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Gli Hardline sono un progetto dell’ex enfant prodige Neal Schon. Il chitarrista ha appena lasciato i Bad English e ispirato dall’ascolto dei futuri cognati Johnny e Joey Gioeli, rispettivamente voce e chitarra, decide di riproporre la fortunata formula. A completare la line-up vengono arruolati l’immancabile Deen Castronovo alla batteria e Todd Jensen al basso.
Il disco d’esordio del gruppo si intitola "Double Eclipse", esce nel 1992 ed è uno dei capisaldi dell’AOR degli anni novanta. Nulla di nuovo sotto il sole. Un rock che fonde energia e ricercatezza strumentale. Melodia unita alla potenza. Questo lavoro a quasi vent’anni di distanza risulta ancora dannatamente fresco ed attuale, impreziosito da arrangiamenti davvero curati e mai banali.
Il drumming fragoroso di Castronovo introduce “Life’s a bitch”, brano d’apertura energico e trascinante che culmina in un finale dominato da una chitarra intensa e folgorante. Segue la cadenzata e potente “Dr. Love”, sorretta da un riff avvolgente che prelude a un ispirato assolo del solito Schon. La successiva “Rhythm from a Red Car” è invece un pezzo più veloce, tra chitarre ruggenti e melodie radiofoniche. Il ritmo viene spezzato dalla passionale ballad “Change of Heart”, che corre sui binari del più vivido AOR, e che esalta la voce e l’interpretazione emozionale del singer Johnny Gioeli. Ritorna l’energia con la seguente “Everything”, il primo dei pezzi composti in collaborazione con l’ex Journey Jonathan Cain, caratterizzata da un ritornello accattivante. “Taking me down” è un’altra canzone incalzante e tirata, con un refrain dove la chitarra fa il verso alla voce. Il disco prosegue con l’hit “Hot Cherie”, cover degli Sweetheart, che viene introdotta da tastiere atmosferiche per poi svilupparsi in un hard rock ispirato e trascinante. Probabilmente la migliore del lotto. Un basso martellante introduce “Bad taste”, brano dall’incedere quasi rock’n’roll. La successiva “Can’t find my way” è una raffinata ballad, con la solita prova magistrale del frontman e un motivo che si stampa indelebile nella mente.
Arriva il secondo brano firmato Jonathan Cain, il mid-tempo dalle tinte folk “I’ll be there”. Il breve e malinconico strumentale acustico “31-91” prelude all’ultimo brano del disco, “In the hands of time”, una ballad drammatica e solenne, accompagnata dall’acustica di Schon.
E così pure questo lavoro verrà lasciato nelle mani del tempo. Siamo in pieno periodo grunge, la nuova rivoluzione culturale, e l’AOR è una musica agli antipodi. Melodie d’altri tempi. Il gruppo si scioglie dopo alcuni tour con Van Halen, Extreme e Mr. Big. E il pregevole singer Johnny Gioeli entrerà nella band del guitar hero Axel Rudi Pell. I tentativi di reunion del 2002 e del 2009, senza peraltro la partecipazione di Neal Schon, non risollevano le sorti della band. Che ci lascia questo piccolo ma brillante gioiello. E non è poco.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Life's a Bitch (04:21)
Here comes daddy with the strap again
Toward my backside with the buckle end
Sing it, yeah, yeah, yeah... Life's a bitch
He said "I'll teach you something about the back of my hand
School can't teach you how to fight like a man"
Sing it, yeah, yeah, yeah... Life's a bitch
I can hear myself screaming out the backdoor, yeah
And I'm numb from the healing, I can't take no more
I can't take no more
[Refrain:]
Poor man poor, rich man rich
Hang on baby, cause life's a bitch
My old man waits up, it's a quarter to three
Smells my breath as he's talking to me
Sing it, yeah, yeah, yeah... Life's a bitch
In comes mama with her golden rules
Sayin' me and the boys are just dreamin' fools
Yeah, yeah, yeah
And I catch myself dreaming of the wild side, yeah
And life's wheels are spinning, gonna be one bumpy ride
Well oh yeah
[Refrain]
One step up
Two in the ditch
Hang on baby, cause life's a bitch
02 Dr. Love (05:31)
In the middle of a deep dark night
Your body's soaked in sweat
Well outside it's cold as ice
But you're burning up the bed
You've got a nasty little fever and it's climbing up high
Nothing you can do to stop the aching inside
I can relieve you, you know that I could
You've got it bad, baby I'll make it good
[Refrain:]
Hang on to Dr. Love
I've got what you need
Baby just call me
Hang on to Dr. Love
My love will set you free
(Just for one night gonna make it alright)
Your pretty head in spinning 'round
Your heart beats out of time
I'm gonna wear your body down
With what's been on your mind
You've got a dirty little secret and it's killing you slow
Nothing you can do to cool the fire down below
I can relieve you with a touch of my hands
I'll feed the fever, baby I am your man
[Refrain]
Time is the healer so they say
Don't you believe you can wait
You need me right away
The night is dark, as dark as shame
But I will heal you, treat your pain
Until you call my name
04 Change of Heart (04:42)
I can feel the time is slipping
And there is nothing I can do to get through to you
Night after night, fight after fight
Is every inch of hope gone, or is it hiding in you
Through the laughter there's always been pain
There's only heartache and no one's to blame
[Refrain:]
I feel the change of heart
Burning inside me
It tears us apart
I feel the change of heart
Not a word that you can say
Could change yesterday
Sometimes words don't come out easy
Though we try and try again, the hurt never ends
Maybe we'll learn to love tomorrow
It's my heart I've got to follow more faithfully
I can't stay another day
I've been living a lie in hope
And I'm praying there's a way
[Refrain]
You know we have tried
I have nothing to hide
There's no you and I
Yeah, stop talking about love
You're everything I wanted
You're everything that I need
[Refrain]
05 Everything (03:55)
Well we've come this far, it should last forever Something here so strong, it's holding us together Everything I do, well I do for you I didn't mean to let you down And if I lose control somehow you'll always know That I'll come back around I've got this feeling, I can't shake it, alright Hey baby, hey baby Can't let you walk away [Refrain:] Cause you're everything I want You've got everything I need I can't get over you No matter what I do You're everything to me Like a shot to my heart, girl you keep me going Everything you touch, girl you give so much My love is overflowing I've got this fever, I can't break it, alright Hey baby, hey baby Now don't you walk away [Refrain] There's a message in your eyes That keeps telling me you're mine I know you want to stay, can't let you slip away You're everything... yeah, oh yes you are You've got this hold on me, it's stronger every day You're the heart that beats in me, can't let you walk away
07 Hot Cherie (04:47)
Been too long since the last rain
Still the stars sizzle hot in the sky
And there, undressed in the shadows
Stands my sweet Cherie hiding from July
And all night you kept me up, up all night
Hoping that I could make you mine
[Refrain:]
You're getting me hot, Cherie
I want what you've got all over me
Isn't my love strong enough
I'm ready to rock you long and rough
You're getting me hot, Cherie
I want what you've got all over me
I'm going crazy
I can't wait for October
When the breeze from the lake, she's blowing cold
Well maybe she'll need me for some shelter
When the campfire dies and the tall tales have been told
And all night I've been working overtime
Hoping that I could make you mine
[Refrain]
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