I Pennywise sono una band californiana, dedita al punk rock, sicuramente tra le più valide nell'affollato panorama statunitense, e con alle spalle diversi ottimi lavori. Nel 2001 pubblicano il loro sesto album, "Land Of The Free?", edito sulla gloriosa Epitaph Records, che si discosta dai precedenti per un impronta nettamente più politicizzata; lo fanno infatti da padrone tematiche anti bush (leggasi il discreto successo "Fuck Authority"), anti guerra, anti elezioni americane (tema alquanto scontato e prevedibile, visto il periodo di pubblicazione), pro libertà (si, insomma, la solita storia), facile intuirne l'andazzo argomentativo anche dall'artwork stesso che ritrae un blocco di polizia in copertina, spezzoni di cronaca nera dalla carta stampata sul compact, e ovviamente dal titolo stesso, "terra dei liberi".
Il disco in linea di massima mantiene la classica impronta melodica (constatabile già dal poco entusiasmante opener "Time Marches On"), che ha caratterizzato la band (sebbene non se ne abusi, come tipico invece di altri gruppi più commercializzati), e malgrado siano presenti degli sprazzi più duri e graffianti, come la tirata "It's up to you" (occhio al refrain spettacolare che fa il verso ad un improbabile "No Woman No Cry") e "Who's On Your Side?" (tra le più lente, ma fortificata da un efficacissima accoppiata strofa-riff), sicuramente non nuovi per il gruppo, che ha tra le sue caratteristiche proprio quella di essersi sempre mantenuto in questa via di mezzo tra hc melodico fatto di ritornelli facili che strizzano l'occhio ai Bad Religion, e motivi più prepotenti, scelta che ha comunque donato una qual certa varietà in ogni pubblicazione. L'impressione è quella di un prodotto comunque fiacco nel suo insieme, poca potenza, poca velocità (gran parte delle tracce stagnano in scialbi tempi medi), tanto fumo, poco arrosto. A partire dalla deludente titletrack, e dalla voce del cantante Jim Lindberg, spesso e volentieri non all'altezza di certi arrangiamenti, e comunque debole per gran parte del lavoro (anche se in rari casi come sulla tagliente "Set Me Free" e sulla veloce "Enemy" sa come darci dentro). Certo, non mancano eccellenti episodi promossi a pieni voti, rappresentati dall'energica "Anyone Listening", e "Something Wrong With Me" che si distuinguono anche per l'ottimo lavoro svolto dal batterista Byron McMackin, che però non sa confermarsi per tutte le tracce, altro punto che contribuisce ad un giudizio non troppo positivo, e che si rende abbastanza limpido in tracce come "The World", canzone molto particolare, col suo riff orientaleggiante, e un incalzante chorus di tutto rispetto, che avrebbe certamente potuto dire qualcosa in più, se non fosse proprio per un Byron non eccelso.
Discorso apparte va fatto per l'egregia "Fuck Authority", tipica anthem che si eleva sin da subito tra i pezzi più significativi, e che più rispecchiano il concept impegnato del platter, ma sopratutto per "Divine Intervention", senza dubbio il brano di maggior spessore, dove è apprezzabile anche la prestazione di un Jim finalmente a buonissimi livelli. Il resto sono tracce incolori e poco coinvolgenti, come nel caso di Twist Of Fate" o "My God".
Se apprezzate il genere, e prodotti comunque facili, è consigliabile un ascolto, di certo non un album imperdibile, ma che comunque in un periodo difficile, dove in cima alle classifiche imperavano sum 41 & co, raggiunge la sufficienza, e puo dare ottimi spunti.
Tracklisting:
| 1 | Time Marches On | |
| 2 | Land of the Free? | |
| 3 | The World | |
| 4 | Fuck Authority | |
| 5 | Something Wrong With Me | |
| 6 | Enemy | |
| 7 | My God | |
| 8 | Twist of Fate | |
| 9 | Who's on Your Side | |
| 10 | It's Up to You | |
| 11 | Set Me Free | |
| 12 | Divine Intervention | |
| 13 | WTO | |
| 14 | Anyone Listening |
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
02 Land of the Free (02:31)
Land of the free and we're united
Make our destiny, we take control. Yeah!
