• Voto:
Ci sono album che cambiano la vita di una persona, che ti lasciano dentro un qualcosa di intenso, di magico, a tal punto che poi non puoi più farne a meno. Sono quegli album che rappresentano te stesso, la tua persona, il tuo modo di essere.
'Steve McQueen' dei Prefab Sprout è uno di questi dischi. I Prefab Sprout erano una band inglese di pop rock, che raggiunse un grande successo negli anni '80. Il gruppo era formato dal carismatico Paddy McAloon che era contemporaneamente cantante, chitarrista e tastierista della band, Wendy Smith voce e chitarra, Martin McAloon al basso e Neil Conti alla batteria. Il motore dei Prefab era Paddy McAloon, il leader del gruppo. Ad un primo ascolto sembra un album molto leggero, ma se si dedica maggiore attenzione ci si accorge che è un lavoro estremamente curato, sia negli arrangiamenti, sia nei testi, sia nella tecnica dei musicisti. Una curiosità: Steve McQueen negli Stati Uniti uscì con il titolo ‘'Two Wheels Good‘'.
Steve McQueen è un album pop-rock molto solare e ispirato. Durante l'ascolto non si trovano punti deboli in questo grande disco. Bellissima la copertina che ritrae i componenti del gruppo in sella ad una moto. Non resta che salire in sella alla moto e partire insieme a loro.
Apre l'album ‘'Faron Young‘' canzone dal sapore country, che è dotata di un andamento molto veloce. ‘'Bonny‘' è la tipica canzone dei Prefab con la voce di Paddy McAloon che dialoga con la chitarra e con la splendida voce di Wendy Smith. ‘'Appetite‘' per me la traccia da archiviare, è una canzone molto sentimentale che tocca il tema dell'amore. ‘'When Love Breaks Down‘' è un brano profondo e superbo con cori bellissimi. Dal sapore jazz è ‘'Goodbye Lucille # 1‘'. ‘'Hallelujah‘' nel quale Paddy e Wendy cantano alla perfezione questo ottimo pezzo. ‘'Moving The River‘' che riassume l'essenza della band, un pop - rock di ottima fattura. Altro brano molto ispirato è ‘'Horsin Around‘'. ‘'Desire As‘' è una traccia molto bella e eseguita al meglio dai Prefab, come ‘'Blueperry Pies‘'. Chiude l'album ‘'When The Angels‘', che già dal titolo fa sognare, è una canzone molto ispirata nella quale Paddy McAloon si esprime al meglio. Ogni brano del disco è il perfetto esempio di quel pop - rock composto dai grandi artisti.
Con quest'album i Prefab Sprout hanno rappresentato gli anni '80, con canzoni profonde e di grande sentimento. Un disco di una freschezza invidiabile, che sembra uscito ieri, profondamente originale! Attuale, malinconico, ma soprattutto unico.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Faron Young (03:50)
Antiques !
Every other sentiments an antique
As obsolete as warships in the baltic
I'm driving on a straight road it never alters
And the radio serenades but doesn't falter
You offer infrared instead of sun
You offer paper spoons and bubble gum
Late sky
Like an all night radio station
Without morning
Like stumbling on pearl harbour
Without warning
You offer infrared instead of sun
You offer bubble gum
You give me faron young four in the morning
You give me faron young four in the morning
Every mother's son's romantic
Every mother's son's frantic !
