• Voto:
L'hard rock dei 70 ha avuto i suoi mostri sacri (inutile citarli), quello degli 80 ha visto la nascita di nuove armi per la conquista di donne (Whitesnake su tutti), mentre quello dei 90 rappresenta la selezione naturale. Quando si diventa troppi e nuove specie invadono minacciose la scena, le major procedono ad un disboscamento selvaggio e casuale. Saltano fondi, contratti e produzioni. Un genere prende la via dell'estinzione nella realtà e quella delle "oldies" nelle rotazioni della tv reality. Ma tra i fusti di quercia rimasti sempre splendidamente in piedi c'è quello robusto e nodoso dei Tesla, band californiana che non ha conosciuto mai crisi dal punto di vista della produzione e che, oggettivamente, non credo abbia mai tirato fuori un disco che si potrebbe valutare con meno di quattro pallini. O pallottole?
I Tesla di cui vi voglio parlare sono nel loro periodo più florido e hanno già pubblicato due album in studio. Il primo nel 1985, Mechanical Resonance, biglietto da visita hard rock laccato di blues nel sound e di street nella produzione. Il secondo nel 1989, The Great Radio Controversy, in cui i nostri hanno continuato a calcare la mano sul compattezza dell'hard rock, prendendo una strada decisa e abolendo le minime contaminazioni modaiole e glamour dell'epoca. D'altronde, un passato on stage al fianco dei Dokken e di David Lee Roth - per citarne alcuni -, la produzione delle loro prime demo affidata alla legenda Ronnie Montrose e la firma sin da subito per la Geffen, che ha sempre mirato più al rock duro di qualità, rispetto alle tendenze sleaze, non poteva lasciare dubbi. Con queste credenziali i Tesla arrivano nel 1991 al momento verità: una volta sellato il cavallo, con cinque anni di preparazione dove la tecnica si è andata sempre più affinando, i ragazzi sono pronti per il "now or never". E la risposta è forever.
Un'ora netta di grande, sorprendente, articolato, sfaccettato, ricco, ben assemblato hard rock di primitiva forgia, che ci mostra i ragazzi di Sacramento nella loro forma migliore sia per la fase compositiva (partiture e songwriting da maestri artigiani dell'hard rock), sia per quella creativa e, se vogliamo, anche per quella enciclopedica. Padroneggiare un genere significa vivere con le mani costantemente calate sugli arnesi del mestiere e la testa impegnata ad incamerare, assorbire e rielaborare suoni per tirare fuori un prodotto di qualità. L'universalità di Psychotic Supper è il suo miglior pregio. È un disco di convergenza in cui le principali correnti del genere fanno conoscenza rispettandosi e trovando immediatamente i giusti equilibri per una convivenza pacifica. Notevole, infatti, è la strategia nella selezione della tracklist. Messi in fila in questa maniera, i 13 massicci brani dimostrano che la parola casualità non si è mai affacciata nella mente di nessuno abbia partecipato alla realizzazione del disco. Una muraglia sonora con fondamenta studiate da ingegneri del suono, eretta per difendere un genere e custodirlo gelosamente negli anni. Obiettivo raggiunto davvero alla grande.
Si parte con Change in the weather, insolita opener per un album hard rock, che farebbe immediatamente felici i fan di gruppi come i Molly Hatchet: si inizia a ritmo di country/southern, in un dispositivo ben congegnato e collaudato per durare un'ora. Chitarre solide e ben strutturate tengono il tempo rendendosi la vita difficile alla continua ricerca del riff complesso nel ritmo. Gli assoli vengono fuori a grappoli e sono tutti alternanze di virtuosismo e bestialità della durata di diversi secondi. Con Edison's Medicine prende piede l'hard rock marchiato Tesla. Brano culto per la band, il secondo dell'album contiene la scelta musicale che più ha caratterizzato il gruppo. È da qui in poi che si può parlare a buon diritto di un Tesla sound non più in fase embrionale. Poi c'è Don't De-Rock Me. Interrompo il ritmo con un punto perché bisogna sempre tirare il fiato dopo un pezzo del genere. Un rock così hard che può definirsi intimo amico dell'heavy. Jeff Keith scartavetra la sua voce ancor di più per l'occasione e arriva al corto circuito sonoro insieme a tutti gli altri componenti lanciatissimi in un brano pestaduro, nel momento in cui partono 3 sessioni di assolo sconvolgenti. Mai sentito un rock così duro in vita mia. Si riprende aria con Call It What You Want dal piglio melodico e roco, brano per hardrockers dal cuore tenero. Altra imperitura composizione dei Tesla è Song & Emotion, ballad carica di un pathos drammatico che conferma un ricercato uso di elettricità ed acustica, per un suono complessivo molto plastico che cede spazio alla ruvidezza solo nei momenti apicali di ogni canzone. Time è un brano, sicuramente l'unico, vittima d'infiltrazioni street seguito dai pochi secondi acustici che svolgono il ruolo di intervallo, di Government Personnel. Quando inizia il secondo round c'è subito Freedom Slaves, hard rock investito da correnti ascensionali che portano il genere sull'orlo del suo stesso essere, davanti ad un burrone di cui non si vede il fondo. Had Enough è un rock duro da motel, da vivere in jeans e camicia di flanella. Ha il compito di precedere What You give, la vera ballad di Psychotic Supper, che parte dalla voce raspante di Keith e da un accompagnamento acustico tremendamente coinvolgente, per arrampicarsi fino a una magnificente ed esplosiva orchestrazione di suoni che decretano il giusto successo (anche di classifica) di un brano dalle nobili origini. Dopo questa song, inevitabilmente cala il livello d'attenzione ma non scende di un millimetro la qualità. Dopo 10 canzoni i Tesla hanno già dimostrato quanto dovevano e si concedono tre brani più easy, distesi e da ascolto in moto, come piace dire a me. Tra Stir It Up e Toke About It io preferisco Can't Stop, hard rock scatenato che ha ceduto alle avances melodia.
