Trollheart

Unsurprisingly, I'm going to be raving about this album. Well, do any of us suggest albums we think are crap? Funny thing is, I was (and still am) not really ever a Prefab Sprout fan. I knew their singles - “Cars and Girls”, “Appetite”, “When Love Breaks Down”, “The King of Rock and Roll” - and while I liked some of them, I was never that interested that I wanted to buy their albums. I still don't know why I bought this one. Maybe it was mentioned in a magazine I was reading at the time, maybe I heard a song on the radio (though I don't think so), maybe someone recommended it to me. I don't know. What I do know is that from the moment it began I loved it. For me, it has everything: memories sweet (“We Let the Stars Go”) and sad (“Doo-Wop in Harlem”), songs about a fear of commitment (“The Wedding March”), even vague misogyny (“The Ice Maiden”), and namechecks such luminaries as Elvis and Moondog, even giving a guest role to God himself!
1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Oh man I love this!
2. What did you think of the opening track?
A great, powerful, upbeat and energetic start, and I hoped the rest of the album would live up to the promise of this track. I needn't have worried.
3. What did you think of the next track?
I wasn't so wild (sorry) about this one but it was okay. The singing here on “wild” (with the sort of upward inflection) bugged me a little.
4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? (see note 1)
Yeah I like Paddy McAloon. He has a sort of Irish inflection to his voice and I like how he sings.
5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? (see note 2)
Pretty much all of it, yes. Maybe not so much on “Michael”, but otherwise yeah.
6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
n/a
7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
I love the breadth of themes. Using Jesse James as subject matter is pure genius, imo, and then he tops that by taking the persona of God (ego problem here, Paddy?) but there's plenty of room for simple love songs and some social commentary.
8. Did you like the instrumental parts? (see note 3)
n/a
9. What did you think of the production?
Pass as ever
10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Yes, as per the introduction and kind of yes; I wasn't sure this would be for me. But I was pleasantly surprised.
11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Yeah I'd say it is. I'm not the biggest fan of pop but I can listen to it, and I like some/most pop-rock.
12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
n/a
13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
I like pretty much everything here, but would single out the title, “Jesse James Bolero/Symphony”, “We Let the Stars Go”, “Doo-Wop in Harlem”, “Moondog”, “Paris Smith”, “The Wedding March” and “One of the Broken” as favourites.
14. And the one(s) you liked least?
Nothing really, but if I was forced to choose it would be “Michael” and “Machine Gun Ibiza”, maybe add “Wild Horses”
15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (see note 4)
n/a
16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
I intend to listen to more, yes
17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
n/a
18. Did the album end well?
Yes, there's a beautiful bittersweet ballad to end a fantastic album

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
No
20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
I think it hung together well on certain themes, but perhaps went a little askew here and there.

A pure 10/10 for me.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018