The Album Club 2017

Trollheart · 05-13-2017, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiiii

I have a love hate relationship with Ocean Machine. While it was one of the first Devin albums I've heard, I can't seem to find much that I like about it. To me it feels scattered and over-Devin-ified if that makes sense. I'm one of the biggest Devin fans here, and even I can admit that this album has faults. Would I say it's his worst? No. Would I say it's his best? Not even close. This falls right in the middle for me. It's an album I'll listen to but it's not an album I particularly enjoy.

There, now you've got a die hard Devin fan also saying this album isn't that great.

It's got its faults without a doubt, but I'd still listen to it before I'd listen to Half Japanese. Or even Quarter Chinese.

OccultHawk · 05-13-2017, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Stooges > Sex Pistols you dingus.

So what?

Cue something about MC5

And still the opening chord on Holidays in the Sun is what elph thinks it is.

OccultHawk · 05-13-2017, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

It's got its faults without a doubt, but I'd still listen to it before I'd listen to Half Japanese. Or even Quarter Chinese.

Why do you even bother to listen to music?

The Batlord · 05-13-2017, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

So what?

Cue something about MC5

And still the opening chord on Holidays in the Sun is what elph thinks it is.

Both are clearly better than MC5, and I like MC5.

Electrophonic Tonic · 05-13-2017, 03:02 PM

I'll just drop a quick review and let you guys get back to your slap fight.

Devin Townsend
Ocean Mechine

I'm a fan of prog metal. Not as much in the Dream Theatre sense, but more in the Blackwater Park sense. I like the textures and variety of sounds that Opeth does/did along with their technicality and song writing. It also helped that Opeth still had their old black metal edge at that point in their career, so they could cover up a bad song to some degree with some viscera and energy.

With Ocean Mechine, the heavier stuff is the best part of the album. Seventh Wave, Greetings, Regulator and especially Bastard are the highlights of the album, and it's no surprise that they're the heaviest tracks here. When Ocean Mechine gets quieter and more ambient, that's where the problems are for me. It's not boring as much as it is listless. And while I'd rather listen so something listless rather than boring, it's hard to listen to when a vast majority of the album is Devin's ambient influences rather than his prog and metal influences. As a student of the prog, Devin should know how to build tension with his music to keep it interesting wheil you develop your proggy progness over the course of 10 minutes to keep things interesting and give a sense of accomplishment for making it all the way to the end. Even on The Death of Music, where there is a slight sense of build up as the stings and his voice swell, it fizzles out to an unsatisfying conclusion. Prog blue balls are the worst musical blue balls.

With my criticism aside, there is lots of beautiful, lush soundscapes and the production is spectacular. It doesn't completely save Ocean Mechine but it can't be ignored either. There is enough interesting ideas for me as a prog fan to make me want to listen to this more and to try and dig deeper, but I have a sneaking suspicion that while I may enjoy it more down the road, it won't be a musical revelation for me either.

6.5/10

OccultHawk · 05-13-2017, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Both are clearly better than MC5, and I like MC5.

I agree. I'm just saying once somebody tries to out original punk you with The Stooges then it's like obligatory to mention MC5.

Trollheart · 05-13-2017, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Why do you even bother to listen to music?

Seriously. Just go **** yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrophonic Tonic

I'll just drop a quick review and let you guys get back to your slap fight.

Devin Townsend
Ocean Music

It's Ocean Machine.

Electrophonic Tonic · 05-13-2017, 03:19 PM

The English language plays by my rules.

Trollheart · 05-13-2017, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrophonic Tonic

The English language plays by my rules.

As does everything. You're one scary-looking avatar!

Electrophonic Tonic · 05-13-2017, 03:32 PM

You don't get to be an extict 520 million year-old super predator by knowing the difference between they're, their and there.

05-13-2017, 03:02 PM	#885 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	I'll just drop a quick review and let you guys get back to your slap fight. Devin Townsend Ocean Mechine I'm a fan of prog metal. Not as much in the Dream Theatre sense, but more in the Blackwater Park sense. I like the textures and variety of sounds that Opeth does/did along with their technicality and song writing. It also helped that Opeth still had their old black metal edge at that point in their career, so they could cover up a bad song to some degree with some viscera and energy. With Ocean Mechine, the heavier stuff is the best part of the album. Seventh Wave, Greetings, Regulator and especially Bastard are the highlights of the album, and it's no surprise that they're the heaviest tracks here. When Ocean Mechine gets quieter and more ambient, that's where the problems are for me. It's not boring as much as it is listless. And while I'd rather listen so something listless rather than boring, it's hard to listen to when a vast majority of the album is Devin's ambient influences rather than his prog and metal influences. As a student of the prog, Devin should know how to build tension with his music to keep it interesting wheil you develop your proggy progness over the course of 10 minutes to keep things interesting and give a sense of accomplishment for making it all the way to the end. Even on The Death of Music, where there is a slight sense of build up as the stings and his voice swell, it fizzles out to an unsatisfying conclusion. Prog blue balls are the worst musical blue balls. With my criticism aside, there is lots of beautiful, lush soundscapes and the production is spectacular. It doesn't completely save Ocean Mechine but it can't be ignored either. There is enough interesting ideas for me as a prog fan to make me want to listen to this more and to try and dig deeper, but I have a sneaking suspicion that while I may enjoy it more down the road, it won't be a musical revelation for me either. 6.5/10 __________________ I was told I wouldn't need a signature... Last edited by Electrophonic Tonic; 05-15-2017 at 10:06 PM. Reason: Trollheart thinks music and machine are two different words

05-13-2017, 03:19 PM	#888 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	The English language plays by my rules. __________________ I was told I wouldn't need a signature...

05-13-2017, 03:32 PM	#890 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	You don't get to be an extict 520 million year-old super predator by knowing the difference between they're, their and there. __________________ I was told I wouldn't need a signature...