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

Trollheart · 01-13-2018, 01:10 PM

Album title: Solomon
Artist: Calan
Genre: Folk
Nationality: Welsh
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Fourth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 4.00 (I think this is the first time I've seen a rating of 4.00 or more, isn't it? Someone a little too enthusiastic with their rating?)
First track is pretty epic, and although there's a narration spoken in English most of it is in, I assume, Welsh, while the next one is a jig/reel/delete as appropriate and is a lot more fun. Next one's an instrumental too, and pretty good really. Another instrumental but somewhat slower. After the initial disappointment of the first track this has really improved. Seven tracks in before we get another vocal track, and it's a nice sort of acoustic medieval style thing with a nice female vocal, in Welsh of course. Overall I'd say this is pleasant enough, but not anything I'd see myself coming back to. But yeah: the RYM rating is in cloud cuckoo land.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 01-13-2018, 07:18 PM

Album title: Damn
Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Genre: Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Fourth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? I've heard To Pimp a Butterfly, wasn't impressed with it
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.59
Been a lot of bad things said about this album, and it didn't manage to make it into Blank's MB Classics, so given my own negative reaction to TPAB I'm not expecting to be blown away. Opener is nice though, very soft and laid back, rap is very clear and easy to understand, a main point for me in hip-hop. “DNA” sounds more like trap (ah, bless! He thinks he knows his hip-hop subgenres!

) but I don't quite get “Yah” and “Element” is very stripped-down and barebones and doesn't do a lot for me. “Feel” I enjoy a lot more; there's a great atmosphere to it and the rap is pretty rad (can I say that? **** it, I've said it). Here comes that goddamn squeaky voice again, which probably guarantees I will not like this track. Oh, Rihanna's on it too. I definitely won't like it. I was right: I hate it.

Right, is it just me or is this album getting progressively worse as it goes on? Started off quite hopeful but now that hope is fading and I am rapidly losing interest. Also, can Kendrick not think of a song title that is more than one word? Oh-oh: I've seen the word U2 further down the track list. That can't be good. “Humble” is very catchy but there's something about it I don't like, and though “Lust” should be good, again there's something about it that doesn't speak to me. Could do without the kid in the background too. “Love” is a whole lot better, but whether or not that's due to the guests I don't know. Actually I don't think so: I like the beat and the melody – yeah I suppose I shoudl say I like the sample? Is it a sample? I don't think it is, to be fair.

“XXX” is terrible, just so boring, (didn't even realise U2 were on it, they were that inconspicuous and ineffective) as is “Fear”, and I'm also not happy about the undertone of violence implied in it. Sure it's just a song, but he says “I beat your ass” too many times for me to remain comfortable with that. Also, it's a **** song. Two left: can this album be salvaged, or will it be savaged? (Copyright Trollheart MMXVIII) The latter. I thought the last track was going to be okay but then he went and fragmented it, and you know how tetchy I get when that happens. The ending is beyond ridiculous.

Maybe it's just me; maybe I just don't get him, but is it fair to say that Kendrick is or wants to be the new Kanye? Am I even allowed to say that? Still, even with my miniscule experience of this genre I can say I've heard many hip-hop albums that are a hundred times better than this. This makes two of his albums now that I haven't liked, so I guess that's it for me. Pimp someone else's butterfly, Kendrick: I'll keep mine as it is, thanks.

Check out more from this artist? No, I think I'm done with him now.
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

rubber soul · 01-14-2018, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Album title: Damn
Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Genre: Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Fourth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? I've heard To Pimp a Butterfly, wasn't impressed with it
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.59
Been a lot of bad things said about this album, and it didn't manage to make it into Blank's MB Classics, so given my own negative reaction to TPAB I'm not expecting to be blown away. Opener is nice though, very soft and laid back, rap is very clear and easy to understand, a main point for me in hip-hop. “DNA” sounds more like trap (ah, bless! He thinks he knows his hip-hop subgenres!

) but I don't quite get “Yah” and “Element” is very stripped-down and barebones and doesn't do a lot for me. “Feel” I enjoy a lot more; there's a great atmosphere to it and the rap is pretty rad (can I say that? **** it, I've said it). Here comes that goddamn squeaky voice again, which probably guarantees I will not like this track. Oh, Rihanna's on it too. I definitely won't like it. I was right: I hate it.

Right, is it just me or is this album getting progressively worse as it goes on? Started off quite hopeful but now that hope is fading and I am rapidly losing interest. Also, can Kendrick not think of a song title that is more than one word? Oh-oh: I've seen the word U2 further down the track list. That can't be good. “Humble” is very catchy but there's something about it I don't like, and though “Lust” should be good, again there's something about it that doesn't speak to me. Could do without the kid in the background too. “Love” is a whole lot better, but whether or not that's due to the guests I don't know. Actually I don't think so: I like the beat and the melody – yeah I suppose I shoudl say I like the sample? Is it a sample? I don't think it is, to be fair.

