Devin Townsend's 'Ghost' & 'Deconstruction' streaming at AOLMusic
- Thread starter ApolloFC
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Ghost is the most beautiful thing I've heard in a long time. It is a great blending of Yanni, Enya, Windham Hill, fingerstyle guitarists, and Devin Townsend.
By far one of the most impressive releases in years - and a bit of a risk for a guy who was METAL with SYL and most of his solo stuff. Although his soft side has always been there, he always had the other extreme in a larger dose. I'm curious to see how a lot of the METAL fans react to this. It's the ying to Deconstruction's yang.
I hope he ends up doing Ghost 2 like he talked about. I'd love to see/hear him do more things in the ambient and "new age" realm...
By far one of the most impressive releases in years - and a bit of a risk for a guy who was METAL with SYL and most of his solo stuff. Although his soft side has always been there, he always had the other extreme in a larger dose. I'm curious to see how a lot of the METAL fans react to this. It's the ying to Deconstruction's yang.
I hope he ends up doing Ghost 2 like he talked about. I'd love to see/hear him do more things in the ambient and "new age" realm...
nomisofsiman
Member
Some advice: the link he put up won't bring you directly to the two albums. I was confused at first how to get to it, but what you have to do is go to the main page, go to new music - play full albums free. There will be a full listening party thing on the screen with four albums and keep scrolling through until you see Deconstruction and Ghost.
Just listening now at 5am. Beautiful. I'd love to be able to use these as backing tracks and put some sax over it.
nomisofsiman
Member
I love these two albums. While Deconstruction is heavy, I don't know about it being the absolute heaviest thing he's done, which is what he said it would be. I do love the chaotic circus metal-type vibe on some of the songs though. Ghost is absolutely beautiful like everyone says and honestly, I have to say I like these two better than the previous two albums.
Palabra de Dios
Heavy Metal Weatherman
Yeah, all the praise for Ghost is completely deserved. It's amazing sonically and lyrically too. I can't get over how awesome it is...and it is not at all a metal album. I'm recommending it to all my non-metal friends who appreciate good music (i.e. not top 40). It's going over well.
I would love an American version of what he's doing at the UK fests. I could watch a 3 hour Devy show and not get tired of it I think.
I would love an American version of what he's doing at the UK fests. I could watch a 3 hour Devy show and not get tired of it I think.
Agree with everything, both albums are amazing.
Deconstruction - I need to figure out what the story is about more, but if you had me blind listen to it I'd almost think it was Ziltoid II - so foe those that loved Ziltoid this is very much in that vein.
Ghost is killer as well - an ambient/chill drool fest.
This while 4 CD set he's done, the guy is just amazing to come up with the varied styles he writes. Ki was amazing. The only one I need to listen to more is Addicted.
Deconstruction - I need to figure out what the story is about more, but if you had me blind listen to it I'd almost think it was Ziltoid II - so foe those that loved Ziltoid this is very much in that vein.
Ghost is killer as well - an ambient/chill drool fest.
This while 4 CD set he's done, the guy is just amazing to come up with the varied styles he writes. Ki was amazing. The only one I need to listen to more is Addicted.
For those enjoying Ghost, do you listen to music like that fairly regularly? Ghost is good, but I think because I listen to similar music here and there, that it doesn't have the impact on me as it might on somebody who hasn't heard such music previously.
AeonicSlumber
srs
- Aug 14, 2008
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From someone who listens to a lot of drone, ambient, and post rock, I love Ghost. I think it's one of the best things Townsend has ever written.
I like Deconstruction. I thought it was a cool album and it was also fun listening for all the guest appearances in that stream. However, I HATE Jens Bogren's mix on this. It sounds thin and over compressed and there's no atmosphere. The music doesn't breathe like a Devin Townsend production is expected to sound. I am sure there are a ton of intricacies in this album are are muddied out due to this poor mixjob, because it sure sounds like it.
I like Deconstruction. I thought it was a cool album and it was also fun listening for all the guest appearances in that stream. However, I HATE Jens Bogren's mix on this. It sounds thin and over compressed and there's no atmosphere. The music doesn't breathe like a Devin Townsend production is expected to sound. I am sure there are a ton of intricacies in this album are are muddied out due to this poor mixjob, because it sure sounds like it.
AeonicSlumber
srs
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Also anyone who maybe came across any interviews can tell me what Kawaii is about? I've been dying to know since that track title was about.
CAlexanderParra
Nocturnal Dream
Oh my god dude, let it rest. You seriously have no idea what you're talking about.
Personally speaking, if you mean artists like Enya and others mentioned.. nope. I obviously don't mind it, it just isn't a reoccurring style in my room.
I do like the occasional post rock - God Is an Astronaut and similar bands if that counts
Jens Bogren's mix on Deconstruction is fantastic. Devin especially wanted him to mix the album. Besides, they worked together on the mix (check the booklet for proof). The music is hardly overcompressed. Actually for such dense, layered songs, it couldn't be any better. Listening to the album on a good set of headphones is the most rewarding experience ever.
I listen to my fair share of Yanni, soundtracks and various new age stuff.
I'm interested to know some of the stuff you listen to that impacts where you rank Ghost.
I listen to just about everything musically... everything that seems genuine that is. Including ambient / new age. Yanni is one of my favorites. So are a lot of Windham Hill fingerstyle guitarists. And I like Enya. I listen to "Soundscapes" on my cable network all the time (only music I play on the TV besides 80s).
The first big show Odin's Court played was opening for Devin Townsend and Symphony X. I hung out with Dev for a bit and we talked about all kinds of things. One thing I thought was cool was that we are both similar with our love of new age and metal, and how music can be big, epic, and airy like Yanni and Enya but also METAL.
I saw a video on YouTube (or maybe it was an interview on the web) where Devin talked about how difficult the mixing was on this album, and how the mix engineer was concerned about the number of elements, having trouble, and doing it all wrong. I do know that Dev flew to work directly with him at some point.
Being an audio engineer myself who has worked with rock music fused with symphonic elements, I can relate and have an appreciation for the challenge. Getting an entire orchestra and choir fit into their own space realistically with all the normal Devin layers would be a huge hill to climb!
I think they found a good balance in the end...though I'd be curious to hear a more orchestra intense mix with less of the rock instruments.
AeonicSlumber
srs
- Aug 14, 2008
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I just called the WHAAAAmbulance so they can give you some whine with your cheese. With the exception of the Symphony X, Katatonia, Paradise Lost, and Opeth records I think JBs productions blow butt chunks. Paper thin mixes everything is mastered too loud and overcompressed etc. It's my opinion. Deal with it.
Liampie
Member
- Jan 10, 2009
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I don't think you've listened to the album very well... Or you downloaded a shitty cd rip.
I fail to understand how anyone can call this production too loud and overcompressed. It sounds crystal clear to me!
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