keeping it short:

The character goes to hell to confront himself, his fears and his demons. He meets the 'devil' and realizes that it is himself, and he moves on to believing his is now capable of understanding the universe and everything having conquered the fear of himself..

This arrogance leads him to the furthest corners of his mind until he is presented with a vision of the sum of everything. It ends up being a cheeseburger, presented by a choir of angels. The point is that EVERYTHING EXISTS IN EVERYTHING, and the whole time his arrogance has led him to absurd personal dramas based on the arrogance that the universe is actually just an equation to be solved, when really... there is nothing but reality. For example, deconstruction a fractal (mandelbrot) is endless, but the equation is elegant and subtle.

The cheeseburger (or whatever he was looking at, it doesn't matter really) needed to be absurd to make the point. I guess the point may be that feeling the need to conquer everything is simply a reflection of powerlessness overall.

He finds the true nature of what he was looking at so closely when he stands back and observes it from a distance, and from a distance it becomes something uninteresting. So Ghost starts.

d

Are there any descriptions of the concepts of Ki and Addicted that go into this much detail?

Trying to make a 'musical' without the sphincter tightening embarrassment that comes with trying to convey a story through music was the goal in some ways...

I like musicals for the emotional elements, but inevitably it turns into 10 minute songs about putting water in a bucket or something stupid just to tell a story with people dancing in the streets and exaggerated conversations set to random melodies. It's not really my thing... I want to make good songs and vibes that are kind of connected to a common end instead...that way I feel you can dig the songs without having to engage in some stupid story.

...and cheeseburgers aren't stupid... um...

anyways...

For some reason I'm thinking Ayreon here. I personally love the cheesetasticness of Lucassen's work, but definitely understand how it can make people cringe. I used to not listen to it when I had other people in the car that wouldn't get it. lol (Also, it wasn't until Dev's working with him that I really started diggin' all of Devin's catalog, so it was a sort of gateway drug in a sense.)

But I'm liking the idea of having a story, with out really needing to hear the songs from start to finish. That each song is complete on it's own.

[The Dev]

The descriptions and concepts of all the records will be in the boxset I would imagine...or some dumb random interview

Trying to make a 'musical' without the sphincter tightening embarrassment that comes with trying to convey a story through music was the goal in some ways...

I like musicals for the emotional elements, but inevitably it turns into 10 minute songs about putting water in a bucket or something stupid just to tell a story with people dancing in the streets and exaggerated conversations set to random melodies. It's not really my thing... I want to make good songs and vibes that are kind of connected to a common end instead...that way I feel you can dig the songs without having to engage in some stupid story.

...and cheeseburgers aren't stupid... um...

anyways...

For some reason I'm thinking Ayreon here. I personally love the cheesetasticness of Lucassen's work, but definitely understand how it can make people cringe. I used to not listen to it when I had other people in the car that wouldn't get it. lol (Also, it wasn't until Dev's working with him that I really started diggin' all of Devin's catalog, so it was a sort of gateway drug in a sense.)

But I'm liking the idea of having a story, with out really needing to hear the songs from start to finish. That each song is complete on it's own.

Agree with the Ayreon comparison. I admit that I like some of the stuff, but there are definitely some face-palm moments due to the reasons Devin pointed out. Arjen's lyrics are way too literal and really cheesy, but it's cool when you're in the right mindset I suppose.

The concept of Decon seems cool.

The descriptions and concepts of all the records will be in the boxset I would imagine...

SO EXCITED FOR THE BOXSET, HOLY SHIT

Hmm, I find it a little weird that there's no track titled "Deconstruction" since there was a title track on the other three DTP albums. Seems a little uneven to my vaguely OCD mind haha, but a very minor pondering in comparison to how damn stoked I am for this thing! It'll be amazing.

