Trollheart Listens to Every Album on Wiki's List for 2017

**Frownland** · 02-07-2018, 04:03 PM

How can something you haven't heard be overrated? You'd be all over AB I bet.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-07-2018, 04:05 PM

perfume genius is overrated

**Frownland** · 02-07-2018, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

perfume genius is overrated

But the rest? Those are italicized too. Actually the new Stetson album is dumb overrated, but tell me about the last two.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-07-2018, 04:10 PM

i havent heard the other two that is why they are bolded

**Frownland** · 02-07-2018, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

i havent heard the other two that is why they are bolded

And italicized.

Trollheart · 02-07-2018, 04:51 PM

Album title: From a Room, Volume 1
Artist: Christ Stapleton
Genre: Country/Blues/Roots Rock/Southern Rock
Nationality: American
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Second
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little
Average RYM Score: 3.41
So far very good. Gritty, glass-chewin', down-to-earth country and blues with the kind of hard edge this kind of music needs. I've said it before: country music – proper country music – needs to be about the hurt, not chasing after pretty girls when you're in your twenties. **** that. **** country pop. Take it out behind the cowshed and blow it away with a twelve-gauge, then bury it where nobody will ever find it. This is the real stuff. Upright bass, mandolin, harmonica, pedal steel. Music from the heart, **** on your boots, as Waits once said. Gotta have that otherwise it's just pussy country. This ain't pussy country. And by that I don't mean a place you go to meet young ladies, Occult!

“Up to No Good Livin'” is a real standout, love the pedal steel in it, and his powerful singing comes across really well on the stripped-down “Either Way”, also on “I Was Wrong”, which is a storming blues tune. I haven't heard this kind of mix of blues and country much before, if at all. I think I like it. Nah, I love it. Cool album.

Check out more from this artist? Yep
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 02-08-2018, 05:09 AM

Album title: Love Hope Faith
Artist: Colt Ford
Genre: Country Rap (!)
Nationality: American
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Sixth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.14
Oh you cannot be serious! Country rap? I didn't even know such a thing existed. I can't imagine the two co-existing, but I guess we'll see. Well the first track kind of works, oddly enough perhaps, but yeah, it does. Mind you, most of it is sung, with a rap provided by Taylor Ray Holbrook. I could see the song working without the rap though, and probably better. Some of the songs don't have rap on them, and in general I think these work better. Songs such as “Young Americans”, “Dirt Road Disco” and “Bad Day” are decent country songs, though “My Truck”, which does include a rap, is pretty damn hilarious. As is “Time Flies” with its chorus “Time sure flies when you're havin' rum.”

Overall, I'd say I'm not quite sure the rapping works – though it doesn't detract from the music and it doesn't seem tacked on or anything – but I think the album could have survived as a standard country album without it. I guess the jury will return at some point.

Check out more from this artist? Maybe
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Not sure

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 02-08-2018, 10:39 AM

Album title: The Days We Had
Artist: Day Wave
Genre: Indie Rock/Indie Pop
Nationality: American
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Debut
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.25
Very pleasant, catchy stuff, very listenable with some really nice melodies. “Ordinary” has a very synthpop feel to it, and most if not all of this is just very high-quality pop, though it's kind of hard to pick out real highlights on the album. Nothing I don't like though. Mostly very bright and breezy. “Promises” is a little twee though, and the production seems to be very weak on this one track. Generally, really good without kind of my being able to put into words quite why.

Check out more from this artist? Yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 02-08-2018, 02:10 PM

Album title: Turn Up the Quiet
Artist: Diana Krall
Genre: Jazz
Nationality: Canadian
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Thirteenth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.32
I've been hearing this name around and about, and it seems she's quite respected in her field, but this is the first time I've listened to Diana Krall. Apparently this is another of those albums of standards that appeal to the artist, and even though they're jazz standards and so generally should mean nothing to me, I think I recognise the odd title. Certainly, Cole Porter's “Night and Day” is one I know, obviously. When it starts I have to be honest: I find this crushingly boring. Obviously these are old standards, so they're going to have that 40s/50s/whatever feel, but I'm just not getting into it. Well, “Isn't it Romantic” is a lot better. I think maybe the fact that the first one seemed to have only bass as accompaniment coloured my view of it. The piano on this one is cool, very smooth and laid back. “L-O-V-E” is a song I really don't like but she does a good job of it. Mind you, on this one at least the credit goes more to the band (combo?) as they really breathe new life into it. She sings well, but, yeah. She does a good version of the aforementioned “Night and Day” too. Her voice is very smoky and sultry, but I would like to hear her sing something with a bit more life in it maybe.

