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Prologo: Così si pronunciò Shaun Morgan, frontman del gruppo, nel presentare, a pochi giorni dal lancio, questo Karma And Effect: "Dopo Disclaimer tenevamo a discostarci dal paragone con i Nirvana, e per questo, con il secondo album, volevamo soltanto fare un disco di puro e classico rock'n' roll".
Questo l'antefatto. Quindi per favore, attenetevi alle parole della voce dei Seether, e non fasciatevi la testa cercando definizioni forzate che infastidiscono e basta, come post grunge, neo alternative, numetal, hard rock o quelle a cui molti di voi sono abituati nel classificare un certo tipo di musica. Qui si tratta soltanto di rock: chitarra, basso, batteria e voce!
Ed il punto è che Karma And Effect, al primo ascolto, è già un caposaldo del genere. Il miglior disco che il quartetto proiveniente dal Sudafrica potesse sfornare dopo l'eccellente debutto Disclaimer.
Certo, i Seether non hanno inventato nulla di nuovo, altri gruppi sono passati nella scia tracciata da Kurt Cobain, ma non per questo essi lo debbano aver fatto con risultati soddisfacenti (vedi Nickelback, PuddleOfMudd, Cold, Pillar...). Inoltre lo stile ed il sound dei Seether richiama molto all'attenzione gli Staind, è innegabile, ma se ne discosta per la voce più incisiva di Shaun, il quale riesce a raggiungere una vasta gamma di tonalità (e dal vivo non perde in qualità, ve lo assicuro!!), e per l'ampia scelta di canzoni che i Seether riescono a suonare.
Il disco comincia subito in maniera roboante con "Because Of Me", un vortice di potenza che ti trascina dentro e non ti molla fino alla fine. In quest'avvio è senz'altro concentrata l'impronta dei Seether: sound di notevole impatto, riff più melodici ma di grande presa. Quello di "Remedy" ad esempio, il primo singolo, sarà difficile da dimenticare, ed anche "Truth" - fra i punti più alti di Karma And Effect - continua con energia sulla stessa falsariga.
Ad ammorbidire l'atmosfera ci pensa "The Gift", proprio un dono di Shaun e soci, vista la profondità che riesce a raggiungere durante i 5' e mezzo della sua durata. Con "Burrito", altro capolavoro, si chiude la prima parte: la consiglio di ascoltare tutto d'un fiato. "Given" è invece un pò l'intermezzo, spezza il ritmo dell'album, che tuttavia riprende immediato con 2Never Leave", pezzo d'atmosfera in cui Shaun dimostra ancora una volta la validità della sua lirica.
"World Falls Away" è un tentativo dei Seether di sfociare nel campo del sociale, e forse da questo punto di vista i quattro hanno ancora da lavorare, dato che nel complesso non è certo fra le song che più rimangono impresse. Qui comincia la seconda parte: "Tongue" è fantastica, ("Goodbye cruel world, the last you see me drown"), un piccolo gioiello, a mio parere la più intensa ed emozionante, mentre in "I'm The One", la più "punkeggiante", Shaun scimmiotta Dave Grohl.
Dicevamo prima: Rock allo stato puro! E l'esempio migliore viene da "Simplest Mistake", follia allo stato puro, più di 5 minuti nella quale i Seether dimostrano di saperci fare con gli strumenti che suonano. In questa dodicesima traccia (14 in tutto ricordiamocelo, non poche per un album così qualitativo) trasuda tutta la rabbia e la potenza del gruppo.
Cupa e misteriosa "Diseased", pezzo tuttavia molto efficace, Karma And Effect si chiude con "Plastic Man", unica canzone acustica presente che, sulla falsariga di Broken, ma con testo e musica più scuri, regala un'atmosfera unica ed eterea.
In conclusione posso dire che i Seether hanno colpito ancora. Ci vorrebbero sicuramente in giro album di così notevole impatto. Musicalmente ben strutturato (ogni canzone nasconde un piccolo mini assolo), testi autobiografici ma efficaci, molto carina l'idea della ghost track finale in cui Shaun e soci ringraziano per l'ascolto nella loro lingua madre. Karma And Effect è un disco da collezione, per gli amanti del vecchio grunge sicuro, ma anche per tutti coloro che amano in genere il rock. E Karma And Effect lo contiene, ad alto livello. Unica pecca la disposizione delle canzoni nell'album, praticamente identica a quella di Disclaimer, ma in fondo come si dice... squadra che vince non si cambia.
Voto 9.
