This was especially the case for Physicist. I wasn't all that big of a fan of it compared to the rest of his catalog but I got a whole lot more respect for it after the podcast
My boyfriend and I think of the voice at the beginning of Olives as a tired bartender who is also a walrus, his name is Leopold Sigwalt and he's been working the grind for 20 years and sets aside the money to help pay for his grandchildrens' college tuitions
Somewhere in the future... I hope "Terria" as a whole gets the same live treatment like Ocean Machine got in Bulgaria. An exclusive show at Dalhalla amphitheatre in Sweden would be incredible way to celebrate this album.
I always though all Devin's music would fit dalhalla so perfect. It would be amazing. Devin loves his reverb, and there is just something about that old stone-quarry's acoustics that would fit his music so well...
Me, a troglodytic simpleton: cool this series will be like a listen-through with commentary Devin: welcome to philosophy and psychology class please be seated I absolutely love it, for the record
Devin, even though you had to look up the lyrics to Nobody’s Here, you need to know that some of us will never forget your lyrics and you’ve been a massive inspiration. That song has saved me many many times. Thanks for that.
One thing that shines through these podcasts, is that you are a wonderful human being Dev. Thank you for being so open, it is both helpful and appreciated.
He keeps an organized schedule and subconsciously has great time management skills from all the years of recording and playing live sets. That’s my theory.
@@cigarettesmokeeye There is no question that he is well skilled in terms of time and schedules, but what baffles me it seems he doesn't edit those podcasts i.e. it's all one raw uncut monologue, at least that's what it sounds like. Of course, I could be wrong.
About the atention we all seek from the others, especially from our parents in our childhood , the true healing comes when we realise parents as human being before seeing them as parents. Parenthood is just one role they need to show before the world, one in many other roles. People are doing what they can according to their legacy they receive from their ancestors, education, atention, spirituality etc.
I got a HUGE wake up bang in the head when my parents divorced after 32 years of marriage. I was 31 at the time. Had I been a teen, it must have wrecked me completely, I can imagine killing myself. Even so, many many things I took for granted were shattered.
Please Dev, I hope you will continue with these podcasts. I just started listening to you with Transcendence and saw my first live show in Charlotte last month (we spoke for a couple min after the show) and these podcasts have really caught my attention . I am a 50 yr old guy who is going thru a kind of philosophical rennaissance and your Empath album in particular speaks to this. I can't wait to hear about your own transformation which led to that masterpiece IMO. And to be honest, I'm emotionally invested in your personal story now, and I NEED MY SOAPS! I hope you haven't let these recountings of painful periods combined with this whole covid quarantine fool you into thinking you haven't come out the other side a better man. Don't forget that you are loved. Hopefully you are taking this time to love your family and yourself, and will continue with these podcasts when you're ready. I can't wait for Empath!!!
I can understand your apprehension when it comes to recording these podcasts since you're opening up so personally in a very public way but I hope you know just how helpful listening to what you said so far can be for those who have been through similar issues. To know that somebody else has felt the same way but managed to pull their way through the other side of it can bring comfort and hope to those who need it. I don't think anyone is ever completely out of the woods when it comes to mental health issues but you sound like you've progressed in ways some would never be able to imagine themselves doing so to see you lay that example before them can be an extremely positive thing to present to people.
1:00:47 Mountain 1:06:10 Olives 1:07:27 Earth Day 1:09:42 Deep Peace 0:59:53 & 1:28:35 Canada 1:30:51 Down and Under 1:31:35 The Fluke 1:32:13 Nobody's Here 1:41:05 Tiny Tears 1:43:10 Stagnant 1:43:39 Humble
I bought a signed crash cymbal Gene used on this album while seeing SYL on the Alien touring cycle. I really need to get that thing framed. Please keep doing these, Dev. Really enjoying them.
I can't state how much I love this album, and how I feel like it's criminally underrated. I would kill for a full-length live performance of this album in its entirety
Singularity came out of boredom? That song, ( if that’s what you would call it), is probably the most brilliant 23 mins of music I’ve ever heard in my entire life Devin. Thank you for getting bored and writing it. It has brought to my life face to face reflections to many tears of joy. I’ve listen to it at least 100 times now. I’m a fan of all kinds of music from the 60s-present, RUSH being my favorite band. Jethro Tull to dream theatre to Opeth to Meshuggah ect. You are in my top 3 fav artist of all time now....No band or song has brought out the kind of emotions Singularity has, ever! Thank you! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
The thing with you Dev, is weather you realise/like it or not, you/your personality is actually your 'brand', not in any para-social / celebrity way, but peoples disappointment in any music you create is from those detached from that, anyone that's listened to you beyond the music, know to expect something different, obviously that's easier now with this platform we share. It reminds me of all those metallica fans that wanted another black album after 5 years, but If you were a 'real fan' you'd have known there was no way they were up for that again, so when Load hit weren't disappointed at all, just more like hmmm interesting. Which is basically the mindset I approach all your releases with! Keep doing you man, it's a pleasure.
Hey Devin! We briefly spoke after a show on the Terria tour in The Netherlands almost 20 years ago. You went out of your way to come out of the dressing room and chat a bit with me and a friend of mine and that always stuck. Just want to say thank you for all the music and these podcasts :)
I tend to avoid commenting in most instances, but I wanted to reach out and sincerely thank you, Devin. I have had a really rough go with my own mental illness, isolation, and some family members that contracted COVID (they have recovered or they are stable and seemingly making recoveries) throughout this quarantine. I stumbled upon your podcasts and they have been one of the few things that is helping keep me together and feel less alone. Your genuine expressions and honest self reflection through this time has given me strength. Being able to see my own trauma within the tales of your path has made it seem more normal, less of an outlier or moral failing, and as something that may be tackled and/or faced bravely. You've even gotten me to pick my guitar back up and try to dig myself out with music. I'm waiting for the 7th episode and have taken my time listening to this one. Soon, I'll just start back from the beginning as I wait. Thanks again and greetings from Indiana. PS As an accountant, you looked fly as hell in your drab outfits. No shame in that game.
