TERRIA

It's been several years since I acquired Terria. I stumbled onto these reviews, and just felt compelled to offer my sprinkling of water. All tracks - great - without a doubt! Earth Day - what can anyone say really? From the reviews I've read thus far - I agree with them all wholeheartedly - five stars. All that I can add? At first listen, I was speechless. I think I laughed at the genius of it - the bizarreness. I had never heard such a composition. I couldn't share it (shared listen) with just anyone. It's not the song to start with if you're going to introduce someone to Devin's music - "Ocean Machine" maybe, "Christeen" definitely. But Earth Day? It would be like confining a poor young Amish boy and subjecting him to SAW I as his first motion picture. Maybe that's too extreme.

I've been fascinated with Devin endeavors since I was introduced to him in Steve Vai's "Sex and Religion" - still an under rated effort by them both. Steve had good instincts in employing him on that record. Just the screams alone gave the record spice. When I rediscovered him on MP3.com and Napster at the turn of the millennium, I was smitten for life. Now having possession of Synchestra, his greatest work to date, I anticipate more brilliance from this prog metal wizard when his diversion into fatherhood, resurfaces out of retirement with new things to say and sing and scream about. Those of the screaming and shrieking styles have been around awhile now - but it's as if Devin was the mold from which all others sprang forth. I know of no other singer, who can scream at the top of his monstrous lungs - and do it on key. I will say that SYL is too much for me, but I understand and respect the target audience he's feeding.