Keep in mind that the 'single' on the record...'Vampira', is really NOTHING like the rest of the record...(which is why it works actually)....

I never really understood why a lot of bands put out singles that don't sound like the rest of the album, isn't the single supposed to represent the album? Not that it's a bad thing to step away from the norm, but I've always seen singles as a song that describes the flow of the album. From talking to people, a lot of stopped buying albums because they heard a song, bought the album, and found out the band wasn't like they had potrayed in the song. Granted most of those people only listen to mainstream music anyways, and we wouldn't feel the same with any Devin Townsend Band stuff (rabid fans as we are). Just never unstood why a song (whether it's better or worse) would be picked to represent an album it sounds completely different than. Even economically it doesn't make sence. Even if it is a less commercial song, this type of music is appealing to a sort of nich group, and most of this group doesn't listen to the 'top 40' style of singles. If this song doesn't represent the album, a person is more likely to feel let down about the album rather than excited about it and they end up feeling cheeted, not buying the CD's of that artist anymore. Singles mainly seem to sell to fans of an album and not a song anyways...however, there's other revenue streams that come from singles...like radio play, so that may be a fact I'm missing.

Regardless, releasing songs that represent an album well (S.Y.L., Detox, Relentless (sorry, never heard an DTB singles as examples)) will bring in the people who will buy your album and continue buying your stuff. Why try and please those who will hear the song on the radio, enjoy it, and find out the rest of the album isn't to their tastes and either stealing it, or buying it on the next Big Shiny Tunes album.

...sorry...I think I must of just needed to rant today...lol.

I'm really stoked about the new album (single and all, lol) and will buy it as soon as I see it in the store (and have the money)....so far I've got every album I find in the store...but that means my Devin Townsend collection is only half full, you see, no credit card to buy stuff online limits your selections

Can't wait to hear the album though.

I'm psyched.

I hate waiting, I really do.

I never really understood why a lot of bands put out singles that don't sound like the rest of the album, isn't the single supposed to represent the album?

I think with the exception of Christeen (I'm not talking about the EP featuring the four demos, at least in some countries there was another edition with two already released songs on it) Dev never really released a single, and since he put the word single in inverted commas when talking about Vampira, I think it won't be a available as a single CD too. It's just the song that was chosen for a video.

And after all I read about Synchestra, I guess it might be quite hard to pick a song that really represents the whole album. When you take a look at the videos so far, I think that Dev mainly went for not too long and more... poppy (not meant to sound negative at all!) songs: Life, Christeen and Storm. Definitely not too bad choices (I'm SO looking forward to seeing them on the DVD!) IMO, since you just can't take the nine-minute-epic and expect it to be played on TV (although the aforementioned videos aren't that well known either). People who are really into Dev's music know that lots of his albums have to be seen more as a whole than just a bunch of songs, so the choice for a "single" isn't as important as for, you know, some mainstream rock act, for example. Guess it's... ehm... just entertainment, folks!

(sorry, couldn't think of a worse way to end this post)

I need to hear this album badly.

I need to hear this album badly.

same, i'm going to blow a huge fuckin' load when i go out and buy the album, when it comes out that is.

I need to hear this album badly.

And after all I read about Synchestra, I guess it might be quite hard to pick a song that really represents the whole album. When you take a look at the videos so far, I think that Dev mainly went for not too long and more... poppy (not meant to sound negative at all!) songs: Life, Christeen and Storm. Definitely not too bad choices (I'm SO looking forward to seeing them on the DVD!) IMO, since you just can't take the nine-minute-epic and expect it to be played on TV (although the aforementioned videos aren't that well known either).

True, 9 minute songs usually don't make the best video's...unless your Opeth, heh. But I think Christeen, Life and Storm are great picks for singles as they represent the album well. Who knows, maybe when I hear the whole album I may find that it's one of the only sane choices for a single, heh.