I bought two albums when I was like 14 or 15 solely based on their covers. Blackwater Park by Opeth and Terria by Devin Townsend. When I first heard the first note in the intro he hits on Terria I knew I was gonna be a fan for life. I don’t know if you read these Devin but you are without equal and we all love you man.
I keep coming back every day to see if the next album's podcast has been uploaded. Devin, if you should keep this podcast going beyond these initial album analyses, you've got a loyal listener here.
KI is probably in my list of my 10 most important albums in my life :) Thank you for opening your heart, Devin. I empathize, I've been there someway and probably, in this troubled times, listening to your tribulations, has helped me not to leave myself to apathy. Thank you!
Hi Devin, thank you for doing these podcasts! I, like so many other fans, have always wondered to look inside your head, and try to understand what or why you created those albums like Infinity, City, etc... These podcasts give us an idea of what was going on in your life, and it is so great to be hearing this from you directly! Also, in your 2nd podcast I think you said you are dealing with some personal issues? I hope they are not too bad and you're able to sort them out. I also hope you realise how important these podcasts are for some of us. I listen to them when I go to bed. I am dealing with (serious) personal issues too at the moment, and hearing your voice calms me somehow. Thank you so much for this! I hope that you're not suffering financially too much from this lockdown, and that we'll see you on tour again in Europe (Belgium) soon next year! Cheers.
Just want to say that I have really been enjoying these podcasts and learning so much about the stories behind them and what goes on in that crazy ass genius brain of yours. Thank you Devin
So many of these things stick to me, hit home hard... My mind wanders all the time, I believe when someone thinks about me, I have thought about them a million times. It's painful, you give my soul some sense of peace, but there is only so much you can give, after I have consumed these podcasts for what they are, my mind will once again, just go from 0-200 again. I need help
All these scenarios you explain with drugs and sobriety, resonate so deeply, I just didnt put all that energy into music, I played video games and got quite good, I did powerlifting on an elite level, but they are just masks, faces.
.... ah, the humanity. Slowly slowly, album by album, year by year, peeling back the layers and seeing the person inside. "It doesn't matter...." No, it most certainly doesn't. Bravo.
Your experience is incredibly valuable and I'm so glad that you are speaking about it in this public forum. Helps me to know I'm not alone, even if I don't actually know you, I know something of the experiences you've had, and this gives me comfort. You are doing service by making these podcasts. Keep it going man.
Thanks Dev, soldiering on. Only keep this up if you want to bud. I'm enjoying it all, great to hear your thoughts on this record, one of my favourites :)
What you lived, what you felt at the time... The consequences and all that... Man, I recognize myself sometimes, it's like a direct punch in the face. Thanks for everything Dev, you're the best. I hope you'll do some other podcasts on later albums, that way maybe I can understand more about your music, and more about myself still.
Devin you are such an intelligent person with an introspective nature that it is a joy just to listen to you talk about about things and life in general. I bet you would be quite an interesting individual to know on a personal level, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these podcasts.
This is the one I have been looking forward to the most from a production commentary standpoint as this album really felt like the big step in that "Black album" production stand point given how big and wide it sounds, especially compared to the earlier albums. I am commenting before listening, but i'm excited!
@@Qwerty-ks8dn I was more commenting on the step forward from Physicist, and Terria is much bigger and clearer sounding than Ocean Machine. Not that there is anything wrong with Ocean Machine though.
Ive been going back and listening to all your albums after I've finished the corresponding podcast and it's really almost like hearing it again for the first time. Thank you so much for sharing, I hope you continue to do so.
Thank you so much for continuing this sharing of your experiences - while your journey is not mine (or anyone else's), I'm deriving a good deal of reassurance from being walked through how someone whose work and way of thinking I respect has gone through very dark places and come out the other side, still able to take joy in creativity, and continually evolving their understanding of their relationships with art, other people and themself.
I love listening to these and getting some insight into where you were at during the creation of these albums that have been so important to me. Thankyou Devin.
Thanks for such open-hearted sharing; wow on many levels. Very helpful in terms of compositional strategies, and mental health issues. Rock on bro, much love.
You’re contextualizing your journey as a musical medium. Reading lyrics and breaking them down provides such a breadth of perspective man. My appreciation for this is immeasurable!! Keep em coming :)) can’t wait for ziltoid
It was nice to get out on this beautiful day. Even more beautiful is Devin, his insight, humility,kindness, showmanship and the fact his music touches my Soul like no other.
thank you so much for that Dev, i was just wondering... (hopefully this isn’t either stupidly obvious or presumptive of me to guess) but the album artwork for Terria appears to me like someone halfway between the grey and a world of colour, looking towards the world of colour, was this intentional? due to growing away from the grey world you found yourself in during the Physicist era? Also did you choose to have a different person on the album cover because unlike Infinity you didn’t want to (for lack of a better word) idolize yourself as more than an ordinary guy? I hope neither of those questions are wrong to ask, i was just curious. Love your work, can’t wait for the next podcast, and Moth album!
And you continue to surprise and impress with your candid and focused honesty of who and what you were at the time of another fascinating piece of music you crafted. Thank you, again, for these wonderful and pointed insights, as guidance to know we are ALL human and you are but one of us. Separate but wholly equal and same in our humanity. Looking forward to the next episode!
