Sweet! I was going to buy the preorder on Friday when I got paid but I'd rather support you and get an autograph instead. I'll get my shirts at the Atlanta show.

Been a fucking super weird period. More angry fans then I can remember in the past. Feeling a little confused, but getting ready to tour (Sonisphere in Poland in a few hours) and I'm hoping it will remind me why I do it. I'm hoping its a sign that things are getting more popular, I think it is... the more people that know, the more of a reaction to it you get I guess.

There has been a lot of support as well, I really appreciate it of course.

Metal fans, without a doubt, are the most passionate music fans in the world. That's a good thing, I think.

The problem is that many of them also happen to be 14 years old. That means not only are they passionate, they also take things VERY personally.

I'm sure Devin understands this, but it's still difficult to see the less-than-constructive criticism he's been receiving.

Woot! Will most certainly be buying additional copies from HevyDevy, needs me some signatures.
And I'm sorry it has to be so hard for you Dev, it seems that without a label you get to keep all your earnings (like you should, I think, labels take such a ridiculous cut) but then advertising falls by the wayside because you can't handle that all by yourself. But then on the flipside, with a label they take so much of your earnings but then you get the exposure you need. It's such a double edged sword. I do have to rant slightly against CM, though, for what it seems you give them they don't advertise nearly enough for you. If I wasn't online and reading reviews of the albums and being on the forums here (ie being actively involved) I might not even know the DTP existed. CM, for any of the albums, has done zero advertising from what I've seen in magazines or on websites or anything. I think for what you give them their end of the bargain should require far more of getting the DTP name out there in places more people are likely to see it. I don't obviously know the interworkings of your contract or whatever, but I think you deserve a lot more push then I've seen from them. But just my opinion.

In regards to the haters, really Dev, screw them. I really think that's what is, the bigger you get the more people will (and I guess I'm speaking of most of the SYL people who can't move on) hear of you and get all huffy that what you're doing now isn't what you are to them. And as for those SYL people, I would guess they stopped listening after TNB and heard you were making another heavy album and came back into the fold. It wasn't what they wanted, so they hate. You just keep being genuine and making the music you want to make (what a novel concept in the music industry) and the fans I think you really want to have will stick around. I don't think you want the people who can't take who you are now and are so stuck in the past around constantly crucifying you for not being the person they see you as.

Anyway, I'm done.

I'm sure Devin understands this, but it's still difficult to see the less-than-constructive criticism he's been receiving.

Yep. Some (passionate?) people go too far. Devin don't owe us anything.

I'm hoping its a sign that things are getting more popular, I think it is... the more people that know, the more of a reaction to it you get I guess.

There has been a lot of support as well, I really appreciate it of course.

yaww!

I think that is exactly it. More people are paying attention. Anytime anything starts to increase in popularity, then people crawl out of the woodwork to try and bring it down. I've never understood that. I caught myself defending Justin Bieber the other day on another forum. I've never even heard anything he's done, but so many people absolutely hate this poor kid, and he's done nothing to them. As a parent, seeing adults wishing death (or worse) on a child is disturbing. But I digress...

I'm having a hard time understanding all the hate coming out for Deconstruction. I'm trying to pinpoint what is pissing people off so much. The humor? The last "heavy" album you made was Ziltoid, which contained (*gasp!)* humor. You made it no secret that Ziltoid would appear in some way on Decon. The song names "The Mighty Masturbator" and the fact that "Deconstruction" was about a cheeseburger are things that have been known for quite a while. I just don't get how people could have been taken by surprise by the humor.

They can't be pissed at the music. It is stellar. The musicianship, the arrangements, the instrumentation, the songs, and the performances are some of the most amazing on any album, period.

I'm just completely confuzzled by the backlash. The album is amazing. I can understand someone not familiar with your work being put off by it, but for those who are fans, this album is about as "Devin Townsend" as an album can get.

I'm confused why people would be angry?!

wat. People are hating on Decon? Well, then... I guess I haven't been paying much attention to the internetz recently. If the main complaints are about the more humorous elements of the album, I am (in the very essence of the word) dumbfounded. It doesn't seem to make sense, you know?

I assume fans primarily went after the leaks. That considered, I must ask this: shouldn't they be familiar with Devin's personality? Haven't they seen how goofy he can be at times? Haven't they ever heard of Ziltoid?

