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Rating:
Pennywise is a Californian band dedicated to punk rock, definitely among the most notable in the crowded American scene, with several excellent works under their belt. In 2001, they released their sixth album, "Land Of The Free?", published on the glorious Epitaph Records. This album differs from the previous ones due to its distinctly more politicized direction; it prominently features anti-Bush themes (see the considerable success "Fuck Authority"), anti-war, anti-American elections (a rather obvious and predictable theme given the release period), pro-freedom (yes, basically the usual story). The argumentative trend is easy to grasp even from the artwork itself, which features a police block on the cover, snippets of crime news from printed paper on the compact, and obviously from the very title, "land of the free".
The album generally maintains the classic melodic imprint (already noticeable from the uninspiring opener "Time Marches On"), which has characterized the band (although it's not overused, as is typical of other more commercialized groups). Despite the presence of harder and grittier flashes, such as the drive of "It's up to you" (watch out for the spectacular refrain that mimics an unlikely "No Woman No Cry") and "Who's On Your Side?" (one of the slower ones but fortified by an effective verse-riff combo), these are certainly not new for the group, which is known for always maintaining this middle ground between melodic hardcore with easy choruses that nod to Bad Religion and more assertive reasons, a choice that still provided a certain variety in every release. The impression is of a product that's quite weak as a whole, with little power, little speed (most tracks stagnate in bland mid-tempos), much ado about nothing. Starting with the disappointing title track and the often lackluster voice of singer Jim Lindberg, it frequently falls short of certain arrangements and remains weak for most of the work (though in rare cases like the sharp "Set Me Free" and the fast "Enemy" he knows how to deliver). Of course, there are excellent episodes rated very positively, represented by the energetic "Anyone Listening", and "Something Wrong With Me", which stands out for the great work by drummer Byron McMackin, although he doesn't sustain that for all tracks, another point contributing to a not overly positive assessment, which becomes quite clear in tracks like "The World", a very particular song with its Oriental-like riff and a respectable driving chorus that certainly could have said more if not for a Byron that wasn't stellar.
A special mention should be made for the excellent "Fuck Authority", a typical anthem that immediately stands out among the most significant tracks and best reflects the engaged concept of the platter, but especially for "Divine Intervention", undeniably the most substantial song, where Jim's performance is finally at really good levels. The rest are colorless and unengaging tracks, as in the case of "Twist Of Fate" or "My God".
If you appreciate the genre and generally accessible products, a listen is advisable, certainly not an unmissable album, but still, in a difficult period when the charts were dominated by Sum 41 & co, it reaches sufficiency and can provide excellent cues.
Tracklisting:
| 1 | Time Marches On | |
| 2 | Land of the Free? | |
| 3 | The World | |
| 4 | Fuck Authority | |
| 5 | Something Wrong With Me | |
| 6 | Enemy | |
| 7 | My God | |
| 8 | Twist of Fate | |
| 9 | Who's on Your Side | |
| 10 | It's Up to You | |
| 11 | Set Me Free | |
| 12 | Divine Intervention | |
| 13 | WTO | |
| 14 | Anyone Listening |
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Land of the Free (02:31)
Land of the free and we're united
Make our destiny, we take control. Yeah!
Never divided, we got the power
And we'll never be divided we fall. Oh yeah!
Land of the free, free to conspire, to control destiny. Oh yeah!
You're gonna see, no use resisting you live in the land of the free
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
Land of the free (democracy), united nations of hypocrisy
Profit's our goal, we're incorporated
It's big business and oil companies controlling us all. Oh yeah!
Land of the free, free to conspire, to control destiny. Oh yeah!
You're gonna see, no use resisting you live in the land of the free
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of Hypocrisy and to the republic for which it stand. One nation without liberty and justice for all.
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
Free to control your life
Land of the free
Free to control your mind
Land of the free
Yeah right!
03 The World (02:27)
Hatred from your closed mind nothing you think is gonna change
Your actions speak so loud you've got to try a different way
We live together we're worlds apart down on the streets
Because we're too proud no one will ever admit defeat
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
Where do we draw the line nobody seems to have clue
We're at each other's throats cause we don't share a point of view
So what's the problem can't see beneath the shade of skin
A vicious circle a human race no one can win
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
It's just a state of mind it's not reality
It's all psychosomatic static inhumanity
A savage mental sickness that plagues the human
Race and it's going to blow up in your face
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
The world is a smoking gun and it's loaded
And soon it's gonna blow you away
Up till now nobody has noticed
But we're going to have our day
04 Fuck Authority (03:16)
Someday you gotta find another way
You better right your mind and live by what you say
Today is just another day
Unless you set your sights and try to find a way
I say fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it's time to rise against them
We're sick of your treason
Sick of your lies
Fuck no we won't listen
We're gonna open your eyes
Frustration, domination
Feel the rage of a new generation
We're living we're dying and we're
Never ever gonna stop, stop trying
You know the time is right to take control
We got to take offense against the status quo
No way not gonna stand for it today
Fight for your rights it's time we had our say!
I say fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it's time to rise against them
we're sick of your treason
Sick of your lies
Fuck no we won't listen
We're gonna open your eyes!
Frustration, domination
Feel the rage of a new generation
We're living, we're dying
We're sick and tired of relentless lying
Destroy, enjoy, your fuckin world is our new toy
Dominate, eliminate, You're gonna feel the wrath , wrath of hate
Fuck authority!
Silent majority!
Raised by the system
Now it's time to rise against them!