Not every album of yours has clicked with me over the years, my first introduction was the whole Ki-Ghost cycle and I've since listened and found value in a lot of your music. But honestly even more than that, I've gained so much perspective in my own life from your personal story- based on interviews mostly. These podcast episodes have been incredible to me, totally different energy from an interview where you are under the lens/filter of whoever is asking the questions. I could ramble on about all the things this means to me, but instead I'll just sincerely say; thank you.
Thank you. Not only is it interesting to get the background process but I'm sure because of the in depth reflection, it's therapeutic for many of us. I.e I'm sure you are helping people right now more so than just occupying our time during lock down.
The whole point about being an artist and seeking attention was something I reflected on just a few days ago. Being a musician myself I had this constant duality between deeply wanting people to connect with the music I'd written, whilst also recognising that demanding people's attention is in some way selfish. But perhaps it sits quite low on the scale of selfishness, compared to the good that can come from people having a positive experience from art. It's a net positive that the reason you want people's attention is so they can hopefully enjoy something you've made. It's complicated, but that's what I came out with after spending years thinking about it.
Thank you for sharing such personal experiences. I’ve always been so fond of your ability to open up and your methods of conveying your thoughts and emotions has really allowed myself to reflect on my own personal matters. Thank you for spending the time to put these out during this “great pause”
I received Terria a few days before 9-11 through Hevydevy. In August of 2001 I made a huge decision to leave home and just find myself which I did. Then 9-11 happened a month later and I felt massive guilt for it. However, Terria helped me get through it in a weird way. But the song Mountain fucked me up so bad when I listened to it that all I'd see was the twin towers collapsing. It's a very chaotic song which gave me a massive anxiety attack and put me in the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack lol. Crazy personal story I had to share regarding this time. Thanks Dev!
@@Qwerty-ks8dn I'm from Brooklyn NY and moved an hour away. Traveling was locked down. I couldn't be there with them. Mom is in upper 60s at the time. Bad all around time to move.
Every time my husband leaves to go shopping...I hold my breath. I pray, and tear up. I get scared. Then we wait...and live and show out our emotions on high at times, other times, we just cry and hold each other. We pray for our world. We love your music Dev and all you're doing through this very emotion grinding, hold us down, stay put, stay , time....time for us all to reflect and live the best we can. You 'go out of your way' to entertain, emote, and lift us up during this hard time. WE Thank you and send you and your family love, light, and hope at this time, and for all time. Blessings to all. This is very difficult to make light of it.....
This has long been my favorite Devy record, one of the first I was ever turned onto not long after it came out, and one of my favorite and most inspiring albums of my life.
Once again I am stunned in a positive way pertaining every part of your presentation! I can simply agree lol! Everyone tends to lock up and compare things instead of analyze and interpret! Very well put with artistic differences especially! In most cases art can have an underlying push towards wanting an audience, and some art is from the latter! Going off of my own circumstances I spent a long time to myself only to find outside factors had been built up around my diverted attention, and simply found how to productively and artistically put that to best use striving for a different outcome! At this point part of it may be simply enjoying the ride true, but if it's not something like that then it would be wallowing in the negative aspects and that would just seem stupendously ignorant to choose that! Lol I feel intentions wise beyond things that cannot be controlled it's less about gaining a certain outcome, but more about about re-expanding the possibilities people have to choose from! There are checks and balances in our world being juggled all the time, and when something goes from a counter balance to becoming the overall majority something else becomes the counter balance to that in line with things constantly fluxing! Lol but when a surfer is in the pipe do they think of the physics or enjoy the ride? I may simply just keep swimming but sometimes it's rough sees and sometimes it's smooth sailing! If you can learn to smile in the hurricane everything else is as smooth as glass! Online has become a stretched version of what it could be towards us as a species evolving! But people still have to choose to strive towards more instead of just playing games trying to create fake personas instead of persue how they could actually achieve things in real time to themselves! Not everyone is meant to deal with new things first for countless reasons, but people paying attention to that instead of "hey, this/these doors of possibility are now open or available to choose from how could I make use of that?". A discovery is shared but individuals can choose how to use it! Like online having what it does will people choose to troll and make M.M.O.R.P.G. profiles of fairy tail creatures? Or will they persue aquiring knowledge and experience through almost infinite possible ways of communicating and sharing with others both currently alive and stretching all the way into the far flung past looking for their own personal truths? Lol much like you said Devin there is so much to say without rambling or seeming too! But I can say with confidence that I'm personally happy with not having to juggle false and/or shallow motivations because it takes away from simply enjoying things as they are, and would very much take away from all the what could be! Uncertain times are understandable, but like most things this will have a counter affect whenever everything levels off and that has some very interesting possibilities in my opinion! Thank you again for doing these ontop of everything else you create! It's been amazing to listen to and apply them towards my own ideas and such! I very much agree almost like a great conversation that can keep on going as far as I'm concerned! Looking forward to the next one bro, keep up the amazing work and everything you have put forth!!! Stay safe out there!!!
No idea if you'll ever see this Dev, but I feel at least for myself, I was drawn into your music through the heavy stuff, but then that drove me to explore your entire catalog. So I identified with the anger but have since grown to try and understand all parts of myself as you have grown to include all parts of yourself on a single album. You are older than me and perhaps I do view you with more celebrity infallibility than I should, but experiencing your life through your music helps me to understand my own life and know that everyone struggles with the same shit and to see what has worked for you and consider if it might work in mine. Tl;dr: Thank you, and as long as you keep being honest with yourself, us fans will support you.
thanx for keep doing this man, that's enlightening on many ways :) deep peace is one of my favourites, and I wondered what drove you to that masterpiece: bathtube !
