A volte si arriva in ritardo, a volte non si arriva mai. Spesso succede per caso: rumore. Nel rumore quotidiano scorgi un suono così limpido che non puoi fare altro che isolarti dal resto del mondo ed entrarci in sintonia. L'alligatore ti morde quando le prime note di "Secret Meeting" s'incuneano tra le pieghe del tuo udito. Ma è un morso dolce, due note accennate di una corda qualunque; una batteria spezzata. Come inizio non c'è male, cominci a dire e a pensare.
Poi entra la voce; dopo qualche secondo in cui ti pare di essere entrato in un sogno i cui protagonisti sono i Death Cab For Cutie con Paul Banks alla voce, ti risvegli, ma mai risveglio fu più gradito.

Il tale in questione si chiama Matt Berninger e la sua capacità di avvolgerti è sorprendente. Comincia con quel tono sghembo e svogliato alla Ian Curtis, ma con l'irriverenza di Bryan Ferry ed una classe cristallina. Il colpo non è semplice da assorbire, ma dopo essere stato intontito dalla prima traccia riponi poche speranze nel proseguo, perché una cosa del genere non ti può riuscire troppe volte in una vita, figuriamoci in un album solo. E invece parte "Karen" e quando arriva quella specie di litaniaritornellante ti sciogli come la cera, diventi fluido e ti sembra di poterti infilare dappertutto rincorrendo quella melodia.
Da qui in poi sei libero di librare tra i gioielli sparsi per tutto il disco ed ogni volta stai a mezza via tra la voglia di ascoltare il pezzo dopo e quella di sentire ancora qualche secondo la traccia corrente. Rimani intrappolato tra i cuscini sparpagliati nel paesaggio sonoro di "Looking For Astronauts", cantilena magnetica; scorgi il deserto accogliente dietro il vetro di “Daughters Of The Soho Riots”; ti sorprendi davanti alle improvvise accelerazioni di “All The Wine” , “Abel” e “Mr. November”; ti ritrovi cullato e sublimato dalle onde di “Val Jester” e “The Geese Of Beverly Road”.

Post-rock, new-wave, sadcore? Non lo so. Sinceramente non lo so. Vorrei rimanere folgorato tutti i giorni da un diamante di tale luminosità, questo disco mi accompagnerà a lungo, con la sua cover irriverentemente anni ’70, così anonima e fredda, per contenere il calore e non permettere che si disperda.

Elenco tracce testi e video

01   Secret Meeting (03:44)

I think this place is full of spies
I think they're onto me
Didn't anybody, didn't anybody tell you
Didn't anybody tell you how to gracefully disappear in a room
I know you put in the hours to keep me in sunglasses, I know

And so and now I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
And now I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain

I think this place is full of spies
I think I'm ruined
Didn't anybody, didn't anybody tell you
Didn't anybody tell you, this river's full of lost sharks
I know you put in the hours to keep me in sunglasses, I know

And so and now I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way

And now I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
And now I'm sorry I missed you
I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain
It went the dull and wicked ordinary way

02   Karen (03:59)

Karen, I'm not taking sides
I don't think I'll ever do that again
I'll end up winning and I won't know why
I'm really trying to shine here, I'm really trying
You're changing clothes and closing windows on me all the time

Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do
Listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone

Karen, we should call your father, maybe it's just a phase
He'll know the trick to get a wayward soul to change his ways
It's a common fetish for a doting man
to ballerina on the coffee table cock in hand

Well, whatever you do
Listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do
Listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone

Without warm water in my head
All I see is black and white and red
I feel mechanical and thin
Hear me play my violin again
I'm living in the target's shoes
All I see is black and white and blue.
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
Protect the title

Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink
I've lost direction, and I'm past my peak
I'm telling you this isn't me
No, this isn't me
Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet

Well, whatever you do
Listen. you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone into America
Whatever you do
Listen, you better wait for me
No, I wouldn't go out alone

Without warm water in my head
All I see is black and white and red
I feel mechanical and thin
Hear me play my violin again
I'm living in the target's shoes
All I see is black and white and blue
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
Protect the title

I must be me, I'm in my head
Black birds are circling my bed
I must be me, I must be me
Black feathers are falling on my feet
Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest
Protect the title
[repeat]

03   Lit Up (02:55)

My bodyguard shows her revolver to anyone who asks
And yeah she comes to attention when you come up to me too fast
For a little while you'll be here, the only good part of me
For a little while you'll be here

So lit up, lit up, lit up alright
I try to untie Manhattan
Lit up, lit up, lit up alright
I try to untie

