Devin Townsend's Ki

[xenogia]

Don't know if anyone has heard this album on this forum, but all I have to say it is amazing.  Devin's last outing Ziltoid The Omniscient was absolutely fantastic and this new album is just as brilliant for so many other reasons.

I look forward to his three other releases this year..

Yay I just needed to blurt it out, cause I'm listening to it currently while I am on the train.

[ThreeOhFour]

I am guilty of being an enormous fan of every thing Devin has ever done, and I am also guilty of having listened to the leaked tracks from Ki on Youtube.

To say that I have been listening to Terminal way too much lately is a massive understatement. I look forward to buying the album and listening to it - particularly as I have been listening to massive amounts of the SYL albums City and Alien recently.

I have to say, though, even though he is a music making machine, I am a little doubtful as to whether he can actually manage to achieve his 4 album in the year goal. Still, exciting times for us Devin fans (particularly after he broke up Strapping Young Lad and announced a haitus after Ziltoid the Omniscient).

[Bulbapuck]

I started to litsen to SYL a couple of months back, and I've become a huge fan

So I'm going to take this oppurtunity to ask:
I litsened to " Christine" a couple of months back and realised it wasn't my thing. Are all Devin Townsend's own songs so far from Strapping or was I just unlucky?

[Sam.]

I guess I just don't "get" this.

Having listened to a few things by this guy, he is no doubt a technically proficient guitarist, but not a very interesting one.

At least to me.

In the interests of balance, could you tell me what you hear in this music that I'm missing? I hear fairly technical guitar with limited artistic flair, and quite basic lyrics.

4 albums in a year? Doesn't smack of art. Quantity over quality?

[Anian]

I'm with you Zooty. Like his guitar skills, no doubt he knows how to play a mean tune.

Now I mean this in no argueing tone, I'm really interested and this is an opprtunity to learn, for me:
I still don't get that screaming and the wierd "rage" voice, not just with this guy, in general (metal and similar music). I just don't get a ballad and cool melodies in one song and then some rage and screaming and death to thee and talk about demon spawns and stuff in the next song (sometimes in the same song, WTF?!!?). It's like they make a delicious cake but then suddenly they spit on it - I mean it as in that's why I can't listen to that kind of music.

And the thing that confuses me the most is when they interview these pepole - they're quiet, great musicicans, usually sound very inteligent and chilled. Where the hell does all that anger come from then?!

[xenogia]

Look into Devin Townsend's career, the man suffers insane bi-polar.  As for Devin his music is more about the overall production of it.  He is first and foremost an amazing engineer and producer and a good song writer to boot.

[ThreeOhFour]

Subjective things like music are always going to divide people, I guess.

There are plenty of reasons why I find his work so endearing - and it's not because of his guitar ability. Far be it for me to coherently express what appeals to me in his music - however one thing I enjoy is his use of dynamics (ie, the gentle to harsh changes as mentioned by Anian). Personally, I don't find myself interested in the types of music that stick to one general sound; rather than having all mellow or all heavy I prefer a mix of both. For me, this creates nice variations in the listening experience which keeps me interested and entertained.

That being said, when I first heard Strapping Young Lad I was quite put off by the aggression present in the music. Only after several listens did I find myself enjoying it, and whilst Zooty claims that the lyrics are simple, I often find them honest, quirky and sometimes just plain funny.

Bulbapuck, as for Devin Townsend's solo stuff, well, it really is a bit of a mixed bag. I believe that the common consideration is that Strapping Young Lad represents one extreme of Devin's personality and his solo stuff represents the other extreme - meaning that if you are really fond of the SYL sound you might not actually enjoy his less aggressive solo material. However, the sounds vary quite a bit from album to album, so you might find something you enjoy. Personally, I enjoy both .

Also, Zooty, are we even allowed to question what "art" is anymore?

And as for the screaming... I guess he just had a bad week?