HEVYDEVY FORUMS

Hey, don't really post here much, but I peruse through here quite often. I just wanted to sort of state the obvious. I've NEVER witnessed more polarizing opinions about music on the internet then what goes on when people debate these four Project albums. Some people despise one album and hold praise for the rest. Some despise three of them and praise just one. Some flat out don't like Addicted but love Deconstruction and vice-versa. Some call bullshit on Ghost and some say that its the only thing Devin has made that's worth listening to. I personally love all four for different reasons and can't pick a favorite. Apparently, I'm in the extreme minority. It just seems amazing to me the wars that have been going on at some of the music sites between people about the music that Devin painstakingly worked his ass off to give us. It just shows how ballsy of a move it was for him to just say fuck it and go out and make the music that he wants to make, no matter what people might think of it. If anything, these albums have spawned a huge reaction, both positive and negative, and that in itself is a huge accomplishment. I just wanted to comment on it. It's really quite amazing. Oh and by the way, excellent work on these albums Dev. I mean, you really outdid yourself.

one thing i noticed about the project is that it 'builds apon itself' i.e the highlights of Ki where the heavier parts (not that i dont LOVE A Monday, or Terminal)
and Addicted just took those parts and cranked 'em, but the highlights of addicted for me where when it got nuts like the big vocals in numbered or the ending of awake. then to decon, it is all of those parts to the extreme but the high parts of it for me where the "softer" like the little boner part or "no one depends on me" and ghost was those to the max. the most stand out-ish parts on ghost where when it got "intense" like in feather where there is a real "song" to it and ki is just those parts X100 you know what i mean?

I agree with the above post, there is that kind of element to all the albums. Thing is, in a band, I LOVE diversity. If it wasn't that the music was wildly good, in all four, I would be praising them on their differences alone. I was thinking, whilst listening to Ghost in the supermarket- there is no need to debate on which albums to show people who haven't heard Dev yet. These four combined, for me, sum up his work.

Oh and another thing I noticed, Decon is nothing like SYL. Deconstruction just has the core vibe of his solo stuff, I don't feel like 'ah this sounds like SYL. I feel like it sounds like the heaviest solo album he's done- whereas Physicist sounds like SYL. Anyone with me?

[quote="DevinJayLeibe]"I feel like it sounds like the heaviest solo album he's done- whereas Physicist sounds like SYL. Anyone with me?[/quote]

im with ya

organic spiral wrote:Hey, don't really post here much, but I peruse through here quite often. I just wanted to sort of state the obvious. I've NEVER witnessed more polarizing opinions about music on the internet then what goes on when people debate these four Project albums. Some people despise one album and hold praise for the rest. Some despise three of them and praise just one. Some flat out don't like Addicted but love Deconstruction and vice-versa. Some call bullshit on Ghost and some say that its the only thing Devin has made that's worth listening to. I personally love all four for different reasons and can't pick a favorite. Apparently, I'm in the extreme minority. It just seems amazing to me the wars that have been going on at some of the music sites between people about the music that Devin painstakingly worked his ass off to give us. It just shows how ballsy of a move it was for him to just say fuck it and go out and make the music that he wants to make, no matter what people might think of it. If anything, these albums have spawned a huge reaction, both positive and negative, and that in itself is a huge accomplishment. I just wanted to comment on it. It's really quite amazing. Oh and by the way, excellent work on these albums Dev. I mean, you really outdid yourself.

I've noticed the same thing. I see people complaining about Ghost, then some about Decon. I myself don't have a negative word to say about any song from the albums haha I'm proud to be in this extreme minority. It's awesome to see someone make music that they want to make, not what the mainstream wants to hear. Thank you Dev!

Slingshotjr wrote:the little boner part

I lol'd heartily

DerTrommler wrote:

organic spiral wrote:Hey, don't really post here much, but I peruse through here quite often. I just wanted to sort of state the obvious. I've NEVER witnessed more polarizing opinions about music on the internet then what goes on when people debate these four Project albums. Some people despise one album and hold praise for the rest. Some despise three of them and praise just one. Some flat out don't like Addicted but love Deconstruction and vice-versa. Some call bullshit on Ghost and some say that its the only thing Devin has made that's worth listening to. I personally love all four for different reasons and can't pick a favorite. Apparently, I'm in the extreme minority. It just seems amazing to me the wars that have been going on at some of the music sites between people about the music that Devin painstakingly worked his ass off to give us. It just shows how ballsy of a move it was for him to just say fuck it and go out and make the music that he wants to make, no matter what people might think of it. If anything, these albums have spawned a huge reaction, both positive and negative, and that in itself is a huge accomplishment. I just wanted to comment on it. It's really quite amazing. Oh and by the way, excellent work on these albums Dev. I mean, you really outdid yourself.

I've noticed the same thing. I see people complaining about Ghost, then some about Decon. I myself don't have a negative word to say about any song from the albums haha I'm proud to be in this extreme minority. It's awesome to see someone make music that they want to make, not what the mainstream wants to hear. Thank you Dev!

I don't think you're in as much of a minority as you think you are. Overall reaction to all 4 albums has been overwhelmingly positive.

