Verdena
Solo Un Grande Sasso

The Verdena are undoubtedly one of the most pleasant novelties in the current Italian music scene. Originating from Bergamo, they seem to demonstrate their abilities right from their self-titled debut album, released in '99, an excellent work where the band openly declares their love for the grunge of the early '90s, so much so that they were accused by detractors (unjustly in my opinion) of simply copying the sound of Nirvana & co. without originality and style.

Solo Un Grande Sasso came out in 2001, after two years of waiting, and only confirms the good premises of the previous album. Verdena's sounds are enriched with new and interesting influences (Motorpsycho, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sonic Youth primarily) and the final result is undoubtedly positive, thanks also to the presence of Manuel Agnelli in the artistic production: 12 tracks of very good level, well coordinated among them, which mark the definitive maturation of the band and its style, perhaps not highly original, but certainly incisive and engaging. It is indeed difficult to resist tracks like the slow and sweet "La Tua Fretta," the singles "Spaceman" and "Miami Safari," the deep and emotional "Nova," up to the most beautiful pieces of the album, "1000 Anni Con Elide" and "Centrifuga," two long compositions where Verdena give their best, perfectly blending harmony and indie rock noise, truly worthy of applause. Of course, on a couple of occasions ("Starless," "Buona Risposta") the level drops slightly, generally, there can be a slight reproach regarding the exacting care of the lyrics, but it matters little, Solo Un Grande Sasso remains an excellent album and the best of Verdena, proof of the band's strength, which, besides gaining further credibility, begins to be rightly compared to the best of Italian rock (Marlene Kuntz, Afterhours), for a deserved success from both critics and the public.

It's true, we are not faced with something particularly innovative, but simply an hour of good music which, in a music scene full of decrepit festivals and trash aplenty, shines quite a bit. One of the best albums of 2001, and without a doubt a record to be listened to, without prejudice.