Customer Reviews

Addicted

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Addicted is the second album of the four-part series under the Devin Townsend Project pseudonym, essentially a project featuring Townsend and musicians he hand-picks for each album, which is really cool. Ki, the first part released six months prior, serves as a delectable appetizer with mostly tranquil listening. It's controlled and teases with letting the wrath loose, and Addicted picks up where Ki left off, the perfect second course. The building anticipation in the title track is heavy. It's exciting.

There's a plethora of sounds and protruding from them all is the experienced, yet virtually unheard of Anneke van Giersbergen, female Dutch singer. Her gentle voice is everywhere - sometimes in the background, sometimes in the forefront, and she surprisingly complements Townsend's wild side. One song that features her alone is the revamped "Hyperdrive" from Ziltoid the Omniscient, formerly with Townsend's vocals, but now with Giersbergen's.

While Townsend's subtler stuff like Ki doesn't go unappreciated, it's the radical stuff that most people really love, and Addicted brings back the "wall of sound" but in a more melodic fashion. Each and every song is catchy with metal elements. Most songs are "Material"-like (Physicist) with a whirlwind of layers & effects, varying degrees of Townsend vocal intensities, and just plain greatness. The exception is the relatively tame "Ih-Ah!" and ironically it's one of the better songs. Try not to sing along.

Addicted is more commercial than previous solo projects and is beautifully heavy. It's very easy to get in to and will likely go down as one of Townsend's most approachable albums.

Addicted (2009) - Devin Townsend Project's second album and Devin Townsend's ninth official solo album overall.

Oh, Devin Townsend. How do you still manage to continuously blow me away with your music after all this time? It's simple: he makes no compromises to what he wants to accomplish and constantly reinvents himself while maintaining the key elements which sets his musical style and songwriting approach apart from the masses. And even when he does not do this, it still sounds amazing. His music is certainly not for everyone, although give his albums enough time and I am sure they will please even the most skeptical critic. He gets outrageously insane and you can never say that this guy is missing heart. Because it's all here in spades.

All that said, this ultra-melodic, wall of sound, guitar ambiance, industrial wave crash never fails to please the ears. It's heavy as hell while keeping a distinctively sophisticated style. Addicted is certainly no exception to the rule, although it definitely pushes in a much more commercial direction this time. If you compare this outing to earlier stuff of his, the best way I can describe it is to imagine if there were a whole album full of his more accessible songs like "Life", "Christine", "Material", "Slows Me Down", "Traveller", "Hyperdrive" (hey wait! that one IS on here!) and the like and cut out all of the progressive freeform and ambient passages that you'd find on albums like Terria, Synchestra and Ocean Machine. I first started listening to Devin Townsend back when Accelerated Evolution came out, and even though that one unfortunately tends to get overlooked nowadays, it was truly a tour-de-force and the perfect combo of heavy, melodic and catchy themes that were enough to hook me on for life. Addicted definitely reminds me a lot of that album because it accomplishes much of the same things songwriting-wise while bringing forth a more positive feel that would be at home on albums like Physicist and Synchestra.

So what is this album really? All the comparing to previous works aside, Addicted is the second in a series of four albums under the new moniker "Devin Townsend Project". Emerging completely sober from a long hiatus and ending Strapping Young Lad for good, Devin chose to rediscover songwriting by soul-searching and expressing himself through different musical modes. What came of it is roughly 40+ songs that he decided to organize into not just separate albums, but also separate musical styles and by having different bands play each of these styles. Back in August, we got the first part, Ki, in which Devin restrained his normally explosive nature and produced more of a solumn and introspectively quiet outing. I loved it, even if it sounded much different than his normal stuff. The fact that he can tackle different territory like that and still make a solid album out of it is a testament to his stellar songwriting capabilities.... Move on about 3 months, and we arrive here at Addicted. On here, he aims to create a collection of catchy, commercially accessible and happy songs while maintaining all the heaviness that his sound is known for. This is where he brings in DTB veteran Ryan Van Poederooyen on Drums (sounding great as he ever did in previous albums), Brian Waddell on bass, and to my surprise... the lovely and hauntingly talented vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen joins in! She shares not just a small role, but does nearly half the vocals on this album! Her parts mesh beautifully with the music and complement Devin's voice amazingly. After going through the album, you almost get the impression that she's been singing with Devin Townsend for a long time, but that's really not the case at all as she had just left her previous band The Gathering and started her solo career.

