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Иногда с творческими людьми случается одна весьма неприятная вещь - однажды выложившись по полной, они долго не могут вернутся на привычные круги жизни. Примерно такая ситуация, на мой взгляд, произошла и со Трентом Гарднером, лидером и путеводителем известной американской прогрессив рок команды Magellan. Сотворив несколько лет тому назад абсолютный шедевр в лице великолепного, и к тому же чертовски эмоционального альбома "Hundred Year Flood", Трент сошел со своей колеи и начал записывать какие то совершенно невыразительные работы. О творческом кризисе сначала возвестил на удивление скучный диск "Impossible Figures", а вот теперь и совершенно новый, уже шестой по счету студийник группы "Symphony For A Misanthrope". От этого произведения ожидаешь многого, а получаешь очень мало. Мощное оркестровое интро заставляет настроится на отличный лад, но уже первая песня "Why Water Weeds?" неприятно удивляет своей вымученностью и неожиданно средним качеством записи. Ритм секция задвинута на задний план, вперед зачем-то вывели необычайно тяжелые (чуть ли не индастриальные) гитары, которые в контрасте с фирменными клавишными "поливами" смотрятся весьма хаотично. Следующая далее тихая акустическая вещь "Wisdom" позволяет немного расслабиться, но вот за ней слушателя ждет, несомненно, самая скучная песня Magellan за всю их историю - 18-минутная сага "Cranium Reef Suite". После такого издевательства над ушами слушать последние две песни даже не хочется. А ведь этот альбом - концептуальный, и должен рассказывать мрачную и пессимистическую историю о том, как наше человечество плохо ведет себя на протяжении стольких веков. Но увы! Увлечь слушателя этой работой у Трента совсем не получилось, в целом, диск производит впечатление лоскутного одеяла - какие-то совершенно ненужные короткие инструменталки, абсолютно невнятные композиции в конце, и один большой и скучный мега-эпик. Зато трюк с атмосферой точно удался! После прослушивания "Symphony For A Misanthrope" так и хочется предаться депрессии, настолько давящая на мозги музыка вышла из-под пера мистера Гарднера. В общем, рекомендуется всем любителям мрачных и сложных для понимания музыкальных полотен. С ужасом жду следующего диска этой команды. (Диск предоставлен команией Art Music Group) |
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Well the big man he don't care about the
average American - cause he don't cater to no one
there ain't no free lunch -there ain't no sense in forgiving
some son of a bitch that won't work for a living (he says):
Why water weeds when you can mow them down?
Why water weeds? They'll just go back underground
Why water weeds? Just let 'em wither away
Why water weeds? It's the American way
I'll change history and I'll change hands and horses
Chompin' at the bit 'cause the father raised an idiot
I'll change history -I'll change hats and partners
Dazzle 'em with my wit or just baffle them with some bullshit
At the end of the world, the big man came
"you promised last time you wouldn't make it rain"
so he picked up the earth like a basketball
and threw it into hell just to watch it fall...
Why water weeds? Just let 'em wither away
Why water weeds? It's the American way
At the end of the world, the big man came and said
"you promised last time that you wouldn't make it rain"
he picked up the earth like a basketball
and threw it into hell just to watch it fall... (he said)
I'll change history and I'll change hands and horses
Chompin' at the bit cause the father raised an idiot
I'll change history -I'll change hats and partners
Dazzle 'em with my wit or just baffle them with some bullshit
I'll change history and I'll change hands and horses
Chompin' at the bit...
How long can I run? Don't you see what they'll do to me?
When "they" find out what I've done -how long can I run? (x2)
How long can I run?
Wisdom
(Gardner/Curtis)
One man's playing piano and one man's drooling on the floor
And one man's making missiles 'cause he wants to prevent a world war
One man's disadvantaged just because his skin is black
And one man's children starve to death but not the idiot savants
No - not the idiot savants
No - it can never be the idiot savants
One man O.D.'ed on New Year's Eve
His dealer too happy to grieve
One man killed and another held out (the idiot savants)
Stupid wisdom is what this world's about.
We're so wise -so knowing -so understanding
The questions of life are so undemanding
So we grope and we hope that we'll find an answer
I must be an idiot or just one hell of a dancer
This one sings like an angel but she can't tie her shoes
But this one likes everybody -he just can't stand to hear the news
So what if my cousin's on the street
There's someone there to help him
This one don't wanna take care of the other two (the idiot savant)
'cause he's thinking of things he'd rather do
One man O.D.'ed on New Year's Eve
His dealer too happy to grieve
One man killed and another held out (the idiot savants)
Stupid wisdom is what this world's about
This guy can't even write his name
That lady thinks she's going insane
This time I'll find another home
Not so heavy 'cause I'd rather be alone...
