Pino Scotto
Buena Suerte

There are those who hate him, those who love him, and those who are exactly in the middle, that's me. I often agree with Pino Scotto's thoughts, but just as often I think he expresses them in an excessively vulgar way. But this, after all, I believe has been his good fortune: how can one not be captivated by a sixty-year-old drunkard who tells everyone to go to hell?? The fact is, I haven't quite figured out if Mr. Scotto is playing this up; at the beginning definitely not, but with the years, I wouldn't want him to have studied everything artfully... Hmm.. What do you think? Help me solve the mystery.

Let's move on to the musical side, about which I have fewer reservations to express. A long-standing hard rocker (active with Vanadium since 1982), he has always demonstrated guts by helping to spread the Italian alternative scene. He has also made two good albums with Fire Trails and others as a solo artist, of which the pinnacle is certainly "Datevi fuoco" from 2006, which I personally appreciated a lot.

Four years later, on April 2, 2010, "Buena suerte" is released, defined as a  concept addressing "political, social, human malaise."

Devastating start entrusted to the anthem "Quore rock ‘n' roll" and "Morta è la città", featuring collaboration with former Europe guitarist Kee Marcello. The following "Gli arbitri ti picchiano", feat. Caparezza, is the first single, a rap/rock that doesn't drive me crazy. However, the next two tracks are excellent, "Il pronista" (an ironic invective on the "tronista" ) and "Tempi lunghi" ("dedicated" to our beloved premier "Berlusca"). The masterpiece of the album is "Soldatini di pongo" (feat. Nina): a poignant power ballad dedicated to all the "baby soldiers," truly touching. We return to hit hard with "Stage degli innocenti" and "Maldido street", the groove of the latter is beautiful; while "Che figlio di Maria" is an engaging rock prayer in which Pino invokes an "absent" God. After the brief interlude "Blues on", the worthy conclusion rests with the overwhelming "Diatribal rock".

About forty minutes of pure and genuine hard rock, direct, powerful, with a perfect production. (Managed by Olly from The Fire). Lyrics as usual are not trivial and damn modern. Honor also to the impeccable Steve Volta on guitar, Frank Kopo on bass, and Marco Di Salvia (Node) on drums.

Welcome back Pino, we needed it.  

Rating: a full 4.