[Octillus]

Pim, it's taken several listens for me. I think what really benefited the situation was a very serious, studious first listen.

Also I'm a dork for complicated things, and for weird things.

I own Lost Highway on DVD, I think that should say everything.

Edit: Badass, I'd be curious to see why you're disappointed. It'd be nice to at least have a valid discussion about a difference of opinion, since the only complaints I've really heard so far are "Too crazy" and "Not brutal enough" without much added.

[EphelDuath666]

I own Lost Highway on DVD, I think that should say everything.

oh, so do I! I just don't understand it though!

Nah, the Xbox fully died (no red rings, just completely green screen--fried GPU) about 2 hours into Fallout 3. So it looks like I'll be taking a pass on that one. Anyway, I've been busy with school, etc.; I just thought I'd stop by since I was pretty happy with the way Deconstruction turned out.

eeeeeek....nooooo!!!! That is something I'm always concerned about, my Xbox was replaced about 2 years ago so I hope it won't die too quickly! Anyways, good to see ya again on here but school comes first of course. Just don't forget about us once you're not busy with school anymore!!!

I'll try not to.

Anyway, a couple friends and I decided the best way to protect your Xbox from failing is to run it constantly. Though it's incredibly wasteful, it will break sooner and you can get it replaced within warranty. Sadly, it seems to work.

About these reviews being based on the leaked mp3's... Really? I thought those reviews would be based on the promo CD's that were sent out (from which the leaked mp3's came), making their comments on the mix pretty valid.

Yes, most reviews (i.e., not blogs) will be based on promo discs.

I find the weirdness kinda off-putting for several of the tracks to become truly memorable. But I guess that's what makes it a grower and not an instant hit with me. I like songs where I can find some hook or vocal line or whatever to cling on to as the song progresses. With Deconstruction I haven't found them for all songs yet, although I've grown fond of Juular after my 2nd listen yesterday.

In a way I'm quite jealous of all ye who claim it's the best thing ever already. Like you're "further ahead" or whatever.

I have to agree to an extent about the weirdness. I suppose it's part of the concept for the album to be rather self-indulgent, but there are several moments when I feel (honestly) a bit embarrassed to be listening (pretty much any time I'm listening to farting sounds or super-Canadians). I don't think it's the best work Devin's ever done, but he's set the bar pretty high in the past, so that isn't saying too much. I've listened about 5 or so times now, and there are definitely some very incredible moments--all of "Juular" and most of "The Mighty Masturbator," for instance. But the overwhelming heavy-light ratio starts to bore near the end (especially with all the start/stop in the title track), and the silliness really kicks the album in the crotch, I think. Overall, I really enjoy it, because there's so much quality material stuffed between the seams; I just wish there was an edit with a bit less cheese.

In any event, it left me jonesing to hear Ghost afterward, so it achieved its goal. Sorry to go off on a tangent-review, swerve. Just used you as a springboard.

it's deffinately an experience.

Gettin into it about 20 times listening it over and over.. and.. speechles? Totally gonna buy it, hoping there will be some uber packages or something!

Went back to listen to Ziltoid this morning and it seems so linear and restrained.

Decon has to be taken in with reference to its concept. The idea of Devy really pushing himself to his intense limit sober was extremely attractive for me, and he totally delivered. But obviously it's not what I'm going to listen to in every mood, but alot of SYL left me feeling a little nasty...so much hate. It is SOOO good to be able to get the all out craziness and complexity and heaviness without all the F you and self-loathing.

Again, I've only listened via youtube (4-5 times) and that's about as imperfect as it gets, but that will give me some extra satisfaction when I have the real product.

But so far seems like a masterpiece.

Listening with mind towards the concept really does help, especially when you listen to the other two before it. It seems like the journey gets to the verge of happiness on both Ki and Addicted, but until it goes through the dark parts of deconstructing oneself, those moments are fleeting. Finally the happy moments of Decon (ex. the end of the title track) sound all the more triumphant and fitting. Sometimes in life we have to challenge ourselves to really be content, and that's what this album seems like to me, a challenge or battle against oneself in which they come out victorious. I think Dev definitely succeeded with his intentions for this album.

