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

Trollheart · 12-22-2017, 03:18 PM

Album title: Brand New Day
Artist: The Mavericks
Genre: Bluegrass/Tex-Mex/Americana
Nationality: American
Release date: March 31
Position in Discography: Ninth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.87
This does sound, when it begins, as if it belongs in the forties or fifties, like the soundtrack to some western movie, or the band who would be playing in the saloon in said movie before the big fight breaks out. Pleasant, happy, uptempo and breezy, with some nice fiddle playin'. But I'd have to say, this is probably fine if you're doing a Mexican theme night or are into western movies, but otherwise it's just way too old for even me. The ballad “Goodnight Waltz” just managed to keep my hand from the eject button, but it's still hovering over it ... “Damned (If You Do)” keeps it away though, and though the album kind of descends back into the yee-hawness of the first few tracks, I do think it improves a little and I can bear it more. That said, this isn't music I'd be into at all, unless maybe I was very drunk and didn't care.

Check out more from this artist? Nah
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Probably not; maybe there are better exponents of it though? Won't write it off quite yet.

Actual Rating:

Anteater · 12-22-2017, 03:58 PM

Don't worry TH. Your only a few months from September when the latest Threshold album came out.

Trollheart · 12-22-2017, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Don't worry TH. Your only a few months from September when the latest Threshold album came out.

Yeah. By my calculations it'll be ... let's see ... June 2018 before I get to it though.

Trollheart · 12-23-2017, 09:40 AM

Album title: All Nite Grind
Artist: Mr Envi'
Genre: Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: March 31
Position in Discography: Third
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: N/A
Oh I like this! There's a sense of understated anger and drama on “What You Seein'”, and the little recurring female vocal helps to make the track something special. “Deceptions” is another great track with great flow (ah, bless: he thinks he's a hip-hop fan now!)

while “Mindin' My Bidness” has a great slow dark rhythm to it with some really nice piano. Overall, very much impressed and my thanks to him for not releasing a twenty-four track album. Well, this is an EP, but even so.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 12-23-2017, 10:43 AM

Album title: Ursa Minor
Artist: Nana Grizol
Genre: Indie Folk/Folk Rock
Nationality: American
Release date: March 31
Position in Discography: Third
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.35
What I've heard to date of indie folk I have been pretty consistently bored by, so I'm not expecting great things here, but we'll see. At least it's uptempo and bouncy from the first track, with a slight sense of, I don't know – mariachi? - in it, but I find it hard to pay any sort of attention. It's not as boring as a lot of indie folk I've heard, and “TV Song” does up the tempo well, but it's still quite boring. Or maybe it's just unremarkable. Either way, not much fun.

Check out more from this artist? No
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? I hope not but I'm sure I'll have to

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 12-23-2017, 03:20 PM

Album title: The Ride
Artist: Nelly Furtado
Genre: Indie Pop/R&B/Synth-Rock
Nationality: Canadian
Release date: March 31
Position in Discography: Sixth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.86
I think Nelly Furtado was big with her first album and then kind of faded out of the commercial eye, though of course I could be totally wrong there. All I know is, I used to hear of her, then I didn't. She's obviously continued working though, as this is her sixth album, and I see I am sort of right and sort of wrong. Though all her albums have generally sold well in her native Canada, this is the first not to break the top twenty there and also failed to chart in the UK, not doing well in the US either. From her fourth album on, she seems to have decreased in commercial popularity/sales. Be that as it may, so far I wouldn't call this a revelation, but there are some nice tracks on it. “Flatline” and “Carnival Games” are decent songs, and “Live” really stands out. It's kind of improving in leaps and bounds since the rather disappointing opening track.

“Sticks and Stones” is very catchy, should have been a single (but wasn't) and the next track is really powerful and energetic. Have to say, after a slow start I really don't have anything bad to say about this album so far. Some super organ work on “Pipe Dreams”, which was a single, and while it's a really good song I don't see it as single material, definitely more an album track. “Tap Dancing” is a really sleek little thing, though the way she sings “Let me tap dance for you”? Can't ever imagine tap dancing being seductive in any way, but whatever. Overall, I'm very impressed.

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

Actual Rating:

**Exo** · 12-23-2017, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

The only two Mastodon albums I listened to, Blood Mountain

Honestly, the fact that you don't like Blood Mountain is troubling for my future respect of your opinion. Before they went soft with The Hunter, they were seriously one of my favorite metal bands. Boo. Boo you.

Trollheart · 12-23-2017, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exo

Honestly, the fact that you don't like Blood Mountain is troubling for my future respect of your opinion. Before they went soft with The Hunter, they were seriously one of my favorite metal bands. Boo. Boo you.

