Ligabue
A Che Ora E' La Fine Del Mondo?

Before I begin this review, I want to make a disclaimer: I love and have always loved the national Lucianone, both as a person and as an author of wonderful songs like "Ho messo via", "Chissà se in cielo passano gli Who?", "Il giorno di dolore che uno ha", "Certe notti", "Figlio di un cane", "Sarà un bel souvenir", "Leggero" etc. etc., so it pains me to give just three stars to this album (dated 1994), a small gray stain in Liga's wonderful career; yet the album doesn't convince me, it's got that indescribable something wrong that I can't exactly explain that makes it feel like an album not much felt.

The song that kicks off the dance is the one that also gives the name to the entire work, the legendary "A che ora è la fine del Mondo?" (which, moreover, is a cover of a great REM piece), the metric is fast, frantic drums and rock guitars come together to compose this historic piece signed by Luciano Ligabue, who in this track poses an interesting question pointing the finger at all that is rotten in the world ("casa, chiesa, tele, cosa?"). Well... mhm, mhm... ahem... well, apart from the just-mentioned piece and the fantastic live version (complete with introductory piano) of "Urlando contro il cielo", the album gets lost in pleasant ballads, well played and well written but lacking that momentum and that extra little bit of Liga to take flight in our heads and cling to our hearts.

"Male non farà" is almost an attempt at a great romantic ballad that doesn't quite succeed, almost a bit too whiny, although the words are very beautiful, a bit from "bar-vita vissuta-romantiche", in classic Ligabue style. "L'han detto gli Stones" (a piece featuring special guests Negrita) is a faded rock 'n' roll, while "Gringo '94" and "Gringo '91" stay there echoing "A che ora è la fine del Mondo?"; "Cerca nel cuore" is instead a very beautiful piece, little known but very beautiful; the guitars intertwine excellently with Luciano's raspy voice and the background choirs. "Fuoritempo" personally doesn't give me anything special, and I accept it only if I take it as a catchy song and stop.

Anyway, three stars aren't bad, I'm just sorry (but I had to) that I've given it to a Luciano Ligabue CD... that means that sometimes even he can't TRAVEL FIRST CLASS!
eh eh eh... goodbye!

p.s. "A che ora è la fine del Mondo?" is a cover of "It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)" by REM, a great piece, listen to it!