Albums You're Digging II

Ninetales · 08-07-2013, 11:00 AM

god damn. This is amazing. I loved her first album but this one... Wow. Could be album of the decade so far. I cant stop listening and crying.

LoathsomePete · 08-07-2013, 06:29 PM

Cult of Luna - Vertikal (2013)

I always like when I get to do a 180 on an album, especially if it's by an artist whom I respect. With the dissolution of ISIS and Neurosis' last few albums going in more of a post-rockish way, Cult of Luna is kind of the leading band for the atmospheric sludge metal genre. This is a pretty dense album, not helped by some ridiculous song run times, so it's definitely an album you put on and then go off to do something else. I've been listening to it a lot in the car and it's been some great driving music for some of my longer commutes this week. There's some misguided attempts at adding electronic sounds to the album which come off as a little forced and misplaced, but it's not obnoxious dubstep wub wubs and it's not too obtrusive.

If you're a fan of Neurosis or ISIS then this is definitely an album you want to check out.

NSW · 08-07-2013, 09:17 PM

Accelerated Evolution - The Devin Townsend Band

I first got into Devin Townsend because of some member posts on MB and even though I instantly took to Ki (Devin Townsend Project) and even went to see one of his gigs, for whatever reason I never listened to any of his other albums. I mean none, not from any of his projects or other bands. Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed with the idea of listening to lots of new stuff from different bands. Anyway, I was perusing a metal forum the other day and saw this album recommended because of the song "Storm". Checked it out on Spotify and instantly fell in love. "Storm" turned out to be an awesome track, but I really dug "Deadhead" even more. I see now I've really been missing out by not exploring more of Devin Townsend's work. I started listening to Synchestra after AE and just wanted to keep going from there. If anyone has any recommendations for what to listen to next, that would be sweet.

LoathsomePete · 08-07-2013, 10:34 PM

I've often thought about how to best attack Devin Townsend's vast discography. Honestly here's how I would do it.

1) Devin Townsend - Terria (2001)

I think this may be his most underrated album in his entire discography even though it's got stellar reviews across the board. This is a very personal record to Devin, whom felt like he had ostricized himself from his fans with his less than stellar Physicist (2000) released a year earlier. Easily his most varied album at the time, this album really works well as a cohesive unit meant to be listened in one long sitting and demands your full attention.

2) Devin Townsend Project - Addicted! (2009)

I'll admit I was a little lukewarm on Ki when it first came out. I don't think I really got what he was trying to do by showing restraint when before hand his career was built out of his craziness. Regardless I found it a little dull, but then a few months later this little beauty leaked and it was pure bliss. It's easily his most poppy album, but despite all that it's still quite heavy. He's admitted to being a fan of trashy Euro dance music and it really shines through on this album, but in a good way.

3) Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud (2012)

His newest and in some ways very similar to Accelerated Evolution while still being more in line with his change in musicianship starting with Ki after giving up marijuana. Catchy as fu*k and just a really fun album to listen to.

4) Devin Townsend - Ziltoid the Omniscient (2007)

Easily his silliest album, it's a epic metal opera about an alien named Ziltoid who comes to Earth and demands we prepare him our "ultimate cup of coffee... black!" This is a solo album in the truest sense of the word with him handling recording, production, and all the instrumentation, including drum work using the Drumkit from Hell program popularized with Meshuggah's 2005 album Catch Thirtythree.

5) Devin Townsend - Biomech: Ocean Machine (1997)

His first solo album, released the same year as Strapping Young Lad's seminal album City and pretty much the antithesis to that album. This album is far less metal and more progressive rock and easily his most ambitious album to date. It's also the album that made him realize he had a seriously bad case of bi-polar disorder and convinced himself to receive medical attention. There's a lot of beauty to this album.

6) Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction (2011)

For fans of his more abrasive stuff with SYL this is the album that really won them back over. Heavy, abrasive, chaotic, and probably his most experimental, this beauty was a constant staple on my mp3 player in 2011. Despite how much I like it, I do think it can be a little hard to get into if you're unfamiliar with his SYL material which is why this is further down on the list.

7) Devin Townsend Band - Accelerated Evolution (2003)

His first album featuring a new set of musicians (his late '90's and early '00's solo material featured the members of SYL), this album is quite a bit different from anything else he had ever produced. His signature "wall of sound" production style is present, especially on songs like "Suicide" and "Deadhead", but it also features a more straight forward rock and roll sound to it. You're already familiar with this one though so there's not much more to say.

