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Rating: As far as I'm concerned, the state exam is over; it's a thing of the past now. The teachers have become ghosts that still linger in my mind. However, I remember a couple of Saturdays ago when, between Pirandello and Svevo, between a definite integral and a derivative, I decided to go to the store to see if the album I had been waiting for months had finally arrived, which is: "How we operate" by Gomez.
It was a hot Saturday in June, fiercely muggy. One of those days when the asphalt is so hot it merges with your feet, swallowing you! The city was crowded that day, and in the subway, we were all packed like canned tuna. I was sweaty from head to toe, but my relief was entering that damn music store because I presumed there was a copy of "How we operate" reserved for me, and most importantly, because I knew there was AIR CONDITIONING in the store. Finally, I arrived.
The building from outside seemed huge and majestic; it was as if I had arrived in heaven. Even more drenched in sweat, I entered the store and there discovered the first (not the most bitter) surprise of the day: THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS BROKEN. Trying not to curse, keeping calm and the little patience I had left, I reached the shelf, gasping and groping, moving like a chessboard tower: A, B, C, D, E, F, G... G... G GOMEZ! I don't see a trace of "Gomez"!!!
With sweat pouring from my pores and patience reduced to a sliver, I literally leaned over to the clerk who, unlike me, seemed calm and less sweaty:
"Excuse me, do you have the new Gomez album?"
and he: "Gomez?"
"Yes, Gomez"
"Never heard of them"
So I made an about-face, whispering unpleasant things against the store and my country, so "musically ignorant"! I gave the store an extra "go to hell" when I saw the price of the Stone Roses (20 euros) and walked out, heading home. Once home, I did what I had tried to avoid with the Gomez. In the grip of a crazed, homicidal instinct, I entered the house and rushed to the PC to download the album.
Well, contrary to what the Gomez declared a month ago, they release a very British album, different from previous ones, a few months ago they indeed declared "the album features a bizarre blend of banjo and ukulele played in a robotic style, making it sound like a cross between Ry Cooder and Kraftwerk, but with a powerful rock chorus!"
Fortunately, this didn't happen; it would have been a tragedy in my opinion. "How we operate" lasts 51 minutes and these are easily listenable. 12 songs, each more beautiful than the last with choruses that stick in your head.
In the moving opener "Notice" where the use of a violin pad enriches the song, the sunny "See the world", the dark title track of the album, the joyful "Hamoa Beach" featuring jazzy drums. The single "Girlshapedlovedrug" accompanied by one of the most amusing videos of the first half of 2006 is the most British song of the lot, the one that diverges the most from the typical Gomez sound which, while remaining in the Brit genre, has exotic, Mexican nuances (the group is from Southampton, England, ed.). It is followed by the "bluesy" intro of "Chasing Alcohol with ghosts" which completely changes tone, becoming a very powerful soul rock.
Then come the more powerful, more rock "Tear your love apart" and "too much". The crystalline "Charley Patton songs" is beautifully orchestrated and serves as a guarantee of our compositional talent. "Woman!Man!" features a tasty and brilliant melody complete with Sha-la-la-la!!! However, the album closes quite anonymously with "Cry on demand" and "Don't make me laugh" which again returns to strong blues tones that resolve into a typical slow Brit with exotic bursts in the chorus.
However, the album is far from being an absolute masterpiece because it is, something very beautiful, compact, and highly listenable, but it doesn't have that "certain something" that makes it so! The beauty of Gomez is knowing how not to repeat themselves over the years. And you readers, don't think I've given up; I still have the album in mp3 but I'm not giving up. I'm still searching, with more patient spirit this time, far and wide for the album but without results.