I can't decide whether I want to wait or not! I'm a click away from listening to it.

Aaaagh!

I can't decide whether I want to wait or not! I'm a click away from listening to it.

Aaaagh!

What's the point in waiting another month for it?

I'm with Dev, I prefer Ghost. For me it's definitely the best of the 4 DTP albums, by far. Ki had one of the best Devin songs ever (Terminal), but Ghost is more solid as an album.
Most of the heavy stuff Dev tries to do nowadays (or in the last years) doesn't sound natural. There's this constant annoying staccato guitar chug paired with vocals that has become the new-hevydevy trademark. After Alien, i didn't care for any heavy songs made by him, they're all same-y and boring. Couple that with the devy-arpeggios, and you got yourself a bad recipe. It's a pity, but i prefer if Devin sticks to clean atmospheric stuff.
If he someday decides to do more heavy stuff, he should listen to City or Alien and compare it to Ziltoid or Decon, and maybe he'll see why the former are revered as classics.
Also, humor quickly becomes dated, even if Devin thinks that it works as a metaphor, it fails when it's overused. Just look at the humor in all Devin releases, and spot which albums had the most impact - the ones where the humor was subversive and less in your face.
Devin's music works best when it doesn't have a clear concept around it, and definitely when it doesn't pretend to be something else.
Personally, the music should always speak for itself, alone.

I can't decide whether I want to wait or not! I'm a click away from listening to it.

Aaaagh!

What's the point in waiting another month for it?

Just fancied having a physical copy to make it that bit more exciting.

But I've already caved. Heh.

[Octillus]

I'm with Dev, I prefer Ghost. For me it's definitely the best of the 4 DTP albums, by far. Ki had one of the best Devin songs ever (Terminal), but Ghost is more solid as an album.
Most of the heavy stuff Dev tries to do nowadays (or in the last years) doesn't sound natural. There's this constant annoying staccato guitar chug paired with vocals that has become the new-hevydevy trademark. After Alien, i didn't care for any heavy songs made by him, they're all same-y and boring. Couple that with the devy-arpeggios, and you got yourself a bad recipe. It's a pity, but i prefer if Devin sticks to clean atmospheric stuff.
If he someday decides to do more heavy stuff, he should listen to City or Alien and compare it to Ziltoid or Decon, and maybe he'll see why the former are revered as classics.
Also, humor quickly becomes dated, even if Devin thinks that it works as a metaphor, it fails when it's overused. Just look at the humor in all Devin releases, and spot which albums had the most impact - the ones where the humor was subversive and less in your face.
Devin's music works best when it doesn't have a clear concept around it, and definitely when it doesn't pretend to be something else.
Personally, the music should always speak for itself, alone.

Well, I find that interesting, because Dev has often said he doesn't feel City or Alien anymore. I also disagree entirely about how anyone could think Decon sounds same-y at all.

I DO agree about your point on the humor, at least the dated point, but I'm curious as to what you think was subversive about SYL humor, because it wasn't. At all. Everything about Devin has been and always will be over the top. If you mean something as innocuous as "potty grade" being a pun for "party grade," or some of the fine obscenities he's always shouted, I just can't see where you're coming from.

I think what makes Ziltoid great is that it is such a forced metaphor, and when you get beyond that metaphor, how truly great and deep that album actually is. I prefer Zilty and Decon to Alien, for sure. City will always hold a special place in my heart when I was 16, but man, it's like night and day.

Finally, as far as the chugga+vocals. I think that's very much actively part of the DTP process. There's similarities between the three (obviously Ghost will have none of the chugga) is because it's intended and they're meant to run together. Now if that doesn't go to your tastes, it's fine, frankly Terminal is still my favorite song from this process too (well that and Awake). I'm just not entirely sure I agree. But an interesting opinion nonetheless.

