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Rating: To analyze this album, it's necessary to understand the context in which it is set: it's 1993, grunge is in full swing, and the "underground" is surfacing, with Nirvana and Pearl Jam hits playing on mainstream radio. A period that many surely miss today, now forced to endure daily radio purges of Ferro and Pausini.
The artist in question, already on her second work (the more raw but no less appreciable "Dry") is undoubtedly influenced by the alternative environment of the '90s, yet she does not neglect her historical roots: it comes naturally to compare her to the legendary Patti Smith and many tracks resonate with explosive energy evidently derived from "Zeppelin-esque" influences. Moreover, our PJ isn't so far (despite using electronics sporadically) from the trend carried on by her near contemporary Bjork since the early '90s. In short, we have an artist with a broad vision, looking to the present while deeply rooted in a solid past. All this emerges in "Rid of Me."
The album begins with the title track, where a continuous and delicate guitar pluck introduces PJ's sensual and confident (almost raunchy at times) voice, which holds the listener's breath until the explosion, nearly two minutes of pure poetry in moans until the boom, which nonetheless is not too violent. It continues with Missed, a grunge ballad where everything is more tragic, harder, yet no less sensual. Legs hints at the strong influence Led Zeppelin undoubtedly had on our singer-songwriter, but it is always in that subtle mix of past and present (of then) that is truly ephemeral. Rub Til it Bleeds (a title with clear sexual indication) is perhaps the album's most sensual track, with PJ screaming and moaning, the music following her into an orgasm with its almost Sonic Youth-like distortions. The next track, Hook, is probably the one that looks most to the past, as one can easily imagine even the Doors in its distorted organ. Man-size sextet is a spectacular orchestral rearrangement experiment of the eponymous and subsequent track, truly well executed: the seductive and aggressive voice moves gracefully among strings almost "gone mad" in orchestrated "noise" schizophrenia, truly good. Highway 61 revisited, a cover of the great Dylan, is good but perhaps the least original track on the album, maybe due to the ambition of living up to the legend, but it doesn't amaze while remaining overall acceptable and moderately aggressive.
50th Queenie is a sketch of grunge with a vague country feel, spiced with falsetto choruses that only enhance the suffocating and "crazy" feeling of the artist's peculiar voice, the track ends leaving a taste of original punk. Yuri-G tries to combine nastiness with a frantic viola that sporadically appears in the arrangement but leaves a mark, "engraves," PJ's almost desperate screams well convey the spirit of the song. Man-size is probably the best track on the album, starting like the first track, subdued yet biting, but already hinting at the heart of the piece that explodes after just a minute; with truly fascinating lyrics, which leave a bitter taste, PJ wants to communicate, to become a sensual confidant of her thoughts. The track ends unexpectedly, remaining "suspended" and lingering in the mind until the end of the album, although it doesn't have a particularly catchy chorus. Dry is another grunge ballad that only breaks through to a certain point, adds nothing new. The song sounds like a Pearl Jam track sensually sung by a woman, surely impressive but perhaps of dubious sense, the pairing hardly stands and the monotonous solo doesn’t improve things, the worst track, even if it's not unlistenable. Me-Jane again tastes of country, sensual and scandalous PJ recounts, absorbed poetess, her most insidious thoughts.
Snake is short but captures in its undulating vein, speaking of a "snake"... (did she copy from our great Rettore's Kobra?!?), the metaphorical meaning of the lyrics is not difficult to interpret, aided by the screaming and presumptuous voice. Ecstasy is the most unnatural but also the most astonishing way to conclude the album. It almost seems like a ballad, but it's too desperate to be considered one. The title is definitely fitting for the song, PJ screams moaning "give me ecstasy," curses, prays submissively. But wasn't she the dominatrix, commander, and wicked until just now, what happened? PJ's been teasing us a little! It’s all a dream, a somewhat erotic, somewhat frightening fantasy she's openly shared with us, she's made us part of this wonderful nightmare, that's what she wants to tell us in the end.
