Trollheart

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?

Although I truly hate the title of the opener --- it just seems so contrived --- the song itself is not bad. I got a strong sense of listening to Kansas again to be honest, and I think the two bands are quite similar in style.

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
Again, I hate the title but even now the song is going around in my head. It's very seventies prog, and the next one up, "Time waits for no-one" is a great exercise in turning what seems at first to be a fast song into a relatively slow one.

3. What did you think of the later tracks?
The album definitely picked up with "Holdin' on to yesterday", can see why it was a single, and then "Make us all aware" is almost AOR in some respects. "Mama frog" is weird though: it has sound effects and an atmosphere Fish would later reconstruct for his "Raingods with zippos" album on, strangely enough, the track "Chocolate frogs". And it has Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwock" poem narrated halfway through. I think I like it though.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Were there two? Cos the vocalist on the opener sounded like he was Indian or Pakistani or something, whereas the rest was sung in a "normal" voice, and of that normal voice I liked the singing. The opener, not so much.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
Yes, especially the guitar work, though as in many prog albums of this period the organ and keys tend to swamp the music. In fairness though, not as much as some bands.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Very much better. I wasn't initially blown away by the first two tracks but when "Holdin' on to yesterday" came up the game changed, and it just got better from then on.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
It's pretty much of the time. Opener has a message about everyone being brothers under the skin, second track advises us to use our time responsibly, and so on. Oh, and there's "The Jabberwock" too!

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
N/A

9. What did you think of the production?
Very crisp and clean, but sure it's Alan Parsons innit?

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
Not in the slightest.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
Progressive or maybe even pomp rock, to some degree. Verges a little into AOR at times. Again, bit like Kansas.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Yes, I enjoy it a lot more now when I listen to it again. I think I've heard it five or six times now: I find I'm actually looking forward to "Mama frog" now!

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
"Holdin' on to yesterday", "Make us all aware" and the closer, "Drink of water".

14. And the one you liked least?
Nothing really. I've even come to really like both "Mama frog" and "Nice nice very nice".

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
For a debut this is, to quote the Batlord, pretty bitchin'. Mind you, it does pull in a lot of influences from bands at the time, so it's not what I'd call too original, but a very good first effort.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
Not really. It was good but I wouldn't actively seek out more of their work. Mind you, if I heard it I wouldn't turn it off. But there's so much to listen to!

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
I don't think there's a general theme, other than maybe live and let live?

18. Did the album end well?
Very well. I enjoyed "Drink of water" and thought it closed the album very effectively.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Not really, other than the Indian/Pakistani voice on the opening track; that was a bit annoying.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Quite cohesive for what it was.

Ratiing:8.5 out of 10

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018