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Rating: I believe that politics, in the artistic realm, is important. Because it provides excellent inspiration for both those who make it and those who listen to it. But it has to be done brilliantly. For politics to be well expressed, especially in music, there is a need for breaks from it, for more minimalist and intimate periods.
The problem with Los Fastidios is this: one of the most musically interesting bands in the Italian punkrock scene, ska, but also tending to dive into sterile polemics.
This happens when you have a chilling sound and too much eagerness to fill it with slogans.
It happens that few grasp the underlying message and most only dance.
This CD is an example of this issue: an engaging live, bass, guitars, drums, voice all in perfect punk-ska-rock-steady style.
The lyrics? Yes, the lyrics. Form is important, but without content, it is nothing. So, you stumble upon tracks like "No Leaders" where my beloved Los Fastidios impose on me not to be imposed on by anyone, or various more or less evident contradictions (often the obsession with having fun resembles right-wing culture more than left-wing culture).
But beyond this, there is the music, and nothing can be said about that: tracks like "Cuba Libre," "Fiumi di Parole," "Non sarai mai solo," "Animal Liberation," "La Staffetta," "Storia Senza Tempo," and "Ya Basta" blend Castrism, extra-parliamentarism, animalism (finally a group that stands in favor of the truly innocent led astray), solidarity, resistance, and feminism with a vibrant, powerful sound, that jumps off the dresser, that makes you get off your butt and at the same time gets the wheels turning in your head. To this is added tracks of the typical skinhead culture, which instill a great sense of brotherhood and belonging and which is always a great pleasure to listen to even for those, like me, who hate belonging.
So here are "Scooter Bastards," "Vecchio Skinhead," "S. H. A. R. P.," "Antifa Hooligans" (it grabs you, gets into your head, and never leaves), "Johnny And The Queer Boot Boys." Purely redskin tracks that in some cases also remind a bit of The Clash (obviously not on that level). To this legacy of great skapunkrock should be added "Skankin'Town," a well-executed reggae experiment. However, weighing on the beauty of this live, are those tracks that leave much to be desired and seem placed for exclusive musical show-off or to fill the time and the setlist. Tracks like "No Leaders," "La Vera Forza," "Questa Musica Ci Appartiene," "Spazi di libertà," "Revolution," "Dal Basso," "Birra, Oi! E divertimento," and "Amici" that press too much on the somewhat pathetic male fraternity and very little on the quality of the others. Tracks that seem dragged and in most cases do not even leave you the melody.
However, I reiterate the originality of the band, especially in dealing with animalist themes (it has already happened with tracks like "No Vivisezione" and the splendid "Cruelty Free").
A nice live show, for lovers of the genre and punkrock in general. Unfortunately, at times too burdened by almost useless tracks. But useful for venting disappointments, anger, and feeling a bit rebellious and opening a crack of subversion in the tearing daily boredom.
"Your right to elegance certainly cannot prevail over the right to survival of a living being" Animal Liberation
Tracklist
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