An indeterminate number of albums you probably have never heard, but maybe should

Trollheart · 05-31-2012, 04:45 AM

You guys have all very eclectic musical tastes, and some of the bands you listen to are totally beyond my scope or interest, but although my own taste could be described as, most times, mainstream, I still have a lot of stuff that you may never have heard of. You may not want to have heard of it, true, but it's maybe a chance for you to hear music that is interesting, sometimes surprising, despite being what most would class as mainstream.

Some of these albums have been featured in my journal, but as I'm not narcissistic enough to believe that everyone hear reads that journal (Why not? What's wrong with it? Don't you like me? You HATE me, don't you? I can tell...)

this may be the first you've heard of these albums.

Anyway, enough preamble. We're going to kick off with a solo effort from one of the members of ABBA (Hey! Don't walk away! She's HOT! Really. Look...)

Agnetha Faltskog, usually just known as Agnetha or sometimes Anna within the band, had released seven albums in her native Swedish and two in English before this, and yet, after it she would not release another album for seventeen years, and that would be her last one.

It's produced by Chicago's Peter Cetera so has a very polished, professional sound to it, and while I would never go so far as to say it's a "must-have" album --- there are some very weak tracks on it --- it's a pretty decent effort for someone stepping out of the huge shadow of the hit machine that was her life for over ten years.

This is the opener, great little rocker called "The last time".

One of two lovely ballads on the album, this is "Maybe it was magic".

"Let it shine" is good too

and then it ends on another gorgeous ballad, written by two of the greats, Diane Warren and Albert Hammond.

SGR · 05-31-2012, 06:24 AM

Cool thread Trollheart, I like me some Abba so I'm definitely gonna have to check this out at some point. Looking forward to this thread!

Vertigo · 05-31-2012, 06:35 AM

Ah, Agnetha. She was my first crush when I was a wee lad.

Mikeportnoyz · 05-31-2012, 07:21 AM

The first video... when imagination was used instead of cg!

Trollheart · 05-31-2012, 11:40 AM

I'd like to branch out a little here and feature a few albums from one of my favourite singer/songwriters, the late Dan Fogelberg. Most will know him, if at all, for his hits "Leader of the band", "Run for the roses", "Same old lang syne" and "Longer", but he had a tremendous output for over thirty years, releasing some of the most underappreciated albums I've ever heard, and come to love.

This was his debut, released in 1972, and while it's not perfect by any means, it does show him trying to find his way, walking a line between country, folk and emergent rock/pop. I just love the opener, always makes me feel relaxed and reborn, like the dawning of a new day.

"More than ever" is pure country (dig that steel guitar!) --- Dan would more or less drop this style on the next album and would not return to it until 1985's "High country snows".

But what he excelled at, throughout his tragically cut-short life, was ballads, love songs and gentle musical poems, like "Hickory Grove".

His next album, released two years later, would see Dan move more towards folk and the softer side of rock, while still retaining something of his country roots, with tracks like "Illinois"

the beautiful, wistful title track

and the frankly amazing "There's a place in the world for a gambler".

The next opus from Dan would hit the shelves in 1977, when I was just turning fourteen, and a long way from discovering this incredible songwriter. I must feature the cinematic opening and indeed title track

and just to prove he doesn't only write ballads, check out "Love gone by"

But if "Sketches" doesn't bring a tear to your eye, I suggest you take off the mask and give up the pretence, cos you won't pass for a human anymore.

There's a whole lot more I could post --- and may --- but trying to exercise some self-control (never an easy thing for me), and I've a lot more in my collection to introduce to those of you who want to hear them, so I may return to Dan at a later point. The above should however give you some sort of idea as to the loss we suffered on December 16 2007.

Trollheart · 06-01-2012, 02:35 AM

Perhaps one of the albums that affected me most profoundly, along with Jeff Wayne's "War of the worlds" and "Script for a jester's tear" was this one, a one-off collaboration between Irish musicians Ken Kiernan and Ger McDonald, and noted Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick, setting his wonderful celtic mythology paintings to music. Like the book of art he published, they called it "Erinsaga".

It charts the coming of the Celts to Ireland, their struggles against the local gods and demons, and their eventual triumph as they make the land theirs. It's a powerful history of ancient Ireland steeped in the beautiful and often savage mythology of my native land, and like most if not all legend, it's full of tragedy, sacrifice, redemption and triumph.

You can't get these samples on YT; I had to make them myself from scratch. The album is similarly hard to come by, so if anyone wants it, I've recorded the whole thing and split it into four videos.