Looking at the songs themselves now, the album begins crashing in with the pulse-pounding title track, followed by the equally foot-stompingly heavy romp "Universe In A Ball!" Devin described this album as being primarily "heavy and danceable" and these songs both set the tone well. Funny thing is, these are probably my two least-favorite songs on the whole album, and yet they're still awesome songs. "Bend It Like Bender!" charges forth with an almost minimalistic (for Devin's guitars anyway) arena-rock intro and verse which makes way for the infectiously pop-filled chorus belted out by Anneke. You'll have this one easily stuck in your head for days. Next up is the truly heavenly "Supercrush!" in which Anneke gently carries the verses along until Devin arrives with the wall-of-sound at the chorus, singing "I don't want to see my soul now!" Definitely an album highlight.

Halfway into the album, we arrive at a very familiar song if you've been following Devin's career. "Hyperdrive!" (cleverly renamed to fit in with the album with an extra "!") from Presents: Ziltoid the Omniscient (Special Ed.) is back and better than ever. While the song itself is mostly the same, it's now brought forth a couple of octaves higher and completely voiced by Anneke. I don't mind at all that Devin's decided to retool an older song of his, especially one that was already great to begin with. She just breathes new life and energy into the track. "Resolve!" takes the energy even higher and heavier (with even a reference to Ocean Machine in there!) after beginning with Devin's maniacal laugh before bringing it back down to the accoustic and piano-lined duet "Ih-ah!" Very memorable performance here and one song you'll be humming for a long time. After this, the song slides right into "The Way Home!" which after several listens is one of my top picks from the album. It sticks in your head with its incredible buildup, fast guitar riffs, and perhaps Devin's best vocal performance on the album. "Numbered!" is what would be if you combined Devin's music with The Gathering. Anneke's vocals and the melodies in here even remind me of Mandylion-era Gathering, which works extremely well. Her part near the end is soooooo good it never fails to give me chills. Addicted ends on a very satisfying note with the mid-paced rocker "Awake!" followed by the beat fading into ethereal keyboard ambiance.

I suppose the only real downpoint I found to this album is that at only 46 minutes running time, it's practically over in the blink of an eye. It's done and you'll wish for more.... finding yourself hitting repeat again and again... which is exactly what this album is intended to do to you. That said, it's not really a major factor considering he is releasing four (!) albums within a 2-year timespan, so the brevity is understandable.

Even with his amazing career highlight masterpieces Terria, Infinity and Ocean Machine clearly behind him, there's never been a more exciting time to be a fan of his music than now. I can't wait to see what both Deconstrukt and Ghost (the third and fourth DTP albums respectively) offer when they come out next year. [7/08/11 update: They're both out now, I will surely get them soon and review them.]

All this said, I highly recommend Addicted to any Devin Townsend fan, and even to new fans as a starting point. It sits nicely along with Accelerated Evolution in terms of style. I know it's probably early to say this, but even in the context of all his solo albums this one could become a true classic of his. I'm constantly playing it, and so far it's showing no signs of tiring. It's certainly the most accessible one to date. Ki comes close as well. Fans that are expecting a very progressive approach like Ocean Machine and Terria might be mildly let down (let's face it, those two are a TOUGH act to follow), but if you keep an open mind and understand this album isn't trying to be complex, you'll have no problems getting Addicted (yeah, bad pun that I couldn't help but put on here). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Best Songs: "Bend It Like Bender!", "Supercrush!", "Hyperdrive!", "Ih-Ah!", "The Way Home"

Other Devin Townsend Recommendations if you liked Addicted:
-Ocean Machine (1997)
-Infinity (1999)
-Physicist (2000)
-Terria (2001)
-Accelerated Evolution (2003)
-Synchestra (2006)
-Presents: Ziltoid the Omniscient (Special Ed.) (2007)
-Ki (2009)
-Ghost (2011)
-Deconstrukt (2011)
-City (1995) by Strapping Young Lad
-Alien (2004) by Strapping Young Lad

If you enjoy Anneke Van Giersbergen's vocals, try these:
-Mandylion (1995) by The Gathering
-Souvenirs (2002) by The Gathering
-Home (2006) by The Gathering
-How to Measure a Planet? (1997) by The Gathering
-Air (2008) by Aqua De Annique

Though Ki was a highlight in the long illustrious career of Devin Townsend, an album that was like nothing he had written, Addicted brings us back to familiar territory...sort of!