Really interesting hearing him explain the structure of the song Mountain and how as a song melodically it’s wrong and shouldn’t work but somehow by force is able to succeed unconventionally in its intention. Part of the magic for me with this album is how the music presents itself in such a static, disorganized way yet somehow works thematically as a whole. There are moments in the album that include odd background noises and talking that should have been edited out but were left in. The end of Stagnant where you hear Devin mentioning his foot being asleep is a primary example followed by the weird, mostly ambient track Humble. I always interpreted this as a deliberate decision by him to leave in these flaws as a way of expressing the idea of imperfection. It makes sense that he would want to make a statement like this after hearing him explain how at the time he was getting over his past mistakes and finally coming to grips with reality and the belief that he’s not special. The statement I think he wanted to make sure was heard is “it’s just music, accept it” but the music is still so profoundly good.
Love the show, Devy! Been listening to the podcast and then the album. Can’t wait for the craziness to end and get back to coming to your shows. Double appreciate the content as we’re all stuck in the house!
Hey Dev, long time fan here. First album I heard was Deconstruction, and while it's still my favourite, I've come to love almost everything you've done. I'm an aspiring musician myself, and I've always looked up to you and a handful of other people as an ideal of where I would like to be. But these podcasts have made me realise, I'm so fundamentally different to you as a person, my process and motivation to create is so different, that following in your footsteps will only lead to frustration. I still admire your openness and the honesty to your work, and some of my music sounds like it's influenced by yours. But I don't get the 'visions' you do, and my motivation to create isn't even stemming from a desire to express my emotions necessarily. The impression I get from these podcasts is that you're a particularly emotive person. You seem to feel things with an overwhelming intensity which compels you to create. For me it's more of an intellectual endeavour, combined with a desire to paint a landscape, so to speak. I've lately found that I get quite a bit of joy in composing for film, games, and other things. While writing music for someone else's vision may not provide much sense of self-expression, I think that's okay, and just because all of my musical idols, including you, express themselves through their work, that doesn't mean I have to. And I find that quite liberating. It's nice to be able to let go of some hang ups and just get to work, as I'm sure you'll understand. :) Thanks for doing these podcasts man, they're very enlightening, and enjoyable to listen to.
Trying so hard to get through these podcasts in order but Terria is my all time favorite. Its so hard to not jump into this right now. I've already heard the behind the scenes audio Devin made for this years back, I think it came with the CD I bought in 2006, but judging by the Ocean Machine and City episodes this will have so much more information.
I don't know if you read these comments or not, but I really liked when you went and listened back to every song just for the podcast. I think it would be a great idea to write down or make a note of what you think about the songs before listening to them, and then listen to them again and see how it contrasts, and if anything new comes to mind. It sounds very interesting regardless to hear your thoughts. Lovin' these podcasts, can't wait for Alien!
I am listening to your albums again with a new ear after these.
You shoulda told me, I coulda lent you mine. They are the best ears in all of metal.
Agreed. A whole new appreciation.
@@VonJamestein Don't you trust your own ears? As awesome as the podcasts are, they change nothing about how much I like the albums.
Same!
This was especially the case for Physicist. I wasn't all that big of a fan of it compared to the rest of his catalog but I got a whole lot more respect for it after the podcast
My boyfriend and I think of the voice at the beginning of Olives as a tired bartender who is also a walrus, his name is Leopold Sigwalt and he's been working the grind for 20 years and sets aside the money to help pay for his grandchildrens' college tuitions
Stir your drinkkkkkkkk? Ooooooolive?
I can only imagine how terrifying this process is being to you, Dev. Yet in hindsight, liberating,
Terria is the most amazing album you've done. My fav for sure.
Somewhere in the future... I hope "Terria" as a whole gets the same live treatment like Ocean Machine got in Bulgaria. An exclusive show at Dalhalla amphitheatre in Sweden would be incredible way to celebrate this album.
I always though all Devin's music would fit dalhalla so perfect. It would be amazing. Devin loves his reverb, and there is just something about that old stone-quarry's acoustics that would fit his music so well...
I agree. I personally consider Terria to be the superior album between the two, though they're both great.
Well, a show in Oslo would be even better, amirite? ;)
I knew refreshing my youtube every minute for over 24hr would pay off eventually.
This has grown into an obsession for me, glad I'm not the only one!
Lmao!!
Get out of my head!
Finally a humorous comment. I am tired of these melancholy posts full of adulation, self-pity and poetry. This is Devin, not Deepak Chopra!
You and me both haha
At the 48:00 minute mark, I think the story Dev is referring to is "They're made out of meat" By Author Terry Bisson. That story always tickled me :]
Damn. You beat me to it! www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/TheyMade.shtml
When you run out of albums to talk about..... find something else!! We need these podcasts Dev!
Me, a troglodytic simpleton: cool this series will be like a listen-through with commentary
Devin: welcome to philosophy and psychology class please be seated
I absolutely love it, for the record
phorcep same.
Me: aDURRRRRRR imma listEn To deVin TaLk abOut muZik.
Devin: welcome to philosophy and psychology class please be seated.
detto!
Devin, even though you had to look up the lyrics to Nobody’s Here, you need to know that some of us will never forget your lyrics and you’ve been a massive inspiration. That song has saved me many many times. Thanks for that.
One thing that shines through these podcasts, is that you are a wonderful human being Dev. Thank you for being so open, it is both helpful and appreciated.
*Anyone else noticed how these podcasts are freakishly similar in length??* 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️😯⁉️❓
Yup. I have no idea why.
You synchronicity freak.
Maybe so people can reliably fit them into their schedule
He keeps an organized schedule and subconsciously has great time management skills from all the years of recording and playing live sets. That’s my theory.
