Una voce squarcia il silenzio seguita da un'armonia impetuosa, l'atmosfera diventa plumbea e la voce di Amanda ci introduce nel suo mondo inquietante.
Entrata a pieno merito nell'olimpo del cantautorato femminile, la Palmer (cantante-tastierista nonché co-autrice dei The Dresden Dolls), riesce nell'intento di diversificare gli indirizzi-solista / band- mantenendo comunque un approccio all'impostazione teatrale "Brechtiana" che da sempre la contraddistingue.
Grazie ad un album che fa dell'ironia la sua carta principale, sin dal titolo "Who killed Amanda Palmer", (sontuoso gioco di parole del motto-emblema che andò in voga nei primi anni ‘90), la cantante riesce a far convivere le più disparate influenze senza gravare minimamente sul risultato finale.
Ce lo dimostra con "Runs in the family", teatrale e schizofrenico affresco tanto maestoso quanto caustico, o con la bellissima "Leeds United" caotica commistione tra la sporcizia moderna rock e l'innocenza classica delle big band.
Quando i toni si affievoliscono Amanda ci regala le migliori perle, come "Ampersand" dolce monologo che ricorda melodie celtiche del lontano medioevo o "Blake Says" suadente ninna nanna ispirata alla melodia del più classico carillon, quasi a voler infondere un senso di sicurezza (apparente) che sopperisce nel maestoso bridge centrale.
La straordinaria versatilità della sua voce le permette di esprimersi a pieno coinvolgendo l'ascoltatore in un vortice di emozioni senza filtri; è bellissimo captare come le sue dita sul pianoforte riescano a dipingere le più svariate situazioni senza mai cadere nel patinato.
La produzione di Ben Folds è impeccabile e superlativa grazie ad un sapiente uso dell'elettronica (sempre congeniale e mai stucchevole) e alla presenza di viole e fiati che, oltre a svolgere il classico arrangiamento "pro-pathos", fungono anche da contrappunto per addolcire (e stemperare) l'eccessiva esuberanza della Palmer.
La domanda ha trovato dunque risposta: "Chi ha ucciso Amanda Palmer?".
Nessuno! Lei è viva e ce lo ha ampiamente confermato!
Elenco tracce testi e video
05 Blake Says (04:36)
Blake says no one ever really loved him
They just faked it to get money from the government
And Blake thinks angels grow when you plant angel dust
He shakes his head and blinks his pretty eyes
But trust me, he's no valentine
Though he said he would be mine
His heart is in Alaska all the time
Blake stays underwater for the most part
He collects loose change for all tomorrow's parties
And when Blake dates girls with tattoos of the pyramids
He breaks their hearts by saying it's not permanent
But in his velvet mind
He believes with all his might
We'll all go to Alaska when we die
Blake makes friends, but only for a minute
He prefers the things he orders from the Internet
And Blake's been having trouble with his head again
He takes his pills, but never takes his medicine
He tells me that he's fine
And the sad thing is, he's right
And when its two o'clock, it feels like nine
Blake says he is sorry he got through to me
If it's okay, he'll call right back and talk to the machine
Blake says, "it looks like acid rain today"
He takes the fish inside, he's very kind that way
But just like Caroline
He doesn't seem to mind
The globe is getting warmer all the time
It's still cold in Alaska
It's still cold in Alaska
10 Oasis (02:08)
when i got to the party they gave me a forty
and i must have been thirsty
â??cause i drank it so quickly
when i got to the bedroom
there was somebody waiting
and it isnâ??t my fault that the barbarian raped me
when i went to get tested i brought along my best friend
melissa mahoney (who had once been molested)
and she knew how to get there
she knew all the nurses; they were all really friendly
but the test came out positive
iâ??ve had better days but i donâ??t care
â??cause i just sent a letter in the mail
when i got my abortion i brought along my boyfriend
we got there an hour before the appointment
and outside the building were all these annoying
fundamentalist christians; we tried to ignore them
iâ??ve had better days but i donâ??t care
oasis got my letter in the mail
when vacation was over
the word was all over that i was a crackwhore
melissa had told them
and so now weâ??re not talking except we have tickets
to see blur in october and i think weâ??re still going
iâ??ve seen better days but i donâ??t care
oh, i just got a letter in the mail
oasis sent a photograph itâ??s autographed and everything
melissaâ??s gonna wet herself i swear
Carico i commenti... con calma
