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OK...so...it's almost the end of the year. I'm planning on taking about 10 days (mostly) off around the Christmas/New Year time. And, I think I have a good plan for the Extended Play Lounges to round out the year.

First, I really would like to listen to Haken...especially since the band has maintained solid interest from this community in multiple polls. So, we're voting on which Haken Extended Play you'd like to hear. The choices are each of their six studio albums (since I've already listened to much of Restoration). We'll run the poll through Nov. 27. I'll plan on dropping the video on Dec. 1.

Then, I'll do one last Extended Play Lounge episode in mid-December. Many have been asking...and I'd like to return to Dream Theater and listen to Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (just the 8-part side 2). When the time comes, we'll vote on which version to include in the episode. We started the Patreon in late July with a bang doing Dream Theater's Metropolis saga. It seems appropriate to end the year with this powerhouse band.

Happy voting! (I'm curious to see the results...)

Comments

Einaras Sipavičius

Affinity is one of my favourite albums of the decade and other Haken albums are lesser for me. Affinity has accessibilty, complexity and innovative signature sound of Haken in one place. Album sounds really mature and well composed.

Anonymous

Super hard to pick one, but I'd actually pick their latest one, virus, for the wider diversity of styles in the tracks. But all albums have their highlights!

Anonymous

I saw them in concert in 2019 and when they played Cockroach King the place went nuts. The Mountain is by far their best.

Anonymous

I'd be hard-pressed not to pick Virus...not for any timely reason or anything like that...no, no, no...

Ian Raine

Not much love for Visions.... perhaps DD could do the 22 minute live version of the name-song another time.

Edward Malthouse

It's hard to go wrong with any of them. I personally prefer the older ones, so Mountain would be great.

Edward Malthouse

Can't wait for six degrees. I prefer the studio version. The Score orchestra is not that good and they can't handle the complex time signatures.

Arrow2theACL

It happened!!! I would write some long post about all the selections, but I’m out Camping at the moment. Aquarius is my favorite as it is a fun a whimsical concept album. But I fully expect either The Mountain for the more Prog Rock fans or Affinity for a heavier sound with some great single tracks.

Frank Bernard

I really think Virus should be the one but it will not win. I really love the album.

William Roberto Alkema do Monte

I have to say… I’m sad we will end the year without Doug’s reaction to “Snow” by Spock’s Beard…

Dave Vick

Still holding out for more Zappa...

Anonymous

Diego Tejeida has left Haken it was officially announced yesterday. 😔

Anonymous

100000% agree But *when* he does it and asks why we let him wait so long...

Khaled Akbik

YESS!! Haken and DT back to back?! My two all time favorite prog bands. Thank you Doug for ending the year in such a special way. P.s. super difficult to choose one. Aquarius is brilliant, The Mountain kind of put them on the map and Virus is just on another level. Hopefully others can be covered in future extended plays.

Eirik Morken

Doug.. Great to have both Haken and DT to look forward to, but can you pleeeeease consider reacting to Snow soon? Your reactions to Spock's Beard has been really great, and you have said that "I may have a new favorite band" and "I really need to listen to this album". Why are you letting us wait so long then? 😫 Really hoping that you do a poll with only SB albums, or even just react to Snow. It has been requested rapidly all through out the fall. Love your channel, really looking forward to both Haken and DT, but you are really testing my patience here! 😅

Anonymous

I’ve never listened to any of their albums in full so I’ll be tuning in for the first time as well! Looking forward to it

Marcos de Brum Lopes

Although I've known Haken for a while I've never really got into them untill this week when I decide to dive into their music. Aquarius would be my 1st choice, Mountain 2nd. As for DT, I like they studio version better for a 1st reaction because the live one misses some cool stuff, especially in the overture. I'd enjoy both versions but that's my 2 cents.

Anonymous

Can’t say that I am a big fan of either Dream theater or Haken but I look forward to a reaction to “Who's the Boss in the Factory?” by Swedish band Karmakanic

Anonymous

I'd love to see an extended play episode for Eloy. Preferably the Ocean album, but you can't go wrong with those fellas.

Anonymous

I've been waiting for this for months now! So excited! Thank you Doug and community for showing interest in Haken! I personally prefer Affinity, but I voted The Mountain because I think Doug will be able to relate to the lyrics and Diego's piano work more.

Anonymous

This is such sad news!! Thanks for letting us know. I could see him taking more of a back seat in the latest album, though, so it makes sense. I miss his wonderful contributions before the last couple heavy albums!

Enigmaticus

I am not familiar with Haken, but I have been touting Wobbler, one of my favorite great symphonic prog bands from Norway.

Rob Winchell

I’m sorry, does anyone actually care about Haken? Maybe 20-30 people. Whoa!!!!😂

Arrow2theACL

Nope no one. Why would anyone vote for them where they are 2nd or 3rd for the last 6 polls is beyond me. Outrageous.

Anonymous

I guess some people must, but I don't. Different tastes though so whatever. I like a lot of stuff other people don't.

Claudio M M

Yes! Wobbler is a great band that shows how alive prog-rock is.

Arrow2theACL

I’ve listened to all the extended plays. Some I liked and some I didn’t care for, but I appreciate each one. Especially Doug’s reaction to them. Give The Mountain a try. It is a beautiful album with vocal harmonies and the theme is about the journey through life.

Anonymous

Oh yes Wobbler would be nice, I'm hopeful for "from silence to somewhere" on a Friday, and "five rooms " on a Wednesday (my #1 track of 2020!)

Anonymous

This is really sad news, even on the last albums he brought so much into the overall sound and atmosphere that I can't imagine "haken" without him. I don't think that another keyboardist can simply "replace him", but I hope they'll manage to find someone creative, that can be different but tasteful and inspiring such as sherinian and rudess have been for dream theater.

Enigmaticus

“Dwellers of The Deep” is a masterpiece from beginning to end, especially ‘By The Banks’ and ‘Five Rooms.’

Paul Hoyle

Not just Wobbler, but please, please, please can we have some White Willow from which Wobbler germinated back in 2005?