[The Dev]

I guess that was my goal. And thats not in a 'look how clever I am, ha ha it's a metaphor' way...

I've been saddled with some baggage for years now, some of it is mine, and some of it has been imposed (by my own actions...but nonetheless) and it has been years and years sice I've felt free to do what I want.

What I want though, has been a 10 year kind of discovery and has crested in this project, which in lots of ways is here to say more than any of it being actual 'music', which is why at this stage of the game I question if I'm actually a real musician.

Which is cool, because I've been into the technical aspects too, and thats been gratifying.

I would be fine performing for people with an acoustic guitar and talking. Maybe joking around.

I'd like to play bass for someone. Someone who is subtle and established. Something I don't need to be the focus.

I'd like to do a funny tv show with very few creative limitations. Something profitable so I don't have to stress about chasing my past. I think my true desire for music has been curbed since probably Infinity. However, the recent stuff truly does move me, it just has become a real byproduct of the whole 'discovery' trip that most of us move through at this age. My skill set for work other than what I've established is pretty slim, so finding angles gets more complicated.

So there it is. I think these four records are really cool. I don't dispute any of the critisisms, nor do I take them to heart past 'yeah, I knew that one...' or 'nah, I think they got that one wrong'

We'll see. My goals are pretty defined now: get happy. Pay off debts. work less. be at peace with it all as far as you can. be a good father. don't be too much of an asshole.

We'll see. If I'm meant to figure it out, I will. If not, it's not for lack of trying.

Even though I haven't listened to Deconstruction yet, I keep hanging around this topic... have to satisfy my rabid anticipation somehow, I guess. For the most part, all the initial reactions to the record I've been reading have been good (both here, and elsewhere) but for those who dislike what they've heard... their reactions are almost making me feel like I'll be part of a minority, when I finally hear the album and formulate my own opinion. It's interesting, to say the least, how people are interpreting Decon's concept/the inclusion of humor, at a points, and whatnot (some seeming to think the album isn't serious at all... which makes me go 'huh?') I know for a fact that I'm part of the minority when I say that I feel the DTP is Dev's best work thus far, and that I also feel it's just better all-around than all of his older work, including Strapping. In terms of musical and emotional maturity, I hear a lot in Ki and Addicted that I don't hear/haven't heard in a lot of the older albums (Infinity, Terria, Accelerated Evolution, etc.), which is why I'm always so surprised when I read about people who feel Dev's recent output can't even touch Ocean Machine, or whatever older record they prefer. Granted, I've only been listening to his work and following him for about two years... and Addicted was the album that got me into Devin (along with City, but the former was the real catalyst for me)... BUT... I after collecting most of his discography and really giving each record a lot of individual attention, whenever I picked it up, I can honestly say that I feel these records will not only turn out to be his best work (for the time being) but his defining work, as well.

...as to how this relates to Deconstruction, which I haven't even heard yet? The reasons why some people dislike what they've heard intrigue me, to say the least. Obviously, my opinion is my opinion and their opinions are their opinions, but the fact that some feel as if Decon is too bombastic, and 'cheesy' is really pretty incredible to me. Someone said that they didn't like the fact that it lacks subtlety that Dev's other records have - isn't that the whole point of the record, though? And, to the person in here who disliked/didn't care for the apparent overuse of humor within the album, I again feel like I'm a minority when I say that I don't mind it at all. I've heard the first half of the title track, and though that's nothing to judge the album by, the farting/crap samples don't bother me at all... I don't feel ashamed to be listening, or disgusted, or find myself thinking 'why did he ruin the song with this?', or anything else negative. MAYBE I'm just a hopeless fanboy at this point, but I'm entirely happy/satisfied/thoroughly intrigued and very impressed with what I've heard of Deconstruction and what I've read of it's concept. From the sound of it, Dev crafted a record exactly to his vision of what he wanted it to be, and I couldn't ask for anything more from him as a fan of his work. Time will tell what I think of both Decon and Ghost, but I have a feeling I'll be floored by both when June finally rolls around.

...

