Rimasi da subito leggermente diffidente, quando mi ritrovai un po' per caso, senza avere avuto fino a quel momento il bisogno materiale di ascoltarlo, l'ultimo cd degli Yellowcard.
Il gruppo in verità da simpatizzante del genere lo conoscevo abbastanza bene, tale da essere sicuro di non perdermi molto. Questo, perché (teoria personale ma forse estendibile a terzi individui) ho sempre ritenuto gli Yellowcard come i cuginetti di sangue dei Blink-182. Naturalmente il paragone è tutt'altro che benevolo a favore del trio di San Diego, visto la loro mediocre proposta musicale (con le rare eccezioni).
I nostri ‘Cartellini Gialli' hanno un grande pregio: quello di avere un violinista nella line-up che apporta una ventata di freschezza al sound, ma lungi da me di voler considerare questa un magica invenzione, visto che se no si dovrebbe dire lo stesso della tromba NOFX-iana e via dicendo, ma che comunque rimane un elemento molto positivo. Tuttavia sempre dal gruppo sopra citato prende anche gli stessi difetti.
Ora parliamo un po' del disco. Partendo dal presupposto che non sapevo che aspettarmi dal cd, tenendo presente che secondo pubblico e critica il miglior disco loro sia "Ocean Avenue", che già ascoltando qualche traccia non mi aveva convinto affatto.
Potrei dire semplicemente ascoltate le traccie x,y e z e tralasciate tutte le altre e stampare il mio onesto 2/5 e basta, tuttavia parliamone un po'.
Il fattore positivo del disco è quella sicuramente di variare le sonorità dai classici pezzi di latte macchiati da scaglie scure di caffè (pop-punk) passando per pezzi più lenti e melodici con sonorità pop-rock, cercando di non annoiare l'ascoltatore.
Peccato che al tutto manchi quel qualcosa in più che elevi la proposta musicale, e a questo si aggiunge l'aggravante di condire il tutto con refrain spesso un po' troppo appiccicosi (guarda caso di cui i Blink-182 sono stati maestri in senso negativo del termine).
Ma andiamo con ordine..
La doppietta iniziale va a centro, ottima l'opener "The takedown" molto tirata e diretta, con tanto di assolo prima di chitarra e poi di violino, risulta essere la migliore del disco. Di diverso avviso invece "Fighting" classico pezzo collage punk con ritornelli canticchiabili e discretamente riuscita che sembra uscire da "Ocean Avenue".
Poi arrivano i passi falsi quando la band cerca di coniugare melodie forzate con venature più rock ("Skrink the world") arrivando ad auto-distruggersi con la pessima "Light up the sky".
Gli altri due pezzi degni di nota, insieme ai primi sono "Five becomes four" e "Shadows and regrets".
Il primo pezzo ci ricorda che questi sono gli Yellowcard di "Radio song girl", qui a dominare è il buon drumming preciso e quadrato del batterista e le chitarre molto graffianti. Pezzo che visto il suo incedere tipicamente hc new school style ricorda molto band quali i Lagwagon e ultimi NUFAN.
"Shadows and regrets" è invece una ballatona semi-acustica che rappresenta il momento più emotivo del disco. Apprezzabile, anche se non raggiunge i picchi di "Only one". Da segnalare infine le curiose voci bianche che costellano la title-track "Paper walls". Il resto è francamente tralasciabile e non presenta spunti interessanti se non la noia che subentra quasi da subito.
Le lyrics parlano di amicizia, amore, temi autobiografici e dei rapporti tra i membri della band in "Fives becomes four" che tratta la dipartita del loro chitarrista.
Da ascoltare solo se si è fan della band o se si vuole ascoltare un disco senza molte pretese e aspettative. Ma nello stesso genere, c'è molto di meglio.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 The Takedown (03:37)
I feel things changing when I move
(Its a distance, Its a difference)
I'll cross this planet without you
(and you might call this a downfall)
Its one long night that I'm passing through
(Its a dark one what have I done)
Its one long night...
Don't turn your back on me now
You can't do this
Don't say you can live without
You can't do this alone
How did I end up like this, the lonely one,
Your greatest take down?
You take me down
Left last night with a long goodbye
(With some red wine through a phone line)
I told you thoughts that multiply
(That I don't know how to let go)
We've been here many times before
(I am empty, when you leave me)
What's one more?
