Max Pezzali
Time Out

As a big fan of Max Pezzali, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that only thanks to an advertisement on MTV did I find out that my favorite Italian singer had released a new album: "Time Out". What surprised me even more was the fact that it wasn't a collection of old songs (like "Tutto Max") but rather a new album with new songs. I immediately ran to buy it, and once I got home, I listened to it all in one go.

You really can't say that Max has changed: the style, the rhythm, and the tones are the same as the good old days. The songs may be a bit monotonous, due to the continual reuse of old rhythms, but they still appear fun and pleasant to the ear. Always present is the recurring theme in almost all of Max's albums: love. Perhaps a bit less present (in other albums it was the theme of almost all the songs), but still clearly visible in many songs.

The CD opens with "Torno Subito", which, in my opinion, is very beautiful, perhaps the most classic among the songs on the album. Listening to it always takes me back in time, when the young Max sang "Nessun Rimpianto" and moved his fans and listeners.
"Time Out", the 2nd track on the album, particularly surprised me. A faster song that ends in a chorus I think I've never heard in Max's tones. Nonetheless, it's charming and very catchy.
"Profumo" along with "Il Presente" and "Il Meglio" are truly very beautiful, fully reflecting the style, rhythm, and tones of the great Max. These are the songs that move, slow, calm, accompanied by piano and guitar, that make you think and mesmerize you in front of the stereo, listening to the melody of their rhythms.
"Esserci" picks up the pace. It seems like the right term after songs like "Profumo" and "Il Presente", a more pressing and repetitive rhythm, although in the chorus, in my opinion, it resembles "Quella lunga estate caldissima" a bit too much.
"I Filosofi" the 7th track, is very nice, and I personally like it a lot even if I haven't yet managed to understand the meaning of the words. It starts very slowly and then lets itself go into a melodic and harmonious chorus where the musical arrangement seems to lower to leave the spotlight on Max's voice.
And finally, at the eighth track of the album, we finally see the return of Max's main song theme: love. "Sei Fantastica" perhaps the most beautiful song on the album, unfortunately, features a chorus that, although wonderful, presents themes already heard (even if I don't remember exactly in which song). Nonetheless, very beautiful.
"Sei Fantastica" is followed by the second most beautiful song on the album, "Sottosopra". Truly very beautiful. The chorus, entirely created by Max, thanks to special effects, manages to be both the main and secondary voice, creating truly exceptional effects.
"La Strada" breaks the musical molds used so far, although unfortunately once more, the rhythms are heard and reheard many times in other songs. The musicality is nice, but the monotony remains the main issue.
Listening to "Chiuso In Una Scatola", it feels like hearing "Nord Sud Ovest Est" again, however, there's finally a nice acceleration that was lost from the first tracks. This song closes the album, and in my opinion, it's one of the catchiest.

CONCLUSIONS 

positive notes:

- it's always the great Max
- the songs move and entertain
- some solutions to differentiate the musical style

negative notes

- lack of imagination
- increasing repetition of past rhythms (some songs seem to have been heard before, except for the lyrics)
Max has returned once again, and without a doubt, he is always himself, he hasn't changed one bit, and I think I can say on behalf of all his fans that to us, despite everything, we like him just the way he is.