Alt-rock lives! Does anybody remember alt-rock? Buffalo Tom sure does. After a long absence, Buffalo Tom comes back with Skins.
This album is like all of the good parts of REM without any of the bullshit. Or a non boring version of Wilco. Total jangle jangle action! Dare I say there are shades of Big Star on the opener “Think About It”. What I suspect will be the first single (does anyone remember singles?) “Guilty Girls” is a total rocker- perfect for radio. I might have been listening to too much Kinks lately, but the opening of “Arise, Watch” reminds me of “Sunny Afternoon” before it becomes a rather gloomier descent.
The ethereal backing vox by Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, Belly) on “Don’t Forget Me” are absolutely beautiful and “Down” is positively epic- can’t wait to see it live.
I’ve been a huge fan of lead singer/guitarist Bill Janovitz’s solo site for a long time; where every week he releases an acoustic version of a classic song (anything from The Replacements to The Stones to The Clash to Husker Du). It’s nice to hear the whole band back together.
It’s a lovely album. I don’t think I’ve ever called an album lovely before.
