• Voto:
Premessa: non fatevi ingannare dalla lunghezza della rece, per favore leggetela, vi pago pure domani, (oggi sono al verde).
Fa effetto, no? Questo è un disco che mi ha cambiato la vita. Non sto scherzando. Molto (ma molto) probabilmente saranno in pochi o in nessuno quelli che si fermeranno a leggere questa mia, dato che è fin troppo difficile attirare il pubblico con il titolo di un album su cui ormai si è detto praticamente tutto (e anche di più). Io stesso ho tradito la mia etica personale di NON SCRIVERE MAI UNA RECENSIONE GIA’ PRESENTE!! Diamine, mi sono trattenuto dal rifare quella degli Opeth, quella dei Neurosis, quella dei Katatonia, quella dei Labirynth, quella dei Darkthrone, dei Piano Magic e così a non finire… Ma DEVO farla per un album che ha letteralmente cambiato il mio modo di approcciarmi alla musica. Uno dei pochi, vi assicuro, che ascoltavo anche per 10 volte al giorno senza stancarmi, quattro anni fa e che ancora ritengo degno dei miei padiglioni, quando di solito tutti i dischi di cui ho fatto “indigestione” in passato riposano per tempi anche molto lunghi tra un’ascoltata e l’altra (vorrei vedervi con più di 900 CD ad ascoltarli tutti quando non hai un minuto libero per farlo).
Ecco perché non voglio essere banale. Non voglio parlarvi di come suona l’album, che stanno i pezzi tribali armeni, che sta questo, che sta quello, così colà, pipì popò. A che serve? Tanto lo saprete già. Non credo sia possibile per un normale amante della musica che scrorrazza in internet non aver già visitato una pagina con una rece di quest’album. E d’altronde è stato già detto in altre recensioni su questo stesso sito. Quando si dice il successo (quelle poche volte che critica e pubblico vanno a braccetto, e la vera arte entra alla portata di tutti). No, amici, no. Io voglio parlare di un argomento forse molto più utile: quello che ho provato ascoltando quest’album. Che ho provato 4 anni fa, che provo tutt’ora. Leggete, se trovate la cosa interessante/divertente: in caso contrario basta un clic, la pagina sparisce e amici come prima. Ma non vi consiglierei di farlo.
Partiamo da un punto: io sono passabile dallo psicanalista. L’ho anche scritto nella mia bio, sarà vero. Eccone un esempio: i cari SOAD hanno rifatto il theme di “The Legend Of Zelda”, probabilmente il videogioco a cui sono più legato in assoluto. Un giorno leggo il manga, con Saria, Link e company, poi mi ritornano in mente i SOAD e mi colpisce la voglia di rimettere su “Toxicity” dopo tanto tempo per vedere che cosa provavo, ora che di musica ne capisco un po’ di più. Bei cojoni, mi sono detto. O cazzo, se preferite. Dopo 4 anni la sensazione non solo è rimasta la stessa, ma forse è stata pure più forte. Ho visto i peli che mi si raddrizzavano all’arpeggio di “ The Prison Song”. Accentuata dal fatto che pensavo a Zelda.