“XXX” is terrible, just so boring, (didn't even realise U2 were on it, they were that inconspicuous and ineffective) as is “Fear”, and I'm also not happy about the undertone of violence implied in it. Sure it's just a song, but he says “I beat your ass” too many times for me to remain comfortable with that. Also, it's a **** song. Two left: can this album be salvaged, or will it be savaged? (Copyright Trollheart MMXVIII) The latter. I thought the last track was going to be okay but then he went and fragmented it, and you know how tetchy I get when that happens. The ending is beyond ridiculous.

Maybe it's just me; maybe I just don't get him, but is it fair to say that Kendrick is or wants to be the new Kanye? Am I even allowed to say that? Still, even with my miniscule experience of this genre I can say I've heard many hip-hop albums that are a hundred times better than this. This makes two of his albums now that I haven't liked, so I guess that's it for me. Pimp someone else's butterfly, Kendrick: I'll keep mine as it is, thanks.

Check out more from this artist? No, I think I'm done with him now.
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Damn

The Batlord · 01-14-2018, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Hawk

Will you review some real music ( metal )?

He prefers to take the easy route rather than the good route.

Trollheart · 01-14-2018, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

He prefers to take the easy route rather than the good route.

Indeed. It's so much easier to review over a thousand albums, many of which I don't like, than to cherry-pick the ones I would enjoy. Absolutely. Welcome back, ****.

Trollheart · 01-14-2018, 08:58 AM

Album title: Season High
Artist: Little Dragon
Genre: Downtempo/Soul/Synthpop
Nationality: Swedish
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Fifth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.84
This just sounds so much like Prince when it begins. Boppy enough stuff when it gets going, but it is any more than just okay? I have to say, generally I'm worse than bored. Just not feeling this at all. Talk about limpwristed. No hooks to hold onto, nothing standing out, vocal is a bit whiny and unremarkable (I know I made the comparison to Prince at the beginning, but that was an initial reaction and this singer is nowhere near as good). Give me something I can talk about. All right, “Don't Cry” isn't terrible, that's the best I can say really. So far, this album is replacing the strongest sleeping pills on the market. Where was I? What time is it? Yeah, this is a waste of time. Next!

Check out more from this artist? No
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 01-14-2018, 09:34 AM

Album title: Same Sun Same Moon
Artist: Litttle Hurricane
Genre: Rock/Blues
Nationality: American
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Third
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.40
Decent enough, nothing blowing me away yet. Pun definitely not intended. Pleasant I guess. Man, it's almost over and it has made no impression whatsoever on me. I guess that can't be good.

Check out more from this artist? No
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 01-14-2018, 10:16 AM

Album title: A Tribute to Mario Lanza
Artist: Mark Vincent
Genre: Classical
Nationality: Australian
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Seventh
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Classical, yes; vocal classical, no
Average RYM Score: N/A
Who hasn't heard of Mario Lanza? One of the best, if not the best tenor voices to come out of Italy, Lanza ruled the airwaves and the film screens too in the 1940s and 1950s, and I guess one of the first real superstars of opera. Not sure how, but the first track is noted as being “with Mario Lanza”, and as he's a long time passed away I guess it must be spliced digitally or something. I know a few of these songs, though I'm no fan of opera: “Nessun Dorma” I think everyone knows, then there's the other Italian favourite “O Sole Mio” (if nothing else, you'll know it from Elvis's reworking it into “It's Now Or Never”) and I think I also know “Arrivederchi Roma”, though that's probably from watching The Simpsons! This guy Vincent has of course a wonderful tenor voice, so if you're into Pavarotti, Bocelli or any of the greats, or even the likes of Josh Groban, you'll probably enjoy this.

Review-wise, there's not a lot I can say. It's very very pleasant to listen to, and does remind me of former times, when diction was really important to singers, and they were always backed by a full orchestra; a time fading away, almost gone now, but there's definitely a certain grandeur and majesty to such music, though whether Vincent uses an orchestra here or it's just synthesiser-backed I don't know (I would suspect the former). I defy anyone not to get chills on the last notes of “Nessun Dorma”, and mostly it's powerful, sweeping music that reminds you what it used to mean to actually have a proper, trained, powerful singing voice (many of these people sung without microphones, imagine that!) and to have to really work to make your music heard. Bellisimo!

