DEVIN TOWNSEND - Terria
September 18, 2001, 23 years ago
(InsideOut)
Of all Devin Townsend's works, this is the one that is guaranteed to cause the most consternation. Once again, Townsend has written an album to satisfy his own musical needs, fan expectations and record label demands be damned. For me, the album was a glaring disappointment the first time through, Terria sounding like a soft and fluffy amalgamation of Ocean Machine and Infinity. But, as with every album Hevy Devy creates, by the time you reach the end there is a sense of "No, shithead, you missed the point. Listen to it again." I did, and I've become quite fond of it over the past few weeks. Tracks like 'Earth Day', 'The Fluke' and 'Stagnant' are reminiscent of Ocean Machine, while 'Mountain' and 'Canada' possess separate atmospheres all their own, Pearl Jam riff included on the latter. The rest of the album drifts along at its own slow to mid-tempo, unhurried pace. Very Pink Floyd-ian if ever there was a type of music to bookend this with. Basically, Terria is mood music, sort of like one of those wilderness soundtrack CDs you buy at the bookstore. If you're of a Strapping Young mind to bust heads, this definitely isn't for you. Another unique piece of work from one of our own.
