"Binaurale": metodo di registrazione del suono che ha il fine di ottimizzare l'ascolto in cuffia della stessa, riproducendo il più fedelmente possibile le percezioni di un ascoltatore situato nell'ambiente originario.
A volte cerchiamo tutti un caldo riparo, una stazione nell'anima dove il treno delle nostre vite continui il proprio viaggio su binari di speranza. Perché vivere tra le onde anomale d'una tempesta è uno scherzo di cattivo gusto, un destino arbitrario alla roulette russa dei "dadi di dio". Siamo vittime e artefici di un fato imponderabile, come piccole barche nell'oceano che navigano alla ricerca del sicuro approdo. "Binaural" dei Pearl Jam è lo sguardo lontanissimo nella nebulosa astrale della cover, freddo e imparziale sulle miserie umane. Un corollario all'odissea in terra dell'uomo, che annulla se stesso nell'inutilità delle guerre, uccide e annienta il prossimo per avidità ed egoismi, rinnega il passato per mentire nel presente. Ricchezza, potere, controllo in uno specchio falso e abusato, distorsione che riproduce un mondo grottesco, alienato dove niente è come realmente sembra. Lontano anni luce dalla verità, villaggio globale imbevuto di ciniche bugie e paesaggi desolati.
Prodotto da Tchad Blake, con l'ingresso in pianta stabile dell'ex Soundgarden Matt Cameron alla batteria, "Binaural" uscirà nel maggio 2000 rivelandosi l'album più riflessivo e crepuscolare dei cinque cavalieri di Seattle. Evidenti alcuni richiami a certa psichedelia tardo-pinkfloydiana, dal mesmerico assolo di Mike McCready nell'evocativo singolo "Nothing As It Seems", ai repentini strappi al cuore dei bruschi stop-and-go di percussioni e trame chitarristiche Gossard-McCready nell'emozionale "Insignificance". Una delle migliori prove vocali su disco di Eddie Vedder, che nelle tredici tracce di questo lavoro invade letteralmente l'aria intorno chi ascolta con un timbro rabbioso, malinconico, tenace e mai rassegnato. Un calore straordinario, la voce di Eddie che s'inerpica e rapisce nell'eterno saluto a un amico scomparso ( la sofferta ballad "Light Years").
Il trittico iniziale composto da "Breakerfall" ("soltanto l'amore può evitare la fine"), "God's Dice" e i nevrotici cambi di tempo in "Evacuation" dimostra ancora, se mai ce ne fosse bisogno, quanto i Pearl Jam siano una gioiosa, veloce e oliata macchina rock and roll. L'atmosfera sovente distende toni esasperati e duri: nel sentimentalismo della morbida melodia folk di "Thin Air", impreziosita dal basso pulsante di Jeff Ament, negli intarsi dell'onirico blues "Of The Girl" e nell'esistenza deviata dall'abile mano della ballata psichedelica "Sleight Of Hand". La politica e i sanguinosi fatti del WTO di Seattle irrompono nelle parole di "Grievance" ("Grande uomo, grandi occhi che mi guardano. Devo immaginare cosa vedono. Progresso allacciato con ramificazioni. La libertà è stata presa a pugni. Spingi l'innocente da una folla, alza i bastoni e abbattili se non ubbidiscono."), "Rival" è un'ubriaca cantilena sostenuta dagli sporchi intrecci hard-bluesy delle chitarre. E mentre in "Soon Forget", breve racconto con Vedder all'ukulele, "..il sole sta calando.." sui tristi giorni di un uomo che presto dimenticheremo, immolato al culto superficiale del dio denaro, il finale solenne della splendida "Parting Ways" sancisce il definitivo distacco di due amanti alla deriva, consapevoli che le loro strade si divideranno, che il loro futuro "brucerà" allontanandosi per sempre. Fine dei giochi, un mesto addio tra gli archi e tamburi d'una preghiera laica.
"Binaural" rimane l'ultimo lavoro incisivo e degno di nota dei Pearl Jam, dopo i fasti di "Ten", "Vs", "Vitalogy" e "No Code"; un titolo sottovalutato ma che racchiude il lato mercuriale e oscuro della loro musica. Subito dopo verrà la tragedia di Roskilde, dannati e maligni sensi di colpa. Ma i sopravvissuti dalle camicie di flanella a quadri dei Novanta sapranno rialzarsi con forza e spalle larghe, cavalcando l'onda impetuosa di questi anni con orgoglio e spirito sincero. Nonostante tutto, il treno PJ prosegue a viaggiare su rotaie infinite.
"Le tue luci ora riflesse, riflesse da lontano. Non eravamo che pietre. Le tue luci ci hanno reso stelle. Con il respiro pesante, i rimpianti risvegliati. Vecchie pagine e giorni che potevano essere passati insieme, ma eravamo a miglia di distanza. Ogni metro fra noi ora diventa anni luce.."
