Love or Hate?

Trollheart · 12-15-2015, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy

Isaac Hayes, right above.

Ah, I see. It is a good album, but I believe it could have been better. But then, wtf do I know?

The Batlord · 12-15-2015, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Ah, I see. It is a good album, but I believe it could have been better. But then, wtf do I know?

Not a god damned thing.

Trollheart · 12-15-2015, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Not a god damned thing.

Reminds me of, again, Blackadder.

Blackadder (holding up potato): "Look at this, Baldric. What is this?"
Baldrick: "I'm surprised you've forgotten, My Lord!"
Blackadder:"I haven't forgotten. It's a rhetorical question."
Baldrick: "Nah. It's a potato."

Trollheart · 12-16-2015, 06:20 PM

Let's get some more tracks done before Christmas, eh?

Title: “Repentance”
Artiste: The Cartridge Family
Genre: Electronic/Ambient
Taken from: Greed
Familiarity: Heard a few of Plainview's albums. Um.
Suggested by: Well, Plainview, obviously.

Expectations: I don't know. My previous experience with his music was, shall we say, somewhat polarising of opinion, but the last album was not bad at all. So we'll see. Could go either way.

Nice opening synth line, kind of violin-y with a nice bass coming in, tempo is slow and sort of morose (not surprising, given the title) and there's a shot of (probably unintentional) the basic opening melody from Genesis's “Watcher of the skies”. Gentle piano now, then almost in the second minute hard percussion and bass, though the piano remains in a very lounge style but lower in the mix now. Gets a little hard to make out, if I'm honest, and I think the drums overpower it. He probably means this, but it slightly ruins it for me. Drony synth now sliding in and I think the piano has stopped? Yes it has. Getting darker now. Percussion gone entirely, softer synth taking over with another rising behind it. Nice combination. Like this. Percussion is back, so is the piano, but the same problem vis a vis the mix. Now the drums have stopped and the piano and synth are carrying the tune into the last minute. Some lovely bassy organ as we enter the fifth minute with sax or clarinet or something adding a jazzy atmosphere to the end of the song as it fades out.

Conclusion: I would say that is probably the nicest and most complete piece of music I've heard from Plainview. Very melodious but with his by-now standard mixing of different instruments and styles. Not too avant-garde for me, but still pretty unique. Yeah, liked that a lot.

So, Love or Hate? So much so, that it's the first of his efforts to reach Green for me, and is getting a Love.

Possibility of looking into the album: 50% (I'm still hesitant, as it may not all be like this)

Trollheart · 12-16-2015, 06:23 PM

Title: “The great divide”
Artiste: Louis Logic and JJ Brown
Genre: Hip-hop
Taken from: Misery Loves Comedy
Familiarity: Zero (aren't you surprised?)
Suggested by: DwnWthVwls

Expectations: Again, I don't know. It says on the Wiki page that this is a semi-comedic album, so if they're not taking themselves too seriously (as hip-hop artists seem to be famous for doing) then maybe it'll be interesting. Or maybe I'll hate it. You know me and the hip to the hop...

Nice to hear acoustic guitar instead of synth or piano. Good self-deprecating humour. Oh! Singing! Now that's really good and unexpected. Good vocal harmonies too. These guys can sing. Good middle eighth. Have to admit I like this.

Conclusion: Totally unexpected in a good way. Enjoyed that.

So, Love or Hate? Got to be a Love.

Possibility of looking into the album: 60%, particularly if there's singing as well as rap.

Plainview · 12-16-2015, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Let's get some more tracks done before Christmas, eh?

Title: “Repentance”
Artiste: The Cartridge Family
Genre: Electronic/Ambient
Taken from: Greed
Familiarity: Heard a few of Plainview's albums. Um.
Suggested by: Well, Plainview, obviously.

Expectations: I don't know. My previous experience with his music was, shall we say, somewhat polarising of opinion, but the last album was not bad at all. So we'll see. Could go either way.

Nice opening synth line, kind of violin-y with a nice bass coming in, tempo is slow and sort of morose (not surprising, given the title) and there's a shot of (probably unintentional) the basic opening melody from Genesis's “Watcher of the skies”. Gentle piano now, then almost in the second minute hard percussion and bass, though the piano remains in a very lounge style but lower in the mix now. Gets a little hard to make out, if I'm honest, and I think the drums overpower it. He probably means this, but it slightly ruins it for me. Drony synth now sliding in and I think the piano has stopped? Yes it has. Getting darker now. Percussion gone entirely, softer synth taking over with another rising behind it. Nice combination. Like this. Percussion is back, so is the piano, but the same problem vis a vis the mix. Now the drums have stopped and the piano and synth are carrying the tune into the last minute. Some lovely bassy organ as we enter the fifth minute with sax or clarinet or something adding a jazzy atmosphere to the end of the song as it fades out.

Conclusion: I would say that is probably the nicest and most complete piece of music I've heard from Plainview. Very melodious but with his by-now standard mixing of different instruments and styles. Not too avant-garde for me, but still pretty unique. Yeah, liked that a lot.

So, Love or Hate? So much so, that it's the first of his efforts to reach Green for me, and is getting a Love.

Possibility of looking into the album: 50% (I'm still hesitant, as it may not all be like this)

Crack open the champagne! Yeah I went for a track I reckoned you'd appreciate. My latest album properly sticks the closest to this style (softer, more acoustic/folky and jazz instrumentation).

Trollheart · 12-16-2015, 06:26 PM

Title: ”Billy Jean”
Artiste: Aloe Blacc
Genre: Hip-hop
Taken from: (I have no idea; checked all his albums and it's on none)
Familiarity: Zero, though I of course know the Jackson hit this is a cover of
Suggested by: DwnWthVwls

Expectations: Hard to tell. A hip-hop version of “Billy Jean”? Well I see he plays trumpet too so maybe it might be interesting.