Never divided, we got the power
And we'll never be divided we fall. Oh yeah!
Land of the free, free to conspire, to control destiny. Oh yeah!
You're gonna see, no use resisting you live in the land of the free
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
Land of the free (democracy), united nations of hypocrisy
Profit's our goal, we're incorporated
It's big business and oil companies controlling us all. Oh yeah!
Land of the free, free to conspire, to control destiny. Oh yeah!
You're gonna see, no use resisting you live in the land of the free
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of Hypocrisy and to the republic for which it stand. One nation without liberty and justice for all.
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
Yeah right!
03 The World (02:27)
Hatred from your closed mind nothing you think is gonna change
Your actions speak so loud you've got to try a different way
We live together we're worlds apart down on the streets
Because we're too proud no one will ever admit defeat
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
Where do we draw the line nobody seems to have clue
We're at each other's throats cause we don't share a point of view
So what's the problem can't see beneath the shade of skin
A vicious circle a human race no one can win
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
It's just a state of mind it's not reality
It's all psychosomatic static inhumanity
A savage mental sickness that plagues the human
Race and it's going to blow up in your face
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
04 Fuck Authority (03:16)
Someday you gotta find another way
You better right your mind and live by what you say
Today is just another day
Unless you set your sights and try to find a way
I say fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it's time to rise against them
We're sick of your treason
Sick of your lies
Fuck no we won't listen
We're gonna open your eyes
Frustration, domination
Feel the rage of a new generation
We're living we're dying and we're
Never ever gonna stop, stop trying
You know the time is right to take control
We got to take offense against the status quo
No way not gonna stand for it today
Fight for your rights it's time we had our say!
I say fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it's time to rise against them
we're sick of your treason
Sick of your lies
Fuck no we won't listen
We're gonna open your eyes!
Frustration, domination
Feel the rage of a new generation
We're living, we're dying
We're sick and tired of relentless lying
Destroy, enjoy, your fuckin world is our new toy
Dominate, eliminate, You're gonna feel the wrath , wrath of hate
Fuck authority!
Silent majority!
Raised by the system
Now it's time to rise against them!
We're sick of your treason
Sick of your lies!
Fuck no we won't listen
We're gonna open your eyes!
Frustration, domination
Feel the rage of a new generation
We're living we're dying and we're
Never ever gonna stop, stop trying
(stop trying!)
06 Enemy (02:34)
Well it comes as no surprise don't you realize
You cant back up deceit with more sad alibis
Cause you never are to blame driving you insane
Cause when your words are gone the damage still remains
You don't wanna believe that you're human just like me
I'm not the enemy (by blaming me you gain control)
You're just like me (you want a scapegoat for your crimes)
I'm not the enemy
It seems impossible to me a tragic comedy
That I'm the villain in your twisted fantasy
But to me its not a game driving me insane
We're all just victims in your sinister charade
08 Twist of Fate (02:33)
Feels great when you get the runaround
Life you led was full of lies
Too late when you start to look around
All you find is wasted lives
Do you want to obliterate some things you don't understand
Since you want to succumb to fate
Watch the world slip through your hands
You get the feeling that its never gonna change
It doesn't mean a thing your life's not gonna end
It will be OK don't say goodbye my friend
Cause it doesn't mean a thing a simple twist of fate
No it doesn't mean a thing you start to get the feeling
That it's never gonna end it doesn't mean a thing
You hate when you start to think about
Things in life that could have been
Too late its not gonna turnaround
Can't escape the mess your in
Do you wish there was a way to stop the fickle hand of fate
Or do you give in to the urge and kill the very thing you hate
You get the feeling that its never gonna change
It doesn't mean a thing your life's not gonna end
It will be OK don't say goodbye my friend
Cause it doesn't mean a thing a simple twist of fate
No it doesn't mean a thing you start to get the feeling
That it's never gonna end it doesn't mean a thing
09 Who's on Your Side (02:50)
Looking ahead, not far away, someday soon but not today things may get better,
things may get worse depending on who gets there first,
nothing in common, nothing will change,
together we'll go our separate ways,
nothing to stop us from cavin' in,
someone's gotta lose when someone wins,
look at the world you're livin' in
Someday you'll have to pick a side
For the rest of your life who's on your side?