Truly astonishing album, perhaps a bit harsh on first listen but should be listened to attentively and understood, it's really worth it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Rid of Me (04:29)
Tie yourself to me
No one else
No, you're not rid of me
Hmm you're not rid of me
Night and day I breathe
Ah hah ay
Hey, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
I beg you, my darling
Don't leave me, I'm hurting
Lick my legs I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
I'll tie your legs
Keep you against my chest
Oh, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
I'll make you lick my injuries
I'm gonna twist your head off, see
Till you say don't you wish you never never met her?
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her?
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her?
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her?
I beg you my darling
Don't leave me, I'm hurting
Big lonely above everything
Above everyday, I'm hurting
Lick my legs, I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Lick my legs, I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Yeah, you're not rid of me
Yeah, you're not rid of me
I'll make you lick my injuries
I'm gonna twist your head off, see
Till you say don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs I'm on fire)
Don't you don't you wish you never never met her
(Lick my legs of desire)
Lick my legs I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Lick my legs I'm on fire
Lick my legs of desire
02 Missed (04:25)
He should not be hid
He's just too big
In a cloud please come down
I'd put stars at your feet
Put Mars in your head
Show yourself to me
And I'd believe
I'd moan and I'd weep
Fall silent at your speak
I'd burst in
Full to the brim
Mary lost her head
And let it bleed
Came crying back to me
"My son where's he hid?
Don't deny it
And don't you hide him"
No I've missed him X4
No words
No sign
Mary say
"I'm not lying"
How come he's so big
But good lord he's been hid
Good lord where you hid?
Ha!
No I've missed him X8
03 Legs (03:40)
Oh you're divine
Oh you're divine
Oh Oh Oh did I tell you you're divine
Oh Oh Oh Oh did I ever when you were alive
Did it hurt when you bled?
Did it, oh lover boy, oh fever head?
I'll bet you never thought I'd try
Your mouth, my love, was open wide
Singing oh you were going to be my life
Dammit!
Oh Oh Oh Oh you were going to be my life
Did you sing "Oh happy day"?
Singing it
Sing it that time I went away?
Got to ease my aching head
Do you know
No other way cut off your legs oh
Hey oh
Did you ever wish me dead
Oh lover boy, oh fever head?
No you must, no you must not go away
How will you ever walk again?
And I, I might as well be dead
But I could kill you instead...
04 Rub 'til It Bleeds (05:03)
Speak, I'm listening
Baby, I'm your sweet thing
Believe what I'm saying
God's truth, I'm not lying
I lie steady
Rest your head on me
I'll smooth it nicely
Rub it better 'till it bleeds
And you'll believe me
Caught out again
I'm calling you weak
Getting even
And I, I was joking
Sweet babe, let me stroke it
Take, I'm giving
God's truth, I'm not lying
And you'll believe me
I, I, I'm calling you in
And I'll make it better
I'll rub 'till it bleeds
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it, hey!
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it, hey!
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it
I'll rub it until it
05 Hook (03:57)
I was blind
I was lame
I was nothing
'Till you came
You said "Babe,
Make you sing
Make you feel
Like some queen"
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Lord, he hooked me
Fish hook and line
And rode in fucking mad (?)
With a halo of deep black
'Til my love made me gag
Call him Daddy, take my hand
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Good Lord, he hooked me
Fish hook and line
I'm hooked
Oh higher
Oh beautiful
Oh higher
Oh beautiful
Oh higher
Now I'm blind and I'm lame
Left with nothing but his stain
"Daddy your maid, she can't sing
She can't feel, she's no queen!"