That sexy, purring style comes through best perhaps on “Moonglow”, which positively sizzles under her voice, and there's some really nice guitar work on Irving Berlin's “Blue Skies”, which finally kicks a little action into proceedings with a boppy bass line and gives Krall the opportunity to push up the tempo. Speaking of upping the tempo, I realise I know “Sway” and it should be a fast-ish track but she has slowed it right down here. I mean, I don't necessarily have a problem with that and I know she's doing her best to put her own spin on these classics, but so much of it is slow and languorous, I just feel if a song is known to be played usually at a faster tempo, then it would have been better to have kept it that way, to maintain some sort of decent balance of tempos. Slow and easy has definitely the upper hand here, and to me, it's like playing, I don't know, maybe “Satisfaction” as a slow, lazy blues number.

Another one which raises the tempo slightly is “No Moon at All” - I have no idea how this goes originally; the song is not known to me – with some really nice piano runs, apparently also played by Krall. Did not know that. A nice mostly laid back album of jazz standards. I don't have any experience of vocal jazz, so I couldn't say whether Diana Krall is a good exponent of the genre or not, but she seems to do a good job here. Not certain I'd be that interested in hearing more though.

Check out more from this artist? Probably wouldn't be in a rush to, no
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Again, vocal jazz, kind of no

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 02-08-2018, 03:13 PM

Album title: Fresh Air
Artist: Faust
Genre: Krautrock
Nationality: German
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Thirteenth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? Heard one album
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.13
Back in the days of “Love or Hate?” I believe Frownland may have recommended me one of this band's albums – think it was Faust IV. Can't honestly remember how I reacted, so this may be kind of new to me. A mixture of live and studio recordings, it kicks off with a seventeen-minute plus track which seems to have someone speaking in (presumably) German through most of it. The track begins with just speech, but the music slowly seeps in – sort of like feedback maybe – and eventually all but drowns out the speaker by the fourth minute. Now we have an operatic singer for a few moments, percussion and bass cut in at around the ninth minute (as the speaking voice returns) and it sounds like the music might be about to take over properly as guitars also slice in. Got to admit, there's something quite hypnotic about the music here. It's not a drone, but it's very enthralling.

In complete contrast, the next track is a mere two and a half minutes long, which is nothing compared to the next one, which is twenty seconds of basically wailing or whooping. Weird. “Chlorophyll” has a very evocative bass pattern, with a female singer. It's interesting stuff, sure, but I couldn't say it's my particular cup of Tetley's. Mind you, I certainly don't hate it. But I don't love it either and I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to hear more.

Check out more from this artist? I might, possibly
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

02-07-2018, 04:03 PM	#1811 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	How can something you haven't heard be overrated? You'd be all over AB I bet. __________________ 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

