When I first popped in this CD, I panicked a little: “Oh no,” I thought, “metal! A genre in which I have little knowledge and less interest.” I’m always afraid of reviewing albums in genres I’m ignorant of, for fear of not making any sense or doing anyone any good. I bet at least one person will laugh at me for even calling them “metal.” So maybe I’m crazy when I say this, but Skintones kind of sounds to me like a bunch of hardcore punk kids who grew up listening to ‘80s metal and like to work the Cookie Monster vocals. Take that as you will. I did kind of dig “Down South,” but maybe that’s just the country fan in me responding to the banjo and harmonica. –Sarah Shay
–guest (Crustacean)