Yep, you've just been running into an especially vocal minority, and actually it seems to be a lot of the same people.

Personally, while I'm far from unbiased, I've absolutely adored all 4 and think it's some of his best stuff right up there with OM, Terria and City. I think as a whole journey whilst listened through (LIKE MARATHON-ING STAR WARS) it's completely unparalleled, but I'm a sucker for reprisals.


Addicted MAYBE lags behind the others a bit because I never really connected to Universe in a Ball, and due to it being poppy, other than deciphering the wall of sound it's not all that dense. This of course just means it's a 10.5/10 vs the others being straight 11/10s. But that's all just for me and my personal taste. I do find it interesting that I do not understand why it's taken multiple listens for folks to get into the albums, it took me a couple for Ki (but most because the way that one sounds was so jarring coming out of Ziltoid) but other than that, these all clicked for me instantly.

Honestly, I could not be happier.

Octillus wrote:Yep, you've just been running into an especially vocal minority, and actually it seems to be a lot of the same people.

Personally, while I'm far from unbiased, I've absolutely adored all 4 and think it's some of his best stuff right up there with OM, Terria and City. I think as a whole journey whilst listened through (LIKE MARATHON-ING STAR WARS) it's completely unparalleled, but I'm a sucker for reprisals.


Addicted MAYBE lags behind the others a bit because I never really connected to Universe in a Ball, and due to it being poppy, other than deciphering the wall of sound it's not all that dense. This of course just means it's a 10.5/10 vs the others being straight 11/10s. But that's all just for me and my personal taste. I do find it interesting that I do not understand why it's taken multiple listens for folks to get into the albums, it took me a couple for Ki (but most because the way that one sounds was so jarring coming out of Ziltoid) but other than that, these all clicked for me instantly.

Honestly, I could not be happier.

I just want to plus one this.

I suppose I'm in the same boat where I find Addicted in 4th place, but I almost want to tie it with Ki. Deconstruction and Ghost raise the stakes and deliver true diversity in both. I'll even throw in the clichéd sentiment that listening to all 4 albums sequentially is a true musical journey, and no matter what you may think when it is over, it is still an enriching experience. One I'm happy to take repeatedly.

PS I agree with an above post comparing Physicist with SYL - I always thought it was SYL-lite. Deconstruction, and the whole DTP, is something else.

They're all so different, I couldn't really fairly compare them or rank them in any true order of preference. I listen(ed) to Addicted! waaaaaaay more than Ki, but that really isn't any indicator as to which I like "better." There are moments of subtle beauty and brilliance on the latter that blow the former out of the water, while Addicted! as a whole is simply more... fun to listen to than Ki (plus I'm a huge sucker for those massive walls of sound & lush harmony/female vocals). Most of my music listening time takes place in the car or via headphones on public transit, so something more upbeat like Addicted! just works better in those scenarios. I can already say with reasonable confidence that it will be the same story with Decon/Ghost: because of where/when I do the majority of my listening, Decon will inevitably get more plays than Ghost. But that has little to no bearing on which I like "better," or which is my "favorite."

I do, however, agree with the SYL=Physicist comparison (and Physicist is my least favorite solo album by far - go figure), and I also agree that Universe In a Ball is the low point of Addicted!.

AppleQueso wrote:

DerTrommler wrote:

organic spiral wrote:Hey, don't really post here much, but I peruse through here quite often. I just wanted to sort of state the obvious. I've NEVER witnessed more polarizing opinions about music on the internet then what goes on when people debate these four Project albums. Some people despise one album and hold praise for the rest. Some despise three of them and praise just one. Some flat out don't like Addicted but love Deconstruction and vice-versa. Some call bullshit on Ghost and some say that its the only thing Devin has made that's worth listening to. I personally love all four for different reasons and can't pick a favorite. Apparently, I'm in the extreme minority. It just seems amazing to me the wars that have been going on at some of the music sites between people about the music that Devin painstakingly worked his ass off to give us. It just shows how ballsy of a move it was for him to just say fuck it and go out and make the music that he wants to make, no matter what people might think of it. If anything, these albums have spawned a huge reaction, both positive and negative, and that in itself is a huge accomplishment. I just wanted to comment on it. It's really quite amazing. Oh and by the way, excellent work on these albums Dev. I mean, you really outdid yourself.

I've noticed the same thing. I see people complaining about Ghost, then some about Decon. I myself don't have a negative word to say about any song from the albums haha I'm proud to be in this extreme minority. It's awesome to see someone make music that they want to make, not what the mainstream wants to hear. Thank you Dev!

I don't think you're in as much of a minority as you think you are. Overall reaction to all 4 albums has been overwhelmingly positive.

