Giornata fiacca al lavoro e un freddo da ricordare. Per uccidere 'sto tempo comincio a navigare in Internet, che se me lo avessero raccontato qualche mese fa, mi sarei ucciso. Argomento della crociera: MUSICA. Noia e banalità, finchè incappo in 'sto sito, che ci scrive chi vuole (somma di pregio e difetto sul cui risultato sono ancora indeciso). Leggo e mi vien prurito alle mani. Ammetto l'intransigenza musicale che mi caratterizza, ma qui alcuni esagerano, docenti di lezioni tenute da pulpiti auto-assemblati dopo un sabato passato all'IKEA. Poi cerco la recensione di un disco e non la trovo. Rimedio? Un pò di storia.
Nati nel 1992 in California dal genio di Robert Schneider, padre della Elephant 6, di cui fanno parte Olivia Tremor Control e Neutral Milk Hotel (bravo Zigghio!), gli Apples sono la parte più 'leggera' e 'divertita' della compagnia. Gli 'amici' che vorremmo sul palco per la festa di compleanno. Nel 1997 esce il capolavoro. Abbandonate le sperimentazioni del primo album ("Fun Trick Noisemaker"), qui il Graal appare manifesto: melodia a tutti i costi! Suono dolce e meno grezzo dell'esordio, senza mai troppo miele. Che in questa ricerca si passi dal ritornello di facile presa ("Seems So"), alle armonie vocali stile Beach Boys di "Pet Sounds", da un pop raffinato con schizzi Beatles ("About Your Fame") a un uso sfrenato di strumenti acustici e improvvisati (ukulele e campanellini di ogni tipo), senza farsi mancare spruzzate psichedeliche alla Byrds e schitarrate garage pop ("We'll Come To Be") poco importa, se il risultato è questo.
C'è tutto nel calderone di "Tone Soul Evolution": country ("Tin Pan Alley"), beat inglese stile '60, surf, folk, bubblegum ("What's The #") e un pò di Bacharach. E tutto rielaborato con abilità e originalità rare per il genere.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Seems So (03:20)
when i called last night i wasn't high
no, i had not been drinking
when i saw a sight i can't deny
now made me do some thinking.
imagine my surprise:
ooh i nearly dozed off on my pillow.
had to rub my eyes:
ooh i saw the whole thing from my window
and it seems so, i don't know
no i don't know if it's true.
and it seems so, i don't know
no i don't know what to do.
when somebody sees to sky open wide
and rides the solar system,
if he saw themoonlight pass him by
what would you think about him?
imagine my surprise:
all my life i've been so ordinary.
had to rub my eyes:
ooh my mind was just a little blurry.
and it seems so, i don't know
no i don't know if it's true.
and it seems so, i don't know
no i don't know what to do.
was it something in the sky,
or something in my eyes?
now, i don't know.
something that i've seen,
or was it a dream?
man, i don't know.
when i tell the world my trouble plight
now, do you think they'll listen?
or is this the kind of tripe people like
to put on television?
imagine my surprise:
all my life i look out of my window.
had to rub my eyes:
ooh i saw the whole thing from my pillow.
oh doctor, it seems so, i don't know
no i don't know if it's true.
and it seems so, i don't know
no i don't know what to do.
02 What's the #? (02:58)
I've seen you before, how many more?
What's the number? Tell me the score.
I'll see you again, I don't know when.
What's it matter? You know we'll be friends.
Go to town, people run around
but the don't know nothing.
Go to town, they look you up and down
but the don't know nothing
about you or me.
I see you around, up and down town.
What's your name, now? I'll write it down.
I'll see you next time, drop you a line.
What's your number? Lend me a dime.
Go to town, people run around
but the don't know nothing.
Go to town, they look you up and down
but the don't know nothing
about being free.
I'm different from you (it's all right, it's all right!)
You're different from me (it's all right, it's all right!)
10 Tin Pan Alley (02:19)
I made up a new little song,
if I had a nickel for every one...
Then I'd be making a living
instead of sitting here whistling now
I'd be making a living
just like a tin pan alley musician.
I'd come up with ten tunes a day,
keep them ever-coming for but a modest wage...
Then I'd be making a living
instead of sitting here whistling now
I'd be making a living
just like a tin pan alley musician.
If they'd listen to me whistlin;
they would whistle along...
...Then I'd be making a living
just like those old tin pan alley musicians.
If they'd listen to me whistlin'
I won't be sittin' here long...
11 You Said That Last Night (02:33)
Writing on the wall
I wanna say, but I can't say it
you said it's my fault
but today's another day and...
You said that last night
do you feel like that today?
You said it's all right
do you feel like that today?
Hurts my peace of mind
when we say the things we say
it makes me feel unkind
but yesterday's another day and...
You said that last night
do you feel like that today?
You said it's all right
do you feel like that today?
What's the meaning of right or wrong?
Makes no sense when we get along.
What's the meaning of wrong or right?
We've got our worries, we get uptight...
Carico i commenti... con calma
