Mike76

@psychopompe: agreed, "no-global" is a definition used by the media; they prefer to call themselves NEW global. Among them, there may be a few thoughtful individuals, but the majority are as brainless as a fast-food vendor in my opinion: there are those who think "I'll smash the window of McDonald's and change the world," those who wear Che t-shirts while waving peace flags, those who believe "if we withdraw from Afghanistan, peace will break out," those in ski masks even in the summer, the No-TAV folks, No-M.O.S.E.- No-Pontesullostretto, No-BasidiVicenza, No-DiscaricadiSerre, No-RotatoriaaMonselice, No-underpassatCasalpusterlengo, No-Everything. These last particularly dimwitted ones came to my city (Vicenza) to protest against the new U.S. base, waving NO-TAV flags(?!), and defacing walls with the same message (a bit like going to a gay pride event to protest against milk quotas, but what the hell does that have to do with anything? You bunch of idiots... and to think I'm against the new base too...). Next time, I’ll go protest with a sign saying "Long live pussy," I’ll look the smartest of them all.
As for television, I disagree: I haven’t been able to watch Striscia for more than 12 years (in the sense that I find it unwatchable), but I prefer Ricci’s programs from the 80s over the crap of Costanzo-Filippi from the 90s or the sad "Reality" shows of the 2000s. But maybe it’s better this way: we watch less television and do something else.

Regarding the paninari, I remember there was a contest on Intrepido that offered "a hundred bucks" to whoever described "the coolest look." I can already imagine the possible responses from the lobotomized '80s crowd: Timberland, sleeveless "giumbotto," Fiorucci jeans with cuffs, mirrored sunglasses, a Walkman blasting Sandy Marton or Tracy Spencer on full volume, Stu-stu-stu-studio Line in their hair. And then off to the bar with a Ciao to play pinball or Pac-Man, showing off the new purchases after having dinner at Burghy. Too much juuuuust right!!!!! I feel sick.

A question for Iside: why didn't you cast your vote?

You can't miss "Virus - L'Inferno Dei Morti Viventi" by Bruno Mattei (but it’s credited under the name Vincent Dawn because an Anglo-sounding name sounded cooler). Truly the Olympus of trash, there's nothing done decently: screenplay, costumes, actors, plot, special effects, dialogues, makeup... it’s all horrifying. The only thing that theoretically could be saved is the soundtrack by Goblin, which, however, is out of context and was stolen from another film without permission(!!!!). Watch it with the right friends and you'll see that you'll be doubled over with laughter. "Virus" is trash to the power of three; never seen anything like it.

Look at it, it's worth it! The only downside is that Gemser has become too anorexic. D'Amato and Mattei also collaborated on "Le Notti Porno Nel Mondo," but it's rather depressing; it's a fake, overly constructed world movie centered on sex. You feel the absence of one of their usual plots. The only redeemable aspect is Laura Gemser in shape (super hot!).

@Occulto Supersovrano: I have "Porno Holocaust" (incomplete) somewhere on my PC but I still need to watch it; however, I've seen the twin film "Le Notti Erotiche Dei Morti Viventi" (of course the uncut version) which is a bit lengthy but highly trashy and ultra-improvised (it shifts from hardcore porn to erotic with pants up and from there to horror). Watching Massaccesi's films is great because you say to yourself, "I couldn't do any worse."

I just got the 2004 reissue, and I must say it didn't really excite me much; there's something that doesn't convince me either in terms of sound (a hybrid between English new wave and "cecchettiana" electronics) or in terms of melodies (sometimes too simple). It has a good voice, there are some decent passages, but it all feels rather uneven (even within the same track). I don't find it hard to believe that he has done better since then; I listened to "Vorrei Regnare," and I would say it's superior to the entire repertoire of this album. Even "Up The Line," the 97 instrumental album (when no one cared about him anymore), is better than this.

Better than my review, at least in form (it didn't take much), but you too, in the end, did a track-by-track that doesn’t explain much. The rating is a bit exaggerated, although, after a quarter of a century, the combination of emphatic melodic singing and electronic experimentation on this record still has its charm, and that’s no small thing. Neither commercial nor alternative, but both at the same time: great in their own way. Anyway, the bonuses of the CD version are not fluff and they don't alter anything precisely because this isn't a proper album but a compilation with songs that are disconnected from one another. It also seems that now "Fourth Drawer Down" has been reissued attached to "Sulk" and is no longer available for separate purchase.

"Looking closely, I'm actually glad I wasn't a twenty-something during the TERRIBLE 80s. Experiencing them as a child made me realize what a fucked-up time they were: the rise of Craxism, a cultural and political void filled with the emergence of trash like Drive In and Striscia la Notizia, the polished personality cult bullshit, and thus the myths of the younger generations that followed (think paninari, etc.)." Name: psychopompe | Date: 14/6/2007 | Rating: — | Album Rating: —
I partially agree with you, Psycho, but generalizations aside, I’m not sure if the "cultural void" is the worst of the worst. I don’t know if it’s worse to have no ideas or to pretend to have them. For example, I’m not sure if I’d feel more like an idiot as a paninaro or as a no-global.

But how much culture, how many admirers of trash... when will you review something by the great Aristide Massaccesi and the great Bruno Mattei?