True, 9 minute songs usually don't make the best video's...unless your Opeth, heh. But I think Christeen, Life and Storm are great picks for singles as they represent the album well. Who knows, maybe when I hear the whole album I may find that it's one of the only sane choices for a single, heh.

Well - Opeth just don't have songs under nine minutes

Otherwise... I'm too drunk to comment on the rest of your post, but I just say that I agree.

A single is supposed to be more of a selling point for an album, something that the most people will like and will be convinced to buy the album. I think that most people who would like something like Devin described would be able to at least appreciate the rest of the album the way it is described, so I don't think it's anything unethical or anything. (last sentence was based on more of what I said, since by those standards a band could release a really poppy single and have it in the middle of a death metal album, which wouldn't be quite as ethical as playing something that many people would be able to appreciate anyway)

[djskrimp]

Me-"Maybe the boxes are the problem?"

My dad-"Maybe you need to shut your fucking mouth!"

-exchange between us one day. I love my dad.

[/quote]

<teardrop> good times, good times

Yea singles are "bait" ! Its to get people to buy the album. Problem with a lot of bands is you hear a strong single on the radio, only to buy the rest of the album and have it be complete crap! (Even though most rock radio singles nowadays are crap too!)

With Dev's CDs you hear the single, its great, then you buy the album and get this whole unexpected journey that is completely different from the single... I love that! (I actually heard Life first... then bought Ocean Machine... perfect example...)

never really understood why a lot of bands put out singles that don't sound like the rest of the album, isn't the single supposed to represent the album? Not that it's a bad thing to step away from the norm, but I've always seen singles as a song that describes the flow of the album. From talking to people, a lot of stopped buying albums because they heard a song, bought the album, and found out the band wasn't like they had potrayed in the song. Granted most of those people only listen to mainstream music anyways, and we wouldn't feel the same with any Devin Townsend Band stuff (rabid fans as we are). Just never unstood why a song (whether it's better or worse) would be picked to represent an album it sounds completely different than. Even economically it doesn't make sence. Even if it is a less commercial song, this type of music is appealing to a sort of nich group, and most of this group doesn't listen to the 'top 40' style of singles. If this song doesn't represent the album, a person is more likely to feel let down about the album rather than excited about it and they end up feeling cheeted, not buying the CD's of that artist anymore. Singles mainly seem to sell to fans of an album and not a song anyways...however, there's other revenue streams that come from singles...like radio play, so that may be a fact I'm missing.

Regardless, releasing songs that represent an album well (S.Y.L., Detox, Relentless (sorry, never heard an DTB singles as examples)) will bring in the people who will buy your album and continue buying your stuff. Why try and please those who will hear the song on the radio, enjoy it, and find out the rest of the album isn't to their tastes and either stealing it, or buying it on the next Big Shiny Tunes album.

...sorry...I think I must of just needed to rant today...lol.

I'm really stoked about the new album (single and all, lol) and will buy it as soon as I see it in the store (and have the money)....so far I've got every album I find in the store...but that means my Devin Townsend collection is only half full, you see, no credit card to buy stuff online limits your selections

Can't wait to hear the album though.

I actually think that if i were to have a "single" on one of my albums i would just pick my least favorite song. Just because if you are consistent enough in your material. than even your least best song should peak the interest of a listener. And then when you buy the album everything blows you away ten times more...

But to add to Devin. I think that the album as far as he says is like a story. So if youi pick one of the songs from this Epic album that are all supposed to flow into each other. You might not get the same impression from it just hearing the one track...

Anyways i've rambled too long...

Since the discussion goes more and more into this direction: Were the songs that were chosen for videos also the ones that appeared on samplers? I know that at least Life has a video clip and was used to promote OM via samplers. Hm... was the first Dev song I heard (memories, memories!)

Does anyone know about the other ones?

Me-"Maybe the boxes are the problem?"

My dad-"Maybe you need to shut your fucking mouth!"

-exchange between us one day. I love my dad.

<teardrop> good times, good times[/quote]

Indeed. If only you knew my dad...

More drool!!!!