Trollheart's Theme Park

Trollheart · 11-23-2016, 03:13 PM

Title: “Killer wolf”
Format: Album track
Written by: Glenn Danzig
Performed by: Danzig
Genre: Heavy Metal
Taken from: Danzig II: Lucifuge
Year: 1990
Acclaim: n/a

Now this is definitely Heavy Metal! I only know Danzig from, apart from the general mention of their name around the forum, my listening to their third album a good while back. Think it was for “Love or Hate?” not sure. Seems the guy has a lot of problems with organised religion, something I find ironic when you consider his guitarist decided to call himself John Christ! Anyway, enough of that. Let's see what this song, apparently a reworking of an old blues song, is like.

Well, that's very doomy, quite a Waitsesque vibe in the opening, then the guitar kicks in with what sounds to me like a very Western (as in, Western movie) feel, and of course Danzig did mention it was a blues song, so we get, well, a blues song. Not sure who wrote it originally, or how much it's been altered by our man Glenn, but he's credited with all the writing on this album, this included, so I guess he must have changed it a good bit. Doesn't sound like it though if I'm honest: I could hear some old Delta Blues singer howling this. Speaking of which ... but that's for later.

Basically a metal blues tune (steel blues?) about a guy who goes after every woman in town, very much the stuff of your thirties and forties blues song, with a nice metal guitar solo there in the middle. Certainly gives this wolf teeth!

Things I like about this :
1. It's the blues, Jim, but not as we know it!
2. That solo
3. Very drowned-in-whiskey style vocal

Things I don't like about this:
Can't think of anything really. Might go for
1. If he rewrote the tune, should he not give credit to whoever originally did? Though I don't know that of course.

Rating:

Trollheart · 11-23-2016, 04:57 PM

Time to let the ladies loose!

Title: “She wolf”
Format: Single
Written by: Shakira, John Hill and Sam Endicott
Performed by: Shakira
Genre: Pop
Taken from: She Wolf
Year: 2009
Acclaim: Top ten in most countries, including the UK and US

When I wrote about Duran Duran's song “Hungry like the wolf” earlier, I mentioned that the song was written in a single day. Impressive. Well, this one was apparently written in ten minutes! Reminds me of the old line from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, when Doctor McCoy says, with typical hyperbole and lack of accuracy, “According to myth, the Earth was created in seven days. Now watch out! Here comes Genesis! * We'll do it for you in six minutes!” Still, it doesn't seem to be hype, as there's a quote from her saying exactly that. Either way, it's quite an achievement, not only to write a song so quickly but for it to be so successful.

Of course, let's remember I'm Trollheart, so I have never heard this before. Never even heard of it. I'm sure you're all very surprised.

The lead single from the album of the same name, it continued a string of successful singles from this mini-powerhouse after she had hit the big time, and despite her insistence on releasing albums in her native tongue in between the smash hit albums, she has remained very popular. I have heard the odd song, so I'm not totally clueless about her (not totally) but as I say I have not heard this so let's go.

Like the wolf howl and the heartbeat at the start, but then it kicks up into a pretty generic pop/synthpop song. Catchy yes, but everyone knows this is not my kind of thing, and I really have little to say about it. Goddamn Autotune!

Things I like about this :
Nothing really; not my kind of song.
1. Okay, okay! The video's hot hot hot!

Things I don't like about this:
Pretty much everything I'm afraid

Rating:

* Note: that's the Genesis device, a terraforming tool, not Phil Collins and co!

The Batlord · 11-23-2016, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I'll check it out. Am I likely to regret it?

Shrug. I don't even know what ****s with you these days. At the very least you don't seem to be bothered by black metal anymore.

Trollheart · 11-23-2016, 05:16 PM

Title: “Brother wolf, sister moon”
Format: Album track
Written by: Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy
Performed by: The Cult
Genre: Gothic rock
Taken from: Love
Year: 1985
Acclaim: n/a

The Cult for me evoke memories of a sort of “other Cure” performing live on Top of the Pops, though what song it was I don't remember. I always got a kind of, how can I say this, weird vibe from them but have never listened to, nor indeed wanted to listen to any of their music. On the face of it, this song sounds like something you'd hear on one of those compilations of Native American music, or some New Age thing. I doubt it will be either.

