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Se c'era una cosa da apprezzare nel debutto dei Kaiser Chiefs "Employment", oltre a una manciata di pezzi di notevole fattura, era la freschezza con cui riuscivano a proporre pezzi dall'incedere divertente e scanzonato. Pezzi che hanno scatenato paragoni tra i più disparati, tranne il primo che dovrebbe saltar fuori subito: i primissimi Blur, presenti nella struttura della maggior parte delle canzoni, nella tonnellata di coretti infarciti di "Na Na Naaa.. " e, a volte, nella vocalità di Ricky Wilson ("Saturday Night" era da denuncia, con Graham Coxon ad inizio pezzo che smanettava il suo motorino).
Con il nuovo "Yours Truly, Angry Mob", la ricetta è sostanzialmente immutata (scelta premiata dalla doppietta singolo/album in testa alle classifica inglese, più svariati debutti alla numero uno in vari paesi Europei); la produzione di Stephen Street (davvero pochi i suoi passi falsi, forse solo "A New Morning" dei Suede) aggiunge solo uno zinzino di impeto alle chitarre. Via con "Ruby", iper-ruffiano primo singolo (già una hit spaccamaroni anche qua in Italia) dotato di un buon ritornello da stadio (anzi, da coro da stadio) e una intro bella decisa di chitarra. La successiva "The Angry Mob" è un buon pezzo, forse il migliore del lotto. Caratterizzata da una sei corde debitrice degli ultimi Franz Ferdinand e da un bel cambio di ritmo nel finale, mantiene intatta l'energia sprigionata dopo la bella opener. "Heat Dies Down" potrebbe essere il singolo perfetto, mentre nello strepitoso ritornello di "High Royds" tornano prepotentemente a galla i Blur, con un giro di chitarra che farebbe sicuramente sorridere la faccia da secchione di Graham Coxon. "Love Is Not A Competition (But I'm Winning)" è una ballad acustica gradevolmente orecchiabile che ci può stare nell'economia del disco, con un bell'incrocio prima voce-coro, e fa il paio col lentone "Boxing Champ", quest'ultimo invece francamente inutile.
"I Can Do It Without You" e "My Kind Of Guy" (l'una stranamente Oasis-oriented, l'altra potrebbe essere un outtake di "Employment") hanno lo spiacevole retrogusto di riempitivo; si arriva così a "Everything Is Average Nowadays", veloce ed allegra, e "Learnt My Lesson Well", giocata su un ritmo claudicante e molto vitale. "Try Your Best" è forse l'unica sorpresa dell'album, aprendosi infatti su atmosfere tristi e sospese ed esplodendo in un finale dominato dalle chitarre e dai passaggi di batteria. La sorniona "Retirement" ci congeda da un disco che saprà invero appassionare gli amanti di certo pop giocoso e i fan della prima ora (e solo di quella) dei Blur, mentre farà storcere il naso a chi nella musica cerca profondità ed emotività.
Per dirla alla loro, Yours Truly.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Ruby (03:24)
(Da da daaa, da da daaa
Da da daaa, da da daaa)
Let it never be said
That romance is dead
'Cause there's so little else
Occupying my head
There is nothing I need
Except the function to breathe
But I'm not really fussed
Doesn't matter to me
(Chorus)
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby
(Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa)
Do you, do you, do you, do you?
(Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa)
Know what you're doing (doing) to me?
(Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa)
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby
(Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa)
Due to lack of interest
Tomorrow is cancelled
Let the clocks be reset
And the pendulums held
'Cause there's nothing at all
Except the space in between
Finding out what you're called
And repeating your name
(Chorus)
Could it be, could it be that you're joking with me
And you don't really see you and me
Could it be, could it be that you're joking with me
And you don't really see you with me
(Chorus)
Do you, do you, do you, do you?
(Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa) (da da da, da da da)
Know what you're doing (doing) to me?
(Ahaa-ahaa-aaaa, aaaa) (da da da)
02 The Angry Mob (04:48)
I can prove anything
I'll make you admit, again and again
That I can prove anything
The way that it's writ, again and again
And it's only 'cos you came here with your brothers too
If you came here on your own you'd be dead
It's only 'cos you follow what the others do
It's no excuse to say you're easily led
You could choose anything
And you choose to lose, again and again
And you could do anything
But why should you do anything again
And it's only 'cos you came here with your brothers too
If you came here on your own you'd be dead
You're winding yourself up until you're turning blue
Repeating everything that you read
So here we go with a letter
Can you fix it for me?