@@cigarettesmokeeye There is no question that he is well skilled in terms of time and schedules, but what baffles me it seems he doesn't edit those podcasts i.e. it's all one raw uncut monologue, at least that's what it sounds like. Of course, I could be wrong.
About the atention we all seek from the others, especially from our parents in our childhood , the true healing comes when we realise parents as human being before seeing them as parents. Parenthood is just one role they need to show before the world, one in many other roles. People are doing what they can according to their legacy they receive from their ancestors, education, atention, spirituality etc.
I got a HUGE wake up bang in the head when my parents divorced after 32 years of marriage. I was 31 at the time. Had I been a teen, it must have wrecked me completely, I can imagine killing myself. Even so, many many things I took for granted were shattered.
@@sisaktamas You are a grown-up, your parents have their own lives, different from yours.
Please Dev, I hope you will continue with these podcasts. I just started listening to you with Transcendence and saw my first live show in Charlotte last month (we spoke for a couple min after the show) and these podcasts have really caught my attention . I am a 50 yr old guy who is going thru a kind of philosophical rennaissance and your Empath album in particular speaks to this. I can't wait to hear about your own transformation which led to that masterpiece IMO. And to be honest, I'm emotionally invested in your personal story now, and I NEED MY SOAPS! I hope you haven't let these recountings of painful periods combined with this whole covid quarantine fool you into thinking you haven't come out the other side a better man. Don't forget that you are loved. Hopefully you are taking this time to love your family and yourself, and will continue with these podcasts when you're ready. I can't wait for Empath!!!
I can understand your apprehension when it comes to recording these podcasts since you're opening up so personally in a very public way but I hope you know just how helpful listening to what you said so far can be for those who have been through similar issues. To know that somebody else has felt the same way but managed to pull their way through the other side of it can bring comfort and hope to those who need it. I don't think anyone is ever completely out of the woods when it comes to mental health issues but you sound like you've progressed in ways some would never be able to imagine themselves doing so to see you lay that example before them can be an extremely positive thing to present to people.
1:00:47 Mountain
1:06:10 Olives
1:07:27 Earth Day
1:09:42 Deep Peace
0:59:53 & 1:28:35 Canada
1:30:51 Down and Under
1:31:35 The Fluke
1:32:13 Nobody's Here
1:41:05 Tiny Tears
1:43:10 Stagnant
1:43:39 Humble
MVP, thanks man
I bought a signed crash cymbal Gene used on this album while seeing SYL on the Alien touring cycle. I really need to get that thing framed. Please keep doing these, Dev. Really enjoying them.
I hope you will do a podcast about The Hummer and Devlab.
This album blew me away when I first heard it, top 5 albums of all time for me.
I can't state how much I love this album, and how I feel like it's criminally underrated. I would kill for a full-length live performance of this album in its entirety
Singularity came out of boredom? That song, ( if that’s what you would call it), is probably the most brilliant 23 mins of music I’ve ever heard in my entire life Devin. Thank you for getting bored and writing it. It has brought to my life face to face reflections to many tears of joy. I’ve listen to it at least 100 times now. I’m a fan of all kinds of music from the 60s-present, RUSH being my favorite band. Jethro Tull to dream theatre to Opeth to Meshuggah ect. You are in my top 3 fav artist of all time now....No band or song has brought out the kind of emotions Singularity has, ever! Thank you! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I think that sincerity as a concept is something that people desperately crave.
The thing with you Dev, is weather you realise/like it or not, you/your personality is actually your 'brand', not in any para-social / celebrity way, but peoples disappointment in any music you create is from those detached from that, anyone that's listened to you beyond the music, know to expect something different, obviously that's easier now with this platform we share. It reminds me of all those metallica fans that wanted another black album after 5 years, but If you were a 'real fan' you'd have known there was no way they were up for that again, so when Load hit weren't disappointed at all, just more like hmmm interesting. Which is basically the mindset I approach all your releases with! Keep doing you man, it's a pleasure.
These podcasts have been really enjoyable, I would listen to a weekly podcast for sure! Per usual, Devin is entertaining at everything he does.
Hey Devin! We briefly spoke after a show on the Terria tour in The Netherlands almost 20 years ago. You went out of your way to come out of the dressing room and chat a bit with me and a friend of mine and that always stuck. Just want to say thank you for all the music and these podcasts :)
I tend to avoid commenting in most instances, but I wanted to reach out and sincerely thank you, Devin. I have had a really rough go with my own mental illness, isolation, and some family members that contracted COVID (they have recovered or they are stable and seemingly making recoveries) throughout this quarantine. I stumbled upon your podcasts and they have been one of the few things that is helping keep me together and feel less alone. Your genuine expressions and honest self reflection through this time has given me strength. Being able to see my own trauma within the tales of your path has made it seem more normal, less of an outlier or moral failing, and as something that may be tackled and/or faced bravely.
You've even gotten me to pick my guitar back up and try to dig myself out with music.
I'm waiting for the 7th episode and have taken my time listening to this one. Soon, I'll just start back from the beginning as I wait.
Thanks again and greetings from Indiana.
PS As an accountant, you looked fly as hell in your drab outfits. No shame in that game.
I bought two albums when I was like 14 or 15 solely based on their covers. Blackwater Park by Opeth and Terria by Devin Townsend. When I first heard the first note in the intro he hits on Terria I knew I was gonna be a fan for life. I don’t know if you read these Devin but you are without equal and we all love you man.
I keep coming back every day to see if the next album's podcast has been uploaded. Devin, if you should keep this podcast going beyond these initial album analyses, you've got a loyal listener here.
KI is probably in my list of my 10 most important albums in my life :) Thank you for opening your heart, Devin. I empathize, I've been there someway and probably, in this troubled times, listening to your tribulations, has helped me not to leave myself to apathy. Thank you!
