Grendel

Great review, mad enough: I would raise the album’s rating by 1/2 just for some nice memories related to "Here Comes The Feeling." Especially after seeing Yes live, I agree with what you said!

Discounted like 99.9% of the major record label offerings! I listened to this record in a store outside of Italy: they were selling it for €6.50. A bargain? Yet I refused it. I wonder why?!

I've read several times, from certain individuals, comments about how our artist is almost a failed Bob Dylan, who loves to mimic and clone him whenever possible, as he is his only source of inspiration. And that the aforementioned artist, like others, has never made, or almost never made, missteps in his musical career. Well! I think we need to be much more objective about things and always give proper credit to artists, whether they are superstars (as in this case) or renowned unknowns. In Springsteen's artistic journey, and this is indisputable, this album represents the highest point. If I were to dismiss it because I don't like it, I would be doing something wrong! Precisely because I wouldn't be objective! I don't like Dylan, first and foremost as a person: I’ve had the fortune to meet people who, in various ways, have dealt with him; and they’ve confirmed what I think of him. But I don’t evaluate him, I don't allow myself to comment on his music because I am influenced by the opinion I have of him outside of the musical discourse. I avoid making comparisons, since I see them as two people who are very far apart, both in terms of production and in how they present themselves to the public. I think that beyond simple sympathy, the relationship between the two doesn't work. Springsteen has always said he is more influenced by Guthrie than by others. I think that sometimes we should also read what people say, not just refer to a compositional and metric discourse. Then, as always, this is just an opinion: so, long live democracy! But to tear someone down or to go against the current out of prejudice... Well, perhaps we should avoid that, regardless of whether we are talking about Springsteen or Cristina D'Avena...

P.S.: It's about time you signed these reviews. Have the courage of your words...

I reiterate the concept: time will prove us right about the fate of our own, especially what they will be capable of doing in the future. For now, they haven’t done anything extraordinarily amazing: they are just a collage freak and nothing more. Best wishes to them and to those who listen to them, namely the cleaning lady at the bar under my house!

If this is uncompromising rock, like that of Elisa (same record label, and you can see the end she's reached!), then we're set for the future...Good luck to them and to their cousins, Le Vibrazioni, who at least openly say in interviews that they're chasing money, success, and fame: they're honest, I’ll give them an extra point! And who, who said they haven’t produced the usual chorus? It was quoted everywhere; even at the bar below my house, the cleaning lady sang it! If this is the best we produce in Italy, don’t come telling me that I am an extreme lover of foreign stuff!

I agree! For me, it’s a matter of love: I’m quite persistent, in general, and this has led me to purchases I could have done without. Not in this case: since I have all their albums, I couldn’t resist. I don’t regret the purchase, I want to make that clear. The product in question isn’t terrible, but... It’s those “buts” that sometimes tip the scale towards “I can do without it.” Since I have the option to buy CDs at a lower price, I can afford to purchase without too many concerns and, at times, even sight unseen. Usually, I make good purchases, sometimes decent; I seldom buy something that I ultimately don’t like at all. However, I like to be honest and, since I’ve only recently started reviewing, I aim to discuss both excellent and not-so-great things. Like in this case. As I’ve already mentioned, I will try to speak about all their works, and to do this I need to find inspiration in a certain objectivity, trying to set my heart aside (when possible, even if one must give Caesar what is his!).

Perhaps he would have become an uncomfortable figure in these times: who knows if he would have made it to the present day unscathed, without being "set aside"...

Since I noticed that I made a mistake in the website reference, if anyone might be interested, it's www.kansasband.com.

I totally agree!