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Rating:
There was a guy who every time he went to bed, he would look at the nightstand, where there was a photo of a singer from a very famous grunge band, to whom he dedicated a prayer and then sank into the pillow, assured that the latter would protect him from all evil..
Then one day he wondered: “I wonder what it would be like if I had a band too.. It would be cool, especially because I would have thousands of wild fans ready to tear their underwear for me, and I am also quite a handsome guy, a bit of a rogue, but still a good-looking guy”.
So, the bold young man gathered some of his friends, namely Mark Tremonti, guitarist/bassist, Scott Philips drummer, and for live performances, since Tremonti is humanly unable to play both instruments at the same time, not to mention the delicate task of getting Italy out of the economic crisis, Brian Marshall was hired on bass. In 1997 “My Own Prison” was released, immediately selling masses of records; one Vedder in the world wasn’t enough, and now there’s Scott Stapp too. The voice in the first album touches similar tones, so much so that at first listen, one might think of an alternative project by the Pearl Jam leader. But no..
In 1999 “Human Clay” was released, 11 million records sold, in the top 100 of all-time sales in the U.S.A., so it makes you think a bit:
- Is it possible that a good portion of the American people is categorized as “not understanding a damn thing about music?”
The answer is undoubtedly "yes"! - How the hell did Creed manage to sell so many copies of this “thing”?
In America, they are many, millions upon millions.. And surely many must necessarily be beastly rednecks, so it all makes sense.. - But was there really a need for a band like Creed and someone who sings like Eddie Vedder?
Not really.. - Last but not least question: when Creed broke up, perhaps because the others realized that Scott, aside from his voice and big head, didn't possess any other noteworthy attributes, the other three called one of the most talented singers (not in that sense, but who knows..) of recent times, a certain Myles Kennedy, and formed Alter Bridge. Well, in the first Alter Bridge album, even though it is typical American hard rock, it's done well, and they seem to have awakened from a long slumber and started to at least “play” properly: there are enjoyable and technically appreciable solos, riffs worthy of being called such, and drum parts that you definitely wouldn’t expect from a drummer like Philips… So they could play before? And why didn’t they ever do it?
Well.. Unfathomable mysteries to which human reason will never find an answer.
Once you’ve asked yourself these four fundamental questions, put “Human Clay” in the player, and immediately notice that the voice no longer resembles the mentor’s, here it becomes more aggressive, less soft in the lows, but when the scream starts, one thing that immediately comes to mind is: “When I sit on the toilet and, during the delicate operation, hum something to ease the tension and maybe cover the unpleasant noises, what comes out sounds a lot like what I hear here in the high parts”.
Everything is built around Stapp's voice, the instruments are just a side dish, Tremonti is totally wasted, and Philips keeps time like it's his first year of drum lessons. Already from the first two tracks “Are You Ready” (NO! Turn it off!) and “What If” the urge to turn everything off and use this album as a wobbly table equalizer is strong, but you go on to discover if it's a funny bluff, hoping that the quality of the tracks will grow over time, “Beautiful” doesn’t help, we are always on the calm verse and aggressive chorus side, little guitars at the start, thick and distorted big guitars during, cadenced drums, almost nonexistent bass, bitonal voice.. A deadly boredom.
Let's go on, “Wrong Way” at least has a somewhat "peculiar" tempo, even if the hassle is always the same and the construction of the piece does not change.. “Faceless Man”, oh no damn, even here the intro with the arpeggiated guitar and clean voice, no? Are you taking the piss out of me? For God's sake, they are pleasant little songs, but deadly boring! Wait a moment, but is this a ballad, isn’t Scott shouting, oh no, I was wrong.. After six songs will there be something new? Absolutely not.. “Never Die”, same old story, but I am ready for the bomb, I read that “With Arms Wide Open” won a Grammy for best rock song and is the 92nd best video of all time.. And I wonder, after also seeing the video “But why?” Because there are violins? Because Tremonti finally inserts a solo? Because Stapp finally got over the diarrhea? Then the video is not that great.. And then I remember point 1.. And I can only reinforce the "Yes", this time capitalized..
That's enough, you can safely stop here, because you already know what you’ll find until the end, a record so lacking in ideas that "Tower" by Sukora, in the genius of paid silence, surpasses it by far..
