• Voto:
C'era un tale che ogni volta che andava a letto rivolgeva lo sguardo al comodino, dove c'era una foto di un cantante di un notissimo gruppo grunge, a cui dedicava una preghiera e poi sprofondava nel cuscino, con la certezza che quest’ultimo l’avrebbe protetto da ogni male..
Poi un giorno si chiese: “Chissà come sarebbe se anch’io avessi una band.. Sarebbe fiko, soprattutto perché avrei migliaia di scalmanate pronte a strapparsi le mutande per me, che tra l’altro sono anche un discreto figliuolo, un po’ maramaldo dai, ma sempre un bel figliuolo”.
Così il baldo gi(u)ovine raduna qualche suo amico, al secolo Mark Tremonti, chitarraro/bassista, Scott Philips drummista e per i live, visto che Tremonti è umanamente impossibilitato a suonare entrambi gli strumenti contemporaneamente, oltre al delicato compito, non dimentichiamolo, di riuscire a far uscire l'Italia dalla crisi economica, viene assoldato Brian Marshall al basso. Nel 1997 esce “My Own Prison”, subito un bordello di dischi venduti, al mondo un solo Vedder non basta, ora c’è anche Scott Stapp. La voce nel primo album tocca le medesime tonalità, tanto da far pensare al primo ascolto ad un progetto alternativo del leader dei Pearl Jam. E invece no..
Nel 1999 esce “Human Clay”, 11 milioni di dischi venduti, nei primi 100 di ogni tempo in classifica vendite U.S.A., quindi ti vien un po’ da pensare:
- Ma possibile che una buona fetta di Amerregan Pipol sia catalogata come “di musica proprio non ci capisco un cazzo?”
La risposta indubbiamente è "sì"! - Come cazzo avranno fatto i Creed a vendere tante copie di questa “cosa”?
In America son tanti, milioni di milioni.. E sicuramente tanti devono per forza essere dei tamarri cing(hi)olati bestiali, quindi tutto si spiega.. - Ma c’era proprio bisogno di un gruppo come i Creed e di uno che canta come Eddie Vedder?
Ma anche no.. - Ultima e non meno importante domanda: quando i Creed si sciolsero, perché gli altri forse avevano capito che Scott, oltre alla voce e una gran testa di minchia, non possedeva altri attributi degni di nota, gli altri tre chiamarono uno dei cantanti più dotati (non in quel senso lì, ma chi lo sa poi..) degli ultimi tempi, tal Myles Kennedy, e formarono gli Alter Bridge. Bene, nel primo disco degli Alter Bridge, seppur trattasi di solito hard rock di stampissimo amerregano, fatto bene però, questi si sono come destati da un lungo letargo e hanno iniziato perlomeno a “suonare” come si deve: compaiono assoli gradevoli e tecnicamente apprezzabili, riff degni di essere chiamati tali e parti di batteria che decisamente non ti saresti mai aspettato da un batterista come Philips… Quindi sapevano suonare anche prima? E perché non l’hanno mai fatto?
Mah.. Misteri inconfessabili a cui l’uman ragione mai troverà risposta.
Una volta che ti sei chiesto questi quattro punti fondamentali, inserisci “Human Clay” nel lettore e subito noti che la voce non somiglia più molto a quella del mentore, qui si fa più aggressiva, meno pastosa sui bassi, ma quando parte l’urlo una cosa che subito ti salta in mente è: “Quando mi siedo sulla tazza del cesso e, nel mentre della delicata operazione, per lo sforzo, canticchio qualcosa per smorzare la tensione e magari coprire i rumori molesti, quello che viene fuori somiglia molto a quello che sento qui nelle parti alte”.
Tutto è costruito sulla voce di Stapp, gli strumenti sono solo un contorno, Tremonti è totalmente sprecato e Philips tiene dei tempi da primo anno di lezioni drummistiche. Già dai primi due pezzi “Are You Ready” (NO! Spegni tutto!) e “What If” la voglia davvero di spegnere tutto e relegare questo disco a pareggiatore di tavolini traballanti è molta, ma si va avanti per scoprire se sia un simpatico bluff, con la speranza che la qualità dei pezzi cresca con il passare del tempo, “Beautiful” non è di aiuto, siamo sempre sul versante calma in strofa e ritornello aggressivo, chitarrine all’inizio, chitarroni spessi e distorti nel mentre, batteria cadenzata, basso quasi inesistente, voce bitonale.. Una noia mortale.