Because we need entertainment
To keep us all off the streets
So tonight you'll sleep softly in your beds
You could try anything
And no one would know apart from you and me
You could stop anything
It starts with just one and turns to two then three
And it's only 'cos you came here with your brothers too
If you came here on your own you'd be dead
You'll raise a glass until you raise a fist or two
And get a shopping basket wrapped round your head
So here we go with a letter
Can you fix it for me?
For twenty-four hours drinking
To keep us all off the streets
So tonight you'll sleep softly in your beds
We are the angry mob
We read the papers every day
We like who we like
We hate who we hate
But we're also easily swayed
''(Repeat 8x)''
We are the angry mob
03 Heat Dies Down (03:56)
I can just imagine you and me
Running out of steam
Going through the motions
And I have no idea how you know
When I dip my toes
In other people's oceans
'Cos you had a local knowledge of the local area
And that impressed me quite
So I tried that night
To do all the things i thought you'd like
But that just made it worse
And I impressed you not
Well not a lot
So we started from the start
When the heat dies down I'll be back in town
And until that time I'll be round at mine
When the heat dies down I'll be back in town
And until that time I'll be round at mine
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
I cannot imagine growing old
To have and to hold
Till death do part each other
'Cos I doubt I could stomach twenty years
Spending time at hers
Talking to that mother
'Cos I got a wider knowledge of the world I just can't face
Another argument
About the rent
It all seems unimportant in the grander scheme of things
'Cause I was purpose built
To not feel guilt
So we ended at the end
When the heat dies down I'll be back in town
And until that time I'll be round at mine
When the heat dies down I'll be back in town
And until that time I'll be round at mine
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
When the heat dies down
04 Highroyds (03:19)
I remember nights out when we were young
They weren't very good they were rubbish
Running round Highroyds isn't fun
Just teenagers testing their courage
Standing outside nightclubs in the snow
Us not very cool or impressive
They let in all the girls from the year below
No need for ID's with those dresses
Got news from afar
From a girl who knows who we are
She's still got my dinner money
She can keep it
Never had a fight that we haven't lost
Not very tough or athletic
Once I had a boxing champ in a headlock
When he gets out I'll regret it
Got keys to a car
Picked up a girl from Boston Spa
For fast food and cinema
It's not worth it
Got word from down south
Well he had heard about it word of mouth
Haven't much stayed in touch
Since Highroyds
Let it go and let it go
And if I'm wrong then I won't know
Cos no one's gonna tell me but a friend
He has gone and Ian's gone
And everybody went along
And nobody was left here in the end
Got news from Uncle Hugh
Through a second cousin once removed
Too late there's a housing estate
It's called Highroyds
Got a text from an ex
She wants to know when we're in London next
"And will you write a song about me?"
I don't think so
06 Thank You Very Much (02:37)
Didn't expect any of this
But it was really nice
Didnt want you to cause a fuss
But it feels alive
So Thank you very much
Its really nice to know
That you enjoyed the show
And I want you to know when to go
Cos this should be a thrill
But it feels like a drill
Now you must let me go, let me go
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
I remember what it was like
And it was really nice
Never thought I would experience this
From the other side
So Thank you very much
It's really nice to know
That you enjoyed the show
And I want you to know when to go
Cos this should be a thrill
But it feels like a drill
Now you must let me go, let me go
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
I just imagine that of you
And there's nothing nothing nothing I can't do
07 I Can Do It Without You (03:24)
None of the buildings even look the same,
And underneath them all the shops have changed.
I don't pretend they're in a lot more pain,
Stocking much too young for the professionals to stay in.
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
I'm in tunnel to the north again
Everybody has to talk on the train.
And if you've got nothing thats clever to say,
Nobody's listening to you anyway.
'Cos I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
But it wouldn't be very good.
La la la, la la la la la la la la la, etc.
What you want here?
It doesn't matter!
I don't think that it can be done without you.
What you doing?
It doesn't matter!
But everything that's done is all about you
We convince each other nothing has changed
Nobody else will ever write the same
We're out of ?? thought the stage is not blame
For your protection all the names have been changed
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it without you.
But it wouldn't be very good.
08 My Kind of Guy (04:06)
Well it starts as a joke
Like a stick in your spokes
Or removing the bolt of the brakes
Then the bicycle flips
Crushing ribs smashing hips
And he broke every bone in his face
Now you're out of control
And you can't fill the hole
That was left by the thrill of the chase
You're a right piece of work
All the flakes go berserk
Have you forgotten how good they taste
You're my kind of guy
'Cos I like your style
And you sound as horrible as me
And I don't mind if you're unkind
'Cos you're reminding me of me
As the bicycle race
Gathers speed, gathers pace
And you feel that you're going too fast
Theres a word to the wise
You should take some advice
'Cos the nice guys always finish last
You're my kind of guy
'Cos I like your style
And you sound as horrible as me
And I don't mind if you're unkind
'Cos you're reminding me of me
You're my kind of guy
'Cos I like your style
And you sound as horrible as me
And heads will roll
As it takes its toll
On you and me...
