Trollheart's Listening List 2015/2016

Trollheart · 12-27-2015, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

It's their eight album. Are you really expecting them to still be on top of their game? Go do some actual research and find out what albums are most worth checking out, you lazy ****. It's called "RYM".

Go **** yourself.

Hawkwind released their 27th album in 2010 and it's still ****ing fantastic. What's wrong: out of beer?

Trollheart · 12-27-2015, 09:59 AM

Also, I never check places like RYM. I'm not interested in finding out what people think of an album before I buy/review it. Sometimes, while reviewing, I might check another review, just to see either if they think it's as good/****ty as I'm feeling it is, or if I want to confirm or check something. I don't let other people make up my mind for me about music. I form my own impressions. Always have done, always will do.

You have shares in RYM or something? You're always mentioning them to me.

The Batlord · 12-27-2015, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Go **** yourself.

Hawkwind released their 27th album in 2010 and it's still ****ing fantastic. What's wrong: out of beer?

99% of bands are not as good as Hawkwind. If you want to hear their good material, then often you have to turn to the opinions of others. Otherwise you run the risk of missing out because you write a band off after stumbling upon a bad album or two.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Also, I never check places like RYM. I'm not interested in finding out what people think of an album before I buy/review it. Sometimes, while reviewing, I might check another review, just to see either if they think it's as good/****ty as I'm feeling it is, or if I want to confirm or check something. I don't let other people make up my mind for me about music. I form my own impressions. Always have done, always will do.

You have shares in RYM or something? You're always mentioning them to me.

And it leads you constantly to mediocrity.

Trollheart · 12-28-2015, 05:15 AM

Title: Purple
Artiste: Baroness
Year 2015
Nationality: American
Genre: Sludge Metal/Progressive Metal
Rank: Noob
4

Expectations: Considering all the great praise this seems to be getting from all quarters, I will probably accept nothing less than being blown away.

1. Morningstar: Like the beat and the way it kind of sways along; reminds me a little of Kamelot (shut up); very melodious and quite catchy. Yeah, there does sound like there's definitely something here right away, something that allows these guys to stand apart from a lot of the metal I've listened to in the previous year. Not that familiar with sludge, but I hear the progressive elements quite clearly.
2. Shock me: Lovely soft piano intro then it kicks up. And does it get going! Keeps a somehow commercial, almost Kisslike hook in the chorus, with a great guitar solo near the end.
3. Try to disappear: Like the sparse guitar line this opens on, then the percussion is oddly sort of dancy in a way before the guitars blast all before them, but again you can really hear a very catchy hook that could make this possible radio airplay material. The heaviness is still there but there's a definite sense of commercial appeal too.You really get the progressive metal overtones again here again.
4. Kerosene: The keys come into their own here, kind of for the first time on the album, which has so far seemed to be more guitar driven. But when they let loose on the keyboards it opens all sorts of new possibilities. That said, some phenomenal guitar work here and it rocks along like a good thing. Very reminiscent of Shadow Gallery on this. Excellent powerful ending.
5. Fugue: Given its title and length, I would assume this is an instrumental. It only runs for just over two and a half minutes, very low-key of course, with some very progressive guitar which puts me in mind of the later work of Steve Rothery. I kind of expected it to be a dolorous keyboard passage, but no, it's very much guitar-centric.
6. Chlorine and wine: Piano opening on this one, something like mandolin maybe, then it seems like it might stay slow and be a ballad? Two minutes in and no vocal yet. Oh here it comes, and as it does, harder guitar is hot on its heels as the song kicks up a little and gives the lie to this being a ballad. Maybe. It's still slow in tempo even if the intensity has increased. In about the fifth minute there's a lovely guitar instrumental passage before it heads into the final chorus with a very Brian Maylike guitar riff. Great vocal harmonies.
7. The iron bell: This one goes for it right out of the gate, hammering along at a fine lick. Great riff, catchy melody again. Like the midsection with a very Lizzyesque guitar.
8. Desperation burns: I don't know; there's something about this track that just is not doing it for me. Kind of passed me by.
9. If I have to wake up (Would you stop the rain?): Nice sense of drama about this. Sort of expected it to be a ballad though. Like the guitar outro.
10. Crossroads of infinity: Seventeen seconds? Really? Mechanised speech. Great.

Final result: Well I certainly wasn't blown away. It's a good album, even a very good album, but it's not the powerhouse I had been expecting from some comments on it. No Blues, and I had thought I would end up with a lot of them. Plenty of Greens, but nothing that really stood out to tell me this was an amazing album. I've read IDM's full review now, and to me it seems like he's talking about a different album, but you know, each to his own. This certainly would not be making it onto my AOTY list, not with albums of such higher quality in front of it. Interesting, entertaining and well played but I've heard better.

Rating:

The Identity Matrix · 12-28-2015, 09:32 AM

I enjoyed reading your review trollheart. I have gone back over my review and listened to the album a few more times since then. I still stand by my score, but am glad to see differing opinions. I do not believe I am overrating the album because I have seen plenty of other reviews and opinions that agree with me. Maybe it will grow on you. I just do not want to be seen as someone who over blows their opinion.

Trollheart · 12-28-2015, 12:05 PM

Yeah, you're completely right to stick to your guns, wouldn't expect you to change your opinion. It's just that your review in particular, coupled with other comments of admiration for the album around here ("Might make my AOTY" etc) convinced me I was going to really enjoy it, and I did enjoy it, but no more than any other album of its type I've listened to this year. Thought I might be missing out on something, but now I don't think so.

Also, as far as it being a grower, well, to impress me as I had expected to be it would have had to have done that from the first listen, so while I may appreciate it more (or not) if I give it repeated listenings (which most here will tell you is unlikely I will do anyway, given my workload) it has missed its chance to hit me with the "wow factor". You only get one chance to do that.