Let me know if you find it; in the meantime, do as I do, start enjoying listening to one of the gems of 2006.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Notice (04:01)
I stopped tryin' to write the things I don't like
And I started goin' back to where I'd been before
She said "I don't blame you I'd do the same"
Opportunity knocks knocks knocks open the door
But I think she saw through it
I see through myself
Another chance gone, won't get many more
But I'm not the only guy I know that
I'm not the only guy I know that
You never notice
The only guy I know, well I'm not the only guy I know
That you never notice
I stopped tryin' to write the things I don't like
And I started goin' back to where I'd been before
She said "I don't blame you I'd do the same"
Opportunity knocks knocks knocks open the door
But I think she saw through it
I see through myself
Another chance gone, won't get many more
But that's not the only lie I told you
That's not the only lie I told you
You never notice
The only lie I told you, that's not the only lie I told you
You never notice
The only lie I told you, that's not the only lie I told you
You never notice
I can tell you're in denial, get over it
I can tell you're in denial, get over it
I can tell you're in denial, get over it
I can tell you're in denial
I'm not the only guy I know that you never notice
02 See the World (04:03)
Day to day
Where do you want to be?
'Cos now you're trying to pick a fight
With everyone you need
You seem like a soldier
Who's lost his composure
You're wounded and play a waiting game
In no-man's land no-one's to blame
See the world
Find an old fashioned girl
And when all's been said and done
It's the things that are given, not won
Are the things that you want
Empty handed, surrounded by a senseless scene
With nothing of significance
Besides a shadow of a dream
You sound like an old joke
You're worn-out, a bit broke
An' askin me time and time again
When the answer's still the same
See the world
Find an old fashioned girl
And when all's been said and done
It's the things that are given, not won
Are the things that you want
You've got a chance to put things right
So how's it going to be?
Lay down your arms now
And put us beyond doubt
So reach out it's not too far away
Don't mess around now, don't delay
03 How We Operate (05:26)
Calm down
And get straight
It's in our eyes
It's how we operate
You're true
You are
I'd apologize but it won't go very far
Please come here
Come right on over
And when we collide we'll see what gets left over
A little joy
A little sorrow
And a little pride so we won't have to borrow
Wherever you lead, I'll follow
Turn me inside out and upside down
And try to see things my way
Turn a new page, tear the old one out
And I'll try to see things your way
Please come here
Please come on over
There is no line that you can't step right over
Without you well I'm left hollow
So can we decide to try a little joy tomorrow
'Cos baby tonight I'll follow
Turn me inside out and upside down
And try to see things my way
Turn a new page, tear the old one out
And I'll try to see things your way
The way that we've been speaking now
I swear that we'd be friends, I swear
'Cos all these little deals go down with
Little consequences, we share, we share
Turn me inside out and upside down
And try to see things my way
Turn a new page, tear the old one out
And I'll try to see things your way
And I'm gonna love you anyway
Try to see things your way
Try to see things your way
Try to see things your way
04 Hamoa Beach (03:34)
Oh no, why can't you get along?
Okay, I know its not my place.
I've gotta say somethin'
I've gotta say somethin'
I've gotta speak
She'll never leave
And you can never throw her out
Impossible to conceive
You'd rather be with than without
That's just the fear talkin
That's just the fear talkin
That's just the fear
Don't let it take you
Like it nearly took me
Fear
Don't let it fool you
Like it nearly fooled me
Fear
Remember the good old days
Well love is like a dragonfly
So beautiful
It will die
And disappear before your eyes
I'm no philosopher
I am no poet
I'm just trying to help you out
Don't let it fool you
Like it nearly fooled me
Fear
Don't let it take you
Like it nearly took me
So you sit and wait
For another man to take your place
And when, when he comes
Would you welcome him with open arms
You'll feel a hundred years younger
You'll feel a hundred years younger
You'll feel no fear
Don't let it take you
Like it nearly took me
Fear
Don't let it fool you
Like it nearly fooled me
Fear
Don't let it kill you
Like it nearly killed me
Fear
05 Girlshapedlovedrug (04:00)
She's a Wicked Girl
Worst in all the world
A mystery lies in her
She spends her days
in a violent rage
try as I might
I love her
Everytime the tears run dry
the story goes
what's left behind
shivers like a leaf
taciturn and gentle
it's not hard to believe
The Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with my mind
Don't ask me why,
the Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with your mind
She likes to fight
the whole world bang to rights
yours truly, I'd die for her
The growing pains
dissolve in lemonade
the sweetness flies to her
Every time her temper flares
a storm will blow
what's left's so rare
A fragment of the girl
soft and sentimental
the side she tries not to share
The Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with my head
Don't ask me why,
the Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with your mind
Don't ask me why,
the Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with my mind
When your song is sung
don't let me colour your opinion
that girl's my life, I tell ya
Every time my tears run dry
and the moment's flown
and re-designed
My feelings for the girl
how could I be with out her?
