Trollheart Listens to Every Album on Wiki's List for 2017

rubber soul · 11-19-2017, 03:06 PM

Bright Eyes is a fantastic band and Conor Oberst is impressive in both. He's essentially a folkie by nature. Just about everything I heard from him or Bright Eyes I really like. I'll have to give the whole album a listen tomorrow.

Trollheart · 11-19-2017, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul

Bright Eyes is a fantastic band and Conor Oberst is impressive in both. He's essentially a folkie by nature. Just about everything I heard from him or Bright Eyes I really like. I'll have to give the whole album a listen tomorrow.

Yeah, I thought it sounded very folkish. Excellent album.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 11-19-2017, 05:30 PM

hey, i remember rec'ing Bright Eyes to you back in the Love or Hate days. pretty sure it was my first True Love rec. anyway, glad you liked his new album. unfortunately his solo stuff hasn't ever really done it for me.

Trollheart · 11-19-2017, 06:40 PM

Album title: Spirit
Artist: Depeche Mode
Genre: Electronic/Synthpop
Nationality: English
Release date: March 17
Position in Discography: Fourteenth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? I've heard some of their work, never a full album
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.88
Now here's a band young Trollheart was contemptuous of, for reasons of youth and ignorance and being a metal and proghead. Anything that sounded vaguely like electronic music was anathema to me, and as a result I viewed Human League, Yazoo, OMD and of course these guys with nothing but disdain. So this will be the first time I've really listened to Depeche Mode with an open mind, and it's good. Actually, it's very good. “You Move” is the first track I don't really like; it's just dreary and boring, but “Cover Me” soon makes me forget that and then “Eternal” keeps the high quality going with an almost dronelike dour ballad that really works.

“So Much Love” is the closest this comes to what I remember about the band; sounds quite dated but it's still pretty good. “Poorman” is a dark melancholy dirge decrying the state of the world, and overall I'd have to say this is much better than I had expected. Time to throw out those old prejudices. Again. Getting a little tired of this. I guess that's what comes of being an insular-minded kid, huh?

Check out more from this artist? Yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Expectation Index: 10

rubber soul · 11-20-2017, 03:36 AM

What is this, RS's favorite bands week?

I was really into Depeche Mode around the time of Violator. For a period between maybe 1985 and 1993, it seemed they could do no wrong. I especially liked their melancholy sound as you put it, TH. They slipped for a while after Violator really, but it's good to hear they still have it.

~~MicShazam~~ · 11-20-2017, 03:43 AM

I really loved that Depeche Mode album too. I think it's some of their very best work in a very long time. It took a while, but it really, really grew on me. Very impressively layered album with a lot of details in the mix. I don't think it will be my album of the year, but it's going to be pretty close.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

“Pooman” is a dark melancholy dirge decrying the state of the world

Um... You might want to spell check that one

Trollheart · 11-20-2017, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber soul

What is this, RS's favorite bands week?

I can guarantee the next one will break the cycle!

Quote:

I was really into Depeche Mode around the time of Violator. For a period between maybe 1985 and 1993, it seemed they could do no wrong. I especially liked their melancholy sound as you put it, TH. They slipped for a while after Violator really, but it's good to hear they still have it.

I need to start listening to their other albums once this is over.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicShazam

I really loved that Depeche Mode album too. I think it's some of their very best work in a very long time. It took a while, but it really, really grew on me. Very impressively layered album with a lot of details in the mix. I don't think it will be my album of the year, but it's going to be pretty close.

Didn't even have to grow on me. I loved it right away, which was a surprise to me.

Quote:

Um... You might want to spell check that one

What? He's the guy who takes so much **** from the government they call him ... oh. Yeah. Right. Oops!

rubber soul · 11-20-2017, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I need to start listening to their other albums once this is over.

Didn't even have to grow on me. I loved it right away, which was a surprise to me.

Violator was their zenith, obviously, but I'd recommend Music For the Masses too. There is also a version of Route 66 based on Behind the Wheel that I really got into during this period.

Trollheart · 11-20-2017, 11:08 AM

Album title: There is a Cloud
Artist: Elevation Worship
Genre: CCM/Worship
Nationality: American
Release date: March 17
Position in Discography: Tenth
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: N/A
Ah, it's been a while since we praised God in song, huh? And it's a live album, no less. There's nothing wrong with this music if you like adult contemporary rock or pop - “Do it Again” is particularly good – and I've said it before, and no doubt am fated to repeat myself several times before the end, I've nothing against worship music, as long as it's played and sung well, as this is. I just usually ignore the lyrics, though sometimes Christianity can have some good messages – treat each other well, don't worry about material possessions etc – and as long as they don't go overboard trying to convert this apostate then I don't mind this at all. It's certainly not anything I'd turn off.