...basically, for those who went Tl;DR: Haven't listened to Deconstruction yet, find a lot of the initial reactions/opinions on it very interesting, feeling like I'm one of the few who'll really like it for what it is - not expecting another Alien, or Ocean Machine, or hating the 'cheesy' humor, but rather enjoying it as another Dev album that turned out to be exactly what he set out to make it into. This doesn't really go for most people here, more, just what I've read online from other folks elsewhere. And I think the DTP is his best work, for a multitude of reasons.

Oh, and sort of going along with what I said:

in the end it feels that the music takes the backseat.

I agree very much with the quoted statement. (Edit: I'm not sure yet if i agree to the rest, very good points though...)

Like i wrote before, i highly respect Deconstruction as an extremely well done and passionate piece of art that makes me think (about heavy music, my tolerance, my elitism, whatever). But this respect is mainly "rational". Emotionally i am mostly touched by the musical parts that are speaking for themselves and are just enjoyable (and there are so many of them on Decon), but as SupraKarma wrote, sometimes they are taking the backseat when for example the "man with 17 testicles" or the fart sounds appear. Quite similar with Ziltoid: I so much enjoy "Solar Winds", if only i could turn the blabbering of Captain Spectacular on and off on demand...

See, that's where I feel I differ from most people. I feel like that's an integral part of the music; it wouldn't be the same song/track/album without those tidbits, IMO. I'm not saying that to make a point like 'Hey, look at me, I'm different than all of you!'; moreover, I'm just surprised, I guess, that I haven't seen too many other opinions like mine. So, for chunks of Decon like 'the man with 17 testicles' (that'll be interesting to hear, haha) and the samples in the title track, I don't mind them at all. They make the album what it is, as far as I'm concerned, so I wouldn't have things any other way.

...again, all just my opinions. I'm sure I'll have plenty to say when I've actually HEARD both albums. Until then, I really have to stop hanging around in here... gonna spoil the whole thing for myself without even having heard it!

[Octillus]

Well, I don't think any one on these forums are going to be impartial or unbiased, but it's always come across as honest to me, and at least the first two in the project had gotten through to a friend of mine and my brother as being honest/really cool. So I don't think it's lost on everyone.

Your goals are good and whole. Do what makes you happy/creatively fulfilled, I think it's been working for you, and I hope it will continue to.

NOW AS FAR AS THE TV SHOW GOES, ahem. I know of a really enthusiastic award-nominated californian fanboy with a broadcasting/production college degree, and a really talented british SFX/make-up gal. JUST SAYIN.

Jaglavak: It's all up there with OM, City and Terria for me. So you're not entirely alone. Also, lacking subtlety is what Dev does best, even his stripped bare album from what I've heard so far has FLUTES ALL OVER IT. There is nothing subtle about the man or his work, and I love him for it.

I've only caved so much that I've heard Poltergeist, Juular/Planet of the Apes and the end of TMM.

So far I'm mightily impressed, my face nearly melted at TMM's outro 'carnival'. The waltz part of Processional is something I could listen to all day, and hearing it re-imagined was astounding.

What an album!

SupraKarma, very interesting points. Very well thought out though I don't agree with most of them, I feel the record feels just as honest to me as anything he's every done, and is infinitely better than anything he did with SYL, which I can't really get into at all. I find your opinions and criticisms legit, but remember there are still people who connect to this stuff strongly. What I'm MORE interested in is the fact that you keep referring to listening to Ghost. Now I'm not really in the loop but I'm guessing that this either means your involved in the music business someway or a reviewer with a promo CD? If this is the case, do you have a review/impressions of the album posted anywhere? I've been really interested to hear what people have to say about the album.

@Jaglavak: Just to clarify: I love Solar Winds anyway. I find the Ziltoid-concept funny. And i like Captain Spectacular most of the time, too - but what is really touching me in this song are the musical parts beyond it. It's not a "problem" at all, but it's for me a difference between a "classic" like OM and a great, funny record with some classic moments like Ziltoid.

I guess that was my goal. And thats not in a 'look how clever I am, ha ha it's a metaphor' way...

...

We'll see. My goals are pretty defined now: get happy. Pay off debts. work less. be at peace with it all as far as you can. be a good father. don't be too much of an asshole.

We'll see. If I'm meant to figure it out, I will. If not, it's not for lack of trying.

Simple isn't it? All you need to do is want to do what you want to do. It'll sort itself out that way (with a bit of effort).

