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

Trollheart · 12-12-2017, 11:30 AM

Album title: Worth the Wait
Artist: Lindsay Ell
Genre: Country
Nationality: Canadian
Release date: March 24
Position in Discography: Debut
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little
Average RYM Score: N/A
Another country offering, another non-American country offering, this one comes from a Canadian singer and it's an EP. Okay well this has a more Shania/Faith feel than the previous one, so maybe some pop mixed in there with the country. Not that it's bad, but it's certainly more on the side of commercial airplay music than, say, our man Lee in the last review (yeah, given that he had hits, but they were on country charts: this is more likely to be heard on the mainstream radio). Still, she doesn't just sing – she writes her material and she plays guitar, and very well too, so you have to give her credit. Can't say I particularly like the sparse “Criminal” though, and most of this really sounds more folk than country, with a version of Mayer's “Stop This Train” closing the EP. I dunno; it's all right but is it worth getting excited about? Leave that with me...

Check out more from this artist? Probably, if only out of curiosity
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Expectation Index: 2

The Batlord · 12-12-2017, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Artist: Keshia Chante

You cock tease.

Trollheart · 12-12-2017, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You cock tease.

I knew you'd latch onto that.

Trollheart · 12-12-2017, 03:11 PM

Album title: Love is Alive
Artist: Louis the Child
Genre: Electronic/Future Bass
Nationality: American
Release date: March 24
Position in Discography: Second EP
Fear Factor: Indeterminate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Not even sure what it is!
Average RYM Score: 2.92
Meh, it's okay so far but nothing that terribly special. What the hell is “Future Bass” anyway? Oh. It is a broad genre of music, comprising a wide variety of sounds and rhythms normally produced by a synthesizer. Well yeah, but I don't hear it being anything particularly different. Maybe that's just me. Has a kind of downtempo/trip-hop feel to some of it, much of it is quite boring really. Hmm. Now there's a hip-hop song getting in on the act with “Phone Dead”, and then it's back to a kind of trip-hop with “World on Fire”. Yeah it's okay as I said at the beginning but I'm pretty underwhelmed really. Not a lot to say.

Check out more from this artist? Unlikely
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Do not know

Expectation Index: N/A

Trollheart · 12-12-2017, 04:07 PM

Album title: Mansionz
Artist: Mansionz
Genre: Hip-Hop/Alternative Hip-hop/R&B/Electropop
Nationality: American
Release date: March 24
Position in Discography: Debut
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.55
Well this is different. Nice instrumental intro and then a slow, trappish song followed by an uptempo one called “Dennis Rodman” which, apparently, features the man himself. Have to be honest, I like everything here so far and love a lot of it. “I'm Thinking About Horses” is my favourite so far. Actually, it's one of the best songs I've heard in a very long time. Worth the price of admission on its own. Ah, ruined by a weird ending. Still love it though, at least, up to that point. And also still loving everything here as it goes along. “Wicked” is a great slice of r&b/soul pop, “Strip Club” is the next best thing to an anthem and this is one of the best hip-hop albums I've listened to from this month.
Check out more from this artist? I will
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Expectation Index: 10

Trollheart · 12-12-2017, 06:18 PM

Album title: Ransom 2
Artist: Mike WiLL Made It
Genre: Hip-hop/Trap
Nationality: American
Release date: March 24
Position in Discography: Debut album; one mixtape prior to this
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.50
Not quite sure what the artist's name is all about, but it's more hip-hop with some trap, and once again a guest list that reads like a who's who (maybe) of hip-hop: Big Sean, Pharrell Williams, Young Thug, Kendrick, Lil Wayne, Migos, Future, Lil Yachty and on and on. I do like the opening track though, has a kind of operatic singing thing going on in the background, and the piano on “WYO (What You On?)” is almost unsettling in its repetitive ominous line, but now there's a problem. I'm up to track ten of seventeen and I'm rapidly losing interest. It's not that it's all the same or anything (though much of it is), it's just that there's nothing really grabbing me as it goes along. All good stuff, but just good, not great. Sounds like he's taking on Death Grips now with “Y'all Ain't Ready”, which sounds just like “ Artificial Death in the West”.

