Spesso, nella musica rock, capita che i fan siano portati a lamentarsi dei lavori recenti delle proprie band, perché hanno deciso, dopo aver sfornato iniziali capolavori, di cambiare il loro stile e renderlo più commerciale (vedi alla voce Red Hot Chili Peppers o Metallica, giusto per citarne qualcuno). Niente di tutto ciò può valere, però, per dei pionieri come lo sono stati e lo sono tuttora i Pearl Jam. Al contrario, mentre i primi due album (Ten e Vs.) potevano risultare radiofonici e risentivano non poco degli influssi grunge di quel periodo, ecco che con Vitalogy il suono della band di Seattle si incupisce e la musica diventa, mai quanto adesso, espressione di sentimenti nascosti, reconditi. A causa di questo atteggiamento anti-commerciale, il gruppo ha speso la maggior parte degli anni '90 ad allontanare la propria fama. In venti anni di carriera, i Pearl Jam hanno sempre preferito, nella composizione di un album, la visione artistica all'accoglienza commerciale del pubblico.
Per certi aspetti, la terza fatica del gruppo rappresenta la fine di un'era e, perché no, segna la fine del grunge (sempre se di grunge si può parlare): fu l'ultimo album ad essere pluripremiato e numerosi furono i singoli che passarono alla radio. Nonostante il primo lavoro della band fosse stato etichettato come grunge, esso in parte si discosta ai lavori di band come Nirvana e Alice in Chains. In gran parte ispirato al "classic rock" degli anni '70, Ten è carente di chitarre distorte, drumming intenso e il fuzz tipico delle band grunge. Vs. suona molto meno lucido e risulta più spoglio rispetto al precedente, ma è proprio "Vitalogy" a segnare una svolta e un radicale cambiamento. Mentre tutte le canzoni (o quasi) dei precedenti due album potevano essere considerati potenziali singoli radiofonici, il nuovo album contiene, sia per quanto riguarda i testi sia per quanto concerne le melodie, brani più vaghi e di difficile interpretazione. In breve, "Vitalogy", dei primi tre album, è quello dal suono più grunge, senza dubbio il meno commerciale e di gran lunga il più astratto.
Ciò non deve essere affatto visto come una critica: la band capitanata da Eddie Vedder sapeva di star creando una collezione caotica, ma allo stesso tempo coesa di canzoni. Ecco che a momenti di durezza e velocità (Last Exit, Spin the Black Circle, Not for You) si alternano malinconiche e nostalgiche ballate, indiscutibilmente tra le più riuscite della band (Nothingman, Better Man, Immortality); il tutto inframmezzato da alcuni divertissement (Pry, To, Bugs, Aye Davanita), che tolgono quel pizzico di serietà a quest'album superbo.
La genialità dell'album e della band non si esaurisce nella musica, ma è riscontrabile anche nel libretto, una sorta di dizionario medico pieno di foto in perfetto stile 18° secolo con annesse richieste assurde contro l'aborto da presentare al presidente Clinton oppure foto di mura con la scritta "Bush boia" o ancora disegni di uomini e donne legati indissolubilmente da piercing. Insomma, un ritorno ai tempi più personali e artistici del vinile, contrapposti alla fredda immobilità del CD.
In definitiva, "Vitalogy" può essere considerato come un album atipico nel repertorio di Vedder & Co e forse non il migliore per approcciarsi alla loro musica, ma senza dubbio rimane un album sorprendente, intrigante e seducente. Un must-have per tutti gli appassionati della buona e autentica musica.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
03 Not for You (05:52)
Restless soul, enjoy your youth,
Like Muhammad hits the truth.
Can't escape from the common rule.
If you hate something, don't you do it, too.
Small my table, sits just two.
Got so crowded, I can't make room.
Oh, where did they come from?... Stormed my room!
And you dare say it belongs to you... to you...
This is not for you...
This is not for you...
This is not for you...
Oh, not for you... ah, you...
Scream... my friends... don't call me...
Friends, no, they don't scream...
My friends don't call... my friends don't...
All that's sacred comes from youth.
Dedication, naive and true.
With no power, nothing to do...
I still remember, why don't you?
Don't you...
This is not for you.
This is not for you.
This is not for you.
Oh, never was for you, fuck you...