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Breakerfall (02:19)
There's a girl on a ledge she's got nowhere to turn,
cause all the love that she had was just wood that she burned,
now her life is on fire, it's no one's concern,
she can blame the world or prey till dawn
But only love can break her fall,
break her fall,
yeah, only love can break her fall, fall.
It's like she lost her invitation to the party on earth,
and she's standing outside hating everyone here,
yeah, she's her own disease, crying to her doll,
But only love can break her fall,
break her fall,
only love can break her fall. Yeah.
Yeah fall, the world is her fall, break her fall,
love, love, love can break her fall,
now only love can break her fall,
love, love, love can break her fall, fall,
love, love can break her fall,
only love can break her.
02 Gods' Dice (02:26)
It's out of my hands making your hands meet.
Stumble as it's crumbling out of reach.
It's in the cards of destiny your sanity in tow.
Designate my luck. Uh resignate.
This power has no roots to guide. No role.
Trust me. Rusted minds refuse to go.
Unwillingness is meaningless to walk away in vain.
Designate my will.
Ah, designate my fill.
Ah resignate.
My will is crashing. Synapses flashing slow.
Ah, days like frame by frame. Where do they go?
Ah yeah, why fight? Forget it. Cannot spend it after I go.
Roll them high. Throw them again. All god's dice.
Monkey driven. Call this living? Ha.
Ah, too much thought it's overwrought a hole.
Yeah, minding yours what's mine not yours.
Will finish us off.
Ah, designate my life.
Ah, designate my view.
Ah, resignate my will, my will, my will, I will.
Resignate my god.
03 Evacuation (02:56)
The sirens scream wanton attention.
Time to take heed and change direction.
Time to take stock and make omissions.
Evacuation. Evacuation.
Time to take leave all formal functions.
Time to plant seeds of a reconstruction.
No time this time to feign reluctance.
It's like your waiting for a diamond shore to wash your way.
Bets put aside you're evil. Lets crawl into your face.
A vision vague or not raising a frightful wake you up.
Time for evacuation. Evacuation. Evacuation. Evacuation.
Evacuation. Evacuation.
There was a solemn man. Watched his twilight disappear.
In the sand.
Altered by a falling eagle. A warning sign. Sign.
He sensed that worry could be strength with a plan he said, "Time for evacuation."
Evacuation...
04 Light Years (05:06)
I've used hammers made out of wood.
I have played games with pieces and rules.
I've deciphered tricks at the bar, but now you're gone.
I haven't figured out why.
I've come up with riddles and jokes about war.
I figured out numbers and what they're for.
I've understood feelings and I've understood words
But how could you be taken away?
And wherever you've gone and wherever we might go.
It don't seem fair for days just disappeared.
Your light's reflected now. Reflected from afar.
We were but stones. Your light made us stars.
with heavy breath, awakened regrets.
Back pages and days alone that could have been
spent together but we were miles apart.
Every inch between us becomes light years now.
No time to be void or save up on life.
Oh, you got to spend it all.
And wherever you've gone and wherever we might go.
It don't seem fair. You seem to like it here.
Your light's reflected now. Reflected from afar.
We were but stones. Your light made us stars.
And wherever you've gone and wherever we might go.
It don't seem fair for days just disappeared.
Your light's reflected now. Reflected from afar.
We were but stones. Your light made us stars.
05 Nothing as It Seems (05:22)
Don't feel like home
he's a little out
and all these words alone
is nothing like your poem
Putting in, inputting in
don't feel like methadone
a scratching voice all alone
it's nothing like your baritone
It's nothing as it seems
the little that he needs its home
the little that he sees
is nothing he can sees its home
One uninviting chromosome
a blanket like the ozone
It's nothing as it seems
all that he needs is home
the little that he frees
is nothing he believes
saving it for a sunny day
something maybe two tone
anything of his own
a chip off the corner stone
who's kidding?, rainy day
a one way ticket headstone
an occupation's overthrown
a whisper through a megaphone,
It's nothing as it seems
the little that he needs its home
the little that he sees
is nothing he concedes its home
and all that he frees
a little bittersweet, it's home
it's nothing as it seems
the little that he see its home
06 Thin Air (03:32)
There's a light... when my baby is in my arms...
There's alight... when the window shades are drawn...
Hesitate... when I feel I may do harm to her...
Wash it off... cause this feeling we can share...
And I know she's reached my heart... in thin air...
Byzantine... is reflected in our pond..
There's a cloud... but the water remains calm...
reaching in,... the suns fingers clutch the dawn to pass...
even out... it's a precious thing to bear...
and I know she's reached my heart... in thin air...
yes I know she's reached my heart... in thin air...
It's not in my past to presume...
Love can keep on moving... in both directions...
How to be happy and true...
Is the quest were taking on together...
taking on, on, on, on, on
taking on, on, on, on...
There's a light when my baby's in my arms...
And I know she's reached my heart... in thin air...
and I know she's reached my heart... in thin air...
yes I know she's reached my heart... in thin air...