Mi viene un dubbio, ma succede solo a me questa cosa? A voi non vi è mai capitato di ascoltare più volentieri un gruppo dopo averlo ascoltato coverizzare una canzone? A me sì, diverse volte. Ad esempio ho iniziato ad amare i Poison The Well sul serio solo dopo aver ascoltato la loro cover di “Today” dei Pumpkins. Figurati quindi in questo caso, dove la cover era del theme di un videogioco che amavo. Ecco la mia (stupida, lo ammetto) idea: ascoltare un gruppo mentre non suona la sua musica ti fa preparare spiritualmente quando sarà il momento di ascoltarlo seriamente. Ti fa davvero entrare nell’ottica di un gruppo. So di essere poco chiaro ma, perdonatemi, non riesco davvero a spiegare questa sensazione. Ascoltare una canzone dei System mentre penso prima a Zelda e poi ad un loro testo politico (esempio) è qualcosa che mi fa eccitare, giuro. Prima lo scherzo, poi si fa sul serio. E come vedere il bambino innocente di “Shining” quando già sai che il padre andrà a cacciarlo con l’accetta. Cazzo Freud che fine hai fatto? Aiutami tu. Eccomi lì sul divano mentre il mio lettore accarezza “Toxicity”. “The Prison Song”. Riff violenti e violentati, stoppati per un tempo che sembra interminabile, poi ripetuti. Voce psicotica. Intrecci di voce computerizzata di condanna sul sistema carcerario negli USA, e poi Serj che impazzisce. E poi quell’arpeggio, Dio mio, quell’arpeggio. Ora so cosa sono i brividi. Appena sento "They try to build a prison… for you and me! Oooh baby… you and me!” seguita dal growl (ci sta!) di Serj, io mi sento G E L A R E. Altro esempio. I pezzi tribali in “Deer Dance”. La voce di Serj in “X” che, a dir poco, è geniale. Con un riff di chitarra che è la semplicità fatta riff, e proprio per quello emozionante. I rallentamenti thrash di “Atwa” e le accelerate psicotiche di “Shimmy”. Il coro di “Forest”, da pelle d’oca. L’assolo orientale in “Psycho”, una canzone che di orientale ha poco o nulla, e che tratta delle groupies. La voce incrociata di “Aerials” dall’atmosfera sulfurea, un inno metal di 4 armeni oppressi, così come la magniloquente title-track, la fatidica traccia 12 che è la ballata SOAD per eccellenza.
E infine, lei, la regina: “Chop Suey!”. Ma come si fa a descriverla. E’ geniale fin dal titolo (è il nome di un piatto). Un’intro di chitarra acustica che sfocia come un fiume in piena in un muro elettrico che si arresta di colpo. Testo sputato a mitragliatrice sull’ascoltatore mentre un sussurro ammalia e stordisce. Rallentamento, nuova sfuriata. Ma è tutto un pretesto per sfociare in un finale da opera d’arte, un tripudio di cori, di “when angels deserve to die”, una voce intrecciata avvolgente, note di piano che accarezzano l’anima.
Ma come si fa, porca troia. Ma come hanno fatto a farsi venire certe idee? Ciò che stupisce è come tante idee, diverse anni luce tra loro, si ritrovino assemblate in una proposta compatta, COERENTE, eppure mostruosamente eterogenea. L'incertezza. La schizofrenia. La psicosi. La malinconia. La tristezza. La gioia. La speranza. La rabbia. L’odio. L’amore. Questa musica è vera anima umana. La verità è questa: “Toxicity” è un album interamente creato dai particolari, che vive e si basa su di essi. Il suo potere mistico che lo rende così affascinante sta nel coglierne tutti gli aspetti particolareggiati che lo costituiscono, anzi che lo costruiscono. Non c’è nulla, ma nulla, ma proprio nulla nulla nulla in quest’album che non sia lì per un determinato motivo. Nulla. Non un riff, non un coro, non una melodia, non un assolo, non un uno spazio vuoto (pausa), non un microscopico pezzettino di voce. “Toxicity” è un capolavoro perché è costituito da tanti piccoli (grandi) capolavori, che sono tutti i singoli secondi che passano sul display del tuo lettore mentre lo ascolti. Un piedistallo obbligato nella storia di quello che definiremmo post-metal. Un classico imprescindibile. Irripetibile. Unico. Anzi: unici. Unici i 4 armeni. Unici quei piccoli, irripetibili, meravigliosi secondi.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
01 Prison Song (03:21)
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
Following the rights movements
You clamped on with your iron fists,
Drugs became conveniently
Available for all the kids,
Following the rights movements
You clamped on with your iron fists,
Drugs became conveniently
Available for all the kids,
I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch
right here in Hollywood.
Nearly 2 million Americans are incarcerated
In the prison system, prison system of the U.S.
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me to live in)
Another prison system,
Another prison system,
Another prison system. (for you and me)
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons
You don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars
Against the new non-rich,
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons
You don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars
Against the new non-rich,
I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch
right here in Hollywood.
The percentage of Americans in the prison system
Prison system, has doubled since 1985,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me to live in)
Another prison system,
Another prison system,
Another prison system. (for you and me)
For you and I, for you and I , for you and I.
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
For you and me,
Oh baby, you and me.
