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Il terzo lavoro sulla long run degli scandinavi Millencolin from Orebro rappresenta l'epilogo della prima parte di carriera. Appunto una sorta di trilogia iniziata tre anni or sono con "Same Old Tunes" e conclusa con questo disco in cui tutti i retroscena, le peculiarità, gli angoli nascosti e la spontaneità vengono passati al pettine. Perché l'epilogo, si sono mica sciolti? Ma no, nel senso che come una grande saga che si rispetti la trama (in questo caso rappresentata dalle sette note) che si era diramata nel corso dei capitoli precedenti, qui arriva a un finale. E qui appunto si chiude il primo volume della serie, (c'è ne sarà un secondo che comincerà qualche tempo dopo con molte sorprese, ma questa è un'altra storia...).
Questo finale non il classico "...e vissero tutti felici e contenti.." o "il bene trionfa sul male", bensì la summa del talento e della passione di questi quattro ragazzi verso l'hardcore potente ma al tempo stesso melodico messo in scena e rappresentato degnamente lungo i dodici episodi che compongono "For Monkeys". Platter battezzato in questo modo, per via dell'abitudine dei membri della band di soprannominarsi a vicenda scimmie!
Se nei precedenti dischi avevamo apprezzato un suono che faceva dell'allegria e della velocità contaminata a spruzzi ska-punk il suo punto peculiare, in cui comunque c'era abbastanza melodia, qui le cose vanno in meglio. Infatti l'hc presente sul cd è più maturo, potente e dinamico rispetto ai primi due e inoltre diminuiscono, quasi spariscono del tutto le velleità ska-eggianti. Magari per qualcuno l'etichetta melodic hardcore è sufficiente per altri generica, diciamo che il suono del disco è diretto, vivace senza troppi fronzoli: la durata delle canzoni è tra i due e i tre minuti al massimo, per una durata totale che si assesta sulla mezzora. Per dare un'idea del sound: più Pennywise e meno NOFX.
Il disco nasce sotto la loro etichetta storica la svedese Burning Heart record, tutt'ora loro attuale label. Mentre per la distribuzione del solo mercato americano la distribuzione è affidata alla Epitath. Da notare come l'accordo raggiunto l'anno prima per i diritti di distribuzione tra le parti è parecchio significativo: i Millencolin furono in assoluto il primo combo non americano ad ottenere un contratto con l'etichetta di Mr. Bad Religion.
A chiarirci in pratica "l'ambientazione" e gli scenari dell'opera è senza dubbio "Lozin' must": ritmiche potenti con la batteria di Frederik Larsson che sovrasta tutto, refrain athemico, cori e indimenticabile assolo al fulmicotone splendido. Elementi simili li troviamo pure nell'opener "Puzzle"e in "Boring planet", una sorta di scheggia impazzita con le chitarre vivaci come non mai. Tra i pezzi migliori "Tweny two" davvero godibile e velocissima e "Trendy winds" aperta da una piacevole intro di basso, che prende subito quota concretizzandosi nell'ottimo assolo. Per il sottoscritto insieme a "Biftek supernova" forse la più bella che il gruppo abbia mai composto. Da segnalare pure la più melodica "Otis" e il pezzo più arrabbiato del platter ovvero "Lights out", da cardiopalma qui il giro di basso che sale sovrastando le chitarre sui ritornelli. Riff di estrazione quasi rock 'n' roll sorreggono invece "Black gold". A spezzare i ritmi alti del disco e a rilassare un po' ci pensano due canzoni ska-core ben fatte come la goliardica, festosa e piena di cori "Monkey boogie" e "Entrance at rudebrook, con un riffing dal retrogusto spagnoleggiante.
Come dire... anche il loro modo di suonare ska-punk rispetto al passato si è evoluto abbandonando le trombe e il sax e mettendoci un pizzico di velocità al cubo.
Uno dei punti di forza del cd è sicuramente l'inserimento di bellissimi cori e assoli sparsi tra i pezzi. Ottima la produzione che mette decisamente in risalto la buona prova dietro le pelli di Larzon, che dà ai componimenti un suono quadrato e ruvido al tempo stesso. Da menzionare pure la splendida voce di Nikola Sarkevic, a mio parere una delle più belle del genere che dà quel tocco in più al tutto.
