This video features videos for all the singles that Skin have relased over the years, as well as concert footage and ‘a day in the life’, a short tour diary. As a bonus for the lads, the infamous LA auditions for the ‘House Of Love’ video are included.
Experience Electric
If you were under the impression that Skin were pinned in a corner and about to chuck in the towel, think again. It’s amazing that a band this popular can be without a major deal, but these leaner times seem only to have sharpened their hunger. This, Skin’s third album, makes their major label debut sound utterly ridiculous in comparison. Both Neville MacDonald’s mountainous vocals and Myke Gray’s pyrotechnic guitar displays are loaded with distortion, ensuring ‘Experience Electric’ is their most creative work to date.
Far from plodding ponderously along the road to nowhere, Skin have really reached out this time around, finding new pastures in which to play without losing touch with their roots. With drummer Dick Fliszar and bassist Andy Robbins supplying the firm rhythms behind him, Gray sets to work his strongest material yet. His days with Jagged Edge seem like 20 years ago. And despite the merest hint of Jimi Hendrix, ‘Experience Electric’ sounds far more contemporary and fleet of foot than any previous effort.
The album opens with the title track, a surprising rush of adrenaline devoid of the slightly predictable hooks Skin were perhaps once guilty of. MacDonald sings with his customary lung power, but envelopes it in poise and purpose. ‘Blow My Mind’ – embarrassingly miss titled ‘Blow My Wind’ on the Japanese release – is a boisterous crowd pleaser, while ‘Shine Like Diamonds’ is already a live favourite. Skin can still pack gigs with genuine fans, a fact that the media have mostly chosen to ignore.
Check out the ever-changing ‘Soul’ or the rip-roaring ‘The Only One’ as examples of Skin ’97 at their best. The former is certainly ambitious, twisting and turning in spirals of melody, but as unpredictable as it gets. The latter boasts a rocket of a chorus that manages to be both memorable and unexpected. A few tracks lack such distinction, but the band may have done enough to please their loyal fanbase and, with luck, interest a wider field.
Skin haven’t changed. They’ve just had a facelift.
Rating – KKKK
– Steve Beebee
Copyright EMAP Metro, 1997
Mission Statement
SKIN didn’t get all the chances they deserved, cracking into an industry that didn’t have the volition to give music artists…regardless of musical diversity…a chance to let themselves be heard. There was never enough time for them ‘cos they weren’t the Spice Girls or Boyzone. Well now that’s all water under the bridge…the members of SKIN have moved onto greener pastures. Some of the guys are still about, and can be heard in many projects…others have retired from life on the road to a more normal existence.
The void left in our lives as a result can never be truly filled, but we’ll always live in hope that one day, SKIN will rise again. But the music plays on…and on and on. Good music will never die and this band was a testament to that.
This website is a tribute to a group of musicians who did their own thing till it nearly killed ‘em. The fans will always know that and that’s why you’ll only hear of admiration and respect of the guys on the web board. So take a look around, download some songs or watch some videos…have a chat with us. There’s always someone around and it doesn’t matter what the topic of conversation is…the mere fact that you have reached this site in search of Skin means you’re already a friend in our hearts.
Peace,
John & the Skin Archive Family
CD Availability
The most common email we get at Skindex Central is “How can I get hold of Skin/Lucky/Fan Club Only releases”. Unfortunately there is no real good answer for that at the moment as the Parlophone albums were deleted when Skin were dropped from the label.
In many cases, the best avenue for sourcing these CDs is either Record Fairs or Ebay. Rareties can be picked up sometimes by members of the Forum (I know I grab any Skin albums whenever I find them) so try posting a request.
10 Years On…A New Site!
Has it really been 10 years? 10 years since that fateful night at the London Astoria 2? 10 years since Skin took a bow for the last time? It has…
And what better way to say “Hey! Skin still rock!” than to reboot the Skin Archive and give it a facelift. Over the years, the Skindex has been reduced to mere web forum, and the stalwarts have persevered (God bless ’em). But I felt it was time to restore the balance. Over the next few weeks I will hopefully have all the old skinfreak and skindex content back up, including the fans stories and the Skin Family Tree.
And for that, I need you dear readers. If you have a special Skin story, post it to the forum. Better still, if you have any Skin related material knocking about, let me know. I want to get as much stuff on here as possible so send your images and clippings.
Thanks to everyone who’s contributed over the past decade to the Skin website!
John
General Skinfreak