All research and successful drug policy show
That treatment should be increased,
And law enforcement decreased,
While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences,
All research and successful drug policy show
That treatment should be increased,
And law enforcement decreased,
While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences.
Utilizing drugs to pay for secret wars around the world,
Drugs are now your global policy,
Now you police the globe,
I buy my crack, my smack, my bitch
right here in Hollywood.
Drug money is used to rig elections,
And train brutal corporate sponsored
Dictators around the world.
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison, (for you and me to live in)
Another prison system,
Another prison system,
Another prison system. (for you and me)
For you and I, for you and I , for you and I.
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
They're trying to build a prison,
For you and me,
Oh baby, you and me.
02 Needles (03:13)
I cannot disguise
All the stomach pains and the walking of the canes
When you do come out
And you whisper up to me in your life of tragedy
But I cannot grow
'till you eat the last of me. Oh, when will I be free?
And you, a parasite
Just find another host, just another fool to roast
Cause you, my tapeworm, tells me what to do
You, my tapeworm, tells me where to go
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
I cannot deny
All the evil traits and the filling of the crates
When you do come out
And you slither up to me in your pimping majesty
But I cannot grow
'till you eat the last of me, oh, when will I be free?
And you, a parasite
Just find another host just another stool to post
Cause you, my tapeworm, tells me what to do
You, my tapeworm, tells me where to go
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of me?
I'm sitting in my room with a needle in my hand
Just waiting for the tomb of some old dying man
Sitting in my room with a needle in my hand
Just waiting for the tomb of some old dying man
You, my tapeworm, tells me what to do
You, my tapeworm, tells me where to go
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Pull the tapeworm out of your ass, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
03 Deer Dance (02:55)
Round, Round,
Circumventing circuses,
Lamenting in protest,
To visible police,
Presence sponsored fear,
Battalions of riot police,
With rubber bullet kisses,
Baton courtesy,
Service with a smile
Beyond the Staples Center you can see America,
With its tired, poor, avenging disgrace,
Peaceful, loving youth against the brutality,
Of plastic existence.
Pushing little children,
With their fully automatics,
They like to push the weak around,
Pushing little children,
With their fully automatics,
They like to push the weak around.
Round, Round,
A rush of words,
Pleading to disperse,
Upon your naked walls, alive,
A political call,
The fall guy accord,
We can't afford to be neutral on a moving train,
Beyond the Staples Center you can see America,
With its tired, poor, avenging disgrace,
Peaceful, loving youth against the brutality,
Of plastic existence.
Pushing little children,
With their fully automatics,
They like to push the weak around,
Pushing little children,
With their fully automatics,
They like to push the weak around.
Push them around,
A deer dance, invitation to peace,
War staring you in the face, dressed in black.
With a helmet, fierce,
Trained and appropriate for the malcontents,
For the disproportioned malcontents,
The little boy smiled, it'll all be well,
The little boy smiled it'll all be well,
Pushing little children,
With their fully automatics,
They like to push the weak around,
Pushing little children,
With their fully automatics,
They like to push the weak around.
Pushing little children,
With their fully automatics,
They like to push the weak around,
Push the weak around,
Push the weak around,
Push the weak around,
They like to push the weak around.
04 Jet Pilot (02:06)
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay,
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay.
My horse, is a shackled old man,
His, his remorse, was that he couldn't survey,
The skies, right before,
Right before they went gray,
My horse and my remorse,
Flying over a great bay
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay,
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay.
My, source, is the source of all creation,
Her, discourse, is that we all don't survey
The skies, right before,
Right before they go gray,
My source, and my remorse,
Flying over a great bay,
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay,
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay
Where were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay,
Where were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay.
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay,
Wired were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay
Where were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay,
Where were the eyes of a horse on a jet pilot,
One that smiled when he flew over the bay.
06 Chop Suey! (03:30)
Wake up (wake up)
Grab a brush and put a little makeup
Hide the scars to fade away the shake up (hide the scars to fade away the shake)
Why'd you leave the keys up on the table?
Here you go create another fable (you wanted to)
Grab a brush and put on a little makeup (you wanted to)
Hide the scars to fade away the shake up (you wanted to)
Why'd you leave the keys up on the table? (you wanted to)
I don't think you trust in my self-righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die…
Wake up (wake up)
Grab a brush and put a little makeup
Hide the scars to fade away the shake (Hide the scars to fade away the shake)
Why'd you leave the keys up on the table?