Andiamo avanti và, “Wrong Way” almeno ha un tempo un po’ “particolare”, anche se la menata è sempre la stessa e la costruzione del pezzo non cambia.. “Faceless Man”, eh no cazzo, anche qui l’intro con la chitarrina arpeggiata e voce pulita no eh? Ma mi state pigliando per il culo? Per carità sono canzoncine gradevoli, ma di una noia mortale! Un attimo, ma è una ballad questa, non grida Scott, ah no, mi son sbagliato.. Dopo sei canzoni ci sarà qualcosa di nuovo? Ma assolutamente no.. “Never Die”, stessa solfa, ma mi preparo alla bomba, ho letto che “With Arms Wide Open” ha vinto un Grammy come miglior canzone rock ed è il 92° miglior video di tutti i tempi.. E mi chiedo, dopo aver visto anche il video “Ma perché mai?”, Perché ci sono i violini? Perché Tremonti finalmente ci piazza un assolo? Perché a Stapp finalmente è passata la diarrea? Poi il video non è sto granchè.. E allora mi sovviene il punto 1.. E non posso che rafforzare il "Sì", stavolta maiuscolo..
Basta, potete fermarvi tranquillamente qui, tanto sapete già cosa troverete fino alla fine, un disco talmente povero di idee che “Tower” di Sukora, nella genialità del silenzio a pagamento, lo supera e di gran lunga..
Da tralasciare assolutamente.
Domanda n° 5: Ma c’era proprio bisogno di una recensione di “Human Clay” eh Cornell?
“Ma anche no.. Vuoi sapere perché l’ho fatta?”
“Perché non c’era e per dissuaderti dall’acquisto..”
Ultima domanda Cornell: Ma i Creed si son riformati e faranno uscire un altro album?
Vuoi la risposta? “Che Dio ci aiuti e ce ne scampi…”
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Are You Ready? (04:45)
Hey Mr. Seeker
Hold on to this advice
If you can seek then you will find
Don't want to follow
Down roads been walked before
So hard to find unopened doors
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Hey Mr. Hero
Walking a thin, fine line
Under the microscope of life
Remember your roots, my friend
They're right down below
'Cause heroes come and heroes go
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one
Countdown to the change in life that's soon to come
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one
Countdown to the change in life that's soon to come
Your life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Your life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
03 Beautiful (04:19)
She wears a coat of color
Loved by some, feared by others
She's immortalized in young men's eyes
Lust she breeds in the eyes of brothers
Violent sons make bitter mothers
So close your eyes here's your surprise
Bea,Beautiful is empty
Beautiful is free
Beautiful loves no one
Beautiful stripped me
Stripped me X3
In your mind she's your companion
Vile instincts often candid
Your regret is all that's left
Beautiful is empty
Beautiful is free
Beautiful loves no one
Beautiful stripped me
stripped me X3
She told me where I'm going
And it's far away from home
I think I'll go there on my own
I think i'll go there on my own (repeat)
Beautiful is empty
Beautiful is free
Beautiful loves no one
Beautiful stripped me
stripped me X5
04 Say I (05:15)
The dust has finally settled on the field of human clay
Just enough light has shown through
To tell night from the day
We're incomplete and hollow
For our maker's gone away
Who is to blame?
We'll surely melt in the rain
Say I (6x)
The stillness seems so lifeless with no spirit in your soul
Like children with no vision do exactly what they're told
Being led into the desert
For your strength will surely fade
Who is to blame?
We'll surely melt in the rain
Say I (9x)
Frantic, faction, focus
The world breathes
And out forms this misconception we call man
But I don't know him
No, I don't know him
Because he lies
(they lie)
Say I(x7)
05 Wrong Way (04:19)
What makes you touch?
What makes you feel?
What makes you stop and smell the roses in an open field?
What makes you unclean?
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
What makes you laugh?
What makes you cry?
What makes our youth run from the thought that we might die?
What makes you bleed?
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
What I
Yeah Yeah
What if I died?
What did I give?
I hope it was an answer so you might live
I hope I helped you live
I hope I helped you live
I hope I helped you live
I hope I helped you live
Live
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
06 Faceless Man (05:59)
I spent a day by the river
It was quiet and the wind stood still
I spent some time with nature
To remind me of all that's real
It's funny how silence speaks sometimes when you're alone
And remember that you feel
I said It's funny how silence speaks sometimes when you're alone
And remember that you feel
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Now I saw a face on the water
It looked humble but willing to fight
I saw the will of a warrior
His yoke is easy and his burden is light
He looked me right in the eyes, direct and concise to remind me
To always do what's right
He looked me right in the eyes, direct and concise to remind me
To always do what's right
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Again I stand, Lord God I stand, against the Faceless Man
'Cause if the face inside can't see the light I know
I'll have to walk alone
And if I walk alone to the other side I know
I might not make it home
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
(2x)
Next time I see this face
I'll say I choose to live for always
So won't you come inside
And never go away
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man(3x)
07 Never Die (04:51)
Hands on a window pane
Watching some children laugh and play
They're running in circles
With candy canes and French braids
Inspired to question
What makes us grown-ups anyway?
