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

Trollheart · 02-06-2018, 04:11 PM

Album title: All the Beauty in This Whole Life
Artist: Brother Ali
Genre: Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Sixth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre?No
Average RYM Score: 3.29
I like this. It makes me move. I like the way the opener starts with just spoken word then a piano melody comes in, and I can understand the rap easily, which is not something that I can always do with every rapper. Very kind of soul feel to “Own Light (What Hearts Are For)” and it has a really nice beat, while “Can't Take That Away” is an early highlight, and “Dear Black Son” is both simple and heart-rendingly personal with just a piano melody behind Ali's voice. Really enjoying this so far. His story of being searched at the airport in “Uncle Usi Taught Me” is both sobering and has the greatest beat/sample behind it; sounds like a seventies hard rock song or something. Does “It Ain't Easy” actually use the sample from that song? I think it might, though I'm not one hundred percent familiar with the song. I do recognise the melody though. Let me check. Still not sure. Great song though, another standout.

There's kind of a cinematic feeling, something very dramatic anyway about “Never Learn”, a much slower, darker track, and there's a whole lot of anger in “Before They Called You White”. “Out of Here” is intensely personal, given that it concerns two suicides that took place in his family, and the music behind it is powerful and driving. I don't hear anything here I don't love. Another success for my first steps along the road into hip-hopville. Perhaps I'll see if there are any cheap rooms I can rent. Mostly, despite what I had expected, the natives seem to be friendly enough.
Check out more from this artist? Yo!
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yo!

Actual Rating:

GD · 02-06-2018, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Holy hell! I didn't even know Blondie were still around. Debbie's voice is definitely starting to crack a little, but then she has been singing since the late seventies and went through a lot personally, so that's not that surprising. Oh wait a minute: second track, “Long Time”, and she sounds like she does on the likes of “Heart of Glass” or “Call Me”. Maybe that growlier vocal on the opener was an affectation. No, it was Joan Jett I was hearing, apparently. So what does Debbie sound like for a seventy-three-year old? Pretty damn good, really. I would say Blondie still have that knack for writing catchy and memorable pop songs, but I see most of the tracks here are written by other people. Still, she co-writes this one, and she and Chris Stein write two more out of the eleven here. Good stuff, though. “Already Naked” is another great catchy tune which evokes the spirit of seventies Blondie and even Debbie's solo material, and really there's nothing here I don't like so far.

Her voice is a little weird on “Best Day Ever” (what a crappy title) but the song is okay; if I had to choose a weak track, though, so far, this would probably be it. Been very solid up to now. Yeah, well I'm not crazy about the vocal on “When I Gave Up On You”, and though “Love Level” is a far superior song, her voice is still that kind of weird from the previous one. Odd. Then again, as I pointed out, she's in her seventh decade now, and the fourth, closing in on fifth, of her career, so I can't be too critical of her voice, which is still strong, if not quite as I remember it. The horns definitely add something to this song; not mad about the chorus though. The album finishes strongly on the last two tracks, the closer of which edges the seven-minute mark and is in fact a real standout, a great way to finish an album which is great at times, but not always.

That would be her eighth decade

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-06-2018, 05:19 PM

i think i have a few april recommendations, i will post them shortly.

Trollheart · 02-06-2018, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigantic Debaser

That would be her eighth decade

I thought about that when I posted it, but I couldn't decide which was right.
Hey, it's better than what I originally wrote: her seventieth decade!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

i think i have a few april recommendations, i will post them shortly.

Right you are, you bastard!

The Batlord · 02-06-2018, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

First of all, that's a ridiculous example, since you know I AM a metal fan, a big Maiden fan and know what I'm talking about there, and would never say that. I know very little about ATDI so for all I know this could be their ****ing masterpiece, and I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on them.

Tell you what: here's an idea. Why don't you leave me to review as I see fit, and keep your beak out? Don't you have a Death Metal Album Club thread to ignore?

That was supposed to be a hypothetical person, you nonce! If you read someone's review of The X Factor and it said that, would you consider them open minded or a patronizing twit?

Trollheart · 02-06-2018, 08:28 PM

Album title: Jei Beibi
Artist: Café Tacvba
Genre: Alt-Rock
Nationality: Mexican
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography:Eighth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.09
First track is very bouncy and upbeat, reminds me of the B-52s. No, I think it's someone else; very familiar though. Second track has a Doors “Riders on the Storm” feel about it, very atmospheric. “Enamorada” is a nice little Latin ballad, with again a somewhat familiar basic melody, “Futuro” has much more in the way of teeth, a hard-edged sort of marching beat and “Resolano de Luna” swings along in a kind of waltzy way. Really impressed with this so far. It just keeps getting better as it goes along.

