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

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 10:32 AM

Album title: Deep South
Artist: Josh Turner
Genre: Country/Neotraditional Country
Nationality: American
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Sixth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little
Average RYM Score: 2.74
So what kind of country is this? Real, honest country or what I like to call faux country, which is a term I give to what is basically pop music that disguises itself as country: Shania, Faith and Travis, I'm looking at you! Well he namechecks Charlie Pride so that's a plus, and the genre is apparently “neotraditional country”, which seems to look back to the, well, traditions of true country music. Whether or not that turns out to be a painful pastiche of the same I guess I'll find out, but so far it's not making me grind my teeth.

Yeah I don't know though: it's a little yee-haw at some points and a little too close to the likes of Garth Brooks pop country at others. It does kind of sound like he's just using the trappings of country music as a backdrop to create a fairly standard pop album; the drawl don't fool me, guy. This is just an album of songs about girls sung in a Southern drawl. Get ye over there beside Garth, Shania and Faith! Don't you have anything else to sing about?

Check out more from this artist? No
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Expectation Index: 0

**Frownland** · 11-15-2017, 10:43 AM

I don't need to listen to his music to hate him. Just look at that smarmy cunt.

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I don't need to listen to his music to hate him. Just like at that smarmy cunt.

You'd actually hate him more if you heard him, believe me.

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 12:21 PM

Album title: Semper Femina
Artist: Laura Marling
Genre: Folk/Folk Rock/Alt-Rock
Nationality: English
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Sixth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.38
Well that's one hell of a voice: reminds me at times of Judie Tzuke. The violin is lovely and the percussion, at least on the first track, is almost hypnotic, kind of slow tribal in a way. Yeah, this is pure class so far: smouldering, smoky, broody and very intense. Let this be a lesson to all you X Factor wannabes: you don't have to growl and grunt and roar every syllable; you don't have to batter the music into submission to be heard. Marling seldom raises her voice at all here and she conveys more genuine emotion in one song than on a thousand Alexandra Burke or Leona Lewis albums. That's how you do it.

Check out more from this artist? Yup
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yah

Expectation Index: 9

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 11-15-2017, 12:35 PM

yes! great album. i heard Soothing through Edgar Wright's radio show and have been hooked on her stuff ever since.

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 02:09 PM

Album title: Movie
Artist: Mod Sun
Genre: Hip-Hop
Nationality: American
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Second
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.33
Is this actually meant to represent a movie? The opening track is entitled “Previews” and the closing “The End Or Start Again”, and someone has yelled “Start the ****ing show!” so maybe. Interestng idea if so. Okay, I like this. There's a lot to like about it. Some great melodies, excellent backing or even shared vocals with, um, Maty Noyes? And Del Loaf? The former lends her talents to “Beautiful Problem” while the breadish one is on the opener; both two very good singers from what I hear. The piano on “Two” is very ominous, and almost quiet, in the background, but very effective. Oh yeah, as they no doubt say in the hood, this is the ****.

Check out more from this artist? Yo!
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Sure

Expectation Index: 10

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 05:05 PM

Album title: Captain California
Artist: Murs
Genre: Hip-Hop
Nationality: American
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Tenth
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.69
Is it possible, then, after being so unexpectedly impressed by Mod Sun, this could continue that trend? I don't hold out massive hopes, to be honest, but I'll give it a shot. Oooh ****! Starts off great, love this opening track. Oh man this is just excellent stuff. “God Bless Kanye West” is a super little track, love the melody that runs through the chorus. “Colossus” is an angry one-two, “Xmas and Thanksgiving” has its own power, “Summer” is full of restrained threat while “1000 Suns” is just a fun song. Really great album. Two for two, I'm impressed.

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

Expectation Index: 9

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 05:34 PM

Album title: Missing Link
Artist: Nick Murphy
Genre: Experimental Pop
Nationality: Australian
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Fourth EP; fifth overall
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.11
Just an EP this time around, and it's not bad I guess, though this does nothing personally for me. Hard to judge someone on the basis of a five-track EP, but well “Forget About Me” is a nice little slice of synthpop and has a lot going for it, while “Weak Education” is more of a brooding piece with elements of Paul Simon about it. Got a lot better there towards the end then. Maybe there might be something in this.

