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In a period like this, where the 70s and the rock of that era have been extensively revisited, manneristically borrowed, not to say copied; this album can only represent a sigh of relief for the advocates of that genre (myself included, therefore)!
A concentrate of Glam, Kitsch and Psychedelia mixed with extreme intelligence, very current and extremely polemic towards modern American society. Described, not incorrectly, as a modern “Rocky Horror Picture Show”, “The Homeland” was released in January 2004 by Thrill Jokey. The author Bobby Conn, a thirty-six-year-old protagonist of the Chicago indie scene, is pure talent, brazen, irreverent; accompanied on this occasion by his band “The Glass Gypsies”.
The album starts strong with the polemic “We Come in Peace”, pounding drums, hypnotic guitars, falsettos and choirs worthy of the best Glam tradition. It’s the lyrics that represent the anomaly, carefree melodies paired with tremendously polemic lyrics against American neocolonialism: “…We come in Peace…God’s on our side…Say goodbye to all your history/Come and join our family…”. With track number 7 we reach Conn's manifesto, his declaration of intent. In “Home Sweet Home”, indeed, the author gives voice, accompanied only by the piano, to all the madness and fears of modern life in a chilling snapshot: “…I got carpet on my floor/And a gun by every door/And I’m free/I’m free to live my life in constant fear…”. The vision is as lucid “…I Know exactly what’s happening” as the opposition is difficult “…It’s hard to protest when you’re so confused…”. There is no lack of winks to disco-punk like in “Relax”, or electro wave keyboards as in the sharp “We’re Taking Over The World”.
A shrewd, ironic, and irreverent look at our society by Conn, but at the same time also involved and embittered. All superbly theatricalized and staged, “…And I’m ready for my scene/And I’m such a drama queen…”. Unmissable for lovers of the Glam genre and for those who do not want to resign themselves to the “American Dream”!
Tracklist and Videos
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