It's a very slow, moody version, with some great slow bass and some guitar. He's got a good voice, and is so far not rapping but singing in a kind of soul/jazz style. It's VERY slow though, slightly boring if I'm honest. See if it takes up later. Here comes the trumpet for the bridge. That's quite nice. And he emulates Jackson with the “Eeee-eee-eee!” I'm just not really feeling it I have to say. Almost like a funeral dirge when it should be an uptempo hot dance song. I know he didn't want to just copy MJ but I don't like this.

Conclusion: Too slow, too dreary, very boring and almost depressing. Pass.

So, Love or Hate? Have to be a Hate, sorry. There is hope, however, as I remembered he wrote “I need a dollar”, and listened to it again, remembering what a great song it was.

Possibility of looking into the album: 0%

The Batlord · 12-16-2015, 09:53 PM

So have you heard enough hip hop you like to decide that it's a genre you'd like to explore further, yet?

DwnWthVwls · 12-16-2015, 11:04 PM

Damn, I'm surprised you disliked the Aloe track that much. I thought you liked that kind of stuff.

Trollheart · 12-17-2015, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

So have you heard enough hip hop you like to decide that it's a genre you'd like to explore further, yet?

Have no clue where you got that idea. What I've heard of hip-hop so far has been, with a very few exceptions, pretty much as expected and I don't feel in any way drawn towards it as a genre.

So, in answer to your question, yes and no. Yes, I've probably heard enough hip-hop but no I don't wish to delve any further into it than I have to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

Damn, I'm surprised you disliked the Aloe track that much. I thought you liked that kind of stuff.

Again, not sure where that came from. I found it very boring. I like to be entertained, moved. This reminded me of Sting's solo live performance of "Roxanne" at Live Aid. Ugh. The other song by him was supercool though. Video was excellent.

12-16-2015, 06:20 PM	#2394 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Let's get some more tracks done before Christmas, eh? Title: “Repentance” Artiste: The Cartridge Family Genre: Electronic/Ambient Taken from: Greed Familiarity: Heard a few of Plainview's albums. Um. Suggested by: Well, Plainview, obviously. Expectations: I don't know. My previous experience with his music was, shall we say, somewhat polarising of opinion, but the last album was not bad at all. So we'll see. Could go either way. Nice opening synth line, kind of violin-y with a nice bass coming in, tempo is slow and sort of morose (not surprising, given the title) and there's a shot of (probably unintentional) the basic opening melody from Genesis's “Watcher of the skies”. Gentle piano now, then almost in the second minute hard percussion and bass, though the piano remains in a very lounge style but lower in the mix now. Gets a little hard to make out, if I'm honest, and I think the drums overpower it. He probably means this, but it slightly ruins it for me. Drony synth now sliding in and I think the piano has stopped? Yes it has. Getting darker now. Percussion gone entirely, softer synth taking over with another rising behind it. Nice combination. Like this. Percussion is back, so is the piano, but the same problem vis a vis the mix. Now the drums have stopped and the piano and synth are carrying the tune into the last minute. Some lovely bassy organ as we enter the fifth minute with sax or clarinet or something adding a jazzy atmosphere to the end of the song as it fades out. Conclusion: I would say that is probably the nicest and most complete piece of music I've heard from Plainview. Very melodious but with his by-now standard mixing of different instruments and styles. Not too avant-garde for me, but still pretty unique. Yeah, liked that a lot. So, Love or Hate? So much so, that it's the first of his efforts to reach Green for me, and is getting a Love. Possibility of looking into the album: 50% (I'm still hesitant, as it may not all be like this) __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-16-2015, 06:23 PM	#2395 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Title: “The great divide” Artiste: Louis Logic and JJ Brown Genre: Hip-hop Taken from: Misery Loves Comedy Familiarity: Zero (aren't you surprised?) Suggested by: DwnWthVwls Expectations: Again, I don't know. It says on the Wiki page that this is a semi-comedic album, so if they're not taking themselves too seriously (as hip-hop artists seem to be famous for doing) then maybe it'll be interesting. Or maybe I'll hate it. You know me and the hip to the hop... Nice to hear acoustic guitar instead of synth or piano. Good self-deprecating humour. Oh! Singing! Now that's really good and unexpected. Good vocal harmonies too. These guys can sing. Good middle eighth. Have to admit I like this. Conclusion: Totally unexpected in a good way. Enjoyed that. So, Love or Hate? Got to be a Love. Possibility of looking into the album: 60%, particularly if there's singing as well as rap. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-16-2015, 06:26 PM	#2397 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Title: ”Billy Jean” Artiste: Aloe Blacc Genre: Hip-hop Taken from: (I have no idea; checked all his albums and it's on none) Familiarity: Zero, though I of course know the Jackson hit this is a cover of Suggested by: DwnWthVwls Expectations: Hard to tell. A hip-hop version of “Billy Jean”? Well I see he plays trumpet too so maybe it might be interesting. It's a very slow, moody version, with some great slow bass and some guitar. He's got a good voice, and is so far not rapping but singing in a kind of soul/jazz style. It's VERY slow though, slightly boring if I'm honest. See if it takes up later. Here comes the trumpet for the bridge. That's quite nice. And he emulates Jackson with the “Eeee-eee-eee!” I'm just not really feeling it I have to say. Almost like a funeral dirge when it should be an uptempo hot dance song. I know he didn't want to just copy MJ but I don't like this. Conclusion: Too slow, too dreary, very boring and almost depressing. Pass. So, Love or Hate? Have to be a Hate, sorry. There is hope, however, as I remembered he wrote “I need a dollar”, and listened to it again, remembering what a great song it was. Possibility of looking into the album: 0% __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018