sunburnt

Paranoid and Sunburnt
$11.98
It does take blood and guts to be this cool, but Skunk Anansie surely aren't a cliche. In fact, they were probably one of the best British acts of the 90s, and quite possibly one of my favorite artists period. The band formed in 1994, just one year before they were signed to One Little Indian/Epic and released their '95 debut, and the fact that they got their act together so quickly and at such a young age wrote one of the best albums of that year astounds me.

Skunk Anansie (who sadly disbanded in 2001) were originally comprised of vocalist Skin, guitarist Ace, and bassist Cass. Mark Richardson, currently in Feeder, would become the band's drummer later on. Nothing quite like Skunk existed at this time - few multiracial, aggro-rock bands could be found aside from Rage Against the Machine, and the British music scene, populated by such silliness as the Spice Girls, wasn't exactly in its healthiest state. Many credit such bands as Radiohead and Placebo as singlehandedly keeping British music alive throughout the nineties; however, Skunk Anansie in my opinion offered the biggest wake-up call.

The black, bald, British woman Skin (who Sevendust fans are likely to recognize *hint hint*) and her soulful voice (not to mention funky attitude) were the heart of SA's music, and gave the band an extra edge that would even attract the attention of Icelandic diva Bjork, who personally requested the band to perform an alternate version of her song "Army of Me" which can be found on that particular single (the band also performed the song live with Bjork shortly afterwards). Skin's lyrics can be summed up as emotive, clever and expressive, but her voice is the band's biggest highlight. Accompanied by Ace's near-grungy guitars and Cass's bass rhythms, Skin can belt her demons out in heavy rockers "Selling Jesus" and "Little Baby Swastikkka" as well as tenderly coo out the chorus to the more up-tempo ballads "Charity" and "Weak." She's definitely the best black female singer I have ever heard, and could outsing Whitney Houston anyday. Furthermore, there are songs like the driving "I Can Dream" and upbeat closer "Rise Up" that make me wonder why this band never got the same exposure in America as they did in Britain.

After this album, the band would go on to make two more, 1996's Stoosh and 1999's Post Orgasmic Chill, the latter being my favorite of the band's works, as well as tour with such bands as Lenny Kravitz, Bad Religion, Soulfly, OOMPH! and Sevendust. There would eventually be a peaceful split in 2001, and Skin would move on to a solo career (her most recent album being released this past February), while Ace would work on music of his own and Mark would join the band Feeder. Still, I hope that Skunk reunite in the future, as they were easily one of the best bands of their time - not to mention they still are.

My Hippopotamus is on the Caravan Roof Getting Sunburnt
$12.00

Paranoid and Sunburnt
$26.99
It does take blood and guts to be this cool, but Skunk Anansie surely aren't a cliche. In fact, they were probably one of the best British acts of the 90s, and quite possibly one of my favorite artists period. The band formed in 1994, just one year before they were signed to One Little Indian/Epic and released their '95 debut, and the fact that they got their act together so quickly and at such a young age wrote one of the best albums of that year astounds me.

Skunk Anansie (who sadly disbanded in 2001) were originally comprised of vocalist Skin, guitarist Ace, and bassist Cass. Mark Richardson, currently in Feeder, would become the band's drummer later on. Nothing quite like Skunk existed at this time - few multiracial, aggro-rock bands could be found aside from Rage Against the Machine, and the British music scene, populated by such silliness as the Spice Girls, wasn't exactly in its healthiest state. Many credit such bands as Radiohead and Placebo as singlehandedly keeping British music alive throughout the nineties; however, Skunk Anansie in my opinion offered the biggest wake-up call.

The black, bald, British woman Skin (who Sevendust fans are likely to recognize *hint hint*) and her soulful voice (not to mention funky attitude) were the heart of SA's music, and gave the band an extra edge that would even attract the attention of Icelandic diva Bjork, who personally requested the band to perform an alternate version of her song "Army of Me" which can be found on that particular single (the band also performed the song live with Bjork shortly afterwards). Skin's lyrics can be summed up as emotive, clever and expressive, but her voice is the band's biggest highlight. Accompanied by Ace's near-grungy guitars and Cass's bass rhythms, Skin can belt her demons out in heavy rockers "Selling Jesus" and "Little Baby Swastikkka" as well as tenderly coo out the chorus to the more up-tempo ballads "Charity" and "Weak." She's definitely the best black female singer I have ever heard, and could outsing Whitney Houston anyday. Furthermore, there are songs like the driving "I Can Dream" and upbeat closer "Rise Up" that make me wonder why this band never got the same exposure in America as they did in Britain.

After this album, the band would go on to make two more, 1996's Stoosh and 1999's Post Orgasmic Chill, the latter being my favorite of the band's works, as well as tour with such bands as Lenny Kravitz, Bad Religion, Soulfly, OOMPH! and Sevendust. There would eventually be a peaceful split in 2001, and Skin would move on to a solo career (her most recent album being released this past February), while Ace would work on music of his own and Mark would join the band Feeder. Still, I hope that Skunk reunite in the future, as they were easily one of the best bands of their time - not to mention they still are.

Jennifer
$0.89