Here you come… need another fable (you wanted to)
Grab a brush and put on a little makeup (you wanted to)
Hide the scars to fade away the shake (you wanted to)
Why'd you leave the keys up on the table? (you wanted to)
I don't think you trust in my self-righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die
In my self-righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die
Father (mother), father (brother)
Father (fucker), father (aaahh)
Father into your hands I commend my spirit
Father into your hands
Why have you forsaken me
In your eyes, forsaken me
In your thoughts, forsaken me
In your heart, forsaken me… oh
Trust in my self-righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die
In my self-righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die
07 Bounce (01:54)
Jump, Bounce, Down, Up
I went out on a date,
With a girl, a bit late,
She had so many friends,
(Gliding through many hands.)
I brought my pogo stick,
Just to show her a trick,
She had so many friends,
(Gliding through many hands.)
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
Unannounced twister games,
All players with no names,
They lined up double quick,
But just one pogo stick,
Everyone gets to play,
Runaway, expose',
It was so exotic,
But just one pogo stick.
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
Oh, I like to spread you out,
Touching whoever's behind
Jump Pogo?..
Bounce Pogo,
Down Pogo, Up Pogo
08 Forest (04:00)
Walk with me my little child,
To the forest of denial,
Speak with me my only mind,
Walk with me until the time,
And make the forest turn to wine,
You take the legend for a fall,
You saw the product,
Why can't you see that you are my child,
Why don't you know that you are my mind,
Tell everyone in the world, that I'm you,
Take this promise to the end of you.
Walk with me my little friend,
Take this promise to the end,
Speak with me my only mind,
Walk with me until the end,
And make the forest turn to sand,
You take the legend for a fall,
You saw the product,
Why can't you see that you are my child,
Why don't you know that you are my mind,
Tell everyone in the world, that I'm you,
Take this promise to the end of you.
Take this promise for a ride,
You saw the forest, now come inside,
You took the legend for its fall,
You saw the product of it all,
No televisions in the air,
No circumcisions on the chair,
You made the weapons for us all,
Just look at us now,
Why can't you see that you are my child,
Why don't you know that you are my mind,
Tell everyone in the world, that I'm you,
Take this promise to the end of you.
09 ATWA (02:56)
Hey you, see me, pictures crazy,
All the world I've seen before me passing by,
I've got, nothing, to gain, to lose,
All the world I've seen before me passing by,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore.
Hey you, are me, not so pretty,
All the world I've seen before me passing by,
Silent my voice, I've got no choice
All the world I've seen before me passing by,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore
I don't see, anymore,
I don't hear, anymore,
I don't speak anymore,
I don't feel.
Hey you, see me, pictures crazy,
All the world I've seen before me passing by,
I've got, nothing, to gain, to lose,
All the world I've seen before me passing by,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore,
You don't care about how I feel,
I don't feel it anymore
I don't sleep, anymore,
I don't eat, anymore,
I don't live anymore,
I don't feel.
10 Science (02:43)
Making two possibilities a reality,
Predicting the future of things we all know,
Fighting off the diseased programming
Of centuries, centuries, centuries, centuries.
Science fails to recognize the single most
Potent element of human existence
letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith.
Science has failed our world
Science has failed our Mother Earth.
Science fails to recognize the single most
Potent element of human existence
letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith.
Science has failed our world
Science has failed our Mother Earth.
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things,
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things.
Letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith
letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith.
Science has failed our world
Science has failed our Mother Earth.
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things,
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things,
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Science has failed our Mother Earth.
11 Shimmy (01:51)
Education, fornication, in you are, Go,
Education, subjugation, now you're out, Go,
Education, fornication, in you are, Go,
Don't be late for school again boy
I think me, I want life,
I think me, I want a house and a wife,
I want to shimmy- shimmy- shimmy through the break of dawn, yeah.
Education, fornication, in you are, Go,
Education, subjugation, now you're out, Go,
Education, fornication, in you are, Go,
Don't be late for school again girl
I think me, I want life,
I think me, I want a house and a wife,
I want to shimmy- shimmy- shimmy through the break of dawn, yeah.
