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Album title: Last Young Renegade Artist: All Time Low Genre: Pop Rock Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Seventh Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.18 Meh, pretty lightweight fare really. If this is what they purport to offer as their “darker material” I'd hate to hear their happy stuff. It comes across as fairly bland, with little really standing out or making any real impression on me. To be honest, I'd probably have bailed on this long ago except for two things: one, it's too early in the month and I don't like to give up so quickly, and two, well, I just kind of forgot it was still playing. Yeah, that's the kind of presence it has. :rolleyes: Check out more from this artist? Nah Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg |
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Album title: Relaxer Artist: Alt-J Genre: Pop/Alt-Rock/Folk Nationality: English Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Third Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.84 By god this is dreary. Makes me want to slit my wrists. Sorry, I won't be doing that. I only know the Animals' version of “House of the Rising Sun”, and I see it's a traditional folk song, but the version these guys do here bears no resemblance to the song I know. And yes, it's dreary as ****. Admittedly, the next song kicks some life into proceedings, but it's still terrible and there appear to be some dogs or wolves howling on the Supertramp-y “Deadcrush” - they almost sound better than the vocalist, to me. “Adeline” is the first song I actually kind of like, though it does go back to the slow, dreary, morose style of most of the album, but it does have something about it. Kind of almost shoegaze in a way, bit ambient too. Best so far, though that's not saying much at all. Yeah, sorry: too boring, even for me. And that's got to be damn boring, right? Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg |
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Album title: Cityof No Reply Artist: Amber Coffman Genre: R&B/Soul Nationality: English Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Debut solo Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg Have I heard of this artist? No, but I may have reviewed an album by her parent band Average RYM Score: 3.04 The words Dirty Projectors jog a memory, and I'm sure I reviewed their 2017 album here a few months back. If so, then this is the first solo effort from their guitarist and vocalist and it seems to go in a completely (if I remember) different direction to that of her band, being a soul pop record which starts off nicely certainly, and it's pleasant but I wonder is that all it is? Despite its title, “Dark Night” is terribly lightweight, reminds me of the likes of Sheila E or a very substandard Janet Jackson, while the title track is also pretty weak. “If You Want My Heart” is half-decent, but it's about the only one that stands out from a pretty nondescript and pedestrian crowd of songs. A big fat meh right here. Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg |
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Album title: Chapter Two: Red Artist: Bea Miller Genre: Pop Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Third EP Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed7.jpg Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? Yes Average RYM Score: 3.35 Back in February I reviewed the previous EP from Miller and I seem to have liked it a lot. This, like that one, is a mere three tracks, and as I said originally, it's hard to judge an artist on the basis of three songs. So now I have the opportunity to do so on the basis of six songs. Still not a lot, but I'm expecting big things from this, as it's basically a continuation of the previous release, the second of three which eventually made up most of her debut album, released earlier this year. And initially at any rate I'm not disappointed, with the opener a powerful bitter accusatory stab at a lover (I assume) with a great slow thumping beat, the next is more uptempo, with a real punch, while the closer returns to the slower, darker atmosphere of the first track, with a rap added by, well, it doesn't say. Another good slice of dark-ish mature pop from a woman who, again, I would think, is one to watch. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed8.jpg |
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...-now-cover.jpg Album title: Gone Now Artist: Bleachers Genre: Synthpop/Indie Electronic/New Wave Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Second Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.91 I must admit, some of the time I tend to initially judge an album based on its cover. Wrong, I know. Stupid, I know. But there it is. Sometimes an album cover really speaks to me (and I could end up hating the music within but I still buy it) and sometimes I'll avoid buying an album because I hate the cover, and quite possibly miss out on some really good music. I hate this cover. Really hate it. Don't know why. It reminds me of a still from Sergeant Bilko or something. And of course, once it kicks off I really like the music, which just shows, as usual, how much I know. I'm not quite sure why, but the opener has exceptionally muddy and muffled vocals for a few seconds both at the beginning and end of the track – I have to assume this is intentional – but there's nothing wrong with the production as the rest of it is clear as a bell. “Goodmorning” sounds very Beatles to me, like something off Sgt Pepper maybe, “Hate That You Know Me” is a bright and breezy bouncer, with “Don't Take the Money” a fist-thumping rocking anthem. Love all this so far. Wonderful, exuberant brass in “Everybody Lost Somebody” and a Springsteenesque tone to “All My Heroes”, which bounces along nicely, as does “Let's Get Married”, a real sense of joy throughout this. Interestingly, there are some big hitters guesting on this album, including Carly Rae Jepsen, Lena Dunham and Lorde. “Nothing is U” is a nice departure from the generally upbeat tone of the album into a more introspective channel, and “”I'm Ready to Move On/Mickey Mantle Reprise” kind of keeps this line going, though it is slightly pacier than the previous. A really good album, which proves I should stop judging them by their covers, not that I ever will. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed10.jpg |
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...27s_album.jpeg Album title: Cover My Tracks Artist: Charlie Fink Genre: Pop Nationality: English Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Debut Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.12 If you know, or know of, Noah and the Whale ( I don't) you'll apparently know this guy. Or, if you've seen the movie A Streetcat Named Bob ( I haven't) you'll have heard his music. This is his first album proper, and it seems to be your basic bright, breezy, upbeat mostly acoustic kind of thing; very singer/songwriter. “Born to Be a Cowboy” is a little embarrassing, but “The End of Legendary Hearts” more than makes up for it, with some beautiful orchestration on a fine ballad. A nice little cautionary tale, “Orpheus is Playing the Troubador” is a real standout, as is “Someone Above Me Tonight”. This was a really nice album, enjoyed it a lot. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed9.jpg |
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._on_a_Song.jpg Album title: Waiting On a Song Artist: Dan Auerbach Genre: Pop/Rock Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Second Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.01 Pop and rock, eh? Sounds more like country when it starts, and the opener and title track reminds me of “Bird On a Wire” in its melody. “Malibu Man” is great too, though “Living in Sin” is a little too twee and jangly I feel. The album really fails to put a foot wrong after that though, with “King of a One Horse Town” a particular standout. “Cherrybomb” nearly manages to drag it back down, but recovers well. “Stand By My Girl” has a clever little lyric “Gonna stand by my girl/ Cos she'll kill me if I don't” (:laughing:) and it's just gold from there to the end. Another excellent album. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed9.jpg |
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Album title: America, Location 12 Artist: Dispatch Genre: Indie Rock Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Sixth Estimated Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed5.jpg Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.16 The opener here has a very Irish reel-like thing that immediately reminds me of Thin Lizzy's “Emerald” - I mean, it's almost identical, though in fairness it's just a riff in the song, it's not as if they ripped the entire thing off. Some really nice Eagles-esque vocal harmonies on “Only the Wild Ones”, which bops along nicely, nice marching beat to “Curse + Crush”. It's all pretty good stuff really - “Skin the Rabbit” is very catchy, and there's a nice folky feel to “Midnight Lorry”, though I feel “Begin Again” really stands out as one of the very best tracks on this album. It has a real sense of energy and purpose to it. Some great guitar work too. Good album. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: http://www.trollheart.com/speed8.jpg |
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