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THE REVIEW
I was aimlessly wandering around the bookstore when, from the background stereo that had been playing a bit of everything, I intercepted some notes that made my ears perk up. I asked the clerk for enlightenment and he, with a conspiratorial air, showed me the cover of Ballate Per Piccole Iene: "I put this on... cool, huh?". I had picked up very little, but my ears were still nicely perked, so I decided on the spot: I'll buy it. Let's see if it's really cool. Since then, I've been recommending it to everyone I meet, I'm listening to it and relistening and relistening, it's become my "new obsession", to quote Subsonica: I want to memorize every word, every chord, every distortion of this MASTERPIECE. Yes, it is undoubtedly a masterpiece the new effort by Agnelli & Company, a rough album, dripping with pain, anger, disillusionment, an album that pierces you through and through, with its obsessive and claustrophobic refrains that cling to your brain, pitch a tent and never leave. Harsh but also sweet melodies, crossed by a versatile, chameleon-like voice, which becomes now caressing now shrill, giving chills and jolts.
The beginning is searing, with La Sottile Linea Bianca, just as searing are Ballata Per La Mia Piccola Iena, Ci Sono Molti Modi, La Vedova Bianca, Il Sangue Di Giuda and the other tracks. Many of these pieces, in my opinion, are united by the theme of destructive, self-destructive love: "siamo vivi per usarci", "c'è qualcosa che è dentro di noi che è sbagliato e ci rende simili", "lo so che il mio amore è una patologia vorrei che mi uccidesse ora", are examples of this interpretation of love in a far from sugary way, as a meeting with someone who uses you, drains your energy and reason, leaves you without skin.
However, in all this darkness that envelops the album there is still room for hope. I am referring, in particular, to a warning contained in E' La Fine Quella Più Importante, which in my opinion is a true pearl of wisdom: "non lasciar che il tuo percorso ti divori il ventre", don't let gloom defeat you. Keep it well in mind.
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Summary by Bot
The review praises Afterhours' album Ballate Per Piccole Iene as a raw and powerful masterpiece marked by pain, anger, and disillusionment. The album explores destructive, self-destructive love through haunting melodies and a versatile vocal performance. Despite the dark themes, moments of hope shine through. The reviewer has made the album a personal obsession and highly recommends it.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Afterhours
Afterhours is an Italian alternative rock band from Milan led by Manuel Agnelli, active since the mid-1980s and widely cited as influential in the Italian indie/alternative scene.52 Reviews
Other reviews
By SouthMan
Everything sounds heavy, the rhythm has further slowed down, becoming obsessive, devoid of real emotions.
Afterhours missed the mark this time.
By enryka
"The album insinuates itself under the skin, reaches the neuralgic points of the body, and then takes root in the soul."
"Even the sun rises only if it’s convenient."
By Giordyboy1
A five-and-a-half-minute ballad with my heart in my throat and goosebumps.
To those who dreamed of being a rock star and instead find themselves reviewing albums in their bedroom, I say... come back when you’ve written something that resembles this, something that bleeds like this.
By Aerith
It’s like breathing stagnant air... but letting yourself be taken by Manuel’s voice... you realize that in that melancholy you feel good after all.
The title track is the perfect synthesis of the album: between rock influences and decidedly darker tracks.
By enkrist1
Ballate per Piccole Iene is a small masterpiece brimming with inventiveness, full of rock insights that would fit well on a tough indie album... certainly not Italian.
They have a strength that strikes, being the only ones in Italy proposing rock worthy of being called by that name.
