Plug
La Musica Peggiora EP

What could be the radical definition of "music"? Let me try to give it: an artistic tool to express emotions, pour out frustrations and feelings, communicate ideals, and experiment with sounds. I do not agree with the countless purists who claim that over time it has worsened… you just have to look around to realize that the artistic and sonic landscape is continually evolving. What has truly worsened is the role of music within society... at least in Italy. Compared to the rest of Europe, it is much less present, almost considered a nuisance, and you cannot pursue it as a life choice unless you are willing to make often insidious and sad compromises, bringing to light abominable products often devoid of talent and class, while on the other hand, music played with art and passion becomes something for a few connoisseurs or supposed ones.

The Plug understands this well. We are talking about a band that from every point of view represents absolute uselessness in whatever context you want to place them… commercial, underground, rap, pop, punk, rock... whatever you want. Their musical proposition is very simple and not at all original as they want you to believe… melodic and invective pop rock that winks at pop punk in a "blinkian" lesson seasoned with very direct rap verses and even fitting in their context and slightly stereotypical "alternative" lyrics. Does this mean they make bad music? Absolutely not… at least to me… judging such a band becomes something entirely subjective… it's one of those bands to whom you usually give a single listen, and if it hits right the first time, you keep going, otherwise, stop. I listened to this EP without prejudices and also because I've never disliked the pop + rock + rap formula… and I have to say that, in a friendly way, this record "kicks".

We are presented with 5 super catchy tracks that get stuck in your head after the first listen, and you'll find yourself humming them in the shower the next day. I liked them all more or less. The opening track "P.L.U.G" is perhaps the band's manifesto. Very direct rapped verses supported by synths and distorted but not too much guitars. "Ricorda" is perhaps the most banal and the least beautiful (at times it reminds of Finley [T___T]) but it remains a good piece, very catchy. "Prega per me" is perhaps my favorite. It starts with a riff that brings to mind early Yellowcard or Zebrahead... very engaging. "L'italia affonda" is the most "fast-paced" (by the standards of the record) of the lot. Commendable is the (successful) attempt to write a song about the current Italian situation (not the best). The final title track "La musica peggiora" elevates itself to the ambitious title of "generational anthem" and as far as I'm concerned, it fully succeeds in this endeavor. The lyrics are amazing, though to be honest, I found them all very beautiful.

In the end, this "La Musica Peggiora" is a "little record" in the most endearing sense of the term... one of those works produced by a band discovered by chance on the internet that you should listen to without expectations... I did and found a nice piece of work, and I recommend it to anyone who likes catchy music without pretensions, even just out of curiosity. The choice to open for artists like Jax or emis killa and to identify a target audience among kids who sometimes accompany these pseudo rappers with listens to blink 182, sum 41, and linkin park seems very questionable to me as well, but in the end, as stated in the initial debate about music, to break through, one must (unfortunately) make compromises... then, in the end, that's their business... if it's fine with them, imagine with us.