09 Everything Is Average Nowadays (02:44)
Sooooooooooooooooooooooo
Everything is average nowadays
Everything is average nowadays
Everyone would do it if they can
And everything is going down the pan
And everyone is following the craze
And everything is average
Now you say it's getting better
But I don't really see the signs
Said it is too different
You thought it would be suicide
Not much to believe in
Left up on a shelf
So get your coats we're leaving
We'll just do something else
Ohhhh Everything is average nowadays
Everything is average nowadays
And everything is of no consequence
Cos everyone is sitting on the fence
And everything will always stay the same
Cos everything is average
Now you said you didn't mean it
You threw away the book of rules
You thought that we should read it
I wouldn't even know how to
Not much to believe in
Left up on the shelf
So get your coats we're leaving
We'll just do something else
All I need is a ball and a wall
Or a sledge and a hill in heavy weather
All I need is a ball and a wall
A sledge and a hill in heavy weather
Oh oh oh oh etc.
Not much to believe in
Left up on the shelf
So get your coats we're leaving
We'll just do something else
Sooooooooooooooooooooooo
Everything is average nowadays
Everything is average nowadays
Everyone would do it if they can
And everything is going down the pan
And everyone is following the craze
And everything is average nowadays
10 Learnt My Lesson Well (05:25)
I'm just waiting for
The man to come with all my things
And i'm just waiting for
Another man to take it all
And its not hard to tell
That I learnt my lesson well
And I'm just waiting for
The man to come and go away
What are you waiting for
Get up off your seat
Its just seven days
Feels like a week
What are you moaning for
You got all that you want
Your life could be worse
You could be a nurse
It seems so sensible
For us to keep the purse strings tight
And move the decimals
A couple of places to the right
And its not hard to tell
That I learnt my lesson well
It seems most sensible
But not exactly what we'd like
What are you waiting for
Get up off your seat
Its just seven days
Feels like a week
What are you moaning for
You got all that you want
Our life could be worse
You know, we all could be cursed
I Can't help feel like this
So don't rearrange it
I don't mean to be a dick
I just don't like the changes
I can not help the things I say
You know wouldn't to strangers
But I don't like going away
Cos it puts me in danger
I can tell you now
There ain't a problem can't be solved
With a good old fashioned row
So grit your teeth and stand your ground
And its not hard to tell
That I learnt my lesson well
But I'm still waiting for
The man to come with all my things
What are you waiting for
Get up off your seat
It's just seven days
Feels like a week
What are you moaning for
You got all that you want
Your life could be worse
You could leave in a hearse
11 Try Your Best (03:42)
I can't do it any quicker,
I don't want it any slicker.
As far as the eye can see,
Is miles and miles of icy sea.
So try your best,
And think about it later.
Or you will never know.
I don't feel fear anymore,
But I can't risk getting bored.
As far as the ear can hear,
The wave is coming loud and clear.
So try your best,
And think about it later.
Or you will never know.
So try your best,
And think about it later.
Or you will never know,
Which way your life could go,
And you'll know when you know.
So try your best,
And think about it later.
Or you will never know,
which way your life could go,
And you'll know when you know.
12 Retirement (03:57)
There are many things that I would be proud of
If I'd only invented them such as the wheel
The washing machine and the tumble dryer
On these inventions surely I could retire
I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And tell nobody why
There are many things that I know I could do
If I'd only have wanted to, such as create
The perfect soulmate everyone would admire
On this creation surely I could retire
I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And not to answer to why
I want to retire
Inform the suppliers
I'll leave the party in style
And not to be carried out
Without a cloud in the sky
I Got my fingers in pies
A Golden watch on my side
Will measure my free time
Now my place in History is surely assured
I will be remembered here forever more
Brand new product in place and a potential buyer
Up on this next transaction surely I could retire
I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And not to answer to why
I want to retire
Inform the suppliers
I'll leave the party in style
And not to be carried out
Without a cloud in the sky
I Got my fingers in pies
A Golden watch on my side
Will measure my free time
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Altre recensioni
Di flebo
Le canzoni sembrano davvero scritte 15 anni fa con sonorità più ruvide e pezzi veloci che sfiorano il punk.
Un album piacevole all’ascolto, soprattutto se siete dei filo-britannici incalliti, che però sembra non raggiungere mai picchi di pregevolezza.
