Dopo il mezzo passo falso almeno sotto il punto di vista delle vendite, di "Nu-clear Sounds", gli Ash sono tornati nella primavera del 2001 con un disco che ha segnato il ritorno alle sonorità che decretarono il loro successo nel '96. Infatti questo "Free All Angels" li ha riproposti tra le band più amate dal pubblico "under 25" e questo successo è stato a mio avviso meritato.
Pur rientrando nel sound di "1977", questo terzo disco è incredibilmente vario e valido anche se in certi momenti troppo ammiccante all'FM. E' il caso di "Candy", che comunque vanta un bel campionamento d'archi di un brano di Burt Bacharach.
In realtà quasi tutti i brani dell'album sono autentiche gemme:da "Walking Barefoot", quasi un inno generazionale (o almeno nelle intenzioni di Wheeler) al super-hit "Burn Baby Burn" (miglior singolo dell'anno per l'"NME"), non il pezzo migliore ma se non altro forte del merito di portare un pò di punkrock nelle charts, passando per "Shining Light" (che richiama ai migliori Smashing Pumpkins), il surfpunk estivo di "Cherry Bomb" e "Pacific Palisades" e la "gillespiana" "Submission" (sembra davvero una canzone dei Primal Scream)...
Vanno un pò meno bene le cose quando gli Ash tentano il singolo-colpaccio con risultati non eccezionali ("Sometimes", troppo ruffiana), ma poi si riscattano con schiaffeggiate hardrock vecchia maniera e anche virtuosistiche come nel caso di "Shark",della pumpkinsiana "Nicole" e della conclusiva,micidiale "World Domination". Poche le ballads, ma buone:su tutte splende "Someday", con un crescendo finale carico di emozioni,e la romantica "There's A Star".
Non è facile,a 23 anni,fare meglio di così..un disco che ti fa pensare che se qualcuno cercava gli eredi degli Smashing Pumpkins, beh, eccoli...li abbiamo trovati. Vengono dall'Irlanda del Nord e si chiamano Ash!
In attesa del nuovo "Meltdown"....
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Walking Barefoot (04:12)
Your beauty took my breath away,
in awe all day,
your company was so relaxing,
easy going ways,
we saw the first signs of summer and springtime change,
walking barefoot along the sand,
i hadn't planned to stay
yeah we've been walking barefoot
all summer
it'll be sad my friend
to see it come to an end
why can't we just quit
you are broke all summer
but you still sing
don't need money when it's sunny,
don't need anything
just need music and sun and laughter
and no currency
the sun on your bare shoulders,
comes for free
yeah we've been walking barefoot
all summer
it'll be sad my friend
to see it come to and end
why can't we just quit
yeah we've been walking barefoot
all summer
why can't we just design
to live like this all the time
why can't we just quit
sand ran through my fingers
and the land was hot
anointed by appolo
and his chariot
disarmed by your charm,
that night i felt it again
addictive and consuming,
love's sweet pain
yeah we've been walking barefoot
all summer
it'll be sad my friend
to see it come to an end
why can't we just quit
our days are as the wind blows us,
we are free
you've a quiet life out of town
of coastal ease
the wind it has no pattern,
we take life slow
and when the night has fallen,
our cup overflows
when the summer's gone
and the room is cold
when you're looking at the rain
and it just won't go
remember when the sun was hot
and high above
remember when the days were long
and we were in love
yeah we've been walking barefoot
all summer
it'll be sad my friend
to see it come to an end
why can't we just quit
yeah we've been walking barefoot
all summer
why can't we just design
to live like this all the time
why can't we just quit
02 Shining Light (05:09)
roman candles that burn in the night
yeah, you are a shining light
you lit a torch in the infinite, yeah
you are a shining light
yeah, you light up my life
you have always been a thorn in their side
but to me you're a shining light
you arrive and the night is alive
yeah, you are a shining light
yeah, you light up my life
we made a connection
a full on chemical reaction
brought by dark divine intervention
yeah, you are a shining light
a constellation once seen
over royal david's city
an epiphany you burn so pretty
yeah, you are a shining light
you are a force you are a constant source
yeah, you are a shining light
incandescent in the darkest night
yeah, you are a shining light
yeah, you light up my life
we made a connection
a full on chemical reaction
brought by dark divine intervention
yeah, you are a shining light
a constellation once seen
over royal david's city
an epiphany you burn so pretty
yeah, you are a shining light
these are the days you often say
there's nothing that we cannot do
beneath a canopy of stars
I'll shed blood for you
we made a connection
a full on chemical reaction
brought by dark divine intervention
yeah, you are a shining light
a constellation once seen
over royal david's city
an epiphany you burn so pretty
yeah, you are a shining light
yeah, you light up my life
yeah, you are a shining light
yeah, you light up my life
03 Burn Baby Burn (03:28)
You're all I have in this teenage twilight
Your golden hair and pale blue eyes
But through all the days and the sleepless nights
We have never been satisfied
Tumbling like the leaves
Yeah we are spiraling on the breeze
Almost to the point of no return
Everything will Burn Baby Burn
Look into my tired eyes
See someone you don't recognize
Binds that can't be untied
Oh this is slow suicide
Feelings that I can't disguise
And later we'll be reconciled
Oh but something inside has died
You walk like you're in a daze
Unresponsive eyes in a distant gaze
Like all the good times have flown away
And the memory leaves a bitter taste
Tumbling like the leaves
Yeah we are spiralling on the breeze
Destructive love is all we have
Destructive love is all I am
Look into my tired eyes
See someone you don't recognize
Binds that can't be untied
Oh this is slow suicide
Feelings that I cant disguise
And later we'll be reconciled
