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Rating: Rock is dead. No, rock has just been resurrected, and it's resurrected magnificently.
It took thirty years, but finally the masterpiece from Wolfmother has arrived. Wolfmother is an Australian band, their debut (a self-titled EP) dates back to 2004; since then, they’ve already become famous in their homeland. In 2005, in October to be precise, here comes the eagerly awaited self-titled album. After a few months, Wolfmother grows in celebrity, and now we Italians can also purchase their record.
The European version contains 13 tracks, one more than the original Aussie version (which also had a different order). The start is strong, Andrew Stockdale's (vocals/guitar) scream introduces the rest of the band: Chris Ross (bass and keyboard) and Myles Heskett (percussion) are two great musicians and keep up well with the imperious frontman. The scream introduces Dimension, a song soaked in Hard-rock, the real one, like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, to be clear. The second song, White Unicorn, starts calmer, more Zeppelin-like, if possible, only to grow with strength and power in blending Page’s group style with Black Sabbath's. The sound's power is certainly more Sabbathy than Zeppeliny; on the other hand, Stockdale prefers the Gibson "Diavoletto," equipped with so much powerful Overdrive.
His guitar is never banal, the songs are rich in rhythm changes (perfectly interpreted and sometimes suggested by Heskett) and are never banal or simplistic, as often happens in recent years. The third track on the record is Woman, the most Sabbath-like: perhaps it's the most immediate single, but definitely also magnificent. Woman features psychedelia: the central part of the song bridges between the two verses: it's a genuine rhythmic crescendo, with keyboards setting the pace.
Much more Zeppelin-like is Where Eagles Have Been, which starts quietly, with an acoustic intro, almost as if wanting to recall the English masters (I'm thinking of Stairway to Heaven or Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, for example). But that's just the beginning: the song explodes with Stockdale's excellent riff, but it quickly gives space to another calm return. It doesn't last long. The song's central part is another crescendo leading to an almost lysergic section (Doors!) played by the keyboards, which in turn introduces Stockdale's solo. Not a technically original solo, but a great simple melodic solo. The song fades with a return to the acoustic guitar. Apple Tree is very cheerful; it even seems to wink at the rhythms of a "quiet" punk rock; but it's just an impression: the tones return darker and heavier as the song progresses, with the percussion dominating. The song alternates phases of hard-rock heaviness with rock explosions directed by Stockdale's clean devil [Diavoletto] and culminates in a nervous solo (where Wah is also used).
It's time for Joker & the Thief, perhaps the best hit by Stockdale, starting with the Deep Purple-ish riff that really stands out and recurs at irregular intervals (with psych nuances) throughout the track. Stockdale's vocal cords vibrate excellently in harmony with his guitar, thus crafting yet another great track. We're halfway through the album. Just these tracks would suffice to say we've listened to a great record.
Stockdale's voice (another mix between Page and Osbourne) rides the rough waves of Collapse, perhaps the hardest track on the album. The song seems predictable, but then Wolfmother knows how to surprise us with a beautiful rhythm change after the middle, serving as an outro. The start of Mind's Eye is like a sad ballad perfect for listening to in a car, when you're driving alone on a sad night. The progressive keyboards of Ross dominate the track, sporadically recalling King Crimson. But here's another twist: the rhythm almost turns into that of a stadium organ, pierced by Stockdale's chords, introducing us to the end of the piece.
The aforementioned vocal and guitar cords of Stockdale dominate in Pyramid, another track clearly winking at the classics of the '70s, without ever being excessively emulative. Withcraft almost seems a track from Frank Zappa's 'Hot Rats', sounding a bit like the Hard-rock equivalent of "Peaches En Regalia". Confirming this resemblance is the song's central section, enriched by an original interlude played by wind instruments, which then returns in the song's finale. Tales has the taste of a song already heard, probably because its structure is not dissimilar to that of previous tracks, but once again Wolfmother does not fall into banality. It's a more sugary, more sweet piece. The penultimate track is Love Train, not included in the Australian version of the album. It has a nice impact: it seems different from the previous ones; Stockdale's singing is very Plant-like, the track generally much more Zeppelinian than the rest of the album. The solo winks at progressive, but without exaggerating: the virtue, which Wolfmother shows they possess, lies in the middle. Here's the last track: Vagabond. What is this stuff? It almost sounds like a folk song! Well, yes, it really does. Indeed, here something changes... but what are they doing, are they going crazy? What is this schizophrenic crescendo? Wow.
Well, what more to add? This album is huge. Almost on the level of the great masterpieces of the bands it draws inspiration from: it's only my excessive passion for old rock that prevents me from removing the "almost." It's an almost perfect debut album, which makes us truly hopeful for this trio of genius old-fashioned Australians' future works.
