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

~~Neurotripsicks~~ · 11-15-2017, 08:04 AM

What did you think of the Slave One EP Troll?

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neurotripsicks

What did you think of the Slave One EP Troll?

I'm sorry?

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 09:56 AM

Album title: Stars are Rising
Artist: Joanna Forest
Genre: Classical Crossover
Nationality: English
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Debut
Fear Factor: Low
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little
Average RYM Score: N/A
I suppose being classical this album might be hard to track down details on, and so it proves. Wiki tells me Joanna Forest is an English soprano, this is her debut album and that she records this album with the help of the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Arts Symphony Orchestra. That's it. Discogs, RYM don't even have her as an artist, so that's as much as I can tell you. Sopranos? I've heard Sarah Brightman, of course, and Katherine Jenkins. They can be a little off-putting but there's no doubting the talent of any woman who can sing in that style. I don't know either of the first two songs, but then she does “Life on Mars”, and well, it's okay but there's something missing on it. A little overblown on the chorus, quite sparse on the verses, with the stupid sound of a cow on that line. Sigh.

Slade's “How Does It Feel” is an odd choice, I feel, and I don't know the song, so can't comment on the job she does on it, though given that Slade were glam-rock bovver boys of the seventies, it seems extremely weird to hear a classical soprano sing the song. Overall, she's of course a wonderful singer – couldn't doubt that – but the fact that most of these songs are unknown to me is kind of a barrier to really enjoying the album; I'm not that much into the soprano voice, I don't like opera and this is kind of a slog. Not the same sort of slog as with the previous album. There, it was just that the songs were very long, but I did enjoy them. Here I'm a little lost, though I now hear her singing that song from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, “Pure Imagination”. That's nice.

But it's really not my thing. If it's yours, I imagine there are few better at this than her and Jenkins, and maybe Kiri te Kanawa. But it's a little boring and dreary for me.

Check out more from this artist? Nah
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Unlikely, though there may be some gems hiding in there, so you never know.

Expectation Index: 3

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 10:32 AM

Album title: Deep South
Artist: Josh Turner
Genre: Country/Neotraditional Country
Nationality: American
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Sixth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little
Average RYM Score: 2.74
So what kind of country is this? Real, honest country or what I like to call faux country, which is a term I give to what is basically pop music that disguises itself as country: Shania, Faith and Travis, I'm looking at you! Well he namechecks Charlie Pride so that's a plus, and the genre is apparently “neotraditional country”, which seems to look back to the, well, traditions of true country music. Whether or not that turns out to be a painful pastiche of the same I guess I'll find out, but so far it's not making me grind my teeth.

Yeah I don't know though: it's a little yee-haw at some points and a little too close to the likes of Garth Brooks pop country at others. It does kind of sound like he's just using the trappings of country music as a backdrop to create a fairly standard pop album; the drawl don't fool me, guy. This is just an album of songs about girls sung in a Southern drawl. Get ye over there beside Garth, Shania and Faith! Don't you have anything else to sing about?

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

Expectation Index: 0

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 12:21 PM

Album title: Semper Femina
Artist: Laura Marling
Genre: Folk/Folk Rock/Alt-Rock
Nationality: English
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Sixth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.38
Well that's one hell of a voice: reminds me at times of Judie Tzuke. The violin is lovely and the percussion, at least on the first track, is almost hypnotic, kind of slow tribal in a way. Yeah, this is pure class so far: smouldering, smoky, broody and very intense. Let this be a lesson to all you X Factor wannabes: you don't have to growl and grunt and roar every syllable; you don't have to batter the music into submission to be heard. Marling seldom raises her voice at all here and she conveys more genuine emotion in one song than on a thousand Alexandra Burke or Leona Lewis albums. That's how you do it.

Check out more from this artist? Yup
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yah

Expectation Index: 9

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 11-15-2017, 12:35 PM

yes! great album. i heard Soothing through Edgar Wright's radio show and have been hooked on her stuff ever since.

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 02:09 PM

Album title: Movie
Artist: Mod Sun
Genre: Hip-Hop
Nationality: American
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Second
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.33
Is this actually meant to represent a movie? The opening track is entitled “Previews” and the closing “The End Or Start Again”, and someone has yelled “Start the ****ing show!” so maybe. Interestng idea if so. Okay, I like this. There's a lot to like about it. Some great melodies, excellent backing or even shared vocals with, um, Maty Noyes? And Del Loaf? The former lends her talents to “Beautiful Problem” while the breadish one is on the opener; both two very good singers from what I hear. The piano on “Two” is very ominous, and almost quiet, in the background, but very effective. Oh yeah, as they no doubt say in the hood, this is the ****.

