Album Review : Superglad - Cinta dan Nafsu

taken from : rollingstone.co.id
reviewed by : Ricky Siahaan



Cinta dan Nafsu merupakan judul album yang alangkah cocok untuk membuat band rock asal Jakarta ini menjadi jujur dalam bermusik. Dua kata tersebut memang dekat dengan kehidupan Lukman ‘Buluk’ Laksmana, frontman band ini. Dan ‘jujur’ jadi sebuah kartu terakhir yang memenangkan permainan judi ini. Ketika pada lagu “Rajah Sayap Malaikat” Superglad memperdengarkan akar selera mereka sebenarnya, yakni heavy dan thrashy metal, album ini segera saja menang. Nampaknya kerja sama Superglad dan Jaya, gitaris legenda metal Indonesia Roxx sebagai produser album ini, berhasil. Kolaborasi tersebut memperdengarkan sisi baru Superglad yang terdengar melucutkan apapun itu ‘strategi’ untuk bisa menjadi komersial, maka di sini pula potensi maksimal mereka tereksplor dengan baik dan band ini terdengar kian menyenangkan dengan sound yang semakin tight. Ambil contoh lagu “Ga This Mr. Reused” yang berhawa Ramones atau “Gelagat Jahat” memiliki DNA Iron Maiden yang mantap. Namun yang menarik adalah pilihan Lukman Laksmana yang maksimal menumpahkan seluruh hasrat untuk berkisah cinta dan nafsu pada departemen lirik. Judul-judul yang ada cukup menjelaskan semuanya: “Enny Arrow”, “Tuan dan Nyonya Tangan”, “Mas Tur & Mba Sri”, “Sofa Merah” maupun juga “Short Time Blues”. Dan rata-rata dengan bahasa santai dan antiserius menjelaskan kisah cinta berselimutkan aroma seks yang kuat. Namun lirik di sini cukup ambigu, apakah ini curhat seorang penjahat kelamin, keluguan seorang pendekar kelamin, atau hanya guyonan belaka? Namun tak dapat disangkal, hal-hal tersebut memberikan hiburan rock yang bergizi dan berani. Dan sebagai bintang rock yang bernas, lewat Cinta dan Nafsu, Superglad telah naik ke level berikutnya.

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Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown (Reprise Records)

5 years and 13 million American Idiot album sales later, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool return with 21st Century Breakdown, an all too familiar, blatant punk assault of chaos, protest and revolution.

The second long-awaited punk-rock opera begins with Act I: Heroes & Cons, with "Song of the Century", a 58-second radio frequency entangled anthem struggling to be transmitted.

Almost immediately, we are confronted with piano, a rarity in their instrumental arsenal, introducing the longest and boldest track of the album, "21st Century Breakdown", which speaks of an era of decline and the underdog spirit. This eventually leads us into a chain reaction of harmonies through to Act II: Charlatans & Saints (6 tracks) and followed by Act III: Horseshoes & Handgrenades (5 tracks), which depicts the journey of the opera's two reoccurring characters, Christian and Gloria.

Exploding into 21CB's first single, "Know Your Enemy" is as catchy and fist-pumping as any anthemic, rallying song can be, thanks to the blare of punchy guitars riffs and its undeniably melodic chorus. WA-HEY!

One of the highlights on the album is its perfect harmony of calm and fury. For example, "Viva La Gloria" (a song about finding yourself in someone you've been searching for all your life), "Before the Lobotomy" (self-destructing behavior and its effects on one's hopes/ambitions) both operate with soft/loud guitar mechanics invoking lull serenity, before frantically igniting into a thunderous head-banging moshpit frenzy. Then, out of nowhere, the trio gently escorts us into an outer space theatre with 'the most unapologetic love song' entitled "Last Night On Earth".

Green Day is no stranger when it comes to experimenting with different styles of music. They have shown their resilience in albums like Nimrod(1997) and Warning(2000), introducing harmonica solos, horns/trumpets and even a dash of accordion.

This time on 21CB, it is apparent in "Peacemaker" (a tale of revenge), which is presented with a gypsy-like carnival atmosphere. There is also the country-western inspired b-side "Hearts Collide", which offers guitar solos reminiscent of the mid-60s.

The second single of the album, "21 Guns" is a mammoth power ballad in the shadow of AI's "Wake Me Up When September Ends" in both rhythm and message: War and fallen comrades. "21 Guns" will be released on June 17th 2009 and will also be featured on the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack.

The marriage of Green Day has lasted over 22 years and their message has been relevant and relentless. The important thing to remember here is that they remain faithful to what they stand for and have never been afraid to speak their mind.

Fueled with the same anger and passion from their 1994 break-through album Dookie(certified "Diamond" no less, with 10 million records sold) that revitalized mainstream music and popularized punk rock, they bring their latest offering to life in a stronger light, for a greater good in a world where there is no shortage of crisis.

The bottom-line?

It is not another American Idiot album if the world urgently needs another kick in the ass to open its eyes to this very real 21st century breakdown.

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Eminem - Relapse (Aftermath Entertainment)

It has been a four-and-a-half year lapse since Encore, the last album Eminem recorded before checking in and out of rehab. Bursting back on the scene more bad-ass and more loathsome than ever, Em doesn't just prove he can slug it out with the rest of the Lil Waynes and Akons, he manages to make them sound like a bunch of nancy boys in comparison.

Relapse is an album laced with murder, misogyny and self-loathing. And if you sniffed hard enough, you might just catch the horde of drug references stewing in the music. Even before you pop the CD in, the theme of this album literally stares you in the face - from the pill mosaic CD art to the pill bottle cap CD picture, it's clear what Eminem's message on this album is. This cat's certainly had a rough period.

After the comedic opening sketch between Dr West and himself, Em brings out the knives with "3am", a song about the dehumanizing effects of drug and alcohol addiction..

In usual Em fashion, few are spared the brunt of his hate rants, best exemplified by the lighter (in comparison) feel of "We Made You", a track that seems to harken back to the less serious sound of his previous albums. Em thrusts a barb-wired lyrical tirade at his mother on "My Mom", condemning her as the impetus for his drug dependency.

I can't say I enjoyed "Insane", one of the better tracks on the album which lashes out against child rape and molestation. That would be akin to saying I revel in watching someone get hit by a truck. Then again, I did appreciate the irony and caustic wit infused in this vicious and visceral rap. Another track to look out for would be "Déjà Vu", where Em, in a most satirical stance, unravels his back story on overdosing, interacting with his daughter while in a zombie-like stupor, and having to hide his stash.

"Crack a Bottle" is definitely the tune on the playlist to groove to. Featuring Dr Dre and 50 Cent, this seemingly improvised track has the funkiest beat of those on the album. Sadly though, the lyrics are a pale shadow of the music, with directionless drivel underscored by an uninspired chorus: "So crack a bottle, let your body waddle/ don't act like a snobby model you just hit the lotto".

"Beautiful" features the only break from the rest of the anger-charged tracks. This confessional number marks Em's attempt to shovel rap angst into a pick-me-up ballad form. And the result comes across as weak, bordering on clichéd, superior only to the meaningless raving in "Old Time's Sake".

It seems that in Em's world, everyone's irredeemable. And listening to Relapse, you'll either construe the man as a poetic genius, or some thug on a self-indulgent, ego-stroking wordplay trip. As for myself, I'm still recovering from the temporary depression onset this album has brought.. What a trip.

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