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Rating:
It is not difficult to review the latest "effort" by Manuel Agnelli and company. For years, they have contended for the title of the best Italian band with Marlene Kuntz and CSI in the Italian AltERnAtIVe scene, but in reality, they are far too overrated. Afterhours are nothing more than a pleasant tribute band to listen to live, echoing Afghan Whigs, Screaming Trees (above all), Suicide (compare "Ghost Rider" with "Milano Circonvallazione Esterna"), Jimi Hendrix (All Along the Watchtower VS Non Sono Immaginario), and now, a new entry... The Cure.
Let's start with "Neppure carne da cannone per Dio," which alludes to The Cure's "10:15 Saturday Night," but (un)fortunately changes the refrain to an existentialist tone: "Carne e cannoni e Dio...Carne e cannoni ed io." Copied music and pathetic lyrics. We understand from the outset that "I milanesi ammazzano il Sabato" is a jumble of distorted quotes, allusions, and few ideas.
"Naufragio sull'isola del tesoro" would make sense if it were by Marta sui Tubi, but sung by Manuel Agnelli, it becomes a potential puzzle for "la settimana enigmistica": the lyrics (C'era una casa bellissima/Che un brutto mutuo strego'/ Ma il sortilegio questa notte svanira'/ Togliti il buio amor,Le mutandine il tuo dolore /Sai voglio scoparti fino a farti ridere/ Questo bambino ci salvera' /piange per dirci che sa /Dalla noia nascon fiori unici /Che notte splendida /Per delle iene ridere). Some might get excited by calling it irony, thinking it's something any good housewife from Irpinia could say, or material found in Melissa P.'s books (Tarantella all'Inazione… a text written poorly).
In terms of lyrics and titles, it would seem like an album by Verdena (Tarantella all'inazione, Pochi istanti nella lavatrice, E' essere Silvan, Ochi e streghe sono soli) and the results are identical. The worst album by Afterhours, where the album slips through without leaving anything, perhaps the only salvageable thing is the lyrics of "Tutto domani."
Maybe they will still manage to stir emotions with old songs live, but we are light-years away from a shred of decent music with this album. We are at the antithesis of quality. A dose of humility wouldn't hurt our dear Manuel.
Rating: 2 (due to respect)
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Other reviews
By nzùcobr
From the start, there’s the joyful astonishment of discovery, like a compression that takes you back ten years.
This album won’t make those who never appreciated them start liking them, fortunately. For those who enjoyed them, even too long ago, it might be a happy discovery.
By pablokant
"'I Milanesi Ammazzano il Sabato' is the result of a depletion of Manuel Agnelli's creative vein."
"Banal and irritating songs hidden by great production and splendid arrangements."
By thecat79
"In just 43 minutes, Afterhours pack 14 songs, all intense, with no dead or filler moments."
"The ‘little hyena’ has become a ‘muse of no one,’ mother of a little girl — this is the thematic pivot of the album."
