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Rating:
Today, bands that strictly define themselves as metal are not infrequently accused of excessive stylistic prolixity. Ironically, those who first forged metal (almost) never allowed themselves the luxury of releasing an album that was the same as its predecessor. And indeed, many things can be said about this “Technical Ecstacy” (1976), except that it sounds like something already heard.
We also remember that starting from the second half of the seventies, many of the major exponents of the hard rock genre suffered an impressive stylistic involution (although, in many cases, it was more of a search). And the phenomenon did not spare the Black Sabbath. Even they, in an attempt to renew their sound, after six albums as pioneers, allowed themselves a slowdown. Let's say half a slowdown, considering the necessity of a compulsory passage towards the imminent rebirth, and because some tracks have nonetheless remained in the fans' hearts. “Dirty Women” above all, not coincidentally included in the setlist of the live performance of the historic reunion. However, it was certainly difficult for any Sabbath aficionado to come to terms with this abrupt change of direction: “Sabotage” (1975), with its heavy riffs, still echoed too strongly in the minds of the most die-hard headbangers (who weren't called that at the time, but allow me the term). While the subsequent (and not for that reason undervalued) “Never Say Die” (1979) was both, in terms of sound choice and a high-level compositional experiment, the same cannot be said of this work.
“Technical Ecstacy”, even before being monotonous, seems to be rather trapped in the dense sound chosen by the band, which dulls its adrenaline cut without adding any elegance. “Back Street Kids” opens the record, immediately delivering this sad verdict. Not bad, yes, but the sound that emerges is a hybrid with premature genes, which would have deserved at least a few more months of gestation. The same goes for “Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor” (which even had a video) and “All Moving Parts”. Episodes not to be despised, but always incomplete in something. Sometimes melodic, sometimes charged, always on the verge of exploding, they run out of the fuse before making the bang. That abomination named “It’s All Right” is almost frightening, where Bill Ward improvises as a last-minute singer, making us almost forget all his booming rhythmic talents with a twisted backbone. The openings of the choruses in “Gipsy” are certainly more on point, which the band would have done better to emulate if they truly wanted to progress beyond their overused formulas.
I still stick with a three because ultimately, I consider myself a fan, and I just can't bring myself to completely criticize them. It might be more accurate to talk about a nearly achieved sufficiency, but the heart wants what it wants (and two and a half stars are not included among the possible ratings).
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Back Street Kids (03:49)
I'm just another back street kid
Rock 'n Roll music is the only thing I really dig
Can't stop the music going round inside my head
I'm a rock 'n roll soldier, gonna play it until I'm dead
Nobody I know will ever take my rock n' roll away from me
Sitting in the back seat of a shiny limousine
Living in a taxi can't remember where I've been
Playing my music, sitting in my hotel room
Writing about the stars and thinking about the hand of doom
Nobody I know will ever take my rock n' roll away from me
Living life comes easy if you know which way you're going
Got to see yourself in other's eye's, surprised?
Living like I want to don't come easy, but I'm trying
Sorting out what's true and what are lies, it's wise
Brought up in a back street living with the salt of the land
Seems that now my music's paying off my tax demands
So listen to the music, want to see you get so high
'Cause I'm a back street rocker and I will be till the day I die
Nobody I know will ever take my rock n' roll away from me
03 It's Alright (04:06)
Told you once about your friends and neighbours
They were always seeking but they'll never find it
It's alright, yes it's alright
Where to go and where to see
It's always been this way and it can never be
It's alright, yes it's alright
Give it all and ask no return
And very soon you'll see and you'll begin to learn
That's it's alright, yes it's alright
Don't you know that it's so good for you
You can be making love and see it all go through
But it's alright, yes it's alright
04 Gypsy (05:11)
Watching the universe at the end of another day
Fatalistic ships froma distant shore
In the back of my mind I could see she was standing there
Like the feeling you have
When you've been there before
She was a gypsy woman
She was as cold as the day, yeah
She said I'd got it coming
And then she took me away, yeah
She took me through the shadows of her sunken dream
I thought it's over me, she wasn't all she seemed
She took my hand and then she started to speak
She told me she'd had the call
With eyes of fire that were burning my soul
She looked into her crystal ball
She read my fortune then she read my mind
She didn't like my thoughts at all
She showed me shadows, a spectre of life
My soul just wanted to scream
She stared so deeply into my eyes
That's when I fell into a dream
When I awoke in bed she lay beside me
And she read me with her eyes, she said
So you wanna be a gypsy, come on now
So you wanna be a gypsy, come on now, now, now
Gypsy woman you're the devil in drag
You are the queen of all hell
You took my body,now you're wasting my soul
You've got me under your spell
And as the sun shines on another day
You're gonna take my mind as well,it's over
So you wanna be a gypsy, come on now
So you wanna be a gypsy, come on now
So you wanna be a gypsy, come on now
So you wanna be a gypsy
05 All Moving Parts (Stand Still) (05:06)
Super animation, turning on a nation
And they're saying all moving parts stand still
Since he was elected, adrenalin injected
Hear him saying all moving parts should kill
Just like the hero he's got them all on the run
Yes he's won, yeah
Since he passed the motion, they're building in the ocean
And he's saying all men should be free
What a combination, peace and radiation
And he's saying free men should fight for me
Just like his momma, he seems to get his pleasure from pain,
And the rain, ain't that strange?
Very strange, yeah
I like choking toys
You've got to see me before you meet the boys
Teacher's burnt the school
He's had enough of sticking to the rules, alright
People stop and see
He's got to be more decadent than me
Just to pass the time
He gets his kicks from licking off the wine
Pretty silly ladies, all Cynthia's and Sadie's
Call him and he takes their numbers down
Says he is a woman, should have seen it coming
And she says she's married to a clown
Just like a lady she'll keep you guessing through the night
Not tonight, well I might Oh alright, yeah
08 Dirty Women (07:08)
The neon lights are shining on me again
I walk the lonely streets in search of a friend
I need a lady to help me to get through the night, through the night
If I could find one then everything would be alright
The sleepy city is dreaming the night time away
Out on the street I watch tomorrow becoming today
I see a man, he's got take away women for sale, yes for sale
Guess that's the answer, 'cause take away women don't fail
Oh dirty women, they don't mess around
Oh dirty women, they don't mess around
You've got me coming, You've got me going around
Oh dirty women, they don't mess around
Walking the streets I wonder will it ever happen
Gotta be good 'cause then everything will be OK
If I could score tonight then I will end up happy
A woman for sale is gonna help me save my day...
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Other reviews
By Starblazer
"Technical Ecstasy is a bit like the 'Virtual XI' of Black Sabbath: a courageous and innovative album that unfortunately wasn’t understood."
"The album closes with 'Dirty Women'... showcasing a long guitar solo where Iommi truly shines."
By Rainbow Rising
"Technical Ecstasy seems to lack a clear direction, often appearing disorienting and all over the place."
"All things considered, Technical Ecstasy is still a pleasant album to listen to, with several peaks and some stylistic missteps."
