MGMT, creators of one of the most outstanding P*O*P anthems of 2007-2008 (”Time to Pretend”), are now touring Europe (Italy, France, Switzerland and the UK).
Their “Oracular Spectacular” missed entering the UK top ten album chart by a little, and the video for “Time to Pretend” is on rotation on MTV Italy these days.
I don’t know how it happened, but they (or their management.. MGMT mgmt) chose Verdena as a support band for this european leg of their world tour.
Who are Verdena?

courtesy of Francesco Fadda (also in Myspace)

Verdena is a three piece combo, Alberto (voice and guitar) and Luca (drums), who are brothers, and Roberta (bass, the shadow in the picture above), who have released 4 albums so far (the first one in 1999, when they were about 20 years old).
To me, one of the most enticing Italian bands of the last ten years. Period.
Some (Italian) critics would disagree: guitars that sound too grungy, too many resemblances to Placebo or to norwegian Motorpsycho (”Blissard” era), emo posers, and.. somehow catchy choruses. Which is probably and partially true only for the ingenuous yet totally fresh first album.
The truth is: in Italy, when you enter the chart, no matter how “pure” your music is, no matter that you preserved it from mainstream compromissions.. for most critics (and for the idiot part of fans) you simply start to suck.
Anyway.. I saw them live three times and they kick ass. Definitely.
Go and get a copy of “Requiem”, their last album. Their most mature album to date, to me, where you can find.. yes, the catchy choruses, as well as the grungy guitars and bittersweet ballads, with a pinch of psychedelia. All of this with class.

Here’s “Luna” from 2004 “Il Suicidio del Samurai.”
Don’t know what critics would say about it, but it’s one of my favs.
Does it depend on the catchy chorus?

“E veeeeedo teeeee… io e teeeeee.. nieeeeeenteeeee.. cooooontaaaaaa… in fooondooo”

I hope you like it. Enjoy