Absolutely to be overlooked.
Question no. 5: But was there really a need for a review of “Human Clay” eh Cornell?
“But no.. Do you want to know why I did it?”
“Because it was missing and to deter you from buying it..”
Last question Cornell: But have Creed reunited and will they release another album?
Do you want the answer? “May God help and deliver us from that…”
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Are You Ready? (04:45)
Hey Mr. Seeker
Hold on to this advice
If you can seek then you will find
Don't want to follow
Down roads been walked before
So hard to find unopened doors
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Hey Mr. Hero
Walking a thin, fine line
Under the microscope of life
Remember your roots, my friend
They're right down below
'Cause heroes come and heroes go
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one
Countdown to the change in life that's soon to come
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one
Countdown to the change in life that's soon to come
Your life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Oh, I said
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
For what's to come
Your life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
Life has just begun
03 Beautiful (04:19)
She wears a coat of color
Loved by some, feared by others
She's immortalized in young men's eyes
Lust she breeds in the eyes of brothers
Violent sons make bitter mothers
So close your eyes here's your surprise
Bea,Beautiful is empty
Beautiful is free
Beautiful loves no one
Beautiful stripped me
Stripped me X3
In your mind she's your companion
Vile instincts often candid
Your regret is all that's left
Beautiful is empty
Beautiful is free
Beautiful loves no one
Beautiful stripped me
stripped me X3
She told me where I'm going
And it's far away from home
I think I'll go there on my own
I think i'll go there on my own (repeat)
Beautiful is empty
Beautiful is free
Beautiful loves no one
Beautiful stripped me
stripped me X5
04 Say I (05:15)
The dust has finally settled on the field of human clay
Just enough light has shown through
To tell night from the day
We're incomplete and hollow
For our maker's gone away
Who is to blame?
We'll surely melt in the rain
Say I (6x)
The stillness seems so lifeless with no spirit in your soul
Like children with no vision do exactly what they're told
Being led into the desert
For your strength will surely fade
Who is to blame?
We'll surely melt in the rain
Say I (9x)
Frantic, faction, focus
The world breathes
And out forms this misconception we call man
But I don't know him
No, I don't know him
Because he lies
(they lie)
Say I(x7)
05 Wrong Way (04:19)
What makes you touch?
What makes you feel?
What makes you stop and smell the roses in an open field?
What makes you unclean?
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
What makes you laugh?
What makes you cry?
What makes our youth run from the thought that we might die?
What makes you bleed?
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
What I
Yeah Yeah
What if I died?
What did I give?
I hope it was an answer so you might live
I hope I helped you live
I hope I helped you live
I hope I helped you live
I hope I helped you live
Live
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Somebody told me the wrong way
Yeah, Yeah
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
06 Faceless Man (05:59)
I spent a day by the river
It was quiet and the wind stood still
I spent some time with nature
To remind me of all that's real
It's funny how silence speaks sometimes when you're alone
And remember that you feel
I said It's funny how silence speaks sometimes when you're alone
And remember that you feel
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Now I saw a face on the water
It looked humble but willing to fight
I saw the will of a warrior
His yoke is easy and his burden is light
He looked me right in the eyes, direct and concise to remind me
To always do what's right
He looked me right in the eyes, direct and concise to remind me
To always do what's right
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Again I stand, Lord God I stand, against the Faceless Man
'Cause if the face inside can't see the light I know
I'll have to walk alone
And if I walk alone to the other side I know
I might not make it home
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man
(2x)
Next time I see this face
I'll say I choose to live for always
So won't you come inside
And never go away
Again I stand, Lord I stand, against the Faceless Man(3x)
07 Never Die (04:51)
Hands on a window pane
Watching some children laugh and play
They're running in circles
With candy canes and French braids
Inspired to question
What makes us grown-ups anyway?