Melancholy doom style guitar to open with (I bet the singer is dark and dangerous-sounding, well not quite). A little manic perhaps in a restrained way, very slow pounding percussion, the song gives the impression of perhaps building up to something? Guitar puts me in mind of Big Country to a degree. Okay, the percussion got a little more forceful and just a shade faster now, but it's still basically the same – what would I call it? A lament? Yeah, a lament. Kind of enjoying it I must admit. Good solo, powerful but restrained; I like that the guy didn't just wank all over the song, which is something it definitely does not need, and yet he stamps his identity on it effortlessly. All in all, quite impressive. Oh, great ending! Love the rumbling thunder receding into the distance.

Things I like about this :
1. The atmosphere evoked; quite dark and tribal in its way
2. The guitar riffs, sparse but effective
3. The vocal; kind of reaches out and grabs you by the throat
4. The thunder at the end

Things I don't like about this:
Nothing really

Rating:

Trollheart · 11-23-2016, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Shrug. I don't even know what ****s with you these days. At the very least you don't seem to be bothered by black metal anymore.

Like one of the guys says in this ad... (see if you can guess which one)

Trollheart · 11-23-2016, 05:32 PM

Title: “The boy who cried wolf”
Format: Single
Written by: Paul Weller
Performed by: The Style Council
Genre: Pop/Soul
Taken from: Our Favourite Shop
Year: 1985
Acclaim: n/a

Another band I really hated was these guys. Weird in a way: I hated the Jam (not so much now of course but back when I was young) and then despised the way Paul Weller had the effrontery to break them up and then put together a new band. Who's ever done that before?

But even I had to admit that songs like “You're the best thing” and “Walls come tumbling down” were catchy slices of eighties pop, but they were hit singles and this was not, so I was exposed, if you will, to the Style Council kind of against my will, whereas this time I'm heading into their inner sanctum. As it were. Although released as a single, it appears to have flopped, which might be why it never came to my attention. Or not.

Reminds me a bit of a-ha with a slice of forties French lounge or something, maybe a bit of Sade, quite a little soul in there. If there's orchestration it's really nice. There is orchestration. It is nice. Some female vocals too, from who? Either Tracy Young or Alison Limerick, apparently. It's quite a nice little tune really, inoffensive but with a certain bite. Not bad at all.

Things I like about this :
1. The rhythm and tempo
2. The orchestration
3. The female vocals

Things I don't like about this:
Oddly, nothing really

Rating:

Trollheart · 11-23-2016, 05:48 PM

Man, once you get going you just can't stop, can you? Must be all that pent-up energy and frustration from being away for so long!

Here we go again!

Title: “7 days to the wolves”
Format: Album track
Written by: Tuomas Holopainen and Marco Hietala
Performed by: Nightwish
Genre: Gothic/Symphonic Metal
Taken from: Dark Passion Play
Year: 2007
Acclaim: n/a

I heard this song only a few days ago, and indeed though I'm not familiar with much of Nightwish's catalogue, this happens to be one of the few albums of theirs I actually reviewed at one point, though I have to say I don't recall this track, and I should, as it's quite long at over seven minutes. A lot of people hate Nightwish; for me, the jury's still out as, as I say, I haven't listened to enough of their music to make a proper decision, and sometimes the female operatic vocal – especially when allied to the dark, growly male death vocal – can get tiresome, it's used in bands so often. But let's refresh my memory as to how this one goes.

There's the orchestral opening that often gives this subgenre a bad name, which it may or may not deserve, crashing drums and guitars and choral vocals, all very gothic and dramatic. I must admit, I prefer vocalist Annette Olzon to Tarja, who had left by this time. I've heard her solo stuff and I'm not that much of a fan, if I remember correctly. No death vocals yet, which is nice. Song is a little marching and dramatic, anthemic and powerful. Good interplay between the two vocalists, though I see they have a choir on this, so maybe it's them that I'm hearing. Instrumental section in the middle is pretty boss.

Interesting use of uileann pipes, not something I've heard on a metal record very often, if at all. Great orchestral run there near the end, builds up really nicely. Yes, very impressive all told.