"Prince Geeblesnarf". I nearly lost a mouthful of coffee. 😀 Thank you for these podcasts Mr. Townsend.💙
drumrnva I often wonder just what Prince Geeblesnarf is, in fact, up to.😆
Hi Devin, thank you for doing these podcasts! I, like so many other fans, have always wondered to look inside your head, and try to understand what or why you created those albums like Infinity, City, etc... These podcasts give us an idea of what was going on in your life, and it is so great to be hearing this from you directly! Also, in your 2nd podcast I think you said you are dealing with some personal issues? I hope they are not too bad and you're able to sort them out. I also hope you realise how important these podcasts are for some of us. I listen to them when I go to bed. I am dealing with (serious) personal issues too at the moment, and hearing your voice calms me somehow. Thank you so much for this! I hope that you're not suffering financially too much from this lockdown, and that we'll see you on tour again in Europe (Belgium) soon next year! Cheers.
Just want to say that I have really been enjoying these podcasts and learning so much about the stories behind them and what goes on in that crazy ass genius brain of yours. Thank you Devin
YES YES YES MY FAVOURITE ABLUM
So many of these things stick to me, hit home hard... My mind wanders all the time, I believe when someone thinks about me, I have thought about them a million times. It's painful, you give my soul some sense of peace, but there is only so much you can give, after I have consumed these podcasts for what they are, my mind will once again, just go from 0-200 again. I need help
All these scenarios you explain with drugs and sobriety, resonate so deeply, I just didnt put all that energy into music, I played video games and got quite good, I did powerlifting on an elite level, but they are just masks, faces.
Thanks for helping some of us not feel alone in these times.
.... ah, the humanity. Slowly slowly, album by album, year by year, peeling back the layers and seeing the person inside. "It doesn't matter...." No, it most certainly doesn't. Bravo.
Your experience is incredibly valuable and I'm so glad that you are speaking about it in this public forum. Helps me to know I'm not alone, even if I don't actually know you, I know something of the experiences you've had, and this gives me comfort. You are doing service by making these podcasts. Keep it going man.
I hit refresh every 30
minutes on UA-cam for the last two days. What a joy to see episode 5. We are hungrily following your story, Devin.
Thanks Dev, soldiering on. Only keep this up if you want to bud. I'm enjoying it all, great to hear your thoughts on this record, one of my favourites :)
What you lived, what you felt at the time...
The consequences and all that...
Man, I recognize myself sometimes, it's like a direct punch in the face.
Thanks for everything Dev, you're the best.
I hope you'll do some other podcasts on later albums, that way maybe I can understand more about your music, and more about myself still.
Devin you are such an intelligent person with an introspective nature that it is a joy just to listen to you talk about about things and life in general. I bet you would be quite an interesting individual to know on a personal level, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on these podcasts.
This is the one I have been looking forward to the most from a production commentary standpoint as this album really felt like the big step in that "Black album" production stand point given how big and wide it sounds, especially compared to the earlier albums. I am commenting before listening, but i'm excited!
I disagree. Ocean Machine sounds just as good, City literally couldn't sound better than it does.
@@Qwerty-ks8dn I was more commenting on the step forward from Physicist, and Terria is much bigger and clearer sounding than Ocean Machine. Not that there is anything wrong with Ocean Machine though.
Ive been going back and listening to all your albums after I've finished the corresponding podcast and it's really almost like hearing it again for the first time. Thank you so much for sharing, I hope you continue to do so.
Yess! I was waiting on this (and many others I bet). Thank you Devin! You are inspiring. Best regards from the Netherlands.
Devintownsendpodcast!
It's pronounced Duh-duh Duh-Duh PODCAST!
I hope opening up about these eras is as therapeutic as it sounds. Thank you for this kind of access/content.
Additionally, it's absolutely wild that you started writing Deep Peace during Infinity (not a peaceful time) and finished it for Terria.
Thank you so much for continuing this sharing of your experiences - while your journey is not mine (or anyone else's), I'm deriving a good deal of reassurance from being walked through how someone whose work and way of thinking I respect has gone through very dark places and come out the other side, still able to take joy in creativity, and continually evolving their understanding of their relationships with art, other people and themself.
These podcasts are so awesome
Devin- we love it, keep sharing 🖤
You are an excellent human being. Your podcasts are a bright point of this pause for me.
These podcasts have been my favorite thing about the time spent at home.
I love listening to these and getting some insight into where you were at during the creation of these albums that have been so important to me. Thankyou Devin.
Thanks for such open-hearted sharing; wow on many levels. Very helpful in terms of compositional strategies, and mental health issues. Rock on bro, much love.
You are qualified Devin. Not just qualified, but recognized.
This is a legendary album that spoke to me through tough times, thanks for making it, dude. Respect.
You’re contextualizing your journey as a musical medium. Reading lyrics and breaking them down provides such a breadth of perspective man. My appreciation for this is immeasurable!! Keep em coming :)) can’t wait for ziltoid
It was nice to get out on this beautiful day. Even more beautiful is Devin, his insight, humility,kindness, showmanship and the fact his music touches my Soul like no other.
This is one of my favourite albums for so many reasons. Thank you Devin xoxx
Also; looking forward to more of these. Thanks as always for everything you create!
thank you so much for that Dev, i was just wondering... (hopefully this isn’t either stupidly obvious or presumptive of me to guess) but the album artwork for Terria appears to me like someone halfway between the grey and a world of colour, looking towards the world of colour, was this intentional? due to growing away from the grey world you found yourself in during the Physicist era? Also did you choose to have a different person on the album cover because unlike Infinity you didn’t want to (for lack of a better word) idolize yourself as more than an ordinary guy? I hope neither of those questions are wrong to ask, i was just curious. Love your work, can’t wait for the next podcast, and Moth album!
