Love or Hate?

Tristan_Geoff · 11-14-2015, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

It amuses me that without any knowledge of Mother Love Bone, Trollheart saw the album as retro seventies rock combined with hair metal. Grunge fans love to pretend that Apple is like one of the crown jewels of the genre, but it isn't even really grunge. Or that good.

Honestly I can never get my head around why people thought grunge was a genuine genre. Sure, the groups all pull from similar influences and have the same production, but none of them sound too much alike other than that. They all fit more neatly into other genres.

It was more of a marketing term for labels really, or a descriptive word for distortion. But if distortion is the only characteristic of grunge then a lot should be classified as grunge.

Machine · 11-14-2015, 12:28 PM

For my next rec

Melting Sun by Lântlos

Trollheart · 11-14-2015, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You do know the rest of the band became Pearl Jam, right? So they did get to record a bit more material.

Yeah, I read that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

It amuses me that without any knowledge of Mother Love Bone, Trollheart saw the album as retro seventies rock combined with hair metal. Grunge fans love to pretend that Apple is like one of the crown jewels of the genre, but it isn't even really grunge. Or that good.

I say what I hear, man. Some of the songs were VERY close to Poison territory. Also, I did read about them so while I may not know them, I do know a little about them now. I always research before I write. You should know that. Also, I never mentioned grunge, just so you know.

The Batlord · 11-14-2015, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Yeah, I read that.

I say what I hear, man. Some of the songs were VERY close to Poison territory. Also, I did read about them so while I may not know them, I do know a little about them now. I always research before I write. You should know that. Also, I never mentioned grunge, just so you know.

I was agreeing with you. Mother Love Bone are Zeppelin meets Poison.

Trollheart · 11-14-2015, 02:48 PM

Title: Overpowered
Artiste: Róisín Murphy
Genre: Electronica/Pop
Familiarity: Zero

1. Overpowered: Synth-heavy of course, she has a nice voice which doesn't grate; this is a slowish opener. Yeah, I like it. Restrained but with a decent punch.
2. You know me better: More uptempo, slightly dancier but still catchy.
3. Checkin' on me: This has a sort of soul tinge to it
4. Let me know: Started off like a ballad but picked up into a real funk groover. Nice.
5. Movie star: Nice thick buzzy synths on this one. Oh yeah, really like this one. If I knew what Lady Gaga sounded like I would probably say this sounds like her, but I don't so I can't. But I bet it does. Actually it reminds me of Animotion. Best track so far.
6. Primitive: This is a nice change. A laidback little track that isn't quite a ballad but is slower and more relaxed than the rest of the album so far.
7. Footprints: Back to the funk, with some real seventies style synth, handclaps, the whole bit. She really has a nice voice. Sounds like Judie Tzuke at times, especially here. I'd like to see though what she does with a really passionate ballad, maybe piano or acoustic guitar.
8. Dear Miami: Like this too. Has a very fresh, relaxing feel to it.
9. Cry baby: This is a real techno dancer, but pretty damn cool. I could dance to this. You have been fairly warned.
10. Tell everybody: This is just so smooth!
11. Scarlet ribbons: Ah yes! A soulful ballad. Love this, and she hits it right on the money.

End result: Not the sort of music I would normally listen to, but this album was pretty damn righteous. Batty nails it again.

So, Love or Hate? Nothing but Love, here.

Trollheart · 11-14-2015, 02:50 PM

Title: Every Open Eye
Artiste: Chvrches
Genre: Pop
Familiarity: Heard and loved the debut album; looking forward to this one.

1. Never ending circles: Well it's not disappointing from the off. A nice marching kind of pop song, heavy percussion, great rippling synth
2. Leave a trace: Kind of lighter and more uptempo, still really good though. Man, she has some voice, hasn't she?
3. Keep you on my side: Nice and boppy; nothing as strong so far as anything off the debut. Waiting...
4. Make them gold: This is the first time I've heard something comparable to The Bones of What You Believe. Excellent track.
5. Clearest blue: Now we're getting somewhere. This album just took off.
6. High enough to carry you over: Boo. Male vocal. Decent song, but is decent good enough for this album? I think we all know the answer to that.
7. Empty threat: Oh yeah, so much better when Lauren gets behind the mike. Great pumping, powerful, happy pop song with such a hook.
8. Downside of me: Superb little downtempo track. Love it.
9. Playing dead: Has a real hard edge to it. Powerful percussion (drum machine?)
10. Bury it: Yeah, it's just getting better now as it heads towards the end. Another hard-edged song with stabbing synthwork.
11. Afterglow: Beautiful ethereal ballad to end; almost ambient. Just gorgeous.

End result: I kind of expected this to be great, so it's not as big a surprise as the debut album was. That said, I was perhaps a little more expectant and maybe ended up being a little harder on this than I should have been. Still a great album, and a wonderful followup to The Bones of What You Believe, but that album still holds first place for me.

So, Love or Hate? Nevertheless, and to no-one's surprise, it's a total Love.