Oh but something inside has died
Vicious bitter words
Becoming more and more cruel
But you always take me back
And let me lick your wounds
Tumbling like the leaves
Yeah we are spiraling on the breeze
Almost to the point of no return
Everything will Burn Baby Burn
Look into my tired eyes
See someone you don't recognise
Binds that can't be untied
Oh this is slow suicide
Feelings that I cant disguise
We're living in a compromise
Oh but something inside has died
04 Candy (04:51)
candy, such a joy to me
inner city nights, i cannot sleep
oh candy, sweetest remedy
only you can ease my troubled dreams
angel, all people are the same
caught up in bitterness and blame
oh candy, on dark and lonely days
i hear your voice whispering (whispering) my name
don't you know it's alright to be alone
you can make it on your own
don't you know it's alright to be alone
you can make it on your own
angel of the summer stars
i will always see you safe from harm
oh candy, we'll never be apart
night and day you're constant in my heart
don't you know it's alright to be alone
you can make it on your own
don't you know it's alright to be alone
you can make it on your own
Oh candy, my dreams,
oh candy, my dreams
Candy, my dreams,
oh candy
Candy, pure as driven snow
Come to me, you are not alone
Oh candy, you're everything to me
You and I will always be free
Don't you know it's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own, yeah
Don't you know it's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own
It's alright to be alone
Don't you know it's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own, yeah
Don't you know it's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own
Don't you know it's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own, yeah
Don't you know it's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own, yeah
It's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own, yeah
It's alright to be alone
You can make it on your own, yeah...
05 Cherry Bomb (03:16)
teenage queen a sweet gamine
immortal youth a libertine
is she real or just a dream
my heart beats fast like benzedrine
everytime that she walks by
sends shivers down my spine
makes me want to die
she is out there on her own
perfection in her chromosomes
she walks by i need to know
her blood red lips as soft as snow
everytime that she walks by
sends shivers down my spine
makes me want to die
oh yeah, she's a cherry bomb
she's a bullet in my head
pull the trigger and i'm dead
uh uh uh oh, oh yeah
when she walks across the floor
electric shock and my heart is raw
is she real or just a dream
my heart beats fast like benzedrine
everytime that she walks by
sends shivers down my spine
makes me want to die
oh yeah, she's a cherry bomb
she's a bullet in my head
pull the trigger and i'm dead
uh uh uh oh, oh yeah
she's a cherry bomb
she's a bullet in my head
pull the trigger and i'm
she's a cherry bomb
dream about her in my bed
pull the trigger and i'm dead
uh uh uh oh, oh yeah
uh uh uh oh, oh yeah
uh uh uh oh, oh yeah
06 Submission (03:32)
sink into warm flesh
i want to taste your skin
want to see you undressed
and see you shake your thing
you're bound and helpless
and burning from within
there for the taking
i want to hear you sing
you turn me on,
you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
you turn me on,
you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
there's nothing i won't do
even if it's wrong
to please you
that's where i'm coming from
you warp my senses
you're coming on so strong
i gotta go down
i gotta get it on
you turn me on, you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
you turn me on, you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
sink into warm flesh
you got me in a daze
you give me fever
you hold me in your sway
you're my addiction
for you i'd take the pain
feel the friction
and take it all the way
you turn me on, you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
you turn me on, you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
you turn me on, you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
you turn me on, you cut me with your tongue
you take it all on, submission
07 Someday (04:32)
[Tim Wheeler]
Someday we'll leave this town
It wears us down
We'll leave somehow
All its harm and all its charms
Oh someday
Someday we'll leave behind
All this time
That has turned sour
Far behind, out of mind
Oh someday
Someday we'll leave this life
Far behind and fade in time
We'll look down on this sad town
Oh someday
Safe from harm, was it a dream I had
Was it a dream I had
When did it turn bad
Oh, safe from harm
Was it a dream
Safe from harm, was it a dream I had
Was it a dream I had
When did it turn bad
Oh, safe from harm,
Was it a dream I had
Was it a dream I had
When did it turn bad
Oh, safe from harm,
Was it a dream
Someday we'll leave behind
This sad life and all its lies
All its harm and all its charms
Oh, someday we shall see clarity
And we won't look back
08 Pacific Palisades (01:56)
You were standing on the shore
Listening to the ocean roar
The sea was tangled in your hair
Emortal young and free of cares
You let the night lull you away to
Dark pacific palisades yeah
Wait for the summer
It'll come round again
It's coming down in sheets of rain
Water's running in the drain
I lie with candles by my bed
Brian Wilson in my head
Dennis Wilson Sharon Tate
Drak pacific Palisades yeah
Wait for the summer it'll come round again
Dragged down by the undertow
I know I can't live forever
She is fire in my soul
I know I can't live without her
All I have is in my head
Only you can understand yeah wait for the summer
It'll come round again
You were standing on the shore
Listening to the ocean roar
The sea was tangled in your hair
Emortal young and free of cares
You let the night lull you away to
Dark pacific palisades yeah
Wait for the summer
It'll come round again
Wait for the summer
It'll come round again
Yeah wait for the summer
It'll come round again.