Check out more from this artist? Yo!
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Sure

Expectation Index: 10

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 05:05 PM

Album title: Captain California
Artist: Murs
Genre: Hip-Hop
Nationality: American
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Tenth
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 2.69
Is it possible, then, after being so unexpectedly impressed by Mod Sun, this could continue that trend? I don't hold out massive hopes, to be honest, but I'll give it a shot. Oooh ****! Starts off great, love this opening track. Oh man this is just excellent stuff. “God Bless Kanye West” is a super little track, love the melody that runs through the chorus. “Colossus” is an angry one-two, “Xmas and Thanksgiving” has its own power, “Summer” is full of restrained threat while “1000 Suns” is just a fun song. Really great album. Two for two, I'm impressed.

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

Expectation Index: 9

Trollheart · 11-15-2017, 05:34 PM

Album title: Missing Link
Artist: Nick Murphy
Genre: Experimental Pop
Nationality: Australian
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Fourth EP; fifth overall
Fear Factor: High
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: 3.11
Just an EP this time around, and it's not bad I guess, though this does nothing personally for me. Hard to judge someone on the basis of a five-track EP, but well “Forget About Me” is a nice little slice of synthpop and has a lot going for it, while “Weak Education” is more of a brooding piece with elements of Paul Simon about it. Got a lot better there towards the end then. Maybe there might be something in this.

Check out more from this artist? It's possible I might
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Maybe

Expectation Index: 8

Trollheart · 11-16-2017, 11:57 AM

Album title: Stereotomic
Artist: Nypan
Genre: Jazz
Nationality: Norwegian
Release date: March 10
Position in Discography: Fourth
Fear Factor: Moderate
Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No
Average RYM Score: N/A
Nypan is apparently the performing name of Øyvind Nypan, a Norwegian jazz guitarist, and I'll admit this is nice stuff. Very relaxing. Only trouble is that we are now three tracks in (I have to listen on YouTube as, though he is on Spotify, this album isn't) and I really can't tell the difference between them. I'm sure a guitar or jazz aficionado (or one of both) could, but to me it all sounds like one long track. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, if you take it all as one long piece of uninterrupted music, as I may end up doing. Well now, the fourth track (I think) is a more laidback, not quite so frenetic piece, not totally pastoral, but close, with kind of elements of seventies soft rock/pop in places, sort of reminds me of David Gates at times. Also a certain slightly prog rock feel to it, like Big Big Train or early Genesis. Sacrilege, no doubt, to mention such bands in the same breath as jazz, but that's what I hear. This one is called “Piece for Peace”, so I get the softer approach on it. Nice.

Overall I'd say a very pleasant album, doesn't wear on me like some jazz; very listenable and enjoyable.

Check out more from this artist? Possible
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Meh, dunno

