francis

Incredible the success this band is having in Italy, much more than in England (a country historically more open to acoustic and moody records): they are nice and quite talented, reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel.

"Wrapped In Books" is wonderful, "Your Cover's Blown" honestly isn't one of the band's best pieces. Quite lackluster.

Pompous, boring, pointless. A truly terrible album: they sound like Starsailor with delusions of grandeur.

The overwhelming success of Maroon 5 in Italy confirms that a good portion of the Italian audience doesn't understand a damn thing about music... and those who should uphold the honor of the homeland are still there listening to the Cure, who, as we know, no one cares about anymore except in our country.

But I don't understand the criticism: this album is great (like all R.E.M. albums, except for "Reveal" and perhaps "Life's Rich Pageant"). You can't call it mediocre just because it sold 10 million copies; rather, it was the rightful recognition of the band's career, which with "Out of Time" found the turning point necessary to become, as it should, one of the leading bands of the '90s.
Listen to me carefully now: every group that has made history in rock has always gone through the so-called Imperial Phase, that time when they racked up big hits and singles, and at the same time even "shaped" the musical era in which they operated. The examples are hundreds. In the case of R.E.M., this imperial phase began precisely with "Out Of Time" and its perfect pop songs, and it partially concluded with the mega Warner contract that preceded the unfortunate "New Adventures In Hi-Fi." Let's remember that it was with "Out Of Time" that the world became acquainted with the charisma and voice of Michael Stipe, his incomparable talent as a lyricist; it was with "Out Of Time" that the U.S.A. found their best rock champions since the days of Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run"; it was with "Out Of Time" that the pop world finally opened up to the independent scene... two years later, Sonic Youth would enter the American charts for the first time. It is thanks to "Out Of Time" that over 10 million people have loved the sound of the Rickenbackers on "Near Wild Heaven," laughed with "Shiny Happy People," and cried with "Losing My Religion."
It is also thanks to "Out Of Time" that after 12 years, the Reagan era came to an end.

This behavior does not exist: I don't understand why you feel entitled to mess everything up just in the case of my reviews, slacking off for no reason. As long as you don't grow up and become adults, I will continue to release my reviews without any comment… after all, if the world is going to hell, let's go there too, right?

what crap

Hi, I'm answering a bit randomly: regarding the single from The Thrills, which many say is trash, I find it very fun and engaging, and it channels the '70s vibe much more than all those Jamiroquai albums filled with string samples put together. If you don’t consider this a great pop song, go listen to the fucking Maroon 5 or those other assholes from Hoostabank (Is it spelled like that?), who don't have an ounce of The Thrills' talent. They may not be the new U2, but they're definitely better than many overhyped bands: just think that "Whatever Happens To Corey Haim" only hit no. 22 in the UK—I'm saying, only no. 22!!! Meanwhile, the crap from Blue, Eamon, etc. reaches no. 1. Maybe I'm not MTV enough, trendy enough, or ignorant enough to listen to that stuff; I'll gladly leave it to the kids.
Issue no. 2: Who the hell ever claimed that Lenny Kravitz is superior to Les Claypool? While I personally find Les Claypool and his band annoying, I just pointed out that the "liquid" bass line of track no. 1 is very reminiscent of Kravitz's latest productions, which, as we know, are obsessed with '70s sounds and, let's say, a bit bubblegum. I found The Thrills' album very bubblegum, and I won’t deny that I enjoy it: you don’t have to listen to, I don’t know, Trent Reznor to feel "hard and pure."
Issue 3: I've noticed that the so-called (sic) hit from Modest Mouse is a veiled but shameful plagiarism of "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand, and the video closely follows that of the English band. It goes without saying that, in my opinion, their song is crap and they really annoy me.
Peace & Love

Everyone knows, perhaps even the ignorants like puntinicaz, that Lenny Kravitz plays all the instruments on his albums.. I don't love Lenny Kravitz but I certainly can't say he doesn't know how to play, and I predict another damn flame about that. The long review? I just wanted to be thorough without depriving the reader of that necessary curiosity to listen to the album. It’s true anyway, listening to it again brings to mind Rod Stewart from the early post-Faces period.. the Flaming Lips a bit less: the melancholic atmospheres are there, but there's much less electronics.

Alright, you’re satisfied, you’ve said your last nonsense, that’s it.
Fuck off, and amen, little man.