Elenco tracce testi e video
02 Remedy (03:27)
Throw your dollar bills and leave your thrills all here with me
And speak but don't pretend I won't defend you anymore you see
It aches in every bone, I'll die alone, but not for you
My eyes don't need to see that ugly thing, I know it's me you fear
If you want me hold me back
Frail, the skin is dry and pale, the pain will never fail
And so we go back to the remedy
Clip the wings that get you high, just leave them where they lie
And tell yourself, "You'll be the death of me"
I don't need a friend, I need to mend so far away
So come sit by the fire and play a while, but you can't stay too long
It aches in every bone, I'll die alone, but not for pleasure
I see my heart explode, it's been eroded by the weather here
If you want me hold me back
Frail, the skin is dry and pale, the pain will never fail
And so we go back to the remedy
Clip the wings that get you high, just leave them where they lie
And tell yourself, "You'll be the death of me"
Frail, the skin is dry and pale, the pain will never fail
And so we go back to the remedy
Clip the wings that get you high, just leave them where they lie
And tell yourself, "You'll be the death of me"
Hold your eyes closed, take me in
Hold your eyes closed, take me in
Frail, the skin is dry and pale, the pain will never fail
And so we go back to the remedy
Clip the wings that get you high, just leave them where they lie
And tell yourself, "You'll be the death of me"
Frail, the skin is dry and pale, the pain will never fail
And so we go back to the remedy
Clip the wings that get you high, just leave them where they lie
And tell yourself, "You'll be the death of me"
03 Truth (03:50)
If I gave you the truth, would it keep you alive?
Though I'm closer to wrong
I'm no further from right
And now I'm convinced on the inside that something's wrong with me
Convinced on the inside, you're so much more than me, yeah
No there's nothing you say that can salvage the lie
But I'm trying to keep my intentions disguised
And now I'm deprived of my conscience and something's got to give
Deprived of my conscience
This all belongs to me, yeah
I'm beaten down again, I belong to them
Beaten down again, I've failed you
I'm weaker now my friend, I belong to them
Beaten down again, I've failed you
The deception you show is your own parasite
Just a word of advice you can heed if you like
And now I'm convinced on the inside that something's wrong with me
Convinced on the inside you're so much more than me, yeah
I'm beaten down again, I belong to them
Beaten down again, I've failed you
I'm weaker now my friend, I belong to them
Beaten down again, I've failed you (2x)
I'm beaten down
I'm beaten down
I'm beaten down
I'm beaten down
04 The Gift (05:34)
Hold me now I need to feel relief
Like I never wanted anything
I suppose I'll let this go and find a reason I'll hold on to
I'm so ashamed of defeat
And I'm out of reason to believe in me
I'm out of trying to get by
I'm so afraid of the gift you give me
I don't belong here and I'm not well
I'm so ashamed of the lie I'm living
Right on the wrong side of it all
I can't face myself when I wake up
And look inside a mirror
I'm so ashamed of that thing
I suppose I'll let it go
Untill I have something more to say for me
I'm so afraid of defeat
And I'm out of reason to believe in me
I'm out of trying to defy
I'm so afraid of the gift you give me
I don't belong here and I'm not well
I'm so ashamed of the lie I'm living
Right on the wrong side of it all
Hold me now I need to feel complete
Like I matter to the one I need
I'm so afraid of the gift you give me
I don't belong here and I'm not well
I'm so ashamed of the lie I'm living
Right on the wrong side of it all
Now I'm ashamed of this
I am so ashamed of this
Now I'm so ashamed of this
I am so ashamed of me...
05 Burrito (03:51)
I try to hide myself
Give this to someone else
My hands are stained with scum
Wish I could wash it away
You keep taking, taking away
And keep breaking, breaking, break
I can't believe in yesterday
I feel you coming in
I can't just stand by and watch you
Save yourself as you fall from grace
When you come around, I won't be your sympathy
The worst is over now
You said it anyhow
My life in monochrome
Wish I could regain control
You keep taking, taking away
I keep faking, faking, fake
I can't believe in yesterday
I feel you coming in
I can't just stand by and watch you
Save yourself as you fall from grace
When you come around, I won't be your sympathy
Find me, feel me, fill me, then cut me up again
Find me, feel me, fill me, then cut me up!
HATE
ME
I can't believe in yesterday
I feel you coming in
I can't just stand by and watch you
Save yourself as you fall from grace
When you come around, I won't be your sympathy (2x)
HATE
09 Tongue (04:05)
Well the tongue inside my mouth is not for sale
Any spirit left in me is fading fast
Could you throw another stone to ease my pain?
Could you throw another stone to seal my faith?
'Cause I didn't believe in this world anymore, anymore
I don't believe in me
And if I can rise above this I'll be saved
Can anybody save me?
