My older brother is interested in Devin Townsend since I always talk about him. He asked me which CD to get him started on.
His favorite band is Tool.

So which one? I know my list is not exhaustive, but I think they are the best choices knowing him.
I will let you choose 2 of them if you cannot decide between which one.

Ocean Machine is definitely the right choice. It's accessible enough and has many different sides of Devin in one album. And if he doesn't like that, he's too dumb to listen to other Devin releases

I chose Infinity because if your bro likes Tool then this album could be for him, it's a bit "off the wall".

I also chose Terria...why? It has Deep Peace on it!

Synchestra was my first one, but eh.

looks like everyone's going to give you a different answer.

Ki is definitely NOT one to start him on though.

Also, where's Physicist? Ziltoid? Heck if he's into Tool, you might be best off showing him Strapping Young Lad - Alien.

Ocean Machine for sure, and maybe Accelerated Evolution or Terria too.

[swervedriver]

I voted Ocean Machine, but also included AE since that's what I got started with.

I was gonna go with Biomech cause its THE classic, but................

A few years ago i worked with a Polish man who was just getting into rock/metal in general, he had just discovered TOOL and was OBSESSED with them, i mentioned Devins music and said i would make him a sample CD with a couple of tracks from each solo album and the first two tracks were HYPERGEEK and TRIUMPH.......the look on his face when Triumph kicked in was INCREDIBLE i could see the hairs on his arms standing up, he thought it was fucking amazing!

I went with Synchestra because of that, i think its more accesable in the SHORT term as an album where as Biomech took me a few listens to really get drawn into its magic.

thanks everyone for your thoughts and votes.
keep em comin!

So far, I am leaning towards synchestra because
1) I started with it and fell in love with it very quickly
2) The music is both accessible and there is also development and building up moments too

I'd skip all of the above and go for:

Spice Girls - best of

Daphne & Celeste - anything you can get hold of

(if all that fails, just listen to smalltown boy by bronksi beat on loop)

first song i ever heard was Sunset. Blew my fuckin mind away!!!

thanks everyone for your thoughts and votes.
keep em comin!

So far, I am leaning towards synchestra because
1) I started with it and fell in love with it very quickly
2) The music is both accessible and there is also development and building up moments too

In other words you made this thread for no reason because you were just going to toss out everyone's suggestions and use your own anyhow?

I voted Infinity, just because it rules, but it depends what the noob likes already.

AE is very easy to get into

I like terria and AE for their sheer sonic power and the fantastic vocal performances.

I've found that generally, if people aren't won over by OM, Terria or AE, they usually cave in at Ziltoid, then the rest just comes from that

Worked several times