The Skinner Brothers - Soul Boy II (Blaggers 
Records)
Release Date: Out Now
So I'm relatively late to the phenomenon that is The Skinner Brothers but, as the saying goes, better late than never, eh? 'Soul Boy II' kicks off with the blissed out indie of 'Mountain High' which feels like you've wondered in to a living room in the middle day to find everyone stoned and giggling at daytime game shows. Things kick off on recent single 'Put Me Down As A Maybe', however, as the swagger and attitude kicks up a couple of gears with snarling guitars and the kind of gang mentality that we've been missing from music for a while now [side note, the music industry's obsession with solo artists misses the point when it comes to the kind of music that is about inclusivity and being part of something bigger].
'M.O.R.E.' creeps in like the Police before slowly growing in to something akin to early Kasabian with moody melodies and a loose but menacing beat. On 'Low' there's a glam rock vibe that is hard to resist while the acoustic tones of 'Away Days' bring a sense of nostalgia and peace to proceedings. There is a sheer indie thrill to '1000 Reasons Why' which could easily be a lost early Arctic Monkeys track and 'Told You So' continues the energy but with perhaps a more Razorlight sense of performance and swagger.
'Culture Non-Stop' keeps the party going with Alex Turner's spirit lurking in the background while 'Give It All Me' sounds like Jamie T fronting Reef. With 'Iconic', the Skinner Brothers have created an indie anthem that Kasabian would be jealous of but 'Stupid Much?' has a more laid back vibe that feels like the Streets going all ballady on us. The album proper closes out on 'Way Too Far' which might be my favourite because it has a laid back bass line and fraught guitars that clash in the most fantastic way. We are then treated to a bonus track which is another version of 'Stupid Much?' which features the vocal talents of Teef adding another dimension to the track. This is an album bristling with energy, ideas, potential and a hint of early summer which might be just what we all need right now.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/theskinnerbrothers/
Live Dates:
MARCH - HEADLINE TOUR
4th - Preston, The Ferret
5th - Norwich, Waterfront
6th - Brighton, Green Door Store
8th - Exeter, Cavern Club
9th - Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
10th - Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
12th - Nottingham, Bodega
13th - Newcastle, Think Tank?
14th - Glasgow, King Tut’s
15th - Manchester, Deaf Institute
17th - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
18th - Stoke, Sugarmill
20th - Tunbridge Wells, Forum
22nd - Bristol, Thekla
23rd - Leicester, Firebug
24th - Liverpool, Jimmy’s
26th - Bedford, Esquires
28th - Guildford, Boileroom
29th - Oxford, Bullingdon Arms
30th - London, O2 Academy Islington
JUNE
2nd - Leeds, Temple Newsam Park (guests to The Music)