Marco Masini
Scimmie

Let's set the stage. I don't intend to open disputes about Masini as a singer, a man, an artist, etc... We all know that tastes are subjective (I myself have quite a few conflicting opinions on the subject), so I hope any comments will focus on the work being discussed.

I want to talk about “Scimmie”, a 1998 album that garnered minimal approval from those fans tied to simple rhymes. So that's a great reason to listen to it.

Masini wanted to send a strong message of change, so he appeared with a completely white beard and hair. Fortunately, it wasn't just about the look.

The first three tracks have a significant rock influence, even “Falso” echoes the bass riff of Skunk Anansie's “I Can Dream”; I'd say it enriches it with the addition of guitars. The Allen Ginsberg references, lyrics that wink at “cut-up”, and the distortions seem to present us with a musician completely different from the one we knew.

The problem is that excluding the flashy “Togliti la voglia”, which I nonetheless find entertaining, and part of “Ali di cera”, the other half of the album contains simple pop songs. In some respects superior to previous works, but disappointing for those like me who hoped to add another Italian rock gem to the other ’98 classics. Like “Che fine ha fatto Lazlotòz” and “La terra, la guerra, una questione privata”. It would have been a truly unusual companion.

It must be said that even the rock tracks bear the cantautorial legacy, primarily because the voice always takes center stage, leaving drums and bass too sidelined.

Without a doubt, it is the best work ever done by Masini, enjoyable for those who love pop music. For me, it is a missed opportunity for our domestic rock heritage.

Was it merely a failed commercial experiment?