Wheel of Prog - Devin Townsend (Albums Tier List)

On this episode, Roie is joined by a new group of Notes Reviews, Jordan Blum and The Metal Tris to rank the incredibly diverse and impressive catalog of Devin Townsend.
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#progressivemetal #devintownsend #ziltoid

[@TheMetalTris]

Hell yeah! Let's go people. Thanks so much for having me on here Roie, it was incredibly fun!

[@progreport]

Good times man. Let's see if the people agree!

[@nathanaelcole8466]

Ocean Machine in C?! Funeral, Bastard, And The Death of Music is an unreal trio like no other

[@progreport]

Yeah, well what can you do?

[@dingdongs5208]

Yeah legit my heart sank when Ocean Machine got put in C

[@philouze1815]

@@progreport What can you do? Have an ear transplant, maybe??

[@hartyewh1]

That's a crime tbh

[@TheJML1975]

The album isn’t the best recorded sound imho… the live versions at the Albert hall, blow the album versions out the water!

[@NotesReviews]

This was so much fun as usual! And getting to spend time with Tris and Jordan is always a delight! Thanks again for having me on again!

[@progreport]

You're always welcome on!

[@jordanpantaleo554]

I'm 25 minutes in and I'm convinced that Notes is an insane person.

[@jordanpantaleo554]

OK, He starts to make some sense towards the end, particularly when discussing Ki.

[@NotesReviews]

@@jordanpantaleo554

[@ChrisLT]

Tris!!!! This list is bonkers. Transcendence in D, Z2 over Ocean Machine and Addicted, lol.

[@RockCityRecords]

Crazy right. Ocean Machine is a masterpiece

[@driftless7134]

When dude put Ocean Machine in C, I wanted to climb through the screen and fight him.

[@progreport]

Hahaha!

[@RockCityRecords]

100% bizarre ranking. Infuriating

[@stevenmackintosh8160]

Empath best Devin album? Ocean Machine in C? You guys are crazy! 😮

[@progreport]

😂

[@heavymetalheretic5386]

I agree with Empath, but Ocean Machine in C is Blasphemy

[@renoredline5561]

I live for this chaos 😂

[@markmullin936]

Devin is the best - a humble, musical wizard - I can't wait to take my family to see him the next go around

[@progreport]

Agreed!

[@etiennemarcoux6488]

I’m with Notes on Ziltoid. To me, it ranks #1 in the Devin Catalog and it’s one of the best albums ever. A masterpiece from beginning to end, I wouldn’t remove a second of this album.

[@dunderhay9169]

I watched this as I've been meaning to buy a Devin Townsend cd for ages, Notes convinced me to buy Ziltoid.

[@jordanblum3849]

Thanks for watching, everyone!

[@progreport]

Great one! Thanks for being on Jordan.

[@VilleMetsola]

I'm only at Ocean Machine but these guys are crazy.

[@progreport]

Haha, yep.

[@Magnumscrotus]

It got much worse.

[@mateusfragallo4049]

Oh, boy... I've been waiting for this one!!! 🤟🏻

[@jordanblum3849]

Hope you like it!

[@adamlanghans]

Sky Blue deserved so much more. Sure, it covers previous ground, but it does it masterfully.

[@hartyewh1]

I've looped Silent Militia rather a lot in my time😅

[@drewhaueter4502]

​@hartyewh1 Silent Militia started as one of my least favorites on Sky Blue but now it's one of my favorite tracks

[@jackcamp6149]

I never get tired of the wheel of prog

[@progreport]

Neither do we!

[@nathanaelcole8466]

Pixilate/Judgement is an unreal combo, Let it Roll is one of the best album intros. Empath #1, Synchestra #2

[@progreport]

Absolutely!

[@erikmaronde2244]

I First Heard Devin in 1993 because of Steve Vai. Saw Vai live with Devin and lost sight If him. Then Terria Came out and since then I am a Fan. Empath is my favorite (the concerts after Empath were even more fantastic), but I mostly agree with this "Wheel of Prog". Well done, Guys!

[@thr3LoadR]

I was so stoked to hear all of the love for Terria and Earth Day! My favorite album and probably my favorite track by Devy. I do have to disagree with Notes about the second half of Terria though, as The Fluke is pretty badass.

[@sdamon]

Agreed… Nobody’s Here is beauty itself. Still moves me all these years later.

[@drewhaueter4502]

Thank you The Fluke is so good

[@SuperBlazeomatic]

Wow. Been a fan since 98 and it's always fascinating to hear other fan's opinions and what they like vs what they like not so much. Lot's to agree with here and LOT'S to disagree with here as well lol. That being said here's my tier list..... S-Empath/Transcendence/Ocean Machine/Z2SkyBlue A-Terria/Addicted/Deconstruction B-Synchestra/Epicloud/Infinity C-Accelerated Evolution/Ziltoid/Ki D-Lightwork/Ghost/Physicist

[@RolandDeschain1]

Most under-rated album: ''Sky Blue'

[@hectorThechilldudeonacouch]

Great panel with Tris and Notes

[@progreport]

Agreed! Great to have them on.