Did you know of a finnish originated "open source movie" page Wreck-a-movie? (people behind Star Wreck)
http://www.wreckamovie.com/
I could just see that as a fun playground for a grown up kid Dev as well...

Also, I think the humor is REALLY refreshing in contrast to all the really heavy, brooding serious parts. Especially being my age (22) and knowing so many pretentious, overly serious people trying to be "artists" or discover the meaning of life and just being depressed all the times, it's really good to be reminded that amongst some of the most heavy moments, it's still good not too take yourself too seriously.

[The Dev]

#1, thanks everybody for being cool. I think it's great to discuss it all.

and in terms of serious vs not... yeah, guilty. I hear Boards Of Canada, Sigur Ros, Muse, all this great serious shit, and I often think : 'man, I should do something like that!' ...

Yet as I get older I find that life gets so serious that I have a hard time compounding that. I loved Monty Python as a kid. Does it mean that my current output suffers as a result? ...oh probably, but tbh...thats where I'm at right now. Who knows what the future holds in terms of music for me? I haven't a clue.

So in terms of honesty vs clarity, I like to think they're very separate. I think my whole life I've been brutally honest about often unclear states of mind.

q: What has 100 balls and fucks old ladies?
a: Bingo!

Bah, 'tis all just concepts. At the end of the day Alien or City didn't kill my stereo. The Hummer did. Killed it good!!

At the end of the day it's all coming from the same place. Your talent doesn't sound like anything, it just manifests as it manifests.

This and other reasons make me feel that there's some lack of honesty in your music. It's disguised in so many metaphors and figures of speech that i don't really take it serious, not even in a funny way. I feel the passion you had during the making of these albums, but it's so convoluted and masked, that that passion doesn't filter to us, the listener, and in the end it feels that the music takes the backseat. And that is not why i, and many others, fell in love with your music.
For me your last great album was Terria, and the step in the right direction was made in Ki, although that one sounded restrained (on purpose probably). Currently, while listening to Ghost, i feel that your magic found it's voice again.
Whichever road you take, may it be clear. That's it.

Oh, a sidenote about your live sets. Unless you're experimenting with some concept, play mostly the classics. That's what everyone wants, that's why everyone goes to see their favorite bands. Let the new stuff grow on people. They might become classics too.

Your point was very well stated, but there are others who feel completely the opposite. The passion does filter through to some of us, but definitely not all of us. That's just the way music is, sometimes. Sometimes it reaches us, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes artists do things that others just don't get, but just because people don't get it, it doesn't mean there is a lack of honesty. It just means it is honesty that you yourself do not feel.

The direction you call the "right direction" doesn't really exist. The right direction is wherever the artist chooses to go, regardless of how it makes you feel. The artist is the only one who really knows what is going on, even if they can't convey that to us. Then again, it really isn't about us. Are expectations of what we believe the artist should be doing are ours alone.

You have very strong opinions on Devin's music based on very strong feelings, which is awesome. I definitely don't share those opinions, however. Quite the opposite, actually.

As far as the live show go, what "classics" are we talking here? The live shows seem to be filled with quite a few of the older popular songs. If you are trying to sell albums, then playing songs of the newest ones make. Where else is anyone supposed to hear songs from 'Addicted" in order for them to someday be "classics?" The radio? MTV? Where do people even hear new music nowadays? I think live is probably the best way to do that. And you have to remember, some people actually do go see Devin to hear the newer stuff, too.

It is nice to see differing opinions once in a while.

I don't have alot of other examples of really talented musicians getting sober and trying to make valid music in that new way other than Stevie Ray Vaughan. "In Step" certainly lacks a certain fire on some of the tracks, but also has some depth earlier work didn't. And it has his absolute masterpiece of jazzy blues "Riviera Paradise" which IMO best "Lenny" and other similar tracks.

As one gets older, certain aspects of the self are going to come more to the front and that's ok. I still love "SYL" but the new age has come and though the Dev was past our shit by far, the world changes. Alot of us have to come to terms with the exact same stuff Dev is talking about. I connect with it alot. And unlike Dev, it takes a helluva lot more work to pull my head out of my arse and just laugh a little. That's why I like this music. Dev is smart enough to be thinking similar thoughts as nerds like me, but still loves to laugh, is still searching, is still finding new angles on his music.