Nobody's Here always makes me well up. It reminds me of my home town and thank you so much for these podcasts.
Thank u for yet another humbling and insightful look into your life brother much love and respect mr Townsend.
World's fastest notification click.
And you continue to surprise and impress with your candid and focused honesty of who and what you were at the time of another fascinating piece of music you crafted. Thank you, again, for these wonderful and pointed insights, as guidance to know we are ALL human and you are but one of us. Separate but wholly equal and same in our humanity. Looking forward to the next episode!
Much love and respect for you Devin
These podcasts have a wonderful feel ... relaxing with a motivational positivity !! Much appreciated
Not every album of yours has clicked with me over the years, my first introduction was the whole Ki-Ghost cycle and I've since listened and found value in a lot of your music. But honestly even more than that, I've gained so much perspective in my own life from your personal story- based on interviews mostly. These podcast episodes have been incredible to me, totally different energy from an interview where you are under the lens/filter of whoever is asking the questions. I could ramble on about all the things this means to me, but instead I'll just sincerely say; thank you.
Terria is such a masterpiece in my opinion. It just has a very special sound and feel to it, that is beyond words
Love your poddies Dev. I think you are one of the few people on earth who is truely honest about who they are. Thank you.
Thank you. Not only is it interesting to get the background process but I'm sure because of the in depth reflection, it's therapeutic for many of us. I.e I'm sure you are helping people right now more so than just occupying our time during lock down.
The whole point about being an artist and seeking attention was something I reflected on just a few days ago. Being a musician myself I had this constant duality between deeply wanting people to connect with the music I'd written, whilst also recognising that demanding people's attention is in some way selfish. But perhaps it sits quite low on the scale of selfishness, compared to the good that can come from people having a positive experience from art. It's a net positive that the reason you want people's attention is so they can hopefully enjoy something you've made. It's complicated, but that's what I came out with after spending years thinking about it.
Thank you for sharing such personal experiences. I’ve always been so fond of your ability to open up and your methods of conveying your thoughts and emotions has really allowed myself to reflect on my own personal matters. Thank you for spending the time to put these out during this “great pause”
I received Terria a few days before 9-11 through Hevydevy. In August of 2001 I made a huge decision to leave home and just find myself which I did. Then 9-11 happened a month later and I felt massive guilt for it. However, Terria helped me get through it in a weird way. But the song Mountain fucked me up so bad when I listened to it that all I'd see was the twin towers collapsing. It's a very chaotic song which gave me a massive anxiety attack and put me in the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack lol. Crazy personal story I had to share regarding this time. Thanks Dev!
Why would you feel massive guilt for the 9/11 attacks?
The hijacker.......survived!?!?!?!?!
@@Qwerty-ks8dn I'm from Brooklyn NY and moved an hour away. Traveling was locked down. I couldn't be there with them. Mom is in upper 60s at the time. Bad all around time to move.
@@rparas34 Yes, but it wasn't your fault.
Dude. Thank you so much for doing this. I keep looking forward for these episodes. Thank you.
Yess!!, is was waiting for it.
Paying attention man...and glad you're on the planet. :)
When I noticed this covid shit heading for the fan, Terria was the first album I reached for. It's balm for the soul. Thanks for doing this, Dev.
I love these so much. I hope he talks about albums he did collab on like ayreon's human equation or something like that :)
Every time my husband leaves to go shopping...I hold my breath. I pray, and tear up. I get scared. Then we wait...and live and show out our emotions on high at times, other times, we just cry and hold each other. We pray for our world. We love your music Dev and all you're doing through this very emotion grinding, hold us down, stay put, stay , time....time for us all to reflect and live the best we can. You 'go out of your way' to entertain, emote, and lift us up during this hard time. WE Thank you and send you and your family love, light, and hope at this time, and for all time. Blessings to all. This is very difficult to make light of it.....
Man, Dev is just so real. Brilliant album. Brilliant episode.
This has long been my favorite Devy record, one of the first I was ever turned onto not long after it came out, and one of my favorite and most inspiring albums of my life.
I love you, Dev. And I love this album!
Listening to this while playing tuba. Love hearing Devin talk.
@TheBass SOL yea he seems so fresh like never boring
Were buckled in ready for some rambling times. God bless you devin 🦋❤🦋
Once again I am stunned in a positive way pertaining every part of your presentation! I can simply agree lol! Everyone tends to lock up and compare things instead of analyze and interpret! Very well put with artistic differences especially! In most cases art can have an underlying push towards wanting an audience, and some art is from the latter! Going off of my own circumstances I spent a long time to myself only to find outside factors had been built up around my diverted attention, and simply found how to productively and artistically put that to best use striving for a different outcome! At this point part of it may be simply enjoying the ride true, but if it's not something like that then it would be wallowing in the negative aspects and that would just seem stupendously ignorant to choose that! Lol I feel intentions wise beyond things that cannot be controlled it's less about gaining a certain outcome, but more about about re-expanding the possibilities people have to choose from! There are checks and balances in our world being juggled all the time, and when something goes from a counter balance to becoming the overall majority something else becomes the counter balance to that in line with things constantly fluxing! Lol but when a surfer is in the pipe do they think of the physics or enjoy the ride? I may simply just keep swimming but sometimes it's rough sees and sometimes it's smooth sailing! If you can learn to smile in the hurricane everything else is as smooth as glass! Online has become a stretched version of what it could be towards us as a species evolving! But people still have to choose to strive towards more instead of just playing games trying to create fake personas instead of persue how they could actually achieve things in real time to themselves! Not everyone is meant to deal with new things first for countless reasons, but people paying attention to that instead of "hey, this/these doors of possibility are now open or available to choose from how could I make use of that?". A discovery is shared but individuals can choose how to use it! Like online having what it does will people choose to troll and make M.M.O.R.P.G. profiles of fairy tail creatures? Or will they persue aquiring knowledge and experience through almost infinite possible ways of communicating and sharing with others both currently alive and stretching all the way into the far flung past looking for their own personal truths? Lol much like you said Devin there is so much to say without rambling or seeming too! But I can say with confidence that I'm personally happy with not having to juggle false and/or shallow motivations because it takes away from simply enjoying things as they are, and would very much take away from all the what could be! Uncertain times are understandable, but like most things this will have a counter affect whenever everything levels off and that has some very interesting possibilities in my opinion! Thank you again for doing these ontop of everything else you create! It's been amazing to listen to and apply them towards my own ideas and such! I very much agree almost like a great conversation that can keep on going as far as I'm concerned! Looking forward to the next one bro, keep up the amazing work and everything you have put forth!!! Stay safe out there!!!
