Devin Townsend

Barkless Dog · #1 10-06-2009, 10:52 AM

I was listening to Devin Townsend and what a great singer he is. I thought his work with Steve Vai was Steve's best stuff in my opinion.

Anyone else a fan?

Rip Topaz · #2 10-06-2009, 10:58 AM

Sex and Religion is one of my all-time favorite records. And to think he was only 19 when he sang on it.

Kink Rimson · #3 10-06-2009, 10:58 AM

One of the few musicians I would consider a genius.
His solo work however is far superior to his Vai stuff.
IMHO, of course.

Ocean Machine is an unparalleled piece of work.

Trapezius · #4 10-06-2009, 01:36 PM

I love his music too. He's got a great voice, and always some tasty songwriting. I nearly soiled myself when he appeared on "The human equation" by Ayreon. One of my favourite musicians on this planet, with one of the greatest singers.. that's almost too much, even for a guy like me.

Sharkman · #5 10-06-2009, 01:39 PM

The Latest album "Ki" is absolutely brilliant.

Very different from his previous sound(s), but a real masterpiece nonetheless.

GrindYourMind · #6 10-06-2009, 06:55 PM

Genius songwriter, shred guitarist, huge vocal range, BRUTAL screams, HUGE producer.

The guy has got it all.

WalterBush · #7 10-06-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharkman

The Latest album "Ki" is absolutely brilliant.

Very different from his previous sound(s), but a real masterpiece nonetheless.

+1. I liked Strapping Young Lad, too, but the mix was too, well, awful. I love Ki, though. Very different.

Murder_Worship · #8 10-06-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrindYourMind

Genius songwriter, shred guitarist, huge vocal range, BRUTAL screams, HUGE producer.

The guy has got it all.

except he has some health problems
but +1 to all the above

and he's canadian

Barkless Dog · #9 10-07-2009, 05:32 AM

You would think he would be a household name, with his voice.

jmac · #10 10-07-2009, 05:54 AM

I loved his work on S&R, but SYL was too much screaming, not enough melody for me. Granted I only listened to a few clips.

Does he have anything that is similar in vocal style to S&R?

**Josh Ryan** · #11 10-07-2009, 07:02 AM

He's really amazing, IMO. I love his solo work, big fan of SYL as well.

Murder_Worship, whats the health issue?

anthowl · #12 10-07-2009, 07:12 AM

I'm a Dev fan. SYL were brilliant.
especially Alien.

Jeramaya · #13 10-07-2009, 11:41 AM

Ki--a new album? Shoot, I hadn't even heard of it. Must go find...

I think in some ways my favorite album is "Terria." Devin can go a little sentimental/80's cheese metal at times, but in general it works for me.

Murder_Worship · #14 10-07-2009, 03:03 PM

he's bipolar. he was checked into a mental institute for a while. he's had some addiction with stuff in the past.

he's all good and stuff now
absolutley pumped on the next 3 albums

edit: i shouldve just said "problems" and left health out of it. I'm sure he eats all of his veges.

ReMmy · #15 10-07-2009, 03:34 PM

hardcore fan here! Have loved all the hardest SYL stuff but more melodic songs like "Almost Again" and it's intense video make you forget how brutal and fast they are (Gene Hoglan is easily one of the greatest drummers in existence), and are dripping with emotion. His solo stuff is a testiment to an artist's burst of creative freedom once out from a record company's thumb... brilliant... and also displays how he is perhaps one of the funniest guys ("Vampyra") in the biz. i miss the 'skullet', though!

**Josh Ryan** · #16 10-08-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murder_Worship

he's bipolar. he was checked into a mental institute for a while. he's had some addiction with stuff in the past.

he's all good and stuff now
absolutley pumped on the next 3 albums

edit: i shouldve just said "problems" and left health out of it. I'm sure he eats all of his veges.

gotcha.

Kink Rimson · #17 10-08-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalterBush

+1. I liked Strapping Young Lad, too, but the mix was too, well, awful. .

I love the SYL production, I think of Devin as the Phil Spector of metal, only without the murder. I loved how the emphasis of SYL wasn't always on the guitars, it was more a 'cathedral of sound'.

City is my joint fave Dev effort, along with Ocean Machine.
But Infinity, Terria, Physicist, Alien and Synchestra are pretty incredible too.

Kink Rimson · #18 10-08-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murder_Worship

I'm sure he eats all of his veges.

Eat your beets!

WalterBush · #19 10-08-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kink Rimson

I love the SYL production, I think of Devin as the Phil Spector of metal, only without the murder. I loved how the emphasis of SYL wasn't always on the guitars, it was more a 'cathedral of sound'.

I suppose that's part of my problem...I like Steely Dan type mixes where everything is audible, rather than the wall-o'-sound type mix. Alien was definitely wall-o'-sound.

I was referring to the mastering, more than the mix, actually. Slammed and overcompressed. I'd love to hear some remastered SYL. I suspect, after listening to Becoming the Archetype (Devin produced their second album, and it shows) and Devin's solo stuff, that a good mix and interesting orchestration got hosed in the mastering process on the SYL albums.

hentor · #20 10-08-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalterBush

I was referring to the mastering, more than the mix, actually. Slammed and overcompressed. I'd love to hear some remastered SYL. I suspect, after listening to Becoming the Archetype (Devin produced their second album, and it shows) and Devin's solo stuff, that a good mix and interesting orchestration got hosed in the mastering process on the SYL albums.

Actually, knowing Dev and the SYL albums, I'd say that the mastering was intentional as he was going for the brutal, pummelling wall of sound.

The one conversation I had with them was that he was looking to leave the listeners exhausted, confused and spent after listening to them. I think he executed that aim perfectly with the SYL stuff...

For stuff that's a little more varied and dynamic - try the Devin Townsend Band albums or his solo work. If you want sheer weirdness in a concept album, you can always try Ziltoid...