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THE REVIEW
Fourth album for the Pisan band Zen Circus and... what an album!
Brian Ritchie notices them, wants to produce them but eventually fully joins the group... and thus "Villa Inferno" is released under the name The Zen Circus & Brian Ritchie, with the former Violent Femmes drummer bringing a wealth of amazing collaborations...
It kicks off in high gear, "Dead Penfriend" a ride that grows verse by verse, the journey continues and arrives at a Talking Heads cover "Wild Wild Life" featuring guest keyboards by none other than mister Jerry Harrison, and then the Zen Circus' busker attitude lingers until the end, unfolds, chases, lets itself be carried by different languages (even Slavic in "Narodna Pjesna") and then you keep on dancing, moving, the butt shakes, Appino, Ufo, and Karim scream and abuse their instruments, they climb onto a "Beat The Drum", you close your eyes and think "but weren't the Clash gone?"... they're accompanied by the Deal sisters in "Punk Lullaby" and it seems that American alternative rock has made its home in Italy, infectious choruses that get stuck in your head, gypsies with no fixed abode of sounds, acoustic guitars with strings almost always tense, and then come the ballads, "He Was Robert Zimmermann" dedicated to Bob Dylan, "Oh, The River!" which in its awkward sweetness is charming and then the only three pieces in Italian that are a real delight, "Vana Gloria", "Figlio Di Puttana", and "Vent'Anni", which tell you about your wild years, to remember without crying about them though....
Because now we can all shout "WHEN I WAS TWENTY I WAS AN ASSHOLE"....
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Summary by Bot
Villa Inferno marks an energetic and heartfelt collaboration between The Zen Circus and Brian Ritchie. The album blends punk rock intensity with alternative rock influences, featuring memorable guest appearances. Tracks vary from lively covers and multilingual songs to touching ballads, showcasing raw emotion and compelling storytelling. It's a vivid musical journey with infectious energy and nostalgic reflections.Tracklist Videos
The Zen Circus
The Zen Circus is an Italian rock band from Pisa, known for a punk/folk/indie blend, caustic social lyrics and fierce live shows. The core lineup features Andrea Appino (voice, guitar), Ufo, and Karim Qqru. They released Villa Inferno with Brian Ritchie, drew guests like Nada and Giorgio Canali, and earned acclaim with Italian-language records such as Andate tutti affanculo and Nati per subire.07 Reviews