Expectation Index: 8

11-15-2017, 09:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Stars are Rising Artist: Joanna Forest Genre: Classical Crossover Nationality: English Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Debut Fear Factor: Low Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little Average RYM Score: N/A I suppose being classical this album might be hard to track down details on, and so it proves. Wiki tells me Joanna Forest is an English soprano, this is her debut album and that she records this album with the help of the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Arts Symphony Orchestra. That's it. Discogs, RYM don't even have her as an artist, so that's as much as I can tell you. Sopranos? I've heard Sarah Brightman, of course, and Katherine Jenkins. They can be a little off-putting but there's no doubting the talent of any woman who can sing in that style. I don't know either of the first two songs, but then she does “Life on Mars”, and well, it's okay but there's something missing on it. A little overblown on the chorus, quite sparse on the verses, with the stupid sound of a cow on that line. Sigh. Slade's “How Does It Feel” is an odd choice, I feel, and I don't know the song, so can't comment on the job she does on it, though given that Slade were glam-rock bovver boys of the seventies, it seems extremely weird to hear a classical soprano sing the song. Overall, she's of course a wonderful singer – couldn't doubt that – but the fact that most of these songs are unknown to me is kind of a barrier to really enjoying the album; I'm not that much into the soprano voice, I don't like opera and this is kind of a slog. Not the same sort of slog as with the previous album. There, it was just that the songs were very long, but I did enjoy them. Here I'm a little lost, though I now hear her singing that song from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, “Pure Imagination”. That's nice. But it's really not my thing. If it's yours, I imagine there are few better at this than her and Jenkins, and maybe Kiri te Kanawa. But it's a little boring and dreary for me. Check out more from this artist? Nah Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Unlikely, though there may be some gems hiding in there, so you never know. Expectation Index: 3 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2017, 10:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Deep South Artist: Josh Turner Genre: Country/Neotraditional Country Nationality: American Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Sixth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little Average RYM Score: 2.74 So what kind of country is this? Real, honest country or what I like to call faux country, which is a term I give to what is basically pop music that disguises itself as country: Shania, Faith and Travis, I'm looking at you! Well he namechecks Charlie Pride so that's a plus, and the genre is apparently “neotraditional country”, which seems to look back to the, well, traditions of true country music. Whether or not that turns out to be a painful pastiche of the same I guess I'll find out, but so far it's not making me grind my teeth. Yeah I don't know though: it's a little yee-haw at some points and a little too close to the likes of Garth Brooks pop country at others. It does kind of sound like he's just using the trappings of country music as a backdrop to create a fairly standard pop album; the drawl don't fool me, guy. This is just an album of songs about girls sung in a Southern drawl. Get ye over there beside Garth, Shania and Faith! Don't you have anything else to sing about? Check out more from this artist? No Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 0 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2017, 12:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Semper Femina Artist: Laura Marling Genre: Folk/Folk Rock/Alt-Rock Nationality: English Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Sixth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No but I have heard of her Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.38 Well that's one hell of a voice: reminds me at times of Judie Tzuke. The violin is lovely and the percussion, at least on the first track, is almost hypnotic, kind of slow tribal in a way. Yeah, this is pure class so far: smouldering, smoky, broody and very intense. Let this be a lesson to all you X Factor wannabes: you don't have to growl and grunt and roar every syllable; you don't have to batter the music into submission to be heard. Marling seldom raises her voice at all here and she conveys more genuine emotion in one song than on a thousand Alexandra Burke or Leona Lewis albums. That's how you do it. Check out more from this artist? Yup Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yah Expectation Index: 9 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2017, 02:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Movie Artist: Mod Sun Genre: Hip-Hop Nationality: American Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Second Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.33 Is this actually meant to represent a movie? The opening track is entitled “Previews” and the closing “The End Or Start Again”, and someone has yelled “Start the **ing show!” so maybe. Interestng idea if so. Okay, I like this. There's a lot to like about it. Some great melodies, excellent backing or even shared vocals with, um, Maty Noyes? And Del Loaf? The former lends her talents to “Beautiful Problem” while the breadish one is on the opener; both two very good singers from what I hear. The piano on “Two” is very ominous, and almost quiet, in the background, but very effective. Oh yeah, as they no doubt say in the hood, this is the . Check out more from this artist? Yo! Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Sure Expectation Index: 10** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-15-2017, 05:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Captain California Artist: Murs Genre: Hip-Hop Nationality: American Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Tenth Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 2.69 Is it possible, then, after being so unexpectedly impressed by Mod Sun, this could continue that trend? I don't hold out massive hopes, to be honest, but I'll give it a shot. Oooh **! Starts off great, love this opening track. Oh man this is just excellent stuff. “God Bless Kanye West” is a super little track, love the melody that runs through the chorus. “Colossus” is an angry one-two, “Xmas and Thanksgiving” has its own power, “Summer” is full of restrained threat while “1000 Suns” is just a fun song. Really great album. Two for two, I'm impressed. Check out more from this artist? Oh yeah Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Expectation Index: 9** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 11-24-2017 at 05:39 PM.

11-15-2017, 08:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
~~Neurotripsicks~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Thelema ~ 93 Posts: 148	What did you think of the Slave One EP Troll?

11-15-2017, 05:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Missing Link Artist: Nick Murphy Genre: Experimental Pop Nationality: Australian Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Fourth EP; fifth overall Fear Factor: High Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: 3.11 Just an EP this time around, and it's not bad I guess, though this does nothing personally for me. Hard to judge someone on the basis of a five-track EP, but well “Forget About Me” is a nice little slice of synthpop and has a lot going for it, while “Weak Education” is more of a brooding piece with elements of Paul Simon about it. Got a lot better there towards the end then. Maybe there might be something in this. Check out more from this artist? It's possible I might Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Maybe Expectation Index: 8 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

11-16-2017, 11:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Stereotomic Artist: Nypan Genre: Jazz Nationality: Norwegian Release date: March 10 Position in Discography: Fourth Fear Factor: Moderate Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? No Average RYM Score: N/A Nypan is apparently the performing name of Øyvind Nypan, a Norwegian jazz guitarist, and I'll admit this is nice stuff. Very relaxing. Only trouble is that we are now three tracks in (I have to listen on YouTube as, though he is on Spotify, this album isn't) and I really can't tell the difference between them. I'm sure a guitar or jazz aficionado (or one of both) could, but to me it all sounds like one long track. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, if you take it all as one long piece of uninterrupted music, as I may end up doing. Well now, the fourth track (I think) is a more laidback, not quite so frenetic piece, not totally pastoral, but close, with kind of elements of seventies soft rock/pop in places, sort of reminds me of David Gates at times. Also a certain slightly prog rock feel to it, like Big Big Train or early Genesis. Sacrilege, no doubt, to mention such bands in the same breath as jazz, but that's what I hear. This one is called “Piece for Peace”, so I get the softer approach on it. Nice. Overall I'd say a very pleasant album, doesn't wear on me like some jazz; very listenable and enjoyable. Check out more from this artist? Possible Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Meh, dunno Expectation Index: 8 __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018