Check out more from this artist? It's possible I might
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Maybe

Expectation Index: 8

Trollheart · 11-16-2017, 11:57 AM

Album title: Stereotomic
Artist: Nypan
Genre: Jazz
Nationality: Norwegian
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Fourth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: N/A
Nypan is apparently the performing name of Øyvind Nypan, a Norwegian jazz guitarist, and I'll admit this is nice stuff. Very relaxing. Only trouble is that we are now three tracks in (I have to listen on YouTube as, though he is on Spotify, this album isn't) and I really can't tell the difference between them. I'm sure a guitar or jazz aficionado (or one of both) could, but to me it all sounds like one long track. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, if you take it all as one long piece of uninterrupted music, as I may end up doing. Well now, the fourth track (I think) is a more laidback, not quite so frenetic piece, not totally pastoral, but close, with kind of elements of seventies soft rock/pop in places, sort of reminds me of David Gates at times. Also a certain slightly prog rock feel to it, like Big Big Train or early Genesis. Sacrilege, no doubt, to mention such bands in the same breath as jazz, but that's what I hear. This one is called “Piece for Peace”, so I get the softer approach on it. Nice.

Overall I'd say a very pleasant album, doesn't wear on me like some jazz; very listenable and enjoyable.

Check out more from this artist? Possible
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Meh, dunno

Expectation Index: 8

Trollheart · 11-16-2017, 02:07 PM

Album title: Elektrac
Artist: Shobaleader One
Genre: Electronic
Nationality: English
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Seventeenth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.33
Apparently this is the live alter-ego of Squarepusher, which means nothing to me, and apparently it's also live. Doesn't particularly sound live, I must say. Second track sounds like the theme to some seventies TV cop show. Seriously. The third track sounds very jazzy to me, so naturally not a favourite then. “Iambic 5 Poetry” is much better, but generally no; this isn't my sort of thing and I doubt I'd be revisiting this artist.

Check out more from this artist? No
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Expectation Index: 0

11-15-2017, 10:32 AM	#981 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Deep South Artist: Josh Turner Genre: Country/Neotraditional Country Nationality: American Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Sixth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little Average RYM Score: 2.74 So what kind of country is this? Real, honest country or what I like to call faux country, which is a term I give to what is basically pop music that disguises itself as country: Shania, Faith and Travis, I'm looking at you! Well he namechecks Charlie Pride so that's a plus, and the genre is apparently “neotraditional country”, which seems to look back to the, well, traditions of true country music. Whether or not that turns out to be a painful pastiche of the same I guess I'll find out, but so far it's not making me grind my teeth. Yeah I don't know though: it's a little yee-haw at some points and a little too close to the likes of Garth Brooks pop country at others. It does kind of sound like he's just using the trappings of country music as a backdrop to create a fairly standard pop album; the drawl don't fool me, guy. This is just an album of songs about girls sung in a Southern drawl. Get ye over there beside Garth, Shania and Faith! Don't you have anything else to sing about? Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 0 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2017, 10:43 AM	#982 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	I don't need to listen to his music to hate him. Just look at that smarmy cunt. __________________ 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

