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

Trollheart · 02-07-2018, 02:54 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, 03:12 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, 04:02 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.

**Frownland** · 02-07-2018, 04:03 PM

How can something you haven't heard be overrated? You'd be all over AB I bet.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-07-2018, 04:05 PM

perfume genius is overrated

**Frownland** · 02-07-2018, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

perfume genius is overrated

But the rest? Those are italicized too. Actually the new Stetson album is dumb overrated, but tell me about the last two.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 02-07-2018, 04:10 PM

i havent heard the other two that is why they are bolded

**Frownland** · 02-07-2018, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

i havent heard the other two that is why they are bolded

And italicized.

Trollheart · 02-07-2018, 04:51 PM

Album title: From a Room, Volume 1
Artist: Christ Stapleton
Genre: Country/Blues/Roots Rock/Southern Rock
Nationality: American
Release date: May 5
Position in Discography: Second
Estimated Rating:

Familiar with this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little
Average RYM Score: 3.41
So far very good. Gritty, glass-chewin', down-to-earth country and blues with the kind of hard edge this kind of music needs. I've said it before: country music – proper country music – needs to be about the hurt, not chasing after pretty girls when you're in your twenties. **** that. **** country pop. Take it out behind the cowshed and blow it away with a twelve-gauge, then bury it where nobody will ever find it. This is the real stuff. Upright bass, mandolin, harmonica, pedal steel. Music from the heart, **** on your boots, as Waits once said. Gotta have that otherwise it's just pussy country. This ain't pussy country. And by that I don't mean a place you go to meet young ladies, Occult!

“Up to No Good Livin'” is a real standout, love the pedal steel in it, and his powerful singing comes across really well on the stripped-down “Either Way”, also on “I Was Wrong”, which is a storming blues tune. I haven't heard this kind of mix of blues and country much before, if at all. I think I like it. Nah, I love it. Cool album.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 02-08-2018, 05:09 AM

Album title: Love Hope Faith
Artist: Colt Ford
Genre: Country Rap (!)
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: 3.14
Oh you cannot be serious! Country rap? I didn't even know such a thing existed. I can't imagine the two co-existing, but I guess we'll see. Well the first track kind of works, oddly enough perhaps, but yeah, it does. Mind you, most of it is sung, with a rap provided by Taylor Ray Holbrook. I could see the song working without the rap though, and probably better. Some of the songs don't have rap on them, and in general I think these work better. Songs such as “Young Americans”, “Dirt Road Disco” and “Bad Day” are decent country songs, though “My Truck”, which does include a rap, is pretty damn hilarious. As is “Time Flies” with its chorus “Time sure flies when you're havin' rum.”

Overall, I'd say I'm not quite sure the rapping works – though it doesn't detract from the music and it doesn't seem tacked on or anything – but I think the album could have survived as a standard country album without it. I guess the jury will return at some point.

Check out more from this artist? Maybe
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Not sure

Actual Rating:

02-07-2018, 02:54 PM	#1801 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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

02-07-2018, 04:03 PM	#1804 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	How can something you haven't heard be overrated? You'd be all over AB I bet. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

02-07-2018, 04:51 PM	#1809 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: From a Room, Volume 1 Artist: Christ Stapleton Genre: Country/Blues/Roots Rock/Southern Rock Nationality: American Release date: May 5 Position in Discography: Second Estimated Rating: Familiar with this artist? No Familiar with the genre or subgenre? A little Average RYM Score: 3.41 So far very good. Gritty, glass-chewin', down-to-earth country and blues with the kind of hard edge this kind of music needs. I've said it before: country music – proper country music – needs to be about the hurt, not chasing after pretty girls when you're in your twenties. ** that. country pop. Take it out behind the cowshed and blow it away with a twelve-gauge, then bury it where nobody will ever find it. This is the real stuff. Upright bass, mandolin, harmonica, pedal steel. Music from the heart, on your boots, as Waits once said. Gotta have that otherwise it's just pussy country. This ain't pussy country. And by that I don't mean a place you go to meet young ladies, Occult! “Up to No Good Livin'” is a real standout, love the pedal steel in it, and his powerful singing comes across really well on the stripped-down “Either Way”, also on “I Was Wrong”, which is a storming blues tune. I haven't heard this kind of mix of blues and country much before, if at all. I think I like it. Nah, I love it. Cool album. Check out more from this artist? Yep Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes Actual Rating:** __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-08-2018, 05:09 AM	#1810 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Love Hope Faith Artist: Colt Ford Genre: Country Rap (!) 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: 3.14 Oh you cannot be serious! Country rap? I didn't even know such a thing existed. I can't imagine the two co-existing, but I guess we'll see. Well the first track kind of works, oddly enough perhaps, but yeah, it does. Mind you, most of it is sung, with a rap provided by Taylor Ray Holbrook. I could see the song working without the rap though, and probably better. Some of the songs don't have rap on them, and in general I think these work better. Songs such as “Young Americans”, “Dirt Road Disco” and “Bad Day” are decent country songs, though “My Truck”, which does include a rap, is pretty damn hilarious. As is “Time Flies” with its chorus “Time sure flies when you're havin' rum.” Overall, I'd say I'm not quite sure the rapping works – though it doesn't detract from the music and it doesn't seem tacked on or anything – but I think the album could have survived as a standard country album without it. I guess the jury will return at some point. Check out more from this artist? Maybe Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Not sure Actual Rating: __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018