Måneskin, RUSH! | Album Review 💿

Unleashing their international debut LP, and third LP overall, Måneskin delivers an enjoyable, crowd-pleasing album with RUSH!.

It has finally arrived! What has, you ask? Why, 💿 RUSH!, the third album, and international debut album by Italian rock band, 🎙 Måneskin. After releasing multiple singles dating back to 2022, the 🎙 Damiano David (😍) led collective is coming to America, baby! Giving 17 tracks and 53 minutes of music on RUSH!, all in all, there is lots to like on this crowd-pleasing affair.

“Own My Mind”

Måneskin commences RUSH! energetically with 🤩 🎵 “Own My Mind.” “Own My Mind” sets the tone.  Damiano David delivers an assertive, turned-up vocals, which matches the dynamic instrumental.  The bass line is prominent in the mix, the guitars are gloriously distorted, while the groove anchors FTW! Adding to the glories mentioned above are fun lyrics, namely the catchy chorus which asks the question, “Do you wanna, do you wanna / Own my mind, own my mind?” Well, do you?

“Sip the gossip, drink ‘til you choke / Sip the gossip, burn down your throat.” 🤩 🎵 “GOSSIP” is high octane, thanks to a lit groove, minor key, and energetic vocals from the unstoppable Damiano David.  Måneskin came in hot on the fifth advanced single from RUSH! Joining Måneskin is 🎙 Tom Morello, who gives the guitars some surefire grit! 🎛 Fabrizio Ferraguzzo doesn’t disappoint in the production department either. The instrumental is a big reason why “GOSSIP” is entertaining and full of energy.  Of course, the other reason is Damiano, who commands this song like a champ.  He matches the intensity of the instrumental, bringing out those gossipy lyrics! “Welcome to the city of lies,” for example, seems to be shade towards Los Angeles. Another shady moment comes at the end of the first verse where David sings about superficiality – “Just put some plastic on your face.” The characterization gets no better in the pre-chorus, referencing fake people, a jaded American Dream, ultimately leading to the toxic, ear-catching chorus: “You’re not iconic, you are just like them all.” The second verse is similar to the first, with the cards revealed early on.  Fittingly, Morello gets a guitar solo, something that all guitar gods should be entitled to. All told, great vocals, and electrifying instrumental, memorable lyrics, and high energy make “GOSSIP” a fun one.

Following two quicker numbers, 🤩 🎵 “Timezone” arrives in the nick of time to slacken the pace.  “Timezone” isn’t too slow, however, never approaching lethargy.  In a compound duple meter, Damiano David laments the long distance between him and his lover. According to him, “The only thing that keeps us apart / Is seven thousand miles.”  This prompts him to state in the chorus, “So fuck what I’m dreaming, this fame has no meaning / I’m coming home.” Woo! “Timezone” grows anthemic in the pre-chorus and into the chorus section.

“BLA BLA BLA” 

Måneskin – well Damiano David – gets playful on 🎵 “BLA BLA BLA.” “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha / And bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla,” he sings in the first verse, over a driving groove and a minor key.  It’s not all nonsensical syllables.  We get plenty of f-bombs, sometimes in a sexual context, while others are a stronger version of damn you, lol.  The song is a bit cringe, but the personality can’t be denied.  Furthermore, “BLA BLA BLA” separates itself from other cuts on the LP.

🎵 “Baby Said” keeps the energy, groove, and tempo rolling.  Once more, in the context of RUSH!, the bass line kicks ass and takes name, while those guitars roar.  Damiano David sounds even more commanding, showcasing an alluring, truly nuanced instrument.  The melody is quite tuneful, particularly in the chorus, which easily gets stuck in one’s head (“Baby said, ‘When you’re talking I go dead / Shut your mouth, give me your head’ / Uh-uh, uh, uh, know you really want to”).  The bridge provides sufficient contrast while remaining consistent in the intensity department. Also, shout out those riffs, like WOO!

Not to beat a dead horse in the context of RUSH! but damn, does that bass line continue to hit hard on 🎵 “Gasoline” Of course, “Gasoline” itself hits hard overall – fueled by, well, the fuel! “You’re nothing but gasoline / Starting fires since seventeen.” Oh, really? Like much of RUSH!, “Gasoline” gives us a sufficient blend of pop and rock. Damiano remains the fuckin’ man, singing in his middle register and killing it once he ascends to higher heights in the pre-chorus and chorus. “We’re gonna dance on gasoline.” Damn right!

“Feel” 

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! The formula continues to flourish on 🎵 “Feel.” “Feel” is aggressive, dirty, and full of spunk – or something like that.  Damiano David comes off as horny, like an animal, not to mention the fact he exemplifies the rock star life, contextually.  Among the most memorable lines is a drug reference: “Cocaine is on the table / Don’t care we’re rebel rebels.” Kids, just remember, say NO to drugs! “Feel” is followed up with 🤩 🎵 “Don’t Wanna Sleep,” another hard partying joint.  Regardless of if “This is the shittiest party,” David makes it clear, “No, no, no, no, I’m not leaving / Gonna get my feet on the ceiling / Gonna drink away all my feelings / And no, it’s not gonna heal me.” Hmm, that makes this loud joint take on a slightly different meaning.  The partying is a mask – not a logical solution for his issues.  Even so, David’s pain and partying are our utmost listening pleasure.