[@richardmoseley2915]

I know there's no "right " or "wrong".....but Ocean Machine in C (and the other 2 in C) is madness lol....you should rerecord this episode like Devy did with 'Kingdom' and 'Truth' :)

[@PCamron90]

Transcendence, his best album, in D is insane to me

[@progreport]

Best?

[@PCamron90]

@progreport I'd say so. Most consistent tracklist, every song is great, good blend of the accessible sound explored on Epicloud and Sky Blue and his signature progressive sound, incredible production and performances AND writing... Casualties of Cool is my personal favorite, but Transcendence is an excellent culmination of Devin Townsend Project as a whole.

[@benjaminsheehan7483]

Been waiting for this one! Though Ocean Machine in C is possibly the craziest ranking I've ever seen 😂 It's an easy S-tier no question, arguably his best!

[@PCamron90]

For me - S - Ocean Machine, Terria, Deconstruction, Transcendence A - Infinity, Accelerated Evolution, Synchestra, Ziltoid, Addicted, Ghost, Sky Blue B - Ki, Epicloud, Empath, Lightwork C - Physicist, Nightwork D - Ziltoid: Dark Matters

[@m00nglass41]

11:42 devy comes from direct musical lineage from zappa. Zappa - steve vai - devin townsend

[@azwep]

Tastes differ, especially with Devin, but I am shocked that in a panel of 4 nobody claims Ocean Machine should be S and Transcendence at least in A. That being said, what to put in C and D with this guy? Perhaps it should have been fair to limit these tiers to 2 and the others to 4.

[@progreport]

That’s the challenge. I was shocked OM was put in C. At least A for me. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@drewhaueter4502]

For my favorite musician for me personally I would put Z2 in one of those tiers and that might be it as C D tiers go lol

[@nathanaelcole8466]

Common theme, "I like the bonus material better"

[@DarcMurkee]

Great panel! Hard to pick a favourite amongst Devin's many brilliant albums, but I've always been partial to Ghost, Addicted, Transcendance, Epicloud, and Z2 (Sky Blue). Empath is phenomenal too, I need to give that another spin.

[@douglaspowell5971]

Another great wheel! Right when I feel my brain tickling for a new wheel, y’all deliver. My background with Devin is limited, but I’m glad to see both Empath and Ki getting love. Those are the main two I’m familiar with. Keep up the great work, fellas!

[@progreport]

Thank you!

[@jordanpantaleo554]

I respect the decision made to get it to a clean 16. But IMO, you should have done a clean 20. Include Casualties of Cool, include Cooked on Phonics, DEFINITELY include The Puzzle, then break Z2 into the 2 albums that it actually is: Dark Matters and Sky Blue. That gives you 20, and it paints a more complete picture. It's all very much Devin solo work. Casualties would be the closest to an exception, but it's not like every "solo record" out there is free of collaborators.

[@progreport]

yeah but then it gets too long.

[@viktortunic]

Thanks for this, been listening to Devin for a long time, but chaoticly, I needed a structure. KI is my favourite.. but I will take some time to listen more of the rest

[@tr_vmi4844]

This is going to be interesting, and TOTALLY rough....HevyDevy is one of my favs. I was supposed to see him in Pontiac, MI....2 days after the world shut down!

[@kingdiamondscream]

Notes review on the wheel what a delightful suprise!

[@driftless7134]

Addicted in D?!? Guys...

[@progreport]

It didn’t end up in D

[@thr3LoadR]

Roie, I'm with you on Supercrush! Easily the best track on Addicted. It hits so hard for me.

[@progreport]

Right on!

[@nathanaelcole8466]

Physicist on vinyl gave me a new appreciation. Part of the problem is it sounds terrible streamed. Still, D tier here.

[@fourseasons4105]

1. Ocean machine 2. City 3. Deconstruction 4. ZTO 5. Infinity 6. Terria 7. Addicted 8. Empath 9. Alien 10. The new black 11. Ghost 12. Dark matters 13. Epicloud 14. Synchestra 15. Transcendence 16. Sky blue 17. Accelerated evolution 18. SYL 19. Physicist 20. Lightwork 21. Ki 22. Casualties of cool 23. The puzzle/Snuggles 24. Heavy as a really heavy thing 25. Punky Bruster 26. The hummer 27. Devlab

[@joshmassaro7916]

People sleep on accelerated evolution so hard. I also thought Devin had peaked during the dtp years and we were never going to see him at that level again until empath came out. Can't wait for the new album.

[@heavymetalheretic5386]

Great video but this tier list stinks. lol

[@jamesburden6170]

What a video. Absolutely loved this!

[@craigroaring]

Does anyone know the devin townsend song that starts with a sample saying something like: "the remarkable ability of the human ear to distinguish thousands of sounds"?

[@drewhaueter4502]

I think it's a SYL song

[@RockCityRecords]

Ocean Machine in C??? Lmfao. Its his masterpiece

[@martin.m4306]

loved this one, (though disagreeing as OM, infinity and terria are my s tiers, with ziltoid as a close a+) hope you do a Jethro Tull one soon though you've already had some of the records on the 50 years series, i have to say that thick as a brick, aqualung and songs from the woods are favourites

[@progreport]

Thanks. I’m sure JT will happen.