Il disco è uno di quelli, che una volta sentito due volte al massimo, poi fatica ad uscire dal mp3 o dallo stereo di turno. E fortuna, aggiungo io, che i quattro hanno dichiarato all'epoca di averlo dovuto registrare di fretta e furia in pochissimi giorni. C'è poco da fare, questo disco rappresenta uno dei picchi toccati dall'hardcore new school (se non il picco) nei '90, album ben più osannati come "Hoss" e "Punk In Drublic" non arrivano proprio ai livelli toccati da "For Monkeys".
Da avere assolutamente per i tutti fan del gruppo e del genere, un disco che ancora a distanza di anni si farà apprezzare da molti. Nel suo genere senza dubbio un capolavoro.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
01 Puzzle (02:38)
Here we are again with another bunch of soft songs
maybe you are wondering why why it took us so long
with a schedule tight, studiotime in sight
we have mostly been out touring
inspiration has been hard this time and honestly
I've had some problems with all these rhymes
We're under stress again, but it has always been that way
and once we get it right, then I know it's there to stay
We're under stress again, but we're used to all that now
it's always tough at first but somehow we always end up fine
Third album, less of ska and not so many fast ones
more of poppy, pushy songs, those that we do best now
nine to five at Unisound in January '97
we had the greatest time, with Dan as engineer
now the outcome is what you hear
If you're lonely or if you're happy
feeling swell or feeling blue, we might have a tune for you
it's about half of an hour, maybe less or maybe more
whatever it might be it's still softcore
02 Lozin' Must (02:12)
When I am lozin' must in a conversation
it makes me use my imagination
start to think that they're after me
cause I'm as shore as those monkeys hope
the chat goes on and I feel smaller
the guys in front of me they get taller
when,when I open my mouth again to tell them something more
they answer me with a hockeyscore
Must be strong, can't be wrong
lozin' must,
yeah your loozin' trust in yourself(x2)
Well, I have this girl and I make her crazy
when I'm gone she's bored and lazy
I get a kick from pushin' her
but I'm not sure about how she feels about it
my favorite hockeyteam are strugglin'
it makes my stomach bubblin' bad
their hard time really makes me sad
we had some fucked up years
now it's time to whipe away those tears
(chourus)
It's been a tough time for me this past year
lots of questions who I am or what I wanna be
I also found some answers the fog is gone
I feel better every day and now the feeling is here to stay
(chourus x2)
03 Random I Am (02:40)
Every morning, it's a new surprise
don't know who I am before I roll the dice
the options is the only thing that I decide
you see, I live for the moment know
I never did before, with all and everything I sweep the floor
random I am, I never give a damn about what's gonna happen next
my wife and kids they left me and my job is just a memory
but that's the kind of price you've got to pay
if you're gonna go your own way
salving problems can be done in many ways
I don't care, I just roll the dice
Get rid of all the habits now that's the plan
come on and try it and you'll feel grand
the first step is the hardest step to take
imagination is the only brake
just roll the dice and everything will turn out nice
you can be who you wanna be
do what you wanna do and do it how you like
this is my way of getting through the day,
I don't care, I just roll the dice
It's o.k, cause I just have to pretend that I am someone else
but I still don't know
05 Monkey Boogie (02:26)
A snake, a fake, he's lame, he's in this game
for the money and for the fame
a spin, a grin, he's on and then we yawn
steals the credit then he's gone
he's the man with a plan and first he'll seem helpfull
to make sure that you're on the hook
he's so full of bull and he sure will pull
some strings to make things go his way
everything will go his way
We're in the monkey biz
the monkey boogie is nothing new
and he'll be doin' the dance with you
Humble, mumble, stumble don't think so
that is not the way to go
connect, collect, correct, what did you expect?
did you think that he seriously cares for you?
do the monkey boogie, orangu-tango, baboon!
