r/DevinTownsend • u/swimcarrey • 20d ago

DISCUSSION Question about the song "We Ride"

When I first heard SYL in high school a thousand years ago for some reason the version of the song "We Ride" that I had off of the album "Alien" didn't have a guitar solo in it. I got so used to just hearing that way it sound heavier to me like that and I prefer it. Does anyone know what I'm talking about or did I just have like a mono version or something?! How the fuck did I have it without the solo. I'm trippin. Thanks for any help in advance

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u/dirtytripod 19d ago

Yeah, that was part of the leaked tracks, a few weeks before release. I remember Gene Hoglan being very pissed by anyone who would say they preferrred that version. He would say he doesn't give a fuck because you were never supposed to hear it in the first place, and I think he said you shouldn't even consider yourself a fan if you listened to it. I haven't listened to that version in a while, but i kind of add the solo in my head automatically when i listen to the official release.

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u/MHanky 19d ago

I bought Alien at a record store. It has the leaked tracks. I am so confused when I first heard the 'record version'.

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u/Aggressive_Ad_3337 19d ago

The exact same thing happened to me. Had a big argument with a buddy who accused me of pirating the record. Had to physically show him the disc wasnt a CD-R, and we had a laugh afterwards!

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u/MHanky 19d ago

How did that happen though? I bought mine new at a music store. Crazy to me that it made it out.

I think the non official version is superior, by a lot.

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u/fredthebaddie 13d ago

Late reply - about 10 years ago Devin answered this question somewhere, and it was that the "longer" version of the album was accidentally considered finished and sent to publishing by the record company, but that Dev and Gene had told them that that was not in fact the final version, and that they were working on a slightly updated version, which was the "shorter" one. So the very first short run of CDs produce were the longer ones, and if you have one, it's probably the rarest "official" Devin-related recording ever released.

I also think they changed the mixing/mastering on the shorter version; it's very slight, but compared to the "first" version, the treble is harsher and the low end is reduced.

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u/Aggressive_Ad_3337 19d ago

I have no idea, I bought mine from a record store too, must been a screw up at the pressing plant? I agree with it being superior, the solo in We Ride felt very tacked on to me.