The Album Club 2017

Trollheart · 05-22-2017, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrophonic Tonic

Delivered right to your front door, with free two day shipping!

Return to sender: I did not order this. Not known at this address.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

Can I jump in for the next couple of weeks?

You mean to comment or to suggest an album?

Pet_Sounds · 05-22-2017, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

You mean to comment or to suggest an album?

I don't expect to choose an album, as I've been away so long. Additionally, I'll only be active for a couple of weeks, then I'm off again. But if the rules allow me to, then by all means I will.

Trollheart · 05-23-2017, 05:24 PM

I got to be honest, when I saw the album title I was thinking another Bootsy. That's not necessarily bad, but what I ended up with was a superb, engaging and interesting album that really has no bad tracks. I mean, I've listened to it seven times now and every time I just want to hit repeat when I get to the end.

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Hey this is instrumental. Not so much funk, more world music I'd say, but I love it.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Sounded very Indian, or maybe Arabic, not sure. The percussion was great. Really hypnotic.

3. What did you think of the next track?
This has vocals and is, if possible, better than the opener.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?*(see note 1)
There were several, but I liked them all.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?*(see note 2)
Goddamn, yes.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Just kept getting better. Great as the opening tracks are I think it really hits its stride about halfway, from “Nanny Jee” on.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
I kind of concentrated on the music more. Not sure what the lyrics were to be honest but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the album.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?*(see note 3)
Oh yeah. Fantastic.

9. What did you think of the production?
Seems clean ?

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?
Never 'eard of him.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Usually, no, but I'd certainly be prepared to hear more of this.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
I loved it more with each listen. The first album here, I think, that I may listen to AFTER the review is done, just for pleasure.

13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
Everything, but especially “Nanny Jee”, “Iceberg”, “Booja”, “The mighty Atlas”

14. And the one(s) you liked least?
Not a single one

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?
Very much so

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
I was, but I'm beginning to trust Psy more on his recs.

18. Did the album end well?
Two short instrumentals ended it very well. Okay, the last wasn't exactly an instrumental, more a chant, but still great.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Impossible

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
I found it hung together very well.

Happy to give this my first 10/10

**Frownland** · 05-26-2017, 08:40 AM

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - World of Funk

What more can really be said about this album? It's a fun funk record that isn't the most innovative but the inclusion of world music certainly added a flavour to it that moved it past pretty neat background music to something I might throw on once in a while. I think that it would have been stronger as an instrumental album, but that's just personal preference since the vocals don't weigh down the music at all, they just don't seem necessary to me and a little extra spotlight on the instrumentals is always welcome. I'll go with a 7/10.

05-23-2017, 05:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	I got to be honest, when I saw the album title I was thinking another Bootsy. That's not necessarily bad, but what I ended up with was a superb, engaging and interesting album that really has no bad tracks. I mean, I've listened to it seven times now and every time I just want to hit repeat when I get to the end. 1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? Hey this is instrumental. Not so much funk, more world music I'd say, but I love it. 2. What did you think of the opening track? Sounded very Indian, or maybe Arabic, not sure. The percussion was great. Really hypnotic. 3. What did you think of the next track? This has vocals and is, if possible, better than the opener. *4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?(see note 1) There were several, but I liked them all. 5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?(see note 2)* Goddamn, yes. 6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? Just kept getting better. Great as the opening tracks are I think it really hits its stride about halfway, from “Nanny Jee” on. 7. What did you think of the lyrical content? I kind of concentrated on the music more. Not sure what the lyrics were to be honest but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the album. *8. Did you like the instrumental parts?(see note 3) Oh yeah. Fantastic. 9. What did you think of the production? Seems clean ? 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? Never 'eard of him. 11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not? Usually, no, but I'd certainly be prepared to hear more of this. 12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less? I loved it more with each listen. The first album here, I think, that I may listen to AFTER the review is done, just for pleasure. 13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any? Everything, but especially “Nanny Jee”, “Iceberg”, “Booja”, “The mighty Atlas” 14. And the one(s) you liked least? Not a single one 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? Very much so 17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album? I was, but I'm beginning to trust Psy more on his recs. 18. Did the album end well? Two short instrumentals ended it very well. Okay, the last wasn't exactly an instrumental, more a chant, but still great. 19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? Impossible 20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss? I found it hung together very well. Happy to give this my first 10/10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

05-26-2017, 08:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - World of Funk What more can really be said about this album? It's a fun funk record that isn't the most innovative but the inclusion of world music certainly added a flavour to it that moved it past pretty neat background music to something I might throw on once in a while. I think that it would have been stronger as an instrumental album, but that's just personal preference since the vocals don't weigh down the music at all, they just don't seem necessary to me and a little extra spotlight on the instrumentals is always welcome. I'll go with a 7/10. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x