Per poter analizzare quest'album è necessario inquadrare il contesto in cui si colloca: siamo nel 1993, il grunge è in piena esplosione e l'underground "viene a galla", nelle radio in mainstream passano successi di Nirvana e Pearl Jam. Un periodo che sicuramente molti rimpiangono oggi, ormai costretti a purghe radiofoniche quotidiane di a base di Ferro e Pausini.
L'artista in questione, già al suo secondo lavoro (il più acerbo ma non per questo meno apprezzabile "Dry") sicuramente risente dell'aria dell'ambiente alternative degli anni 90, ma non per questo tralascia le sue origini storiche: viene naturale avvicinarla alla leggendaria Patti Smith e molti brani risentono di energia esplosiva di evidente derivazione "zeppelliniana". Inoltre, la nostra PJ non è poi così lontana (anche se fa sporadico uso di elettronica) dal filone portato avanti, sempre dai primi anni '90, dalla sua quasi coetanea Bjork. Insomma, abbiamo un'artista di ampia veduta che guarda al presente affondando però le radici in un solido passato. Tutto questo emerge in "Rid of Me".
L'album inizia con l'omonimo brano, un continuo e delicato pluck di chitarra introduce la sensuale e confidente (quasi scabrosa, a volte) voce di PJ, che fa trattenere il fiato fino all'esplosione, quasi due minuti di pura poesia in gemiti fino al boom, che comunque non è troppo violento. Si prosegue con Missed, ballata grunge dove tutto è più tragico, più duro, ma non per questo meno sensuale. Legs fa intravedere la forte influenza che i Led Zeppelin hanno sicuramente avuto sulla nostra cantautrice, ma si pone sempre in quel velato mix di passato e presente (di allora) davvero effimero. Rub Til it Bleeds (titolo a chiara indicazione sessuale) è forse il brano più sensuale dell'album, PJ urla e geme, la musica la segue nell'orgasmo con le sue distorsioni quasi alla Sonic Youth. Il brano successivo, Hook, è probabilmente il brano che guarda più al passato, in quell'organetto distorto non è difficile immaginarsi persino i Doors. Man-size sixtet è uno spettacolare esperimento di riarrangiamento orchestrale dell'omonimo e successivo brano, veramente ben riuscito: la suadente e aggressiva voce si muove leggiadra tra gli archi quasi "impazziti" in schizzofrenie di "noise" orchestrale, veramente buono. Highway 61 revisited, cover del grande Dylan, è buona ma è forse il brano meno originale dell'album, sarà la pretesa di avvicendarsi al mito, ma non stupisce, pur restando nel complesso accettabile e discretamente aggressiva.
50th Queenie è uno schizzo di grunge che sa vagamente di country, condita con coretti in falsetto che altro non fanno che dare maggior senso di soffocamento e "pazzia" alla peculiare voce dell'artista, il brano si conclude lasciando un retrogusto di punk delle origini. Yuri-G cerca di combinare cattiveria con una viola schizzata che compare sporadcamente nell'arrangiamento, ma lascia il segno, "incide", le urla quasi disperate di PJ rendono bene l'animo della canzone. Man-size è probabilmente il brano migliore dell'album, inizia come il primo brano, soffuso ma graffiante, ma lascia già intravedere il cuore del pezzo che esplode già dopo solo un minuto; dal testo davvero affascinante, che lascia l'amaro in bocca, Pj vuole comunicare, diventare sensuale confidente del suo pensiero. Il brano finisce inaspettatamente, rimanendo "sospeso" permane nella mente fino alla fine dell'album sebbene non abbia un ritornello particolarmente orecchiabile. Dry è un' altra ballata grunge che però sfonda solo fino a un certo punto, non aggiunge nulla di nuovo. La canzone sembra un brano dei Pearl Jam cantato sensualmente da una donna, sicuramente di grande effetto ma forse di dubbio senso, l'abbinamento sta poco in piedi e il monotono assolo non migliora le cose, il brano peggiore, anche se non è comunque inascoltabile. Me-Jane sa di nuovo di country, sensuale e scandalosa PJ racconta, assorta poetessa, i suoi pensieri più insidiosi.
