Got home from work yesterday morning (working 3rd shift the week). Got the iTunes pre-order downloaded and was blown away at how much better it sounds compared to the leaked versions. I ended up using Decon as my lullaby to fall asleep, knocked me right out. I think the DTP as a whole is tops. Can't wait for the box set now.

Planet of the Apes so far is my fav on Decon and Heart Baby for Ghost.

Both albums lived up to and exceeded what I had expected from the studio videos Dev posted to youtube.

Overall a great project that shows Devin is clearly on top form creatively and production-wise. Am a little underwhelmed with Ghost, Decon took a long time to appreciate but it's very rewarding if 20 minutes too long (badly needs some conciseness imo), Addicted is a perfect pop-metal album up there with Angel Dust while Ki is my favourite. Whereas I can name many albums with similar emotional states to the other three, I know of no other album with the atmosphere and vibe of Ki.

In short; best 4 albums ever imo!

In order of preference, Deconstruction > Addicted > Ki = Ghost

I have to be honest, I loved Addicted so much that I was sure nothing could possibly shake it from the top spot (of all music), but Deconstruction completely blew it away. I love Ki and Ghost pretty much equally. Ghost is a bit of a problem though because I really need to be in the mood for it in order to enjoy it. This is still the best 4 album run by any artist ever though.

Up until recently I've felt really chill and was looking forward to Ghost more than Decon, but the past few weeks have been chaotic and I'm feeling Deconstructed. It's been rainy, messy, wintery weather here which kind of matches the Decon/ Ghost 2 vibe, waiting for a nice summer day to go to the woods and listen to Ghost and calm down, it's already been the summer solstice when the hell are us Brits going to have summer??

A friend of mine asked me what 5 albums I would want if I was on a desert island. 4 of the choices would be the entire DTP collection of course each album is so unique that it has everything I need in music. If I want something fun to listen to I go to Addicted, if I want the heavy I go to Deconstruction and for my relaxing/beautiful songs I go to Ki and Ghost. Everything I needed in 4 CDs. Now that I think about it the 5th album would probably be Ghost 2

For Me it'd be: Deconstruction >/= Ki > Ghost > Addicted

I don't wanna go into detail now, will later.

My initial thoughts on it were not what I expected at all.

When I first heard Ki I .... was unimpressed, which doesn't surprise me. I consider myself a huge fan of Dev, but his softer mellower stuff (i.e devlab, hummer, ki, some songs here and there) I didn't like as much.

Then Addicted came out, and I listened to it non stop for the best part of a year. It's so... Perfect. So perfect in fact that after I got tired of it and branched out to new things again I never even thought to pick it up. Sort of... like a book that you like so much you don't want the pages to become ripped and torn. I keep it in my memory as an album every other CD I ever hear should strive to be.

Finally Deconstruction came out -


Ghost - So far is my 2nd favorite of the 4 (addicted being 1) I personally expected Ghost to be the one I liked the least. But for the moment it's so far above what Deconstruction is and MEANS to me it's ridiculous.


I think what connects me to Dev's music so much is.. not so much the talent of his singing and playing (and he is supremely talented) But the stories that the music tells in my head. for example I think of "Nobodys here" as an ode to solitude and lonliness. Where as Deadhead is about pure rage to me. Now I'm not claiming to know what was the intent behind the songs he writes, but these are what they mean to me.

As for Ghost it's... bliss.. It's like... being sick for soo long and then waking up and realizing that it's okay. It's all okay. I think in time Deconstruction will be what it's like to FEEL the sickness.

I actually think I'm pretty strange because... if you look at the lyrics and things, a lot of the emotions that his songs make me feel have nothing to do with the lyrics. I mean... Storm for example, makes me think of what it's like to fail, to truly and completly lose at something you want so badly. It's just... the connection I have in my mind.


Long story short, in my mind there will never be another artist like Devin Townsend, and I never want there to be.



On a side note. I think a lot of people are selfish about the records ALL artists put out and don't really consider the work that goes into them. I'd like to thank (whether he ever reads this or not) Devin for always going the extra mile for fans. Not many artists do anymore, I've seen pictures of him with fans at signings and he seems like someone you shouldn't be afraid to chat with. I hope he is able to continue writing and performing and releasing albums as long as he wants to keep doing it. And if he ever decides to retire (god I hope not) We should all take a minute and before we get angry that we won't get any more tunes. Stop and thank him for every single song he puts out. Because he does it for us, not himself. If he made music for just himself he'd never or rarely release it.

Now that my gushing is done with. I'm going to bed with Ghost on my computer playing.

Good night -

I jammed all 4 while marathoning some Team Fortress 2. Shit was pretty awesome, though I can't say I killed as many enemies while Ki and Ghost were playing

Overall, great 4 album project. Listening to each one brought me back to when I listened to them the most. Ki made me think of taking the long bus ride to work in mid 2009, Addicted made me think of when I visited my dad out of town and it was pretty much the only thing I had to listen to, and Decon and Ghost wrapped things up very nicely

The level of awesomeness is highest for Ki and Deconstruction for me. Addicted has about 4-5 great songs but a few average as well.The emotional depth of Ki and the musicianship and variety of Deconstruction do the trick. Ghost ,well... I've gotten more into it by more than 5 listenings and it has grown on me. Not the album you'd want to hear for an instant catchy, hit tune, but has it's fine moments.