I can't decide if I'm more excited for this or Ghost. Reading the "concept" is really interesting, I don't think the other albums have been discussed as specifically as Decon so far, besides a bit I remember about Ki and the protagonist jumping of a proverbial cliff at the end. I kind of have a sense of the the concept through the feeling of the songs so far, though this might be completely off base with Dev's intentions, here's what listening to these albums (so far) makes me think of:

Ki is kind of the tension and stages leading up to deciding to "deconstruct" yourself and make major changes in yourself and your life. There's so much that wants to be released on this album but it keeps itself contained, with rage breaking through on Disruptr, Gato and Heaven Send but not quite. It's like the restrained, moody contemplation as you mull over just what it is you have to do with yourself. Then when you finally decide to get off your ass and do something with yourself, the jubilation of realizing you have the power to do so is Addicted. I feel like that whole album is the realization that you can change yourself and work towards something magical, and the almost manic feelings this realization brings. It's like when you change anything for the better and the initial awesome feeling that power brings before you realize how much work it's going to be. Because if you don't work at it that happy feeling will fade and you'll go back to feeling like you did in Ki. And I THINK Deconstruction will be once that jubilation has faded, and you have to really get into the grime of yourself and work hard to understand yourself, your faults, and what you have to do to change. From how epic it sounds I feel like this album will definitely be the climax of the mood of the project. Ghost will be the conclusions reached after the chaos of deconstructing yourself, the return to reservation and tranquility but hopefully being more content with your life and without the confusion and tension present where you started, in Ki.

Of course this is just how what I've heard so far makes me feel. What I love about these records is that they can be interpreted in so many ways while having a very distinct vibe and direction the music is leading you in. I'm sure tons of people approach this albums in ways completely different from my self. Powerful stuff regardless of how you look at it.

There was a song called Deconstruction on the earlier tracklist, it was gonna be the opener for the record.

Hmm, I find it a little weird that there's no track titled "Deconstruction" since there was a title track on the other three DTP albums. Seems a little uneven to my vaguely OCD mind haha, but a very minor pondering in comparison to how damn stoked I am for this thing! It'll be amazing.

I can't decide if I'm more excited for this or Ghost. Reading the "concept" is really interesting, I don't think the other albums have been discussed as specifically as Decon so far, besides a bit I remember about Ki and the protagonist jumping of a proverbial cliff at the end. I kind of have a sense of the the concept through the feeling of the songs so far, though this might be completely off base with Dev's intentions, here's what listening to these albums (so far) makes me think of:

Ki is kind of the tension and stages leading up to deciding to "deconstruct" yourself and make major changes in yourself and your life. There's so much that wants to be released on this album but it keeps itself contained, with rage breaking through on Disruptr, Gato and Heaven Send but not quite. It's like the restrained, moody contemplation as you mull over just what it is you have to do with yourself. Then when you finally decide to get off your ass and do something with yourself, the jubilation of realizing you have the power to do so is Addicted. I feel like that whole album is the realization that you can change yourself and work towards something magical, and the almost manic feelings this realization brings. It's like when you change anything for the better and the initial awesome feeling that power brings before you realize how much work it's going to be. Because if you don't work at it that happy feeling will fade and you'll go back to feeling like you did in Ki. And I THINK Deconstruction will be once that jubilation has faded, and you have to really get into the grime of yourself and work hard to understand yourself, your faults, and what you have to do to change. From how epic it sounds I feel like this album will definitely be the climax of the mood of the project. Ghost will be the conclusions reached after the chaos of deconstructing yourself, the return to reservation and tranquility but hopefully being more content with your life and without the confusion and tension present where you started, in Ki.

Of course this is just how what I've heard so far makes me feel. What I love about these records is that they can be interpreted in so many ways while having a very distinct vibe and direction the music is leading you in. I'm sure tons of people approach this albums in ways completely different from my self. Powerful stuff regardless of how you look at it.

I agree 100% with you, especially on your last paragraph. I love music that you can listen to and draw your own conclusions with, even when the artist specifically intended for it to come across a certain way. If anything, that just goes to show how strong their compositions - their art - turned out to be! Even if it's resonating with you for different reasons than it is with them, you're still connecting to their work, and appreciating it, the way they do... your interpretation of it might just be different, that's all. THAT right there is something that I think is really special, as well as being the mark of a truly gifted artist - someone who can express themself, honestly, and have all kinds of people connect to that expression for all different reasons... but ultimately, connect to it in just as genuine of a way that they do.

