11th: BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES
In '89, Ivan had regained the grit that had been lost in the 80s, and the desire to experiment was strong. The result of this new cycle is (apologies for the pun) Bicycles and Tricycles, an inspired but flawed album. First of all, it's a much more cautious record than usual, primarily composed of ballads, which is somewhat regrettable, as the excessive calmness of certain tracks doesn't always capture attention and can make a quick listen feel heavy for the listener. The other flaw lies in the arrangements, which in some pieces are too intrusive, spoiling even lyrics of some significance (I would cite Un'ora, with that overwhelming sax occasionally popping in, which somewhat ruins the tragic atmosphere of the piece). Nevertheless, Ivan manages to land a quartet of fine songs, among which stand out the tragicomic Io mi annoio, the introspective Bambino antico, but especially Kryptonite, a dark track typical of Ivan, whose arrangement is perfectly crafted. However, these three songs are not enough to save the entire work, which, with tracks like Soltanto fumo and Emily, seriously risks feeling flat and tedious, leading the listener to stop before the end of the album.
In the end, Bicycles and Tricycles cannot be considered a bad album, but compared to his other works, it seems quite cloying and musically less brilliant, indeed appearing mediocre at certain points.

The gem: Kryptonite