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

Trollheart · 03-05-2018, 04:17 PM

Album title: Dua Lipa
Artist: Dua Lipa
Genre: Pop
Nationality: English
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Debut
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.91
The first song is pretty annoying but the second one has more about it, with a very catchy chorus edging almost into Fleetwood Mac territory in ways. Not bad really. “Be the One” is pretty good, as is “Hotter Than Hell”. Most of these were, apparently, singles, and hit singles at that, so you probably all know them. I don't. The kissing sounds in “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” are cringe to the max, but the song isn't bad really. Then there's “Garden”, which may end up being the best on the album. Or maybe it might be “No Goodbyes”. Except that ****ing squeaky voice is on the track. Why does everyone – ah, I've asked that before; either no-one knows or they're not telling me. But damn it is annoying. Great song though. “Homesick” is a good closer too. This was better than I had originally expected it to be.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-05-2018, 06:57 PM

Album title: Life is Good
Artist: Flogging Molly
Genre: Celtic Punk
Nationality: Irish/American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Sixth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No. Thought I had, but turns out I have not.
Average RYM Score: 2.90
Having listened to the Dropkick Murphys and The Real MacKenzies I think I can say with reasonable certainty that I really like Celtic/Folk Punk, so I was more or less expecting this to be really damn good. And it is. Exuberant, irreverent, fun, joyful, powerful. “The hand of John L Sullivan” stands out, as does “Reptiles (We Woke Up)” but they're all great tracks and I expect this will be another band added to the list of ones whose discographies I'm now in the process of downloading. I'll certainly take recs for any other bands of this ilk. The title track has some superbly Mexican-sounding trumpet, great uillean pipes on “Crushed (Hostile Nations)” and it's a hell of a stormer too. Love this album, though I did expect to. Has not let me down.

Check out more from this artist? Oh **** yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Definitely

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-06-2018, 08:15 AM

Album title: Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
Artist: Halsey
Genre: Pop/Synthpop
Nationality: American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Second
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.23
Well that's an interesting and different start: a spoken vocal over what sounds like uileann pipes but is most likely a synthesiser. Very effective though, and gives the idea this is not going to be just another pop album. I like “100 Letters” and “Eyes Closed” has a dark balladic feel to it. “Alone” sounds very much like a soul song, really showcases her singing ability and is very catchy too. A lovely piano ballad in “Sorry” though I could do without Quavo on “Lie”, then “Bad at Love” makes me forget that track. A pretty damn fine pop album when all is said and done. I'd listen to more.

Check out more from this artist? Aye
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-06-2018, 10:46 AM

Album title: Return of the Don
Artist: Kool G Rap
Genre: Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Tenth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.04
Hey this is pretty decent stuff. Like the flutes (whatever) in “Mack Lean”, and the way it sort of shuffles along with a kind of lazy menace. I love the angry energy in “Wise Guys” and “Times Up” is pretty frenetic. “Running” is great too. I'm quite impressed by this.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-06-2018, 11:32 AM

Album title: This One's For You
Artist: Luke Combs
Genre: Country/Country Pop
Nationality: American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Debut
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.84
Yeah, I don't know: I'm hearing quite a lot of country in this list, and it really has to be something special to pique my interest. I've come across some great new artists in this genre – Aaron Watson, Sunny Sweeney, Chris Stapleton – but I've also come across both some godawful trash and some really bog-standard meh fare. Not sure yet where this sits, though the opener and “Lonely One” are pretty good. Most of it is really - “Hurricane” is a standout – but “Don't Tempt Me “ is pretty terrible. I'd say it's a good country album, but I couldn't honestly say it's anything special. Ending with a track called “Honky Tonk Highway” is really just asking for it though, and he has no-one but himself to blame for that, I'm afraid.
Check out more from this artist? Might but there are better country artists I'll be checking out first
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-06-2018, 12:05 PM

Album title: Know No Better
Artist: Major Lazer
Genre: Hip-hop/moombahton/Pop
Nationality: American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Fourth EP; eighth overall
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.43
I absolutely hate this when it starts: the vocal drives me up the wall, and it's like listening to a house song with someone warbling in an unintelligible voice over it. Christ, it's Travis Scott, isn't it? How did he get on this? Explains a lot though. Seems like all the tracks are very much the same ... oh wait. I've been listening to an eight-track EP of remixes of THE TITLE ****ING TRACK! No wonder they all sound the same! Who does that: records eight versions of the one song on an EP? Christ. Anyway, now that I have the proper EP cued up, second track is ok, but the rest of it kind of leaves me feeling as if I have a headache. Techno? Maybe. Annoying and pounding? Definitely. Hate it? Almost assuredly.
Check out more from this artist? No way
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Some of it, yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-06-2018, 03:22 PM

