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Rating: One thing is certain: Extreme have never bowed to the laws of the market. Year 1995, they return to the field with an unexpected and startling product, for better or worse (unfortunately for them, mostly worse): "Waiting for the Punchline." Another thing is certain: Extreme have always had the courage to dare, to provoke; but not with rock-star attitudes, rather by always diversifying their musical offering.
The years following the release of "III Sides to Every Story" were difficult ones. It was an excellent album but undoubtedly complex, difficult to categorize, and thus appreciated by few. This fact led to its low sales success, marking the beginning of the end for the Boston combo: internal tensions within the band became a daily occurrence, so much so that in '94 historic drummer Paul Geary left and abandoned his bandmates. He was replaced by Mike Mangini, no less (former Annihilator, among others...)
It might be the atmosphere that was no longer as serene as before, or the fact that the previous work was not fully appreciated and understood, or many other things, but the fact is that this fourth studio work marks another turning point in the sound of the Boston quartet. Forget the cheerfulness and light-heartedness of their debut, forget also the irresistible and boisterous funk-rock of their hit "Pornograffitti," and forget about the pomp, fullness of sounds, and magnificence of the arrangements of their immediate predecessor "III Sides..." because you won’t find any of this in "WFTP".
Four people, each with their instrument: Gary Cherone on vocals, Nuno Bettencourt on guitar, Pat Badger on bass, and Mike Mangini on drums (although his contribution on the CD is limited to just 3 songs, with Geary still present on the others); simple, direct, hard and raw sounds like never before, no overdubs, no orchestra, even the piano and brass inserts so dear to Nuno disappear: just 3 instruments and a lot of skill and ability to sell. Already the opening "There is no God" is a signal, a direct energy surge, without too many frills. Sure, here and there flashes of the Extreme sound return to be heard, and the engaging "Cynical", "Hip Today" still maintain the feeling and groove of their previous productions; nor is there a lack of the classic ballad, represented here by "Unconditionally", which seems to initially retrace the famous "More than Words", but is appreciated for its melody and some variations in the central part.
What's surprising, however, is the lack of that atmosphere (almost playful, of four friends playing for passion) that hovered in their past works: here the atmospheres become dark, suffering, at times angry as if to say "you first criticized us for being a one-hit group, then for being too arrogant and pompous; you didn't understand us... we'll show you that we can also make raw and tough rock!" All this manifests in Gary’s voice: sometimes melancholic and chant-like in "Leave Me Alone" (almost a lullaby accompanied by Nuno's guitar whine, yet beautiful and enchanting), sometimes angry in "No Respect", a fast, biting, direct song, and sometimes almost defiant in the concluding "Waiting for the Punchline", a song where slight grunge influences, prevalent at the time, can be seen.
In short, once again a different album, difficult to listen to in one go, but one that requires attentive listening to be assimilated and to appreciate the refinements scattered here and there in every track: sure, some songs aren't up to par, being a bit repetitive without offering particular insights ("Naked" and the banal bonus track "Fair-Weather Faith") and some sampled voice inserts seem out of place and annoying ("Evilangelist" above all...), but there is also a little gem: the acoustic instrumental "Midnight Express", which alone is worth the price of the CD: an album that unfortunately will represent the swan song of the group, proving even more than the previous one, a true sales flop, demonstrating that it is not enough to be masters of the instrument and to write excellent songs to achieve deserved success... as usual, it's always the best ones who go away.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Cynical (04:41)
today don't look so bad
compared to tomorrow
if time is all we have
then we're living on borrowed
yesterday's for fools
who try to remember
the good ol' days
weren't always that
much better
cynical fuck
well I ain't nothing but a
cynical fuck
it don't take much to be a
cynical, all you need is love
all you need is what to be a
and whatever you do
someone's done it first
though it's sad but true
this is just another verse
if you can't take it with you
then what's the use
I never saw a u-haul
being pulled behind a hearse
[chorus]
looks like my brighter side
has gotten a bit darker
I must have stepped over
my four leaf clover
'cause someone drank my
half-filled cup of water
07 Leave Me Alone (04:47)
as for this song
I'll set the mood
there's nothing wrong
prefer solitude
alone to think
of what I don't know
the deeper I sink
the further I'll go
nothing to fear
no need to hide
I'm already there
came in from outside
safe in my nest
home sweet home
no invited guests
I want to be alone
leave me alone
leave me alone
I wish you would
leave me alone
leave me alone
I just want to be alone
it's better this way
no one will get hurt
if you stay away
I won't lose my shirt
if I have become
too defensive
I'm not the one
you have to live with
[chorus]
I want to be, I want to be
I want to be, alone
don't feel sorry
it's not your concern
only the lonely
are the ones who get burned
safe in my nest
home sweet home
no invited guests
I want to be alone
09 Evilangelist (04:49)
little lamb come out of
the rain
you'll catch your death in
the cold
a helping hand to come ease
the pain
in peace you'll rest in
our fold
i can be a watch
towering light
for those of you who can't see
i'll separate the truth
from the lies
blind faithful come follow me
evilangelist
you name is on my list
i'm your evilangelist
in what god you trust
close your eyes while i
hypnotize
a friend in need to confess
you've been denied the cock
crowed thrice
surrender all you possess
evilangelist
your name is on my list
i'm your evilangelist
i was betrayed by a kiss
so many claim
to come in thy name
promising peace they'll bring
lest ye taste
the fruit of the vine
they're just wolves in
sheep's clothing
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Other reviews
By dark schneider
"Compared to their previous works, the album sounds darker, more melancholic, and strangely mean."
"A CD that in the end doesn’t have much to say, but is well-made and evokes good memories for me."
