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Rating: An alien light behind highlights the profile of the dwarf-leader of the Stereophonics, Kelly Jones, who, armed with très cool sunglasses, diligently wields his guitar: this is the (somewhat anonymous) cover of the latest work released by the Welsh trio on the rise.
And so, having overcome adversities such as the internal crisis after Stuart Cable's departure and two or three works that left the demanding fans a bit underwhelmed, just a year after the release of the last album, the fantastic three do not give up and return with a double live album that leaves the average fan with a tear of nostalgia for the old days and a desire to believe again.
Well, let's start with “Superman”, one of the latest singles. The guitars roar, Kelly's voice slithers as always, more rocking than before (well, you'll have to wait for the ballads) but still proof of 'losing the edge': a pleasant and energetic start. We continue with a guitar-laden “Doorman”, and so far we're still on the last album. But then a pleasurable roar introduces the beautiful “A Thousand Trees”; there they are, our dear Phonics of the good old days. Just enough time to recover with the calm and pleasant “Devil” and then they attack with “Mr. Writer”. Kelly's voice drags the chords to the chorus, and you can't help but hum along, taken by the reminiscence of times gone by... but then Jones's meow breaks, giving way to perfectly fitting piano notes, just before his vocal crescendo. That extra move before coming. I don't know about you, but for me, it's enough to experience a first orgasm.
But it doesn't stop here; a couple more pieces, and we arrive at the much-publicized “Maybe Tomorrow”, but that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't make an impression; on the contrary, I would say it does, it couldn't be otherwise. A few light chords timidly introduce Kelly Jones's little scream, accompanied by shouts and whistles from public lovers, and then it slowly takes shape, so maybe tomorrow you find your way, oh. And let's hope that you find this way, sooner or later.
Well, abandoning sentimentality, we dive into the energetic “The Bartender And The Thief”, and then immediately move on to what I consider to be the best piece the Stereophonics have done to date: “Local Boy In The Photograph” (although I like it less than usual in this live). And so, delighted by this listening, one takes the second disc in hand and waits. It starts with the sweet and melancholic “Hurry Up And Wait”, to be listened to lying down staring at the ceiling while winking at the spiders. Right after, we hear the indispensable “Madame Helga” followed by another gem: “Vegas Two Times”. It flows this way up to “Too Many Sandwiches”, the beautiful and delicate “Traffic” (where you can hear the crowd abandoning themselves in a passionate chorus of the chorus) and the first single from the last album that closes this excellent live; which could only be "Dakota".
What to say... an hour and a half of good listening, good live music, and a dive into the past echoed by the present. It must be said that Stuart's absence is felt by the more refined ear, but Javier Wyler still manages quite well. What else to add? If you're fans, you'll love and envy not having seen them live yet (as I, myself, already do, by the way), if you're occasional listeners you won't be able to not appreciate the energy and melody of certain "historic" songs. Enjoy it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Superman (05:02)
'''Stereophonics - Superman'''
You don't know what it's been like
Meeting someone like you
You don't know what it's been like
Meeting someone like you
You look like Jesus on an aeroplane
Ya head's against the window pane
You got opinions but you ain't got news
You got good laughs but when it suits you
You turn it on like a leaking tap
Dripping dropping people drop of a hat
You gotta mouth but you ain't got guts
That drunken mouth you should keep it shut
You don't know what it's been like
Meeting someone like you
Superman on an aeroplane
Sitting next to Lois Lane
You got that woman but you want her gone
So you can sleep with a teenage blonde
You wear a mask, wear an armoured suit
Can't get to you with the gun I shoot
Ya play your cards close to your chest
Because ya poker face is a dreary mess
You don't know what it's been like
Meeting someone like you
Superman on an aeroplane
Sitting next to Lois Lane
You got that woman but you want her gone
So you can fuck a teenage blonde
You turn it on like a leaking tap
Dripping dropping people drop of a hat
You gotta mouth but you ain't got guts
That drunken mouth you should keep it shut
02 Doorman (04:01)
'''Stereophonics - Doorman'''
Doorman you got an attitude
Ya like immigration in a cheaper suit
You'd like nothing more than to break my face
No rhythm no reason no colour or race
You'd like to throw me out on the street
It ain't my fault you can't read
You look like a monkey scowling at me
Well suck my banana, suck it with cream
'Cause all I wanna do
Is get closer to you
'Cause all I wanna do
Is make a mess out of you
Promotion for you is to stamp my wrist
If you're a good boy ya get the guest list
Ya don't listen, don't think, no mind of your own
Your job is prevention, but you just provoke
'Cause all I wanna do
Is get closer to you
'Cause all I wanna do
Is make a mess out of you
Is make a mess out of you
03 A Thousand Trees (03:25)
Standing at the bus stop
with my shopping in my hands
when I'm overhearing elderly ladies
as the rumours start to fly
Hear them in the school yard
in the scrap yard
in the chip shop
in the phone box
in the pool hall
at the shoe stall
every corner turned around
It started with a school girl
who was running
running home to her mam and dad
told them she was playing
in the change room
of her local football side
They said tell us again
she told them again
they said tell us the truth
I find it hard to believe
cause he taught our Steve
he even trained me
taught Uncle john
who's a father of three
CHORUS
It only takes one tree
to make a thousand matches
only takes one match
to burn a thousand trees
You see it in the class room
in the swimming pool
where the match stick men are made
at the scouts hall
at the football
where the wise we trust are paid
They all honour his name
he did a lot for the game
he got his name knocked up
above the sports ground gates
Now they're ripping them down
stamping the ground
picture gathers dust
in the bar
CHORUS
Wake up and smell the rain
shake up he's back to stay
he hasn't been on a holiday
growing seeds don't believe
why he's been away
In the school yard
change room
playing fields
bathroom
phone box
office blocks
corners turned around
They keep doubting the flame
tossing the blame
got his name knocked up
above the sports ground gates
Now they're ripping them down
stamping the ground
pictures gathers dust
in the bar in the lounge
CHORUS
04 Devil (04:46)
'''Stereophonics - Devil'''
Ever dance with the devil baby? Oh no...
