Negramaro
Mentre tutto scorre

Sometimes you turn on the radio and amidst many international hits, you find yourself asking: "but who represents us Italians abroad?" Our unenviable music scene ranges from Luca Dirisio to Paolo Meneguzzi, from children who go oh (but when was that ever?) to jam 25 (and what the heck does that mean???). And, while these "artists" are still searching for "a meaning," other less famous artists are slowly sneaking into the few virgin gaps of the mainstream... Negramaro is one of these.

Their music is a well-executed mix of various types of late '90s rock and songwriting worthy of the best Italian singer-songwriter music. The first track makes it clear: electronics, a Matt Bellamy-like singing, a bit of "Sing For Absolution," a splash of "Yellow," and some melancholy borrowed from Radiohead.
"Mentre Tutto Scorre" is a piece that dives into the flowers of Sanremo to scare the fragile hearing of the delicate audience: distortions, tranquility, and confusion alternate until they clash in the explosive finale. "Solo3Min" is a sweet Coldplay-style piece guided by a melancholic piano and poetic lyrics: "like cold snow, I would descend to cover everything you are...". The rock of "Musa" takes us straight to the most brilliant piece of the album: "I Miei Robots" opens with a children's choir singing the melody of some piano touches with a fully English sound and makes room for a carefree and very pop melody; in the chorus, the situation is reversed in favor of heavy rock, and in the bridge, everything merges: the children sing over the piano and a carpet of distortions... a blast! "Estate" is the track that sadly or fortunately is taking control of the radios at the moment, you hear it everywhere, you see it everywhere, proving that sometimes you hear something intelligent on the radio. "Ogni Mio Istante" is a gem of rare beauty: classical guitar arpeggios accompanied by strings and absolutely moving lyrics; a moving closure performed by a feedback guitar mimicking the gestures of the strings. "Tra nuvole e lenzuola" is a song that sounds incredibly Italian even though there are still echoes of Muse and an immediate resemblance to "Somebody Told Me" by the Killers. "L' Immensità" is a cover of an old Italian hit, outside Negramaro's usual framework but very well done; the frontman's voice here shows its ability to maneuver through sudden highs and lows. "Scomoda-mente" is another good rock song that talks about neglecting oneself despite those who believe in you only if you satisfy them... it sounds like something from Subsonica even if Bellamy & Co.'s shadow is always present.
The album closes in grand style with the tearjerker "Solo Per Te": here Negramaro has thought of Coldplay while always keeping an eye on the lyricism of Italian pop music; the result is a text that oozes poetry recited by a melodramatic voice.

In short, a CD to have because these guys put their soul into it and produce great music; and because perhaps they will be the ones to clear out the Italian trash (read VASCO ROSSI, LAURA PAUSINI, TIZIANO FERRO, GIGI D’ALESSIO... well, you get my point, right?)