The Devin Townsend Shuffler

Trollheart · 11-05-2019, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

sees thread title. closes tab.

Yet posts anyway.

Come on: at worst it's car-crash thread par excellence! You know you're bored, just admit it.

And put down that Bible! Don't you have any comic books to read???

Mondo Bungle · 11-05-2019, 08:16 PM

I guess I might as well just go **** my own face

Trollheart · 11-05-2019, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondo Bungle

I guess I might as well just go **** my own face

I'll copy that too!

Trollheart: stealing your ideas since 2015...

Seriously, no messing: your Zorn shuffler is not only a great idea, you're doing a great job on it. If I had the slightest interest in Zorn I'd be there. But I don't. So I'm robbing your idea. Guess we'll see each other in court. Better buy a suit I guess.

Mondo Bungle · 11-05-2019, 11:53 PM

well you oughtta hear me out and check it from time to time. There will be much jazzy progressive easy listening that I will argue cannot be disliked

Trollheart · 11-06-2019, 02:42 PM

Title: “Start”
Released as: Devin Townsend
Taken from: Iceland
Year: 2016
Running time: 2.36
Comments: Well this is an odd little one. Apparently an album of acoustic covers (so far as I can see) of previous material, this disc was released with copies of his autobiography. Hmm. Original title for a song that begins an album, but let’s see what it’s like. Picked acoustic guitar, sort of in a classical guitar virtuoso style. Guess it’s an instrumental. Well, I suppose an an intro (presumably) to the album it’s all right, but there’s not much there to get excited about really.
Rating: 4/10
(no video available; contain your disappointment please!)

Mondo Bungle · 11-06-2019, 06:23 PM

have you listened to Deconstruction

I dunno if you'd be about it due to it's extreme chaotic mania and heaviness but I think it's really a superb album.

Trollheart · 11-06-2019, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondo Bungle

have you listened to Deconstruction

I dunno if you'd be about it due to it's extreme chaotic mania and heaviness but I think it's really a superb album.

I don't think so, but no doubt it'll come up at some point. Yeah some of his stuff is definitely wild and chaotic, and probably not for me. There's a lot of annoying dialogue/acting on, is it, Ziltoid the Omniscient? Don't think a lot of that either.

Mondo Bungle · 11-06-2019, 06:32 PM

the other one I think is cool

Trollheart · 11-16-2019, 02:22 PM

Title: “Texada”
Released as: Devin Townsend Project
Taken from: Ghost
Year: 2011
Running time: 9.30
Comments: I think I may have heard this album once before. Maybe not. Randomly selected, this happens to be the longest track on it. Nice bubbly keyboard opening, almost new-wave in a way, could put you in mind of Yazoo until the guitar slides in. Devin sings in that kind of soft croon which he uses on much of Epicloud, and is how I prefer to hear him sing, rather than the manic yell or screech he often employs. I don’t think I’d necessarily call this a ballad, though it’s a downtempo song with a kind of seeming upbeat feel. Elements of prog rock in here too. I imagine it’s one of those that certain people will complain is overproduced, but as I said already, I don’t mind that.

Sounds like flute there in the mix, some yelling in the background as backing vocals perhaps, quite subsumed though. Nice little guitar break, and we’re only a third of the way through. Enjoying this one immensely I must say. This is the kind of Devin I like, and it amazes and also annoys me that he can be so diametrically different on other songs, often growling or roaring - I guess that’s more his time in SYL than anything else - but I’d be happy if he stuck to the one style of singing. It means that over the course of an album you’re often not sure what you’re going to get. Some people like that, like to be surprised, challenged, tested. Not me. Good old boring predictability for me please, as long as it’s good.

Extended flute solo here in the sixth minute, gives the track a very ethereal feel, and the sound effects - wind, birds, surf, that kind of thing - all add to that impression. Not sure if it’s just going to fade out now on that, given that there’s about a minute left at this stage. Wouldn’t be disappointed if it did. And it does, to the accompaniment of a voice speaking something very quietly, perhaps a prayer.

