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Assumendo come base che i Rolling Stones siano stati uno dei gruppi fondamentali della musica popolare, di importanza pari a pochissimi altri (tra i quali, i loro "rivali storici" Beatles), e che prima della loro decadenza e appiattimento stilistico abbiano avuto un'età dell'oro, ecco, questo album segna forse il punto più alto toccato dai Mick Jagger, Keith Richards e Brian Jones (membro fondatore, morto pochi anni dopo in circostanze ancora misteriose).
"Aftermath" è il primo album che contenga esclusivamente canzoni originali e il primo dopo la consacrazione per via del celeberrimo singolo "(I can't get no) Satisfaction", la canzone "perfetta" che, secondo le parole di Roger Daltrey degli Who, li condannò a suonare per altri quarant'anni, e soprattutto il primo dei capolavori che hanno stabilito il successo globale e immortale del gruppo, prima di "Beggar's Banquet", "Let It Bleed" e "Sticky Fingers". Il disco si apre con "Paint It Black", che tra parentesi ha segnato il mio colpo di fulmine per la musica rock (la sentii sui titoli di coda di "Full Metal Jacket", e se è stata scelta dal buon vecchio Stanley significa che qualcosa di speciale ce l'avrà. . . ) e considero tuttora il mio pezzo preferito. Musicalmente, questo brano è intriso di una potenza senza paragoni, che quattro decenni di hard rock, metal heavy e non e altri stili sempre più aggressivi non sono riusciti a superare, nè probabilmente supereranno mai: ascoltare le cover a opera di Judas Priest e Marilyn Manson per credere. Su uno scheletro melodico relativamente semplice, caratterizzato da un tagliente sitar suonato da Jones, gli Stones esplodono con un'energia blues travolgente e perfetta, quasi oceanica. (A proposito di cover, consiglio di cercare anche quelle di Incubus, REM, U2 e Doors per capire al contempo le potenzialità enormi della canzone e la magica, indescrivibile insuperabilità dell'originale.)
L'unico brano che possa tenere testa a "Paint it Black" è la magnifica "Under My Thumb", sostenuta da una delle prove migliori e più "recitate" di Jagger. Inoltre, pezzi di diversa qualità, diverso stile (r&b, blues-rock, psichedelia, ingredienti di folk e jazz), e soprattutto diverso argomento e sentimento: "Going Home" sul tema del viaggio, l'apocalittica "Flight 505" e la speranzosa "I Am Waiting", la misogina "Stupid Girl" e la sarcastica "Mother's Little Helper" sulla condizione frustrante delle donne schiacciate dalla società maschilista che necessitano del piccolo aiuto di calmanti e simili per andare avanti. Insieme a "Out Of Time", quest'ultima è una delle due gemme contenute nella riedizione in CD del disco, della quale bisogna diffidare perché non contiene "Paint it Black".
Tirando le somme, è uno dei dischi più significativi e preziosi della discografia dei Rolling Stones (il che non è poco), storicamente cruciale, in parte appannato dal tempo in parte immortale.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Mother's Little Helper (02:48)
What a drag it is getting old
"Kids are different today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though she's not really ill
There's a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day
"Things are different today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag
So she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And two help her on her way, get her through her busy day
Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Men just aren't the same today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
They just don't appreciate that you get tired
They're so hard to satisfy, you can tranquilize your mind
So go running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight
Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Life's just much too hard today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day
03 Lady Jane (03:11)
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
My sweet Lady Jane
When I see you again
Your servant am I
And will humbly remain
Just heed this plea my love
On bended knees my love
I pledge myself to Lady Jane
My dear Lady Anne
I've done what I can
I must take my leave
For promised I am
This play is run my love
Your time has come my love
I've pledged my troth to Lady Jane
Oh my sweet Marie
I wait at your ease
The sands have run out
For your lady and me
Wedlock is nigh my love
Her station's right my love
Life is secure with Lady Jane
04 Under My Thumb (03:43)
Under my thumb
The girl who once had me down
Under my thumb
The girl who once pushed me around
It's down to me
The difference in the clothes she wears
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Ain't it the truth, babe?
Under my thumb
'S a squirmin' dog who's just had her day
Under my thumb
A girl who has just changed her ways
It's down to me, yes it is
The way she does just what she's told
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Say it's alright
Under my thumb
'S a Siamese cat of a girl
Under my thumb
She's the sweetest pet in the world
It's down to me
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Take it easy babe
It's down to me, oh yeah
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Yeah, it feels alright
Under my thumb
Her eyes are just kept to herself
Under my thumb, well I
I can still look at someone else
It's down to me, oh, that's what I said
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come
She's under my thumb
Say, it's alright
Take it easy, babe
Take it easy, babe
Feels alright
Take it, take it easy, babe
07 Flight 505 (03:29)
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
Well, I was happy here at home
I got everything I need.
Happy bein' on my own
Just living the life I lead.
Well, suddenly it dawned on me
That this was not my life.
So I just phoned the airline girl
And said, "Get me on flight number 505,
Get me on flight number 505."
Well, I confirmed my reservation.
Then I hopped a cab.
No idea of my destination
And feeling pretty bad.
With my suitcase in my hand.
In my head, my new life.
So then I told the airline girl
"Well, get me on flight number 505,
Get me on flight number 505."
Alright.
Well, I sat right there in my seat.
Well, feeling like a king.
With the whole world right at my feet.
"Of course I'll have a drink!"
Well, suddenly I saw
That we never ever would arrive.
He put the plane down in the sea.
The end of flight number 505.
The end of flight number 505.
Alright.
Whew, they put the plane down in the sea.
The end of flight number 505.
The end of flight number 505.
08 High and Dry (03:10)
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
High and dry well, I'm up here with no warning
High and dry well, I couldn't get a word in
High and dry oh, what a way to go
She left me standing here just high and dry
A minute I was up there standing by her side
The next I was down there, well, left out of the ride and
High and dry oh, what a way to go
She left me standing here just high and dry
Anythin' I wished for I only had to ask her (yep)
I think she found out it was money I was after
High and dry oh, what a weird letdown
She left me standing here just high and dry
Alright
It's lucky that I didn't have any love towards her
Next time I'll make sure that the girl'll be much poorer
High and dry oh, what a way to go
She left me standing here just high and dry
High and dry well, I'm up here with no warnin'
Yep
High and dry well, I couldn't get a word in
High and dry oh, what a way to go
She left me standin' here just high and dry
Well, she left me standin' here just high and dry
Well, she left me standin' here just high and dry
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Altre recensioni
Di sonic80
Un capolavoro è "Aftermath", un album fondamentale per più ragioni.
"Paint it Black": oscura, ipnotica e ammaliante, tra i massimi vertici degli Stones.