Snake è breve ma prende nella sua vena ondeggiante, parla di un "serpente"... (che abbia copiato dal Kobra della nostra grande Rettore?!??), non è di difficile interpretazione il senso metaforico del testo, aiutato dall'urlante e presuntuosa voce. Ecstasy è il modo più innaturale ma anche più stupefacente per concludere l'album. Sembra quasi una ballata, ma è troppo disperata per essere considerata tale. Il titolo si addice decisamente alla canzone, PJ geme urlante "give me ectsasy", impreca, prega sottomessa. Ma fino a poco fa non era la dominatrice, comandante e viziosa, che è successo? PJ ci ha presi un pò in giro! è tutto un sogno, una fantasia un pò erotica un pò spaventosa che ci ha promulgato apertamente, ci ha resi partecipi di questo suo meraviglioso incubo, è questo che vuole dirci alla fine.
Album veramente stupefacente, forse un pò aspro al primo ascolto ma va ascoltato attentamente e compreso, ne vale veramente la pena.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Rid of Me (04:29)
Tie yourself to me
No one else
No, you're not rid of me
Hmm you're not rid of me
Night and day I breathe
Ah hah ay
Hey, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
I beg you, my darling
Don't leave me, I'm hurting
Lick my legs I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
I'll tie your legs
Keep you against my chest
Oh, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
I'll make you lick my injuries
I'm gonna twist your head off, see
Till you say don't you wish you never never met her?
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her?
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her?
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her?
I beg you my darling
Don't leave me, I'm hurting
Big lonely above everything
Above everyday, I'm hurting
Lick my legs, I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Lick my legs, I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Yeah, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
I'll make you lick my injuries
I'm gonna twist your head off, see
Till you say don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Lick my legs I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Lick my legs I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
02 Missed (04:25)
He should not be hid
He's just too big
In a cloud please come down
I'd put stars at your feet
Put Mars in your head
Show yourself to me
And I'd believe
I'd moan and I'd weep
Fall silent at your speak
I'd burst in
Full to the brim
Mary lost her head
And let it bleed
Came crying back to me
"My son where's he hid?
Don't deny it
And don't you hide him"
No I've missed him X4
No words
No sign
Mary say
"I'm not lying"
How come he's so big
But good lord he's been hid
Good lord where you hid?
Ha!
No I've missed him X8
03 Legs (03:40)
Oh you're divine
Oh you're divine
Oh Oh Oh did I tell you you're divine
Oh Oh Oh Oh did I ever when you were alive
Did it hurt when you bled?
Did it, oh lover boy, oh fever head?
I'll bet you never thought I'd try
Your mouth, my love, was open wide
Singing oh you were going to be my life
Dammit!
Oh Oh Oh Oh you were going to be my life
Did you sing "Oh happy day"?
Singing it
Sing it that time I went away?
Got to ease my aching head
Do you know
No other way cut off your legs oh
Hey oh
Did you ever wish me dead
Oh lover boy, oh fever head?
No you must, no you must not go away
How will you ever walk again?
And I, I might as well be dead
But I could kill you instead...
04 Rub 'til It Bleeds (05:03)
Speak, I'm listening
Baby, I'm your sweet thing
Believe what I'm saying
God's truth, I'm not lying
I lie steady
Rest your head on me
I'll smooth it nicely
Rub it better 'till it bleeds
And you'll believe me
Caught out again
I'm calling you weak
Getting even
And I, I was joking
Sweet babe, let me stroke it
Take, I'm giving
God's truth, I'm not lying
And you'll believe me
I, I, I'm calling you in
And I'll make it better
I'll rub 'till it bleeds
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it, hey!
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it, hey!
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it
05 Hook (03:57)
I was blind
I was lame
I was nothing
'Till you came
You said "Babe,
Make you sing
Make you feel
Like some queen"
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Lord, he hooked me
Fish hook and line
And rode in fucking mad (?)
With a halo of deep black
'Til my love made me gag
Call him Daddy, take my hand
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Good Lord, he hooked me
Fish hook and line
I'm hooked
Oh higher
Oh beautiful
Oh higher
Oh beautiful
Oh higher
Now I'm blind and I'm lame
Left with nothing but his stain
"Daddy your maid, she can't sing
She can't feel, she's no queen!"