And if I can die for love, then I'm enslaved
Can anybody save me?
Second chances are too few and far between
Will to change this circumstance eludes me still
Should I grow another shell in which to live?
Should I grow another shell and not forgive?
I don't believe in this world, anymore, anymore
I don't believe in me
And if I can rise above this I'll be saved
Can anybody save me?
And if I can die for love, then I'm enslaved
Can anybody save me?
Goodbye cruel world
Goodbye cruel world
Goodbye cruel world at last you see me drown
And if I can rise above this I'll be saved
Can anybody save me?
And if I can die for love, then I'm enslaved
Can anybody save me? (2x)
Goodbye cruel world
Goodbye cruel world
10 I'm the One (02:49)
Here she's coming and she's drunk again
She's only seventeen
Her daddy said "well that's enough of that come be my little queen"
And now he's touching her wrong again
He's gonna give her disease
He never wanted it anyway
He only does as he please
Won't you tell her that I said I'm the one
I couldn't hurt her like everyone
And tell her that I said I'm the one
And I don't deserve her
Here he's coming and he's drunk again
He's on amphetamines
Scratch his nails down the other leg
'Cause you're my little queen
And now he's touching her wrong again
She's only trying to get by
He never wanted it anyway
He never soils the child
Won't you tell her that I said I'm the one
I couldn't hurt her like everyone
And tell her that I said I'm the one
And I don't deserve her
Won't you tell her that I said I'm the one
I couldn't hurt her like everyone
And tell her that I said I'm the one
And I don't deserve her
We're coming for you
You
Won't you tell her that I said I'm the one
I couldn't hurt her like everyone
And tell her that I said I'm the one
And I don't deserve her
Won't you tell her that I said I'm the one
I couldn't hurt her like everyone
And tell her that I said I'm the one
And I don't deserve her
11 Simplest Mistake (05:28)
Watch it blow my mind
It's something I am ill-prepared to remedy
But let it slow the time
It takes to die and close your eyes to your enemy
Defy!
Self-made millionaires won't take ideas
From all the little plebeians just suffocate with smiles
And force fed lies
And close your mind to reality
Deny
It feels like I'm losing again
When I've lost everything
I'm sure I will see more clearly
Lose what I'm feeling to them
And not feeling anything
I'm sure I will bleed sincerely
Tonight!
So you make the simplest mistake
So you make the simplest mistake
And fearlessly you deny your involvement in my demise
But give me your open hand
12 Diseased (03:40)
Leave your mark under my skin
Oh my how strong you are
And feast your eyes on my disdain
And hope this one won't scar
I will never belong to you, again
I will never belong to you,
Push if you still need my pain
Cause I will never tell
And scream if you still hate my name
Cause I'll be where I fell
Come sit close to me,
Let me feel your breath
Come sit close to me
Hands around my neck
Come sit close to me,
Let me feel your breath
Come sit close to me, close to me, yeah
I will never belong to you, again
I will never belong to you
If I decide that I am alive
Than I'm diseased and ungrateful
And if I confide that I am a liar
Than I'm diseased and ungrateful
Push it in 'til it breaks, if it bleeds then I'll be okay
If I decide that I am alive
Than I'm diseased and ungrateful
And if I confide that I am a liar
Than I'm diseased and ungrateful
If I decide that I am alive
Than I'm diseased and ungrateful
if I confide that I am a liar
Than I'm diseased and ungrateful
Come sit close to me
Come sit close to me
Come sit close to me
Come sit close to me
13 Plastic Man (03:53)
I am a plastic man. Wish I could be the one you could be proud of.
I'm losing heart again. Wish I could show you what you think I'm made of.
Someday I know I'll find my place. Someday I know this pain will fade.
I am a perfect sale, just wrap me up with a bow and flowers.
I will neglect to tell, I'll sell your story that we love each other.
someday I know I'll find my place, someday I know this pain will fade.
someday I know I'll find my place, someday I'll sing my last refrain.
Why don't you let me be, and I'll pretend I'm well.
'Cause you're too blind to see, and I'm too tired to tell.
and in your apathy, your head begins to swell.
another tradegy, but you're too cold to feel.
someday I know I'll find my place, someday I know this pain will fade.
someday I know I'll find my place, someday I'll sing my last refrain.
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Altre recensioni
Di Brizz89
Del quartetto sudafricano questo album è il migliore, ed è il capostipite di questo genere.
L'album è bello, godibile; niente di particolare per chi ha già sentito gli altri, ma nasconde con discrezione un eloquente salto di qualità.
