Self-Titled Summer | Casualties of Cool (2014, Canada)

Our next Self-Titled Summer spotlight is on number 787 on The List, submitted by unsafelyhotboots. This is the sole album from the utterly prolific musician Devin Townsend as a duo with singer Ché Aimee Dorval, who previously appeared on the 2009 Devin Townsend Project album, Ki. No where near Townsend's home genre of metal, this is a moody concept album that "sounds like haunted Johnny Cash songs," particularly if Johnny Cash wrote those songs while trapped on a planet that ate fear.

Want to read more? See the full spotlight on the Fediverse at @1001otheralbums.com or on the blog: https://1001otheralbums.com/2025/07/16/self-titled-summer-casualties-of-cool-2014-canada/

Want to skip straight to the music? Here's a Songlink: https://album.link/i/854531712

Happy listening!

#CasualtiesOfCool #DevinTownsend #ChéAimeeDorval #CountryRock #ChamberRock #folk #ambient #ConceptAlbum #selftitled #music #1001OtherAlbums

Self-Titled Summer | Casualties of Cool (2014, Canada)

Our next Self-Titled Summer spotlight is on number 787 on The List, submitted by unsafelyhotboots. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Point of origin(s): This is, at least thus far, a one-off project from Canadian/Vancouverite musicians Devin Townsend and Ché Aimee Dorval. Townsend is an incredibly prolific artist who typically works in the realm of metal, with s/t projects such as The Devin Townsend Band, Devin Townsend Project, his solo material, and his record label HevyDevy Records. The Devin Townsend Project in particular started as a series of albums meant to allow space for Townsend to figure out his identity as a musician, beginning with Ki (2009), which featured Dorval as a guest vocalist on a few tracks. Initially, Casualties of Cool was slated to be the 6th album for the Devin Townsend Project (following the 2012 Epicloud) and Townsend’s 16th studio album overall. But, perhaps since the music on this album is so different from his previous work, Townsend later decided to make it a separate project, working again with Dorval then as a duo, plus Morgan Ågren on drums/percussion and various guest musicians (including a chamber choir).
• Tasting notes: Moody, ambient country rock, with vibes for days. According to Townsend himself, “It sounds like haunted Johnny Cash songs.” Also, sounds like (i.e., has the concept of) a traveller being lured to a sentient, fear-eating planet, the traveller finding solace in music on said fear-eating planet, and then liberation for the traveller and another captive of the fear-eating planet. Or something.
• Standout track: Any that feature Dorval’s gorgeous vocals. But also, as with any great concept album, the tracks bleed into and refer back to each other,[1] so you really need to listen to all of them – it’s an event.
• Where are they now?: Townsend has continued to make many records, primarily under his solo work. His most recent, PowerNerd (2024), is his 22nd studio album. Dorval has continued to work with Townsend and on her own solo material, with the 2023 The Crowned being her most recent solo studio album.
• Websites: Band website, Wikipedia; Devin Townsend’s website, Ché Aimee Dorval’s website, Devin Townsend’s Bandcamp, Ché Aimee Dorval’s Bandcamp

Happy listening!

• Songlink: Casualties of Cool – Casualties of Cool
• Discogs: Casualties of Cool – Casualties of Cool

#ambient #CasualtiesOfCool #chamberRock #ChéAimeeDorval #conceptAlbum #countryRock #DevinTownsend #folk #music #musicDiscovery #selftitled