11-15-2017, 12:21 PM	#984 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Semper Femina Artist: Laura Marling Genre: Folk/Folk Rock/Alt-Rock Nationality: English Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Sixth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.38 Well that's one hell of a voice: reminds me at times of Judie Tzuke. The violin is lovely and the percussion, at least on the first track, is almost hypnotic, kind of slow tribal in a way. Yeah, this is pure class so far: smouldering, smoky, broody and very intense. Let this be a lesson to all you X Factor wannabes: you don't have to growl and grunt and roar every syllable; you don't have to batter the music into submission to be heard. Marling seldom raises her voice at all here and she conveys more genuine emotion in one song than on a thousand Alexandra Burke or Leona Lewis albums. That's how you do it. Check out more from this artist? Yup Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yah Expectation Index: 9 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2017, 02:09 PM	#986 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Movie Artist: Mod Sun Genre: Hip-Hop Nationality: American Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Second Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.33 Is this actually meant to represent a movie? The opening track is entitled “Previews” and the closing “The End Or Start Again”, and someone has yelled “Start the **ing show!” so maybe. Interestng idea if so. Okay, I like this. There's a lot to like about it. Some great melodies, excellent backing or even shared vocals with, um, Maty Noyes? And Del Loaf? The former lends her talents to “Beautiful Problem” while the breadish one is on the opener; both two very good singers from what I hear. The piano on “Two” is very ominous, and almost quiet, in the background, but very effective. Oh yeah, as they no doubt say in the hood, this is the . Check out more from this artist? Yo! Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Sure Expectation Index: 10** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2017, 05:05 PM	#987 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Captain California Artist: Murs Genre: Hip-Hop Nationality: American Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Tenth Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.69 Is it possible, then, after being so unexpectedly impressed by Mod Sun, this could continue that trend? I don't hold out massive hopes, to be honest, but I'll give it a shot. Oooh **! Starts off great, love this opening track. Oh man this is just excellent stuff. “God Bless Kanye West” is a super little track, love the melody that runs through the chorus. “Colossus” is an angry one-two, “Xmas and Thanksgiving” has its own power, “Summer” is full of restrained threat while “1000 Suns” is just a fun song. Really great album. Two for two, I'm impressed. Check out more from this artist? Oh yeah Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 9** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 11-24-2017 at 05:39 PM.

11-15-2017, 05:34 PM	#988 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Missing Link Artist: Nick Murphy Genre: Experimental Pop Nationality: Australian Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Fourth EP; fifth overall Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.11 Just an EP this time around, and it's not bad I guess, though this does nothing personally for me. Hard to judge someone on the basis of a five-track EP, but well “Forget About Me” is a nice little slice of synthpop and has a lot going for it, while “Weak Education” is more of a brooding piece with elements of Paul Simon about it. Got a lot better there towards the end then. Maybe there might be something in this. Check out more from this artist? It's possible I might Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Maybe Expectation Index: 8 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-16-2017, 11:57 AM	#989 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Stereotomic Artist: Nypan Genre: Jazz Nationality: Norwegian Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Fourth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: N/A Nypan is apparently the performing name of Øyvind Nypan, a Norwegian jazz guitarist, and I'll admit this is nice stuff. Very relaxing. Only trouble is that we are now three tracks in (I have to listen on YouTube as, though he is on Spotify, this album isn't) and I really can't tell the difference between them. I'm sure a guitar or jazz aficionado (or one of both) could, but to me it all sounds like one long track. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, if you take it all as one long piece of uninterrupted music, as I may end up doing. Well now, the fourth track (I think) is a more laidback, not quite so frenetic piece, not totally pastoral, but close, with kind of elements of seventies soft rock/pop in places, sort of reminds me of David Gates at times. Also a certain slightly prog rock feel to it, like Big Big Train or early Genesis. Sacrilege, no doubt, to mention such bands in the same breath as jazz, but that's what I hear. This one is called “Piece for Peace”, so I get the softer approach on it. Nice. Overall I'd say a very pleasant album, doesn't wear on me like some jazz; very listenable and enjoyable. Check out more from this artist? Possible Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Meh, dunno Expectation Index: 8 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-16-2017, 02:07 PM	#990 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Album title: Elektrac Artist: Shobaleader One Genre: Electronic Nationality: English Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Seventeenth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.33 Apparently this is the live alter-ego of Squarepusher, which means nothing to me, and apparently it's also live. Doesn't particularly sound live, I must say. Second track sounds like the theme to some seventies TV cop show. Seriously. The third track sounds very jazzy to me, so naturally not a favourite then. “Iambic 5 Poetry” is much better, but generally no; this isn't my sort of thing and I doubt I'd be revisiting this artist. Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 0 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018