And here they are.

(If anyone wants the actual album let me know and I'll hook you up).

Trollheart · 06-01-2012, 04:20 PM

Sweden really does seem to be the place to find power metal, doesn't it? Well, this is almost more symphonic, but who cares for labels, hey? This is the only album from Nightscape (so far anyway) and it's a huge find for me, a real gem that goes under the name of "Symphony of the night".

Right from the off you know what to expect with "Haunted hill"

the wonderful, triumphant "Home"

and the powerful title, and closing, track.

Trollheart · 06-02-2012, 02:53 PM

Seems hard to believe this was released in 2003, almost ten years ago now. Still sounds fresh and vibrant and seriously kicks the ass of so many other prog metal bands! This is Silent Edge from Holland, with their (so far) one and only album, the unutterably brilliant and totally underappreciated "The eyes of the shadow".

Just listen to this! This is the explosive "Savage symphony"

or this, the epic "For ancient times".

But they can tone it right down too, for a tender ballad, like "The curse I hold within".

Trollheart · 06-03-2012, 06:28 PM

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band --- The Distance

Bob Seger is one of those American institutions, like Springsteen, Dylan or Fogerty. Most people will have heard at least one of his hits --- the chances being very high that those will be either "Night moves" or "We've got tonight" --- but not that many people admit to owning his albums. I remember my boss (probably about 50 at a time when I was, I think, 18) being amazed that I had not just one, but most of Seger's albums. Didn't seem the sort of thing that a young guy would be interested in listening to.

But I love his music. It's traditional American rock, like the best of Springsteen, Earle and Petty all mixed up and performed with pride and panache. Sadly Seger has never played Ireland, nor probably ever will, as he seems not to stray from the homeland. So we have to content with songs like this one, "Even now", which opens the album

The excellent, freedom anthem "Roll me away"

Wonderful, thoughtful ballads like "Love's the last to know"

and the bittersweet "Comin' home".

Trollheart · 06-04-2012, 03:16 PM

Human Temple --- Murder of crows

Another one that appeared in my journal, this is a fantastic second album from the AOR rockers from Finland, Human Temple. It's pretty amazing, considering that virtually every track is gold, and yet the previous album --- which didn't contain the track that got me into them: it's on this one --- was pretty disappointing. They have a new one out this year, which I only just found out today. I'm going searching for it, so expect it to crop up in my journal before long! Till then, try these...

05-31-2012, 04:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	An indeterminate number of albums you probably have never heard, but maybe should You guys have all very eclectic musical tastes, and some of the bands you listen to are totally beyond my scope or interest, but although my own taste could be described as, most times, mainstream, I still have a lot of stuff that you may never have heard of. You may not want to have heard of it, true, but it's maybe a chance for you to hear music that is interesting, sometimes surprising, despite being what most would class as mainstream. Some of these albums have been featured in my journal, but as I'm not narcissistic enough to believe that everyone hear reads that journal (Why not? What's wrong with it? Don't you like me? You HATE me, don't you? I can tell...) this may be the first you've heard of these albums. Anyway, enough preamble. We're going to kick off with a solo effort from one of the members of ABBA (Hey! Don't walk away! She's HOT! Really. Look...) Agnetha Faltskog, usually just known as Agnetha or sometimes Anna within the band, had released seven albums in her native Swedish and two in English before this, and yet, after it she would not release another album for seventeen years, and that would be her last one. It's produced by Chicago's Peter Cetera so has a very polished, professional sound to it, and while I would never go so far as to say it's a "must-have" album --- there are some very weak tracks on it --- it's a pretty decent effort for someone stepping out of the huge shadow of the hit machine that was her life for over ten years. This is the opener, great little rocker called "The last time". One of two lovely ballads on the album, this is "Maybe it was magic". "Let it shine" is good too and then it ends on another gorgeous ballad, written by two of the greats, Diane Warren and Albert Hammond. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