The sunset makes a fence out of the forest
But here I am with head inside the bonnet
I've lost just what it takes to be honest
You offer infrared instead of sun
You offer bubble gum
You give me faron young four in the morning
You give me faron young four in the morning
Forgive me faron young four in the morning
Forgive me faron young four in the morning
02 Bonny (03:45)
I spend the days with my vanity
I'm lost in heaven and I'm lost to earth
Didn't give you minutes not even moments
All my life in a tower of foil
Shaded feelings, don't believe you
When you were there before my eyes
No one planned it took it for granted
I count the hours since you slipped away
I count the hours that I lie awake
I count the minutes and the seconds too
All I stole and I took from you
But Bonny don't live at home, he don't live at home
Words don't hold you, broken soldiers
INSTRUMENTAL
I count the hours since you slipped away
I count the hours that I lie awake
I count the minutes and the seconds too
All I stole and I took from you
But Bonny don't live at home, he don't live at home
Words don't hold you, broken soldiers
All my silence and my strained respect
Missed chances and the same regrets
Kiss the thief and you save the rest
All my insights from retrospect
But Bonny's not coming home, he don't live at home
Save your speeches, flowers are for funerals
03 Appetite (03:56)
Please be careful is never careful
Till it hears the gun
She will always pay the bills
For the having big fun
He talks so well, what can you do,
It's pretty plain he means it too
I don't want to sell you lines,
I only mean to do you right
But I'm a simple slave of appetite,
I'm a poor slave of appetite
Hunger howls, hungers red,
Hungers stays till it's fed
Then it some h-h-how fades,
Then it somehow leaves your sight
Depending on it's appetite,
Depending on your appetite
So if you take - Then put back good
If you steal - be Robin Hood
If your eyes are wanting all you see
Then I think I'll name you after me
I think I'll call you appetite
Here she is with two small problems
And the best part of the blame
Wishes she could call him heartache
But it's not a boy's name
If you grow up to be, just like him, just like me
You're fighting for exclusive rights,
For honeymoons each sleepless night
In which case I'll call you appetite
Yes I think I'll call you appetite
So if you take - Then put back good
If you steal - be Robin Hood
If your eyes are wanting all you see
Then I think I'll name you after me
I think I'll call you appetite
So if you take - Then put back good
If you steal - be Robin Hood
If your eyes are wanting all you see
Then I think I'll name you after me
I think I'll call you appetite
Then I think I'll name you after me
I think I'll call you appetite
04 When Love Breaks Down (04:08)
My love and I, we work well together
But often we're apart
Absence makes the heart lose weight, yeah,
Till love breaks down, love breaks down
Oh my, oh my, have you seen the weather
The sweet September rain
Rain on me like no other
Until I drown, until I drown
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you
When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you
When love breaks down, when love breaks down
My love and I, we are boxing clever
She'll never crowd me out
Fall be free as old confetti
And paint the town, paint the town
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurtin’ you
When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurtin’ you
When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you
When love breaks down
You join the wrecks
Who leave their hearts for easy sex
When love breaks down
When love breaks down
05 Goodbye Lucille #1 (04:31)
Ooh johnny johnny johnny there is time for tears
Ooh johnny johnny johnny you won’t make it any better
Ooh johnny johnny johnny you might well make it worse
Ooh johnny johnny johnny I advise you to forget her
Ooh johnny johnny ooh
You’re not the first though it hurts, johnny johnny ooh...
What are you twenty-one ?
Ooh johnny johnny johnny why don’t you give it a rest
Ooh johnny johnny johnny the world is a million
Ooh johnny johnny johnny there can be no contest
Ooh johnny johnny ooh
Life’s not complete till your heart’s missed a beat
And you’ll never make it up, or turn back the clock
No you won’t, no you won’t
No you won’t, no you won’t
Johnny johnny ooh
Ooh johnny johnny johnny she is a person too
Ooh johnny johnny johnny she has her own will
Ooh johnny johnny johnny why don’t you join the foreign legion
Ooh johnny johnny johnny you’re still in love with hayley mills
Ooh johnny johnny ooh
Life’s not complete till your heart’s missed a beat
And you’ll never make it up, or turn back the clock
No you won’t, no you won’t
No you won’t, no you won’t
Johnny johnny ooh
Johnny johnny ooh
06 Hallelujah (04:21)
There are all kinds of things I could ask you if I choose
But I don't do I dear good intentions don't survive here
No instead my requests tend to be dumb as hell
Move in close, closer still, I hear the songs of Georgie Gershwin
I swear at you 'cos I believe that sweet talk like candy rots teeth
No Hallelujahs, or gifted voices
To sing your praises I'd be walking on wheels
No whoops or war crys or caramias
All translations will read "Marry me now"
Well I sing to express my belief that sweet talk like candy rots teeth
With his hand on his heart, it's a posing place
While draining the mystery from your face
He admits all he's chasing is the chase
But you won't let him run
You make him suffer for all he's gone done
He'll still be hurting when the kingdom comes
Move in close till you see, he only wants what he can't have
So when he gets it he's good as bad
Move in close, closer still, I hear the songs of Georgie Gershwin
Oh Hallelujah, how I'm walking on wheels
07 Moving the River (03:58)
You surely are a truly gifted kid
But you're only good as
The last great thing you did
And where've you been since then
Did the schedule get you down
I hear you've got a new girlfriend
How's the wife taking it ?