8) Devin Townsend - Infinity (1998)

I really like a few songs off of this album, but as a whole I don't feel it works as well as his other stuff. I can't say I blame him though, he released this only a year after Biomech and City and the stuff that's good is really good. Definitely worth a look, but after you've delved more into his more recent stuff.

9) Devin Townsend - Physicist (2000)

A lot of the material from this album was suppose to be recorded with musician Jason Newsted, however apparently James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich caught wind and told him to knock that sh*t off because of reasons, so Devin ended up working on the project with the members from SYL. This album is kind of the redheaded stepchild of his discography, but there's nothing really wrong with it. It's not his most amazing work and even Devin said he didn't really like it and considered it to be a more restrained version of SYL. It does feature "Planet Rain" that is easily one of his best songs.

10) Devin Townsend Project - Ghost (2011)

Honestly this is this far down on the list not because it's a bad album, but because I don't know it very well. I absolutely adored Deconstruction that I never really gave this much of a chance. It's not even metal or rock, it's more of an ambient new age album that has some amazing production but no real hooks as I recall. I definitely need to give it another go so I can give you a more in depth opinion.

11) Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra (2006)

I'll be frank with you on this one... I don't really like it. "Vampiria" is a fun song and a hilariously cheesy music video, but there's just nothing here that stuck with me.

I left off The Hummer and Devlab because I haven't heard them, but they're more ambient albums and not really what I listen to Devy for.

It's also worth noting that he provided vocals on Steve Vai's 1993 album Sex & Religion which was his first real recording and what propelled him into the music business... and also what almost made him quit. I can't say the album will change your life, but it's a pretty cool starting point for a 21 year old musician.

If you want to get into Strapping Young Lad here's the order I'd rate their albums in.

1) City (1997)
2) Alien (2005)
3) The New Black (2006)
4) Strapping Young Lad (2003)
5) Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing (1995)

He also did vocals and guitar on a hilarious punk satire album in 1996 called Cooked on Phonics by Punky Bruster. It's about a extreme metal band from Poland that sells out during a concert and becomes a pop punk band while trying to keep their metal roots a secret. There's some pretty funny lines in it and one scene in particular I'm sure served as inspiration for Brenden Small when he was starting to write Metalocalypse.

Anyways I hope you find that helpful.

NSW · 08-07-2013, 10:41 PM

Yes! That is most helpful. I do want to check out SYL also, so thanks for including that last bit too.

I did find a cover of "New York, New York" that he collabed on with some other artists I can't remember at the moment. At first I was like...what the hell...but then suddenly I couldn't stop playing it. It's just so out there.

LoathsomePete · 08-07-2013, 10:57 PM

Yeah I remember thinking about getting that album just for the "New York, New York" cover, but decided against it.

As for SYL, it's a fun band a some great workout music if you go to the gym. Alien is a particularly fun album because Devin actually went off his bi-polar meds to help record it so it's extra crazy, but City got me through high school and holds a very special place in my heart.

I'm glad you got to see him live, it's something I still haven't done

NSW · 08-07-2013, 11:07 PM

When I saw him, he was opening for Between the Buried and Me. He put on such a good show (even my husband liked it, and he doesn't like anything) that when BTBAM came on stage, we listened to probably two songs and then left. It was almost like they were ruining the vibe. So yeah...definitely see him live at the first chance.

Bulldog · 08-09-2013, 03:49 AM

Kris Kristofferson - This Old Road

Haven't really had time to just sit down and listen to much music lately, so what better time to chill out and listen to some acoustic tracks by that Whistler fella out of the Blade movies?

But really, a lot of the albums I've gained over the years I'll always have to actually make a conscious effort to listen to from end to end and make time for. The occasional album simply rises above and will always be there for me, and I feel like this is one of those albums. I just love the stripped-back vibe, the guitar work, the lyrics, Kristofferson's gravelly vocal parts - it'll just never get old for me.

djchameleon · 08-09-2013, 07:51 AM

Rudimental - Home

This album got me so pumped when I first heard it during my normal place for listening to new albums: the gym. I wish it was a cardio day because it would have helped me keep my pace pretty steady throughout. Hell Could Freeze with Angel Haze, More Than Anything with Emeli Sandé and Waiting All Night are my jams. If you want to hear a little drum'n'bass, dubstep, garage and old-school jungle then definitely check it out.