**Frownland** · 12-28-2015, 12:17 PM

Don't try to explain growers to TH. He just can't wrap his head around the concept.

FRED HALE SR. · 12-28-2015, 12:18 PM

I think your review was spot on TH. I came away feeling like something was missing from what others deemed one of the superior records of the year. I'd put High On Fire's new album above this one by a longshot. You could hit relapse's site and probably pick twenty bands with better albums this year.

**Frownland** · 12-28-2015, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

I'd put High On Fire's new album above this one by a longshot.

x2 and I'm not even a huge HoF fan.

Trollheart · 12-28-2015, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Don't try to explain growers to TH. He just can't wrap his head around the concept.

Of course you know I do get the concept. I just don't have the time. Also, whether Purple grew on me or not, as I said, it's missed its chance to impress me. You know what they say: first impressions last.

12-27-2015, 09:59 AM	#92 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Also, I never check places like RYM. I'm not interested in finding out what people think of an album before I buy/review it. Sometimes, while reviewing, I might check another review, just to see either if they think it's as good/***ty as I'm feeling it is, or if I want to confirm or check something. I don't let other people make up my mind for me about music. I form my own impressions. Always have done, always will do. You have shares in RYM or something? You're always mentioning them to me. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018*

12-28-2015, 05:15 AM	#94 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: Purple Artiste: Baroness Year 2015 Nationality: American Genre: Sludge Metal/Progressive Metal Rank: Noob 4 Expectations: Considering all the great praise this seems to be getting from all quarters, I will probably accept nothing less than being blown away. 1. Morningstar: Like the beat and the way it kind of sways along; reminds me a little of Kamelot (shut up); very melodious and quite catchy. Yeah, there does sound like there's definitely something here right away, something that allows these guys to stand apart from a lot of the metal I've listened to in the previous year. Not that familiar with sludge, but I hear the progressive elements quite clearly. 2. Shock me: Lovely soft piano intro then it kicks up. And does it get going! Keeps a somehow commercial, almost Kisslike hook in the chorus, with a great guitar solo near the end. 3. Try to disappear: Like the sparse guitar line this opens on, then the percussion is oddly sort of dancy in a way before the guitars blast all before them, but again you can really hear a very catchy hook that could make this possible radio airplay material. The heaviness is still there but there's a definite sense of commercial appeal too.You really get the progressive metal overtones again here again. 4. Kerosene: The keys come into their own here, kind of for the first time on the album, which has so far seemed to be more guitar driven. But when they let loose on the keyboards it opens all sorts of new possibilities. That said, some phenomenal guitar work here and it rocks along like a good thing. Very reminiscent of Shadow Gallery on this. Excellent powerful ending. 5. Fugue: Given its title and length, I would assume this is an instrumental. It only runs for just over two and a half minutes, very low-key of course, with some very progressive guitar which puts me in mind of the later work of Steve Rothery. I kind of expected it to be a dolorous keyboard passage, but no, it's very much guitar-centric. 6. Chlorine and wine: Piano opening on this one, something like mandolin maybe, then it seems like it might stay slow and be a ballad? Two minutes in and no vocal yet. Oh here it comes, and as it does, harder guitar is hot on its heels as the song kicks up a little and gives the lie to this being a ballad. Maybe. It's still slow in tempo even if the intensity has increased. In about the fifth minute there's a lovely guitar instrumental passage before it heads into the final chorus with a very Brian Maylike guitar riff. Great vocal harmonies. 7. The iron bell: This one goes for it right out of the gate, hammering along at a fine lick. Great riff, catchy melody again. Like the midsection with a very Lizzyesque guitar. 8. Desperation burns: I don't know; there's something about this track that just is not doing it for me. Kind of passed me by. 9. If I have to wake up (Would you stop the rain?): Nice sense of drama about this. Sort of expected it to be a ballad though. Like the guitar outro. 10. Crossroads of infinity: Seventeen seconds? Really? Mechanised speech. Great. Final result: Well I certainly wasn't blown away. It's a good album, even a very good album, but it's not the powerhouse I had been expecting from some comments on it. No Blues, and I had thought I would end up with a lot of them. Plenty of Greens, but nothing that really stood out to tell me this was an amazing album. I've read IDM's full review now, and to me it seems like he's talking about a different album, but you know, each to his own. This certainly would not be making it onto my AOTY list, not with albums of such higher quality in front of it. Interesting, entertaining and well played but I've heard better. Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 12-31-2015 at 01:20 PM.

12-28-2015, 12:05 PM	#96 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Yeah, you're completely right to stick to your guns, wouldn't expect you to change your opinion. It's just that your review in particular, coupled with other comments of admiration for the album around here ("Might make my AOTY" etc) convinced me I was going to really enjoy it, and I did enjoy it, but no more than any other album of its type I've listened to this year. Thought I might be missing out on something, but now I don't think so. Also, as far as it being a grower, well, to impress me as I had expected to be it would have had to have done that from the first listen, so while I may appreciate it more (or not) if I give it repeated listenings (which most here will tell you is unlikely I will do anyway, given my workload) it has missed its chance to hit me with the "wow factor". You only get one chance to do that. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-28-2015, 12:17 PM	#97 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Don't try to explain growers to TH. He just can't wrap his head around the concept. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

12-28-2015, 12:18 PM	#98 (permalink)
FRED HALE SR. Neo-Maxi-Zoom-Dweebie Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 3,752	I think your review was spot on TH. I came away feeling like something was missing from what others deemed one of the superior records of the year. I'd put High On Fire's new album above this one by a longshot. You could hit relapse's site and probably pick twenty bands with better albums this year. __________________ " I slashed and burned thru my 15 minutes of fame."