6. Devin Townsend – Terria (2001)After half of the DTP albums, I bring to you, Devin’s best work ever. Terria is not overrated, as some might say, it just isn’t for everybody. To be honest, the first time I heard it, it didn’t click at all. In fact, I really disliked it. Devin Townsend was one of those artists I discovered late into their careers. I think the first album I heard was ‘Addicted!’, shortly after its release. I remember the first time I listened to it, but that’s another story. Thing is; I liked it, but didn’t realise that until months after. I started downloading more Townsend and started with Terria, because that got the most favourable reviews. Having just gotten used to ‘Addicted!’, Terria was a huge shock to me in the sense that it is so much different than the only other album I knew of his and naturally I recoiled and didn’t like it. However, as with different stuff on this list as well, as was in a sense attracted to the unique music this album possessed. I never really back down from hearing something the first time and listened to it more and more. This is just one of those album you can’t love at first listen. It will take you many before you will like this and so it did with me. The weird opener
Olives definitely sets you off on the wrong track, as the astonishingly HUGE
Mountain will prove right at its opening.
Earth Day then is one of the greatest things Devin has ever done. Such huge, brilliant music gets watered down then with the beautiful, melancholic
Deep Peace, one of his most soothing songs.
Canada then is my personal favourite of the album (that riff is monstrous!) and the second half of the album is just as good with the easily accessible
The Fluke, the ballad
Nobody’s Here,
Tiny Tears, which is probably the most difficult song to get into on the entire album and, last but certainly not least, the closer
Stagnant, another song that’s easily accessible. Really, the music is brilliant. If you want to check out Devin Townsend, I really recommend you start with Terria first, as it offers a lot of his later albums in one coherent record, but please. Do not give up on the first try. This is an album that demands multiple listens and the payoff is great.
Favourite song: The whole thing
Songs worth checking out in particular: Canada, Earth Day, Deep Peace, Mountain