Il Grande Silenzio [Import]

Baby Animals | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 22, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Liberation Music Oz
• ASIN: B000ZQAH8E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,645 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

You've heard the rumours since 2004... Now it is confirmed! The baby animals have reformed! Part of the liberation blue acoustic series, their new album is called 'il grande silenzio' and consists of their greatest hits unplugged including 'rush you', 'early warning' and 'one word'. Liberation records will also be re-releasing "baby animals" and "shaved and dangerous", both digitally remastered! But... That's not all…the band had such a great time recording, they have written more of the kick-ass rock we love them for and will have another album soon after as well!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice addition to the Aussie legacy!, January 25, 2008

By 

Michael (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Il Grande Silenzio (Audio CD)

Baby Animals nailed two great albums in the early 90's and now 15 years later they have reformed to tour Australia. After all these years they have added a very nice album consisting of reworked acoustic versions of a few of their songs. Although this album is very mellow it is a great companion piece and shows how classy the original songs were. These versions have been drastically altered so that you can really only recognise them when the lyrics kick in. Each song has a distinct vibe and Suzi De Marchi's vocals are always awesome. Now I'm really looking forward to hearing a new album from these guys ASAP!

4.0 out of 5 stars Think Clapton's acoustic "Layla" vs the rock version, September 1, 2010

By 

Mallory - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Il Grande Silenzio (Audio CD)

So, I couldn't buy the Smart People soundtrack because it's only available as MP3s to US residents, and I wanted to hear the "new" Baby Animals songs on there (Stitch, U Still Need Me, acoustic Rush You). Well, someone managed to get me a copy to try out, and after several listens, I decided to go ahead and buy this album, knowing it was "mostly acoustic remakes of old hits". And boy is it nice.

This is maybe not the album for rock-only-listening Baby Animals fans, unless you're also a pure fan of Suze's voice. I'm someone who'll be listening to Daler Mehndi one minute and then John Lee Hooker the next, so country/western Baby Animals is no let-down for me (and "Break My Heart" from their debut album was always a favourite of mine). The rock album is coming later (I'm already hooked with "Got It Bad" sitting around on YouTube... hurry up you guys!).

And, the songs here aren't cheap rehashes, but whole new melodies and rhythms (think of acoustic versus rock version of Clapton's "Layla"). "One Word", "Early Warning" and especially "Working For the Enemy" have a sweet Western sound with twangy sliding guitars. "Working For the Enemy" in particular reminded me of "Riders in the Sky" with an up-tempo bass. "Rush You" settles into an easy rhythm that made me enjoy it even more than the rock version, while still being recognisable. But the song that maybe stands out most on this album is "Painless", which highlights Suze's voice the most, sweetened with tablas and infused with a burst of energy in the second half... possibly the best song on the album.
The differences in songs reminded me how different (and better) a live version of "Big Time Friends" sounded (Live at the Ritz, someone sent me a cassette).
"Don't Tell Me What To Do" was never a favourite song of mine on the Shaved and Dangerous album. It was just ok. But the acoustic version accentuates minor chords and sad strings where the original rock song only had anger and defiance (which is fine for rock). Here, it sounds like an older, more healed but still firm person remembering their past. Beautiful.

The songs from Suze's solo album (Telelove) don't sound as different, just more orchestration and none of the electronic sound (and a Dobro guitar!). "Submarine" and "Satellite" still has Dave's soft strumming, though "Satellite" is missing a part of its corus.

I'm more pleased with this album than I expected. On the inset, some words from Suze about how she and the band had only wanted to rock, but somehow found themselves making an acoustic album: "It doesn't really rock at all but that's O.K. That's coming. What it does do is give us a really sweet way of communicating those songs, once again to those fans of ours that still 'care' and it was eight days of heaven recording them."

It's heaven listening to, as well.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars WTF....Huh....uhh...BLURGHHHHHH...WHY??????????????, August 2, 2008

By 

Micheal Hunt (Hellbourne) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Il Grande Silenzio (Audio CD)

The Baby Animals hit the Australian music scene in the late 80's/Very Early 90's with there self titled debut album (1990), followed by a not so successful follow up of 1993's "Shaved And Dangerous"... that would be the last we'd here of the Baby Animals again, until now.

I've never heard why the band split up, but there first album was not just any album, it was almost a debut of greatest hits. Half the songs on that album still get radio play today somewhere in Australia, and songs like, "One Word", "Rush You" & "Early Warning" being considered some of the all time best Aussie rock songs.

The Baby Animals where AC/DC with a female singer. And for years Suzi Demachi has been one of my favorite female vocalists, purely for being able to tear out great rock n roll lyrics with ballsy rock n roll riffs.

With that being said... imagine my shock to hear this album. They have gone from a pub/hard rock band that kicked butt, to a wimpy acoustic spanish/mexican/flamingo group.

What on earth would possess them to go in this direction?

Have you ever heard a weird cover of a rock song that someones has made into an acoustic number, slowed down, and reflects nothing of the original song?

Well, that is what they have done to there own songs.

What in the hell where they thinking when they decided to recycle there old songs and do them in easy listening, acoustic, flamingo music? I might have been ok with it if the songs sounded even half decent, but the honest truth is they have murdered there own classics here.

And what the heck does "il Grande Silenzio" mean? Is it Spanish for "group returns from the dead and murders own classics?"

I remember hearing months ago on the radio and a buzz going around that The Baby Animals where reforming and bringing out a new album. I was actually excited, I really wanted to hear there new material. Then you find out it's recycled material done in extremely hurriedness renditions.

I did not even know the album had been released, it was not talked about, no one else knew about it, radios where not playing it or promoting it.... and after hearing it, it doesn't surprise me. Like me, if they did hear it, they probably won't admit to it cause it's too much a sock that they have returned with such depressing garbage and murdering classic songs you've grown to love since 1990.

Try to imagine AC/DC doing "Whole Lotta Rosie" as a slow acoustic number, or Ozzy Osbourne doing "Paranoid" with maracas and experimental music that you would only ever expect to hear from street busker's who ruin songs on purpose in hopes people will give them money to shut up.

"One Word" was a great rock number, it was energetic, recognizable, and fun. Now, it is a slow, depressing sounding song that I could slap Suzi in the mouth for disrespecting her classic material in such a way.

I got about 5 tracks into this album and turned it off, if I hadn't have had it on my ipod and had have purchased the CD, I would have ejected it and thrown it hard as I could up against a brick wall then stomp on whats left and take a crap on it.

I have lost respect for the Baby Animals now, they had a chance to become big again, lot's of fans and just rock listeners in general have wanted this band to get back together for years... and they come out with this &^%