Grasshopper

DeRank ™: 5,88

DeAge™ : 7973 days • Here since 11 august 2004

U2 The Joshua Tree

25 jan 05

Voto:

Here are people who confuse the character Bono Vox, who indeed can be quite annoying with his overwhelming presence (there's no more or less charitable initiative that doesn’t involve him, not to mention his duets with anyone from Zucchero to Pavarotti), with the music of U2, which at least until Zooropa, before the "pop experiments," truly doesn’t deserve to be spat upon as some comments above suggest. Even less so in the case of this album, which alongside Achtung Baby remains their masterpiece.

Genesis Foxtrot

18 jan 05

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Shopping advice for progressive discs. Genesis: Foxtrot, Selling England by the pound, The Lamb lies down on Broadway, Nursery Cryme, A trick of the tail, Wind and wuthering. King Crimson: In the court of Crimson King, In the wake of Poseidon, Lizard, Islands, Lark's tongues in aspic, Red. Yes: The Yes album, Close to the edge, Fragile. Jethro Tull: Stand up, Aqualung. Emerson Lake & Palmer: Emerson Lake & Palmer, Tarkus, Trilogy, Brain salad surgery. Gentle Giant: Gentle Giant. PFM: Storia di un minuto... enough, I'm sure I've forgotten several, but even this much can ruin your finances.

Genesis Foxtrot

17 jan 05

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Great advice: nothing could be better for anyone wanting to discover progressive rock. For me, not only is "Supper's Ready" the pinnacle of what Genesis has created, but the entire "Foxtrot" competes with "Selling England by the Pound" as their masterpiece, and since I believe Genesis is undoubtedly the best progressive rock band that has ever existed, the conclusion is obvious. I refrained from reviewing it because I would not have been able to be objective. It would likely have turned into a panegyric.

Bob Dylan Oh Mercy

14 jan 05

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OK: all clear, perfectly. I had taken it a bit too literally, without catching the irony. In fact, since my rating of the review was influenced by the judgment on the comment, I correct myself, and above all I trust: I will soon set out to find "Oh Mercy".

R.E.M. Around The Sun

13 jan 05

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Let's clarify one thing right away: "Leaving New York" may not be the best song of the year, but it certainly stands out among what's playing on the radio. I don't understand the hostility many have towards this album, and more generally the collective phobia against recent releases from already established artists, as if there were a hysterical hunger for "novelties at all costs," which usually turn out to be soap bubbles. The R.E.M. after more than 20 years in the business are certainly not at their creative peak, but with their immense skills, they more than compensate for the inevitable tendency to slightly repeat themselves. Their mature albums, and this one in particular, may not shine with flights of fancy, but as a quality standard, they are a safe bet.

Bob Dylan Oh Mercy

13 jan 05

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Grasshopper and similar ones (and there are quite a few) were a bit taken aback by a phrase like "we're not talking about Battiato or De Andre' or Led Zeppelin and whoever else you want to include." Since I'm having trouble understanding this phrase, I return to Hal's question, the answer to which Dylan-like has remained in the wind: "Benzo, what did you mean?"

Genesis Trespass

12 jan 05

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Always a bit underrated, poor Trespass, which already contained the seeds of the subsequent masterpieces. It's incredible to think it came just a year after their debut album, a real flop where Genesis occasionally reminded one of the Bee Gees. I have some doubts about the mediocrity of certain tracks: it’s true that there are still naiveties and "youthful sins" (the Genesis were still around 20 years old), but "Dusk," for example, is a true gem of atmosphere. Of course, the decisive leap in quality would come with "Nursery Cryme."

Bob Dylan Oh Mercy

12 jan 05

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It's true, there isn't any mention of trash in those exact words, but these three gentlemen artists are presented as negative comparisons in relation to the undeniable greatness (which I fully share) of Bob Dylan. Now, Led Zeppelin and Battiato are somewhat acceptable, as they have nothing to do with this, but to cite Fabrizio De André as a negative example to be contrasted with Dylan—the one who truly understood him in Italy (see translations of "Desolation Row" and "Romance in Durango")—seems like a big nonsense to me, and this significantly lowers my trust.

Bob Dylan Oh Mercy

11 jan 05

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Good news: I had abandoned Dylan with "Infidels," but apparently there’s been something worthwhile even after that. It’s worth investigating, but how far can I trust someone who considers De André (as well as Led Zeppelin and Battiato) among the bad stuff?

Franco Battiato Dieci Stratagemmi

27 dec 04

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Zion, can you read minds? "Is there anyone else capable of slipping phrases like 'I will overcome gravitational currents' or 'I know the laws of the world and I will gift them to you' into one of the most beautiful love songs of the '90s ('La cura') without making people laugh, but instead managing to move them?" (that's what I said in my review of "L'imboscata")