YoYo's Devin Townsend Discog Run and Ranking
This was an absolute marathon, some of it amazing, some of it excruciating. Here are my full thoughts on one of the most prolific musicians of our time. |
| 29 |  | Michael Jackson
Thriller
WHAT QUALIFIES TO BE RANKED?
-Any full-length studio album where Devin is a primary songwriter. This means that Strapping Young Lad’s material is IN, but Steve Vai’s “Sex and Religion” album is OUT. If I missed anything, please let me know and I will listen to it!
-”Sky Blue” and “Dark Matters” will be ranked separately. |
| 28 |  | Devin Townsend
Devlab
1/5. This sucks so bad oh my god. Borderline not even music. I hated every second. BEST TRACK: None |
| 27 |  | Devin Townsend
The Hummer
2/5. Still bad but at least it’s music. The last song has some really cool moments, too. BEST TRACK: “Cosmic Surf” |
| 26 |  | Devin Townsend
The Puzzle
2.5/5. This whole album feels like you’re listening to a really great live band from several yards outside the venue. The really great parts only last for about 30 seconds at a time, and the majority of the runtime is buildup that doesn’t really lead anywhere. BEST TRACK: “Hammerhead Sugarplum” |
| 25 |  | Strapping Young Lad
The New Black
2.5/5. “Far Beyond Metal” and the final 3 tracks on this album are all great, but it takes a really long time to get anything quality out of SYL on this release. Every other track ranges from tolerable to annoying, with “Anti Product” standing out as an especially lifeless tune. BEST TRACK: “Almost Again” |
| 24 |  | Punky Bruster
Cooked On Phonics
3/5. This is hilarious, and it starts out really strong, but the skits get to be a bit much after a while and the songs on the back half don’t quite measure up to the front. It’s a definite precursor to Ziltoid the Omniscient, and has its truly awesome moments despite its inconsistency. BEST TRACK: “Metal Dilemma” |
| 23 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Dark Matters
3/5. The interludes bugged me so much more on this one than the original Ziltoid. The tracklist feels oversaturated with alien lore instead of actual music at times. When the music is the main focus, it’s kind of just more of the same, but with an actual drummer instead of Tomas Haake samples. I respect the fact that he got Chris Jericho to do some voice acting, though. BEST TRACK: “From Sleep Awake” |
| 22 |  | Strapping Young Lad
Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing
3/5. This started pretty much everything for both Devin and SYL’s creative journeys, but it’s still pretty rough around the edges, especially on the “funnier” songs. He really gives it all he’s got vocally here, which breathes life into a lot of these songs that would otherwise be a slog. BEST TRACK: “S.Y.L.” |
| 21 |  | Devin Townsend
Snuggles
3.4/5. Yeah I love this, at least for what it is. As a pure ambient album, it’s much more interesting and digestible than the abysmal Devlab or The Hummer, and going in a purely pretty direction was an epic gamer move. Some of the better moments here kind of remind me of “Infinite Ocean” from Ghost. Obviously can’t rank this too high because it really is just pleasant background music, but it’s executed very well and I’ll revisit it soon. BEST TRACK: “Minds Are Changing” |
| 20 |  | Devin Townsend
Physicist
3.5/5. I think this one is a bit overhated. Yes, the production is legendarily bad, to the point where it makes the louder parts of “Death” sound almost unintelligible. However, the songwriting is on point throughout. “Namaste”, “Material”, and the OG version of “Kingdom” are all great, and just try to tell me “Planet Rain” isn’t one of the best songs Devin’s ever written. BEST TRACK: “Planet Rain” |
| 19 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Epicloud
3.5/5. I would say this is where DTP stopped captivating me, as it’s pretty much just another Devin solo album instead of a complete reinvention of his musical direction. Still tons of solid tracks to be found here, but also some pretty rough ones. BEST TRACK: “Kingdom” |
| 18 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Sky Blue
3.5/5. Major props for the Usher cover lmao, only Devin man. This album has a ton of energy right out of the gate, but its schtick kind of wears thin towards the end. “Warrior” is also kind of a clunker. When Sky Blue focuses more on going hard in the paint and less on melodrama, it finds some strong footing. BEST TRACK: “Universal Flame” |
| 17 |  | Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad
3.5/5. More of a transition record between City and Alien than anything else. Most of these songs get the job done, none of them suck, but very few have true moments of greatness. Pretty evenly satisfying album across the board. BEST TRACK: “Force Fed” |
| 16 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Transcendence
3.7/5. I agree with AtomicWaste’s statement that by this point, DTP had “outlasted its purpose”. That being said, I’m a sucker for any Anneke guest appearance, and this feels more cohesive than Epicloud to me. BEST TRACK: “Stormbending” |
| 15 |  | Devin Townsend
Empath
3.7/5. Didn’t think I would like a Devin Townsend Disney movie this much. Some of these songs don’t really do it for me (“Spirits Will Collide” is one slight melody change away from being a carbon copy of Enya’s “Only Time”) but some of them really, really do. “Hear Me” injects some much needed life into Devin’s traditional metal sound, and closing epics “Borderlands” and “Singularity” are worth every second. BEST TRACK: “Singularity” |
| 14 |  | Devin Townsend
Lightwork
3.7/5. The second disc is a bit bloated, but the production is the best it's been in years and Devin sounds really rejuvenated on a lot of these songs. Apparently he sought out to create "beach metal" with this album, and it turns out that that's a good thing, and not like, a cursed SpongeBob soundtrack or something. BEST TRACK: "Equinox" |