Let's search fo the moment
When youth betrayed itself to age
So let the children play
Inside your heart always
And death you will defy
'Cause your youth will never die
never die
In searching for substance
We're clouded by struggle's haze
Remember the meaning
Of playing out in the rain
We swim in the fountain
Of youth's timeless maze
If you drink the water
Your youth will never fade
So let the children play
Inside your heart always
And death you will defy
'Cause your youth will never die
Never die X3
I won't let go out that youthful soul
Despite body and mind my youth will never die X2
Hey, Hey
So let the children play
Inside your heart always
And death you will defy
'Cause your youth will never die X2
never die
08 With Arms Wide Open (04:34)
Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is gonna to change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
With arms wide open
under the sunlight
welcome to this place
i'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything
Oh yeah
With arms wide open
Wide open
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open
With Arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything oh yeah
With arms wide open
wide open
09 Higher (05:16)
When dreaming I'm guided to another world
Time and time again
At sunrise I fight to stay asleep
'Cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place
'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape
From the life I live when I'm awake
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
Come on, let's go there
Let's ask can we stay
Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher?
To a place with golden streets?
Although I would like our world to change
It helps me to appreciate
Those nights and those dreams
But, my friend, I'd sacrifice all those nights
If I could make the Earth and my dreams the same
The only difference is
To let love replace all our hate
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
C'mon let's go there
Let's ask can we stay
Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher?
to a place with golden streets?
So let's go there
Let's go there
C'mon let's go there
Let's ask can we stay
Up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first time
Sail up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine.
Sail up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine.
Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher?
to a place with golden streets?
10 Wash Away Those Years (06:04)
She came calling
One early morning
She showed her crown of thorns
She whispered softly
To tell her story
About how she had been wronged
As she lay lifeless
He stole her innocence
And this is how she carried on
this is how she carried on
Well I guess she closed her eyes
And just imagined everything's alright
But she could not hide her tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
They were sent to wash away those years
My anger's violent
But still I'm silent
When tradegy strikes at home
I know this decadence
Is shared by millions
Remember you're not alone
Remember you're not alone
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
They were sent to wash away those years
Maybe we can wash away those years
For we have crossed many oceans
And we've labored in between
In life there are many quotients
An I hope I find the mean
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
Maybe we can wash away those years
I hope that you can wash away those years
11 Inside Us All (05:48)
When I'm all alone
And no one else is there
Waiting by the phone
To remind me I'm still here
When shadows paint the scenes
Where spotlights use to fall
And I'm left wondering
Is it really worth it all?
There's a peace inside us all
Let it be your friend
It will help you carry on
In the end
There's a peace inside us all
Life can hold you down
When you're not looking out
Can't you hear the sounds
Hearts beating out loud
Although the names change
Inside we're all the same
Why can't we tear down the walls,
And show the scars we're covering?
There's a peace inside us all
Let it be your friend
It will help you carry on
In the end
There's a peace inside us all
There's a peace
Oh, there's a peace inside us all
Let it be
Oh I said let it be your friend
Oh, can't it be your friend?
12 Young Grow Old (04:56)
He said he's falling to pieces
Fighting the boy and the man
Over his shoulder there was freedom
But consciousness has tied his hands
Embodied youth was his distinction
Now inhibition's in demand
So driven by his fear of weakness
That's his key to understand
So far in a distant land
There's a fight between boy and man
See the light through the open door
Sit and watch as the young grow old
Trading places in the circle
Turn the glass, spill the sand
They say that time can make the difference
But age doesn't make you a man
So far in a distant land
There's a fight between boy and man
See the light through the open door
Sit and watch as the young grow old
So young but overblown
So young but overblown
So young but overblown
Take a look now, see the boy is weakened
Watch him fade, watch him fade away
Take a bow and the boy is defeated
Is this the way, this the way?
So far in a distant land
There's a fight between boy and man
See the light through the open door
Sit and watch as the young grow old
13 To Whom It May Concern (03:57)
Oh, I didn't mean to yell
But sometimes I get beside myself
And oh, I didn't mean to rush you
But time keeps pushing so much
Oh, time keeps pushing so much
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Oh, If I didn't give it all
When I stood you made me crawl
And oh, if you never heard the song
Then I could still hide down behind the wall
Then I could still hide down behind the wall
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Said eyes, fallow me
I still believe there's something left for you me, for you me
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Oh, my freedom
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Oh, my freedom
Said eyes, those eyes
Said eyes, those eyes
I said don't steal my freedom
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