Check out more from this artist? Probably not; it's not really my thing, but you never know
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 01-14-2018, 12:13 PM

Album title: Hamartia
Artist: Novembers Doom
Genre: Progressive Metal/Gothic Metal/Death-Doom Metal
Nationality: American
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Tenth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Yes
Average RYM Score: 3.22
For those of you asking for metal albums to be reviewed, I have no control over what the list gives me (I am its puppet) but here it's been kind and we have an American metal band, so enjoy. The vocalist is a little growly for my tastes, but not unintelligible and I really like the interplay between death metal (a little) doom metal and prog metal. First track is pretty rad anyway. “Ghost” has very much a doom aspect to it, with a much more discernible vocal, and “Ever After” goes through some interesting changes, also allowing the guitarist to show off his chops. Good stuff so far. The title track shows the progressive metal side of the band, with what appears to be a dark ballad, mostly on piano and very very impressive.

They get rocking again then with “Apostasy” and it's epic. Think I may end up really getting into this band, they're quite versatile for what they do and I haven't disliked a single track yet. “Zephyr” is another powerful punching doom-er with some clean vocals and some very proggy tones to it also, and the album closes really strongly. Enjoyed that a lot.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 01-14-2018, 01:01 PM

Album title: Playboi Carti
Artist: Playboi Carti
Genre: Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: April 14
Position in Discography: Debut
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.91
Okay, I don't think much of the opener; very repetitive, even if the sample is really nice and swirly synth and it doesn't get much better. Okay, this is just ****. There's so much good hip-hop out there (caveat implied) why would I want to listen to this? Oh right: I don't have to.

Check out more from this artist? No way
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