You wear skirt like a flag
And everything surrounds you, and it doesn't fade
Nothing like this sound I make
That only lasts the season
And only heard by bedroom kids who buy for that reason
Cuz you're the low life of the party, bad blood
Bad blood for everybody
I'm in control and I believe

So lit up, lit up, lit up alright
I try to untie Manhattan
Lit up, lit up, lit up alright
I try to untie from your bad blood
From your bad blood

Cuz you're the low life of the party, bad blood
Bad blood for everybody
I'm in control and I believe

So lit up, lit up, lit up, lit up alright
I try to untie Manhattan
Lit up, lit up, lit up, lit up alright
I try to untie

04   Looking for Astronauts (03:23)

We're out looking for astronauts, looking for astronauts
We're out looking for astronauts, looking for astronauts
It's a little too late, too late, too late for this
Isn't it a little too late for this
Little too late, too late for this
Isn't it a little too late for this

You know you have a permanent piece
Of my medium-sized American heart

We're out looking for astronauts, looking for astronauts
We're out looking for astronauts, looking for astronauts
Are we gone
Come on yeah, we know we're gone
Bye bye bye
Bye bye bye we know we're gone

Take all your reasons and take them away
To the middle of nowhere, and on your way home
Throw from your window your record collection
They all run together and never make sense
But that's how we like it, and that's all we want
Something to cry for, and something to hunt

Are we gone
Come on yeah, we know we're gone
Bye bye bye
Bye bye bye we know we're gone
We're out looking for astronauts, looking for astronauts
We're out looking for astronauts, looking for astronauts
It's a little too late, too late, too late for this
Isn't it a little too late for this
Little too late, too late for this
Isn't it a little too late for this

You know you have a permanent piece
Of my medium-sized American heart
So don't wear the watch
When you're out with the cunts
You can break what you have, but the rest of it's mine

Take all your reasons and take them away
To the middle of nowhere, and on your way home
Throw from your window your record collection
They all run together and never make sense
But that's how we like it, and that's all we want
Something to cry for, and something to hunt

05   Daughters of the Soho Riots (03:58)

06   Baby, We'll Be Fine (03:21)

All night I lay on my pillow and pray
For my boss to stop me in the hallway
Lay my head on his shoulder and say
Son, I've been hearing good things

I wake up without warning and go flying around the house
In my sauvignon fierce, freaking out
Take a forty-five minute shower and kiss the mirror
And say, look at me
Baby, we'll be fine
All we gotta do is be brave and be kind

I put on an argyle sweater and put on a smile
I don't know how to do this
I'm so sorry for everything
[repeat]

Baby, come over, I need entertaining
I had a stilted, pretending day
Lay me down and say something pretty
Lay me back down where I wanted to stay
Just say something perfect, something I can steal
Say, look at me
Baby, we'll be fine
All we've gotta do is be brave and be kind

I pull off your jeans, and you spill jack and coke in my collar
I melt like a witch and scream
I'm so sorry for everything
[repeat]

07   Friend of Mine (03:25)

Hey, where the hell are you
You don't call me back, John
Won't you come here and stay with me
Why don't you come here and stay with me

Hey, where the hell are you
You don't call me back, John
Won't you come here and stay with me
Why don't you come here and stay with me

Show up here loaded with bells on your toes
I don't care what you're into
I'll put velvet ropes around you, if that's what you need

Why did you listen to that man, that man's a balloon
Oh, you gotta get out and get back to me
John, you gotta get out and get back to me

Why did you listen to that man, that man's a balloon
Oh, you gotta get out and get back to me
Take his limousine, you gotta get back to me

I'm getting nervous
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
No sign of a friend of mine
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Red hair and blue eyes
I'm getting nervous
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
No sign of a friend of mine

I was in a train under a river when I remembered what
What I wanted to tell you, man
What I wanted to tell you, man
I got two sets of headphones, I miss you like hell
Won't you come here and stay with me
Why don't you come here and stay with me

I'm getting nervous
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
No sign of a friend of mine
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Red hair and blue eyes
I'm getting nervous
na, na, na, na, na, na, na
No sign of a friend of mine
na, na, na, na, na, na, na

Why did you listen to that man, that man's a balloon
Oh, you gotta get out and get back to me
Why did you listen to that man, that man's a balloon
John, you gotta get out and get back to me
Why did you listen to that man, that man's a balloon
Fake a heart attack, you gotta get back to me
Why did you listen to that man, that man's a balloon
John, you gotta get out and get back to me

