Quando si parla di hardcore punk melodico i più storcono giustamente il naso, visto il surplus di band mediocri che da metà anni '90 in poi suturano la scena sulla scia del successo di NOFX, Bad Religion e Pennywise. Eppure, se si guarda fra i capostipiti del genere, nei primi anni '80, si scoprono numerose band molto più che valide: basti pensare ai seminali Adolescents, ai Descendents, agli stessi Bad Religion e, ultimi ma non certo ultimi, i 7 Seconds. Questi ultimi, nati nel '79 per volere dei fratelli Kevin Seconds (voce) e Steve Youth (basso; ancora oggi portano avanti la loro creatura con line-up piuttosto instabili) sono ricordati per la loro energia fortemente positiva e ottimista, ventata d'aria fresca in una scena altrimenti tradizionalmente pessimista e nichilista, anche laddove le proposte musicali si facevano più melodiche; hanno un unico, parziale precedente nei soli Descendents.
Attenzione: "melodico" non è necessariamente sinonimo di "moscio", anzi. I 7 Seconds spaccavano il culo, proprio in virtù della carica positiva che li animava. Quello che rende grande, grandissimo l'album in questione (uno dei migliori dischi punk degli anni '80, a parer mio), loro secondo LP dopo svariati demo, 7" EP e l'esordio sulla lunga distanza "The Crew" del 1984, proprio questo perfetto equilibrio fra potenza e melodia, fra tupa-tupa e cori orecchiabili, fra vitalità e urgenza di esprimerla. Vale la pena citare a proposito l'impegno della band del Nevada con la Youth Crew, subcultura newyorchese a loro affine resa celebre, oltre che dagli stessi 7 Seconds, dagli Youth Of Today e dai Gorilla Biscuits.
Consta solo di nove traccie, questo album del 1985 (verrà arricchito di altre cinque traccie live nella ristampa), ma ognuna di esse è una perla, un piccolo gioiello misconosciuto: si passa dalla violenza hardcore dell'opener "Regress No Way", di "Spread", di "Strenght" a inni memorabili come la splendida title track, la cover di "99 Red Balloons", "Remains To Be Seen" e soprattutto l'anthem "We're Gonna Fight", una delle canzoni più famose della band. Sono tutti brani che s'insinuano subito nella memoria e lì rimangono: è davvero difficile non affezionarsi a questo album, se ami certe sonorità.
Dopo quest'album, tuttavia, il gruppo inizierà ad allontanarsi dal suono hardcore, preferendo sonorità a loro più affini, più melodiche e rilassate, sempre mantenendosi su alti livelli: solo da metà anni '90 in poi ritorneranno sui proprio passi, verso le loro radici, probabilmente per accodarsi al nuovo fenomeno punk melodico che in quegli anni andava fortissimo. Ad ogni modo, se volete scoprire questa band eccellente, vi consiglio di partire da questa manciata di piccole, grandi canzoni.
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02 We're Gonna Fight (03:24)
We're gonna fight
We know who's right
(Not them)
Time to unite
We're having are say
(Me and you)
With a ?
They don't ask squat
(Dumb fools)
You stand up tall
The futures ours
(No rules)
[Chorus]
Me and you
We're gonna fight the narrow minds
Make are own rules
Live your life at all
Live six long years
And a thousand strong
(That's right)
We're not dumb
We're oh we're
(Going)
Angry kids
With a million rules
(That's cool)
We got are dreams
And we got are hopes
(You know)
Me and you
We're gonna fight the narrow minds
Make are own rules
Live your life at all
Live life
Me and you
We're gonna fight the narrow minds
Make are own rules
Live your life at all
Live
Me and you
We're gonna fight the narrow minds
Make are own rules
Live your life at all
Live life
Life
My life
Mine
I live mine
Mine
YEAAHH!
We're Gonna Fight
Whoahoahoa [x10]
[Alternating in background on 3rd and 4th time:]
Fight [x15]
Fight [x13] For what is right!
We're gonna fight
We're gonna fight
We're gonna
Right?
Huh?
YEAAHH!
We're Gonna Fight
Whoahoahoa [x4]
03 In Your Face (01:07)
you wanna be the way i am
but you could never understand
you shave your f**kin head
then you turn your back
on your best friends
[Chorus]
it's not just in my head
it's in my heart
(it's in my heart)
and you're not gonna
tear this one apart
the way you look it fits
how come your attitude is shit?
you say you do it your own way
but now i have the price to pay
[repeat chorus]
if i can give a f**k
you better start, so...
use your head be aware
give a f**k!
the same routine. f**k up again
you have no real regrets
but this is not just something
i can easily forget
[repeat chorus]
i can't believe you've come this far
yet still so unaware
no cause no brains no fire inside
when will you learn to care
04 Spread (01:09)
I grew up with love and affection
Know what it means to spread that infection.