Circa 130 i concerti per il tour che ha seguito il disco. Hard rock per defender. Disco praticamente imperdibile.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
02 Edison's Medicine (Man Out of Time) (04:46)
You're guilty of crime in the first degree,
Second and third as well.
My jury finds you'll be serving your time
When you go straight to hell.
'Cause he was Lord of the Lightning,
Though "socially fright'ning",
But never out to sell.
Their nickels and pence
Meant more than did sense,
And not the sensible thing.
Nor did the man outta time, man outta time.
Thought you was crazy. You was one of a kind.
Man outta time, man outta time.
All along, world was wrong. You was right.
All that he saw, all he conceived,
They just could not believe.
Steinmetz and Twain were friends that remained,
Along with number three.
He was electromagnetic, completely kinetic,
"New Wizard of the West."
But they swindled and whined that he wasn't our kind,
And said Edison knew best.
He was the man outta time, man outta time.
Thought you was crazy. You was one of a kind.
Man outta time, man outta time.
Said you was outta your mind!
You took a shot and it did you in.
Edison's medicine.
You played your cards, but you couldn't win.
Edison's medicine.
I spent twelve years of hard time,
More like the best years of my life.
Never heard or read a single word
About "the man" and his "wicked mind."
They'll sell you on Marconi.
Familiar, but a phony.
Story goes they sold their souls
And swore that you'd never know...
About the man outta time, man outta time.
Thought you was crazy. You was one of a kind.
Man outta time, man outta time.
Swore you was outta your mind!
You took a shot and it did you in.
Edison's medicine.
You played your cards, but you couldn't win.
Edison's medicine.
03 Don't De-Rock Me (05:10)
I ain't no program on your television screen.
They only taught me what they wanted me to be.
Heard all your so-called facts. Now hit me with the truth.
Takes a lotta nerve the way you played me for the fool.
It's my personal selection to fly in my own direction.
No time for fuckin' 'round with mediocrity.
Takes ev'rything I got just tryin' to be me.
Life's like a highway. We're all try'n' to stay on time.
Travel atcha own speed. You take your lane, I'll take mine.
Don't believe all that you hear or half of whatcha see.
'S'waste o' time to criticize. Don't de-rock me.
[Chorus:]
Don't de-rock me. Don't de-rock me.
You be you and I'll be me. Don't de-rock me.
"Backstage Betty", banana in her cherry, in the shower down on her knees.
Like to think she'll own ya if she'll do all that ya please.
Hurts like a mother bein' cursed by a punter who's five sheets to the wind.
Won't stop at nothin', claimin' to be cousin till security lets 'em in.
Now I'm no symbol of perfection, so why deal with this infection?
Tired of bein' treated like some piece of property.
Fakes, lies, patronizin' don't sit well with me.
Blastin' down the highway, try'n' to stay between the lines.
You can get to where you're go'n'. Just don't ignore the signs.
Don't de-rock me. Don't de-rock me.
'S'waste o' time to criticize. Don't de-rock me.
[Chorus]
04 Call It What You Want (04:30)
I'm in love with a lady
And I know the lady's in love with me
And she knows how to always be there
That's why she's willin' and ready
But now and then, every once in a while
Something inside of me, maybe inside of her...
Have you ever had one of those days
Where it all is going wrong
And it just can't seem to get along?
But through it all you know you're gonna make it.
Call it true love
Call it not meant to be
You can call it anything at all, you see.
Call it what you want
It's all the same to me.
Music means a lot to me
Like love, I make it when I can.
All I am is all I'll ever be
And that's just a boy from Texarkana.
But now and then oh, but once in a while,
They start treating me like some kind of superstar.
Need I mention, at the end of the day
What matters most of all
It's not where you're at
Or where you're comin' from
When all is said and done
You can call it...
Heavy metal, hard-core, pop, punk, or thrash
You can call it anything, it don't matter to me
Call it what you want
It's all music to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing...