Yes I know she's reached my heart.
07 Insignificance (04:28)
All in all, its no ones fault,
excuses turn to carbon wall,
blame it all on chemical intercourse.
the swallowed seeds of arrogance,
breeding in the thoughts of ten.
thousand fools who fight irrelevance.
the full moon is dead skin,
the one down heres wearing thin,
so set up,.. the ten pins.
as the human tide rolls in,
like a ball that's spinning.
Bombs dropping down,..
overhead,.. underground,.
its instilled, to wanna live.
Bombs , dropping down,..
please forgive, our hometown,..
In our insignificance.
Turn the jukebox up, he said,
Dancing in irreverance,
Play C3, let the song protest.
The plates begin to shift,
perfect lefts come rolling in,
I was alone, and far away,
when I heard the band start playing,
on the lip, late take off.
Bombs , dropping down,..
Feel like resonance of distance,
In the blood,.. the iron lies.
Its instilled, to wanna live.
08 Of the Girl (05:07)
Oh, he deals them off, off the top, ties them off
fills it up with his past, gets carried away
oh, half his life, a hand-me-down, wasted away
oh, he fills it up with the love of a girl
Oh, he left it alone, drilled the pain with money to buy
How he makes his getaway
how he makes his getaway
Oh, he chose a path, heavy the fall, quarter to four
fills his mind with the thought of a girl
How he makes his getaway
how he makes his getaway
how he makes his getaway
getaway
09 Grievance (03:14)
Vedder
Have a drink they're buying.
Bottom of bottle of denial.
Big guy. Big eye watching me.
Have to wonder what it sees. sin.
Progress laced with ramifications.
Freedom's big blur. Oh.
Pull the innocent from a crowd.
Raise those sticks them bring them down.
If they fail to obey.
Ah, if they fail to obey. Yeah yeah.
For every tool they lend us a loss of independence.
I pledge my grievance to the flag.
Cause you don't give blood then take it back again.
Oh we're all deserving something more.
Progress taste it invest it all.
Champagne breakfast for everyone. Everyone.
Break the innocent when they're proud.
Raise those stakes then bring them down.
If they fail to obey.
Yeah, ha, if they fail to obey.
Pledge your grievance to the flag.
Cause, don't give blood then take it back again.
Oh, we're all deserving something more.
Have a, have a drink, drink. Have a, have a drink, drink.
I want to breathe part of the scene.
I want to taste everyone I see.
I want to run when I'm up high.
I want to run to the sea.
I want to life to be.
I just want to be.
I will feel alive as long as I am free.
10 Rival (03:38)
All my rivals will see what I have in store. My gun.
I've been harboring fleets in this reservoir. Red sun.
And this nations' about to explode.
You're disciples are riddled with metaphors. Well hung.
Better pony up and bring both your barrels full. Not one.
As we release this unspeakable toll. Woh.
How's our mother to damn these contributors. With mud.
How will the man who made chemicals difficult. Shed blood.
How's our father supposed to be told.
I don't. Woh.
11 Sleight of Hand (04:47)
Routine was the theme
he'd wake up, wash and pour himself into uniform
something he hadn't imagined being
as the merging traffic passed
he found himself staring down
at his own hands
not remembering the change
not recalling the plan
was it?
He was okay
but wondering
about wandering
was it age?
by consequence?
or was he moved by sleight of hand?
Mondays were made to fall
lost on a road he knew by heart
it was like a book he read in his sleep, endlessly
sometimes he hid in his radio
watching others pull into their homes
while he was drifting
On a line
of his own
off the line
off the side
by the by
as dirt turned to sand
as if moved by sleight of hand
When he reached the shore of his clip-on world
he resurfaced to the norm
organized his few things, his coat and keys
any new realizations would have to wait
till he had more time
more time
A time to dream
to himself
he waves goodbye
to himself
I'll see you on the other side
another man moved by sleight of hand
12 Soon Forget (01:46)
Sorry is the fool who trades his soul for a corvette.
Thinks he'll get the girl he'll only get the mechanic.
What's missing? He's living a day he'll soon forget.
That's one more time around. The sun is going down.
The moon is out but he's drunk and shouting.
Putting people down. He's pissing. He's living a day he'll soon forget.
Counts his money every morning. The only thing that keeps him horny.
Locked in a giant house that's alarming.
The townsfolk they all laugh.
Sorry is the fool who trades his love for hi-rise rent.
Seem the more you make equals the loneliness you get.
And it's fitting. He's barley living a day he'll soon forget.
That's one more time around and there is not a sound.
He's lying dead clutching Benjamins. Never put the money down.
He's stiffening. We're all whistling a man we'll soon forget.
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Mellon
Le tracce di questo album scorrono lente e fluide come un inquietante ma inevitabile tramonto scivola nel nostro animo.
Eccola l’arma con cui affrontare di nuovo le nostre sconfitte, la rincorsa con cui tornare in testa, il grido con cui far risuonare di nuovo la nostra voce.
