Review Summary: Italian rockers Mamamicarburo blast out a new effort which mixes many different styles all under one very charismatic frontman.
When it comes to music, there is a phrase which I will constantly be reiterating for years to come. “So much talent, so little spotlight”. This recent release by Italian oldschool rockers Mamamicarburo embodies that statement perfectly. Hailing from Correggio in northern Italy, having been playing since the early 1990s and with 4 albums under their belt, this band still only play local shows and have yet to “make it big”. Now the question I put to you in this review is: WHY?
From the strong opening of “Mama Uber Alles” to the rumbling finish of “La Guerra Fuori”, this album is packed full of groove, melody and energy that doesn’t abate even in the slower songs. The guitars are varied and well-mixed, the solos in particular are bluesy in feel and fit in well with the rest of the music, and the bass and drums play their roles well as rhythm section. Both of these instruments even get their moments to shine. The bass in particular plays a role in tracks like “Sesto Senso” and “La Guerra Fuori”, albeit sometimes at the expense of the guitars when some riffs feel buried in songs. The band’s influences are hard to place, ranging from energetic punk and hardcore to a more melodic rock, even branching into post-rock and funk.
Morgotti himself, Italy’s answer to Johnny Rotten, is a brilliant frontman; at once he is a comedian and a singer, engaging well with the audience and the other band members. This can be witnessed in their DVD or on other live videos on YouTube. The vocals on this album are no exception, ranging from a hoarse growl as on“Mama Uber Alles” to a pleasant melodic mid-range on “l’Estate È Sempre Inutile”,and even mixing in a fast spoken-word which at once baffles the foreigner and has the native laughing.
His lyrics* are usually a bit of fun, especially on their older albums, whilst here they appear to have tried a slightly more serious approach. However, they still have time to write lyrics like those in “Plaster Caster”, which sound ridiculous no matter who listens to them. That said, the lyrics work well with the music, as can be seen in tracks “In-sensible”, a more mellow affair than the two tracks on either side of it.
There are a few things that stop me from loving this album completely,which I will outline here briefly, aside from production errors. Firstly, the title track is a little forgettable, especially chorus-wise; the gang vocals on “Mama Uber Alles” and “Barcelona” can be a bit off-putting; and the tracklisting could be organized so as to avoid one crazy punk track to be sandwiched between two relaxed rock tracks.
On the whole, however, these issues certainly don’t stop the album from being enjoyable, and if you like what you’ve read so far in the review, then I recommend checking this out.
*I’m told on good authority, not being an Italian speaker myself.
Rating: 8.5/10
Originally posted at http://www.mostlymetal.wordpress.com