[@Viiinc3]

I think Casualities of Cool should be in with a good A? 🤤

[@josephsimon134]

Ohhhh…. This is going to be soooo tasty!!!

[@jordanblum3849]

Tasty as Earth's mightiest cup of coffee!

[@ehoc42]

I knew this would piss me off lol

[@progreport]

Job done 😀

[@ehoc42]

@@progreport still enjoyed the video. But I’m sure you’d know what happened what ocean machine was put in C 😆

[@zakkhale181]

Ocean Machine and Synchestra are S tier cmon! Lol

[@josephmobley2044]

Ziltoid not in S hurts my soul. Transcendence in D is definitely a minority opinion. Z2 better than everything below it? No.

[@Shane_Peoples]

Empath is ok

[@drewhaueter4502]

By default Notes has to like Notes From Africa

[@nathanaelcole8466]

Ghost was one I could play at bed time and my wife complained none!

[@progreport]

That's as good sign.

[@adambilz9978]

Gonna throw out some more bands for a list: Queensryche Steve Morse/Dixie Dregs Steve Hackett Van Halen KISS if you can get MP on

[@progreport]

Good ones.

[@TundraCH]

Poppy Devy is my favorite to be honest, a big outlier is Lucky Animals, and a few others on Epicloud.. I absolutely adore Transcendence, Sky Blue, Addicted. Other than those Decontruction and Ghost stand out to me the most. Disconstraction is by far the beat wacky album he's ever made, and Ghost is of course sublime.

[@HeavyDebriefings]

Not my ranking, but it was quite curious to see this play out.

[@williamlarkin613]

List is pretty spot on but Ki belongs in B. Ocean Machine in A please.

[@erikmaronde2244]

Why? Why ! 😎🎶🎉🤘

[@TundraCH]

Transcendence is the peak of Devin's songwriting prowess, theres no doubt in my mind.

[@bottlemanic]

Transcendence was the first Devin album that when it came out bored me. Leant too much into the modern "prog" thing that I'm not really a fan of and felt flaccid to me

[@filheim]

OMG...all those albums in just 1h???

[@progreport]

Efficient!

[@PentUpPentatonics]

This was so bizarre to watch. Some of your taste is like my anti-taste. From Addicted on I find Devin’s music got really bland. Around that time he had his production process down to the point where everything just started sounding the same. Ocean Machine, Terria, Infinity Accelerated Evolution and Ziltoid are S & A tier for me. I know music is subjective but Ocean Machine in C is just plain wrong 😂

[@progreport]

Haha, sorry. It happens with the Wheel sometimes.

[@PentUpPentatonics]

@@progreport No apology necessary. It’s just interesting how fans of an artist can see their catalogue through an entirely different lens.

[@thereisaspoon9108]

Am I in the minority in thinking Empath is one of his weakest albums? I like it and love Singularity but a lot of the album is a bit too heavy on the operatic/choir/broadway stuff for me. My S tear would probably be: Ki, Terria, Accelerated Evolution and Deconstruction

[@RockCityRecords]

Why does he keep call it Synchestria? Isn't it Synchestra?

[@Christopher-zj5py]

Casualties 🥺

[@adambilz9978]

Don’t forget to actually name the albums so when we listen on audio later we know what you’re talking about, haha!

[@progreport]

We try our best, we really do.

[@adambilz9978]

@@progreport Of course! I know it’s a conversation with multiple people and everyone reacts when that wheel hits the graphic. I just get confused on the audio sometimes. Great episode!

[@G.D.1968]

I still prefer the SYL records over his solo work, although I love Ki, Addicted!. Infinity and Transcendence. Still on the fence about Lightwork .... not gripping me as much.

[@williamlarkin613]

Transcendence in D is correct.

[@adambilz9978]

Hip hop Devin would be amaaaaaazing!

[@progreport]

Right?!

[@drewhaueter4502]

2 turntables and a Mike St John

[@jukkaalanen]

Ocean Machine and Addicted in C is a travesty. My S-tier would be: Deconstruction, Ziltoid, Ocean Machine, Ki. And Addicted! should be in A.

[@zakkhale181]

Does Notes smoke crack? Just kidding (;

[@Absolutely_puck_fakestine]

Ocean machine a C ???????? 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@eduardoacevedo5860]

that list sucks!! Transcendence in D?? that guy has problems.....

[@psychofunksoldier02]

Z2

[@johnmorgan7262]

This is a very odd list. If you are going for unusual stuff, then maybe? Or not so much. That said the choices are to my mind unsupportable. It is subjective of course, but I suspect Devy fans would not agree with an awful lot of this list. So if you are coming here for recommendations, don't.

[@raikane3]

Ocean machine at C made me leave. It is and will always be the best it is undeniable.

[@thumbob]

I thought this was about progressive music.

[@told2stop]

Stopped watching after you put Ocean Machine in C tier

[@progreport]

Don’t blame you

[@Sirdamienfrost]

Deafheaven shirt? #unsubscribe