No matter waht may stand in my way.
This energy within, it guides me day by day.
At times when I feel there is no way out.
I'll bitch. cry. moan. whine. scream and shout.
But what I'd like to see in the world most today.
We've got to SPREAD IT! SPREAD IT!
Now I know you must be thinking
There is something wrong.
How could I have the nerve.
To write this song.
Well. it's like I've got this feeling.
Stripped away of pride.
A crazy mixed up feeling.
That I just can't hide
Emotion is this great thing.
We've all got it. let it show.
If u can share emotion.
Then by all means let me know.
And if we wanna make a better world today.
SPREAD IT! SPREAD IT! THIS WORLD OVER! GO!!
05 99 Red Balloons (03:41)
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base bugs in the software
Flash the message, something's out there
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by
99 red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky as 99 red balloons go by
99 Decision street
99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super scurry
Call the troops out in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys, this is war
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by
99 knights of the air
Ride super high tech jet fighters
Everyone's a super hero Everyone's a Captain Kirk
With orders to identify
To clarify, and classify
Scramble in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by
99 dreams I have had In every one a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standing pretty
In this dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
And here is a red balloon
I think of you, and let it go
06 Remains to Be Seen (01:31)
Listen to my story!
It all began back in 1980
We were young, no direction, it was all so new
Spending late nights in the basement
Playing gigs in someone's kitchen
So exciting, we had dreams and we still do
And through the years our anger went
Toward more progressive goals
We had to overcome the barriers
And plan a new direction
Our main goal is to better ways
And help communication
With our positive commitment
We can all succeed, and so
OH!-OH!-OH! Part two of the story!
Now I know that times are hard
And giving in's easy
But with work we'll get our message out
To all the kids who care
It's not too hard if you believe
We've got to plan our destination
Just live your life your way
Make great your intentions
And through the years...
07 Walk Together, Rock Together (01:48)
It's Not The Way We Look
It's Not Our Stance Our Style Our Hair
Forget Those Stupid Barriers
Take Down That Flag You Wear
Just People Living On
With Different Hearts And Different Minds
If We Live In The Same World
Why Can't We Stand In The Same Line
If We Can Walk Together
Why Can't We Rock Together
No I Dont Care
If Your Into Different Bands
No Cause For Such Hatred
I'm Just A Different Man
Pull Off The Cover I Will Too
And Learn TO Understand
With Music Deep Inside
We'll Make World Our Unity Plan
If We Can Walk Together
Why Can't We Rock Together
A Label Is A Label
Definition, Nothing More
And Because Of Labels We Have Placed
We Live In Constant War
Destroy All That Tradition
And Live Before You Die
Lets Rock Together From Now On
And Never Be Denied
09 Strength (02:24)
if what you see is what you get.
just look toward us and never fret.
i'll sing this 'till i can't no more.
a part of what i'm waiting for.
it's there so strong and can you see
a force. and what we have is strength.
[repeat]
and what we have is STRENGTH!
all we need it's what we got!
10 Still Believe (01:39)
I guess the others turned their backs on what they now call shit,
It doesn't really matter 'cause it's their words I forget,
If 'core is dead, they've moved along and now they're rockin' out,
But I have doubts they ever knew just what it's been about
[Chorus]
But I still believe, I still believe, believe in myself [2x]
Watch them bite and clw now as they line up on the rack,
A method to success and now there ain't no looking back,
They're playing better music with a message aimed at other crowds,
And they don't include a lyrics sheet 'cause what they say ain't proud
[Chorus]
An empty pedatal and all these "heroes," where'd they, go! go! go!
When I find myself a hero, I'll be sure to let you know
12 Drug Control (00:45)
Drugs make you a man
They help you understand
It's a cheap escape and it's nothin' great
But you do them when you can
(Chorus)
Drugs make you turn on me!
Drugs will not set you free!
Your money buys you dope
Say you just can't cope
But friends are cheap, when drugs can keep
A buzz inside your head
(Chorus)
13 Bottomless Pit (01:22)
You pay your money to get in
You're ready for some fun
But once you get in you're afraid
To get close to anyone
You dance around real tough and mean
Got macho thrash appeal
Your image here is what's at stake
And not the way you feel
(Chorus)
In the pit, you can't be yourself
You're an image of what's cool
And you ignore your friends
Just another fool
The hole grows bigger by the second
And soon there's no one left
No arms in arms cos in your eyes
It looks too fucking queer
But what's wrong with our unity
Friends having fun as friends
That pit is just a barrier
And soon we hope to end
(Chorus)
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