“Honestly, I don’t give a fuck / I’m addicted to rock and roll, yeah.” Mic drop moment, right? Right! On 🤩 🎵 “Kool Kids,” we get more ‘tongue in cheek’ Damiano, which is a blast. Just like the excerpted lyrics, there are plenty of stellar one-liners, including, “We’re not punk, we’re not pop, we’re just music freaks” as well as, “But cool kids, they do not used drugs / Only weed ‘cause it’s not that strong.” Interestingly, “Kool Kids” has a punk energy which radiates from the front man as well as the music provided by the band.

“If Not For You”

With many moderate to up-tempo cuts on RUSH!, it is fitting that the pace slackens on 🎵 “If Not For You.” Much like the faster numbers, David impresses with his expressive vocals, which find him commanding like a champ.  The premise of the record is simple: without you, he’d be nothing, nothing, NOTHING! “Hell would be knocking on my door / If not for you.” 🎵 “Read Your Diary” continues some of the ‘shock value’ that graces RUSH! “Pouring some champagne over your panties” and “Cried over your nudes, wearing your perfume” mark some truly extreme lyrics, you might say.  At the same time, Damiano clearly wants to know this person better emotionally as well as intimately: “I was dancing in your shoes / When I read your diary to try to get inside of you.” “Read Your Diary” isn’t necessarily my favorite from the album, but it is intriguing and on-brand.

It has been clearly noted that Måneskin is an Italian rock band. That said, it makes sense that RUSH! features a couple of Italian exclusive cuts.  This begins with the super quick 🎵 “Mark Chapman” which is quite the vibe. There is no let-up on the equally groovy, turned-up 🎵 “La Fine” (“The End”) which incorporates pointed, un-pitched vocals. The intensity is a huge selling point.  Concluding the Italian-exclusive numbers is the slower 🎵 “Il Dono Della Vita” (“The Gift of Life”), a direct contrast to “La Fine.”

“MAMMAMIA” 

“You wanna handle me, but I’m a bit too much / I’ll burn all the place down ‘cause I’m too fucking hot.” Ooh wee, the lyrics are “fucking hot” on the gem, 🤩 🎵 “MAMMAMIA”. Besides the ripe sexual innuendo involving size and a genius f-bomb, singer  Damiano sings naughtily on the chorus, “Oh, mamma-mamma mia, spit your love on me / I’m on my knees and I can’t wait to drink your rain /… Tell me your limits and we’ll cross the line again.” While sex is lit and “MAMMAMIA” is undoubtedly raunchy and risqué, there’s a more transcendent message.  Måneskin has been criticized as a band in the past, and many instances on “MAMMAMIA” address it.  For example, David feels as if him and the band have been wrongly treated ‘criminal’ despite doing nothing ‘criminal,’ including the false perception the band uses drugs (“I swear that I’m not drunk and I’m not taking drugs”). Sex and electrifying music make “MAMMAMIA” most engaging. The fact Måneskin defend themselves is a bonus.

“Savor every moment ‘til she has to go / ‘Cause her boyfriend is the rock ‘n’ roll.” On the two-and-a-half-minute “SUPERMODEL”, Damiano depicts a wild girl who does just about everything.  Interestingly, Måneskin focuses on the 90s as the era which the nameless supermodel lives in.  Notably, “SUPERMODEL” features eight songwriters including 🎼 ✍ Justin Tranter. Furthermore, this funky cut is produced by a star-studded team: 🎛 Rami Yacoub, Max Martin, and Sly. David delivers another fabulous vocal, filled with expression and attitude. He depicts this wild model superbly, sharing early on, “She loves the cocaine, but cocaine don’t love her back.” Twice he emphasizes in the verse, “She’s a 90s supermodel,” and the fact that she was once a “good Christian” (Christianity was on the rise in the 80s and 90s).  Of course, she moves beyond her positive ways and is stealing paintings (specifically, Basquiat) and participating in OnlyFans. All in all, it’s another enjoyable moment.

“You’ll be the saddest part of me / A part of me that will never be mine…” Oh, snap – those pesky matters of the heart are in play on 🤩 🎵 “The Loneliest”. Damiano David and Måneskin prove once more they have talent. David is depressed to the n^th degree because she will never be his. “In case of death, that’s what I want /… So don’t be sad when I’ll be gone / There’s just one thing I hope you know / I loved you so.” His heart is aching and pained so bad that he doesn’t mind if he dies. He confirms she’s crucial to his survival in the chorus: “You’re still the oxygen I breathe…” The premise is simple but relatable to anyone who’s experienced the plight of love, particularly unrequited, unreciprocated love.  David sounds fantastic, singing in an undertone initially with incredible poised before unveiling the fullness of his pipes.  Furthermore, it’s great to hear the truly spirited, rock-driven backdrop, including a guitar solo sandwiched between the final two choruses. “The Loneliest” begins a bit slow, but once the cards are revealed, and things progress, it’s pretty awesome.  It is a fitting close to RUSH!.

Final Thoughts 💭 

All told, 💿 RUSH! is an enjoyable international debut LP for Måneskin (their third album overall). It isn’t the perfect album – I’d argue that even about 53 minutes, it could be trimmed – but there is plenty to like. Even beyond the promo singles, the new songs are worth checking out and have replay value too. Need some crowd-pleasing, Italian rock in your life? Look no further than RUSH! from Måneskin.

🤩 Gems 💎: “Own My Mind,” “GOSSIP,” “Timezone,” “Don’t Wanna Sleep,” “Kool Kids,” “MAMMAMIA,” “Supermodel” & “The Loneliest”

🎙 Måneskin • 💿 RUSH! • 🏷 Epic • 🗓 2023

[📷: Epic]