Devin Townsend "PowerNerd" (2CD+BD-A w/Atmos) 10/25/2024

[haikubass]

Promo:
Devin Townsend’s career is one of many distinct eras. He’s been the leader of Strapping Young Lad, the lynchpin of the Devin Townsend Project and the co-architect of country duo Casualties of Cool, all while maintaining his prolific and lauded solo project. Now, the polymath’s newest era starts with PowerNerd: a succinct but still progressive record that pulls from its mastermind’s childhood love of vintage rock.

From the moment the title track ignites the record with a roar of “PowerNerd!”, Devin’s 28th studio project is a gallop of melody, noise and emotion. The opener and “Knuckledragger” are all-out, high-speed rampages, their impact intensified by their central figure’s signature ‘wall of sound’ production style. However, that aggression is far from the only thing to come from Powernerd’s 11 episodic tracks. “Dreams of Light”, by comparison, is an evocative and dynamic four-minute ballad. “Younger Lover” calms down from an explosive opening to lush verses of synths and singing, whereas “Falling Apart” and “Jainism” add texture after texture on top of dulcet, acoustic introductions. With each song also having an irresistible hook at its heart, Devin has undeniably crafted a soulful instant classic of a rock record.

‘PowerNerd’ is available as a Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook (incl. bonus tracks, Dolby Atmos & High-Resolution Stereo Mixes), Ltd 2CD Digipak in O-Card (incl. bonus tracks), Standard CD Jewelcase & Gatefold 180g LP + LP-booklet, as well as digitally in stereo & Dolby Atmos.

Release date: October 25, 2024
Pre-orders:
US: https://centurymedia.store/collecti.../devin-townsend-powernerd-2xcd-bluray-artbook
UK: https://burningshed.com/devin-townsend_powernerd_boxset
DE: https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/devin-townsend-powernerd/hnum/11946544

Blu-ray:
01. PowerNerd (Dolby Atmos)
02. Falling Apart (Dolby Atmos)
03. Knuckledragger (Dolby Atmos)
04. Gratitude (Dolby Atmos)
05. Dreams of Light (Dolby Atmos)
06. Ubelia (Dolby Atmos)
07. Jainism (Dolby Atmos)
08. Younger Lover (Dolby Atmos)
09. Glacier (Dolby Atmos)
10. Goodbye (Dolby Atmos)
11. Ruby Quaker (Dolby Atmos)

Streaming (Atmos):
https://tidal.com/track/380099223?u

 

[Thonolan]

Nice! As usual with Devin, I'll listen before buying. While I love his music at times, some of his stuff doesn't do it for me.

 

[haikubass]

Mixed by Devin & Ben Searles:

 

[stoopid]

Nice! As usual with Devin, I'll listen before buying. While I love his music at times, some of his stuff doesn't do it for me.

That's a fair strategy, although I find the eclectic variety within and between albums one of the reasons I buy. lol

I'll wait a bit and see what other sites carry the deluxe package.

 

[Marplot]

Here is your chance to listen to a track. Dev being Dev.
https://blabbermouth.net/news/devin-townsend-announces-powernerd-album-shares-video-for-title-track

 

[beerking]

Amazon UK have the Blu-ray for £41.74

https://amzn.eu/d/aDdI2Id

 

[LTW]

Awesome! Love that Devin has embraced surround for the last few albums. His music has always begged for it. I did hear him mention that he was setting up his own Atmos mixing studio but it looks like he went elsewhere for it this time.

 

[stoopid]

It's on Amazon US now. $60 is a fair price. https://www.amazon.com/PowerNerd-Devin-Townsend/dp/B0DDZBXWKF/ref=sr_1_2?crid=324OGAL2ZCX1G

 

[Marplot]

$54 shipped from LaserCD but yeah, $60 isn't bad.

 

[PolkSDA]

US$50.49 shipped to US from JPC.de

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/devin-townsend-powernerd/hnum/11946544

$50.22 shipped (including sales tax) from importcds.com:

https://www.importcds.com/powernerd/198028139229

P.S. The $59.98 at Amazon is likely a placeholder price that will drop closer to release date.

 

[Marplot]

damn great price at Import, I had my mule buy it from LaserCD too soon.