The Batlord · 11-14-2015, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Title: Overpowered
Artiste: Róisín Murphy
Genre: Electronica/Pop
Familiarity: Zero

1. Overpowered: Synth-heavy of course, she has a nice voice which doesn't grate; this is a slowish opener. Yeah, I like it. Restrained but with a decent punch.
2. You know me better: More uptempo, slightly dancier but still catchy.
3. Checkin' on me: This has a sort of soul tinge to it
4. Let me know: Started off like a ballad but picked up into a real funk groover. Nice.
5. Movie star: Nice thick buzzy synths on this one. Oh yeah, really like this one. If I knew what Lady Gaga sounded like I would probably say this sounds like her, but I don't so I can't. But I bet it does. Actually it reminds me of Animotion. Best track so far.
6. Primitive: This is a nice change. A laidback little track that isn't quite a ballad but is slower and more relaxed than the rest of the album so far.
7. Footprints: Back to the funk, with some real seventies style synth, handclaps, the whole bit. She really has a nice voice. Sounds like Judie Tzuke at times, especially here. I'd like to see though what she does with a really passionate ballad, maybe piano or acoustic guitar.
8. Dear Miami: Like this too. Has a very fresh, relaxing feel to it.
9. Cry baby: This is a real techno dancer, but pretty damn cool. I could dance to this. You have been fairly warned.
10. Tell everybody: This is just so smooth!
11. Scarlet ribbons: Ah yes! A soulful ballad. Love this, and she hits it right on the money.

End result: Not the sort of music I would normally listen to, but this album was pretty damn righteous. Batty nails it again.

So, Love or Hate? Nothing but Love, here.

I don't even remember who that is.

YorkeDaddy · 11-15-2015, 01:19 AM

Agree the male vocal is easily my least favorite trap. Not that bad of a song but it sticks out like a really sore thumb

Trollheart · 11-15-2015, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkeDaddy

Agree the male vocal is easily my least favorite trap. Not that bad of a song but it sticks out like a really sore thumb

Yeah they should really leave Lauren to the singing. She's far better at it.

Trollheart · 11-15-2015, 05:24 AM

Title: Dust Bowl Ballads
Artiste: Woody Guthrie
Genre: Folk
Familiarity: An American folk hero, but I've heard little of his work.

1. The great dust storm (Dust storm disaster): Kind of an uptempo song, I assume just he and his guitar, very acoustic, gives a good idea of the hard times in what became known as the Dust Bowl in America in the 1930s. Like much folk, it's basically telling a story, fairly straightforward, almost as if Guthrie was an observer and not involved, and yet there's great emotion coming through too.
2. I ain't got no home in this world anymore: Another uptempo one; odd, given the title and the subject matter.
3. Talkin' dust bowl blues: Sort of a narrated vocal rather than a singing one. Like the line “Gamblin' man is rich and the workin' man is poor.”
4. Vigilante man: Ooh! Harmonica! Nice. Good tune.
5. Dust can't kill me: Real sense of defiance in this. Like it, though it Does come across as a little selfish --- “Dust got my baby but it can't get me.” Hmmm.
6. Pretty Boy Floyd: It's okay but not that great.
7. Dust pneumonia blues: Meh, not mad about this one. Just not feeling it.
8. Blowin' down this road: More harmonica. Cool. Like this one.
9. Tom Joad part 1: I never liked Tom Joad from the time I heard the Springsteen album, so I'm not starting from a good place here. Meh.
10. Tom Joad part 2: Why does this have to be in two parts? They're basically the same. Meh again.
11. Dust Bowl refugee: Good harmonica start. This is pleasant enough.
12. Do re mi: I know this one. Heard Nanci Griffith cover it on her Other Voices, Other Rooms album.
13. Dust bowl blues: A real old blues tune, can't beat it.

14. Dusty old dust: God damn I can feel that dust in my throat! Need a drink after this. Another decent acoustic song.

End result: I think the problem with this album is that, while it's great and all, there's only so much you can listen to him talk about how the dust storms ruined his life. Not to cheapen what happened, but would you listen to a full album about say Hurricane Katrina or the Great San Francisco Earthquake? It gets a little boring after a while.

So, Love or Hate? Despite all that I still have to give it a Love. There's just too much honesty and pain in there not to acknowledge it.

11-14-2015, 12:28 PM	#2032 (permalink)
Machine moon lake inc. Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Detroit Posts: 2,125	For my next rec Melting Sun by Lântlos __________________ boost my ego listen to me stroke my delay pedal ever wanted to hear death grips songs... but they're acoustic? me neither.