Things I like about this :
1. The sense of drama and power
2. The instrumental section
3. Uileann pipes
4. Good vocals
5. No operatic screeching or indeed death growling
6. Orchestration

Things I don't like about this:
Nothing

Rating:

The Batlord · 11-23-2016, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Like one of the guys says in this ad... (see if you can guess which one)

God damn 90s.

The Batlord · 11-23-2016, 05:58 PM

And I suggested that album cause it's awesome, not to **** with you.

Trollheart · 11-23-2016, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

God damn 90s.

Love that ad!

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

And I suggested that album cause it's awesome, not to **** with you.

Coola boola, as we say here. Well, it's spelled "cula bhula"...

11-23-2016, 03:13 PM	#31 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: “Killer wolf” Format: Album track Written by: Glenn Danzig Performed by: Danzig Genre: Heavy Metal Taken from: Danzig II: Lucifuge Year: 1990 Acclaim: n/a Now this is definitely Heavy Metal! I only know Danzig from, apart from the general mention of their name around the forum, my listening to their third album a good while back. Think it was for “Love or Hate?” not sure. Seems the guy has a lot of problems with organised religion, something I find ironic when you consider his guitarist decided to call himself John Christ! Anyway, enough of that. Let's see what this song, apparently a reworking of an old blues song, is like. Well, that's very doomy, quite a Waitsesque vibe in the opening, then the guitar kicks in with what sounds to me like a very Western (as in, Western movie) feel, and of course Danzig did mention it was a blues song, so we get, well, a blues song. Not sure who wrote it originally, or how much it's been altered by our man Glenn, but he's credited with all the writing on this album, this included, so I guess he must have changed it a good bit. Doesn't sound like it though if I'm honest: I could hear some old Delta Blues singer howling this. Speaking of which ... but that's for later. Basically a metal blues tune (steel blues?) about a guy who goes after every woman in town, very much the stuff of your thirties and forties blues song, with a nice metal guitar solo there in the middle. Certainly gives this wolf teeth! Things I like about this : 1. It's the blues, Jim, but not as we know it! 2. That solo 3. Very drowned-in-whiskey style vocal Things I don't like about this: Can't think of anything really. Might go for 1. If he rewrote the tune, should he not give credit to whoever originally did? Though I don't know that of course. Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-23-2016, 04:57 PM	#32 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Time to let the ladies loose! Title: “She wolf” Format: Single Written by: Shakira, John Hill and Sam Endicott Performed by: Shakira Genre: Pop Taken from: She Wolf Year: 2009 Acclaim: Top ten in most countries, including the UK and US When I wrote about Duran Duran's song “Hungry like the wolf” earlier, I mentioned that the song was written in a single day. Impressive. Well, this one was apparently written in ten minutes! Reminds me of the old line from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, when Doctor McCoy says, with typical hyperbole and lack of accuracy, “According to myth, the Earth was created in seven days. Now watch out! Here comes Genesis! * We'll do it for you in six minutes!” Still, it doesn't seem to be hype, as there's a quote from her saying exactly that. Either way, it's quite an achievement, not only to write a song so quickly but for it to be so successful. Of course, let's remember I'm Trollheart, so I have never heard this before. Never even heard of it. I'm sure you're all very surprised. The lead single from the album of the same name, it continued a string of successful singles from this mini-powerhouse after she had hit the big time, and despite her insistence on releasing albums in her native tongue in between the smash hit albums, she has remained very popular. I have heard the odd song, so I'm not totally clueless about her (not totally) but as I say I have not heard this so let's go. Like the wolf howl and the heartbeat at the start, but then it kicks up into a pretty generic pop/synthpop song. Catchy yes, but everyone knows this is not my kind of thing, and I really have little to say about it. Goddamn Autotune! Things I like about this : Nothing really; not my kind of song. 1. Okay, okay! The video's hot hot hot! Things I don't like about this: Pretty much everything I'm afraid Rating: * Note: that's the Genesis device, a terraforming tool, not Phil Collins and co! __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-23-2016, 05:16 PM	#34 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: “Brother wolf, sister moon” Format: Album track Written by: Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy Performed by: The Cult Genre: Gothic rock Taken from: Love Year: 1985 Acclaim: n/a The Cult for me evoke memories of a sort of “other Cure” performing live on Top of the Pops, though