• Voto:
No, Swoon non fu un ingenuo debutto e non può essere classificato come tale.
È vero che in Steve McQueen finirono quelli che ad oggi sono riconosciuti -giustamente- come i brani più incisivi della band, ma se si considera il fatto che i Prefab Sprout iniziarono a farsi conoscere in giro per i locali come un gruppo punk che dalle etichette discografiche inglesi riceveva i due di picche, Swoon fu un eclatante virata.
Con i soldi ricavati grazie ai lavoretti dei fratelli McAloon, fu possibile stampare le copie dei primi singoli autoprodotti. Grazie alla determinazione del quartetto (nel frattempo la loro estimatrice Wendy Smith entrò a far parte del gruppo) i nuovi brani arrivarono alle orecchie di Keith Armstrong, che li mise sotto contratto. La Kitchenware Records, infatti, è sin dagli albori legata indissolubilmente alla storia dei Prefab Sprout e viceversa.
Paddy McAloon e la sua dedizione incessante per il cantautorato e per la composizione; una macchina sforna brani (esistono interi album che per un motivo o per un altro non sono mai stati pubblicati ufficialmente). Elogiato dai più seppur un outsider di indole.
L'anima del gruppo non si è mai piegata troppo ai fini commerciali, e non ha mai tradito i propri intenti. Basti dare un'occhiata (anche se io consiglierei di immergersi come si deve) agli interessanti titoli scelti per le tracce, ai termini utilizzati, ai testi. Storie e turbamenti esaminati con fare letterario; non v'è spazio per la vacuità e per i riempitivi nelle tracklist di questi dischi. Swoon non fa eccezione.
Tra i cori angelici di Wendy Smith e i curiosi giri di basso di Martin McAloon, non posso far a meno che elogiare quella che ritengo la migliore traccia del disco, ovvero Couldn't Bear To Be Special.
L'alone di quest'ultima è inquieto, intimo e particolarmente malinconico. Anche la prova vocale del leader trasmette le medesime sensazioni.
Don't expect so much of me, I'm just an also-ran. There's a mile between the way you see me and the way I am.
Non aspettarti troppo da me, sono uno dei tanti partecipanti a questa corsa. C'è un miglio di distanza tra come mi vedi e come sono.
Questo debutto potrebbe contenere le melodie più ostiche da assimilare dell'intero catalogo dei Prefab Sprout, ma proprio per questo motivo risulta invitante.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Don't Sing (03:53)
An outlaw stand in a peasant land, in every face see Judas.
The burden of love is so strange.
The stubborn beast and the priest, are hiding from the captians.
The burden of love is so plain.
Are they happy to see you?
No, you always bring trouble.
Cast a shadow on Mexico-denial doesn't change facts.
Like most I'll cone when I want things done,
please God don't let that change.
The anguish of love at long range.
Should've been a doctor, oh, then they can see what they're getting.
Oh no, don't blame Mexico,
that's the feast that the whisky priest may yet have to forego.
Rob me a colour, make the sound duller, but never go away.
Trough teeth of sharks the Autumn barks, and Winter squarely bites me.
Don't ever do this again.
Dawn breaks in the Southern States, and blindfolded he rests,
the burden of loves last request.
That's the feast that the whisky priest may yet have to forego.
Oh no, don't blame Mexico,
they ask for more than you bargained for and then they ask for more.
Oh no, don't blame Mexico,
that's the feast that the whisky priest may yet have to forego.
They ask for more than you bargained for and then they ask for more.
Rob me a colour, make the sound duller, but never go away.
02 Cue Fanfare (04:06)
Some expressions take me back, like "Hair of Gold" and
"Sweet Mary" and "Running to Me".
The sweet sweet songs that cloud your eyes - nostalgia supplies.
Loredo hihgstreet buried me - beneath an oak tree.
As This Is To Me: then so to you is something else,
that keeps you up long past your bedtime, tearing hair.
The sweetest moment comes at last - The waitings over,
in shock they stare and cue fanfare.
When Bobby Fischer's plane - plane plane - touches the ground -
plane plane he'll take those Russian boys and play them out of town.
The sweetest moment comes at least - the waitings over,
in shock they stare and cue fanfare.
When Bobby Fischer's plane - plane plane - touches the ground -
plane plane he'll take those Russian boys and play them out of town,
playing for blood as grandmasters should.
Some obsessions take me back, like "Hair of Golf" and "Sweet Mary"
and "Running to me".
The sweet sweet songs that cloud your eyes - nostalgia supplies.
Loredo hihgstreet buried me - beneath an oak tree.
05 Cruel (04:24)
Cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
There is no Chicago urban blues, more heartfelt than my lament for you.
I'm a liberal guy, too cool for the macho ache, with a secret tooth,
for the cherry on the cake.
With a pious smile, a smile that changes what I say.
While I waste my time, inregretting that the days,
went from perfect to just O.K.
Lordy, What would I do? Don't call me possessive,
but God if he's smoochin' with you.
I's a jealous boy root, -the world shoyuld be free,
but don't you go following suit my heart is aligned-
it couldn't be neutral, I couldn't be that way inclined.
Its hard to defend, ba ba ba, ba, ba ba,
these feelings tuppentup friend.
Its cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba,
ba ba Its cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba,
ba ba Its cruel, its crueler than cruel.
But cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
Should a love be tender, and bleed out loud?
Or be tougher than tough, and prouder than proud.
If I'm troubled by every folding of your skirt,
am I guilty of every male inflicted hurt?
But I don't know how to describe the Modern Rose,
When I can't refer to her shape against her clothes.
With the fever of purple prose.
But cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
Cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
-My contribution, to urban blues.
06 Couldn't Bear to Be Special (03:50)
BO BO BEE, BO BEE, BO BO-BO BEE, BO BEE, BO
I couldn't bear to be special, I couldn't bear, couldn't bear. I couldn't bear, right ?
BO BEE, BO BEE, BO
So don't look at me and say, that I'm the very one, who makes the cornball things occur, the shiver of the fur.
Don't expect so much of me, I'm just an also-ran,
there's a mile between the way you see me and the way I am.
So, don't stare at me that way, of course it gives me pride,
but I won't take on the risk, of letting down the sweet sweet side
Did you mean to humble me ?
So you did it unsuspectingly !
Oh words are trains, for moving past what really has no name.
BO BO BEE, BO BEE, BO
I couldn't bear to be special, I couldn't bear, couldn't bear.
So, don't look at me and say, that I'm the very one, who makes the cornball things occur, the shiver of the fur, right ?
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