I heard some of this on music choice and it was really, really terrible. If i heard the whole album i would probably give it a 1 too. Devin Townsend has done much, much better than this

I dont know why i checked this whole album out, but i did. I still think its terrible, but not a 1 like i said i would give it if i heard the whole thing. The only reason i gave it a 1.5 is because of how fucking humorous it is.

Album Rating: 2.5

Yea this is very funny, it's just creatively i think Devy ran out of gas. This isn't unlistenable but it certainly does not come near his other solo projects.

I dont think anything he does will come close to his work in SYL. Too bad they're broken up or on hiatus or whatever.

Album Rating: 2.5

Well most of SYL is still together sans Devin in Zimmer's Hole. I'd say if you haven't checked them out and like SYL do so. The vocalist has surprisingly strong range...he's no Devin but he's very good.

I one of their songs on music choice. Im pretty sure it was We Rule The Fucking Land and it was really good. I've been wanting to check them out, but i just havent. I will eventually.

Album Rating: 3.5

I like this album. Good review, though.

@DFelon

Careful Nick.
You don't want to tarnish your critical reputation by coming off as a condescending asshole.
Have you even listened to his music?

Anyways, I do agree with this review.
What the hell was Townsend thinking when he produced this?

Album Rating: 4.0

Review is well written, but almost completely flawed in it's substance. Great album.

I like the album, definitely a tad weaker in certain parts compared to the rest of his back catalogue (which is huge and all great) but that's an opinion, something this site is made up of.

The review is well written but some parts (especially half-way through) came off as a hate crime to Devin not making an Ocean Machine part deux. I won't take any of your comments as part of the review unless it was in there already. But to any Dev fan it's a must listen at least once. ZTO, By Your Command, Hyperdrive and Color Your World are my favourite tracks. And seeing as the hype died ages ago I wasn't affected by it, bought it and listened to it with an open mind. And wasn't disappointed.

This album is amazing. My favorite is still Ocean Machine: Biomech but Ziltoid is fantastic. Def. one of my favorites.

Album Rating: 4.0

I have too much time so let me tell exactly what's wrong with the review:



"Don't let any of the hype fool you--Ziltoid the Omniscient is an uninspired, generic, tepid piece of trash. "



Wrong, it's not generic at all really, I've never heard an album quite like this. I'd be glad to know in what way you see it being generic really. And a "tepid piece of trash" is put there just, cause you thought it sounded smart.



"With Townsend himself at the helm of all the instruments, there's a distinct lack of any personality in the performance. While technically good, Townsend's voice sounds dry and fails to emote or, well, sing any interesting melodies."



Right. Actually, the singing performance is very emotional. Just check Solar Winds, Hyperdrive, Colour Your World and The Greys. Melodies are fantastic on all these songs as well.





"Not so here; this is an emotionless collection that lacks any sort of purpose. Coined a "self-parody," it turns around and laughs at its awfulness as an excuse to be awful."



Do you actually know what the album is about? I thought so, you DON'T. self-parody in a way, yes, but not supposed to be funny. The album is not a joke, it isn't even supposed to make you laugh, ask Devin himself.

Album Rating: 4.0

"Imagine Ocean Machine, except lacking the luscious melodies, stark naked emotion and fresh production technique."



The production is totally different to Ocean Machine. Also, the "lack of melodies" I already prooved wrong.



"The fact is, it just no longer seems that impressive when any teenage art school drop-out living with his parents, sitting in his boxer shorts can do the exact same thing "



Wow, really? I want to hear all these guys. Of course the problem is that you can't actually point out a single teenage art school drop-out living with his parents who has done such a great record as this is. Besides, here you are just attacking Devin Townsend for whatever reason by acting smart, making illogical comparisons stating them as facts and so on. Not cool.





"In hindsight, this release was inevitable. We heard it on Synchestra. As good as that album got in some places, Townsend's downward slide was in the cards--he just doesn't have anything new to say, so instead he's making jokes and love letters proclaiming how happy and content he is with his life."



I think he has a lot to say actually. Have you read his recent interviews? (of course not, you're not even checking this post)

Album Rating: 4.0

The next paragraph makes no sense whatsoever so I'm just gonna ignore it.



"The "concept" of this album appears humorous in nature and indeed it is. It's a heard-it-before gag (if you can go so far as calling it that)--the kind of horrid joke you wish your friend would just stop telling--only it lasts an hour, and all you can do is hide your head in embarrassment and cringe at the silence after the punchline."



Yep, you just didn't get it. Not surprising really considering that this review clearly shows that you listened to the album just about once. Maybe twice?









"After completion of this album, Townsend announced that he would be retreating from the music industry, washed up and burned out. When your relentless dedication to releasing albums and touring sucks out any imagination, it seems like the right move to make. Let the cards fall where they may--stop pushing things. Townsend has been on the defensive for years now, acting as if he doesn't release every riff and lousy vocal melody he comes across while noodling on his basement laptop, he may not be the prolific artist he's reputed to be. So now he's caught himself between a rock and a hard place. Like in a chaotic game of chess, he's no longer playing his game, but trying to stave off the inevitable while not putting in the time necessary to really read the board correctly. Maybe he's too many moves ahead for his own good (it certainly seemed that way on the excellent Infinity back in '98), but, hell, it sounds to me like he's scrambling for any pawn he can knock out.



At least we can still look forward to those basement laptop recordings now that he's not touring."



This last paragraph actually has the most sensible substance. Hence my last post stating that just NEARLY all of it was flawed.



Yeah, Devin was kind of burned out, but that was because of Strapping Young Lad and drug use. Now he's making music again and it's pretty damn great.





One major problem with the review is also the rating of course. But it's easy to see why yout gave it 1. To make an intendedly controversial review more controversial. I believe you that you didn't like the album. You just can't really back up your dislike enough (without talking bullshit) to justify giving it the lowest score possible.





Shit, I must've stayed up too long drinking too much to bother to do this shit. Took nearly 20 minutes of my life ffs.

It might not be a good album...but this is a pretty dick headed review.

Review sucked ass. Seemed more like a pointless bash-fest. When people say "rehashed riffs" it means
"I have no idea what the fuck I am talking about." A decent-sized vernacular won't eclipse the fact
that the review was a "tepid piece of trash" and not the album. Next time, write a review on the
music. Oh and don't turn it into a verbose piece of shit. Lastly, I gained no grasp of what this album
sounds like because it seems to me like all you did was go on Amazon and check out the samples.

Definitely not Devin's best album, but there's a damn nice load of songs on here. The fact you call it
devoid of any emotion shows you're either an idiot or you're tone deaf. I'll go with both, though.

The problem with the review (and reviewer) is that the music is supposed to come together as a whole.
Whether it's stupid power chords or "rehashed" riffs, the sound is supposed to come together. Being
meticulous about the instruments and ignoring everything as a whole is unjust.

Call me intolerant, but the review is horrible. If it's going to be negative, it needs to be
justified.

Album Rating: 3.0

the only good song on here is hyperdrive and everything else is of subpar quality for someone like devin to be writing.

Album Rating: 3.0

so yeah hyperdrive is being rerecorded for devin's new album with a chick singer, making this one completely worthless

Album Rating: 3.0

underrated