01-13-2018, 01:10 PM	#1541 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Solomon Artist: Calan Genre: Folk Nationality: Welsh Release date: April 14 Position in Discography: Fourth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 4.00 (I think this is the first time I've seen a rating of 4.00 or more, isn't it? Someone a little too enthusiastic with their rating?) First track is pretty epic, and although there's a narration spoken in English most of it is in, I assume, Welsh, while the next one is a jig/reel/delete as appropriate and is a lot more fun. Next one's an instrumental too, and pretty good really. Another instrumental but somewhat slower. After the initial disappointment of the first track this has really improved. Seven tracks in before we get another vocal track, and it's a nice sort of acoustic medieval style thing with a nice female vocal, in Welsh of course. Overall I'd say this is pleasant enough, but not anything I'd see myself coming back to. But yeah: the RYM rating is in cloud cuckoo land. Check out more from this artist? Probably not Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-13-2018, 07:18 PM	#1542 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Damn Artist: Kendrick Lamar Genre: Hip-hop Nationality: American Release date: April 14 Position in Discography: Fourth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? I've heard To Pimp a Butterfly, wasn't impressed with it Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.59 Been a lot of bad things said about this album, and it didn't manage to make it into Blank's MB Classics, so given my own negative reaction to TPAB I'm not expecting to be blown away. Opener is nice though, very soft and laid back, rap is very clear and easy to understand, a main point for me in hip-hop. “DNA” sounds more like trap (ah, bless! He thinks he knows his hip-hop subgenres! ) but I don't quite get “Yah” and “Element” is very stripped-down and barebones and doesn't do a lot for me. “Feel” I enjoy a lot more; there's a great atmosphere to it and the rap is pretty rad (can I say that? ** it, I've said it). Here comes that goddamn squeaky voice again, which probably guarantees I will not like this track. Oh, Rihanna's on it too. I definitely won't like it. I was right: I hate it. Right, is it just me or is this album getting progressively worse as it goes on? Started off quite hopeful but now that hope is fading and I am rapidly losing interest. Also, can Kendrick not think of a song title that is more than one word? Oh-oh: I've seen the word U2 further down the track list. That can't be good. “Humble” is very catchy but there's something about it I don't like, and though “Lust” should be good, again there's something about it that doesn't speak to me. Could do without the kid in the background too. “Love” is a whole lot better, but whether or not that's due to the guests I don't know. Actually I don't think so: I like the beat and the melody – yeah I suppose I shoudl say I like the sample? Is it a sample? I don't think it is, to be fair. “XXX” is terrible, just so boring, (didn't even realise U2 were on it, they were that inconspicuous and ineffective) as is “Fear”, and I'm also not happy about the undertone of violence implied in it. Sure it's just a song, but he says “I beat your ass” too many times for me to remain comfortable with that. Also, it's a song. Two left: can this album be salvaged, or will it be savaged? (Copyright Trollheart MMXVIII) The latter. I thought the last track was going to be okay but then he went and fragmented it, and you know how tetchy I get when that happens. The ending is beyond ridiculous. Maybe it's just me; maybe I just don't get him, but is it fair to say that Kendrick is or wants to be the new Kanye? Am I even allowed to say that? Still, even with my miniscule experience of this genre I can say I've heard many hip-hop albums that are a hundred times better than this. This makes two of his albums now that I haven't liked, so I guess that's it for me. Pimp someone else's butterfly, Kendrick: I'll keep mine as it is, thanks. Check out more from this artist? No, I think I'm done with him now. Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating:** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-14-2018, 08:58 AM	#1546 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Season High Artist: Little Dragon Genre: Downtempo/Soul/Synthpop Nationality: Swedish Release date: April 14 Position in Discography: Fifth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.84 This just sounds so much like Prince when it begins. Boppy enough stuff when it gets going, but it is any more than just okay? I have to say, generally I'm worse than bored. Just not feeling this at all. Talk about limpwristed. No hooks to hold onto, nothing standing out, vocal is a bit whiny and unremarkable (I know I made the comparison to Prince at the beginning, but that was an initial reaction and this singer is nowhere near as good). Give me something I can talk about. All right, “Don't Cry” isn't terrible, that's the best I can say really. So far, this album is replacing the strongest sleeping pills on the market. Where was I? What time is it? Yeah, this is a waste of time. Next! Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-14-2018, 09:34 AM	#1547 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Same Sun Same Moon Artist: Litttle Hurricane Genre: Rock/Blues Nationality: American Release date: April 14 Position in Discography: Third Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.40 Decent enough, nothing blowing me away yet. Pun definitely not intended. Pleasant I guess. Man, it's almost over and it has made no impression whatsoever on me. I guess that can't be good. Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-14-2018, 10:16 AM	#1548 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: A Tribute to Mario Lanza Artist: Mark Vincent Genre: Classical Nationality: Australian Release date: April 14 Position in Discography: Seventh Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Classical, yes; vocal classical, no Average RYM Score: N/A Who hasn't heard of Mario Lanza? One of the best, if not the best tenor voices to come out of Italy, Lanza ruled the airwaves and the film screens too in the 1940s and 1950s, and I guess one of the first real superstars of opera. Not sure how, but the first track is noted as being “with Mario Lanza”, and as he's a long time passed away I guess it must be spliced digitally or something. I know a few of these songs, though I'm no fan of opera: “Nessun Dorma” I think everyone knows, then there's the other Italian favourite “O Sole Mio” (if nothing else, you'll know it from Elvis's reworking it into “It's Now Or Never”) and I think I also know “Arrivederchi Roma”, though that's probably from watching The Simpsons! This guy Vincent has of course a wonderful tenor voice, so if you're into Pavarotti, Bocelli or any of the greats, or even the likes of Josh Groban, you'll probably enjoy this. Review-wise, there's not a lot I can say. It's very very pleasant to listen to, and does remind me of former times, when diction was really important to singers, and they were always backed by a full orchestra; a time fading away, almost gone now, but there's definitely a certain grandeur and majesty to such music, though whether Vincent uses an orchestra here or it's just synthesiser-backed I don't know (I would suspect the former). I defy anyone not to get chills on the last notes of “Nessun Dorma”, and mostly it's powerful, sweeping music that reminds you what it used to mean to actually have a proper, trained, powerful singing voice (many of these people sung without microphones, imagine that!) and to have to really work to make your music heard. Bellisimo! Check out more from this artist? Probably not; it's not really my thing, but you never know Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-14-2018, 12:13 PM	#1549 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Hamartia Artist: Novembers Doom Genre: Progressive Metal/Gothic Metal/Death-Doom Metal Nationality: American Release date: April 14 Position in Discography: Tenth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Yes Average RYM Score: 3.22 For those of you asking for metal albums to be reviewed, I have no control over what the list gives me (I am its puppet) but here it's been kind and we have an American metal band, so enjoy. The vocalist is a little growly for my tastes, but not unintelligible and I really like the interplay between death metal (a little) doom metal and prog metal. First track is pretty rad anyway. “Ghost” has very much a doom aspect to it, with a much more discernible vocal, and “Ever After” goes through some interesting changes, also allowing the guitarist to show off his chops. Good stuff so far. The title track shows the progressive metal side of the band, with what appears to be a dark ballad, mostly on piano and very very impressive. They get rocking again then with “Apostasy” and it's epic. Think I may end up really getting into this band, they're quite versatile for what they do and I haven't disliked a single track yet. “Zephyr” is another powerful punching doom-er with some clean vocals and some very proggy tones to it also, and the album closes really strongly. Enjoyed that a lot. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-14-2018, 01:01 PM	#1550 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Playboi Carti Artist: Playboi Carti Genre: Hip-hop Nationality: American Release date: April 14 Position in Discography: Debut Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.91 Okay, I don't think much of the opener; very repetitive, even if the sample is really nice and swirly synth and it doesn't get much better. Okay, this is just **. There's so much good hip-hop out there (caveat implied) why would I want to listen to this? Oh right: I don't have to. Check out more from this artist? No way Check out more from this genre or subgenre?** Yes __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018