Album title: The Transition of Mali
Artist: Mali Music
Genre: Funk/Soul
Nationality: American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Fourth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.86
This is nice stuff. “Loved By You” has a lovely soul-meets-blues vibe, and “Cryin'” is a great track too with some lovely rippling piano, some sweet guitar in “Still” while “My Life” has a powerful kicking rhythm. There's that sound of a gun cocking on the deceptively relaxed and orchestrally-driven “Sit Down For This”, one of the standouts certainly. A solid album, this. Probably won't make anyone's AOTY list (I should say, of course, didn't make anyone's list), least of all mine, but still well worth listening to.
Check out more from this artist? Yeah I may do
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-06-2018, 06:05 PM

Album title: Monkey Business
Artist: Margaret
Genre: Pop
Nationality: Polish
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Third
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 1.81
What a very odd idea! Apparently, this album was released only in Margaret's native Poland. Nowhere else. Surely that's a mad commercial decision, whoever took it? You're restricting your sales to one country, and if this ended up being a popular album, nobody else could buy it? Mind you, I don't know if that means it was only physically available there: maybe you could get it on itunes or whatever, though I have noticed it's not on Spotify. Well, maybe there's a reason for that. I mean, it's fairly standard pop fare really, nothing special. “The Colour of You” has a nice reggae beat to it, “Cuz It's You” is an okay ballad, and I guess there are a few good tracks but to be honest, from what I can hear here, the rest of the world outside of Poland didn't lose out by not being able to access this album.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-07-2018, 11:02 AM

Album title: Strange Words and Weird Wars
Artist: Marnie
Genre: Electronic/Synthpop
Nationality: Scottish
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Second
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.22
Pleasant catchy synthpop. I like her voice, it's different. “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” is moody, brooding and kind of ominous. A real standout. “Lost Maps” is great too, love the bouncy, synthy rhythm to it. Some very good tracks but overall I have to say not a whole lot that really sticks in the memory after the album has been played. Good stuff, but that's probably about it really. Might though benefit from extra listenings.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-07-2018, 11:29 AM

Album title: Colours2
Artist: Partynextdoor
Genre: R&B
Nationality: Canadian
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Eighth EP; tenth overall
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.74
You know, I just wish Wiki editors would get their **** together. The page for this EP puts it as released on June 2, then notes that it was released in September! Which is it, you stupid ****? Checking with RYM seems to confirm the June release date, but it's annoying that people can't check their facts before submitting articles. That said, this has only four tracks, most of which are pleasant enough r&b tunes, slow ones too, though “Low Battery” is more uptempo (despite the title). Not bad really.

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

Actual Rating:

