Oh god, I don't want to this....but I must.
9. Night (Ocean Machine)Definitely one of my favourite albums of all time, Ocean Machine is
. I've tried to keep my sheer fanaticism for this album to a minimum in this list, as given the chance, I'd list nothing but OM songs. Night is just such a powerful track. So powah. So energy. Awesome riffs, brilliant drumwork, more vocal goodness all compressed into 5 minutes. The pseudo breakdown at 02:52 is a guaranteed headbang inducer every time. The chorus as in all good Devy songs, is catchy and massive ("I THINK I'M CRAZY NOW"). This song really sets the bar high for the rest of the album, but OM is so good that it never dissipates heading towards its grand apocalyptic finale.
8.Suicide (Accelerated Evolution)Now here's a song that combines some of my favorite bands. The intro is very reminiscent of something Opeth would write, especially the riff beginning at 1:17. Then the Meshuggah-esque chugging leads into a quieter section with Devy softly delivering the lyrics. The menace of the evil opening is sustained, and builds it back up again with a reprise of the Opethy riff and bang, Dev's desperate distorted wailing is follwoed up with the superlative section of Dev combining his massive operatic voice with his powerful screams. Then we get a Meshuggah style breakdown. The song comes down again, with some prominent basswork (sorely lacking on this album) and launches into an instrumental with one of Devin's best solos, sounding like the bastard child of Robert Fripp and Kirk Hammett. The whole thing is a journey, some massive dream, riding on distortion and emotion. A true powerhouse of a song.
7.By Your Command (Ziltoid the Omniscient)The epic that opens up ZTO, By Your Command is the 50's sc-fi soundtrack intro that never happened (indeed a lot of ZTO is like this). It also shows Dev's supreme control of dynamics. The opening is brash and arrogant, signifying the brutish mood of Ziltoid as he DESTROYS THE PLANET EARTH MUHAHAHAHA
. And plays terrible guitar wank. But anyway, the song reaches a turning point at around 03:42, as the chunky riffage leaves us and the void is filled with the "Ziltoid sound", sweeps, keyboard-driven soundscapes and Dev's newfound soothing whispering. Then the song takes another turn 04:38 as Ziltoid begins his pronouncement on the Earthlings coffee (fetid, apparently) and orders the attack, as the pathetic humans prepare their feeble defense. From here the song builds and builds and builds and builds. Its like listening to a movie- the barking sergeant, the supreme drum programming, the backing choir of Dev (Hih-ho Hih-ho....), the goddamn most epic response ever ("Have you prepared the Planet Smasher? YEAASSSSSSSSSHHHHH MY LOOOOOOOORRRRDDDD") delivered in its rising falsetto glory. The whole set up is nothing short of incredible, I mean what other musical concept has managed to elicit actual emotion on the outcome of an alien attack on Earth? I mean it creates credible tension for god sakes, more than say 2012 or Transformers 2 ever did! On a MUSIC ALBUM. This is why I look forward to another Ziltoid themed outing from Dev
6.Bastard (Ocean Machine)This is a song which takes a ten foot pole of MASSIVE and proceeds to brutally assault your head for ten minutes, unrelenting. And then you thank it and ask for another go. Even the first couple of seconds grab you, sit you down, gives you a stern look and demand your attention. Bastard then goes and blows you a new fucking pair of ears. The opening riff is so perfectly constructed and presented. Hell, its fairly amazing when you look how much impact that single piano note has on the riff. It makes the goddamn thing. The all-enveloping wall of sound behind it all is so thick and intricate, it makes me think Dev has OCD. I mean there is an unreal amount of tracks on this song. How many people are going to hear sample #78? No, Dev knows its necessary to keep this Ocean of sound constantly churning....like a Machine
. And then the pre-chorus/ chorus section is everything the intro promised, especially second time around ("I ONLY WISH I COULD PRAY TO GODDDDDDDDDD"). The lyrics focus on isolation and the individualism of city living ("To all the hopeful ones/Nobodies gives a fuck what you've got). The song is very noticeably split into two, as the linear notes state. Surely, you say, after the non-stop barrage of emotion and controlled noise in the first part, Dev can't keep the intensity up? Ah, but he can, and he does. The second section is markedly more subdued than part one, as it were, but not so jarringly different as to be a new song entirely. It slows down, takes it time in putting the lyrics out. When it finally finishes up, a single sustained string patch carries us to a new journey.....
5. Deadhead (Accelerated Evolution)People! I have heard you cries! I have put Deadhead on the list, in its higher echelons! Not for one moment am I saying that I'm bowing to peer pressure, no, merely acknowledging your great taste in all matters Dev *twirls mustache*. Yes, Deadhead is a special song. It has Dev at his vocal best, trademark riffing and drums that keep this track driving, driving. The one thing about Deadhead is that it could quite possibly sum up Dev better that nearly every other song in his discography. Its so refined and perfect, its a track where you know the person who wrote knows a thing or two about songwriting. Earth Day perhaps does a better overall summation while remaining a better song overall, but its length could be a barrier to some. Deadhead however contains not a wasted note, a lyric out of place. It is a precision strike of pure music, the whites of powders, the clearest of waters and it sure is pretty to look at. Or sniff. Erm.
And so, we are nearly done. Its been quite fun writing, but choosing was an absolute bitch. I've decided to drop the third Physicist song, which was Planet Rain. Thought? I'd love to see you guy's Top 5.
Topic: An Introduction-Devin Townsend Top 20 (Read 14686 times)
