHO (in that case anyway), quite sufficient on CD
Not the most horrible mix on any DT album to me (FII would be that to me, although I never liked any MP era album in that respect ever), but I can see why some people might think so.

Quote from: TheBarstoolWarrior on November 12, 2024, 03:00:23 PMAlso holy smokes I just listened to GOM and the drum mix is horrible. Maybe it's my headphones but I can barely hear the cymbals at all. It might be worse than DT12. Does anyone have this in HDTracks and hear a major upgrade in sound?

It's true. The sound of the drums is even acceptable, but the cymbals suffer in the mix.

It's a shame that DT jasonnewsted MM.

After reading the title of this topic, I decided to listen to the full album again - after a few years - during one of my road trips...and, well, I really think it is an Astonishing album!

Yes, it's too long
Yes, there are a few cheesy moments that are a bit embarassing..

But it's so full of beautiful melodies and "progginess", that I really love it!

It surely reinforced its position in my top 5 (I&W, SFAM, Awake, ADTOE, TA) after this listens.

The main issue after listening to it again, is that I like the latest 2 albums + 1 song even less...

I really wish that in the rest of Parasomnia they have taken some risks somewhere, and that they focused on the melodies..
That's what I missed in (most of) D/T and (in the whole) AVFTTOTW...progginess, and melody.

Let's wait and see.

 

Quote from: gzarruk on November 08, 2024, 12:31:58 PMI can't guarantee you'll like Fauna, but I echo that previous post, the album isn't like Vector/Virus and it's closer to The Mountain for sure.

Except that The Mountain is awesome and Fauna is...pick a word that is the complete opposite of awesome.

Quote from: KevShmev on Today at 08:11:54 AMExcept that The Mountain is awesome and Fauna is...pick a word that is the complete opposite of awesome.

It's not their best album, but it's not bad and closer stylistically to TM than Vector/Virus.

Quote from: KevShmev on Today at 08:11:54 AMExcept that The Mountain is awesome and Fauna is...pick a word that is the complete opposite of awesome.

See, I love Fauna, but I also put Haken in the elite group of bands and artists who don't have a bad album.

Hey, everyone has their preferences but I can't get into Haken either. I will still give a shot again.....

I sat down a few months ago and listened to the whole thing in one sitting with headphones and (almost) no distractions.
My opinion has not changed in the almost 9 years since its release, and it echoes how others feel about it. Too long, too cheesy, too many ballads, etc.
I don't have anything new to say about it. It is my least favorite album of theirs by far, and I don't see that changing. I know it has plenty of fans, and kudos to you all. Clearly you're hearing something I'm not hearing. And kudos to the band for trying something out of the ordinary. Shame it didn't work. Oh well.

Quote from: KevShmev on Today at 08:11:54 AMExcept that The Mountain is awesome and Fauna is...pick a word that is the complete opposite of awesome.

 

Interesting to know that.

I haven't listened to it yet (and I confess I'm really lazy about doing so). I think I've come to terms with the idea that Haken is a band that made a spectacularly good album and that's it.

Quote from: KevShmev on Today at 08:11:54 AMExcept that The Mountain is awesome and Fauna is...pick a word that is the complete opposite of awesome.

Oh cmon Kev....Fauna isn't that bad. It's not top tier Haken but it has some good stuff on it.

Quote from: Dedalus on Today at 12:29:35 PM 

Interesting to know that.

I haven't listened to it yet (and I confess I'm really lazy about doing so). I think I've come to terms with the idea that Haken is a band that made a spectacularly good album and that's it.

I would say Haken made four very good to great albums, the first four; all four are very worthy from start to finish.  Vector, the fifth, was a bit of a decline, but still had a few really good songs.  The last two is where they have mostly lost the plot in my viewpoint.

Quote from: gmillerdrake on Today at 12:42:16 PMOh cmon Kev....Fauna isn't that bad. It's not top tier Haken but it has some good stuff on it.

Lovebite is a good song (probably the best song from the last two records).  I will give you that, but that's all.

Quote from: KevShmev on Today at 01:35:17 PMI would say Haken made four very good to great albums, the first four; all four are very worthy from start to finish.  Vector, the fifth, was a bit of a decline, but still had a few really good songs.  The last two is where they have mostly lost the plot in my viewpoint.

To be fair, the first two albums aren't bad at all, they just sound very DT-derivative. With TM I think the band got a voice of its own. After that I didn't like the albums.

One thing that is very positive about the first three albums for me is the presence of Thomas MacLean. Spectacular bass lines.

Quote from: Dedalus on Today at 01:47:05 PMTo be fair, the first two albums aren't bad at all, they just sound very DT-derivative.

That pretty much sums up how I feel about all their work, with the exception of the Affinity album. Most of their stuff sounds too much like Dream Theater, or King Crimson, or some other artist that I would rather listen to in the first place, if I'm in the mood for that sound or style. Excellent musicians, though.