Ki: an older, wiser, more restrained Terria. An excellent start to the DTP.
9/10

Addicted: This was the album I was most looking forward to after finding out its description as it was the album I'd always wanted Devin to make. There'd been songwriting of this kind floating around on earlier albums (Christeen, Slow Me Down, Traveller, Sunshine and Happiness, The Fluke...) but not a full album of it. In the end it didn't quite match up with my hopes for the album, but with that said the run of songs from Bend It Like Bender! through to Ih-Ah! is phenomenally good. I'm not as keen on the stuff either side, but the opening two tracks and the last two tracks are still very good and the only song I don't care much for is The Way Home!
9.5/10, but that run of songs in the middle gets a 12/10

Deconstruction: I feel violated after listening to this album: like being subjected to an aural form of an enema. And I love it
10/10

Ghost: I doubt I'm ever likely to get into this album much. From the there or four listens I've given it so far it's very pleasant but I find it hard to make it through without wanting to go listen to something more energetic.
5/10

It'll be interesting to revisit my opinion months/years down the line and see if my rating of Ghost has shifted.

Ki:10/10
Addicted:10/10
Ghost:8/10 (still forming a concrete opinion only listened to it twice straight through)
Deconstruction:10/10
Overall really incredible series of albums, definitely some of my favorite material in Devin's catalog are in these albums, especially since Addicted was the one of the first Devin solo albums i listened to when i first starting getting into his music, besides SYL.

not knocking anyone's opinions, just really surprised at the somewhat common low ratings for ghost. all i want to do is listen to it over and over again.

The consistency of these four records is really quite amazing, especially considering how different they are all from each other. It is hard enough to rank Devin's pre-DTP albums (Terria is first, but OM, Infinity and Synchestra were constantly fighting for 2nd place prior to the release of Ki), and these four albums being in the mix makes it even more impossible.

It is difficult to put them in order of preference (especially since I have only been listening to Decon for a month and Ghost for three days), but I can say with much certainty that Addicted (which is fast becoming one of my most-played CDs ever) and Decon will get played more, simply because they are easy to listen to everywhere (home, in the car, working out, etc.), while Ki and Ghost (despite having songs that also work well anywhere) are more laid back, relaxing albums to chill out to at home.

But really, who cares about which is better, or any of that, right? What matters is the four plus hours of really good to great music that is mostly on these four records. Ghost being the newest one to me, I am currently the most nutty about Ghost, Blackberry and Texada, as far as individual songs go, with favorites from the previous three being Bend It Like Bender (best and funnest Devin song ever!), Addicted, The Mighty Masturbator, Terminal, Stand, Sumeria, Coast, Awake, etc. I could go on and on...

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.
.

No maaaan, Deconstruction is the after-party!

the only song I don't care much for is The Way Home!

Interesting, that song is in the top 3 for me for that album.

At the moment, I am doing examinations for my study so I do not have the time to sit down and listen to the entire DTP storyline yet. But I WILL do that as soon as possible!

One thing I can say is that Deconstruction has become my favourite of the quartet, BY FAR. I immediately fell in love with this beast. I love the way it builds up, I love each track independently, I love the voices of the guest singers and it is just so overwhelming in its entirety. Listening to it gives me an energetic and triumphant feeling.

They're all so different, I couldn't really fairly compare them or rank them in any true order of preference. I listen(ed) to Addicted! waaaaaaay more than Ki, but that really isn't any indicator as to which I like "better." There are moments of subtle beauty and brilliance on Ki that blow Addicted! out of the water, while Addicted! as a whole is simply more... fun to listen to than Ki (plus I'm a huge sucker for those massive walls of sound & lush harmony/female vocals). Most of my music listening time takes place in the car or via headphones on public transit, so something more upbeat like Addicted! just works better in those scenarios. I can already say with reasonable confidence that it will be the same story with Decon/Ghost: because of where/when I do the majority of my listening, Decon will inevitably get more plays than Ghost. But that has little to no bearing on which I like "better," or which is my "favorite."

I have yet to listen to all four consecutively though; that may change my views of the individual albums, as well as give me new appreciation for the whole.

Just finished listening to all four in a row for the first time... consider my mind blown, even after hearing all four separately.

