asimov

Balanced and objective review. The album starts off very well in the first tracks but then loses itself in the second half. This is a problem that affects many bands of this genre; when they reach their third album (especially after a big success), it can happen that inspiration wanes and the sound becomes heavier, losing the freshness and charming imperfection of their early works.

An album with solar, relaxed, and spring-like atmospheres. Not the best album by REM and not even one of the most representative of the band, but still a record that is pleasant to listen to and stands out precisely for the unique atmospheres mentioned earlier. (REM has always made different albums, each with its own "sound"). Certainly better than "Around the Sun," which I find more uneven and less inspired—neither meat nor fish, really.

It’s certainly not a record that changes the history of music, but it’s nonetheless a fresh work that highlights (or rather, in this case, playfully and almost absurdly emphasizes) two characteristics that are among the main ones of the "classic" Van Halen: fun and camaraderie.

The review reminds me of some old Carosello commercials: 2 minutes of stories, images, landscapes, poetry, and then...bam, here’s the product (the album) :-) :-) :-) Joking aside, the album isn’t bad, even though you can really feel the transition phase between the progressive era of the 70s and the more commercial one of the following decades. The absence of Hackett's arpeggios is noticeable, replaced by a barrage of keyboards that sometimes feels a bit excessive and sonically somewhat dated. However, this doesn't take away from the fact that there are excellent tracks like "Undertow," "Burning Rope," and "Down and Out."

To be honest, I prefer Load; it's not a masterpiece but it's still an honest work and consistent with the change made with the Black Album. This St. Anger, on the other hand, seems to me like an attempt to recreate the old rage of the golden days with an enforced harshness that is decidedly raw and lacking in memorable songs.

With this album, "la Carmen" has finally managed to shake off the stereotype of the rock singer, maturing into a more personal style that is closer to her homeland both in terms of lyrics and music. A significant step forward. And a great album!