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In 1981, still under contract with Emi, the Gang Of Four, a quartet from Leeds (UK), a highly politicized group (the name "Gang of Four" refers to the Chinese Cultural Revolution), released "Solid Gold," the second album of the Marxist band, another masterpiece following the great release of the first album "!Entertainment!". "Solid Gold" is the follow-up to the first, but this time the tracks are more refined and longer (10 tracks compared to around fifteen on the first). The album is certainly more Funky, while still maintaining the sound and obsessiveness of the first.
The thrill begins immediately with "Paralysed," an enticing track in which the bass and drums enchant the listener, who can no longer escape listening to this masterpiece. The singing part is an equally obsessive spoken word, refined by a splendid guitar that adds clean Fender-like harmonics here and there. The track seems several times to have ended but suddenly reattaches with its magical bass line. An angry but less shrill guitar opens the second track "What We All Want", tribal rhythms accompany this protest, this splendid protest, with the voice always pleading with the audience to follow and enter the whirlwind and sing, sing..."Could I be happy with something else"...this is the magic word! "If I Could Keep It For Myself" is entirely a bass delirium, as is the rest of the album. The spelling style of the title is supported by the solo voice that truly marries with the Bass (the capital letter honors the great bass), this masterpiece has one of the most beautiful rhythmic parts of the '80s, the track ends with a sharp chord. It continues with "Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time", the same formula: the track seems quieter but at the chorus, the Funky enters your legs, and you cannot stay still, you have to move that damned ass to the rhythm of an Oscar-worthy bass!!!"... It's expression pa pa pa!!!..." what a thing, listen to believe!!! "Why Theory" closes the first side: this song begins with an unusual synth and the usual offbeat hi-hat, a vocal duet characterizes this piece, the first voice speaks, the second makes a spectacular choir.
The second side opens with "Cheeseburger", the sandwich is also depicted inside the inner sleeve (on the other side of the sleeve there is the cover though in black and white), a less gloomy track, exchanges of phrases between bass and a nonchalant guitar dominate in this piece, a megaphoned voice is also heard in the interlude. "The Republic" this time has a very simple bass and the vocals in the forefront, much more melodic compared to the other tracks. "In The Ditch" is the gloomiest chapter of the album, a vibrant guitar and tribal drums dominate the piece until the chorus, where the drums almost disappear and make way for vocals and guitar; the end is beautiful with the interlude of just bass and a slight change of melody. "A Hole In The Wallet" is a carefree track, strangely singable and very Clash-like in the parts where it sings. The album closes with "He'd Send In The Army", out-of-tune singers characterize the track along with the bass, which rises and shortly after descends into the lower part of the keyboard, creating one of the best sounds ever found in a bass and concluding this album in the best way possible.
The album is certainly among the best albums in history (100), perhaps even better than "Entertainment!", but it requires infinite listens because it is complicated and not immediately catchy.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Paralysed (03:21)
PARALYSED
Blinkered, paralysed
Flat on my back
They say our world is built on endeavor
That every man is for himself
Wealth is for the one that wants it
Paradise, if you can earn it
History is the reason
I'm washed up
Blinkered, paralysed
Flat on my back
What I wanted now just seems a waste of time
I can't make out what has gone wrong
I was good at what I did
And I'm the dupe
06 Cheeseburger (04:04)
(I need a cheeseburger to go)
I move from one place to the next
I hope they keep down the price of gas
I shoot fast while you’re talking dollars
see how I will run the table
I won’t see my dollar go where they rig it
high numbers low numbers 8 ball break
the last cent is coming out of his head
to be honest or a son like his own
and all this changed we’re sure of the rides
the old country’s in the back of his mind
I hope his home is somewhere you go to sleep
high numbers low numbers 8 ball break
no classes in the u s of a
improve yourself the choice is yours
work at your job you can make it pay
make friends quick buy them beer
you never know when you’re gonna lose them
high numbers low numbers 8 ball break
I’m at the wheel of the company truck
on the road and all alone
sometimes I think money is my only goal
it makes me sad
work on up another four miles
coffee fries and a cheeseburger
08 In the Ditch (04:19)
Heads down, down to the floor
Run past the windows and close the door
Whatever you do stay calm
Show me a ditch and I'll dive it
I'll feel safe beyond the cares of the world
Good news is prospect
Excluding the six feet under
Marshall music the beat goes on
Get down down to the floor
Marshall music the beat goes on
Get down down to the floor
Get down down to the floor
Under the table with the radio on
Whatever you do stay calm
The cupboard is stocked, the door is locked
I'll feel safe beyond the cares of the world
Good news is prospect
Excluding the six feet under
Marshall music the beat goes on
Get down down to the floor
Marshall music the beat goes on
Get down down to the floor
Show me a ditch and I'll dive in it
Show me a ditch and I'll dive in it
Show me a ditch and I'll dive in it
Show me a ditch and I'll dive in it
I'll dive in it
I'll dive in it
I'll dive in it
I'll dive in it
Heads down, down to the floor
Run past the windows and close the door
Whatever you do stay calm
Show me a ditch and I'll dive it
I'll feel safe beyond the cares of the world
Good news is prospect
Excluding the six feet under
Marshall music the beat goes on
Get down down to the floor
Marshall music the beat goes on
Get down down to the floor
I'll dive in it
I'll dive in it
I'll dive in it
I'll dive in it
09 A Hole in the Wallet (04:01)
Education is their business
Women to know that they are equal
Why work for love if it shows no profit
You'll only earn emotional losses
Wasting time a hole in the wallet
There is only one condition
Stay in bed or in the kitchen
Better not (you'll only earn emotional losses)
Disrupt their passions
Mirror reflect their teaching
Make up makes up for your nature
Make up makes up for your nature
You're for seeing and not for hearing
Their commands are in your interest
Why work for love if it shows no profit
You'll only earn emotional losses
Wasting times a hole in the wallet
Their commands are your interest
There is only one condition
You're for seeing and for the taking
Why work for love if it shows no profit
You'll only earn emotional losses
Wasting times a hole in the wallet
Better not (you'll only earn emotional losses)
Disrupt their passions
Education is their business
Women to know that they are equal
There is only one condition
Stay in bed or in the kitchen
10 He'd Send In the Army (04:27)
The family's head gives orders
In the end, what he says goes
This system's well constructed
She owes him all she gets
The army has it's uses
In times of civil crisis
'Allo boys! Seen any action?
Hey boys, seen any... action?
Pull together with your mates
Against the common enemy
The Private's not born that way
The Private's not born that way
Guns take up all his time
With no job he'd be in a mess
Wanted action, gets some in
She pays him back in the bedroom
One step down from her leader
Obeys, or is punished
Like he obeys his bosses
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