Even if I can respect myself in the morning after listening to Decon (not something I can necessarily say after Alien or City) it's not for all settings or all moods. Very few people I spend my life with are going to tolerate listening to it. It's a narrow audience. But it connects with me. We'll see how many listens that lasts.

There's somehow the need for you to frame music with your state of mind, and that, like humor, dates the music and reduces it's impact and soul.
This and other reasons make me feel that there's some lack of honesty in your music. It's disguised in so many metaphors and figures of speech that i don't really take it serious, not even in a funny way. I feel the passion you had during the making of these albums, but it's so convoluted and masked, that that passion doesn't filter to us, the listener, and in the end it feels that the music takes the backseat. And that is not why i, and many others, fell in love with your music.

I really agree with a lot of this, and this is bound to be a tedious post with which not many will agree, but there's no place like here to express it.

Personally, I feel that art is at its best, brightest, and most vivid when it's ambiguous. It engages the viewer/listener by being both mysterious and relatable, but it's not so absolutely tangible that its message is screamed down your throat. To be honest, I've never been terribly into this 4-album concept because it has such a narrow focus: catharsis. I'm all for feeling new and cleansed, but the scope seems out of proportion. That is, each album feels like it's straining to hold its purpose in the overall group without exploring, musically or lyrically. With Ki, it felt like the album would have been so much more complete without some of the more extraneous pieces ("Trainfire" in particular)--it was pushing at something just beneath the surface, only to find a conceptual tip-of-the-iceberg. But it felt too raw and unpolished for its intent in places, so parts of it came off as lacking clarity in their focus. Then Addicted came, and to me, this was the most true to form for Devin so far. It doesn't dwell so explicitly on the problem/resolution mechanics that overarch the whole concept. The issue here is that the album feels so musically confined. Yes, it's varied (progressive?), but the vibe is so unwavering and easy to digest that it gives the illusion that the album is without merited content. I always leave it feeling a bit empty. Finally, we have Deconstruction, which I'm reluctant to judge because I haven't had much time to sit with it. It's very indulgent (and by that I mean filled to the brim with wanking). It's fun, crushing, and full of good ideas. But it feels sort of tenuous and contrived. I love the idea of staring into yourself and discovering a great deal of conflict that ultimately, you'll have to sort out; however, the deconstruction message feels muddled and buried (perhaps intentionally), so that the album comes off not meaning much of anything, save for a host of really excellent bits. We're left with something a bit silly, trying to hide the fact that it's dealing with serious issues by throwing heaps of petty humor on top of it, musically and conceptually. So, in a long-winded way, I'm trying to say that it feels like (so far) this concept is either not big enough to warrant four albums, in my book, or it's so compartmentalized and fragmented that it feels totally unconnected and starving for more exploration.

Like I said, I don't think this is a popular opinion, but these albums just don't seem very unified to me. On their own, I really enjoy each of these albums a great deal; but the overarching concept seems full of indecision and disunity. I'm glad they were helpful to Devin's healing process, but (and this may be because I'm so young), I don't connect with them as deeply as some of Devin's older work (namely Infinity, Terria, OM). I suppose this is probably all due to differences in creative opinion. They're great works of art, but I'm not totally in line with the artist.

So there it is. I think these four records are really cool. I don't dispute any of the critisisms, nor do I take them to heart past 'yeah, I knew that one...' or 'nah, I think they got that one wrong'

We'll see. My goals are pretty defined now: get happy. Pay off debts. work less. be at peace with it all as far as you can. be a good father. don't be too much of an asshole.

We'll see. If I'm meant to figure it out, I will. If not, it's not for lack of trying.

This is incredibly refreshing to hear. I'm glad you are in a good place; I really respect the effort you put in and the music you make (even if it's not always exactly what I expect/want). You are probably the most dedicated modern artist of whom I'm aware. Take it easy, and thanks for the tunes.

I loved Monty Python as a kid. Does it mean that my current output suffers as a result? ...oh probably, but tbh...thats where I'm at right now.

You're obviously a funny guy Dev; by expressing that through your music you're being true to yourself, and your output can only benefit from that approach, whether or not listeners get the joke (and humour is very subjective, perhaps even more so than music).