RATING 9/10
The Collector (http://esattore.altervista.org/)
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Colossal (05:02)
I saw the colossal landscape
Of which I never was a part
It was a magical day
Of which I'd never seen before
The first time I saw colossal girl
The first time I saw colossal girl
Such glowing mountains before us
Pillars of life all fade away
Of all the things i need to say girl
All of these words are in my way
The first time I saw colossal girl
Well she's running to the hills again
Can you tell me if she'll ever return
She must be mother natures child
Cause she's runnin' to the call of the wild
She's talkin' to the trees again
Tellin' me that she's one of them
Lookin' at the bird in the tree
Though she's never gonna notice me
Oh is my love a confession
Will I just put it back today
If I had love left to give you
Would you still throw it all away
The first time I saw colossal girl
The first time I saw colossal girl
Well she's running to the hills again
Can you tell me if she'll ever return
She must be mother natures child
Cause she's runnin' to the call of the wild
She's talkin' to the trees again
Tellin' me that she's one of them
Lookin' at the bird in the tree
Though she's never gonna notice me
Can you remember the first time we met
Living together in colossal times
Some things are given with no reason why
Living together oh what a time
I'm just a gypsy with wondering eyes
I'll tell you secrets that send you to sleep
And all I can give you is all of my love
These are the things I can give you to keep, Oh
And I'm just a gypsy with wondering eyes
And I'll tell you secrets that send you to sleep
And all I give you is all of my love
And these are the things I can give you to keep
02 Woman (02:55)
Woman
You know that you're a woman
You got to be a woman
I got the feeling of love
When you're talking to me
You see right through me
I got the feeling of love
She's a woman
You know what I mean
You better listen
Listen to me
She's gonna set you free
Well you're kinda looking at me
Like I've got to set you free
You know I can't be nobody
She's a woman
You know what I mean
You better listen
Listen to me
She's gonna set you free
Woman
You know that you're a woman
You got to be a woman
I got the feeling of love
When you're talkin' to me
You see right through me
I got the feeling of love
She's a woman
You know what I mean
You better listen
Listen to me
She's gonna set you free
03 White Unicorn (05:01)
Have you been to the carnival
I would like to see you
There's a whole lot of people there
Who would like to be you
With the white unicorn, across her shoulder
Makes you think that she might of been
Someone whos older, ahh yeahhh
And I know it's on your mind
We've been drinking on the wine
That we drank from the serpents vine
Now we live in another time
We could live together
She lives on the borderline,
That they call hazel
And the tent that she lives in has the name of her lover,
And I know it's on your mind
We've been drinking on the wine
That we drank from the serpents vine
Now we live in another time
Sister can you tell me when the day turns to night
She left without a word and wondered inside
How many days must I still wonder why
And see her face in every passer by
We could live together
And I know it's on your mind
We've been drinking on the vine
That we drank from the serpents vine
Now we live in another time
We could live together
04 Pyramid (04:28)
Can you see it's full of lightning,
All the futures that I see are whitening,
See the time of yesterday,
Become the time that we have today,
Oh I'm looking for a hidden meaning,
Can you tell me if it's just a feeling,
See the light is shining in your eye's,
Is it love in disguise,
I saw the light shine out today,
I saw the light shine out today,
And it told me that you're not the one for me,
Can you hear the ancient calling,
See the empires we've built are falling,
All we have is the human touch,
The clock is ticking even as we rush
05 Mind's Eye (04:53)
When the time is right and the night is bright
We will see the things we've come to find
I've been searching for just a little more
but the days girl just slip away
And the red sunset that we just met
I can see forever
Come and see the mind's eye
We can find it if we try
Come and see the mind's eye
Transfixed upon the why
Come and see the mind's eye
We can find it if we try
Well they say it's right if it feels alright
When your love burns up in the mire
So I burnt a fire for a lost desire
See it burning higher
Come and see the mind's eye
We can find it if we try
Come and see the mind's eye
Transfixed upon the why
Come and see the mind's eye
We can find it if we try
Come and see the mind's eye
We can find it if we try
Come and see the mind's eye
Transfixed upon the why
The mind's eye
Right now
Come and see the mind's eye
We can find it if we try
Come and see the mind's eye
We can find it if we try
06 Joker & the Thief (04:39)
I said the joker is a wanted man
He makes his way all across the land
See him sifting through the sand
So I'll tell you all the story
About the joker and the thief in the night
Always laughing in the midst of power
Always living in the final hour
There is always sweet in the sour
We are not goin' home
Can you see the joker flying over
As she's standing in the field of clover
Watching out everyday
I wonder what would happen if he took her away
What you see well you might not know,
You get the feelin' comin' after the glow,
The vagabond is moving slow
So I'll tell you all the story,
'bout the joker and the thief in the night
All the people that he see in the night
Hold their dreams up to the light
The wild beast is searching for sight
We are not goin' home
Can you see the joker flying over
As she's standing in the field of clover
Watching out everyday
I wonder what would happen if he took her away
Said the joker is a wanted man
He makes his way all across the land
See him sifting through the sand
Tell you the story 'bout the the joker and the thief
I said, I'll tell you the story 'bout the the joker and the thief
I said, I'll tell you the story 'bout the the joker and the thief
Of the night
07 Dimension (04:25)
I fell down in the desert baby, yeah
I had nothing but a peice of paper, oh yeah,
I had to write something down,
And I found myself alone, then I let go of everything,
Into another dimension
Purple haze is in the sky,
See the angels wicked eye
all these things we must try
'Till we see the reasons why, oh yeah
Lightning crash on the hill tonight,(yeah)
I got a feeling everything is gonna be alright
Then a horse came running to me
Said we're gonna go to the sanctuary
Then a storm began to blow,
Into another dimension.