Rating: 10/10

Trollheart · 11-16-2019, 02:45 PM

Title: “The Way Home!”
Released as: Devin Townsend Project
Taken from: Addicted
Year: 2009
Running time: 3.14
Comments: Oddly enough, every track on this album is suffixed with an exclamation mark, or as you Americans would say, exclamation point. Not sure why. This is a short one, compared to the last selection, and sounds almost Prefab Sproutish to me. Good chugging guitar while another hammers on keeping the rhythm (or the other way round: don’t ask me, I’m not a guitarist) with again that softer, crooning voice he used on “Texada”. Very catchy. He goes almost operatic in the vocal as we hit the second minute, a decent solo before it all picks up again. Sort of thing I could have seen appearing on Epicloud certainly. Good backing vocals. Sudden abrupt feedback ending. Liked that.

Rating: 10/10

11-06-2019, 02:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: “Start” Released as: Devin Townsend Taken from: Iceland Year: 2016 Running time: 2.36 Comments: Well this is an odd little one. Apparently an album of acoustic covers (so far as I can see) of previous material, this disc was released with copies of his autobiography. Hmm. Original title for a song that begins an album, but let’s see what it’s like. Picked acoustic guitar, sort of in a classical guitar virtuoso style. Guess it’s an instrumental. Well, I suppose an an intro (presumably) to the album it’s all right, but there’s not much there to get excited about really. Rating: 4/10 (no video available; contain your disappointment please!) __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-16-2019, 02:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: “Texada” Released as: Devin Townsend Project Taken from: Ghost Year: 2011 Running time: 9.30 Comments: I think I may have heard this album once before. Maybe not. Randomly selected, this happens to be the longest track on it. Nice bubbly keyboard opening, almost new-wave in a way, could put you in mind of Yazoo until the guitar slides in. Devin sings in that kind of soft croon which he uses on much of Epicloud, and is how I prefer to hear him sing, rather than the manic yell or screech he often employs. I don’t think I’d necessarily call this a ballad, though it’s a downtempo song with a kind of seeming upbeat feel. Elements of prog rock in here too. I imagine it’s one of those that certain people will complain is overproduced, but as I said already, I don’t mind that. Sounds like flute there in the mix, some yelling in the background as backing vocals perhaps, quite subsumed though. Nice little guitar break, and we’re only a third of the way through. Enjoying this one immensely I must say. This is the kind of Devin I like, and it amazes and also annoys me that he can be so diametrically different on other songs, often growling or roaring - I guess that’s more his time in SYL than anything else - but I’d be happy if he stuck to the one style of singing. It means that over the course of an album you’re often not sure what you’re going to get. Some people like that, like to be surprised, challenged, tested. Not me. Good old boring predictability for me please, as long as it’s good. Extended flute solo here in the sixth minute, gives the track a very ethereal feel, and the sound effects - wind, birds, surf, that kind of thing - all add to that impression. Not sure if it’s just going to fade out now on that, given that there’s about a minute left at this stage. Wouldn’t be disappointed if it did. And it does, to the accompaniment of a voice speaking something very quietly, perhaps a prayer. Rating: 10/10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-16-2019, 02:45 PM	#20 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: “The Way Home!” Released as: Devin Townsend Project Taken from: Addicted Year: 2009 Running time: 3.14 Comments: Oddly enough, every track on this album is suffixed with an exclamation mark, or as you Americans would say, exclamation point. Not sure why. This is a short one, compared to the last selection, and sounds almost Prefab Sproutish to me. Good chugging guitar while another hammers on keeping the rhythm (or the other way round: don’t ask me, I’m not a guitarist) with again that softer, crooning voice he used on “Texada”. Very catchy. He goes almost operatic in the vocal as we hit the second minute, a decent solo before it all picks up again. Sort of thing I could have seen appearing on Epicloud certainly. Good backing vocals. Sudden abrupt feedback ending. Liked that. Rating: 10/10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018