Thanks, Boo.

**Frownland** · 12-23-2017, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exo

Honestly, the fact that you don't like Blood Mountain is troubling for my future respect of your opinion. Before they went soft with The Hunter, they were seriously one of my favorite metal bands. Boo. Boo you.

First time in a TH thread?

Trollheart · 12-24-2017, 03:23 PM

Album title: Residente
Artist: Residente
Genre: Alternative Hip-hop/World Music
Nationality: Puerto Rican
Release date: March 31
Position in Discography: Debut solo
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.39
That's one hell of a high rating for a debut album. Let's see if in my opinion it deserves it. Given that this is mostly not in English, I won't be able to comment on the lyrics, but then, as far as hip-hop is concerned I tend not to do that anyway, so it won't make that much difference. Nevertheless, the opener is in English and I love the rhythm of the music, plus Residente seems to really know what he's about. But now we're into the Spanish songs, so I'll have to rely mostly on the music and the structure of the songs. I like the idea that he travelled to various countries (all of which he was said to have DNA from) and worked with mostly unknown musicians to produce this album. It's certainly got a lot of energy, from tribal rhythms to Gabrielesque hypnotic percussion.

There's certainly a lot of what is generally referred to as “World Music” (sorry Frown!) here, with ethnic instruments and rhythm patterns, some even sounding like chants or prayers or ritual music, and it's a very different album than I had expected. Honestly, if this guy were American (and not from Puerto Rico; what a difference a few hundred miles makes) and this was in English I think this could have been a major hit. There's a short acapella track, children singing, lots of exuberance and joy and a whole hell of a lot of talent. What's really great about this is that these other musicians don't just form a kind of backing band or support to Residente, but make their own statement, and he allows them to, at times stepping completely back and opening the floor to them. This is not only unexpected, but refreshing and admirable in any musician. We all know there are few things larger than a musician's ego, so it's nice to see someone prepared to allow others the limelight. And it really works too.

Residente says that this is not his most organic album, and not having heard any from his band I can't comment, but it's certainly one of the most organic records I've heard in a long time. Very much more than a hip-hop album, very much more than a solo album, this is collaboration at its very finest and its very humblest too. “Desencuento” is a beautiful ballad, on which Residente shares the microphone with French singer SoKo, “Guerra” features a choir, its melody reminding me both of the African chant “Senzeni Na?”, which forms the intro to Peter Gabriel's “Biko” and the hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful”, and “Apocaliptico” is almost desperate in its intensity, then slows down on a female vocal before picking up again.

Dammit, if you want to hear an album that's the perfect synthesis of hip-hop and world music, I think you may have found it. Certainly deserves its high rating, no question about that. I'll look forward to an English version, which is in the works at the moment. Maybe then Residente may receive the praise and fame he deserves. For now, this album certainly proves one thing: that music is without question the universal language.

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

Actual Rating:

12-22-2017, 03:18 PM	#1351 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Brand New Day Artist: The Mavericks Genre: Bluegrass/Tex-Mex/Americana Nationality: American Release date: March 31 Position in Discography: Ninth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.87 This does sound, when it begins, as if it belongs in the forties or fifties, like the soundtrack to some western movie, or the band who would be playing in the saloon in said movie before the big fight breaks out. Pleasant, happy, uptempo and breezy, with some nice fiddle playin'. But I'd have to say, this is probably fine if you're doing a Mexican theme night or are into western movies, but otherwise it's just way too old for even me. The ballad “Goodnight Waltz” just managed to keep my hand from the eject button, but it's still hovering over it ... “Damned (If You Do)” keeps it away though, and though the album kind of descends back into the yee-hawness of the first few tracks, I do think it improves a little and I can bear it more. That said, this isn't music I'd be into at all, unless maybe I was very drunk and didn't care. Check out more from this artist? Nah Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Probably not; maybe there are better exponents of it though? Won't write it off quite yet. Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-23-2017, 09:40 AM	#1354 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: All Nite Grind Artist: Mr Envi' Genre: Hip-hop Nationality: American Release date: March 31 Position in Discography: Third Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: N/A Oh I like this! There's a sense of understated anger and drama on “What You Seein'”, and the little recurring female vocal helps to make the track something special. “Deceptions” is another great track with great flow (ah, bless: he thinks he's a hip-hop fan now!) while “Mindin' My Bidness” has a great slow dark rhythm to it with some really nice piano. Overall, very much impressed and my thanks to him for not releasing a twenty-four track album. Well, this is an EP, but even so. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-23-2017, 10:43 AM	#1355 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Ursa Minor Artist: Nana Grizol Genre: Indie Folk/Folk Rock Nationality: American Release date: March 31 Position in Discography: Third Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.35 What I've heard to date of indie folk I have been pretty consistently bored by, so I'm not expecting great things here, but we'll see. At least it's uptempo and bouncy from the first track, with a slight sense of, I don't know – mariachi? - in it, but I find it hard to pay any sort of attention. It's not as boring as a lot of indie folk I've heard, and “TV Song” does up the tempo well, but it's still quite boring. Or maybe it's just unremarkable. Either way, not much fun. Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? I hope not but I'm sure I'll have to Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-23-2017, 03:20 PM	#1356 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: The Ride Artist: Nelly Furtado Genre: Indie Pop/R&B/Synth-Rock Nationality: Canadian Release date: March 31 Position in Discography: Sixth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.86 I think Nelly Furtado was big with her first album and then kind of faded out of the commercial eye, though of course I could be totally wrong there. All I know is, I used to hear of her, then I didn't. She's obviously continued working though, as this is her sixth album, and I see I am sort of right and sort of wrong. Though all her albums have generally sold well in her native Canada, this is the first not to break the top twenty there and also failed to chart in the UK, not doing well in the US either. From her fourth album on, she seems to have decreased in commercial popularity/sales. Be that as it may, so far I wouldn't call this a revelation, but there are some nice tracks on it. “Flatline” and “Carnival Games” are decent songs, and “Live” really stands out. It's kind of improving in leaps and bounds since the rather disappointing opening track. “Sticks and Stones” is very catchy, should have been a single (but wasn't) and the next track is really powerful and energetic. Have to say, after a slow start I really don't have anything bad to say about this album so far. Some super organ work on “Pipe Dreams”, which was a single, and while it's a really good song I don't see it as single material, definitely more an album track. “Tap Dancing” is a really sleek little thing, though the way she sings “Let me tap dance for you”? Can't ever imagine tap dancing being seductive in any way, but whatever. Overall, I'm very impressed. Check out more from this artist? I might Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

12-24-2017, 03:23 PM	#1360 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Residente Artist: Residente Genre: Alternative Hip-hop/World Music Nationality: Puerto Rican Release date: March 31 Position in Discography: Debut solo Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.39 That's one hell of a high rating for a debut album. Let's see if in my opinion it deserves it. Given that this is mostly not in English, I won't be able to comment on the lyrics, but then, as far as hip-hop is concerned I tend not to do that anyway, so it won't make that much difference. Nevertheless, the opener is in English and I love the rhythm of the music, plus Residente seems to really know what he's about. But now we're into the Spanish songs, so I'll have to rely mostly on the music and the structure of the songs. I like the idea that he travelled to various countries (all of which he was said to have DNA from) and worked with mostly unknown musicians to produce this album. It's certainly got a lot of energy, from tribal rhythms to Gabrielesque hypnotic percussion. There's certainly a lot of what is generally referred to as “World Music” (sorry Frown!) here, with ethnic instruments and rhythm patterns, some even sounding like chants or prayers or ritual music, and it's a very different album than I had expected. Honestly, if this guy were American (and not from Puerto Rico; what a difference a few hundred miles makes) and this was in English I think this could have been a major hit. There's a short acapella track, children singing, lots of exuberance and joy and a whole hell of a lot of talent. What's really great about this is that these other musicians don't just form a kind of backing band or support to Residente, but make their own statement, and he allows them to, at times stepping completely back and opening the floor to them. This is not only unexpected, but refreshing and admirable in any musician. We all know there are few things larger than a musician's ego, so it's nice to see someone prepared to allow others the limelight. And it really works too. Residente says that this is not his most organic album, and not having heard any from his band I can't comment, but it's certainly one of the most organic records I've heard in a long time. Very much more than a hip-hop album, very much more than a solo album, this is collaboration at its very finest and its very humblest too. “Desencuento” is a beautiful ballad, on which Residente shares the microphone with French singer SoKo, “Guerra” features a choir, its melody reminding me both of the African chant “Senzeni Na?”, which forms the intro to Peter Gabriel's “Biko” and the hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful”, and “Apocaliptico” is almost desperate in its intensity, then slows down on a female vocal before picking up again. Dammit, if you want to hear an album that's the perfect synthesis of hip-hop and world music, I think you may have found it. Certainly deserves its high rating, no question about that. I'll look forward to an English version, which is in the works at the moment. Maybe then Residente may receive the praise and fame he deserves. For now, this album certainly proves one thing: that music is without question the universal language. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018