The Top Ten Albums of 2002
#10Ben Weasel – Fidatevi
Ben Weasel has always been known for being, well, a dick. He has a certain way with words in his lyrics that really pushes the snot out. His exploits on his own message board, deriding his fans, are legendary. So when I picked up this record, I expected a lot of snot. Instead what I found was a lot of heart.
It’s hard to imagine, but Ben has always been at least a little grown up. Screeching Weasel’s second-to-last album, Emo was filled with introspection. Some people say it’s their best record (I disagree, I think the more-upbeat Anthem For A New Tomorrow deserves that honor). Think of Fidatevi as its sequel, and this is one of the few rare instances when the sequel is better than the original. “Fidatevi” is apparently (I’m guessing here) Italian, it means “trust in yourself” and “trust in others.” Very uplifting words, but does this record manage to live up to its message?
This record has a confessional feel. The first words out of Ben’s mouth are, “I’ve got six guitars I can barely play and a questionable singing voice as well.” If anything were emo, this album would be it. Ben really has grown a lot since writing songs about Jeannie’s uterus. Perhaps unrestricted by having bandmates to satisfy, he delivers an honesty that you can feel. I get the impression that he’s put on airs in his previous records (sample: Television City Dream‘s “Count to Three”: “I’ve been styling since you wore short pants / Now I’m taking names and kicking ass”). All that is gone: there is no tough-guy posing, real or implied.
The music itself is at the same time punky and laid-back,. Perhaps the standout track, musically, is an acoustic guitar and piano cover of the Kinks’ “Strangers.” The guitars sound more clean than anything else bearing the Weasel brand. Matt from the Teen Idols supplies drums, and Danny Vapid plays guitar and bass and even sings a little bit of lead (“Indecision”). It’s kind of a family affair, but Ben’s touch can be felt all over the record.
Above all, this record is peaceful. It’s nice to know that agorophobic Ben Weasel, not afraid to spew hate at anybody who deserves it, can find a little peace. That means there’s hope for the rest of us. Emo is usually though of as staid, whiny music. Although Fidatevi occasionally approaches whining, it never quite gets there. It is an emo record, then, for those of us who can’t stand it: calm, honest, and emotional without being sappy or whiny. Fidatevi? Absolutely.
Tags: 2002 Top 10, Punk
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