I would surely still find
The Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with my mind
Don't ask me why,
the Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with my mind
Don't ask me why,
the Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with your mind
Don't ask me why,
the Girlshapedlovedrug
messes with my mind
06 Chasing Ghosts With Alcohol (03:42)
Well its been more than a year
Since I lived by the sea
And though we both have been moving
You came back to me
And I remember the old signs we threw off the pier
They've been burning for God knows
They sink, disappear
Take one day of my lifestyle
Passing ghosts in the street
I chase them away with alcohol
But they don't get drunk
The ghosts around your city
Have all got my name
I wonder how I'm glowing
I wonder why I'm glowing
I wonder how I'm glowing
I wonder why I'm glowing
09 Woman! Man! (04:04)
A temperamental ex stops and asks her why
But "why?" cannot expect a true reply
Somehow love's picture hangs imperfect
And hand on heart we learn the score
The lovers and their wars
Are wondering whats meant to be
For hope will spring eternal
While love has got you on your knees, oh-oh-oh
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Sha-la-la-la, man
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Sha-la-la-la, man
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Always and much more
Her body makes an "S", today they made a scene
His sleepless needing her, he dogs her dreams
Then he wakes up on her doorstep
Then he wakes up on his floor
More drunken than before
She wouldn't open up to him
But hope will spring eternal
Through a multitude of sins, oh-oh-oh
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Sha-la-la-la, man
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Sha-la-la-la, man
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Always, always, always
For hope will spring eternal
While love has got you on your knees
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Sha-la-la-la, man
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Sha-la-la-la, man
Sha-la-la-la, woman
Always and forever more
11 Cry on Demand (04:22)
I wish I could cry on demand,
Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo
Given all these troubles on my mind,
the tears won't come out.
I've been shaking, shaking in my boots
every time I hear my telephone ring
It can't possibly be you,
You never call,
not since my little accident.
I didn't mean to cause any trouble
I didn't know you were so serious
Yeah, I didn't mean to burst our bubble
It can only float for so long
Now I realise, I realise they were wrong,
'cos what happens in Vegas,
don't take very long,
to travel accross continents,
and onwards overseas,
onto our little island,
to our city, our home,
but
I didn't mean to cause any trouble
I didn't know you were so serious
Yeah, I didn't mean to burst our bubble
It could only float for so long
Sometimes I wish, I could cry on demand
Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo
Given all these troubles on my mind,
the tears won't come out.
I didn't mean to cause any trouble
I didn't know you were so serious
Yeah, I didn't mean to burst our bubble
It could only float for so long
Sometimes I wish, I could cry on demand
Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo
Given all these troubles on my mind,
the tears won't come out.
I wish, I could cry on demand
Boo Hoo, Boo Hoo
Given all these troubles on my mind,
the tears won't come out,
the tears won't come out,
the tears won't come out.
12 Don't Make Me Laugh (04:34)
I epitomise restraint
But time has tempered my discretion
I'm bound to betray myself someday
I'm hitting the road
(hitting the road)
And saying goodbye
(saying goodbye)
I'll never look backwards
Let the sun get in my eyes
Oh, don't make me laugh
You're not fooled by the way I come over
Don't make me laugh and don't make me cry
So long, goodbye
This parted history we share
Poorly wrapped and hardly mentioned
An unreciprocal glint in your eye
It's hard to know
(it's hard to know)
Who's telling a lie
(telling a lie)
You never say never
and see your vanity deprived
Oh, don't make me laugh
You're not fooled by the way I come over
Don't make me laugh and don't make me cry
So long, goodbye
Don't make me laugh
There is no other way I could know her
Don't make me laugh and don't make me cry
So long, goodbye
'Cause you know
Don't make me laugh
You're not fooled by the way I come over
Don't make me laugh and don't make me cry
So long, goodbye
Don't make me laugh
There is no other way I could know her
Don't make me laugh and don't make me cry
So long, so long, so long,
Goodbye
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