Okay, scratch that. “Uncontainable Love” (a terrible title in itself) is an awful attempt to r&b-up the music and it just falls totally flat. Embarrassing with a capital M. It is amusing to hear these people go wild over this music as it praises the J-Man, but if the lyrics were tweaked slightly and they became songs about girls or boys in love, they'd probably be frothing at the mouth and accusing the band of “corrupting our impressionable youth” or some nonsense. Hypocrisy is big in the Catholic Church, as if that were breaking news. “Grateful” is pretty terrible too.

Interesting how, this being a live album and all, the band don't seem to ever interact with, never mind talk to the audience. Maybe they're communicating telepathically? Ah well. Everyone seems to be having a good time, no fights or unrest, and somewhere the Devil puts on another Slayer album, rolls his eyes and groans “What a bunch of dweebs!” Everyone wins!

Check out more from this artist? Nah
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? I imagine I'll have to

Expectation Index: 0

Trollheart · 11-20-2017, 11:54 AM

Album title: Things I've Never Said
Artist: Frances
Genre: Indie Pop/Soul
Nationality: English
Release date: March 17
Position in Discography: Debut
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.81
Got a fragile feeling of folk about the first track, soul-ish tinge to the second, kind of reminds me a little of Tracy Chapman in one way and she really puts me in mind of another female singer but I'll be damned if it will come to mind who she is. Certainly has a lot of talent though, and I would assume a bright future awaits her.

Check out more from this artist? Yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Expectation Index: 4

11-19-2017, 06:40 PM	#1064 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Spirit Artist: Depeche Mode Genre: Electronic/Synthpop Nationality: English Release date: March 17 Position in Discography: Fourteenth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? I've heard some of their work, never a full album Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.88 Now here's a band young Trollheart was contemptuous of, for reasons of youth and ignorance and being a metal and proghead. Anything that sounded vaguely like electronic music was anathema to me, and as a result I viewed Human League, Yazoo, OMD and of course these guys with nothing but disdain. So this will be the first time I've really listened to Depeche Mode with an open mind, and it's good. Actually, it's very good. “You Move” is the first track I don't really like; it's just dreary and boring, but “Cover Me” soon makes me forget that and then “Eternal” keeps the high quality going with an almost dronelike dour ballad that really works. “So Much Love” is the closest this comes to what I remember about the band; sounds quite dated but it's still pretty good. “Poorman” is a dark melancholy dirge decrying the state of the world, and overall I'd have to say this is much better than I had expected. Time to throw out those old prejudices. Again. Getting a little tired of this. I guess that's what comes of being an insular-minded kid, huh? Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 11-20-2017 at 06:18 AM.

11-20-2017, 11:08 AM	#1069 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: There is a Cloud Artist: Elevation Worship Genre: CCM/Worship Nationality: American Release date: March 17 Position in Discography: Tenth Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: N/A Ah, it's been a while since we praised God in song, huh? And it's a live album, no less. There's nothing wrong with this music if you like adult contemporary rock or pop - “Do it Again” is particularly good – and I've said it before, and no doubt am fated to repeat myself several times before the end, I've nothing against worship music, as long as it's played and sung well, as this is. I just usually ignore the lyrics, though sometimes Christianity can have some good messages – treat each other well, don't worry about material possessions etc – and as long as they don't go overboard trying to convert this apostate then I don't mind this at all. It's certainly not anything I'd turn off. Okay, scratch that. “Uncontainable Love” (a terrible title in itself) is an awful attempt to r&b-up the music and it just falls totally flat. Embarrassing with a capital M. It is amusing to hear these people go wild over this music as it praises the J-Man, but if the lyrics were tweaked slightly and they became songs about girls or boys in love, they'd probably be frothing at the mouth and accusing the band of “corrupting our impressionable youth” or some nonsense. Hypocrisy is big in the Catholic Church, as if that were breaking news. “Grateful” is pretty terrible too. Interesting how, this being a live album and all, the band don't seem to ever interact with, never mind talk to the audience. Maybe they're communicating telepathically? Ah well. Everyone seems to be having a good time, no fights or unrest, and somewhere the Devil puts on another Slayer album, rolls his eyes and groans “What a bunch of dweebs!” Everyone wins! Check out more from this artist? Nah Check out more from this genre or subgenre? I imagine I'll have to Expectation Index: 0 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-20-2017, 11:54 AM	#1070 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Things I've Never Said Artist: Frances Genre: Indie Pop/Soul Nationality: English Release date: March 17 Position in Discography: Debut Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.81 Got a fragile feeling of folk about the first track, soul-ish tinge to the second, kind of reminds me a little of Tracy Chapman in one way and she really puts me in mind of another female singer but I'll be damned if it will come to mind who she is. Certainly has a lot of talent though, and I would assume a bright future awaits her. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 4 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018