06 Twenty Two (02:55)
I'm one year older now since last time I saw you
in case you wanna know, I'm about to say what I'm up to
first of all I'm a sluggard movin' slow in a clumsy way
some peace of mind is what I want, but that will be the day
I've been going with the flow for too long now, this must end
running 'round in circles, I've been so far away from myself
Searching for the energy and the time to make a change in my life
instead of watching it pass by, get something done while I'm alive
I'm twenty two, don't know what I'm supposed to do
or how to be, to get some more out of me
I'm twenty two, so far away from all my dreams
I'm twenty two, twenty two, feeling blue
I try to activate myself the best I can
so that boredom won't catch up with me, I've got my daily plan
wake up late, then reherse a bit with the band, I guess it's cool?
later when I'm home again I boil a note or two
then I go to bed that's what I do
afraid that I will be weak forever
I can't stay in this shape any longer
my life's just another clich�
08 Trendy Winds (02:45)
Trendy winds are blowing through my hair
The punk elite are checking every thing I wear
I'm tired of their endelss whine, why can't they mind their own ?
Cause what I am is what I will be
Don't need you or your crew
To tell me what to think or do
Everyday when you try to waste my time
I waste a rhyme
Sometimes I can't understand what's wrong
Cause this whole scene is filled with people who's bad and nong
You're an idiot a loser man, if you go their way
Cause you don't need no one-track crew now
Don't need you or your crew
To tell me what to think or do
Everyday when you try to waste my time
I waste a rhyme
Sometimes I can't understand what's wrong
To all you suckers we dedicate this song
Don't need you or your crew
To tell me what to think or do
Everyday when you try to waste my time
I waste a rhyme (x2)
09 Otis (02:51)
I remember when this was different then a job
for friendship and for fun, in harmony we got it done
we had a good scene going in our hometown Pennybridge
Most of those bands are gone, it can be tough to stand alone
so many times it has been shown
But it looks good, just as it should
feels good, not for me I can't say that yet
You were my girl until this day
I can't understand you're not anymore
more than two years shared with you
all the things that we've been through
In my memory forever, you'll be there until I die
and though this is the end, I love you more then as a friend
doesn't matter it's the end
But it looks good, just as it should
feels good, not when you're filled up with regret
Everything has it's time and I will sure have mine
so many things that we start almost tear us apart, eventually
everyone has their own way they got to go
so many things that we start with people who breaks our heart
one time, then do the same to another one
But it looks good, just as it should
feels good, not for me I can't say that yet
But it looks good, just as it should
feels good, not when you're filled up with regret
feels good, not for me I can't say that yet
feels good,
if I felt good today you know that I would stay
11 Entrance at Rudebrook (02:14)
The joy and the pain, it's all in the game
but right now the joy's far away
we're gonna take it back to how it was before now
so what if we're last, so what if we're gone
you're waiting for that day, but I know it won't come
we've reached the bottom and now we're just looking forward
For twelve years I've been down
but I'm not whining, I'm still smiling
I'm still around every nite
every Sunday or Wednesday I'll be there
with all the other folks biting those nails
and some of us I know that we would die for you
maybe you think it's just cause I have my smartcard
but forget that pall, tell you what
we're in it and we're in it to win it
so many hours spent in that building
and all the memories divine
just a few more seasons, then we'll be back
ready to attack, ready to take on the top again
so what if we're last, so what if we're last today
so what if we're last, we cant stay last forever
for twelve years i've been down, but im not
whining, im still smiling, and im still around
every nite
12 Low Life (02:39)
I don't know what to say, cause I don't feel that good today
I don't know what to do, I left my mind in all that glue
If I try to think, or if I'll do something about this mess
Then I will find myselft in a situation I can't deal with now
My head it starts to pound
My thoughts are flying around
And my body hits the ground
I can't hear a sound and I feel fine
Cause I can't see whats wrong
I'm alone and strong
I keep my eyes on you, just to make myself to sure
I don't know why I care, cause it makes me feel so poor
And I must try to leave all this stuff behind me now
And I feel fine but tomorrow I don't know what I will say
Cause my head will start to pound
My thoughts will fly around
When my body hits the ground
Then I won't hear a sound and I feel fine
And I can see what's wrong
I'm alone and strong
Carico i commenti... con calma