Addicted won't be anything drastically different from fans who are all too familiar with his solo stuff. Multi-layered tracking and the BIG sound Dev has created in the past are here in full force. However where Addicted differs from previous Townnsend solo albums (Ocean Machine, Accelerated Evolutiuon etc) is that Addicted! is bloody danceable! The addition of Anneke VanGeirbergen on co-vocals (a well established artist, especially in her native Netherlands) and the very beat driven drum machine that is Ryan VanPoederooyen adds a very, never before heard danceability to his music. The songs are pretty basic in initial structure but never seem so because of Dev's ability to add so much to every track.

The result is a very enjoyable, strong album from start to finish that I cannot stop listening to. Never has an album had such an appropriate title!

If you're a close minded kid who only listens to metal and was led here through Strapping Young Lad, check out Ocean Machine and work your way up his solo discography. With that said, this album is an extremely fun album to listen to with it's dense athmosphere of different sounds.

"Addicted!" and "Universe in a Ball!" are the 1st two songs Devin released. While the typical Dev elements are retained in these songs such as the wall-of-sound production, the drums have a very "pop" feeling to them. "Addicted!" also presents Anneke van Giersbergen singing (Agua de Annique, formerly of The Gathering). While she isn't featured that much on this track, she sings some of the verses and choruses on this album (even taking lead vocals on the remake of "Hyperdrive!" with Devin's vocals absent). "Bend it like Bender!" is a fun track. Named after the alcoholic robot from Futurama, it has a dancable drum beat and a catchy chorus from Anneke.

"Supercrush!" was a contender for best track right when Devin posted a video of him tracking the chorus on YouTube. Fans were raving about how this is the ultimate Devin Townsend song with it's big, epic chorus. The rest of the song is just as good, with Anneke carrying the subtle verses and a bridge that is filled with bright sounds everywhere. My personal favorite. While "Hyperdrive!" was previously found on Presents: Ziltoid the Omniscient, this version is a different ballpark from the Ziltoid one. Supposedly, Anneke's cover of it with her solo band Agua de Annique led Devin to call her up asking if she would like to do the female vocals for Addicted. Personally, I like this version more than the Ziltoid one, as it is has a bright athmosphere as opposed to the gloomy one on the original. "Resolve!" is very energetic and has a perfect balance of Devin and Anneke during the chorus, which is very catchy.

"Ih-Ah!" is one of those songs I'd expect people to hate as it sounds ready for mainstream. A cleaner song compared to the 1st 5 tracks, it has a chorus which features Devin chanting "Ih, Ah", which would sound like a typical R&B chorus if it were auto-tuned. Nontheless, this is one of my favorite songs from this album. "The Way Home!", in my opinion, is the weakest track from this album for the sole reason that it plays it too safe. While still an amazing song, it wouldn't sound out of place on Synchestra while some of the others would be weird on them. "Numbered!" starts out with crunchy guitars that are reminiscient of Strapping Young Lad, but that dissolves into a big, melodic chorus sung by Anneke. That and Devin's performance during the bridge makes this song one of my favorites. And finally, "Awake!" isn't a song that blows the others away, but it has some cool lyrics from the Dev and another catchy chorus from Anneke. The track dissolves into ambience after Devin chants "So get Up! Get Up! Get Up! Get up NOW DECONSTRUCT!" ("Wrong Side" from The New Black anyone?) which foreshadows the next album from him which will be called "Deconstruction".

Overall, this isn't the typical offering from Devin Townsend. It has a pop vibe that makes for a whole new experience while still retaining the sound he is best known for. I reccommend this album to everybody. Another good album from Devin Townsend to check out would be Ki, which is the 1st part of the 4 part Devin Townsend Project.

Addicted is Devin's "mainstream" metal album. EVERY song on this album is catchy, memorable, and powerful. The weakest part of the album is probably the first two songs which are still epic. This entire album is just sublime. Anyone who appreciates music will fall in love with the album from start to finish. Quite honestly, this is one of Devin's best albums.

Devin Townsend is always a unique and exciting musical experience. "Ki" was a wonderful album, and if you disagree, well, you just havent listened to it enough or maybe you could never get over the fact that Devin retired SYL. If you want to hear a really good interview why Devin pulled the plug on SYL go here [...]. that interview discussed his "Ki" album as well. but back to "Addicted"... This album is much different than "KI" but it has a bunch of great songs and Annekke has a really lovely voice and fits very well on it IMO. If you are reading this then you are probably already a Devin Townsend fan and have sampled a few tracks from this album, it's not bad, Devin's voice is what really makes this album a great listen for me. listen to 'Awake' if you want to hear his impressive range. Devin had a lot of fun making this album and it shows in the music. Many of the songs are different from heavy screamers (the first two tracks) to an upbeat happy song (Ih-Ah). It's not the most "incredible! Holy crap!" record he has done, no, but its a damn good time and if you are a fan of Devin, you should already own it. I listen to a lot of songs from this album frequently, they fit nicely in my Devin playlist. Devin seems like one of the few honest musicians these days and I really like supporting him. Don't be a bitch. buy it.