02-07-2018, 04:51 PM	#1816 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: From a Room, Volume 1 Artist: Christ Stapleton Genre: Country/Blues/Roots Rock/Southern Rock Nationality: American Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Second Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little Average RYM Score: 3.41 So far very good. Gritty, glass-chewin', down-to-earth country and blues with the kind of hard edge this kind of music needs. I've said it before: country music – proper country music – needs to be about the hurt, not chasing after pretty girls when you're in your twenties. ** that. country pop. Take it out behind the cowshed and blow it away with a twelve-gauge, then bury it where nobody will ever find it. This is the real stuff. Upright bass, mandolin, harmonica, pedal steel. Music from the heart, on your boots, as Waits once said. Gotta have that otherwise it's just pussy country. This ain't pussy country. And by that I don't mean a place you go to meet young ladies, Occult! “Up to No Good Livin'” is a real standout, love the pedal steel in it, and his powerful singing comes across really well on the stripped-down “Either Way”, also on “I Was Wrong”, which is a storming blues tune. I haven't heard this kind of mix of blues and country much before, if at all. I think I like it. Nah, I love it. Cool album. Check out more from this artist? Yep Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating:** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-08-2018, 05:09 AM	#1817 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Love Hope Faith Artist: Colt Ford Genre: Country Rap (!) Nationality: American Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Sixth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.14 Oh you cannot be serious! Country rap? I didn't even know such a thing existed. I can't imagine the two co-existing, but I guess we'll see. Well the first track kind of works, oddly enough perhaps, but yeah, it does. Mind you, most of it is sung, with a rap provided by Taylor Ray Holbrook. I could see the song working without the rap though, and probably better. Some of the songs don't have rap on them, and in general I think these work better. Songs such as “Young Americans”, “Dirt Road Disco” and “Bad Day” are decent country songs, though “My Truck”, which does include a rap, is pretty damn hilarious. As is “Time Flies” with its chorus “Time sure flies when you're havin' rum.” Overall, I'd say I'm not quite sure the rapping works – though it doesn't detract from the music and it doesn't seem tacked on or anything – but I think the album could have survived as a standard country album without it. I guess the jury will return at some point. Check out more from this artist? Maybe Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Not sure Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-08-2018, 10:39 AM	#1818 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: The Days We Had Artist: Day Wave Genre: Indie Rock/Indie Pop Nationality: American Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Debut Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.25 Very pleasant, catchy stuff, very listenable with some really nice melodies. “Ordinary” has a very synthpop feel to it, and most if not all of this is just very high-quality pop, though it's kind of hard to pick out real highlights on the album. Nothing I don't like though. Mostly very bright and breezy. “Promises” is a little twee though, and the production seems to be very weak on this one track. Generally, really good without kind of my being able to put into words quite why. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-08-2018, 02:10 PM	#1819 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Turn Up the Quiet Artist: Diana Krall Genre: Jazz Nationality: Canadian Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Thirteenth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.32 I've been hearing this name around and about, and it seems she's quite respected in her field, but this is the first time I've listened to Diana Krall. Apparently this is another of those albums of standards that appeal to the artist, and even though they're jazz standards and so generally should mean nothing to me, I think I recognise the odd title. Certainly, Cole Porter's “Night and Day” is one I know, obviously. When it starts I have to be honest: I find this crushingly boring. Obviously these are old standards, so they're going to have that 40s/50s/whatever feel, but I'm just not getting into it. Well, “Isn't it Romantic” is a lot better. I think maybe the fact that the first one seemed to have only bass as accompaniment coloured my view of it. The piano on this one is cool, very smooth and laid back. “L-O-V-E” is a song I really don't like but she does a good job of it. Mind you, on this one at least the credit goes more to the band (combo?) as they really breathe new life into it. She sings well, but, yeah. She does a good version of the aforementioned “Night and Day” too. Her voice is very smoky and sultry, but I would like to hear her sing something with a bit more life in it maybe. That sexy, purring style comes through best perhaps on “Moonglow”, which positively sizzles under her voice, and there's some really nice guitar work on Irving Berlin's “Blue Skies”, which finally kicks a little action into proceedings with a boppy bass line and gives Krall the opportunity to push up the tempo. Speaking of upping the tempo, I realise I know “Sway” and it should be a fast-ish track but she has slowed it right down here. I mean, I don't necessarily have a problem with that and I know she's doing her best to put her own spin on these classics, but so much of it is slow and languorous, I just feel if a song is known to be played usually at a faster tempo, then it would have been better to have kept it that way, to maintain some sort of decent balance of tempos. Slow and easy has definitely the upper hand here, and to me, it's like playing, I don't know, maybe “Satisfaction” as a slow, lazy blues number. Another one which raises the tempo slightly is “No Moon at All” - I have no idea how this goes originally; the song is not known to me – with some really nice piano runs, apparently also played by Krall. Did not know that. A nice mostly laid back album of jazz standards. I don't have any experience of vocal jazz, so I couldn't say whether Diana Krall is a good exponent of the genre or not, but she seems to do a good job here. Not certain I'd be that interested in hearing more though. Check out more from this artist? Probably wouldn't be in a rush to, no Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Again, vocal jazz, kind of no Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-08-2018, 03:13 PM	#1820 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Fresh Air Artist: Faust Genre: Krautrock Nationality: German Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Thirteenth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? Heard one album Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.13 Back in the days of “Love or Hate?” I believe Frownland may have recommended me one of this band's albums – think it was Faust IV. Can't honestly remember how I reacted, so this may be kind of new to me. A mixture of live and studio recordings, it kicks off with a seventeen-minute plus track which seems to have someone speaking in (presumably) German through most of it. The track begins with just speech, but the music slowly seeps in – sort of like feedback maybe – and eventually all but drowns out the speaker by the fourth minute. Now we have an operatic singer for a few moments, percussion and bass cut in at around the ninth minute (as the speaking voice returns) and it sounds like the music might be about to take over properly as guitars also slice in. Got to admit, there's something quite hypnotic about the music here. It's not a drone, but it's very enthralling. In complete contrast, the next track is a mere two and a half minutes long, which is nothing compared to the next one, which is twenty seconds of basically wailing or whooping. Weird. “Chlorophyll” has a very evocative bass pattern, with a female singer. It's interesting stuff, sure, but I couldn't say it's my particular cup of Tetley's. Mind you, I certainly don't hate it. But I don't love it either and I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to hear more. Check out more from this artist? I might, possibly Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 02-08-2018 at 03:30 PM.