So Retinal Circus was a big crazy metaphorical story created solely (or mostly) from stringing Devin's songs in a certain order. It was weird and awesome all at the same time. You know what I thought would be fun? What if we all made our own weird stories by the same method? I want to see what crazy combinations or possibly poignant stories we could come up with under that same structure. I mean we don't have to, but I thought about that the other day and it seems like it could be fun, and if anything good for a few laughs.

In the past 7 or 8 years I've noticed that band/music forums have been slowly dying. A lot of them have simply disappeared. Others have had their activity dwindle down over time (like hevydevyforums). My best guess is that this process has correlated with the rising popularity of the social media sites. Many communities have simply moved or have been replaced by Facebook groups. It is simply 'easier' for most people to use a single site like facebook to discuss their various interests.

It makes sense from a pragmatic standpoint, but it is unfortunate as well in some ways. Something is lost with forums that social media sites can't completely replace. It's just one of those things. I do not have a solution. I am only lamenting a change that could not be stopped.

Funny, I actually came on here today because of a talk about that kinda shit in the pub the other night. I know social media is great and all for finding out what artists are up to but the lack of a sense of community takes a lot of the fun out of it. I get a weird sinking kinda sadness in me when I look around these boards these days, I spent a large chunk of my formative years messing around on here with a wonderful array of weirdos and it was brilliant craic altogether. And it worked out awesomely that there was that big exodus of everyone to London for Devember in 2011 and it kind of worked out as a poetic capstone that a load of people got to meet the weirdos they'd been talking to for years in person, and then things kinda started quietening down not long after all that. Still though, I do miss this place when it was at it's peak. It was fucking great fun.

Oh, and fuck Twitter.

so true

Ah, the good old days...

Although I kind of joined the forum for real when it was starting to head downwards (I take no responsibility for this!!), I wholeheartedly agree!

So what's stopping you old people from returning here more? You're not dead yet.

I'm borderline at this point if I'm honest

As a slight aside, this has always been one of only 2 forums I can stand as it's one of the few genuinely friendly forums that doesn't descend into arguments

Anyone got any bright ideas to regenerate this place?

This is the only music forum I've actually ever been a part of. I was part of a few mailing lists but nothing beyond that. So as for ideas to regenerate it, I'm unsure. Aside from contests and trivia, which we have a bit of already. My favorite thing, or one of my favorites, that spawned from the forum, was the photoshop thread pictures making into Dev's live set on the projectors. I don't know what else we could do to have an effect on life outside the forums, but that was such an awesome thing that happened. You know? I don't know how to translate my love for that into other ways to liven the forums though.

I access this place almost every day out of habit, usually hoping there's something new to read, though a lot of the time it's pretty sparse. Then again I try not to contribute too much anymore because I don't want to see my username everywhere.

[JuZ]

My only reason for not posting more is... My life really! I have 2 little kids, a wifey, a chronic illness, a fulltime job and a commute each day. It doesn't leave me much time for anything!

But I love my HDR forums dearly and every week I promise myself to post more often.

Here's a start.

Random thought: I'm amazed at the mind's capacity to run through such a broad range of emotions in a single day. Today I was tired and apathetic, content and calm, anxious, deliriously happy, confused, bored, hopelessly sad, in love, angry and frustrated and mildly amused. I'm sure I missed a few more.

Life is bloody complicated!

Hi folks,
Sad to hear that this forum is pretty quiet. I guess social media has ruined places like this more or less.

Anyways, this is my first post here as I have only really been into HD since Epicloud and only in the last 20 months moved from fan to obsessed DT super-bore.

So, hello all.

Oh my f***ing God, I want to go to bed!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JuZ]

Hi folks,
Sad to hear that this forum is pretty quiet. I guess social media has ruined places like this more or less.

Anyways, this is my first post here as I have only really been into HD since Epicloud and only in the last 20 months moved from fan to obsessed DT super-bore.

So, hello all.

Hello to you!

I'm not sure if I really need a second copy of City, but an older Japanese pressing looks tempting... Obi strip, Japanese lyric booklet, plus the old style cover with "Devin Townsend <Strapping Young Lad>" instead of just the band name.
Can someone tell if the original master sounds different from the remaster?

Also, I know I don't need yet another pair of headphones, but I stumbled on an hifi store asking 150€ for a used pair of Alessandro MS-2, which usually cost from 320 to 400 euros when new. So damn tempting... But then again, it was my birthday earlier this month and I didn't get myself anything...

I access this place almost every day out of habit, usually hoping there's something new to read, though a lot of the time it's pretty sparse. Then again I try not to contribute too much anymore because I don't want to see my username everywhere.

Yeah, that's sort of the result of going below the threshold of consistent activity. People who usually would be active get less and less motivated to take part when the resulting communication is slow to non-existent. What is the point of saying anything if there is no feedback, right?

Hi folks,
Sad to hear that this forum is pretty quiet. I guess social media has ruined places like this more or less.

Anyways, this is my first post here as I have only really been into HD since Epicloud and only in the last 20 months moved from fan to obsessed DT super-bore.

So, hello all.

That's great! Now post an another one just like this and we can save the worl - errr, the forum.

The guy in my avatar invited Devin to join the Freemasons (which he accepted). I'm going to have to bring him to the next DTP gig here, I believe I've found Mr T a playdate.