Okay, “Aries (Yugo)” is a nice change of pace, introducing the vocal talents of Pharrell Williams, apparently, and “Emotions Unlocked” has a lot going for it, but basically I feel this album is too long at seventeen tracks (sixteen really I guess, as the penultimate one is less than half a minute long, but still) and it's a bit of a chore to get through, unlike the previous one.

Check out more from this artist? Probably not
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Expectation Index: 6

Paedantic Basterd · 12-12-2017, 08:37 PM

"Afterlove" just makes me think of "afterbirth", which I'm sure James Blunt sounds exactly like.

Oriphiel · 12-12-2017, 08:39 PM

Trollheart · 12-13-2017, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paedantic Basterd

"Afterlove" just makes me think of "afterbirth", which I'm sure James Blunt sounds exactly like.

Not at all far from the truth really. It also made me think of "Overlove", which is a Dio song. That's where the comparison ends. Really, not what you'd necessarily call awful, but bland to the max.

Trollheart · 12-13-2017, 11:37 AM

Album title: A Crow Looked at Me
Artist: Mount Eerie
Genre: Indie Folk/Lo-Fi/Slowcore
Nationality: American
Release date: March 24
Position in Discography: Eighth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No but have heard of them and this album
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Not really
Average RYM Score: 3.73
A concept album concerning the death of the artist's wife, this sounds like it could be a very personal album. It could, of course, also turn out to be an indulgent and insular one. The songs certainly appear to be sung in a low, almost muttered voice, not so much disinterested though as kind of the voice of a man who is broken. Nevertheless, and with all due respect to the man, I'm mostly finding this quite dour and boring. “Ravens” is a little more interesting than the two that have gone before it, but this kind of acoustic folky singer/songwriter stuff only appeals to me in certain cases, and I do prefer some sort of other backing than percussion and a guitar. Obviously this is depressing as hell, but not in a good way like with Antlers' Hospice. It's just a slog, and hard to get through, not because it's emotionally draining (at least not for me) but because it's just so ****ing boring. I suppose if I knew the guy or his music this might mean more to me, but I don't and while I support and applaud his effort to pay respects to his departed wife, I just can't find myself wanting to care. Sorry.

Check out more from this artist? I doubt it
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Really not sure