03-05-2018, 04:17 PM	#2051 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Dua Lipa Artist: Dua Lipa Genre: Pop Nationality: English Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Debut Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.91 The first song is pretty annoying but the second one has more about it, with a very catchy chorus edging almost into Fleetwood Mac territory in ways. Not bad really. “Be the One” is pretty good, as is “Hotter Than Hell”. Most of these were, apparently, singles, and hit singles at that, so you probably all know them. I don't. The kissing sounds in “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” are cringe to the max, but the song isn't bad really. Then there's “Garden”, which may end up being the best on the album. Or maybe it might be “No Goodbyes”. Except that **ing squeaky voice is on the track. Why does everyone – ah, I've asked that before; either no-one knows or they're not telling me. But damn it is annoying. Great song though. “Homesick” is a good closer too. This was better than I had originally expected it to be. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating:** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-05-2018, 06:57 PM	#2052 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Life is Good Artist: Flogging Molly Genre: Celtic Punk Nationality: Irish/American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Sixth Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? No. Thought I had, but turns out I have not. Average RYM Score: 2.90 Having listened to the Dropkick Murphys and The Real MacKenzies I think I can say with reasonable certainty that I really like Celtic/Folk Punk, so I was more or less expecting this to be really damn good. And it is. Exuberant, irreverent, fun, joyful, powerful. “The hand of John L Sullivan” stands out, as does “Reptiles (We Woke Up)” but they're all great tracks and I expect this will be another band added to the list of ones whose discographies I'm now in the process of downloading. I'll certainly take recs for any other bands of this ilk. The title track has some superbly Mexican-sounding trumpet, great uillean pipes on “Crushed (Hostile Nations)” and it's a hell of a stormer too. Love this album, though I did expect to. Has not let me down. Check out more from this artist? Oh ** yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Definitely Actual Rating:** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2018, 08:15 AM	#2053 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Artist: Halsey Genre: Pop/Synthpop Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Second Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.23 Well that's an interesting and different start: a spoken vocal over what sounds like uileann pipes but is most likely a synthesiser. Very effective though, and gives the idea this is not going to be just another pop album. I like “100 Letters” and “Eyes Closed” has a dark balladic feel to it. “Alone” sounds very much like a soul song, really showcases her singing ability and is very catchy too. A lovely piano ballad in “Sorry” though I could do without Quavo on “Lie”, then “Bad at Love” makes me forget that track. A pretty damn fine pop album when all is said and done. I'd listen to more. Check out more from this artist? Aye Check out more from this genre or subgenre? yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2018, 10:46 AM	#2054 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Return of the Don Artist: Kool G Rap Genre: Hip-hop Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Tenth Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.04 Hey this is pretty decent stuff. Like the flutes (whatever) in “Mack Lean”, and the way it sort of shuffles along with a kind of lazy menace. I love the angry energy in “Wise Guys” and “Times Up” is pretty frenetic. “Running” is great too. I'm quite impressed by this. Check out more from this artist? Yes Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2018, 11:32 AM	#2055 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: This One's For You Artist: Luke Combs Genre: Country/Country Pop Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Debut Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.84 Yeah, I don't know: I'm hearing quite a lot of country in this list, and it really has to be something special to pique my interest. I've come across some great new artists in this genre – Aaron Watson, Sunny Sweeney, Chris Stapleton – but I've also come across both some godawful trash and some really bog-standard meh fare. Not sure yet where this sits, though the opener and “Lonely One” are pretty good. Most of it is really - “Hurricane” is a standout – but “Don't Tempt Me “ is pretty terrible. I'd say it's a good country album, but I couldn't honestly say it's anything special. Ending with a track called “Honky Tonk Highway” is really just asking for it though, and he has no-one but himself to blame for that, I'm afraid. Check out more from this artist? Might but there are better country artists I'll be checking out first Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2018, 12:05 PM	#2056 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Know No Better Artist: Major Lazer Genre: Hip-hop/moombahton/Pop Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Fourth EP; eighth overall Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.43 I absolutely hate this when it starts: the vocal drives me up the wall, and it's like listening to a house song with someone warbling in an unintelligible voice over it. Christ, it's Travis Scott, isn't it? How did he get on this? Explains a lot though. Seems like all the tracks are very much the same ... oh wait. I've been listening to an eight-track EP of remixes of THE TITLE **ING TRACK! No wonder they all sound the same! Who does that: records eight versions of the one song on an EP? Christ. Anyway, now that I have the proper EP cued up, second track is ok, but the rest of it kind of leaves me feeling as if I have a headache. Techno? Maybe. Annoying and pounding? Definitely. Hate it? Almost assuredly. Check out more from this artist? No way Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Some of it, yes Actual Rating:** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2018, 03:22 PM	#2057 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: The Transition of Mali Artist: Mali Music Genre: Funk/Soul Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Fourth Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.86 This is nice stuff. “Loved By You” has a lovely soul-meets-blues vibe, and “Cryin'” is a great track too with some lovely rippling piano, some sweet guitar in “Still” while “My Life” has a powerful kicking rhythm. There's that sound of a gun cocking on the deceptively relaxed and orchestrally-driven “Sit Down For This”, one of the standouts certainly. A solid album, this. Probably won't make anyone's AOTY list (I should say, of course, didn't make anyone's list), least of all mine, but still well worth listening to. Check out more from this artist? Yeah I may do Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-06-2018, 06:05 PM	#2058 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Monkey Business Artist: Margaret Genre: Pop Nationality: Polish Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Third Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? Yes Have I heard anything by this artist? No Average RYM Score: 1.81 What a very odd idea! Apparently, this album was released only in Margaret's native Poland. Nowhere else. Surely that's a mad commercial decision, whoever took it? You're restricting your sales to one country, and if this ended up being a popular album, nobody else could buy it? Mind you, I don't know if that means it was only physically available there: maybe you could get it on itunes or whatever, though I have noticed it's not on Spotify. Well, maybe there's a reason for that. I mean, it's fairly standard pop fare really, nothing special. “The Colour of You” has a nice reggae beat to it, “Cuz It's You” is an okay ballad, and I guess there are a few good tracks but to be honest, from what I can hear here, the rest of the world outside of Poland didn't lose out by not being able to access this album. Check out more from this artist? Nah Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-07-2018, 11:02 AM	#2059 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Strange Words and Weird Wars Artist: Marnie Genre: Electronic/Synthpop Nationality: Scottish Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Second Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.22 Pleasant catchy synthpop. I like her voice, it's different. “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” is moody, brooding and kind of ominous. A real standout. “Lost Maps” is great too, love the bouncy, synthy rhythm to it. Some very good tracks but overall I have to say not a whole lot that really sticks in the memory after the album has been played. Good stuff, but that's probably about it really. Might though benefit from extra listenings. Check out more from this artist? Maybe Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-07-2018, 11:29 AM	#2060 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Album title: Colours2 Artist: Partynextdoor Genre: R&B Nationality: Canadian Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Eighth EP; tenth overall Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 2.74 You know, I just wish Wiki editors would get their ** together. The page for this EP puts it as released on June 2, then notes that it was released in September! Which is it, you stupid ? Checking with RYM seems to confirm the June release date, but it's annoying that people can't check their facts before submitting articles. That said, this has only four tracks, most of which are pleasant enough r&b tunes, slow ones too, though “Low Battery” is more uptempo (despite the title). Not bad really. Check out more from this artist? Possibly Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating:** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018