Purple haze is in the sky,
See the angels wicked eye
all these things we must try
'Till we see the reasons why, oh yeah
I got lost in the desert baby, yeah
I found temples made out of paper, oh yeah
I had to write something down
But then i found myself alone
Then i let go of everything
Into another dimension
08 Where Eagles Have Been (05:33)
Well we always seem to worry
Life's becoming such a flurry
Can't you see that theres lights in the dark
Nothing's quite what it seems in the city of dreams
Rainbows tinted with gold
All the stories we've been told
Still her love is yours to behold
Nothing's quite what it seems in the city of dreams
You say it's not the real world
Though it seems so real to me
And I know that we're never turning back
Can you see what I see?
I had a vision
Of festive days
She's like an eagle
In the misted haze
Sit and wonder at the sky
Watch the river flowing by
Now it ends and we're here at the start
Nothing's quite what it seems in the city of dreams
You say it's not the real world
Though it seems so real to me
And I know that we're never turning back
Can you see what I see?
I had a vision
Of festive days
She's like an eagle
In the misted haze
Oh break my chains girl
Show me to the land
Where people live together
Try to understand
09 Apple Tree (03:28)
Dear Sir, can you remember me,
I'm the one that picked the apple tree
Dear Sir, can you remember me
I'm the one that picked the apple tree
Dear Sir, can you remember me,
Have a look inside the family tree
Dear Sir, can you remember me
Have a look inside the family tree
Your daughter is so fine to see,
Unraveled some mystery in me,
When i see the apple in disguise,
Ohh my love i can recognize,
Dear Sir, can you remember me,
I'm the one that picked the apple tree,
Dear Sir, can you remember me
I'm the one that picked the apple tree
Dear Sir, can you remember me,
I seen the forest for the tree,
Dear Sir, can you remember me
I seen the forest for the tree
Your daughter is so fine to see,
Unraveled some mystery in me,
When i see the apple in disguise,
Ohh my love i can recognize,
Dear Sir, can you remember me,
I'm the one that picked the apple tree,
Dear Sir, can you remember me
I'm the one that picked the apple tree
11 Witchcraft (03:25)
Wrote a letter to you and threw it away
Spirit tried to call me, I had no words to say
Sister can you tell me if it's gonna be okay
The chains and bangles were ringing aloud
Calling out without a sound
She had witchcraft
She drank from the craft
Her eyes are the opening to her soul
Spirits lie where secrets can be told
Make her an offer your fortune can be sold
The chains and bangles were ringing aloud
Calling out without a sound
She had witchcraft
She drank from the craft
The chains and bangles were ringing aloud
Calling out without a sound
She had witchcraft
She drank from the craft
12 Vagabond (03:52)
Oh girl I don't know all the reasons why,
I found the answer lookin' in your eye,
I go out walking all day long,
Take away this lonely man soon he will be gone,
Cause I'll tell you everything about living free,
Yes I can see you girl can you see me,
You don't need to know what I do all day,
It's as much as I know watch it waste away,
Cause I'll tell you everything about living free,
Yes I can see you girl can you see me,
Go and see the sorcerer look into a ball,
You may find the answer written on the wall,
The left one was a dancer can you see the answer, Oh
Put her in a mansion on top of the hill,
Please don't make her do things against her will,
I found something special I don't know why,
Looking into her pretty little eye,
Cause I'll tell you everything about being free
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Other reviews
By Antmo
Wolfmother makes people talk, they spark discussions, they are the subject of investigation and in the end, they are liked.
Drawing with full hands from the well-worn blues, folk, and soul tradition of the 70s while maintaining a sensitivity of their own that is modern, fresh, and exciting.
By Torre Ste
It is followed by 'White Unicorn,' magnificent, and that 'Woman' which impressed right from the first listen.
Nothing new in these thirteen tracks, but played by a group of three men with a technique that’s hard to find these days.
By Nicolazzz
Did I buy a Sabbath album without knowing it? The substance of the album is this, it sounds like a Sabbath album.
The sound quality is truly awful... I would understand if it were an amateur band, but you’re the Wolfmother, damn it.
