| Eugenio Bennato | Francesco Guccini | Lezioni di Tarantella |
| Agricantus
Claudio Baglioni |
Alex Baroni
Angelo Branduardi |
Marino DeRosas
|
| Almamegretta
Lucio Dalla |
Irene Grandi
|
Ligabue
|
Taranta Power
It took me a while to track down this cd by the other Bennato brother.
It is worth the search. Eugenio has created an album around the traditions
of the dance of the taranta/tarantella. This is not the tarantella
you imagine but the one based on the exorcisms and rituals that surround
this rhythmic form of music with its healing powers. While he does
perform most of the songs, there are other artists who also provide additional
examples of the various forms and dialects this type of music and song
take on. There are traditional and original compositions. I
can strongly recommend this cd to everyone who takes an interest in discovering
the various
forms of Italian traditional music. The concept incorporates
the modern and the ancient in a manner which does not disappoint at any
level. Forget the Sanremo stuff and find a way to obtain this wonderful,
well produced cd. It is an exceptional piece of work that deserves
to be recognized.
Stagioni
I will try to be brief and to the point with this review. Excellent.
Buy it. Done.
Francesco Guccini has done it again. His album is a marvelous
collection of songs by an artist who is both tallying his life's work,
opening it to reflection and looking to the future. Guccini just
turned 60. His album is at the top of the charts at the time of this
writing. His success is cross-generational encompassing his fans
from the early days to today's young italians. What brings them together
is Guccini's ability to create songs that are timeless enough to capture
the imagination and spirit of so many people. Fans and novices will
not be disapponted with the effort put into the album and the grace with
which the pieces are presented. Among my favorites are Stagioni,
Autunno, E un giorno, Ho ancora la forza,Don Chisciotte and Addio.
Guccini is one of the greatest living cantautori in Italy today.
This album and his previous cd are musts for all serious afficiandos of
that vein of music. For everyone else the album is, quite simply,
worthy of everyone's collection.
An Eugenio Bennato project
This album is a compilation of the first four albums in the master
of the tarantella anthology which Bennato produced. The selections
include pieces from La
Tarantella del Gargano, La Tarantella in Campania, La Pizzica Salentina
and La Tarantella Calabrese. You can hear the traditional
pieces performed by the regional groups or singers. I enjoyed the
concept and effort but feel this is an album for the more diehard fan of
the genre. The pieces are performed in the regional dialects and
style. The album acts as a way to memorialize the traditions which
are often forgotten and replaced by subsequent generations. I would
consider this cd and the others from which it is drawn to be along the
lines of historical records. I recommend the series for those who
wish to experience the full range of the tarantella in southern Italy.
Fariddi
Okay. This is a tough one to categorize. Those of you familiar
with the sicilian group Agricantus do not need an explanation about
their particular sound. It can be categorized as universally Mediterranean
which means that the chords remind you of a
vast excursion through many lands and languages. The problem
is that not everyone is open to this type of world music. The
experimentation demands attention. This is not an album you toss
into the cd player as background. The quality of the music and vocals
will draw you in and leave you wondering (and wandering). I listened
to it several times before feeling more comfortable with the sound.
For Agricantus, this is an excellent album with a mix of old and new cuts.
Fans such as myself
will want to add this latest effort to their collections without hesitation.
For the rest of you, well, you have been warned. Keep an open mind
about all the Mediterranean has to offer and you will understand and appreciate
their efforts.
Viaggiatore sulla coda del tempo
I am afraid if I say anything negative this album that I will be inundated
with e-mail. What can I say about this album. I liked it, but
it gave me the feeling of having been here before with Io sono qui.
If you enjoyed that album you will appreciate and enjoy this latest effort
by Claudio Baglioni. Several of the cuts are quite good. But
somehow, I have come to expect more and more with each album. Add
to this the over-exposure of the album and of Baglioni as a TV personality
and I feel as if there is
something missing. Do not get me wrong...the album is quite an
excellent, technically correct work that hits all the right notes.
Maybe what it needs is less hype, less concept, less packaging and
more feeling and spontaneity. The final answer is this: fans
add this cd to your collections as a well conceived album which typifies
the new Baglioni sound. For those new to this, try Io sono qui
from a few years ago. As for me, I'm just going to sit back
and wait for the e-mails to start pouring in.
Ultimamente
What ever happened to Alex Baroni? He did so well during his
debut by winning the Giuria di qualita' prize. His first album was
quite good and made the best of his vocal capabilities. His second
album was a major disappointment as it wandered all over the place without
any sense of musical purpose. So here we are at his third album wondering
which road he has chosen. He seems to go in the direction of his
first effort with a funky sound that predominates and which makes use of
his range. Pavimento liquido is a nice way to kick off the cd which
then travels on to include a few english language songs to round out the
package. Am I suggesting you run out this instant to purchase the
album, no. However, if you have a little left over after
darting all over web in search of bargains, give this cd a try.