This is not for you...
Oh, this is not for you... yeah, you...
This is not for you...
Oh, not for you...
Oh, you...
04 Tremor Christ (04:12)
Winded is the sailor drifting by the storm,
Wounded is the organ he left all bloodied on the shore.
Gorgeous was his savior, sees her, drowning in his wake.
Daily taste the salt of her tears, but a chance blamed fate.
Little secrets, tremors, turned to quake...
The smallest oceans still get big, big waves...
Ransom paid the devil... he whispers pleasing words.
Triumphant are the angels if they can get there first.
Little secrets, tremors, turned to quake...
The smallest oceans still get big, big waves...
I'll decide... take the dive...
Take my time.... not my life...
Wait for signs... believe in lies...
To get by... it's divine, whoa...
Oh, you know what it's like.
Turns the bow back, tows, and drops the line,
Puts his faith in love and tremor Christ.
05 Nothingman (04:35)
Once divided, nothing left to subtract.
Some words when spoken can't be taken back.
Walks on his own with thoughts he can't help thinking.
Future's above, but in the past, he's slow and sinking.
Caught a bolt 'a lightning, cursed the day he let it go...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
She once believed in every story he had to tell,
One day she stiffened, took the other side.
Empty stares from each corner of a shared prison cell...
One just escapes, one's left inside the well...
And he who forgets will be destined to remember...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
Oh, she don't want him...
Oh, she won't feed him after he's flown away...
Oh, into the sun, ah, into the sun...
Burn, burn...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Isn't it something?
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Nothingman...
Could've been something.
Nothingman...
Oh... oh... oh...
06 Whipping (02:34)
Don't need a helmet, got a hard, hard head.
Don't need a raincoat, I'm already wet.
Don't need a bandage, there's too much blood.
After a while, seems to roll right off.
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
Don't need a hand, there's always arms attached.
Don't get behind, I can't fall back.
Why must we trust all these rusted rails?
They don't want no change we already have.
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
Don't mean to push, but I'm being shoved!
I'm just like you, think we've had enough.
I can't believe a thing they want us to.
We all got scars, they should have them, too.
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
They're whipping...
08 Corduroy (04:37)
The waiting drove me mad,
You're finally here and I'm a mess.
I take your entrance back,
Can't let you roam inside my head.
I don't want to take what you can give,
I would rather starve than eat your bread,
I would rather run but I can't walk,
Guess I'll lie alone just like before.
I'll take the varmint's path,
Oh, and I must refuse your test.
Push me and I will resist.
This behavior's not unique.
I don't want to hear from those who know,
They can buy, but can't put on my clothes.
I don't want to limp for them to walk,
Never would have known of me before.
I don't want to be held in your debt,
I'll pay it off in blood, let I be wed.
I'm already cut up and half-dead.
I'll end up alone like I began.
Everything has chains.
Absolutely nothing's changed.
Take my hand, not my picture, spilled my tincture...
I don't want to take what you can give,
I would rather starve than eat your breast.
All the things that others want for me,
Can't buy what I want because it's free,
Can't buy what I want because it's free,
Can't be what you want because I'm...
Why ain't it supposed to be just fun?
Oh, to live and die, let it be done.
I figure I'll be damned, all alone like I began.
It's your move now.
I thought you were a friend,
But I guess I... I guess I hate you...
09 Bugs (02:44)
I got bugs.
I got bugs in my room.
Bugs in my bed.
Bugs in my ears.
There's eggs in my head.
Bugs in my pockets.
Bugs in my shoes.
Bugs in the way I feel about you.
Bugs in my window trying to get in.
They don't go nowhere.
Waiting, waiting, standing, sitting, kneeling.
A few block the door.
And now the question's:
Do I kill them?
Become their friend?
Do I eat them?
Raw or well done?
Do I trick them?
I don't think they're dumb
Do I join them?
Looks like that's the one.
I got bugs on my skin.
Tickle my nausea.
I let it happen again.
They're always takin' over.
I see they surround me, I see.
See them deciding my fate.
Oh, that which was once, was once up to me.
Now it's too late.
I got bugs in my room, one-on-one.
That's when I had a chance.
I'll just stop now.
I'll become naked.
And with them, I'll become one.
10 Satan's Bed (03:30)
It's not all been said...been said and done...