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Lord he hooked me
Fish hook and line
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Good lord he hooked me
'Leen out of time
08 50ft Queenie (02:23)
Hey I'm one big queen
No one can stop me
Red light red green
Sat back and watching
I'm your new one
Second to no one
No sweat I'm clean
Nothing can touch me
Tell you my name
F u and c k
50ft queenie
Force ten hurricane
Biggest woman
I could have ten sons
Ten gods ten queens
Ten foot and rising
Hey I'm the king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm twenty inches long
Glory, glory
Lay it all on me
50ft queenie
50 and rising
You bend over
Casanova
No sweat I'm clean
Nothing can touch me
Hey I'm the king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm twenty inches long
Hey I'm king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm thirty inches long
Hey I'm king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm forty inches long
Hey I'm king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm fifty inches long
50ft queenie x7
09 Yuri-G (03:28)
Hey there Luna
I'd like to tell ya
How sad am I
So love sick I could die
Needing water
My neck's stiff, my head hurts
Been looking up all night
Been looking at the Moon, she's so bright
She's so white
She's so clean
I'm telling you
She's everything
I'd give it all
My sorry eyes
Give just everything
She's got me so mesmerized
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
It's just the things that she does to me
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory
Told by a doctor,
"You make her figure
Needles stick in her
She'll be your Luna"
I stuck them in real clean
I stuck them in a mile
I drew her down on me
I drew her with a smile
I'd give it all you see
I'd give my sorry eyes
I'd give just everything
She's got me so mesmerized
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
It's just the things that she does to me
Yeah I thought I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory
I stuck them in a mile
I stuck them in real clean
I stuck them in a mile
I drew her down on me
I drew her with a smile
I'd give it all you see
I'd give my sorry eyes
I'd give just everything
She's got me so mesmerized
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
It's just the things that she does to me
Yeah I thought I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
I let her walk all over me
Yeah I thought I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory X3
10 Man-Size (03:16)
I'm coming up man-sized
Skinned alive
I want to fit
I've got to get
Man-sized
I'm heading on
Handsome
Got my leather boots on
Got my girl and she's a wow
I cast my iron knickers down
Man-sized no need to shout
Can you hear, can you hear me now?
I'm man-sized
Man-sized
I'll measure time
I'll measure height
I'll calculate
My birthrite
Good Lord I'm big
I'm heading on
Man-size
Got my leather boots on
Got my girl and she's a wow
I cast my iron knickers down
Man-sized no need to shout
Can you hear, can you hear me now?
My babe looking cool and neat
I'm pretty sure good enough to eat
Man-size no need to shout
Let it all, let it all hang out
I'm man-size
Man-size X7
Silence my lady head
Get girl out of my head
Douse hair with gasoline
Set it light and set it free
Silence my lady head
Get girl out of my head
Douse hair with gasoline
Set it light and set it free
11 Dry (03:23)
I caught it in the face
Coming around again
I thought it was worth waiting
You're caught up in my head
Wet sides from time to time
But mostly I'm just dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You've come all this way
No hair out of place
You put it on the stage
You put right in my face
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
No water well in sight
No water at my sides
I'm sucking on the well
I'm sucking 'till I'm white
But you leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
13 Snake (01:36)
You snake
You crawled
Between
My legs
Said "Want
It all?
It's yours
You bet
I'll make
You queen
Of everything
No need
For God
No need
For him
Just take
My hand
You'll be
My bride
Just take
That fruit
Put it
Inside"
You snake
You dog
You fake
You liar
I've burned
my hands
I'm in
the fire
Awooooooh....oooooooohhhh
You salty dog
You filthy liar
My heart
It aches
I'm in
The fire
You snake (You snake)
I ate (I ate)
A true (A true)
Belief (Belief)
Good Lord (Good Lord)
That fruit's (That's fruit's)
Inside (Inside)
Of me (Of me)
Oh Adam (Oh Ad-)
Please (-am please)
You must (You must)
Believe (Believe)
That snake (That snake)
Put it (Put it)
In front (In front)
Of me (Of me)
That snake
Put it
In front
Of me
In front
Of me
14 Ecstasy (04:27)
Flying
I'm flying
Hitting heavens high
I'm head on brake too low
Floating
I'm floating
Hanging below the sea
I'm telling you look at me
Ecstasy
I'm in ec...ecstasy
Singing
I'm singing. Yah!
Sounding hanging breathe
I'm begging you look at me
Ecstasy
I'm in ec....ecstasy
Ecstasy
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