Bit of hip-hop there on “Me Gusta Tu Manera” with again a trippy little Latin beat behind it, “Vavien” is a low-key, laid back kind of thing with an almost murmured vocal, “Que No” reminds me strongly of Lobo's “I'd Love You To Want Me”, and, well hell, the whole album is just excellent. What a find for me.
Check out more from this artist? Si senor
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yup

Actual Rating:

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-07-2018, 03:19 PM

i could only think of two albums

(Sandy) Alex G - Rocket
Ostraca - Last

Trollheart · 02-07-2018, 03:54 PM

Album title: Versus
Artist: Carl Craig
Genre: Electronic/Techno/Classical
Nationality: American
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Eighth
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.06
If this is techno, it's certainly not (so far anyway) what I'd call hard techno. No thumping, pulsating beats, no squealing keyboards or dancing pianos. If anything, it's almost more ambient and kind of in an Air/CBL vein. Fourth track in is the first time harsher, bassier rhythms come in, nevertheless it quickly settles down and while it's a more upbeat track than any of the ones that have gone before, it's still very almost laid back in its way. Very catchy too with some really nice horns and a bass line to die for. The classical influence begins showing itself on “At Les” with some really nice flutes, violins/cellos and bassoons, really good stuff. Apparently Craig was one of the key influences in techno music in his hometown of Detroit, and beyond, and laid some of the foundations of what would later become drum and bass. I don't know anything about all of that, but he certainly has talent.

“Desire”, one of the three longest tracks at over eight minutes, is just amazing, and “Domina”, the longest at over nine, is beyond amazing. I don't think there's anything here I don't love. The marraige of techno (is it?) and classical works so well here it's almost frightening. Even some jazz thrown in there. Great stuff.

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

Actual Rating:

**Frownland** · 02-07-2018, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

i could only think of two albums

(Sandy) Alex G - Rocket
Ostraca - Last

How about Stetson or Perfume Genius or Artificial Brain or Arto Lindsay?

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-07-2018, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

How about Stetson or Perfume Genius or Artificial Brain or Arto Lindsay?

forgot about underlined, italicized is overrated, and bolded i just haven't heard.

02-06-2018, 04:11 PM	#1801 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: All the Beauty in This Whole Life Artist: Brother Ali Genre: Hip-hop Nationality: American Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Sixth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre?No Average RYM Score: 3.29 I like this. It makes me move. I like the way the opener starts with just spoken word then a piano melody comes in, and I can understand the rap easily, which is not something that I can always do with every rapper. Very kind of soul feel to “Own Light (What Hearts Are For)” and it has a really nice beat, while “Can't Take That Away” is an early highlight, and “Dear Black Son” is both simple and heart-rendingly personal with just a piano melody behind Ali's voice. Really enjoying this so far. His story of being searched at the airport in “Uncle Usi Taught Me” is both sobering and has the greatest beat/sample behind it; sounds like a seventies hard rock song or something. Does “It Ain't Easy” actually use the sample from that song? I think it might, though I'm not one hundred percent familiar with the song. I do recognise the melody though. Let me check. Still not sure. Great song though, another standout. There's kind of a cinematic feeling, something very dramatic anyway about “Never Learn”, a much slower, darker track, and there's a whole lot of anger in “Before They Called You White”. “Out of Here” is intensely personal, given that it concerns two suicides that took place in his family, and the music behind it is powerful and driving. I don't hear anything here I don't love. Another success for my first steps along the road into hip-hopville. Perhaps I'll see if there are any cheap rooms I can rent. Mostly, despite what I had expected, the natives seem to be friendly enough. Check out more from this artist? Yo! Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yo! Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 02-07-2018 at 03:55 PM.

02-06-2018, 08:28 PM	#1806 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Jei Beibi Artist: Café Tacvba Genre: Alt-Rock Nationality: Mexican Release date: May 5 Position in Discography:Eighth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.09 First track is very bouncy and upbeat, reminds me of the B-52s. No, I think it's someone else; very familiar though. Second track has a Doors “Riders on the Storm” feel about it, very atmospheric. “Enamorada” is a nice little Latin ballad, with again a somewhat familiar basic melody, “Futuro” has much more in the way of teeth, a hard-edged sort of marching beat and “Resolano de Luna” swings along in a kind of waltzy way. Really impressed with this so far. It just keeps getting better as it goes along. Bit of hip-hop there on “Me Gusta Tu Manera” with again a trippy little Latin beat behind it, “Vavien” is a low-key, laid back kind of thing with an almost murmured vocal, “Que No” reminds me strongly of Lobo's “I'd Love You To Want Me”, and, well hell, the whole album is just excellent. What a find for me. Check out more from this artist? Si senor Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yup Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 02-07-2018 at 03:55 PM.

02-07-2018, 03:54 PM	#1808 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Versus Artist: Carl Craig Genre: Electronic/Techno/Classical Nationality: American Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Eighth Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.06 If this is techno, it's certainly not (so far anyway) what I'd call hard techno. No thumping, pulsating beats, no squealing keyboards or dancing pianos. If anything, it's almost more ambient and kind of in an Air/CBL vein. Fourth track in is the first time harsher, bassier rhythms come in, nevertheless it quickly settles down and while it's a more upbeat track than any of the ones that have gone before, it's still very almost laid back in its way. Very catchy too with some really nice horns and a bass line to die for. The classical influence begins showing itself on “At Les” with some really nice flutes, violins/cellos and bassoons, really good stuff. Apparently Craig was one of the key influences in techno music in his hometown of Detroit, and beyond, and laid some of the foundations of what would later become drum and bass. I don't know anything about all of that, but he certainly has talent. “Desire”, one of the three longest tracks at over eight minutes, is just amazing, and “Domina”, the longest at over nine, is beyond amazing. I don't think there's anything here I don't love. The marraige of techno (is it?) and classical works so well here it's almost frightening. Even some jazz thrown in there. Great stuff. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018