The Devin Townsend Project - "Ki"

The Devin Townsend Project - Ki
2009, Inside Out

1. A Monday
2. Coast
3. Disruptr
4. Gato
5. Terminal
6. Heaven Send
7. Ain't Never Gonna Win...
8. Winter
9. Trainfire
10. Lady Helen
11. Ki
12. Quiet Riot
13. Demon League

The Devin Townsend Project is a cycle of four albums in which Townsend is endeavoring to create music without the influence of drugs or alcohol. Ki is a quiet introspective album - very different from the "organized chaos" of his past releases. There's no "wall of sound" here everything is subtle and understated. Just when a song like "Coast" or "Gato" threatens to pummel your head in a metal fury it cuts itself off, leading into atmospheric soundscapes like "Terminal" or "Winter." One of my favorite songs, "Trainfire" almost sounds like Elvis Presley on crack! It has a Elvis Presley/Johnny Cash sort of flair in the verses followed by a flowing and melodic chorus. Then it gets really quiet with just the guitar and female vocal... it's really awesome - makes me happy to be a music lover.

Useless Fact: The cover is supposed to be 3-D but I never got the glasses with my preorder.