A voice in the dark, a light in the haze,
a flame that burns then fades away,
alone in the night a ship lost at sea,
a state of emergency with no way of knowing what's comin' next,
survival of who fits in best, looking for answers but where to begin,
we all wanna know how this one ends, look at the world you're livin' in
Someday you'll have to pick a side
For the rest of your life who's on your side?
(Look at the world you're livin' in)
Who's on your side?
(Do you know who you wrap again?)
Who's on your side?
(And your tears are justified)
Who's on your side?
This isn't make believe
A faded picture show
As we drown you're slowly lettin' go, look at the world you're livin' in
Someday you'll have to pick a side
For the rest of your life who's on your side?
(Look at the world you're livin' in)
Who's on your side?
(Do you know who you wrap again?)
Who's on your side?
(And your tears are justified)
Who's on your side, who's on your side?
12 Divine Intervention (03:30)
You don't need divine intervention
For all the things that you never can face
You don't need good intentions
Cause in the end it is all just a waste
We all need an endless vacation
From all the problems the world can provide
We just need reconciliation
To repair what is wrong in our lives
I can't face the day
Don't want to try I want to waste away till I'm lost
Save me from all the chaos I'll radiate till I'm gone
So wait, wait, so many things that you'll never break away
Wait, wait save your answers
There's nothing when you're gone from here
It's only another day wasted
That's replayed in the back of your mind
A snapshot that you suffocated
Among the shadows and little white lies
You don't need a crude benediction
A pale savior you can sacrifice
You just need a new definition
When you're feeling alone in the night
You can't face the day
Don't want to try I want to waste away till I'm lost
Save me from all the chaos I'll radiate till I'm gone
So wait, wait, so many things that you'll never break away
Wait, wait save your answers
There's nothing when you're gone from here
13 WTO (02:58)
I just can't understand and I don't know how anyone can
Cause with every passing day it gets worse in every way
It's time that we make a stand
I sit here and wonder why how many more people got to die
Before we're gonna learn how many got to burn
Until we all realize
See it everyday it never goes away
Never slowing always growing never going away
This is the day you'll see our way
We've had enough some things are gonna change
The future's bright people unite
Better believe you're in for a fight
Behind smiles and pageantry
Lies a vile and sadistic history
Insidious design deceitful and sublime
Feeding on misery
The world's got a bad disease
And I think I got a fucking remedy
A molotov cocktail freedom will prevail
A new world society
We're not gonna be ignored
Believe us this means war
Something you can trust
You shouldn't fuck with us
We're not gonna take it anymore
14 Anyone Listening (03:00)
Down below beneath a burning hot sun
Out civility's waking up
Hate your neighbor 'cause he's not your kind
Fell out of favor, now he's out of luck
Get in your car, fuel up and get a job
You got no worries, you don't care that much
Pass the beggars as they lie out on the street
Just look away and roll your windows up
You don't have to worry
He's not one of us
Yeah
Is there anyone listening
To this beautiful tragedy
Is there anyone watching
This wonderful nightmare
Don't care much, you'd rather kill
Check out Johnny as he plays out on the street
Keeps to himself, he doesn't say too much
Can't get along with the kids in school
Likes to make bombs and blow things up
His mom and dad think everything's fine
They got no worries, they don't care that much
All that tension bottled up inside
One day soon now he's gonna erupt
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