The TAC Roulette V.5...DTF Faves..WTF Am I Missing?? MastoDONE!

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

No no no....

Ché is another vocalist Devin's worked with; she's on Casualties of Cool and a few spots on Ki and Empath. I like her voice even better than Anneke's.

If I'm being honest I could listen to either Anneke or Ché sing all day.

[Zoom E]

Top 5 Devy:

Addicted
Infinity
Terria
Accelerated Evolution
Synchestra

I only have two Haken albums so won't bother ranking those.

[ariich]

From Wikipedia:

Affinity covers subjects such as the evolution of computing and humanity, the relationship between man and machine, human behavior and modern society, and it also asks if "artificial intelligence will ever surpass the human capacity to create/recreate life".[4][5][6] When asked if it was a concept album, the vocalist Ross Jennings said that it "is more like a soundtrack to a series of recurring themes than an actual concept album." He also said that none of the band members "feel like we've made our best work yet, let alone 'made it'. So that urge to produce something better than last time will always be there."[4]

That's what Wikipedia says about Affinity, because that's what the band said at the time. Over time it's become pretty clear among the fanbase that it is in fact a concept album after all, with a narrative (which explores all those different themes/subjects) that can be taken at different levels. The basic premise is something along the lines of an AI that was created (and launched in a satellite, but that part could be more metaphorical) to look at humanity from the outside and figure out how to improve our lives/save us from some sort of disaster. But then something goes wrong and the people who created don't fix it (either because they don't know how or maybe can't be bothered). So the satellite just drifts away towards the sun and observes humanity collapse in on itself.

1985 is supposed to be when the AI/satellites starts its work, hence all the 80s sensibilities in that song (and to some extent in other parts of the album too).

[ariich]

Anyway, rankings!


Haken:
1. The Mountain
2. Vector/Virus (if I need to separate them then I give a slight edge to Virus)
3. Affinity
------
4. Restoration EP
5. Visions
6. Aquarius
------
7. Demo


Devy:
1. Terria
------
2. Addicted
------
3. Transcendence
4. Synchestra
5. Infinity

But I also love:
Accelerated Evolution
Casualties of Cool
Deconstruction
Empath
Epicloud
Ghost
Ki
Z²

[Kwyjibo]

Haken ranking:

1. Visions
2. Affinity
3. The Mountain
4. Vector
5. Aquarius
6. Virus

Devy ranking:

1. Ocean Machine
2. Accelerated Evolution
3. Ziltoid The Omniscient
4. Synchestra
5. Addicted

For me his discography is very mixed, some records are great, Ocean Machine is a top 50 all-time record for me, and others I don't really care for.

[Elite]

Haken:

1. Aquarius
2. Affinity
3. The Mountain
4. Virus
5. Visions
6. Vector

Devin Top 5:

1. Ki
2. Terria
3. Ocean Machine
4. Casualties of Cool
5. Deconstruction

I would throw in either City of Alien somewhere if Strapping Young Lad is allowed as well.

[TAC]

Cool, thank you for the rankings. All over the place, of course.

[lonestar]

Cool, thank you for the rankings. All over the place, of course.

 

Yeah, the albums are so diverse for me, even from album to album. The distance from Aquarius to Mountain is as big as that from Mountain to Virus.


That being said, The Mountain is the best and anyone who says differently is just wrong.

[Buddyhunter1]

A Friday night now! Yes!! My son will be going with me. He'll be 19 by the time of the show.

Wild we're sitting right next to each other!

Nice! I'm going with my friend, and with my dad. He'll be 63 by the time of the show.

[Stadler]

No no no....

Cher.  I saw her live, once.  And I watched Moonstruck this past week, where she's quite the looker.

I'm still Team Anneke on this topic. 

As for the Devin rankings, I like the Devin Townsend Project records most.  For me:

    Addicted
    Transcendence
    Ghost
    Deconstruction
    Ki

Empath is really good as well.

[TAC]

Stads, I didn’t take you for a Devin fan. That’s cool.

And Cher is a fucking skank. 

[Evermind]

Haken albums:

Aquarius
The Mountain
---
---
Vector
---
Affinity
---
Visions
Virus

Devin in no order: Terria, Casualties of Cool, Addicted, Transcendence, Ki I guess?

[twosuitsluke]

I've been spectating a bit and I'd rank as follows:

Haken -

1. The Mountain
2. Affinity
3. Visions (literally based on the strength of the title track)
4. Aquarius
5. Vector
6. Virus
7. Restoration

I've never actually heard the demo. As for the submissions this round, if I'd been participating I'd 100% have sent Visions (can't believe not a single one of you sent this) and Because It's There.

As for Devy -

1. Addicted
2. Terria
3. Epicloud
4. Empath
5. Accelerated Evolution

That could change pretty regularly tbh.

I should've joined this roulette but never mind. Can't wait to see how many new Coheed and Cambria fans are born out of this. They are the greatest band in the world after all.

[TAC]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

[romdrums]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

Haken album rankings:
Affinity
The Mountain
Vector
Restoration
Visions
Aquarius
Virus

[Revenge319]

1. The Mountain
2. Vector
3. Visions
4. Affinity
5. Aquarius
6. Virus
7. Restoration EP (I've only heard it a couple times)

I think all these albums are great. The Mountain and Vector are more or less tied for first, I could easily have put Vector at #1 instead. Virus may be at the bottom, but I think Messiah Complex is one of Haken's greatest songs.
If I was participating, it's hard to say what I would've sent, but if I knew what songs were going to be sent ahead of time, I would've most likely picked Eternal Rain and either Cockroach King or Insomnia.

[Buddyhunter1]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

What, that it's kinda Forty Six & 2-ish?