No idea if you'll ever see this Dev, but I feel at least for myself, I was drawn into your music through the heavy stuff, but then that drove me to explore your entire catalog. So I identified with the anger but have since grown to try and understand all parts of myself as you have grown to include all parts of yourself on a single album. You are older than me and perhaps I do view you with more celebrity infallibility than I should, but experiencing your life through your music helps me to understand my own life and know that everyone struggles with the same shit and to see what has worked for you and consider if it might work in mine. Tl;dr: Thank you, and as long as you keep being honest with yourself, us fans will support you.
Well I guess you saved me the effort of writing a comment.. You're awesome, thank you.
thanx for keep doing this man, that's enlightening on many ways :)
deep peace is one of my favourites, and I wondered what drove you to that masterpiece: bathtube !
These are so so good Devin. Thank you so much for these right now.
Really interesting hearing him explain the structure of the song Mountain and how as a song melodically it’s wrong and shouldn’t work but somehow by force is able to succeed unconventionally in its intention. Part of the magic for me with this album is how the music presents itself in such a static, disorganized way yet somehow works thematically as a whole. There are moments in the album that include odd background noises and talking that should have been edited out but were left in. The end of Stagnant where you hear Devin mentioning his foot being asleep is a primary example followed by the weird, mostly ambient track Humble. I always interpreted this as a deliberate decision by him to leave in these flaws as a way of expressing the idea of imperfection. It makes sense that he would want to make a statement like this after hearing him explain how at the time he was getting over his past mistakes and finally coming to grips with reality and the belief that he’s not special. The statement I think he wanted to make sure was heard is “it’s just music, accept it” but the music is still so profoundly good.
Love the show, Devy! Been listening to the podcast and then the album. Can’t wait for the craziness to end and get back to coming to your shows. Double appreciate the content as we’re all stuck in the house!
A year in, and the self-examination is getting to me, dudes.....
My favorite song on this record has always been Mountain by far. Now I love it even more
Hey Dev, long time fan here. First album I heard was Deconstruction, and while it's still my favourite, I've come to love almost everything you've done. I'm an aspiring musician myself, and I've always looked up to you and a handful of other people as an ideal of where I would like to be. But these podcasts have made me realise, I'm so fundamentally different to you as a person, my process and motivation to create is so different, that following in your footsteps will only lead to frustration. I still admire your openness and the honesty to your work, and some of my music sounds like it's influenced by yours. But I don't get the 'visions' you do, and my motivation to create isn't even stemming from a desire to express my emotions necessarily. The impression I get from these podcasts is that you're a particularly emotive person. You seem to feel things with an overwhelming intensity which compels you to create. For me it's more of an intellectual endeavour, combined with a desire to paint a landscape, so to speak. I've lately found that I get quite a bit of joy in composing for film, games, and other things. While writing music for someone else's vision may not provide much sense of self-expression, I think that's okay, and just because all of my musical idols, including you, express themselves through their work, that doesn't mean I have to. And I find that quite liberating.
It's nice to be able to let go of some hang ups and just get to work, as I'm sure you'll understand. :) Thanks for doing these podcasts man, they're very enlightening, and enjoyable to listen to.
12:30 But Dev was very well placed on Ayreon, The Human Equation. If anyone hasn't heard that album Dev plays the character 'Rage'.
Horrible album, as all of Ayreon's albums are. He is like a cheesy wannabe version of Townsend.
@@Qwerty-ks8dn but Ayreon doesn't sound anything like DT...
@@Qwerty-ks8dn Wrong, wrong and wrong!
@@Qwerty-ks8dn So you are one of those people Devin despises who boldly state their opinion as facts.
@@vulkanofnocturne Of course he doesn't. But he plays prog metal as well. It's a similar ballpark, or thereabouts, not apples and oranges.
Thanks again for doing these. You've inspired me to make music again.
Trying so hard to get through these podcasts in order but Terria is my all time favorite. Its so hard to not jump into this right now. I've already heard the behind the scenes audio Devin made for this years back, I think it came with the CD I bought in 2006, but judging by the Ocean Machine and City episodes this will have so much more information.
I don't know if you read these comments or not, but I really liked when you went and listened back to every song just for the podcast. I think it would be a great idea to write down or make a note of what you think about the songs before listening to them, and then listen to them again and see how it contrasts, and if anything new comes to mind. It sounds very interesting regardless to hear your thoughts. Lovin' these podcasts, can't wait for Alien!
It's a great pause ,but, I'm creating more ..... thank you for these discussions, Dev
Thanks Dev, this is keeping me going man.