Don't turn your back on me now
You can't do this
Don't say you can live without
You can do this alone
How did I end up like this, the broken one,
Your greatest take down?
You take me down
You take me down
I won't get by
I won't heal in time
I won't get by
Don't turn your back on me now
You can't do this
Don't say you can't live without
You can do this alone
How did I end up like this, the chosen one,
Your greatest take down?
You take me down
02 Fighting (03:00)
Said I´d move on and I’d leave it alone
But before I walk out there is something that I need you to know
I got lost in the blink of an eye
And I could never get back, no I never got back...
You were not there when I wanted to say
That you were everything right
And it wasn’t you who need to change
Now I gotta go there alone
But I will never give up, no I’ll never give up.
What am I fighting for?
There must be something more
For all this words I sing
Do you feel anything?
Said “I’m ok”, but I know how to lie
You were all that I had
You were delicate and hard to find
Got lost in the back of my mind
And I could never get back, no I never got back
You were not there when I needed to say
I hit the bottom so fast
That my head was spinning ‘round for days
Now I gotta go there alone
But I will never give up...
No I’ll never give up...
What am I fighting for?
There must be something more
For all these words I sing
Do you feel anything?
What am I fighting for?
What am I fighting for?
Never give up...on this
Never give up...Up on this
Never give up...On this
Never give up...on this
Said “I’m ok” but I know how to lie
I will never give up, no I’ll never give up
What am I fighting for?
There must be something more
For all these words I sing
Do you feel anything?
What am I fighting for?
No, I’m never gonna give up, give up
What am I fighting for?
No, I’m never gonna give up, give up
Said that I’d fight for the one that I found
I’m gonna stay here while I wait for you to come around
I’ll fight, you’re a part of me now
And I will never give up, no I’ll never give up!
03 Shrink the World (03:20)
If I could then I'd,
Shrink the world tonight,
So that I would find,
You and me inside.
A life in love,
A picture of,
A place I'm nowhere near.
A bleeding heart,
A good head start,
To anywhere but here.
Just let me out,
Please let me out,
Before I turn into a box of things,
Reminding me,
How much I'm missing out. (I am missing you.)
If I could then I'd,
Shrink the world tonight,
So that I would find,
You and me inside.
Of the last good scene,
A film that changes things.
Breaks us, makes us sing,
Leaves us wondering.
And through the wall my fist you call and then you always run.
So what's it for, the love and war, it's only fair for some.
You saved the girl you saved the world,
Well that's not true it seems.
A lesson learned, speak out of turn,
I bite my tongue it bleeds. (Bite my tongue it bleeds)
If I could then I'd
Shrink the world tonight
So that I would find
You and me inside.
Of the last good scene,
A film that changes things.
Breaks us, makes us sing,
Leaves us wondering. Are you wondering?
If I could then I'd
Shrink the world tonight
So that I would find
You and me inside.
Of the last good scene,
A film that changes things.
Breaks us, makes us sing,
Leaves us wondering.
If I could shrink the world tonight.
If I could...
06 Shadows and Regrets (03:59)
I'm back, back in town
And everything has changed
I feel, feel let down
The faces stay the same
I see, see shadows
Of who we used to be
When I drive, drive so slow
Through this memory
When we were only kids
And we were best of friends
And we hoped for the best
And let go of the rest
I heard, heard myself
Say things I take back
If I could, could retell
And make these stories last
I see, see shadows
Of who we'll always be
I drive, drive these roads
Made of memories
When we were only kids
And we were best of friends
And we hoped for the best
And let go of the rest
Shadows and regrets
We let go of the rest
Everything has changed
The Faces stay the same
Everything has changed
The Faces stay the same
When We were only kids
And our time couldn't end
And how tall did we stand
With the world in our hands
And we were only kids
And we were best of friends
And we hoped for the best
And let go of the rest
The shadows and regrets
We let go of the rest
The Shadows and Regrets
We let go of the rest
07 Five Becomes Four (03:30)
Needed some time
So I could find
A little strength to redefine
What I've become
What I have done
I never asked to be the one
I'm riding it out
This storm that you brought in
Bringing it down
On me around
For you, I'd go again
It's gotta be
Easy to see
What everyone takes out of me
Knocking me down
Dragging me out
How did you end up in that ground?
Did you run away?
Did you fall apart?
Did you see yourself
For what you are?