Let's search fo the moment
When youth betrayed itself to age
So let the children play
Inside your heart always
And death you will defy
'Cause your youth will never die
never die
In searching for substance
We're clouded by struggle's haze
Remember the meaning
Of playing out in the rain
We swim in the fountain
Of youth's timeless maze
If you drink the water
Your youth will never fade
So let the children play
Inside your heart always
And death you will defy
'Cause your youth will never die
Never die X3
I won't let go out that youthful soul
Despite body and mind my youth will never die X2
Hey, Hey
So let the children play
Inside your heart always
And death you will defy
'Cause your youth will never die X2
never die
08 With Arms Wide Open (04:34)
Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is gonna to change
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
With arms wide open
under the sunlight
welcome to this place
i'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything
Oh yeah
With arms wide open
Wide open
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open
With Arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything oh yeah
With arms wide open
wide open
09 Higher (05:16)
When dreaming I'm guided to another world
Time and time again
At sunrise I fight to stay asleep
'Cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place
'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape
From the life I live when I'm awake
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
Come on, let's go there
Let's ask can we stay
Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher?
To a place with golden streets?
Although I would like our world to change
It helps me to appreciate
Those nights and those dreams
But, my friend, I'd sacrifice all those nights
If I could make the Earth and my dreams the same
The only difference is
To let love replace all our hate
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
C'mon let's go there
Let's ask can we stay
Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher?
to a place with golden streets?
So let's go there
Let's go there
C'mon let's go there
Let's ask can we stay
Up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first time
Sail up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine.
Sail up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine.
Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher?
to a place with golden streets?
10 Wash Away Those Years (06:04)
She came calling
One early morning
She showed her crown of thorns
She whispered softly
To tell her story
About how she had been wronged
As she lay lifeless
He stole her innocence
And this is how she carried on
this is how she carried on
Well I guess she closed her eyes
And just imagined everything's alright
But she could not hide her tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
They were sent to wash away those years
My anger's violent
But still I'm silent
When tradegy strikes at home
I know this decadence
Is shared by millions
Remember you're not alone
Remember you're not alone
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
They were sent to wash away those years
Maybe we can wash away those years
For we have crossed many oceans
And we've labored in between
In life there are many quotients
An I hope I find the mean
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
Well if you'll just close your eyes
And just imagine everythings alright
But do not hide your tears
'Cause they were sent to wash away those years
Maybe we can wash away those years
I hope that you can wash away those years
11 Inside Us All (05:48)
When I'm all alone
And no one else is there
Waiting by the phone
To remind me I'm still here
When shadows paint the scenes
Where spotlights use to fall
And I'm left wondering
Is it really worth it all?
There's a peace inside us all
Let it be your friend
It will help you carry on
In the end
There's a peace inside us all
Life can hold you down
When you're not looking out
Can't you hear the sounds
Hearts beating out loud
Although the names change
Inside we're all the same
Why can't we tear down the walls,
And show the scars we're covering?
There's a peace inside us all
Let it be your friend
It will help you carry on
In the end
There's a peace inside us all
There's a peace
Oh, there's a peace inside us all
Let it be
Oh I said let it be your friend
Oh, can't it be your friend?
12 Young Grow Old (04:56)
He said he's falling to pieces
Fighting the boy and the man
Over his shoulder there was freedom
But consciousness has tied his hands
Embodied youth was his distinction
Now inhibition's in demand
So driven by his fear of weakness
That's his key to understand
So far in a distant land
There's a fight between boy and man
See the light through the open door
Sit and watch as the young grow old
Trading places in the circle
Turn the glass, spill the sand
They say that time can make the difference
But age doesn't make you a man
So far in a distant land
There's a fight between boy and man
See the light through the open door
Sit and watch as the young grow old
So young but overblown
So young but overblown
So young but overblown
Take a look now, see the boy is weakened
Watch him fade, watch him fade away
Take a bow and the boy is defeated
Is this the way, this the way?
So far in a distant land
There's a fight between boy and man
See the light through the open door
Sit and watch as the young grow old
13 To Whom It May Concern (03:57)
Oh, I didn't mean to yell
But sometimes I get beside myself
And oh, I didn't mean to rush you
But time keeps pushing so much
Oh, time keeps pushing so much
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Oh, If I didn't give it all
When I stood you made me crawl
And oh, if you never heard the song
Then I could still hide down behind the wall
Then I could still hide down behind the wall
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Said eyes, fallow me
I still believe there's something left for you me, for you me
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Oh, my freedom
Your eyes stare at me in the dark
And I hope those eyes
Don't steal my freedom
My freedom
Oh, my freedom
Said eyes, those eyes
Said eyes, those eyes
I said don't steal my freedom
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