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Lord he hooked me
Fish hook and line
Said "I'll take you Kathleen
To your home and mine"
Good lord he hooked me
'Leen out of time
08 50ft Queenie (02:23)
Hey I'm one big queen
No one can stop me
Red light red green
Sat back and watching
I'm your new one
Second to no one
No sweat I'm clean
Nothing can touch me
Tell you my name
F u and c k
50ft queenie
Force ten hurricane
Biggest woman
I could have ten sons
Ten gods ten queens
Ten foot and rising
Hey I'm the king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm twenty inches long
Glory, glory
Lay it all on me
50ft queenie
50 and rising
You bend over
Casanova
No sweat I'm clean
Nothing can touch me
Hey I'm the king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm twenty inches long
Hey I'm king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm thirty inches long
Hey I'm king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm forty inches long
Hey I'm king of the world
You oughta hear my song
You come on and measure me
I'm fifty inches long
50ft queenie x7
09 Yuri-G (03:28)
Hey there Luna
I'd like to tell ya
How sad am I
So love sick I could die
Needing water
My neck's stiff, my head hurts
Been looking up all night
Been looking at the Moon, she's so bright
She's so white
She's so clean
I'm telling you
She's everything
I'd give it all
My sorry eyes
Give just everything
She's got me so mesmerized
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
It's just the things that she does to me
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory
Told by a doctor,
"You make her figure
Needles stick in her
She'll be your Luna"
I stuck them in real clean
I stuck them in a mile
I drew her down on me
I drew her with a smile
I'd give it all you see
I'd give my sorry eyes
I'd give just everything
She's got me so mesmerized
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
It's just the things that she does to me
Yeah I thought I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory
I stuck them in a mile
I stuck them in real clean
I stuck them in a mile
I drew her down on me
I drew her with a smile
I'd give it all you see
I'd give my sorry eyes
I'd give just everything
She's got me so mesmerized
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
It's just the things that she does to me
Yeah I thought I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory
Yeah I wish I was Yuri-G
I let her walk all over me
Yeah I thought I was Yuri-G
Give back my memory X3
10 Man-Size (03:16)
I'm coming up man-sized
Skinned alive
I want to fit
I've got to get
Man-sized
I'm heading on
Handsome
Got my leather boots on
Got my girl and she's a wow
I cast my iron knickers down
Man-sized no need to shout
Can you hear, can you hear me now?
I'm man-sized
Man-sized
I'll measure time
I'll measure height
I'll calculate
My birthrite
Good Lord I'm big
I'm heading on
Man-size
Got my leather boots on
Got my girl and she's a wow
I cast my iron knickers down
Man-sized no need to shout
Can you hear, can you hear me now?
My babe looking cool and neat
I'm pretty sure good enough to eat
Man-size no need to shout
Let it all, let it all hang out
I'm man-size
Man-size X7
Silence my lady head
Get girl out of my head
Douse hair with gasoline
Set it light and set it free
Silence my lady head
Get girl out of my head
Douse hair with gasoline
Set it light and set it free
11 Dry (03:23)
I caught it in the face
Coming around again
I thought it was worth waiting
You're caught up in my head
Wet sides from time to time
But mostly I'm just dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You've come all this way
No hair out of place
You put it on the stage
You put right in my face
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
No water well in sight
No water at my sides
I'm sucking on the well
I'm sucking 'till I'm white
But you leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
You leave me dry
13 Snake (01:36)
You snake
You crawled
Between
My legs
Said "Want
It all?
It's yours
You bet
I'll make
You queen
Of everything
No need
For God
No need
For him
Just take
My hand
You'll be
My bride
Just take
That fruit
Put it
Inside"
You snake
You dog
You fake
You liar
I've burned
my hands
I'm in
the fire
Awooooooh....oooooooohhhh
You salty dog
You filthy liar
My heart
It aches
I'm in
The fire
You snake (You snake)
I ate (I ate)
A true (A true)
Belief (Belief)
Good Lord (Good Lord)
That fruit's (That's fruit's)
Inside (Inside)
Of me (Of me)
Oh Adam (Oh Ad-)
Please (-am please)
You must (You must)
Believe (Believe)
That snake (That snake)
Put it (Put it)
In front (In front)
Of me (Of me)
That snake
Put it
In front
Of me
In front
Of me
14 Ecstasy (04:27)
Flying
I'm flying
Hitting heavens high
I'm head on brake too low
Floating
I'm floating
Hanging below the sea
I'm telling you look at me
Ecstasy
I'm in ec...ecstasy
Singing
I'm singing. Yah!
Sounding hanging breathe
I'm begging you look at me
Ecstasy
I'm in ec....ecstasy
Ecstasy
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