05-31-2012, 11:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	I'd like to branch out a little here and feature a few albums from one of my favourite singer/songwriters, the late Dan Fogelberg. Most will know him, if at all, for his hits "Leader of the band", "Run for the roses", "Same old lang syne" and "Longer", but he had a tremendous output for over thirty years, releasing some of the most underappreciated albums I've ever heard, and come to love. This was his debut, released in 1972, and while it's not perfect by any means, it does show him trying to find his way, walking a line between country, folk and emergent rock/pop. I just love the opener, always makes me feel relaxed and reborn, like the dawning of a new day. "More than ever" is pure country (dig that steel guitar!) --- Dan would more or less drop this style on the next album and would not return to it until 1985's "High country snows". But what he excelled at, throughout his tragically cut-short life, was ballads, love songs and gentle musical poems, like "Hickory Grove". His next album, released two years later, would see Dan move more towards folk and the softer side of rock, while still retaining something of his country roots, with tracks like "Illinois" the beautiful, wistful title track and the frankly amazing "There's a place in the world for a gambler". The next opus from Dan would hit the shelves in 1977, when I was just turning fourteen, and a long way from discovering this incredible songwriter. I must feature the cinematic opening and indeed title track and just to prove he doesn't only write ballads, check out "Love gone by" But if "Sketches" doesn't bring a tear to your eye, I suggest you take off the mask and give up the pretence, cos you won't pass for a human anymore. There's a whole lot more I could post --- and may --- but trying to exercise some self-control (never an easy thing for me), and I've a lot more in my collection to introduce to those of you who want to hear them, so I may return to Dan at a later point. The above should however give you some sort of idea as to the loss we suffered on December 16 2007. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-01-2012, 02:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Perhaps one of the albums that affected me most profoundly, along with Jeff Wayne's "War of the worlds" and "Script for a jester's tear" was this one, a one-off collaboration between Irish musicians Ken Kiernan and Ger McDonald, and noted Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick, setting his wonderful celtic mythology paintings to music. Like the book of art he published, they called it "Erinsaga". It charts the coming of the Celts to Ireland, their struggles against the local gods and demons, and their eventual triumph as they make the land theirs. It's a powerful history of ancient Ireland steeped in the beautiful and often savage mythology of my native land, and like most if not all legend, it's full of tragedy, sacrifice, redemption and triumph. You can't get these samples on YT; I had to make them myself from scratch. The album is similarly hard to come by, so if anyone wants it, I've recorded the whole thing and split it into four videos. And here they are. (If anyone wants the actual album let me know and I'll hook you up). __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-01-2012, 04:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Sweden really does seem to be the place to find power metal, doesn't it? Well, this is almost more symphonic, but who cares for labels, hey? This is the only album from Nightscape (so far anyway) and it's a huge find for me, a real gem that goes under the name of "Symphony of the night". Right from the off you know what to expect with "Haunted hill" the wonderful, triumphant "Home" and the powerful title, and closing, track. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-02-2012, 02:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Seems hard to believe this was released in 2003, almost ten years ago now. Still sounds fresh and vibrant and seriously kicks the ass of so many other prog metal bands! This is Silent Edge from Holland, with their (so far) one and only album, the unutterably brilliant and totally underappreciated "The eyes of the shadow". Just listen to this! This is the explosive "Savage symphony" or this, the epic "For ancient times". But they can tone it right down too, for a tender ballad, like "The curse I hold within". __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

05-31-2012, 06:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,327	Cool thread Trollheart, I like me some Abba so I'm definitely gonna have to check this out at some point. Looking forward to this thread!

05-31-2012, 06:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Vertigo Music Addict Join Date: May 2012 Location: North West England Posts: 167	Ah, Agnetha. She was my first crush when I was a wee lad.

05-31-2012, 07:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mikeportnoyz Groupie Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2	The first video... when imagination was used instead of cg!

06-03-2012, 06:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band --- The Distance Bob Seger is one of those American institutions, like Springsteen, Dylan or Fogerty. Most people will have heard at least one of his hits --- the chances being very high that those will be either "Night moves" or "We've got tonight" --- but not that many people admit to owning his albums. I remember my boss (probably about 50 at a time when I was, I think, 18) being amazed that I had not just one, but most of Seger's albums. Didn't seem the sort of thing that a young guy would be interested in listening to. But I love his music. It's traditional American rock, like the best of Springsteen, Earle and Petty all mixed up and performed with pride and panache. Sadly Seger has never played Ireland, nor probably ever will, as he seems not to stray from the homeland. So we have to content with songs like this one, "Even now", which opens the album The excellent, freedom anthem "Roll me away" Wonderful, thoughtful ballads like "Love's the last to know" and the bittersweet "Comin' home". __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-04-2012, 03:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Human Temple --- Murder of crows Another one that appeared in my journal, this is a fantastic second album from the AOR rockers from Finland, Human Temple. It's pretty amazing, considering that virtually every track is gold, and yet the previous album --- which didn't contain the track that got me into them: it's on this one --- was pretty disappointing. They have a new one out this year, which I only just found out today. I'm going searching for it, so expect it to crop up in my journal before long! Till then, try these... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018