The "Recommended by" thread

[Trollheart]

Has been --- William Shatner --- Recommended by ? and now re-recommended by Trollheart

Someone, I can't remember who, recommended this album a while back and pleaded for anyone to look beyond the obvious sniggery reactions to Shatner's music, which I (eventually) did. I was impressed. I've reviewed the album in my journal for anyone who wants to check it out, but let's just say that this album is different.

Of course our Bill don't sing; he talks in spoken-word fashion that is really quite poetic, and you know his voice instantly. He's helped by Ben Folds on the piano and guitar, and also drags in the likes of Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann and Brad Paisley to help. Even Black Flag's Henry Rollins is up for it! The songs are not all great; some are downright awful but the good ones far outweigh the bad and on this album when Shatner is good he is VERY good!

Have a listen if you're someone who prides themselves on having an open mind musically, and f you don't come away with something from this album I'll be very surprised. It's unlikely you've ever heard anything like it.

[Goofle]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Has been --- William Shatner --- Recommended by ? and now re-recommended by Trollheart

Someone, I can't remember who, recommended this album a while back and pleaded for anyone to look beyond the obvious sniggery reactions to Shatner's music, which I (eventually) did. I was impressed. I've reviewed the album in my journal for anyone who wants to check it out, but let's just say that this album is different.

Of course our Bill don't sing; he talks in spoken-word fashion that is really quite poetic, and you know his voice instantly. He's helped by Ben Folds on the piano and guitar, and also drags in the likes of Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann and Brad Paisley to help. Even Black Flag's Henry Rollins is up for it! The songs are not all great; some are downright awful but the good ones far outweigh the bad and on this album when Shatner is good he is VERY good!

Have a listen if you're someone who prides themselves on having an open mind musically, and f you don't come away with something from this album I'll be very surprised. It's unlikely you've ever heard anything like it.

Myself and Pete have talked about it quite a bit. Really good album.

[YorkeDaddy]

Indirectly recommended by Trollheart

I've seen TH endorsing this album multiple times, including this thread but also in one of his journals I believe. It was difficult for me to find, but based on the descriptions Trollheart wrote of the album I just had to find it and give it a shot. I was not disappointed.

This is just a gorgeous album. I love the hell out of piano-based post-rock, and this does it almost perfectly. The album by this person/band/whoever (it's basically impossible to find info about this artist!) does nothing groundbreaking by any stretch, it just serves to be a peaceful, beautiful work of art.

I gotta give it a 9 out of 10 if I'm being honest. I just love music like this.

[YorkeDaddy]

I knew you'd like it despite you usually not being a huge pop guy. I think you genuinely seem to have an appreciation for good songwriting which is why I respect your music taste and I think this album has superb songwriting for a pop album.

There's no word of a new album yet, but I will certainly be watching for it and you will definitely see posts from me when a new album is announced!

[Frownland]

I think that Loathsome Pete posted about that one, it pushed me to check out the album as well. It definitely was not what I was expecting, but to be honest I was expecting it to sound like the Star Trek soundtrack .

[Anteater]

If you guys liked that album, you will ADORE prog-Shatner.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Anteater

If you guys liked that album, you will ADORE prog-Shatner.

Snapped that up as soon as I could. Just waiting now to get the right ambience to luxuriate in it!

[Isbjørn]

Trollheart, I'd post in this thread, too, but I'm busy ripping you off in my journal, and I have the dilemma of whether I should fill said journal with the recommended albums I have yet to listen to, or if I should post them here. So far I've went with the first one.

[Trollheart]

What's going on --- Marvin Gaye --- Recommended by Surell

This one took me a little by surprise. I'm no big Marvin fan but like everyone I've heard the hits, and I knew two tracks off this, unbeknownst to me. Well, beknownst for one: the title track. I knew I had heard that. The other one was "Mercy mercy me", of which I had heard Robert Palmer's cover.

I have featured this in my journal "Classic albums I have never heard" today, so I'm not gong to go into too much detail here, but just to say this is an incredible album, a concept no less, and says some very brave things for the time. In fact, were the songs not so good and were this Gaye's first album I think that the strong anti-Vietnam war sentiment here might have caused it to have been banned, or at least for Motown to have thought twice about releasing it.

Thankfully that didn't become an issue and we're left with one amazing album that pretty much pulls you by your heartstrings from beginning to end. Great strings section, lovely horns and of course Marvin's soulful gentle voice pleading with us all to be kinder to one another. What more could you want?

Rec rating: 9.5/10

[Isbjørn]

Alright, so I just heard Ghost Ballads by Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks, and decided to post about it here instead of my journal because I'm a nice person who likes helping Trollheart keeping this thread alive.

Goofle recommended it to me in plug, and I'm glad I listened to him. What is this, anyway? Well, it's a guy with a guitar who sings the cheesiest ghost stories imaginable while supported by some tacky, yet haunting background noises. The result? Quality cheese. It's simple, but so original, and though I do not know exactly what to rate it, it's certainly not below 7 (out of 10, of course).