what song it was I don't remember. I always got a kind of, how can I say this, weird vibe from them but have never listened to, nor indeed wanted to listen to any of their music. On the face of it, this song sounds like something you'd hear on one of those compilations of Native American music, or some New Age thing. I doubt it will be either. Melancholy doom style guitar to open with (I bet the singer is dark and dangerous-sounding, well not quite). A little manic perhaps in a restrained way, very slow pounding percussion, the song gives the impression of perhaps building up to something? Guitar puts me in mind of Big Country to a degree. Okay, the percussion got a little more forceful and just a shade faster now, but it's still basically the same – what would I call it? A lament? Yeah, a lament. Kind of enjoying it I must admit. Good solo, powerful but restrained; I like that the guy didn't just wank all over the song, which is something it definitely does not need, and yet he stamps his identity on it effortlessly. All in all, quite impressive. Oh, great ending! Love the rumbling thunder receding into the distance. Things I like about this : 1. The atmosphere evoked; quite dark and tribal in its way 2. The guitar riffs, sparse but effective 3. The vocal; kind of reaches out and grabs you by the throat 4. The thunder at the end Things I don't like about this: Nothing really Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-23-2016, 05:32 PM	#36 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Title: “The boy who cried wolf” Format: Single Written by: Paul Weller Performed by: The Style Council Genre: Pop/Soul Taken from: Our Favourite Shop Year: 1985 Acclaim: n/a Another band I really hated was these guys. Weird in a way: I hated the Jam (not so much now of course but back when I was young) and then despised the way Paul Weller had the effrontery to break them up and then put together a new band. Who's ever done that before? But even I had to admit that songs like “You're the best thing” and “Walls come tumbling down” were catchy slices of eighties pop, but they were hit singles and this was not, so I was exposed, if you will, to the Style Council kind of against my will, whereas this time I'm heading into their inner sanctum. As it were. Although released as a single, it appears to have flopped, which might be why it never came to my attention. Or not. Reminds me a bit of a-ha with a slice of forties French lounge or something, maybe a bit of Sade, quite a little soul in there. If there's orchestration it's really nice. There is orchestration. It is nice. Some female vocals too, from who? Either Tracy Young or Alison Limerick, apparently. It's quite a nice little tune really, inoffensive but with a certain bite. Not bad at all. Things I like about this : 1. The rhythm and tempo 2. The orchestration 3. The female vocals Things I don't like about this: Oddly, nothing really Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-23-2016, 05:48 PM	#37 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Man, once you get going you just can't stop, can you? Must be all that pent-up energy and frustration from being away for so long! Here we go again! Title: “7 days to the wolves” Format: Album track Written by: Tuomas Holopainen and Marco Hietala Performed by: Nightwish Genre: Gothic/Symphonic Metal Taken from: Dark Passion Play Year: 2007 Acclaim: n/a I heard this song only a few days ago, and indeed though I'm not familiar with much of Nightwish's catalogue, this happens to be one of the few albums of theirs I actually reviewed at one point, though I have to say I don't recall this track, and I should, as it's quite long at over seven minutes. A lot of people hate Nightwish; for me, the jury's still out as, as I say, I haven't listened to enough of their music to make a proper decision, and sometimes the female operatic vocal – especially when allied to the dark, growly male death vocal – can get tiresome, it's used in bands so often. But let's refresh my memory as to how this one goes. There's the orchestral opening that often gives this subgenre a bad name, which it may or may not deserve, crashing drums and guitars and choral vocals, all very gothic and dramatic. I must admit, I prefer vocalist Annette Olzon to Tarja, who had left by this time. I've heard her solo stuff and I'm not that much of a fan, if I remember correctly. No death vocals yet, which is nice. Song is a little marching and dramatic, anthemic and powerful. Good interplay between the two vocalists, though I see they have a choir on this, so maybe it's them that I'm hearing. Instrumental section in the middle is pretty boss. Interesting use of uileann pipes, not something I've heard on a metal record very often, if at all. Great orchestral run there near the end, builds up really nicely. Yes, very impressive all told. Things I like about this : 1. The sense of drama and power 2. The instrumental section 3. Uileann pipes 4. Good vocals 5. No operatic screeching or indeed death growling 6. Orchestration Things I don't like about this: Nothing Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018