Baby's lyin' in the cradle
Universe is all within his reach
Wearin' rags or mink and sable
Needs a guidin' hand or it's out on the streets
Now momma's out
She's never at home
Daddy's taking care of business
He's out on the road
It's rainin' cats and dogs
But the child within us all must face the storm
Call it individuality
Some call it fate, others reality
Call it what you want
It doesn't matter to me
Call it communism, call it free
Some call the ocean what some call the sea
Call it what you want
That doesn't change a thing for me
Not a thing!
08 Freedom Slaves (06:40)
I pledge no allegiance to your flag.
I feel I got me some damn good reasons for feelin' bad.
Way they take away ev'ry mother's son,
If you want freedom now, it's got to be won.
It's only bullets. It's just a gun.
Ain't gon' hurt no one.
I don't know what they must be thinkin'.
Makin' decisions on a hard night's drinkin'.
Momma, gon' take your little boy.
Gonna make him 'to a man,
Make him a stranger in a strange land.
[Chorus:]
Freedom slaves
What have you done
Freedom slaves
With ev'ry mother's son?
Freedom slaves
Can't ya see that we're all freedom slaves?
Freedom slaves
What have you done?
Freedom slaves
And all for number one.
Freedom slaves
It's clear to see that we're all freedom slaves.
No sign of justice nor liberty
By takin' an Indian Nation, 'cause they was all that we wanted to be.
All good people from the Kingdom of the Sun.
Welcome to freedom. Now, there's work to be done.
It's only natural to know it's wrong.
Why did it go so long?
I don't know what next they'll be killin',
Rapin' the land with pollution and spillin'.
Here's to the tired, to the hungry, to the helpless and the poor.
Is there no glory for blisters and sores?
[Chorus]
Who are those people?
So patriotically sittin' back of tables
POn their asses, lickin' labels, tryin' to change me.
You'd think the way they act, the way they carry on,
You'd think that I was the devil's Seventh Son.
But it's only words. It's just a song.
Ain't gonna hurt no one.
[Chorus]
Freedom slaves.
Freedom slaves.
Freedom slaves.
Attention!
About Face!
March!
Left, right, left, right, left, right.
Your momma, she was a....(fade out)
09 Had Enough (04:49)
Me and the boys are gonna rock tonite.
Drinkin' double shots, feelin fine. Mmmm, I like it!
I like the way, the way it makes me feel.
Now, I'm in love witcha, Lady Mary Jane.
You put my mind at ease, make me feel no pain.
Keep takin' me, keep takin' me higher, well, and higher.
Light my fire!
Ain't it funny?
'Cause the more I drink, the more I smoke, well, the better she looks.
And, honey, that's a whole lot better, whole lot better than before.
Lord! 'Cause you look so good. Yes, you look so fine.
Let's steal away and blow each other's minds.
Come on, baby. Keep takin' me higher. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and higher!
[Chorus:]
I've had enough!
Ah, maybe too, too much.
And with a little luck,
You know I'll get back up
On my feet again.
Ah, too much!
Too much to drink, too much to smoke.
I wasn't lookin' when it took a hold on me.
And it sure got a hold on me.
Oh, and it won't let go. Oh no.
I've never been this far before.
Have I reached the point, the point of no return?
When will I learn?
[Chorus 2x]
I've had enough!
I've had enough!
Ah, maybe too, too much.
I've had enough!
10 What You Give (07:15)
Who's the one that makes you happy?
Or maybe, who's the one always on your mind?
And who is the reason you're living for?
Who's the reason for your smile?
I feel so lonely and I know I'm not the only one
To ever feel this way
I love you so much that I think I'm goin' insane
I'm goin' crazy, Outta my head
Goin' crazy, Outta my head
Can't think about nothin' but your good, good love
And what you give
Everyone needs somebody
And you know
Everybody needs someone
Well then I guess it's true
Everybody needs a special kind of love
And you're the only one I'm thinking of
You mean the world to me
You are my only
I feel so lonely and I know I'm not the only one
To carry on this way
I love you so much I lose track of time
Lose track of the days
I'm goin' outta my head
Goin' crazy, Outta my head
Can't think about nothin' but your good, good love
And what you give
It's not what you got, It's what you give
It ain't the life you choose, it's the life you live
It's only what you give
It's not what you got
But the life you live
It's the life you live
And you're the one that makes me happy
Oh yeah baby
And you're the one always on my mind
Well then I guess it's true
You are my reason
My one and only
That I've been living for
Why can't forever be
Forever and nothing more?
I feel so lonely and I know I'm not the only one
To ever feel this way
I love you so much I lose track of time
Lose track of the days
I'm goin' outta my head
Goin' crazy, Outta my head
Can't think about nothin' but your good, sweet love
And what you give
It's not what you got, It's what you give
It ain't the life you choose, It's the life you live
It's not what you got, It's what you give
And it ain't what it's not, But what it is
Only what you give
It's not what you got, But what you give
Only what you give
It's only what you give, yeah
Can't get enough girl, of that sweet lovin' baby
What you give
Carico i commenti... con calma
