The Punisher

Whether Bjork was a co-star in the film seems almost irrelevant to me for the purpose of the review (just like before). Of course, purely for the sake of knowledge, it could certainly fit in, and I admit that, but even if she had designed the costumes, written the dialogues, co-produced the film, illustrated the poster, and cornified the husband with the leading actor, the album would still have been a half-baked effort. Or not?

I don't remember the name of the artist husband. After all, knowing it or not knowing it doesn't affect the review at all, and in two months you and I will have forgotten it.

Great review, keep it up Francesco, you are among the few who are always worth following…

It's a shame that over time they have gotten caught up in the most sleazy dance electronics (just look at the latest remix, which is quite lacking). Let's hope they can untangle themselves...

An epoch-making album, but I appreciated the next one more (the IV, indeed), which, when listened to today, has not lost a pinch of its modernity and complexity.

The positive things, the flattery, the lackeys, the big compliments, and the bows, I leave to others who are more skilled and suited than I am. I, like The Punisher, commit myself to pointing out the albums that I consider half-baked, cheap tricks, professionisms, copied works, and more. Nothing more, fully aware that I'll draw the ire of: die-hard fans, unquestioning listeners, radical chic, snobby sectarians, people with blinders who lack the humility and/or open-mindedness to distinguish a GOOD ALBUM from a SO-SO ONE (I said ALBUM, not the artist...) regardless (and this is the tricky part!) of who made it.

It's not true that everything has already been said; what you define as NEGATIVE THINKING... we must always hope and search with a lantern in the ocean of bland and trivial productions... as you search, something always emerges: it might come from a stall, you might hear something interesting online, coincidentally at a friend's house... in short, the paths to the new are endless. Come on, little breeze, give yourself strength because sooner or later you will become a strong wind!

Exactly, little breeze... if you got it, that was exactly it... and now let's hope the little breeze turns into a tornado and sweeps you out of the way.

P.S. I have almost all of Battiato's albums, except for the first 5 and compilations like Summer Dance (or whatever it's called), La cura, Le stagioni dell'Amore, etc. so I feel "pretty" prepared.

I know very well that Battiato has done more than excellent things, but if we all get together and rave about how great Battiato is, in the long run, we might become a bit boring, don’t you think? (And I’d say a bit cliché since everyone has been saying it for at least twenty years)? The same goes for Ray Charles (I hadn’t noticed that Ray was rarely mentioned and anyway it doesn’t really matter; we don’t need DeBaser’s approval to acknowledge his greatness, right? I’m reviewing the ALBUM, not the artist). To wrap it up, I’m not perpetually angry; I do laugh sometimes, but about different things: when it comes to music, I often find myself crying because I discover fewer and fewer things that truly excite me—very few.