[Lonk]

Just realized I am seeing 2 of the bands in this roulette this Friday 

[Stadler]

Stads, I didn’t take you for a Devin fan. That’s cool.

And Cher is a fucking skank. 

It's an interesting story (to me, anyway).  I never heard of the guy, except he was singing on Steve Vai's new record.  Listened to it, HATED it, and slagged him off from then on, for years.   What little I heard - Strapping Young Lad - just reinforced my feelings (the skullet didn't help).  Then Dr. Chadler sent me that Deep Peace live in a roulette, and I LOVED it, then I went and read his autobiography and really liked the guy's honesty (with himself) and integrity.   Figured I owed him a second chance, so dug into that live release (I think I told you; it's four albums, one a night for four consecutive nights, live) and they SLAY.   In the meantime, I had gotten into Anneke and so her presence didn't hurt).  I bought Transcendence and Empathy and loved them both.   I even went back to Vai's record and I like it now.  Still dislike SYL, though.   But I'd consider myself a Devy fan.

[HOF]

Stads, I didn’t take you for a Devin fan. That’s cool.

And Cher is a fucking skank. 

It's an interesting story (to me, anyway).  I never heard of the guy, except he was singing on Steve Vai's new record.  Listened to it, HATED it, and slagged him off from then on, for years.   What little I heard - Strapping Young Lad - just reinforced my feelings (the skullet didn't help).  Then Dr. Chadler sent me that Deep Peace live in a roulette, and I LOVED it, then I went and read his autobiography and really liked the guy's honesty (with himself) and integrity.   Figured I owed him a second chance, so dug into that live release (I think I told you; it's four albums, one a night for four consecutive nights, live) and they SLAY.   In the meantime, I had gotten into Anneke and so her presence didn't hurt).  I bought Transcendence and Empathy and loved them both.   I even went back to Vai's record and I like it now.  Still dislike SYL, though.   But I'd consider myself a Devy fan.

I wanted to send Steve Vai’s Touching Tongues (ew right?) just to see TAC’s reaction. He would have hated it.

[TAC]

Stads, I didn’t take you for a Devin fan. That’s cool.

And Cher is a fucking skank. 

It's an interesting story (to me, anyway).  I never heard of the guy, except he was singing on Steve Vai's new record.  Listened to it, HATED it, and slagged him off from then on, for years.   What little I heard - Strapping Young Lad - just reinforced my feelings (the skullet didn't help).  Then Dr. Chadler sent me that Deep Peace live in a roulette, and I LOVED it, then I went and read his autobiography and really liked the guy's honesty (with himself) and integrity.   Figured I owed him a second chance, so dug into that live release (I think I told you; it's four albums, one a night for four consecutive nights, live) and they SLAY.   In the meantime, I had gotten into Anneke and so her presence didn't hurt).  I bought Transcendence and Empathy and loved them both.   I even went back to Vai's record and I like it now.  Still dislike SYL, though.   But I'd consider myself a Devy fan.

Cool. Love that.

Skullet

[nick_z]

I'm adding my Haken ranking, because why not? 

1. Affinity (no doubt my favorite - such a fun, bright album with great melodies and cool musical ideas all around)
2. The Mountain

Then they are all pretty close (I mean it in a good way - I find even my "least favorite" to be a highly enjoyable listen)
3. Virus
4. Visions
5. Aquarius
6. Vector

Visions and Aquarius I basically like the same way. And, as much as Vector and Virus are clearly cut from the same cloth, I think the latter has a little more "color" and variety. It was a nice surprise last year. Then again, Vector might be last in this ranking, but it's a very, very good record.

[v_clortho]

Who sent you "Deep Peace"?

Oh and the Vai album is awesome.

[nick_z]

I feel like my work here is complete.   

(Her latest solo album is a treasure as well.)

Stadler - I actually have to thank you again for pimping this in another thread a few months ago. I had only listened to it in passing, in part because I hadn't been super-impressed with her solo stuff to date, despite absolutely LOVING her and her voice in The Gathering. Then, seeing your appreciation for it, I gave it another solid shot and it's indeed a beautiful album. Laid back but very lively, and with great melodies (and, of course, THAT voice)

[TAC]

Who sent you "Deep Peace"?

ProfessorPeart sent me it, and Stadler sent me the live version.

[TAC]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

YES.... but I feel like I'm thinking something else.

[King Postwhore]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

What, that it's kinda Forty Six & 2-ish?

Tim, this.

[TAC]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

What, that it's kinda Forty Six & 2-ish?

Tim, this.

Damn...that is close...but...I've never heard 46 & 2 before.

[Buddyhunter1]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

What, that it's kinda Forty Six & 2-ish?

Tim, this.

Damn...that is close...but...I've never heard 46 & 2 before.

Why the fuck isn't there a Tool round, then?

[King Postwhore]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

What, that it's kinda Forty Six & 2-ish?

Tim, this.

Damn...that is close...but...I've never heard 46 & 2 before.

[wolfking]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

What, that it's kinda Forty Six & 2-ish?

Tim, this.

Damn...that is close...but...I've never heard 46 & 2 before.

Motherfucking Tool round initiated

[LudwigVan]

Someone help me with the very beginning of Pareidolia. I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.

What, that it’s kinda Home-ish?

What, that it's kinda Forty Six & 2-ish?

Tim, this.

Damn...that is close...but...I've never heard 46 & 2 before.

Motherfucking Tool round initiated

YES

[Elite]

Please don't

[Buddyhunter1]

We should all just send TAC 2 BTBAM songs and 2 Tool songs next round

[425]

I've heard only one Tool song and I thought it was kind of boring. But that was many years ago.