Ratings , out of 10:
Ki -9
Addicted - 8
Deconstruction - 9,5
Ghost - 7,5

The dtp is the most ambitious and satisfying set of albums I have ever heard. Every album stands on its own, but together it is a masterpiece. Each album sounds like Devin, but no album sounds like anything he's done before.

I liked 'Ki' a lot, and absolutely loved 'Addicted.' I was betting that after all was said and done, the order I would list them as my favourites would be 'Addicted,' 'Ki,' 'Ghost', and 'Deconstruction.' That has changed quite a bit. I'd now list my favourites as 'Deconstruction, 'Addicted,' 'Ghost', and 'Ki.'

'Ki' is such a good record, but it never quite triggered the same amount of emotional reactions that I get from the other three albums. That being said, I still hold 'Ki' to be the best Devin album he had ever made prior 'Addicted.' It is a brilliant album, but in a project consisting of four brilliant albums, it just doesn't shine as much to me.

Early impressions: Ki is a friendly greeting as you open the door, Addicted is the party inside. Deconstruction is the hangover and Ghost is the afterglow.
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BEST way of summing the project up for sure.

Totally buzzing off the entire thing, I personally downloaded the leak of Deconstruction and haven't stopped listening to it since and I can only say guys it just gets better with time! There's so much going on you hear something new every listen I feel.

These two albums have just re-inforced my love for Devins work, think the decision to have his logo tattoo'd on my arm was a very good idea. Great work Dev!

I'm surprised the most by how catchy (to me) Decon is, something from one of the songs is always floating around in my head ever since I first listened. I can't begin to list which are my favourites atm, Addicted has been above Ki but only because I listen to it more. There are some points in Ki, and just the 'exotic' feel Ki has (that feels like the right word), that makes it seem harsh to not hold it in equal regard to Addicted. Haven't listened to the other two enough to try to place them but I doubt I could. all four = all four

Plus if introducing anyone to Dev's stuff, all you need to do is tell them to listen to a couple of songs from each of these four. They are different from anything he's ever done before, but still similar in the way that you know it's Devin Townsend's material. His signature sound and energy. But they are also the most diverse set of albums 1 artist has ever put out (probably. Unless someone's released a rap cd, an opera cd, metal album and baroque quintet album in the same project )

I think all of the albums have huge significance in one way, shape, or form. Each one is very different, so it's hard to pick a favorite. My favorite changes based on whatever mood I'm in. There's an appropriate time for all of them. Ki is the "I've had a bit of a sad day and I'm just gonna mellow out and have all of the things troubling me melt away." Addicted is like I'm tired of the seriousness, problems, and negativity. I wanna put something on that's gonna send a positive, happy, silly message while making me embarrassingly shake my booty at times and wrap it up with the the feeling of everything in life being perfect, no matter how fucked of a situation it might be at the time, it's puts in the grand scheme of things when you realize happiness, fun, all that good stuff is right in front of you and in your heart at all times." Deconstruction is "I'm feeling zany and a little bugged about something so I'm gonna put on this album that puts it into the perspective of "It's all just silliness at the end of the day. Everything, no matter what it is just a big fart joke". It keeps me from taking things too seriously. Ghost... Ghost is an interesting one. I usually listen to it before bed, because it just relaxes me and puts me in a good mindset to be asleep in. Another thing about Ghost is, it's kinda just that feeling of being loved. It's not a love story, or anything like that. It just feels like love. Maybe on a certain level it's me getting over my self confidence issue along with a level of loneliness I feel, but it makes me feel loved.


Another aspect of these albums is listening to them all in one sitting as one mega album. That experience is... for lack of a better word, very meditative, enlightening sort if feeling. Kind of like watching a movie and in that movie discovering an insane level of spirituality in the film and yourself. It's a great feeling. I could go on about it, but it's something you have to just experience yourself. It's really breathtaking.

Listening to all four in a row, it really does start to feel like a journey, be it to a different place (to the coast?), different mindset, whatever, a progression from beginning to end. As soon as he speaks "they took their things and headed for the coast", you feel like you've just embarked on some kind of quest. When I hear him yelling "Now Deconstruct!" in Awake! followed by the fade out, I get chills because it's coming to the most intense and dark part of the journey. After he yells the final STAND of Poltergeist, I feel like you finally arrive in the place you've been going to all along, and all of Ghost makes me think of taking it in and enjoying it until you realize over the course of it that your destination was where you began. It sounds a little silly for sure, but those are the mental images I get when I listen to it as a whole, which makes me think that cohesively as a one unified concept the DTP works very well.

I have yet to truly listen to all four in a row... But, this description feels very right to me.

I have already placed Ki as one of my favorite albums of all time... It seems to be able to stand on it's own as a truly, cohesive journey. Even if you haven't "memorized" the lyrics( like I have, haha) The musical changes feels like its very own journey... If the other three were not released, this would still be a complete album. IMO.

I got the leak for Decon and Ghost... But, I am truly going to wait for the CDs to be able to listen to all four .