It's funny what one song can do. I'll admit, Buffalo Tom was completely new to me when I got a compilation disc from a buddy that contained a perfect little pop song entitled "She's Not Your Thing."
After listening to the song twice in a row I said aloud (to myself), "OK I need more of that."
"What was that?" asked my wife.
"Oh, nothing," I replied, ashamed my inner dialogue had leaked out... again.
In any event, it happily turns out I really did need more Buffalo Tom. Skins is a fine pop/rock album. It may not have been exactly what I was expecting based upon the tight Teenage Fanclub-esque "Thing" but the album delivers a boat load of memorable of slightly rootsy rock numbers which often evoke a Toad The Wet Sprocket quality.
"Arise, Watch" probably exemplifies the Toad qualities most explicitly. though the pretty "Don't Forget Me" and straight forward (and classy) "Here I Come" hail from the same zip code.
"Lost Weekend" is a great little rocker in a Blue Rodeo vein, while "Paper Knife" is a nice slice (see what I did there?) of John Hiatt style balladry. "The Kids Just Sleep" pops out late to give "She's Not Your Thing" a run for its money in the competition for best song on the album.
This is a solid album.
Grade: B+
Best band ever! You are 25 years late to the show, but better late than never on this one. Based on your review, it seems you would be wise to check out Chris Colbourn's side work with Hilken Mancini (c.2006).
ReplyDeleteYeah, they seemed to have come to prominence in the 90's at a time I turned a deaf ear to bands labelled "alternative." I was more interested at the time to bands like Greenberry Woods or The Vandalias. Its always good to find things eventually!
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