RVCA · 08-09-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Hmm, didn't know you posted about this group in here. I just downloaded this album today. I haven't listened to it yet though but hopefully it lives up to your good words.

I hope you enjoy it too. It's a pretty niche music scene but I've been digging into it a lot lately. This release is very solid, though I wouldn't call it seminal or groundbreaking.

08-07-2013, 06:29 PM	#9812 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	Cult of Luna - Vertikal (2013) I always like when I get to do a 180 on an album, especially if it's by an artist whom I respect. With the dissolution of ISIS and Neurosis' last few albums going in more of a post-rockish way, Cult of Luna is kind of the leading band for the atmospheric sludge metal genre. This is a pretty dense album, not helped by some ridiculous song run times, so it's definitely an album you put on and then go off to do something else. I've been listening to it a lot in the car and it's been some great driving music for some of my longer commutes this week. There's some misguided attempts at adding electronic sounds to the album which come off as a little forced and misplaced, but it's not obnoxious dubstep wub wubs and it's not too obtrusive. If you're a fan of Neurosis or ISIS then this is definitely an album you want to check out. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

08-07-2013, 09:17 PM	#9813 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	Accelerated Evolution - The Devin Townsend Band I first got into Devin Townsend because of some member posts on MB and even though I instantly took to Ki (Devin Townsend Project) and even went to see one of his gigs, for whatever reason I never listened to any of his other albums. I mean none, not from any of his projects or other bands. Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed with the idea of listening to lots of new stuff from different bands. Anyway, I was perusing a metal forum the other day and saw this album recommended because of the song "Storm". Checked it out on Spotify and instantly fell in love. "Storm" turned out to be an awesome track, but I really dug "Deadhead" even more. I see now I've really been missing out by not exploring more of Devin Townsend's work. I started listening to Synchestra after AE and just wanted to keep going from there. If anyone has any recommendations for what to listen to next, that would be sweet. __________________ Hi.

