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

Trollheart · 03-04-2018, 03:17 PM

Album title: Cover My Tracks
Artist: Charlie Fink
Genre: Pop
Nationality: English
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Debut
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.12
If you know, or know of, Noah and the Whale ( I don't) you'll apparently know this guy. Or, if you've seen the movie A Streetcat Named Bob ( I haven't) you'll have heard his music. This is his first album proper, and it seems to be your basic bright, breezy, upbeat mostly acoustic kind of thing; very singer/songwriter. “Born to Be a Cowboy” is a little embarrassing, but “The End of Legendary Hearts” more than makes up for it, with some beautiful orchestration on a fine ballad. A nice little cautionary tale, “Orpheus is Playing the Troubador” is a real standout, as is “Someone Above Me Tonight”. This was a really nice album, enjoyed it a lot.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-04-2018, 05:55 PM

Album title: Waiting On a Song
Artist: Dan Auerbach
Genre: Pop/Rock
Nationality: American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Second
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.01
Pop and rock, eh? Sounds more like country when it starts, and the opener and title track reminds me of “Bird On a Wire” in its melody. “Malibu Man” is great too, though “Living in Sin” is a little too twee and jangly I feel. The album really fails to put a foot wrong after that though, with “King of a One Horse Town” a particular standout. “Cherrybomb” nearly manages to drag it back down, but recovers well. “Stand By My Girl” has a clever little lyric “Gonna stand by my girl/ Cos she'll kill me if I don't” (

) and it's just gold from there to the end. Another excellent album.
Check out more from this artist? Yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-05-2018, 01:11 PM

Album title: America, Location 12
Artist: Dispatch
Genre: Indie Rock
Nationality: American
Release date: June 2
Position in Discography: Sixth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.16
The opener here has a very Irish reel-like thing that immediately reminds me of Thin Lizzy's “Emerald” - I mean, it's almost identical, though in fairness it's just a riff in the song, it's not as if they ripped the entire thing off. Some really nice Eagles-esque vocal harmonies on “Only the Wild Ones”, which bops along nicely, nice marching beat to “Curse + Crush”. It's all pretty good stuff really - “Skin the Rabbit” is very catchy, and there's a nice folky feel to “Midnight Lorry”, though I feel “Begin Again” really stands out as one of the very best tracks on this album. It has a real sense of energy and purpose to it. Some great guitar work too. Good album.

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

Actual Rating:

Trollheart · 03-05-2018, 03:17 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, 05:57 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, 07:15 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, 09:46 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, 10:32 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, 11:05 AM

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, 02:22 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:

03-04-2018, 03:17 PM	#2041 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Cover My Tracks Artist: Charlie Fink Genre: Pop Nationality: English Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Debut Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.12 If you know, or know of, Noah and the Whale ( I don't) you'll apparently know this guy. Or, if you've seen the movie A Streetcat Named Bob ( I haven't) you'll have heard his music. This is his first album proper, and it seems to be your basic bright, breezy, upbeat mostly acoustic kind of thing; very singer/songwriter. “Born to Be a Cowboy” is a little embarrassing, but “The End of Legendary Hearts” more than makes up for it, with some beautiful orchestration on a fine ballad. A nice little cautionary tale, “Orpheus is Playing the Troubador” is a real standout, as is “Someone Above Me Tonight”. This was a really nice album, enjoyed it 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 Last edited by Trollheart; 03-04-2018 at 05:55 PM.

03-04-2018, 05:55 PM	#2042 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Waiting On a Song Artist: Dan Auerbach Genre: Pop/Rock Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Second Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.01 Pop and rock, eh? Sounds more like country when it starts, and the opener and title track reminds me of “Bird On a Wire” in its melody. “Malibu Man” is great too, though “Living in Sin” is a little too twee and jangly I feel. The album really fails to put a foot wrong after that though, with “King of a One Horse Town” a particular standout. “Cherrybomb” nearly manages to drag it back down, but recovers well. “Stand By My Girl” has a clever little lyric “Gonna stand by my girl/ Cos she'll kill me if I don't” () and it's just gold from there to the end. Another excellent album. 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, 01:11 PM	#2043 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: America, Location 12 Artist: Dispatch Genre: Indie Rock Nationality: American Release date: June 2 Position in Discography: Sixth Estimated Rating: Have I heard of this artist? No Average RYM Score: 3.16 The opener here has a very Irish reel-like thing that immediately reminds me of Thin Lizzy's “Emerald” - I mean, it's almost identical, though in fairness it's just a riff in the song, it's not as if they ripped the entire thing off. Some really nice Eagles-esque vocal harmonies on “Only the Wild Ones”, which bops along nicely, nice marching beat to “Curse + Crush”. It's all pretty good stuff really - “Skin the Rabbit” is very catchy, and there's a nice folky feel to “Midnight Lorry”, though I feel “Begin Again” really stands out as one of the very best tracks on this album. It has a real sense of energy and purpose to it. Some great guitar work too. Good album. 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, 03:17 PM	#2044 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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, 05:57 PM	#2045 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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, 07:15 AM	#2046 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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, 09:46 AM	#2047 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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, 10:32 AM	#2048 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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, 11:05 AM	#2049 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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, 02:22 PM	#2050 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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