Fans of Baroni will feel vindicated...the wait was worth it. A little
less energy but more structure. Beginners will want to track down
his first effort and then move to this cd which exhibits maturity and a
greater sense of personal style.
L'infinitamente piccolo
I have to admit that I was a little skeptical when I heard about this
album. I was not quite sure what to expect from an album dedicated to the
life and works of San Francesco. How could I ever doubt Branduardi?
The album is absolutely delightful and a must for fans of Branduardi and
for those would like to experience the musical version of San Francesco's
life and times.
Branduardi has woven together San Francesco's teachings, writings about
him and his followers and works about Santa Chiara to reveal a rich tapestry
of music and words that defies pigeonholing in one musical genre or another.
Every taste is covered without sacrificing the quality and richness of
the material. The album includes guest appearances by Battiato,
Madredeus,
Ennio
Morricone, NCCP, i Muvrini and La Viola. The album is
both inspiring and entertaining. I highly recommend it for all to
try and experience without reservation. My goodness, I think this
is about as glowing a review as I have given in quite a while.
Meridies
A dear friend and colleague in Rome insisted I try this cd immediately.
Now it is my turn to pass along his sage advice. If you enjoy classical
guitar and traditional instruments from Sardegna, do not miss this cd.
Eight of the nine cuts are instrumentals
which feature the self-taught De Rosas working sublime magic on the
chords. The flavor is Mediterranean and the evocation is that of
spring, summer and fall on Sardegna captured in a small, well crafted disc.
The music is both comfortable in its familiarity and mysterious in its
execution. If you have the opportunity to acquire this cd, do not
pass it up. You will find your self satisfied with the quality and
yearning for more of the same.
Quattro/Quarti
I have to admit that not everyone will want to listen or even be in
the same room with this album. Almamegretta occupies that peculiar
space created by mixing rhythms of many nations and combining them with
Italian traditional influences. The pieces are
a mix of Neapolitan, African and Middle Eastern beats with a decidedly
house/techno sound along with a dose hip-hop for good measure. While
it sounds like a strange mix, I do not mind listening to the pieces.
I am not sure if my interest stems from the ingenious blending or the fascination
with the group. Suffice it to say that Almamegretta is a group that
takes a little getting used to and it is certainly not for everyone.
This is an album you buy at your own risk and may actually find yourself
fascinated and entertained by the results. Novices are advised to
try Sanocore (an early album) before diving headlong into this selection.
You have been warned!
Ciao
I have to be honest, the first few listens to this album left me a
little flat. Initially, I was expecting more. However,
I decided to give the cd a try at the office during the course of the
day to get better acquainted with the content. The patience paid
off. The album is light and subtle without grabbing an immediate
hold of you. The content is more of a reflective Lucio Dalla, not
sacrificing content but serving up a side that is likely an evolution of
style, rather than a misstep. Talk about your long sentences done
in an italian style! The bottom line is that I did enjoy the album
once I
took the time to actually listen and get past first impressions.
You should do the same. I f you have Dalla's other albums this will
make a nice addition to the collection. As a starter, you may wish
to try some of his other works in order to better understand the changes
and nuances in the work. Among my favorite cuts were Ciao, Non
Vergognarsi mai, What a beautiful day, Hotel, Trash, Scusa, 1999 and Born
to be alone (I can't help it, the album grew on me!).
VerdeRossoeBlu
After a long absence, Irene Grandi is back and better than I remember
her. She returns with a new look and a sound
that is familiar yet remarkably energized and focused. As fans
may recall, her sound tended to a funky mix with a touch of rock.
The album tends to be generally upbeat with a tendency to pop mixed with
tinges of funk and with a few more mellow ballad like songs mixed in.
Among my favorites are Che fatica si fa a cambiare vita, Rido senz'anima,
Eccezionale, Verde Rosso e Blue and Tutta diversa. There is something
about this album that I really like although I cannot put my finger on
it directly. Perhaps it is the sense of freedom I can feel in each
of the pieces or the strength which manifests itself in a new self-assured
style. Whatever the case may be, the album is a buy for fans and
a try it out you may like it for novices. I missed Irene and am glad
she is back with a strong album.
Miss Mondo
Ligabue returns after the phenomenal success of his Buon Compleanno
Elvis and live albums to continue his musical journey.
This one is filled with introspection and a decidedly different beat
than his previous works. The songs are a tad slower and the lyrics
a lot more reflective of the real man with his faults and successes.
Una vita da mediano is the cut that received the most airplay and discussion.
It is about life as the overlooked center, the one who carries the team
but is never the star, the behind the scenes source of the overall success.
Each song carries forward with themes about life with its ups and downs
and various stages. I would not describe the album as melancholy
as I would reflective...the work of a man taking stock of life and all
it brings. The tone is set early on and carries the album.
The cd is a must for Ligabue fans of all ages. As for those who have
yet to discover his work, this could serve as a nice counterpoint after
listening to the Buon Compleanno Elvis album.