Cranium Reef Suite
(Gardner)
Part I. "Youthful Enthusiasm" (instrumental)
Part II. "Psych 101"
Well a bad day fishin' is better than a good day at work
But a bad day in paradise is a bad deal
Let's say goodbye before we've ever met
You're alone on the shore of cranium reef
No one gets inside my head
No one
I'm a bad part of town on a bad stretch of road.
I'm a bag of tricks in a balancing act
I'm a battered heart and a bath of tears
I'm no bank and no barrel of monkeys
You're alone on the shore of cranium reef.
No one gets inside my head
No one
You're a band of gypsies and a band of thieves
Now you're burning in the sun and you've washed ashore
Don't try "psych 101" on me - we've been there before
I've got a cold embrace at the cranium reef
Trust me you're all alone at the cranium reef
Part III "Primal Defense"
Heart and mind may disagree
But I'm growing old
Too far down the road to change now
'cause you speak to me but youth's on your side
you're so much more than I care to find
What is sacred? What is profane?
Your approach is near and there's something
I fear inside of you -reminding me like a mirror that shows
My past that died long ago
No closet full of skeletons
Can bring me out here
I've got a cold blank stare so don't wait
I've got a colder embrace
You're an Ivy League amateur
"I mean no one comes in here ever"
No one comes in here
No one. No one.
No one passes cranium reef
Not even I can look at my grief
Don't come to me pretending you're wise
I am a man who can see what is real
And is fear what is real?
Stranded on cranium reef
Alone with your thoughts you can drink with your grief
You color your lies with a cool motif
Stranded on cranium reef
Lost at cranium reef
At my coral barrier of disbelief
You're a cold hard future with no relief
Brutal reality at cranium reef
I am a bitter pill to swallow
I am a bittersweet memory
You need me like a hole in the head
Now show me that our "body" is real
We need conversation 'cause I got a case of the blues
And I'm a burned out bridge that nothing here...nothing
can rebuild...no, no, no, no.
I am a bitter pill to swallow
I am a bittersweet memory
You need me like a hole in the head
Now show me that our "body" is real
We need conversation 'cause I got a case of the blues
And I'm a burned out bridge that nothing here...nothing
can rebuild...no, no, no, no.
Heart and mind may disagree
But I'm growing old
Too far down the road to change now
'cause you speak to me but youth's on your side
you're so much more than I care to find... (repeat refrain)
Pianissimo Intermission
(Based upon J.S. Bach 1742- Goldberg variation #1)
[instrumental track
Doctor Concoctor
(Gardner)
I am your high priest of selling
And I've got your sainthood covered - again
I am a quick-change artist - at least
But don't you forget I'm an instrument of good
Your doctor
Bullet proof alibis - I'm your doctor
Social butterflies - I'm your doctor
I'll bring you powerful allies -I'm your doctor
I'm your high priest of selling - I'm your doctor
I am your Indian chief or your head cook and bottle washer
I'm what you need here 'cause I'm your doctor concoctor
Take me for who I am - your sacrificial lamb
"Follow -all they do is follow" (the people are sheep)
"Don't know" - huddled indecisive (the people are sheep) (x2)
Baa.
Bullet proof alibis - I'm your doctor
Social butterflies _ I'm your doctor
I'll bring you powerful allies -I'm your doctor
I'm your high priest of selling - I'm your doctor (repeat)
Every Bullet Needs Blood
(Gardner/Curtis)
Dredging the world of memory
Dank and dirty as darkness descends
I can not see the moon tonight
There's a mist upon the land -and it doesn't feel right
Hush my child, I'll give you a clue-
Be careful young friend
The keeper is a prisoner too
Well, I went with the riders of Nebadon
To the battle of right and wrong
But the sun has been down for a month now
All the wrong that I've done...maybe I'll catch one
Every bullet needs blood
Every bullet needs blood
Man's inhumanity or God's insanity
Such a world as this-
Planet prison or cosmic vision?
We'll survive a sure fire miss...
Who sells the bullets? - who sells the guns?
Has the warden left for the rest of the day?
Every bullet needs blood
Every bullet needs blood
Fire at will...
Every bullet needs blood
Hell to pay...
Hush my child, I'll give you a clue-
Be careful young friend
The keeper is a prisoner too
Father, give me a sanctuary
Don't you see what they'll do to me?
Father, Father please forgive me!!!
Every bullet needs blood...
Like a lamb I was led to the slaughter
I had no choice but to fight
I was played like a pawn
There's blood in the water
Every bullet needs blood...
Every bullet needs blood (every bullet)
You say love is the answer to everything
Well, I've got my doubts you know
Father, please forgive me... (x3)