08   Val Jester (03:00)

Build a fire for Val Jester
Build a room for your love
Take your time when you tell her
How she lives in your blood

You should've looked after her better
You should've looked after her more
You should've locked the door

Fill her coat with weapons and help her get it on
Cuz one day when she goes, she's gone

You should've held on to her better
You should've held on to her more
You should've locked the door

All the most important people in New York are nineteen
All the most important people in New York
[repeat]

09   All the Wine (03:15)

I'm put together beautifully
Big wet bottle in my fist, big wet rose in my teeth
I'm perfect piece of ass
Like every Californian
So tall I take over the street, with highbeams shining on my back
A wingspan unbelievable
I'm a festival, I'm a parade

And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me

I'm a birthday candle in a circle of black girls
God is on my side
Cuz I'm the child bride
I'm so sorry but the motorcade will have to go around me this time
Cuz God is on my side
And I'm the child bride

And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me
And all the wine is all for me

I carry the dollhouse, safe on my shoulders
Through the black city, night lights are on in the corners
And everyone's sleeping upstairs
All safe and sound
All safe and sound, I won't the let psychos around
All safe and sound, I won't let the psychos around

I'm in a state, I'm in a state
Nothing can touch us my love
I'm in a state, I'm in a state
Nothing can touch us my love

10   Abel (03:37)

My mind's not right
My mind's not right
My mind's not right
[repeat]

Abel, come on, give me the keys, man
Everything has all gone down wrong
Abel, come on, give me the keys, man
Everything has all gone down wrong

I see water on the bridge
Well, you better hold my hand through this
Turn around, turn around, take me back
I can't calm down
Turn around, turn around, take me back
I can't calm down

My mind's not right
My mind's not right
My mind's not right
[repeat]

Abel, come on, give me a reason
I am not as bright as I could be
Abel, come on, take me with you
Everything has all gone down wrong

You turn me good and god-fearing
Well, tell me what am I supposed to do with that
I'm missing something
Yeah, I'm missing something
My mind's gone loose inside its shell
My mind's gone loose inside the shell
Well, I'm missing something
Yeah, I'm missing something
Abel, my mind's gone loose inside the shell

My mind's not right
My mind's not right
My mind's not right
[repeat]

11   The Geese of Beverly Road (04:56)

12   City Middle (04:27)

Karen, take me to the nearest famous city middle
Where they hang the lights
Where it's random, and it's common versus common
La di la
[repeat]

I've got five hundred in twenties
And I've got a ton of great ideas
I'm really worked up
I'm on a good mixture, I don't want to waste it
I'm on a good mixture, I do not want to waste it
I wanna go gator around the warm beds of beginners
I'm really worked up

Karen, take me to the nearest famous city middle
Where they hang the lights
Where it's random, and it's common versus common
La di la
[repeat]

I have weird memories of you
Wearing long red socks and red shoes
I have weird memories
I have weird memories of you
Pissing in a sink, I think
I have weird memories of you

I wanna go gator around the warm beds of beginners
I'm really worked up
I wanna go gator around the warm beds of beginners
I'm really worked up

Karen, take me to the nearest famous city middle
Where they hang the lights
Where it's random, and it's common versus common
La di la
[repeat]

I have weird memories of you
Wearing long red socks and red shoes
I have weird memories
I have weird memories of you
Pissing in a sink, I think

I have weird memories of you

Parking your car, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You were thinking out loud, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You were parking your car, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You were thinking out loud, you said, I'm overwhelmed
You said, I think I'm like Tennessee Williams
I wait for the click
I wait, but it doesn't kick in
I think I'm like Tennesse Williams
I wait for the click
I wait, but it doesn't kick in

I have weird memories of you
Wearing long red socks and red shoes
I have weird memories
I have weird memories of you
Pissing in a sink, I think
I have weird memories of you
la da da da...

I have weird memories of you

13   Mr. November (04:00)

This is nothing like it was in my room
In my best clothes
Trying to think of you
This is nothing like it was in my room
In my best clothes

The English are waiting
And I don't know what to do
In my best clothes
This is when I need you

The English are waiting
And I don't know what to do
In my best clothes

I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope
I'm the new blue blood

I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over
[repeat]

I wish that I believed in fate
I wish I didn't sleep so late
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders
[repeat]

I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope
I'm the new blue blood

I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over
[repeat]

I wish that I believed in fate
I wish I didn't sleep so late
I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders
[repeat]

I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope
I'm the new blue blood
I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November
I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over

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