If it's uphill all the way you should be used to it by now
You must know me, Father it's your son
And I know that you are proud of everything I've done
But it's the wonders I perform,
Pulling rabbits out of hats
When sometimes I'd prefer
Simply to wear them
If it's uphill all the way you should be used to it and say
My back is broad enough sir to take the strain and it's
Hello mother, it's your son and aren't you proud, of all I've done
But I'm turkey hungry, I'm chicken free, and I can't breakdance on your knee
But it's "stay right there son, baby do", while I is itchin' for something new
So watch me hawkeye and understand the force of will, the sleight of hand
Movin' the river, I'm turkey hungry, I'm chicken free and I can't breakdance on your knee
Movin' the river, bucket by spoon, and do you think that they'll like me when they learn what I o
Movin' the river, money for jam, and it takes such an effort to stay where I am...
08 Horsin' Around (04:40)
It's me again your worthless friend or foe
I somehow let that lovely creature down
Horsin' around, horsin' around
Some things we check and double check and lose
I guess I let that little vow get lost
Forgettin' the cost, forgettin' the cost
Quick to forgive and so slow to blame, the very thought fills me with shame
But that didn't stop it happening
The thrill of it - can I call it that ? - was cheap
And feeling cheap's the only thing you keep
It's so unsightly to walk from her arms so lightly
Selling it all up the swanee
Horsin' around's a serious business, last thing you'd want somebody to witness
I was the fool who always presumed that I'd wear the shoes and you'd be the doormat
You wonder why my hands are still shaking : In need of a cry the shoulders are taken...
I deserve to be kicked so badly
You deserve more than I sold you for
Horsin' around, horsin' around
The moral is whatever else you learn
You shouldn't let that lovely creature down
Lord just blind me, don't let her innocent eyes remind me
Selling it all up the swanee
Horsin' around, horsin' around.
09 Desire As (05:20)
Desire As
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
They were the best times, the harvest years with jam to lace the bread
So goodness, goodness knows why I'd throw it to the birds
But there it is, and there we are
And all I ever want to be is far from the eyes that ask me
In whose bed you gonna be and is it true you only see
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
It's perfect as it stands so why then crush it in your perfect hands ?
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
So tell me you must have thought it all out in advance
Or goodness, goodness knows why you'd throw it to the birds
You mock the good things, you play the heart strings, play them one by one
But there it is, and there we are
And all I ever want to be is far from the eyes that ask me
In whose bed you gonna be and is it true you only see
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
It's perfect as it stands so why then crush it in your perfect hands ?
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
In whose bed you gonna be and is it true you only see
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
It's perfect as it stands so why then crush it in your perfect hands ?
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
Desire as a self-figured creature who changes her mind ?
I've got six things on my mind you're no longer one of them
10 Blueberry Pies (02:24)
Lying is killing the good things in me
Ask me what the time is baby, ask me honey
My eyes shift and slide
Sure there are reasons for acting like this
But reasons are kill kill killing the everything we do
Who said we'd be happy the more that we knew ?
Oh don't come a calling with "answer me" eyes
All you'll get my baby are blueberry pies
INSTRUMENTAL
But your being lovely,
And your being good
Only depresses me, knowing how oddly I'm behaving
Hello stranger - (The) stranger I've become - I'm an air raid
Leaving both us orphans and four fifths afraid
So if I come begging with take me back eyes
All you have to tell me
All you have to tell me are blueberry, blueberry pies.
11 When the Angels (04:29)
When the angels take the angel voice away
some lower their eyes, some of us shout cheats
or cheating on the deal, pulling off the sting,
tuning up the harps, dishing out the wings
If they can dance on, on the head of a pin
Don't that tell you something about their skin
Hard faced little bastards
When the angels take the angel voice away
Jealously they see the sometimes man you'd be
Must get so blasé, knowing you'll never die,
Lounging on a cloud ; polishing the sky
The memories are blue, but borrowed for the day
They sit around ignored, till someone goes away
If they can dance on, on the head of a pin
Don't that tell you something about their skin
Hard faced little bastards
When the angels take the angel voice away
Jealously they see the sometimes man you'd be
INSTRUMENTAL
The memories are blue, but borrowed for the day
They sit around ignored, till someone goes away
For cheating on the deal, pulling off the sting,
Tuning up the harps, dishing out the wings
If they can dance... bastards
When the angels take the angel voice away
Jealously they see the sometimes man you'd be
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Altre recensioni
Di Socrates
Steve McQueen dei Prefab Sprout è quell'album che non si annuncia, ma ti corre incontro.
Si rimane sempre in balia delle stesse emozioni e degli stessi sentimenti.
