•
Rating:
They did it. After 5 years of working hard around Europe, an album in 2004 released in the independent market, and much groundwork, the time has come for the big leap for Vanilla Sky, an emo/pop/punk quartet from the Capital, now under contract with Universal Italy, which has recently distributed "Changes" in stores, the new album with which the 4 Romans are ready to conquer the peninsula and beyond. Grown up, now distant from the emotional pop/punk of "Waiting For Something", Vinx, Brian, Luka, and Cisco, to create the sound of "Changes", have drawn from the British indie tradition, the post-hardcore of Taking Back Sunday, the latest Lostprophets, Yellowcard, and Green Day, passing through bands like U2 and Coldplay, as well as the more recent AFI.
The album opens with the single "Break It Out", the video of which is already in rotation on national music channels, fresh and atypical enough to promote the album. Then Brian gives way to Vinx in "On&On" the second track, which tackles the "legendary questions" everyone begins to ask starting from adolescence, a calm start that explodes with a captivating chorus. "Nightmare" sung by Brian, draws inspiration from a newborn's awakening in their cradle, alone and waiting for someone to rescue them. The track, whose demo was already available for months on the band's Myspace, boasts the excellent collaboration of Mark Hoppus (+44, Blink 182) and has a fair emotional impact. "Se Vuoi Andare Vai" sung in Italian by Vinx, chronicles an abandonment in pure emo style, "Gotta Believe" the band’s tribute to U2, where the feeling of wasting time merges with the need to believe, "We Were The Romans" an anthem dedicated to the Eternal City, which mixes emotional choruses with hard-rock sounds, "Cut Away" where Yellowcard meets Green Day, deals with the typically adolescent desire for escape, "Letargo" a track in English despite the title, reminiscent of the new Lostprophets, and talks about awakening from a society "where tv becomes reality" to live a "life that has no fears." In the interlude, Cisco’s pulsating bass can be heard, then closing with a final scream. Thrilling.
"Devastante" another typically emo ballad about romantic abandonment, sung in Italian by Brian, "Summer Comes" a track that opens with an acoustic guitar, sunny and dedicated to a summer story, "The Fight" another emo/punk-rock anthem about life and not being alone in the world, where the bridge is sung by Marcus Smaller (3 Feet Smaller, an Austrian band often on tour with Vanilla), and again "Welcome Back" a cheerful piece opened by piano about the band’s "California dreamin'" and the choice to be musicians, and again "Fake Season" post-hardcore with metallic shades. Followed by "6come6" the Italian version of "Break It Out" and finally, "Goodbye" and "Waiting Patiently" respectively the English versions of "Se Vuoi Andare Vai" and "Devastante" with slightly different meanings. 16 stylishly packaged tracks.
What can I say? 3 years of waiting were worth it; the album is pleasant to listen to from start to finish, beautiful atmospheres; the arrangements, guitar riffs, melodies, rhythmic section, choirs, and scattered electronics throughout the tracks are all meticulously crafted. Vanilla Sky managed to pull something new and fresh out of their pot of diverse influences while maintaining their distinct "shut the fuck up" typically pop-punk identity. Let's call it emo, alternative pop/rock, given that true emo died with Fugazi and was very different. The 3 songs in Italian are convincing, and it is difficult not to fall into the banal when composing in our language. The English pronunciation has improved, the songwriting, while remaining faithful to the more "emo" canons, is very varied and improved compared to the "usual" bad-ending stories that almost totally characterized the first album. No matter how it goes, this is that good listenable music that makes you press the repeat button on the stereo. Vanilla Sky confirms themselves as one of the best rock bands in the country, and they do not fear comparison with overseas and across-the-pond bands they have managed to emulate. An excellent album.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Break It Out (03:29)
Please help this is my mayday
I’m out of reach I got lost on the way
I know what you say is true
I’m going anywhere but here with you
I know that I can be wrong
I always listen to the same sad songs
Please give me the chance to live
Forgetting something I still don’t believe
I tried yes I jumped around
I ended up falling on the ground
I know that I can die soon
So use a fork to stick me not a spoon
Just break it out
Just break it out today
I’m gonna pretend that you never went away
Just break it out
Just break it out today
I’m losing my mind [x2]
Please help us this is my mayday
I’m out of reach I got lost on the way
I tried yes I jumped around
I ended up falling on the ground
I know that I can be wrong
I always listen to the same sad songs
Just break it out
Just break it out today
I’m gonna pretend that you never went away
Just break it out
Just break it out today
I’m losing my mind [x2]
"It's not the same
It's not goodbye
but everytime you walk around
I lose control and follow
everywhere you go
everywhere you go
and I know that it may hurt so much
but I just can't take control of that
start to walk and follow
everywhere you go
everywhere you go
everywhere you go
everywhere you go
everywhere you go
everywhere you go
everywhere you go
I will follow you
'cause I'll be wasting my whole life
you're my real love
but I can't let go
Please don't turn your head
Please don't turn your head
I don't want you to see
what I'm going to be
I'll fail and wait tonight"
Just break it out
Just break it out today
I’m gonna pretend that you never went away
Just break it out
Just break it out today
I’m losing my mind [x2]
(by Jam)
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By Taurus
This 'Changes' by the local Vanilla Sky in its simplicity and catchiness is quite appreciable.
Vanilla Sky absolutely do not play emocore...they take only the more melodic and commercial side of this music.