I think me, I want life,
I think me, I want a house and a wife,
I want to shimmy- shimmy- shimmy through the break of dawn, yeah.
Indoctrination, of a nation,
Indoctrination of a nation,
Subjugation of damnation,
Subjugation of damna?
Don't be late for school again boy,
Don't be late for school again girl,
Don't be late for school again boy,
Don't be late for school again girl.
12 Toxicity (03:38)
Conversion, software version 7.0
Looking at life through the eyes of a tire hub
Eating seeds is a pastime activity
The toxicity of our city, of our city
Now, what, do you own the world?!
How do you own disorder, disorder?!
Now, somewhere between the sacred silence
Sacred silence and sleep.
Somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep.
Disorder, disorder, disorder.
More wood for their fires, loud neighbors
Flashlight reveries caught in the headlights of a truck.
Eating seeds as a passtime activity.
The toxicity of our city, of our city,
Now, what, do you own the world?!
How do you own disorder, disorder?!
Now, somewhere between the sacred silence,
Sacred silence and sleep.
Somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep.
Disorder, disorder, disorder.
Now, what do you own the world?!
How do you own disorder?
Now, somewhere between the sacred silence,
Sacred silence and sleep.
Somewhere, between the sacred silence and sleep.
Disorder, disorder, disorder.
When I became the sun,
I shone light into the man's hearts,
When I became the sun,
I shone light into the man's hearts.
13 Psycho (03:45)
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy,
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy,
Psycho groupie cocaine crazy,
Psycho groupie coke,
Makes you high, makes you hide,
Makes you really want to go- stop.
Psycho groupie cocaine crazy
Psycho groupie coke,
Makes you high, makes you hide,
Do you really want to think and stop,
Stop your eyes from flowing,
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy,
Psycho groupie cocaine crazy,
Psycho groupie coke,
Makes you high, makes you hide,
Makes you really want to go - stop.
Psycho groupie cocaine crazy
Psycho groupie coke,
Makes you high, makes you hide,
Do you really want to think and stop,
Stop your eyes from flowing out
So you want the world to stop,
Stop in and watch your body fully drop,
From the time you were a
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy,
So you want to see the show,
You really don't have to be a ho
From the time you were a
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy.
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy,
Psycho groupie cocaine crazy,
Psycho groupie coke,
Makes you high, makes you hide,
Makes you really want to go - stop.
Psycho groupie cocaine crazy
Psycho groupie coke,
Makes you high, makes you hide,
Do you really want to think and stop,
Stop your eyes from flowing out
So you want the world to stop,
Rushing to watch your spirit fully drop,
From the time you were a
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy,
So you want to see the show,
You really don't have to be a ho
From the time you were a
Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy.
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di bibiane
Mi sembra di morire... di gioia, di lacrime, di rabbia, di felicità... insomma la grandiosità di questo album è che non ti stanca mai.
Vi sentirete sfiniti e allo stesso tempo incredibilmente vivi. SPAZIALE.
Di 2Torri
Se mi chiedessero di descrivere l'album Toxicity con un aggettivo, direi senza ombra di dubbio "CAPOLAVORO".
La canzone che colpisce al primo impatto è sicuramente ATWA, dolce, straziante, strappa lacrime, ma allo stesso tempo pazza, vibrante ed esplosiva.
Di Devin Davis
La bravura di Serj Tankian e compagnia nel comporre canzoni è così immensa che non smetteresti mai di ascoltare i loro brani...
Dovete averlo “Toxicity”, originale o copiato. E vi garantisco che starà nel vostro stereo o lettore cd per molto tempo...
Di sexyajax
Il mix che ne scaturisce provoca un senso di enorme soddisfazione, non la solita ricetta 'sfascio tutto e voce cattiva'.
Toxicity è sicuramente uno dei dischi più originali degli ultimi tempi per quanto riguarda la musica metal.
Di Bertoldo
uno (se non il) migliore album che esista su tutta la scena nu/heavy/alternative metal dal '90 in poi
"Chop Suey!" straordinaria canzone che si adatta ad ogni orecchio grazie alle sue mille sfaccettature