Same boat for me. Loved the 4! I remember the anticipation and wonder that has consumed my life over the last 2ish years while waiting for these albums and reading about them since we heard about the DTP concept. So impressed with them.
Like Octillus, I couldn't really connect to Universe in a Ball, but the rest of that album blew me away, Numbered, Supercrush, Ih-Ah, all brilliant
The other three are amazing, can't help but enjoy every moment of them, always finding new things I love.
The only other thing was that for some reason, all the hype of Decon somehow made me think it was going to be SYL heavy, and not Solo Dev heavy. Don't know why I got to that point, but I did. Anyways, doesn't matter, I love it, some parts are insanely heavy, while others show more diversity than an SYL type of song would maybe allow for.

gurp13 wrote:

Octillus wrote:Yep, you've just been running into an especially vocal minority, and actually it seems to be a lot of the same people.

Personally, while I'm far from unbiased, I've absolutely adored all 4 and think it's some of his best stuff right up there with OM, Terria and City. I think as a whole journey whilst listened through (LIKE MARATHON-ING STAR WARS) it's completely unparalleled, but I'm a sucker for reprisals.


Addicted MAYBE lags behind the others a bit because I never really connected to Universe in a Ball, and due to it being poppy, other than deciphering the wall of sound it's not all that dense. This of course just means it's a 10.5/10 vs the others being straight 11/10s. But that's all just for me and my personal taste. I do find it interesting that I do not understand why it's taken multiple listens for folks to get into the albums, it took me a couple for Ki (but most because the way that one sounds was so jarring coming out of Ziltoid) but other than that, these all clicked for me instantly.

Honestly, I could not be happier.

I just want to plus one this.

+1 as well, except for Universe in a Ball... I seriously adore that track; if not for the ridiculously good one-two punch of Numbered! and Awake!!, it'd be my favorite on the album. It's actually one of the very first Dev tracks I ever came to love, and a big reason why Addicted became my first Dev purchase, actually. So, Addicted is still right on par with the other three for me, because even though (as you said) it's not all that dense, it doesn't need to be - it's message is simple. It's feels kind of right, actually; one album that's just straightforward in it's composition and it's message, compared to the very dense structure of the other three. I've seen reviews criticizing Dev for making an album in Addicted that's 'too one-dimensional, too pop; lacking in a heavy-handed message' but honestly... it really works for me. It's an honest presentation and there's some damn tight material on it; enough so that I think it's the ultimate feel-good album, without having to resort to overly complex metaphors or long, drawn out concepts to relay what it's trying to say - 'Celebrate! Enjoy life! Don't waste time being high when you could be living!' Opinions are opinions though.

...concerning the originally topic of the thread, though - I agree about the polarizing opinions; there definitely seem to be a lot of different viewpoints, depending on where you go and who you ask. After poking around a bit, it seems that non-Townsend/casual Townsend fans like Ghost more (a lot more), and see Deconstruction as bogged down by the 'nerd' elements and farting noises. Actual Townsend fans (not to generalize/stereotype what anyone here thinks) seems to prefer Deconstruction, on a whole, and see Ghost as a bit too long and one-note. Obviously, I've read plenty of comments from folks who love both; folks who hate both; folks who love Ki, hate the other three; folks who think Addicted's the only quality release out of the four... on and on. The multitude of different reactions/opinions is definitely interesting, though...

For the record, I love all four equally. Ghost may not get as many plays as Deconstruction, for example, but that's only because Ghost is a more situational/mood-oriented album for me. Same goes for Ki - even though I listened to it much less than Addicted over the past two years, I still like it just as much, if not more. Different soundtracks for different times, really. They're all quality releases, for different reasons.

Jaglavak wrote:
For the record, I love all four equally. Ghost may not get as many plays as Deconstruction, for example, but that's only because Ghost is a more situational/mood-oriented album for me.

Funny how it's that way for you while I'd go with the complete opposite with those two albums. I feel like I am on the mood for Ghost very often (And it has so far received 5 times as many plays as Decon) while Deconstruction is only for the moments where I feel the need for something that intense.

Wander wrote:

Jaglavak wrote:
For the record, I love all four equally. Ghost may not get as many plays as Deconstruction, for example, but that's only because Ghost is a more situational/mood-oriented album for me.

Funny how it's that way for you while I'd go with the complete opposite with those two albums. I feel like I am on the mood for Ghost very often (And it has so far received 5 times as many plays as Decon) while Deconstruction is only for the moments where I feel the need for something that intense.

Really? I dunno, for me, I have to be in the mood for Ghost because it doesn't demand my attention. Deconstruction is a very up-front record in the sense that it FORCES me to listen - I can't really tune it out, or just let it play in the background if I put it on. Ghost, I have to pay attention to; otherwise, it'll just drift away from me and turn into background music. When I'm in the right mood, though (at night, for example, when I'm exhausted and just want something peaceful to wind down to) then I'll turn to Ghost... and it does it's job wonderfully, I've found.

Decon is more like an adrenaline rush, for me, so it's easier to engage in. It's intensity is positive as well, so it's getting more listens than any Strapping record would in this situation as well... or most other metal records, really. Usually, I have to stagger my listens of heavier records because they just leave me drained; Deconstruction hasn't left me feeling like that, so far. Like I said, it's probably the 'fiercely positive' vibe it gives off - I don't feel angry or upset when I listen to it (and by extent, worn out and tired of feeling that negative intensity afterwards); just more pumped up than anything else.