08-07-2013, 10:34 PM	#9814 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	I've often thought about how to best attack Devin Townsend's vast discography. Honestly here's how I would do it. 1) Devin Townsend - Terria (2001) I think this may be his most underrated album in his entire discography even though it's got stellar reviews across the board. This is a very personal record to Devin, whom felt like he had ostricized himself from his fans with his less than stellar Physicist (2000) released a year earlier. Easily his most varied album at the time, this album really works well as a cohesive unit meant to be listened in one long sitting and demands your full attention. 2) Devin Townsend Project - Addicted! (2009) I'll admit I was a little lukewarm on Ki when it first came out. I don't think I really got what he was trying to do by showing restraint when before hand his career was built out of his craziness. Regardless I found it a little dull, but then a few months later this little beauty leaked and it was pure bliss. It's easily his most poppy album, but despite all that it's still quite heavy. He's admitted to being a fan of trashy Euro dance music and it really shines through on this album, but in a good way. 3) Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud (2012) His newest and in some ways very similar to Accelerated Evolution while still being more in line with his change in musicianship starting with Ki after giving up marijuana. Catchy as fuk and just a really fun album to listen to. 4) Devin Townsend - Ziltoid the Omniscient (2007)* Easily his silliest album, it's a epic metal opera about an alien named Ziltoid who comes to Earth and demands we prepare him our "ultimate cup of coffee... black!" This is a solo album in the truest sense of the word with him handling recording, production, and all the instrumentation, including drum work using the Drumkit from Hell program popularized with Meshuggah's 2005 album Catch Thirtythree. 5) Devin Townsend - Biomech: Ocean Machine (1997) His first solo album, released the same year as Strapping Young Lad's seminal album City and pretty much the antithesis to that album. This album is far less metal and more progressive rock and easily his most ambitious album to date. It's also the album that made him realize he had a seriously bad case of bi-polar disorder and convinced himself to receive medical attention. There's a lot of beauty to this album. 6) Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction (2011) For fans of his more abrasive stuff with SYL this is the album that really won them back over. Heavy, abrasive, chaotic, and probably his most experimental, this beauty was a constant staple on my mp3 player in 2011. Despite how much I like it, I do think it can be a little hard to get into if you're unfamiliar with his SYL material which is why this is further down on the list. 7) Devin Townsend Band - Accelerated Evolution (2003) His first album featuring a new set of musicians (his late '90's and early '00's solo material featured the members of SYL), this album is quite a bit different from anything else he had ever produced. His signature "wall of sound" production style is present, especially on songs like "Suicide" and "Deadhead", but it also features a more straight forward rock and roll sound to it. You're already familiar with this one though so there's not much more to say. 8) Devin Townsend - Infinity (1998) I really like a few songs off of this album, but as a whole I don't feel it works as well as his other stuff. I can't say I blame him though, he released this only a year after Biomech and City and the stuff that's good is really good. Definitely worth a look, but after you've delved more into his more recent stuff. 9) Devin Townsend - Physicist (2000) A lot of the material from this album was suppose to be recorded with musician Jason Newsted, however apparently James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich caught wind and told him to knock that sht off because of reasons, so Devin ended up working on the project with the members from SYL. This album is kind of the redheaded stepchild of his discography, but there's nothing really wrong with it. It's not his most amazing work and even Devin said he didn't really like it and considered it to be a more restrained version of SYL. It does feature "Planet Rain" that is easily one of his best songs. 10) Devin Townsend Project - Ghost (2011)* Honestly this is this far down on the list not because it's a bad album, but because I don't know it very well. I absolutely adored Deconstruction that I never really gave this much of a chance. It's not even metal or rock, it's more of an ambient new age album that has some amazing production but no real hooks as I recall. I definitely need to give it another go so I can give you a more in depth opinion. 11) Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra (2006) I'll be frank with you on this one... I don't really like it. "Vampiria" is a fun song and a hilariously cheesy music video, but there's just nothing here that stuck with me. I left off The Hummer and Devlab because I haven't heard them, but they're more ambient albums and not really what I listen to Devy for. It's also worth noting that he provided vocals on Steve Vai's 1993 album Sex & Religion which was his first real recording and what propelled him into the music business... and also what almost made him quit. I can't say the album will change your life, but it's a pretty cool starting point for a 21 year old musician. If you want to get into Strapping Young Lad here's the order I'd rate their albums in. 1) City (1997) 2) Alien (2005) 3) The New Black (2006) 4) Strapping Young Lad (2003) 5) Heavy As A Really Heavy Thing (1995) He also did vocals and guitar on a hilarious punk satire album in 1996 called Cooked on Phonics by Punky Bruster. It's about a extreme metal band from Poland that sells out during a concert and becomes a pop punk band while trying to keep their metal roots a secret. There's some pretty funny lines in it and one scene in particular I'm sure served as inspiration for Brenden Small when he was starting to write Metalocalypse. Anyways I hope you find that helpful. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

08-07-2013, 10:41 PM	#9815 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	Yes! That is most helpful. I do want to check out SYL also, so thanks for including that last bit too. I did find a cover of "New York, New York" that he collabed on with some other artists I can't remember at the moment. At first I was like...what the hell...but then suddenly I couldn't stop playing it. It's just so out there. __________________ Hi.

08-07-2013, 10:57 PM	#9816 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	Yeah I remember thinking about getting that album just for the "New York, New York" cover, but decided against it. As for SYL, it's a fun band a some great workout music if you go to the gym. Alien is a particularly fun album because Devin actually went off his bi-polar meds to help record it so it's extra crazy, but City got me through high school and holds a very special place in my heart. I'm glad you got to see him live, it's something I still haven't done __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

08-07-2013, 11:00 AM	#9811 (permalink)
Ninetales Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: livin wild Posts: 2,179	god damn. This is amazing. I loved her first album but this one... Wow. Could be album of the decade so far. I cant stop listening and crying.

08-07-2013, 11:07 PM	#9817 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	When I saw him, he was opening for Between the Buried and Me. He put on such a good show (even my husband liked it, and he doesn't like anything) that when BTBAM came on stage, we listened to probably two songs and then left. It was almost like they were ruining the vibe. So yeah...definitely see him live at the first chance. __________________ Hi.

08-09-2013, 03:49 AM	#9818 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Kris Kristofferson - This Old Road Haven't really had time to just sit down and listen to much music lately, so what better time to chill out and listen to some acoustic tracks by that Whistler fella out of the Blade movies? But really, a lot of the albums I've gained over the years I'll always have to actually make a conscious effort to listen to from end to end and make time for. The occasional album simply rises above and will always be there for me, and I feel like this is one of those albums. I just love the stripped-back vibe, the guitar work, the lyrics, Kristofferson's gravelly vocal parts - it'll just never get old for me.