Stoosh

by

Skunk Anansie

Edit

I own two Skunk Anansie albums. This, and their last one, Post Orgasmic Chill. I only heard of this band shortly after they had already broken up in 2001. However, I only started getting into them a few months ago. For some odd reason, they never had a decent-sized fanbase in the US, and that is a shame, considering all the sh*tty Limp Bizkit cds that sell so much these days. Skunk is, er, was a band with real talent. They molded a unique sound, blending psychedelic rock with the occasional heavy metal, and even some pop-rock to complete the mix. But unlike the recent slump of pop-rock chart-toppers (*cough* Nickelback), Skunk blended these elements perfectly, and made it seem so easy. Out of the two albums I do own, I think POC is just slightly better, only because some of the songs on Stoosh are just a wee bit repetitive, but I also think that this record does a better job of capturing emotions than Post does. Whereas Post has way too many mood swings, Stoosh on the other hand keeps it under control. Almost every song on here is great, with the exception of "Yes It's F*cking Political". It starts off promising, with some nice guitar work that sounds not unlike Rage Against the Machine, but Skin tries to get experimental with her voice and it doesn't sound good at all, if you ask me.

Every other song, however, is good in its own right, with "Hedonism" possibly being the strongest. That song is beautiful, from the somewhat sad lyrics, to the soulful chorus. "Milk Is My Sugar" is a nice, Black Sabbath-like opener that sets a pace for the album. "All I Want" is a nice mid-tempo song, and "Twisted (Everyday Hurts)" offers a great drum beat with some slightly distorted bass. But, my favorite song just might be "We Love Your Apathy". That song just bathes in utter brilliance; it's a catchy, upbeat tune that really left an impression since the first time I listened to it.

So, if you, like me, are tired of talentless crap like Puddle of Mudd and Linkin Park, and yet not satisfied with death metal, then SA is the perfect band for you. Note that this is not an easy band to get a hold of, and that this album does indeed contain a Parental Advisory label, so if cussing doesn't appeal to you then don't buy it. But if you plan on getting into this band, Stoosh is an excellent place to start.