09 Shark (03:18)
head is pounding in a daze,
bruised wrists and your body aches,
if you be mine, i'll be your mirror,
glide inside, pull your trigger
violent mind, violent mind, violent mind,
violent mind, violent mind, violent mind,
i know what you wanna do,
we're on the line,
i know what you wanna do,
got a violent mind,
i know what you wanna do,
eyes black and wide,
i know what you wanna do,
got a violent mind,
hedonistic, narcissistic, erotic, nihilistic,
pupils wide, gonna slide inside,
gonna blow your mind,
violent mind, violent mind, violent mind,
violent mind, violent mind, violent mind,
i know what you wanna do,
we're on the line,
i know what you wanna do,
got a violent mind,
i know what you wanna do,
eyes black and wide,
i know what you wanna do,
got a violent mind,
violent mind, violent mind, violent mind,
violent mind, violent mind, violent mind,
i know what you wanna do,
we're on the line,
i know what you wanna do,
got a violent mind,
i know where you're going to,
eyes black and wide,
i know what you wanna do,
got a violent mind,
i know where you're going to,
eyes black and wide,
i know what you wanna do,
got a violent mind
10 Sometimes (04:07)
Can't sleep in the city, you're far away,
Cigarettes keep you skinny, and your mind off the rain,
Oh sometimes, sometimes,
Oh sometimes, sometimes
Feelings are distant, I know guilt by name,
It was the hardest thing, watching you slip away,
Oh sometimes, sometimes
Oh sometimes, sometimes,
Sometimes it happens, feelings die,
Whole years are lost in the blink of an eye,
We once had it all but events conspired,
Sometimes
Good morning sweet thing, you're safe in my hands,
I am no saint, but I understand,
Oh sometimes, sometimes,
Oh sometimes, sometimes
Sometimes, it happens feelings die,
Whole years are lost in the blink of an eye,
We once had it all but events conspired,
Sometimes
Now that it's over, it is through,
It gets me every time I think of you,
Sometimes it happens, feelings die,
Sometimes
I miss your warm skin, beside me at night,
I miss your flesh, in the dawn light,
Oh sometimes, sometimes,
Oh sometimes, sometimes
Sometimes, it happens feelings die,
Whole years are lost in the blink of an eye,
We once had it all but events conspired,
Sometimes,
Saturn's decline in my star sign,
Seasonal adjustments, stars realign,
Sometimes it happens, feelings die,
Oh sometimes.
11 Nicole (03:24)
guilt and pain, haunting me everyday,
crushing me and I can't get away,
killing my heart and soul,
oh my nicole,
still I don't know what to say,
i'm totured every night and day,
it isn't in my control
I said no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I said no, no, no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I said no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I said no, no, no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I killed my baby but I...
snowy skies, far away still alive,
scars are healing in your mind,
in your heart and soul,
oh my nicole,
i'm starting to realise,
the fatal secret of my life,
isn't in my control
I said no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I said no, no, no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I said no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I said no, no, no
I killed my baby but I loved her
I killed my baby but I loved her
it's still haunting me night and day,
oh my nicole,
you took a part of my life away,
oh my nicole,
I relive it everyday,
oh my nicole,
oh my nicole,
I said no,
I killed my baby but I loved her,
I said no, no, no,
I killed my baby but I loved her,
I killed my baby but I loved her,
I killed my baby but I...
12 There's a Star (04:19)
Tonight there's no denying, no there's no denying
There's something magic in the air
Emotional disorder, came from out of nowhere
And took me unaware
The patterns of the oceans, lost in her emotions
You know that I don't care
And on nights when the north wind blows through your heart
Dream of a new age
And on nights when the north wind blows through your heart
All I can do is wait
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be hoping for
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be dreaming of
Cool evening falling, I can hear her calling
Cross the serpentine
Dark and chaotic, slow and hypnotic
She comes into my mind
And tonight nothing matters, no it doesn't matter
Everything will be fine
And on nights when the north wind blows through your heart
Dream of a new age
And on nights when the north wind blows through your heart
All I can do is wait
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be hoping for
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be dreaming of
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be wishing for
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be hoping for
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be dreaming of
There's a star in the night sky
The kind of star we would be wishing for
There's a star in the night sky
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