Trollheart listens to every album on Wiki's list for 2023

[Trollheart]

Album title:  The Mockingbird and the Crow
Artist: Hardy
Genre: Country/Nu-metal (?)
Nationality: American
Release date: January 20
Position in Discography: Second
Tracks: 17
Familiar with this artist? No
Heard of this artist? No
Familiar with the genre or subgenre? Country, yes, nu-metal, no, and I don't wish to be
Average RYM Score: 1.51 (may tell its own story!)
Highest chart position: 4 (US) and number 1 on various American country, hard rock and independent  charts; Australia and Canada like it too, sent it to number 6

While you have certainly had a crossover between country and rock, even in some instances country and metal, with varying results, I would not have considered the abrasive, shouty, fuck-everything style of nu-metal to have nestled anywhere near comfortably with one of the oldest and most traditional genres in American music. But I guess we'll see. Going from the chart positions it was a big hit, though listeners on RYM had wildly differing opinions on that! I have to say from the off I like this: good powerful country with a hefty slice of rock - whether we get one country song, one nu-metal or what way it works I don't know yet, but it's a good start.

Hey, you couldn't start with a more appropriate song for both genres! "Beer" was the opener and "Red" works really well too. I think I may love this album, even though it's barely started. Great duet with Lainey Wilson on "Wait in the Truck", and while the album is indeed stuffed full of country cliches, I'm not entirely sure Hardy here is not taking a bit of a satirical pot-shot at the scene? Either way, it's damn fine music, though I have yet to hear anything approaching metal, never mind with a -nu in front of it. I will say "I in Country" is a little barf-inducing, but that's country music for ya. Besides, if you don't buy his records, Al Qaeda wins!

I like "Here Lies Country Music", which seems, possibly, to decry the bastardisation and commercialisation of his genre of music. Or maybe not, as he seems now to claim it was all a dream. Hmm. Good song though. Jesus Christ I thought he had gone totally banal pop there, but for some reason whoever uploaded the video had inserted a one-hour pop playlist in it! Idiot. Okay, in fact here's where the nu-metal influence comes in, nine tracks later on the title cut. It's not that overt really, but we'll see how much more of it there is on the album. Works well enough I would say, and again on "Sold Out". Wish I knew who was doing the nu-metal style vocal. Could it be himself? I kind of doubt it, but it doesn't say.

Don't think I'd be so quick to throw in the nu-metal tag; there are a few influences there yes but mostly this is a country album with a fairly strong flavour of rock, and that's about it. It's also pretty brilliant. "Radio Song" goes really totally overboard on the vocals, which are really at odds with the song itself, probably the only track on which I don't see the fusion working at all. Where it works to the max is on "Kill Shit Till I Die". Rock out!



Agree with RYM? Not in the least. Who the hell rated this so low? Should be a three easily.
Would I listen to this album again? Definitely
Of choice, would I check out more from this artist? Yes
Of choice, would I be interested in checking out more from this genre or subgenre? Always (as far as country is concerned); never (as far as nu-metal goes)
Score: 8/10