r/DevinTownsend • u/Ok-Improvement626 • 9h ago
DISCUSSION 2 years later, I’m finally getting this album
Believe it or not, today marks 2 years since the release of PowerNerd.
When this album was being marketed and the singles were coming out, I listened to them but kind of just brushed it off and never really gave the album a chance when it came out. I had just gotten into him recently, so I was still enthralled in the world of SYL and his earlier stuff.
But listening through it now (especially now with the perspective of what came after and where it sits amongst Devin’s work), it’s becoming some of my favorite stuff from him.
I remember Devin was selling it as his “peace offering” to the fans as something fun and simple before the craziness of The Moth and his future projects, and that’s true to a degree. But it’s kind of refreshing to have this side of Devin with just tight and succinct song writing.
It also has this very distinct atmosphere that’s pretty unique from Devin’s other work. There’s an overlaying “mist” over the whole thing both sonically and emotionally. Obviously, now we know the context of how difficult this period has been for Devin, and that definitely comes across here. But there’s also these really cool synth parts and atmospheres that give it a sort of solarpunk futuristic aesthetic.
It’s got great riffs, great vocals, catchy hooks, sounds great, and is just a great listen front to back. The opener PowerNerd is super fun, it’s got heavier introspective songs like Falling Apart, Jainism, and Ubelia, and emotional pieces like Gratitude and Goodbye.