That's why I love Devin's music so much, and that's why I think the Devin Townsend Project is the best material he's ever conceived - it's so upfront and honest, but so loose in it's ability to be interpreted, too. It can mean all kinds of things to all kinds of people... certain parts of it (say, Ki and Ghost) may appeal to some, emotionally, musically, atmospherically, or whatever; and other parts of it (Deconstruction) may connect with a totally different group, who reject the other parts of it. And then there are people like me (and from the sound of it, you) who listen to and appreciate every part of it, from the beginning of the first record to the end of the last, and love every minute of it. The contrast between between light and dark; the different (often powerful) lyrical themes, the varied musical terrain (soft, heavy, ridiculously heavy and then ridiculously soft)... the list goes on and on. I probably just sound like a total fanboy at this point, ranting, but... you know.

ANYWAYS... like I was saying, I totally agree with everything you said. Thus, why I'm looking forward to Deconstruction and Ghost so much, and why I check for updates on them on a daily basis, and do backflips every time Dev posts something even as minor as just a comment on a track he's working on. Ki and Addicted have both seriously connected with me on an emotional basis, not to mention being regarded by me as almost perfectly musically, so the thought of two more records - two more to finish off the emotional/musical/whatever else journey that Ki and Addicted started me on - just leaves me anticipating them like nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I love all of Devin's past work (including Strapping Young Lad), but none of his music has hit me as hard, in so many different ways, as the DTP has. Even if you were to take all the emotional meaning out from behind all four of these records... you'd still be left with some damn good music, in the end!

So yeah, I'm pretty excited for Decon and Ghost to finally drop. Then I can listen to the whole project all the way through; get revved up by Ki, lifted higher by Addicted, go crazy with Deconstruction (exercising all my negative emotions on-hand in the process), and finally come back down to mental peace and tranquility with Ghost. Seriously, seriously looking forward to that day. And by the way... the guy who posted before me is right; according to the first post of this topic, Deconstruction used to have a title track as the opening track on the album. Obviously Praise the Lowered occupies that spot now, but... can't say it bothers me. The tracklist Dev posted today just feels 'right', for whatever reason... and all the song titles are wicked, too, IMO

[The Dev]

I may call 'Cheeseburger' Deconstruction...been going back and forth, but your points kind of make me reconsider!

[Octillus]

Jalapeno Mayo or bust, Devin.

I may call 'Cheeseburger' Deconstruction...been going back and forth, but your points kind of make me reconsider!

Not sure whose points you're referring to, but I'll throw in my two cents... stick with Cheeseburger, for the song that's up until now been known as Cheeseburger. Just like that title better myself, for whatever reason. That, and the song's lyrics are all about cheeseburgers anyways... so it just makes sense to call it Cheeseburger, I guess.

On that note, was Praise the Lowered originally called Deconstruction, or... two totally different songs?

I am totally imagining Arjen Lucassen right now in his studio gnashing his teeth.

So true! We've got Floor and Mikael, hell, get Arjen to sing!

Just call it 'Deconstruction of a Cheesburger' so you can have your cake and eat it too.

[Octillus]

Just call it 'Deconstruction of a Cheesburger' so you can have your cake and eat it too.

<3 and it brings us back in time to when that was the title and it was going to be the next album after ziltoid.

Precisely! Though wasn't 'The Mighty Masturbator' the very first title, iirc?

So Dev - you recorded Dark Ghost at the same time with Ghost. You mentioned that there was enough Decon material to be a double album, as well, though some of it would end up on Z2. Did you end up recording a second Decon disk as well, or was one enough for the hellish mixing process this time around? I see that 'Deconstruction' and 'Ho Krll' were dropped from the tracklist... or was one of them retitled as 'Praise the Lowered'?