There's so much between each of the four records (different styles, details, etc) that it's really impossible for me to cover it all... but what I will say is this: the quality and consistency is fantastic. Most artists struggle to release four quality albums in a row (over whatever length of time it takes them accumulate four albums), let alone in two years - two of those four being recorded back to back! And then, having each one inhabit a completely different sonic and thematic universe... and still having them all come out as great as they are? Crazy stuff. The best part might just be how well each functions both on it's own and within the DTP; every single one is it's own unique entity, but none feel out of place when taking all four into account. The aforementioned consistency is another thing to be commended - I really, honestly don't feel like there's a weak song to be found on any of the records. Sure, there's tracks I enjoy more than others (and even then, it's often just a matter of what mood I'm in) but I don't actually dislike - or even just feel indifferent - to any one song.

So yeah, it pretty much turned out perfectly, I think. Big props to Dev for sticking with it and writing/recording/releasing all four; you gave a lot of people some seriously awesome music to indulge themselves in. I could go on and on about each, as well as how they work as a whole... but you get the idea, haha.

Listened to all 4 today (virtually) uninterrupted, and
Ki got me in the mood, easing in but getting me pumped with those heavier parts. There's a lot of subtlety to this record, and thus so much to appreciate, so I can never tire of hearing it.
Addicted kept me feeling good, and despite the criticisms that it was too poppy, I think Dev gets away with it because he takes those elements and just makes them work. It's metal that's meant to uplift, and it does the job.
Deconstruction sets its tone, and unleashes its heaviness when the mood is right. It takes the chaotic nature that the first two albums hinted at lets it fly, while still maintaining that subtlety that balances the prior works; therefore its also uplifting, but in a more insane, over the top manner.
Ghost immediately brought me back down to earth, and enthralled me with such a pretty contrast to the more deranged predecessor. It was like coming home after a hard day and at last enjoying a well-earned period of tranquility. And when it was over, I felt grateful for the experience.

If I were to rank the albums in some way, it would be:
Ghost
Deconstruction
Ki/Addicted.

Best project ever!
I like them all too much to pick a favourite, it changes depending on my mood.
Sometimes decon can be the best thing ever, and sometimes a colossal headache.
Sometimes ghost can be the most soothing forgiving friend, and sometimes it can be boring.
I dunno... they're all so suited to different moods. I like Ghost way more than I expected, but I think may have already over-listened decon!

Ki is my overall favorite, I think, just because it's such a bizarre and unique album but at the same time it's unmistakably Dev. The super-minimalist guitar parts that are drenched in reverb are so refreshing to listen to in contrast with louder, busier kinds of music. I also really like how everything feels very tense and tight, and of course Duris Maxwell's super groovy drumming. I think the end of Trainfire is one of the most underrated musical moments in Devin's discography. Basically, there's not really any other record out there that sounds like Ki.

Addicted is a great album as well, but it's the least "satisfying" of all four DTP records because it's very straightforward for the most part. It has a ton of great songs and riffs on it, some of the catchiest in Dev's catalougue. Supercrush, Numbered, and The Way Home are especially awesome. It's a heavy, fun album with some neat production "easter eggs" that keep it interesting to listen to even though the music lacks the unpredictable twists and turns of the other 3 albums. It's my least favorite of the four, but I still very much enjoy listening to it. Anneke helps too - her voice fits great with the style of the album.

Deconstruction took some warming up to, because it's so dense and hard to grasp on first listen, but after hearing the whole album about ten times I can safely say it's an incredible achievement. So much chaos, so much melody, so much everything. It's intensely heavy at times, totally ridiculous and atonal at others, very beautiful at others...it's quite the mindfuck. The guest appearances are ace, especially Ihsahn, Joe Duplantier and Paul Masvidal. It's a little hard to hear the orchestra for most of the album on the 192k leak i've been listening to, but it seems like they were well-utilized, and the choir adds an interesting layer of depth to the album that other records in dev's discography don't have. The end of the title track (after the IT'S ALL BULLSHIT samples) is like the sun coming up after a ravaging hurricane of an album...and then Poltergeist happens and it's all heavy and gnarly again. The silly fart/poop samples were a bit annoying at first but I think they fit with the over-the-top nature of the album itself. It's very Zappa-esque. Also Dirk Verburen is a fucking madman on drums.

