Trollheart

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Totally beautiful instrumental acoustic guitar piece, very hobo/train oriented. Loved it.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Wasn't expecting it to be an instrumental, nor that good. Set me up for a really enjoyable album.

3. What did you think of the next track?
I believe this is her best known song, made famous by someone else. The first vocal song, very simple and very engaging. Again, great guitar work.


4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
She was okay. I feel much of the vocalists in the genre could be characterised as just all right, but it's not about the singing, really; more about the feel, the emotions, the atmosphere and of course the guitars.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
yes, very much so. She was a great guitarist, the more so because I read she played left handed and used the guitar upside down?

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Much better

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
Standard blues/folk fare, but seemed personal and sincere. Simple songs from a simple time. She didn't try to overcomplicate her songs, and they retain a sort of gospel feel too.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
I loved them, every one.

9. What did you think of the production?
Well it's a 1950s blues album, what do you expect?

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
No and no

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
I'll listen to this with no problem, but no, generally, not the sort of thing I tend to seek out. Perhaps I should.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
More

13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?[/B]

“Wilson Rag”, “Freight Train”, “Graduation March”, “Vastopol”, “Here Old Rattler Here” (love the banjo work in this), “Sweet Bye and Bye” - pretty much all of them really, though I prefer the instrumentals. “Oh Babe it Ain't No Lie” is great, as is “When I Get Home”.



14. And the one(s) you liked least?

I don't really dislike any track here, but I could live without “Run, Run/Mama Your Son Done Gone”.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
n/a
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I'd listen to more
17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
Kind of. I often don't like Neapolitan's picks, and usually when Occult calls an album “unassailable” I tend to disagree, but here I have to agree whole-heartedly.
18. Did the album end well?
Yes

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
No

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Hung together well as a collection of songs

I'd rate this at 9.7/10

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018