11-14-2015, 02:48 PM	#2035 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: Overpowered Artiste: Róisín Murphy Genre: Electronica/Pop Familiarity: Zero 1. Overpowered: Synth-heavy of course, she has a nice voice which doesn't grate; this is a slowish opener. Yeah, I like it. Restrained but with a decent punch. 2. You know me better: More uptempo, slightly dancier but still catchy. 3. Checkin' on me: This has a sort of soul tinge to it 4. Let me know: Started off like a ballad but picked up into a real funk groover. Nice. 5. Movie star: Nice thick buzzy synths on this one. Oh yeah, really like this one. If I knew what Lady Gaga sounded like I would probably say this sounds like her, but I don't so I can't. But I bet it does. Actually it reminds me of Animotion. Best track so far. 6. Primitive: This is a nice change. A laidback little track that isn't quite a ballad but is slower and more relaxed than the rest of the album so far. 7. Footprints: Back to the funk, with some real seventies style synth, handclaps, the whole bit. She really has a nice voice. Sounds like Judie Tzuke at times, especially here. I'd like to see though what she does with a really passionate ballad, maybe piano or acoustic guitar. 8. Dear Miami: Like this too. Has a very fresh, relaxing feel to it. 9. Cry baby: This is a real techno dancer, but pretty damn cool. I could dance to this. You have been fairly warned. 10. Tell everybody: This is just so smooth! 11. Scarlet ribbons: Ah yes! A soulful ballad. Love this, and she hits it right on the money. End result: Not the sort of music I would normally listen to, but this album was pretty damn righteous. Batty nails it again. So, Love or Hate? Nothing but Love, here. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-14-2015, 02:50 PM	#2036 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: Every Open Eye Artiste: Chvrches Genre: Pop Familiarity: Heard and loved the debut album; looking forward to this one. 1. Never ending circles: Well it's not disappointing from the off. A nice marching kind of pop song, heavy percussion, great rippling synth 2. Leave a trace: Kind of lighter and more uptempo, still really good though. Man, she has some voice, hasn't she? 3. Keep you on my side: Nice and boppy; nothing as strong so far as anything off the debut. Waiting... 4. Make them gold: This is the first time I've heard something comparable to The Bones of What You Believe. Excellent track. 5. Clearest blue: Now we're getting somewhere. This album just took off. 6. High enough to carry you over: Boo. Male vocal. Decent song, but is decent good enough for this album? I think we all know the answer to that. 7. Empty threat: Oh yeah, so much better when Lauren gets behind the mike. Great pumping, powerful, happy pop song with such a hook. 8. Downside of me: Superb little downtempo track. Love it. 9. Playing dead: Has a real hard edge to it. Powerful percussion (drum machine?) 10. Bury it: Yeah, it's just getting better now as it heads towards the end. Another hard-edged song with stabbing synthwork. 11. Afterglow: Beautiful ethereal ballad to end; almost ambient. Just gorgeous. End result: I kind of expected this to be great, so it's not as big a surprise as the debut album was. That said, I was perhaps a little more expectant and maybe ended up being a little harder on this than I should have been. Still a great album, and a wonderful followup to The Bones of What You Believe, but that album still holds first place for me. So, Love or Hate? Nevertheless, and to no-one's surprise, it's a total Love. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2015, 05:24 AM	#2040 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: Dust Bowl Ballads Artiste: Woody Guthrie Genre: Folk Familiarity: An American folk hero, but I've heard little of his work. 1. The great dust storm (Dust storm disaster): Kind of an uptempo song, I assume just he and his guitar, very acoustic, gives a good idea of the hard times in what became known as the Dust Bowl in America in the 1930s. Like much folk, it's basically telling a story, fairly straightforward, almost as if Guthrie was an observer and not involved, and yet there's great emotion coming through too. 2. I ain't got no home in this world anymore: Another uptempo one; odd, given the title and the subject matter. 3. Talkin' dust bowl blues: Sort of a narrated vocal rather than a singing one. Like the line “Gamblin' man is rich and the workin' man is poor.” 4. Vigilante man: Ooh! Harmonica! Nice. Good tune. 5. Dust can't kill me: Real sense of defiance in this. Like it, though it Does come across as a little selfish --- “Dust got my baby but it can't get me.” Hmmm. 6. Pretty Boy Floyd: It's okay but not that great. 7. Dust pneumonia blues: Meh, not mad about this one. Just not feeling it. 8. Blowin' down this road: More harmonica. Cool. Like this one. 9. Tom Joad part 1: I never liked Tom Joad from the time I heard the Springsteen album, so I'm not starting from a good place here. Meh. 10. Tom Joad part 2: Why does this have to be in two parts? They're basically the same. Meh again. 11. Dust Bowl refugee: Good harmonica start. This is pleasant enough. 12. Do re mi: I know this one. Heard Nanci Griffith cover it on her Other Voices, Other Rooms album. 13. Dust bowl blues: A real old blues tune, can't beat it. 14. Dusty old dust: God damn I can feel that dust in my throat! Need a drink after this. Another decent acoustic song. End result: I think the problem with this album is that, while it's great and all, there's only so much you can listen to him talk about how the dust storms ruined his life. Not to cheapen what happened, but would you listen to a full album about say Hurricane Katrina or the Great San Francisco Earthquake? It gets a little boring after a while. So, Love or Hate? Despite all that I still have to give it a Love. There's just too much honesty and pain in there not to acknowledge it. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018