[The Dev]

he should listen to City or Alien and compare it to Ziltoid or Decon, and maybe he'll see why the former are revered as classics.

I do know, and I can't write like that anymore. (Or like Terria tbh.)

If I could do nothing but clean atmospheric stuff from here on out, I'd be stoked Hopefully people will support that, but there's only so many times you can tell someone 'I'm over it' while they're glazed over before you just give up talking and do it anyways.

The 4 records end an era for me. I 'sabotage' Deconstruction in a way that to me seems appropriate and kind of beautiful, but thats an opinion shared by few.

Decon. is here in all it's bizzare glory to make a statement about the past 15 years that is separate from the album itself in a lot of ways. Decon gives me a freaking headache. Thats not the type of music I currently enjoy

It's not a 'song oriented' record. It's about letting it all hang out. So consider it hung.

Heavy music has not come naturally to me since before Alien. As much as I have tried to tell folks that (the members of syl included sometimes...) there was always a sense of 'just do it anyways...' then when it wasn't like it has been in the past, many folks say 'you're doing it wrong' when in fact, I'm doing it exactly right for my current frame of mind.

he should listen to City or Alien and compare it to Ziltoid or Decon, and maybe he'll see why the former are revered as classics.

I do know, and I can't write like that anymore. (Or like Terria tbh.)

If I could do nothing but clean atmospheric stuff from here on out, I'd be stoked Hopefully people will support that, but there's only so many times you can tell someone 'I'm over it' while they're glazed over before you just give up talking and do it anyways.

The 4 records end an era for me. I 'sabotage' Deconstruction in a way that to me seems appropriate and kind of beautiful, but thats an opinion shared by few.

Decon. is here in all it's bizzare glory to make a statement about the past 15 years that is separate from the album itself in a lot of ways. Decon gives me a freaking headache. Thats not the type of music I currently enjoy

It's not a 'song oriented' record. It's about letting it all hang out. So consider it hung.

Heavy music has not come naturally to me since before Alien. As much as I have tried to tell folks that (the members of syl included sometimes...) there was always a sense of 'just do it anyways...' then when it wasn't like it has been in the past, many folks say 'you're doing it wrong' when in fact, I'm doing it exactly right for my current frame of mind.

How would you describe/compare your sound vision for Z2?

I caved. I've craved this for so long I couldn't resist. Here's my thoughts.

I really like it, but it is exhausting, mostly. I've found half of it to be OK for quick listens and good stand alone tracks (PtL, Stand, Sumeria, Pandemic, Polt.). The other half (Juular, PotA, TMM, Decon)are super theatrical and require the album as a whole. It'd be like watching half of a complicated movie non-consecutively (Inception?).

It is very thick in sound. I've rarely listened to SYL or cared much for it (except Almost Again and Skeksis get many listens), but routinely go through the DTB catalog and hear many things reminiscent of his past works, especially Infinity. Ki's sound carries over a lot, but finally takes it over the edge where Ki cut short. There's similar themes from ZtO and Addicted. It was mentioned earlier that some missed the vocal layering he typically does. I hear it still here and the orchestra took over a lot of that sound.

So, I think it's a huge compilation of everything he's done thrown together into mass chaos that resolves into what Ghost will be as a welcomed shift in sound and mood. It's both amazing and beautiful and horrific and pure nuts at the same time. PtL, Stand, and Sumeria are my quick favorites, but there's moments of greatness all throughout rewarding the chaotic experiences.

It's quite different than what I envisioned when he first talked about the DTP when Ki was coming along, but sound like what he intended for this phase.

I wonder how he feels about it's completion all these years later. Must be a relief.

I have to say, too, that it was a huge moment hearing Stand when it's theme comes in. I've been so anxious to hear it since he did the Youtube demo way back when, then hearing that Mikael would be in it made me even more excited and I love the lyrics. When it kept building then moves into that melody I actually got a bit emotional finally hearing it, being overwhelmed by it, and amazed such a huge production was accomplished.

Bring on the pre-sale!