Expectation Index: 0

12-12-2017, 11:30 AM	#1191 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Worth the Wait Artist: Lindsay Ell Genre: Country Nationality: Canadian Release date: March 24 Position in Discography: Debut Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little Average RYM Score: N/A Another country offering, another non-American country offering, this one comes from a Canadian singer and it's an EP. Okay well this has a more Shania/Faith feel than the previous one, so maybe some pop mixed in there with the country. Not that it's bad, but it's certainly more on the side of commercial airplay music than, say, our man Lee in the last review (yeah, given that he had hits, but they were on country charts: this is more likely to be heard on the mainstream radio). Still, she doesn't just sing – she writes her material and she plays guitar, and very well too, so you have to give her credit. Can't say I particularly like the sparse “Criminal” though, and most of this really sounds more folk than country, with a version of Mayer's “Stop This Train” closing the EP. I dunno; it's all right but is it worth getting excited about? Leave that with me... Check out more from this artist? Probably, if only out of curiosity Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 2 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-12-2017, 03:11 PM	#1194 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Love is Alive Artist: Louis the Child Genre: Electronic/Future Bass Nationality: American Release date: March 24 Position in Discography: Second EP Fear Factor: Indeterminate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Not even sure what it is! Average RYM Score: 2.92 Meh, it's okay so far but nothing that terribly special. What the hell is “Future Bass” anyway? Oh. It is a broad genre of music, comprising a wide variety of sounds and rhythms normally produced by a synthesizer. Well yeah, but I don't hear it being anything particularly different. Maybe that's just me. Has a kind of downtempo/trip-hop feel to some of it, much of it is quite boring really. Hmm. Now there's a hip-hop song getting in on the act with “Phone Dead”, and then it's back to a kind of trip-hop with “World on Fire”. Yeah it's okay as I said at the beginning but I'm pretty underwhelmed really. Not a lot to say. Check out more from this artist? Unlikely Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Do not know Expectation Index: N/A __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-12-2017, 04:07 PM	#1195 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Mansionz Artist: Mansionz Genre: Hip-Hop/Alternative Hip-hop/R&B/Electropop Nationality: American Release date: March 24 Position in Discography: Debut Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.55 Well this is different. Nice instrumental intro and then a slow, trappish song followed by an uptempo one called “Dennis Rodman” which, apparently, features the man himself. Have to be honest, I like everything here so far and love a lot of it. “I'm Thinking About Horses” is my favourite so far. Actually, it's one of the best songs I've heard in a very long time. Worth the price of admission on its own. Ah, ruined by a weird ending. Still love it though, at least, up to that point. And also still loving everything here as it goes along. “Wicked” is a great slice of r&b/soul pop, “Strip Club” is the next best thing to an anthem and this is one of the best hip-hop albums I've listened to from this month. Check out more from this artist? I will Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 10 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-12-2017, 06:18 PM	#1196 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Ransom 2 Artist: Mike WiLL Made It Genre: Hip-hop/Trap Nationality: American Release date: March 24 Position in Discography: Debut album; one mixtape prior to this Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.50 Not quite sure what the artist's name is all about, but it's more hip-hop with some trap, and once again a guest list that reads like a who's who (maybe) of hip-hop: Big Sean, Pharrell Williams, Young Thug, Kendrick, Lil Wayne, Migos, Future, Lil Yachty and on and on. I do like the opening track though, has a kind of operatic singing thing going on in the background, and the piano on “WYO (What You On?)” is almost unsettling in its repetitive ominous line, but now there's a problem. I'm up to track ten of seventeen and I'm rapidly losing interest. It's not that it's all the same or anything (though much of it is), it's just that there's nothing really grabbing me as it goes along. All good stuff, but just good, not great. Sounds like he's taking on Death Grips now with “Y'all Ain't Ready”, which sounds just like “ Artificial Death in the West”. Okay, “Aries (Yugo)” is a nice change of pace, introducing the vocal talents of Pharrell Williams, apparently, and “Emotions Unlocked” has a lot going for it, but basically I feel this album is too long at seventeen tracks (sixteen really I guess, as the penultimate one is less than half a minute long, but still) and it's a bit of a chore to get through, unlike the previous one. Check out more from this artist? Probably not Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 6 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-12-2017, 08:39 PM	#1198 (permalink)
Oriphiel Ask me how! Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: The States Posts: 5,354	__________________ ---------------------- \|---Mic's Albums---\| ---------------------- ----------------------------- \|---Deafbox Industries---\| -----------------------------

12-12-2017, 08:37 PM	#1197 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	"Afterlove" just makes me think of "afterbirth", which I'm sure James Blunt sounds exactly like.

12-13-2017, 11:37 AM	#1200 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: A Crow Looked at Me Artist: Mount Eerie Genre: Indie Folk/Lo-Fi/Slowcore Nationality: American Release date: March 24 Position in Discography: Eighth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No but have heard of them and this album Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Not really Average RYM Score: 3.73 A concept album concerning the death of the artist's wife, this sounds like it could be a very personal album. It could, of course, also turn out to be an indulgent and insular one. The songs certainly appear to be sung in a low, almost muttered voice, not so much disinterested though as kind of the voice of a man who is broken. Nevertheless, and with all due respect to the man, I'm mostly finding this quite dour and boring. “Ravens” is a little more interesting than the two that have gone before it, but this kind of acoustic folky singer/songwriter stuff only appeals to me in certain cases, and I do prefer some sort of other backing than percussion and a guitar. Obviously this is depressing as hell, but not in a good way like with Antlers' Hospice. It's just a slog, and hard to get through, not because it's emotionally draining (at least not for me) but because it's just so **ing boring. I suppose if I knew the guy or his music this might mean more to me, but I don't and while I support and applaud his effort to pay respects to his departed wife, I just can't find myself wanting to care. Sorry. Check out more from this artist? I doubt it Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Really not sure Expectation Index: 0** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018