| 13 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Ki
3.7/5. Ki is a bit too long and can feel like a one-trick pony at times, but all these concerns fade away when you reach the album’s best section. The 4-song run of “Winter”, “Trainfire”, “Lady Helen”, and the title track almost convinced me to give this a 4, when it would comfortably be a 3 without their presence. Talk about top heavy. For real though, all four of those songs are some of Devin’s best ever. BEST TRACK: “Lady Helen” |
| 12 |  | The Devin Townsend Band
Synchestra
3.7/5. I apparently had this rated at a 3, but I remembered nothing about it so I decided to give it another spin. It’s rare that I have gripes with Devin’s production, but the snare on this album is not great. Other than that, though, it turns out I had been a bit too hard on Synchestra; it doesn’t live up to the expectations set by Accelerated Evolution, and its second half is much better than its first, but it’s fun to see Devin wear so many different hats here. You can even see shades of future DTP material in songs like intro “Let It Roll” or the banjo on “Triumph”. BEST TRACK: “Pixillate” |
| 11 |  | Devin Townsend
Infinity
3.8/5. This isn’t quite as great as I remember, but it starts with a bang and features some of Devin’s most iconic tunes, like the dizzying “Bad Devil” and “Christeen”, one of his best straightforward bangers. A quality dip in the second half of the tracklist prevents this one from moving any higher. BEST TRACK: “Christeen” |
| 10 |  | Devin Townsend
Ziltoid the Omniscient
4/5. I think this album is pretty slept on. A lot has been said about the drums being overkill on this record, but I only noticed it at one or two spots. In terms of Devin’s funnier side, Deconstruction still does it best, but this is a blast of an album from front to back. BEST TRACK: “Hyperdrive!” |
| 9 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Deconstruction
4/5. Deconstruction takes a second or two to get going, but once you hit “Juular” it takes off with a full head of steam and never looks back. Some of the most batsh*t insane moments in the DT discog take place here, and the thrilling “Planet of the Apes” is one of the most compelling epics he’s ever made. A fantastic junction of the humorous and the ambitious. BEST TRACK: “Planet of the Apes” |
| 8 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Addicted
4/5. Just so unbelievably fun. Only a couple of songs enter truly amazing territory, but the album flows so effortlessly and delivers banger after banger. BEST TRACK: “Supercrush!” |
| 7 |  | Devin Townsend
Terria
4/5. Terria is a weird one for me, because I consider it overrated yet completely understand the hype at the same time. It’s plodding at times and can veer into corny territory, but make no mistake about it, this album is absolutely MASSIVE. Incredible production, riffs, drumming by Gene Hoglan, and amazing vocals from Devy everywhere. A few tracks are too long and “Stagnant” isn’t great, but this is definitely one of his best. BEST TRACK: “Earth Day” |
| 6 |  | Strapping Young Lad
Alien
4.2/5. Other than the completely drawn out and unnecessary “Info Dump”, Alien is a nonstop thrill ride from start to finish with impeccable production, filthy riffs, and yet another unbelievable vocal performance from Devin. One of his most easily enjoyable and rewarding records. BEST TRACK: “Shitstorm” |
| 5 |  | Casualties of Cool
Casualties of Cool
4.2/5. Welcome to the moon saloon. Casualties of Cool is an incredibly atmospheric and beautiful experience that takes the best of Devin’s softer side and reinvents it into something entirely new, described by Townsend himself as the truest reflection of who he was at the time of its release. Even with its moon country gimmick, the whole thing feels earnest and the narrative of the album is genuinely emotionally evocative. One of the most impressive sonic departures Devin has made. BEST TRACK: “Flight” |
| 4 |  | The Devin Townsend Band
Accelerated Evolution
4.2/5. One of Devin’s most respected albums, and for good reason. This whole album is remarkably consistent, engrossing, and emotionally powerful, but I had to give it the extra 0.2 points for “Deadhead”, which is without question my favorite song Devin’s ever written. The live version at Royal Albert Hall is somehow even better. BEST TRACK: “Deadhead” |
| 3 |  | Devin Townsend Project
Ghost
4.5/5. This is definitely a weird entry point to the Devin Townsend discography, but it’s where I started in late 2012. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but this is still one of his best to me. This is the album I think of when someone mentions his “ambient work”; The final two tracks on this record, “Infinite Ocean” and “As You Were”, have saved me from countless nights of certain insomnia, and the rest of this record never fails to put me in a state of relaxation. In addition to this, some songs just slap, “Blackberry” and “Texada” in particular. BEST TRACK: “Feather” |
| 2 |  | Strapping Young Lad
City
4.5/5. Completely unhinged in the best possible way. Easily the best SYL release. “Room 429” is a notable lowlight, but every other track here is an unforgettable journey through an industrial nightmare. The crazier, the better. BEST TRACK: “Home Nucleonics” |
| 1 |  | Devin Townsend
Ocean Machine: Biomech
4.7/5. I used to have this at a 5 and I could probably be convinced to do it again. Ocean Machine has been a part of my life for 9 years now, and is still the pre-eminent example of Devin’s genius songwriting and prodigious vocal talent. Its only flaw would be that the middle third (tracks 5-8) noticeably pales in comparison to the album’s opening and closing sections, but those two sections are so damn good that words don’t do them justice. My easy choice for #1. BEST TRACK: “Hide Nowhere” |
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