Trollheart

Album title: Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie
Artist: Lindsay Buckingham and Christine McVie
Genre: Rock/Pop Rock
Nationality: English/American
Release date: June 9
Position in Discography: (shrug) If you regard it as a collab between them, then it's their first. If, however, you take it as a Fleetwood Mac album (which it really is) then it's their eighteenth.
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? Yes
Average RYM Score: 3.19
Anyone who knows Fleetwood Mac knows Christine McVie was born Christine Perfect, and only changed her name after marrying Mac bassist John McVie, which is a pity, as otherwise this could have been the Perfect/Buckingham album! Is it perfect? I don't know, but with everyone else from Fleetwood Mac taking part (with the very pointed exception of Stevie Nicks) this is, in all but name, the new Fleetwood Mac album. Admittedly, all songs are written by the two whose names appear in the title, but otherwise you might as well add it to your Mac collection. It sounds just like Rumours or Mirage or even Tango in the Night, which is not by any means a bad thing, but I really don't know why they bothered. This sounds just like any Mac album from the last few decades; why not just call it the new FM album?

Well, I see that basically that's more or less what it was supposed to be, but because Nicks didn't take part they decided to release it under the name of the two of them instead. I can kind of understand that, but at the same time, Fleetwood Mac is not Stevie Nicks, so with the rest of them there, why not just release it as a Mac album without Nicks? That sounds a bit rude. Well, you know what I mean. Anyway, essentially here is the new Fleetwood Mac album, and it's as good as Say You Will, perhaps even better. But if you're expecting something experimental or new or different, prepare to be disappointed. But in a good way.
Check out more from this artist? Yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Trollheart

You wish, and what flavour is she then?

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Trollheart

Album title: Truth is a Beautiful Thing
Artist: London Grammar
Genre: Dream Pop/Trip-hop
Nationality: English
Release date: June 9
Position in Discography: Second
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.23
Yes this is quite nice I must say. Perhaps a little too laid back, and it's hard to pick out really good tracks that stand out. “Hell to the Liars” is decent, but I'd kind of have to say yes, it's enjoyable but in some ways actually quite boring. Maybe a faster song here or there might have made a difference, but as it is, I couldn't see myself coming back to this.

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

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Album title: Ti Amo
Artist: Phoenix
Genre: Synthpop/Italo-disco
Nationality: French
Release date: June 9
Position in Discography: Sixth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.05
Hey this ain't bad. At least it has more life in it than the previous album. Dancy but not annoying. “Fior di Latte” is particualrly good and “Goodbye Soleil” has a lot of funk in it, and I like the sort of marching feel in “Role Model”. In fact, pretty much all of this is damn good. Will be looking further into these guys.
Check out more from this artist? Aye
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Album title: Trouble Maker
Artist: Rancid
Genre: Punk Rock/Ska Punk
Nationality: American
Release date: June 9
Position in Discography: Ninth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.99
When this started I could have sworn I was listening to “Ace of Spades”, but no, it's much more fun than even that. Talk about your breakneck speed and your short, short songs. Some of these songs don't even reach much over the minute mark, and the longest is the epic (!) “Telegraph Avenue”, clocking in at a massive three minutes and nineteen seconds. And every second of this is fun, fun, fun! I've said it before – and it has been disproved on the odd occasion, but more often than not it seems to be true – maybe I've given punk a bad rap and should listen to more. That sound is elphenor banging his head on his desk and screaming in dismay that I might trespass upon his sacred territory. He's **** out of luck.

The ska part really comes through on “Where I'm Going”, and there seems to be a bit of the old Celtic Punk too leaking in, on songs like “Buddy”, and “Bovver Rock and Roll” sounds like they're channelling Status Quo! Been a while since I had so much fun listening to music. Cool to the max.
Check out more from this artist? Oh **** yeah
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

The Batlord

*snort*

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MicShazam

I think I'll stick with Motörhead.

Trollheart

Album title: Wolves
Artist: Rise Against
Genre: Punk Rock/Melodic Hardcore
Nationality: American
Release date: June 9
Position in Discography: Eighth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.95
And I have a chance to go deeper into the Punk rabbit-hole right away. I have heard of these guys and saw this album on sale, but never thought of going near it. Now, with my sudden, if not appreciation then let's say lack of contempt for punk, I'm thinking again. I certainly like the opener, which is also the title track. It keeps that high quality throughout, with “Welcome to the Breakdown”, “House on Fire”, “Parts Per Million” and “Politics of Love” being particular standouts. But it's all brilliant really. Another album I hadn't expected to enjoy that has really slapped me upside the head.

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

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Okay then, that's it. Sorry: I wanted to, and had every intention of completing this project, but it's no longer possible. Pet_Sounds noted recently that the atmosphere around here had become toxic, and so it has. I've noticed it every day, with insults and smart comments being directed both at myself and others, and a general sense of intolerance taking over. In short, it's no longer fun coming here.

So after almost seven years, I'm off. For good this time. My thanks to those friends I made here, both the few who remain and those who have already left. I hope someday things may get back to the way they were before, but right now I've come to the conclusion that I'm just wasting my time here and I've frankly got better things to do.

This might seem sudden (or it might not) but it's been coming for a while. When you realise that you no longer enjoy logging on, when your days are spent trading insults with people, avoiding or getting into fights, arguments and drama, when the friendliness and easy-going nature of the forum is slowly disappearing like a planet being sucked into a black hole, it's time to say goodbye.

And so, goodbye. For the most part, it's been fun, but it no longer is.
Take care, all.

For the last time, this is Trollheart, signing off.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Frownland

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.