Make my day
Do you feel lucky? Oh no...
Tomorrow's another day
Can you walk on water maybe? Oh no...
Turn water into wine?
Can I buy you a drink there lady? Oh no...
Can you tell me another lie?
So be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
Be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
Have I seen you somewhere baby? Oh no...
I need another line
Are you living the dream there lady? Oh no...
Can I tell you what's inside?
So be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
Be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
Stop the car there baby! Oh no...
You can't handle the truth
So what's the point then lady, oh no...
If ya can't stand to play and lose
So be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
Be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
So be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
Be my Devil, Angel
Be my shooting star
Bye bye Angel - Be my Devil
06 Pedalpusher (03:20)
'''Stereophonics - Pedalpusher'''
Gotta get in on the scene hun
Voice activate machine
Got ya hair in a haircut
You gotta fill up the dream
Got ya finger on the pulse babe
Got your rock n roll on?
You wanna screw driver too now
I hear they're fun on
You got it all this side up
But ya ain't got it down!
Push the pedal now
Activate your sweet voice babe
Let your world come out
Get ya head off the chopping block
Get ya ouija board out
Got ya rubber on ya pencil
In case you make a mistake
I hope ya got it all down babe
I'd hate to think you're a fake
You got it all this side up
But ya ain't got it down!
Push the pedal now
07 Deadhead (03:16)
I got a royal flush
I gotta ten bob
In my pocket for luck
Just another crush
I got my head read
In the shed once again
My friend
Inside, outside, upside, downside
See my face wanna take me home
I missed your sister, shake your pistol
Hear my voice on your telephone
Just another lush
I got my ten green bottles
In my pocket for luck
In another rut
Get your deadhead
In the shed once again
My friend
Inside, outside, upside, downside
See my face wanna take me home
I missed your sister, shake your pistol
Hear my voice on your telephone
Cigarette burning, got an opal ring
Dirty magazine turning, you're a bird who sings
Sleeping on a shag pile, sleeping on me,
sleeping like an angel watching over me
08 Maybe Tomorrow (04:24)
I've been down and
I'm wondering why
These little black clouds
Keep walking around
With me
With me
It wastes time
And I'd rather be high
Think I'll walk me outside
And buy a rainbow smile
But be free
They're all free
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
I look around at a beautiful life
Been the upperside of down
Been the inside of out
But we breathe
We breathe
I wanna breeze and an open mind
I wanna swim in the ocean
Wanna take my time for me
All me
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
09 The Bartender and the Thief (03:49)
When you think about it
He's watching every word you say, yeah
Say yeah
And when he's sussed you out
He calls her up and out she comes and hustles
Us
Long digging
Gone fishing
Love drinking
The bartender and the thief are lovers
Steal what they need like sisters and brothers
Met in a church a night to remember
Robbing the graves of bodies dismembered
He watched the lesbian talk
She kissed and groped but mostly talked in lust
Crushed
He couldn't make the call
His eyes were gripped on licking tongues
Enough's enough
Failed for once
Long digging
Gone fishing
Love drinking
The bartender and the thief are lovers
Steal what they need like sisters and brothers
Met in a church a night to remember
Robbing the graves of bodies dismembered
Long digging
Gone fishing
Love drinking
The bartender and the thief are lovers
Steal what they need like sisters and brothers
Met in a church a night to remember
Robbing the graves of bodies dismembered
Saved what they stole to meet at the altar
Place where they first set eyes on each other
Flew to the sun to start life all over
Set up a bar and robbed all the locals
Dooooo doooooo doooo doooo doo dooooo doooo dooooo dooo
10 Local Boy in the Photograph (04:03)
There's no mistake
I smell that smell
It's that time of year again
I can taste the air
The clocks go back
Railway track
Something blocks the line again
And the train runs late for the first time
A pebble beach
We're underneath
A pier just been painted red
Where I heard the news for the first time
And all the friends lay down the flowers
Sit on the banks and drink for hours
Talk of the way they saw him last
Local boy in the photograph
He'll always be 23
Yet the train runs on and on
Past the place they found his clothing
There's no mistake
I smell that smell
It's that time of year again
I can taste the air
The clocks go back
Railway track
Something blocks the line again
And the train runs late for the first time today
And all the friends lay down the flowers
Sit on the banks and drink for hours
Talk of the way they saw him last
Local boy in the photograph... today
He's gone away
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