I envisioned Ghost as being more like Ki than it is (more minimal, less ambient stuff going on like the electronic doodads), but I very much enjoy that my expectations were defied. It's such a relaxing and gentle album, and the subtle little musical and emotional peaks/valleys make it feel very special. Heart Baby is a really good example of this - even though the music itself is quite simple, the use of dynamics and the very quiet vocal harmonies make it seem almost otherwordly. It's a testament to Dev's ability as a producer that he could make this album so shimmering and pretty as well as he made Deconstruction monstrous and menacing. My favorite individual track is probably the title track, or maybe Blackberry (I like the bluegrass vibes). If I have one gripe, it's that the flute is a bit overused and starts to feel gimmicky, but it's nonetheless a beautiful inclusion because Kat is a great player.

My favorite albums from Devin are still Ocean Machine and Terria, but all four of these come pretty close, and I think it's very neat to listen to them in contrast to see they ways devin has matured as a songwriter and producer. A lot of the production quirks that bothered me a little about his older albums are totally gone now. His voice has gotten so much more polished, too, which works really well for the new material (Though I do think the less refined quality of his voice suited the music on OM, etc).

Ki is something I would listen to late at night, probably midnight, in my bedroom winding down from a hectic day.

Addicted is something I would listen to on a nice, fun, and clear day.

Deconstruction is something I would listen to when I'm really bored and need some kind of exciting stimulation.

Ghost is something I would listen to when I'm in a very good or excited mood, or when I'm need of something to relax to during the day.

I find I could also listen to these albums on a road trip, at the right time of course. Ki late at night, Addicted in the morning, Deconstruction during the day, and Ghost in the evening. In this case all of the albums would serve their purpose for their respective times of day.

Now for picking favorites, it would go: Deconstruction-Ki-Addicted-Ghost
Although I love all four of them, Decon is just a really fun and insane album that almost embodies the many elements of what I like in some of the music I listen to. Ki is a very chill yet somewhat heavy album that addresses many of my musical needs, and the otherworldly atmosphere that it provides like other Devin albums makes it even better. Addicted is a fun and enjoyable album that can pump me up, but I really need to be in the right mood to thoroughly enjoy all of it. Ghost is a very pretty and airy album that leaves me with a good feeling, only problem is that it's too lengthy for the type of music it is, it's different for Decon because it's so spontaneous in nature that there is a lot of variety in it's sound which makes it go by faster, whereas Ghost's lack of change of pace in it's songs makes things go by a little slower.

Like I said I love all four em', just not exactly equally.

I tried like crazy to get into Ki when it came out but never could. Haven't listened to it in over a year, may never listen to it again. 2/10.

I like Addicted. It's different than anything Dev had done before, very upbeat and "danceable", almost like the yang to Accelerated Evolution's yin (or vice-versa). It's not in league with Synchestra by any means, but when I'm in the right mindset for it, it's great. 7/10.

Deconstruction is not quite what I expected (I expected something alot darker and more serious), but I still like it. I think it is brilliant on many levels, and as I said before, establishes Dev as the Richard Wagner of heavy music. However, I don't see this album having the replay value for me that many of his other albums have. I have listened to Physicist, Synchestra, AE, Infinity, and even Ziltoid several dozen times each or more, but I don't see that happening with Decon, it will probably be an album that I listen to frequently over the coming weeks and then it will taper off, eventually becoming something that I will rarely listen to. But I still think it is a good album. 7/10

I was pleasantly surprised with Ghost, surprised in that it came out almost exactly like I thought it would (which almost never happens with Dev's albums for me). Although I think Ghost will be like a fine wine, something that is taken out on special occasions and savored and enjoyed to the fullest. I won't listen to it over and over again because I don't want it to lose the magic that it has. Note that this is different from the reason that I don't see myself listening to Decon a whole lot a couple of years from now. 8/10.

Meanwhile, looking forward to the next Dev album, whatever it may be. Would love to have a Z2 with full orchestra. Epicloud is intriguing also.

btw, just for reference:
Terria 6/10 (yeah, I know that's going to raise some eyebrows, sorry.)
Synchestra 10/10
Physicist 8/10
Infinity 8/10
Ocean Machine 8/10
Accelerated Evolution 9/10
Ziltoid 9/10

Hi all. New registrant -- I've been a lover of Devy's music for over a decade, but never had cause to seek out the forums 'til now, after having met him at the July 20th meet-and-greet here in Vancouver. Now my fanboyism is vindicated, I suppose.