We're sick of your treason
Sick of your lies!
Fuck no we won't listen
We're gonna open your eyes!
Frustration, domination
Feel the rage of a new generation
We're living we're dying and we're
Never ever gonna stop, stop trying
(stop trying!)
06 Enemy (02:34)
Well it comes as no surprise don't you realize
You cant back up deceit with more sad alibis
Cause you never are to blame driving you insane
Cause when your words are gone the damage still remains
You don't wanna believe that you're human just like me
I'm not the enemy (by blaming me you gain control)
You're just like me (you want a scapegoat for your crimes)
I'm not the enemy
It seems impossible to me a tragic comedy
That I'm the villain in your twisted fantasy
But to me its not a game driving me insane
We're all just victims in your sinister charade
08 Twist of Fate (02:33)
Feels great when you get the runaround
Life you led was full of lies
Too late when you start to look around
All you find is wasted lives
Do you want to obliterate some things you don't understand
Since you want to succumb to fate
Watch the world slip through your hands
You get the feeling that its never gonna change
It doesn't mean a thing your life's not gonna end
It will be OK don't say goodbye my friend
Cause it doesn't mean a thing a simple twist of fate
No it doesn't mean a thing you start to get the feeling
That it's never gonna end it doesn't mean a thing
You hate when you start to think about
Things in life that could have been
Too late its not gonna turnaround
Can't escape the mess your in
Do you wish there was a way to stop the fickle hand of fate
Or do you give in to the urge and kill the very thing you hate
You get the feeling that its never gonna change
It doesn't mean a thing your life's not gonna end
It will be OK don't say goodbye my friend
Cause it doesn't mean a thing a simple twist of fate
No it doesn't mean a thing you start to get the feeling
That it's never gonna end it doesn't mean a thing
09 Who's on Your Side (02:50)
Looking ahead, not far away, someday soon but not today things may get better,
things may get worse depending on who gets there first,
nothing in common, nothing will change,
together we'll go our separate ways,
nothing to stop us from cavin' in,
someone's gotta lose when someone wins,
look at the world you're livin' in
Someday you'll have to pick a side
For the rest of your life who's on your side?
A voice in the dark, a light in the haze,
a flame that burns then fades away,
alone in the night a ship lost at sea,
a state of emergency with no way of knowing what's comin' next,
survival of who fits in best, looking for answers but where to begin,
we all wanna know how this one ends, look at the world you're livin' in
Someday you'll have to pick a side
For the rest of your life who's on your side?
(Look at the world you're livin' in)
Who's on your side?
(Do you know who you wrap again?)
Who's on your side?
(And your tears are justified)
Who's on your side?
This isn't make believe
A faded picture show
As we drown you're slowly lettin' go, look at the world you're livin' in
Someday you'll have to pick a side
For the rest of your life who's on your side?
(Look at the world you're livin' in)
Who's on your side?
(Do you know who you wrap again?)
Who's on your side?
(And your tears are justified)
Who's on your side, who's on your side?
12 Divine Intervention (03:30)
You don't need divine intervention
For all the things that you never can face
You don't need good intentions
Cause in the end it is all just a waste
We all need an endless vacation
From all the problems the world can provide
We just need reconciliation
To repair what is wrong in our lives
I can't face the day
Don't want to try I want to waste away till I'm lost
Save me from all the chaos I'll radiate till I'm gone
So wait, wait, so many things that you'll never break away
Wait, wait save your answers
There's nothing when you're gone from here
It's only another day wasted
That's replayed in the back of your mind
A snapshot that you suffocated
Among the shadows and little white lies
You don't need a crude benediction
A pale savior you can sacrifice
You just need a new definition
When you're feeling alone in the night
You can't face the day
Don't want to try I want to waste away till I'm lost
Save me from all the chaos I'll radiate till I'm gone
So wait, wait, so many things that you'll never break away
Wait, wait save your answers
There's nothing when you're gone from here
13 WTO (02:58)
I just can't understand and I don't know how anyone can
Cause with every passing day it gets worse in every way
It's time that we make a stand
I sit here and wonder why how many more people got to die
Before we're gonna learn how many got to burn
Until we all realize
See it everyday it never goes away
Never slowing always growing never going away
This is the day you'll see our way
We've had enough some things are gonna change
The future's bright people unite
Better believe you're in for a fight
Behind smiles and pageantry
Lies a vile and sadistic history
Insidious design deceitful and sublime
Feeding on misery
The world's got a bad disease
And I think I got a fucking remedy
A molotov cocktail freedom will prevail
A new world society
We're not gonna be ignored
Believe us this means war
Something you can trust
You shouldn't fuck with us
We're not gonna take it anymore
14 Anyone Listening (03:00)
Down below beneath a burning hot sun
Out civility's waking up
Hate your neighbor 'cause he's not your kind
Fell out of favor, now he's out of luck
Get in your car, fuel up and get a job
You got no worries, you don't care that much
Pass the beggars as they lie out on the street
Just look away and roll your windows up
You don't have to worry
He's not one of us
Yeah
Is there anyone listening
To this beautiful tragedy
Is there anyone watching
This wonderful nightmare
Don't care much, you'd rather kill
Check out Johnny as he plays out on the street
Keeps to himself, he doesn't say too much
Can't get along with the kids in school
Likes to make bombs and blow things up
His mom and dad think everything's fine
They got no worries, they don't care that much
All that tension bottled up inside
One day soon now he's gonna erupt
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