Will you be looking for it anymore
When five becomes four?
When you're all alone
With the melody
Do you close your eyes
And think of me?
Will you'll still hear me singing anymore
When five becomes four?
Try and put aside
Your history and pride
Maybe for one
Moment in time
We'll all be on your side
The story goes
Nobody knows
What it was like when you were through
Someone who cared
Out in the air
Didn't let them crash down anywhere
Did you run away?
Did you fall apart?
Did you see yourself
For what you are?
Will you be looking for it anymore
When five becomes four?
When you're all alone
With the melody
Do you close your eyes
And think of me?
Will you'll still hear me singing anymore
When five becomes four?
Remember the lie
Never said I
You were the reason I survived
Where did you go?
I need to know
I waited here, you never showed
It's gonna be
Harder for me
I can't forget so many things
When you were down
I was around
Why would you try and hurt me now?
Just tell me why
Just tell me why
Did you run away?
Did you run away?
Did you run away?
Did you run away?
Did you fall apart?
Did you see yourself
For what you are?
Will you be looking for it anymore
When five becomes four?
When you're all alone
With the melody
Do you close your eyes
And think of me?
Will you'll still hear me singing anymore
When five becomes four?
When five becomes four
When five becomes four
10 Dear Bobbie (04:13)
Dear Bobbie,
Do you remember when you were young and very pretty? I do.
I remember pleated skirts, black and white sattle shoes.
Do you remember dancing that night?
I do, I still think of you when we dance,
Although we cant jitterbug as we did then.
Do you remember when,
How long has it been?
1945 you opened my blue eyes,
To see a whole new life.
Do you remember when,
I told you this that night,
That if you're by my side,
When everyday begins,
I'll fall for you again.
I made a promise when,
I told you this that night.
I'll be fine.
When I die, then I die loving you.
It's alright, I'll be fine.
When I die then I die loving you,
Loving you, loving you.
Do you remember the times we would give up on each other and get back together.
Then we finally was married in 1949.
We drove the yellow convertible all night long.
Do you remember? I do.
Life has led us here,
Together all these years.
This house that we have made,
Holds twenty-thousand days.
And memories we've saved,
Since life has led us here.
And I'll be fine.
Cause when I die, then I die loving you.
It's alright, I'll be fine.
Cause when I die then I die loving you,
Loving you, loving you.
I'm coming home to you,
Slipping off my shoes.
Resting in my chair.
See you standing there,
The silver in your hair.
I'm coming home to you,
When I lay tonight, when I close my eyes,
I know the sun will rise,
Here or the next life.
As long as your still mine, then its alright.
I'll be fine
Cause when I die, then I die loving you
It's alright, I'll be fine
Cause when I die then I die loving you
Loving you, loving you
You have gray hair now,
But you're a beautiful woman,
And the years have been good to both of us.
We walk slow now, but we still have each other.
The glue of love is still bonding us together.
That is what I remember. Do you remember?
12 Cut Me, Mick (03:35)
I can’t keep this together
And I might lose this year
I can’t get through December
And you know all my fears
Someplace somewhere behind me
I walked right through the truth
Truth is that you’re the one thing
That always pulls me through
This troubled life I choose
You are the one that I need
You know that I can still bleed
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
You brought me down from my cloud
You keep my feet on the ground
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
When I thought that I might be invincible
It wasn’t long before I was invisible
To your eyes and I swear
There’s nothing left in here
And the more you say you don’t care
The more I know you’re there
You are the one that I need
You know that I can still bleed
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
You brought me down from my cloud
You keep my feet on the ground
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
I can’t keep this together (you are the one that I need)
I can’t stay sick forever (you know that I can still bleed)
I can’t stop this disaster (you bring me down from my cloud)
I can’t fall any faster
You are the one that I need
You know that I can still bleed
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
You are the one that I need
You know that I can still bleed
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
You brought me down from my cloud
You keep my feet on the ground
Bring me back to life
Bring me back to life
You are the one that I need
You know that I can still bleed
You brought me down from my cloud
You keep my feet on the ground
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Reehkallak78
E' davvero piacevole sentire come ogni strumento abbia un ruolo fondamentale nelle canzoni e come le due chitarre riescano a conciliarsi bene con questo dannato violino.
Un album rapido, deciso e che di sicuro non annoia. Personalmente migliore di Ocean Avenue.