I admit straight-up that Addicted gets the most attention around my place. Its poppiness works the same way late '90s industrial did (and which I was an enormous fan of, growing up). It's hard and energetic, but accessible, like a gateway drug to Devy's other work and to heavy music in general. This album above all is the one that makes my friends notice what's playing and say, "This is awesome, who the hell is this?" My favourite DT album, Ocean Machine, is itself poppy and straightforward -- I wouldn't compare the two albums in terms of mood, clearly, but I would put them on par as far as wonderful pop-metal albums go. They are both perfect car albums. Addicted for sunny days, OM for rainy (and we have a lot of those here).

Of all the albums, I think Ki is the grower. On first listen, nothing grabbed me, but each subsequent listen opened up a track or two a little more. I suppose I just wasn't prepared for the pared-down, restrained brand of Devy. But now I'm convinced some of his songs on Ki (Coast, Terminal, Winter) could be the finest work he's ever done.

Ghost is sublime. I think it's basically flawless, with the caveat that I can't listen to it too often. I have to be in a certain mood to allow myself to get carried away by it and feel all the emotions it offers. I feel it's a disservice to listen to it when I'm not prepared for it.

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around Deconstruction. It feels like SYL, Infinity and Ziltoid pureed in a blender and poured down your throat during a waterboarding session. The Mighty Masturbator is such a brilliant and bizarre beast of a song that it seems to overshadow everything else. But then, every minute of the album has something brilliant and bizarre going on. So I don't know. It'll take some more time to digest. Aside from TMM, Juular and Sumeria are particularly excellent right now.

Conceptually, I think it worked perfectly.
Ki is all about control. I guess Dev was passing through a really hard phase after quitting drugs. And it all got in Ki. Well, in the end of Ki, he realises he's still addicted to some sort of behaviours, so Addicted comes in.
Addicted is about trying to enjoy life without consciousness. I guess Dev might have tried that. He concluded it didn't work. Things gone wrong. Then he needed to destroy himself so he could make things right. That's when Deconstruction comes.
I see Decon's concept as going to your source and exorcising your wrongs. Well, in the course of the album, I have a feeling the character destroyed himself for one reason and ended up exorcising himself for another. Anyway, he felt he had a big fight with himself, and from that came a feeling of relief. That's Ghost.
Ghost is just a big relief. A big relaxing evening by the chair watching the sunset, or something in these lines. However, in this relaxing moment, the character realizes that there are still lots of questions about the universe and about himselfe he hasn't solved, and he reconcile with that exorcised part of himself. Well, then, if you're up to it...there comes Ki again.

It ties up really well, I guess. It's just my interpretation though.

I still have to give more listens to Decon and Ghost to take a deeper grasp at their concepts.

About the music, I think everything is just perfect. Ki has lots of tension in it in some songs (that builds up very well in Disruptr and Heaven Send), and has lots of relaxing moments. It has its simple moments too, which are just in perfect timing. Addicted is danceable and heavy. That's not something easy to achieve. I get a really nostalgic and powerful feeling from some songs, specially the last three (The Way Home (which is my favourite from Addicted), Numbered and Awake). Deconstruction is heavy like hell, and positive. Listening to it gives me SOOO much energy. Specially tracks like Stand and Poltergeist. Again, there is tension that is really well build in this album (like in Praise the Lowered, which is probably my favourite from Decon, and Stand), there is explosion (Juular and Poltergeist), weirdness (TMM and Decon), and epicness (Sumeria and The Planet of the Apes). And Ghost is so mellow and relaxing and sunset-y and smooth and...ocean-y. I feel really well listening to it. Feather makes me cry, and, wierdly enough, remembers me of "Toy Story" (which I am a childhood fan, BTW). Fly, Heart Baby, Monsoon and Infinite Ocean gets me feeling like I'm watching the ocean by the seashore during the sunset. I wish I can do that someday listening to these songs. Ghost, Kawaii, Blackberry and Seams are so catchy and folky. I like them very much.

All in all, I hope Devin continue to write such inspired music.