I've never slept in Satan's bed
Although I must admit...still visits my place
Uninvited, as you know, he don't wait
Funny how he always seems to fit in
Funny how I always want to give in
Sundays, Fridays, Tuesdays, Thursday, the same
Sometimes the special guest, he don't like to leave
Already...in love... (3x)
Already...
Who made, who made up, made up the myth
That we were born to be covered in bliss?
Who set the standard, born to be rich?
Such fine examples, skinny little bitch
Model, role model, roll some models in blood
Get some flesh to stick, so they look like us
I shit and I stink, I'm real, join the club
I'd stop and talk, but I'm already in love
Already...in love... (3x)
Already...
In love...Ah ha ha ha...
...follows torture...follows reward... (2x)
Oh, oh my butt...
Never shook Satan's hand, look see for yourself
You'd know it if I had, that shit don't come off
I'll rise and fall, let me take credit for both
Jump off a cliff, don't need your help so back off
I'll never suck Satan's dick...
Again, you'd see it, you know, right round the lips
I'll wait for an angel, but I won't hold my breath
'Magine they're busy, think I'm doing okay...
Already...in love... (6x)
Already...
11 Better Man (04:28)
Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o' clock, it's got to stop.
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech.
As he opens the door, she rolls over, pretends to sleep as he looks her over.
She lies and says she's in love with him.
Can't find a better man.
She dreams in color, she dreams in red.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Ohh...
Talkin' to herself, there's no one else who needs to know...
She tells herself, oh...
Memories back when she was smooth and strong, and waiting for the world to come along.
Swears she knew it, now she swears he's gone.
and she swears he's cool.
She lies and says she's in love with him.
Can't find a better man.
She dreams in color, she dreams in red.
Can't find a better man.
She lies and says she still loves him.
Can't find a better man.
She dreams in color, she dreams in red.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Yeah...
She loved him, yeah...
She don't want to leave this way.
She feeds him, yeah...
That's why she'll be back again.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better man.
Can't find a better...man...
12 Aye Davanita (02:57)
Awooh... aye, davanita... awooh... awooha... (4x)
Jahooh... jahooh... (repeat)
Awooh... aye, davanita... awooh... awooha... (4x)
13 Immortality (05:28)
Vacate is the word.
Vengeance has no place on me or her,
Cannot find the comfort in this world.
Artificial tear,
Vessel stabbed, next up, volunteers?
Vulnerable, wisdom can't adhere.
A truant finds home and a wish to hold on,
But there's a trapdoor in the sun.
Immortality...
As privileged as a whore,
Victims in demand for public show.
Swept out through the cracks beneath the door.
Holier than thou, how?
Surrendered, executed, anyhow...
Scrawl dissolved, cigar box on the floor.
A truant finds home and a wish to hold on, too.
He saw a trapdoor in the sun.
I cannot stop the thought -- I'm running in the dark.
Coming up a which way sign,
All good truants must decide.
Oh, stripped and sold, mom...
Auctioned forearm and whiskers in the sink.
Truants move on, cannot stay long,
Some die just to live...
Oh...
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di jeremy
Vitalogy è sicuramente il più oscuro e sofferto di tutta la discografia.
Quest’ album segna l’ormai definitiva maturazione dei jammers, la perdita dell’innocenza di una band che continua a rappresentare uno dei migliori esempi di rock.
Di joe strummer
"Vitalogy è un album tenebroso, spesso melanconico e triste, capace di commuovere, come di esaltare, di far pensare come di trasmetterci rabbia."
"È di certo la loro produzione più curata, intima e, banalmente, quella con le canzoni migliori."
Di Starblazer
"Un disco intenso, viscerale e autenticamente grunge che ho adorato e ascoltato fino alla noia."
"'Tremor Christ' è una delle migliori canzoni mai composte dai Pearl Jam, una nenia oscura e conturbante."
Di Taxirider
"Esiste però un'eccezione che rende onore ai Pearl Jam. Sto parlando del loro terzo capitolo, il mai troppo compreso 'Vitalogy'".
"'Tremor Christ' è un vero e proprio viaggio nella psiche dell’allora Eddie Vedder, con un testo incentrato sul suicidio e la via d’uscita dalla spirale oscura."