This is one of the most pleasing Devin Townsend albums for me in a while. From the first play, I was addicted to "Addicted," which hasn't really happened for me since Terria. Synchestra Never really stuck with me, and I thought Presents: Ziltoid the Omniscient was OK but the silly interludes and overall theme was just a bit much. Ki is good, but still needs some time to sink in with me, and I just don't think Devin's slower/atmospheric side exemplifies his best talents.

This album has a great mix of all Devin's elements, keeping his personality and somewhat zany antics without going overboard. Pounding, sweet rhythms kiss the energetic vocals, soaring above the intense waves of melody, with just the right amount of personal ingenuity to spice things up and keep Devin Devin.

There are quite a bit of fairly heavy scream-ish vocals here, but if you're a Devin fan you're probably used to that - and even those have a distinctive melody and familiar sound to them. The whole album, as always, constructs a wonderful, melodious wall of guitars around the listener. Most of the songs are quite heavy (ok maybe not to the level of Physicist, but one step below that), but there are some ballad-type breathers such as "Ih-Ah!" and "The Way Home," which of course are just as good as the heavier tracks, "Ih-Ah!" actually being one of my favorites on the album.

One of the best things about this album is the fairly prevalent guest vocals by Anneke Van Giersbergen of The Gathering. Her and Devin's voices compliment each other like chocolate syrup and ice cream. Sometimes she's singing backing vocals, sometimes it's a bit of a duo, sometimes she's got the stage. I really enjoy her vocals, it's a refreshing new element to a Devin album.

Another awesome thing about this album is the fact that "Hyperdrive," arguably the best track on "Ziltoid," has been redone with Anneke's vocals. This makes for an extremely orgasmic combination and your ears may not even be able to handle this much musical sweetness. I still equally like to listen to the original as well, and don't mind at all that he has reused a song from a previous album. I think it snuggles in perfectly on this album, perhaps even more so than on "Ziltoid."

I love the variety Devin is able to pull off with his entire discography so far. He's got the super-heavy, the super-bizarre, the more progressive, the softer... that being said, this album is probably the most accessible Devin album to date. It's just plain great and easy to enjoy, it's fresh and electrifying, while still being the same ol' Devin. It'd be a great place for a new fan to start off. This album has renewed my excitement in Devin to when I first discovered him, and I certainly hope it stays strong throughout the rest of this "Project" and for the rest of time!

My fav Devin project yet...just some real great tunes here. Memorable, melodic, heavy, atmospheric, epic sounding music. I love the female singer too...I read her name on the back of the cd but it is a long euro name I cannot remember right now, but she is really really good. I haven't picked up the first of this KI series yet though...Thanks Devin and company! Keep up the great work.

I had heard Addicted on Sirius a few times and thought it was good, if not very different from Devin's other work (Strapping Young Lad). After listening to the samples on Amazon I didn't think it was really my style so I initially passed. What did it for me was seeing the band in concert. Holy. @#$!Q. After an hour of heavy, powerful, melodic and still brutal music (most of which was stuck in my head after the show), I took another look at this album. The samples don't do it justice. The music is very progressive, and so what you hear in the sample could be a build up, a chorus, a hook...but may not be representative of the whole song.

My favorite song so far on the album is Supercrush!. It demonstrates amazing musicianship and a great vocal range. But the whole album is good...very listenable from start to end, very catchy and yet musically deep. It's simply awesome.

By the way, Amazon, I think you have this album categorized incorrectly. This is as much Classic Rock as the Wu Tang clan is "R&B and Soul".

WOW! To All Devin Townsend fans don't even think about it just buy it NOW! In my humble opinion this is the best record this guy has recorded so far. Unlike the SYL records it is very eclectic, yes it is somewhat heavy but not heavy just for heavy's sake. The Female Singer is Fantastic, along with Devin's vocals she puts a very nice touch on the album. This is 10 times as better than Dave Grohl's new project. This is what happens when music lovers give up and start searching somewhere else besides the mainstream. Thank You Devin! You Are Truly a COOL guy!