If people really do like Devy, I see no reason why having a bit of Devy's golden sense of humor seep into a piece of music is such a big problem.

I'm just completely confuzzled by the backlash. The album is amazing. I can understand someone not familiar with your work being put off by it, but for those who are fans, this album is about as "Devin Townsend" as an album can get.

Because it's not another SYL album and wah wah waaaaah I want another City record.

I'm just completely confuzzled by the backlash. The album is amazing. I can understand someone not familiar with your work being put off by it, but for those who are fans, this album is about as "Devin Townsend" as an album can get.

Because it's not another SYL album and wah wah waaaaah I want another City record.

Yeah, there is that, buy why didn't anyone freak out like that when Ziltoid was released?

I really liked the way Deconstruction turned out. I liked listening to it, and I like listening to it even harder the next time. Half the fun of this has always been noticing those bits, despite always thinking I was paying close attention. I never really even registered the quiet singing and guitar melody at 5:30 in Mountain from Terria until years and years later, and though I'd like to hope I can do this with Decon too, it's just too fun and I might burn out on it soon. I think Ghost will end up my favorite of the bunch, but this record really hits the spot for me. Like a nice cold soda 2 years after quitting softdrinks.

I'm going to mention now that I'm from Edmonton and I'm coming out to the show with a friend who is driving his bike in from Kamloops to come with me. I've been a fan for 10 years, and while I _think_ Dev or SYL was here in some way/shape/form early on, it's been years since a show. I know it's really hard for a tour to justify hitting the prairies of Canada consistently, theres just no money in it... Yet I'm really happy it's going down before I grow anymore grey hairs. I've never seen you live Dev!!!

I'm just completely confuzzled by the backlash. The album is amazing. I can understand someone not familiar with your work being put off by it, but for those who are fans, this album is about as "Devin Townsend" as an album can get.

Because it's not another SYL album and wah wah waaaaah I want another City record.

Yeah, there is that, buy why didn't anyone freak out like that when Ziltoid was released?

They were captivated when they got to Hyperdrive.

Ho Krll isn't on the album, no. Sorry if something like that pisses you off. I'm sure you could download it, it's not on the record because it's not mixed properly, and I didn't want it on the record. It's a b side.

Lyrics are included in the art for Decon, but not Ghost. But I'm hoping they spring for a lyric sheet with Ghost.

Been a fucking super weird period. More angry fans then I can remember in the past. Feeling a little confused, but getting ready to tour (Sonisphere in Poland in a few hours) and I'm hoping it will remind me why I do it. I'm hoping its a sign that things are getting more popular, I think it is... the more people that know, the more of a reaction to it you get I guess.

My anger wasn't leveled at you and I apologise if it came across that way. As I said (albeit maybe not quite clear enough) I understand you've nothing to do with these types of decisions. I now feel sorry that itune downloaders won't be hearing/experiencing the album as the artist intended - this is very wrong imo (especially in such a conceptual piece of work) and in that way I stand by the general trust of my points of views. They'd be leveled at any band I listen to at any point in time from the Pet Shop Boys to Death. Therefore my 'anger' on these issues has nothing to do with my age, 'Devin Townsend' (or that 'brand'), music genre or anything else.

Ghost doesn't need lyrics in the inlay, I can hear them fine enough, but glad they've been included in Decon - probably for the reasons I've stated.

Regarding, Ho Krll and the Ghost bonus track. Unfortunately I'll probably have no financial choice but to illegal download them until they become available in the boxset.

[Octillus]

Everyone wants their time to shine and everyone speaks in hyperbolic terms sometimes, I know I do.

Hope the tour goes great Dev, I really do enjoy what you do and I'd be pretty upset if the negativity forced you to stop.

Lyrics are included in the art for Decon, but not Ghost. But I'm hoping they spring for a lyric sheet with Ghost.

Like with Ki, perhaps? That would be nice.
Anyway, both the new albums are great, and there will always be nay-sayers, but that should not make you nervous, for they are a vocal minority. After all, it's not like you are drastically changing your already established style of music.

Hope the tour goes great Dev, I really do enjoy what you do and I'd be pretty upset if the negativity forced you to stop.

+1.

And this mind commands:
LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE!

*throws around rainbow cotton candy and edible unicorns*