 

[timbre4]

Bullmoose now $56.97
Free shipping kicks in @ $75

 

[stoopid]

$50.22 shipped (including sales tax) from importcds.com:

https://www.importcds.com/powernerd/198028139229

$49.43 was the winner for me.

 

[SMS]

Another new song available. Jainism

How does the Atmos mix sound on Apple Music (assuming it is available)?

 

[beerking]

Another new song available. Jainism

How does the Atmos mix sound on Apple Music (assuming it is available)?

Here is a taster

 

[PolkSDA]

Shaping up quite nicely.

 

[stoopid]

Release day. A poll should be put up [hint hint].

My importcds box set is on its way, estimated delivery Oct 30.

 

[FrankieZappa]

Arrived yesterday in my mailbox...
i dunno, the fact that I have a dedicated 5.1 setup and this Blu-ray has only Dolby Atmos track for multichannel somehow doesn't give it justice. I know the Atmos track SHOULD, in theory, fold down to 5.1 but I've got the feeling of listening to a stereo track upmixed...it doesn't sound quite right.
They should have included a dedicated 5.1 mix like Steven Wilson always do. My 2 cents.

EDIT: The disc has been in constant rotation yesterday afternoon/evening and for the majority of this morning in my Blu-ray Player and I have to change most of what my initial impressions were, although not totally. Some songs are pretty good when it comes to surround while others are very front-centered,not very discrete (the beautiful "Younger Lover" comes in mind for example).
Blu-ray authoring is very poor I must say. Initial Menu is a very bare/poor screen where you can only select tracks and audio setup. The song Powernerd plays in the background, in stereo. Not even the effort of having a dedicated music for the menus, maybe taken from the extra tracks of the second CD. Oh, those extra tracks are not present in the Blu-ray, not even in HiRes stereo. They could (should) have included those extra tracks, a dedicated 5.1 audio mix, maybe a couple of videoclips or a brief "making of" of the album or a simple interview with Devin. And the commentary version doesn't appear here. Songs have static images and the title and that's it.

A nice album, don't get me wrong, but for 50€ circa you expect a better value for the overall package.

 

[LTW]

Arrived yesterday in my mailbox...
i dunno, the fact that I have a dedicated 5.1 setup and this Blu-ray has only Dolby Atmos track for multichannel somehow doesn't give it justice. I know the Atmos track SHOULD, in theory, fold down to 5.1 but I've got the feeling of listening to a stereo track upmixed...it doesn't sound quite right.
They should have included a dedicated 5.1 mix like Steven Wilson always do. My 2 cents.

EDIT: The disc has been in constant rotation yesterday afternoon/evening and for the majority of this morning in my Blu-ray Player and I have to change most of what my initial impressions were, although not totally. Some songs are pretty good when it comes to surround while others are very front-centered,not very discrete (the beautiful "Younger Lover" comes in mind for example).
Blu-ray authoring is very poor I must say. Initial Menu is a very bare/poor screen where you can only select tracks and audio setup. The song Powernerd plays in the background, in stereo. Not even the effort of having a dedicated music for the menus, maybe taken from the extra tracks of the second CD. Oh, those extra tracks are not present in the Blu-ray, not even in HiRes stereo. They could (should) have included those extra tracks, a dedicated 5.1 audio mix, maybe a couple of videoclips or a brief "making of" of the album or a simple interview with Devin. And the commentary version doesn't appear here. Songs have static images and the title and that's it.

A nice album, don't get me wrong, but for 50€ circa you expect a better value for the overall package.

I can’t speak for the lack of other features on the Bluray but I do believe Devin was pretty rushed getting the mixes for this album out and probably only had time to do the Atmos. 5.1 is quite a different workflow, requiring a different mixing session (at least when I do it) and he probably just didn’t consider including 5.1 as Atmos should fold down to that.
That being said, you have to consciously mix for a good 5.1 fold down and I’ve heard plenty of Atmos mixes, rock and metal especially, that sound very front centric in 5.1.

 

[FrankieZappa]

That being said, you have to consciously mix for a good 5.1 fold down and I’ve heard plenty of Atmos mixes, rock and metal especially, that sound very front centric in 5.1.

I think that explains it all then....because some songs are almost front-centered only.
Kinda looks like a missed opportunity from Dev.