Skinny Knowledge – ‘Don’t Turn Out The Lights’

Self released on 5th March 2021, Skinny Knowledge now offer their new 14 track album, ‘Don’t Turn Out The Lights’.

Don’t Turn Out The Lights – Huge riff intro, with a very Foo Fighters-esque sound. High vibes and gritty vocals lead the way. Touches of sentiment add a poignancy and the pace increases. Good rhythmic drumming. A little too sentimental, perhaps, but it does have an anthemic streak. Just a bit too soft rock for some tastes.

Imagination – Pluckier riffs and a slightly stronger tone to the opening vocals, but it’s a very similar sound. It’s very musically proficient and the feeling’s definitely audible. Quite pop rock, in its emphasis. Well structured. Quite a light track and again, it’s very Foo Fighters-esque. The drums are clear and it’s consistently cohesive, throughout. The beats are driven and the sound values effective.

Alive – A bit more of a blues twang to this. A lot of alt rock feel going on here. It’s a fun, light-hearted vibe, with a bubblegum rock essence. Upbeat enough to strike a chord with generic rock audiences. Just much more of a soft rock sense to it. Very decent riffs and again, it all gels together well. Production, tip top. It just doesn’t really connect with hard rock sensibilities.

King Of Nothing – That was a swift change of mood. Something of a toppling sensation to the structure. Still light, but with a passion born of darker things. Not that different, in essence, but it’s a good performance, once more.

Keep Me Out Of It – This, again, opens with a very similar, Foo Fighters-esque sound. Can’t fault the rhythm, timing or delivery. It’s a little Rembrandts-esque now. Keeping a soft alt rock format going, as before, the audio’s spot on. Just can’t get excited about it. It’s got a teen rock feel about it.

Not Coming Down – Very slightly funkier vibe to this intro, but it’s very similar, again. Just quite generic, with a slight punky, Green Day-esque vein happening. It’s really the rolling beats that work well for these guys and the consistent sound levels are flawless. It’s just not for harder rock crowds.

Getaway – A little bit heavier. It moves well, with a natural ease to the flow. Instrumentally adept. It’ll work well for the mainstream light alt rock fans. It’s still very Foo Fighters-esque, throughout and the musical craftsmanship’s impressive, with clear chemistry. Just not a very original sound.

Sayonara – More measured drum intro, opening onto a spaced out, mid-paced rhythm. Good use of the quiet/loud phenomenon. It has got a strong beat and the vocals don’t err or struggle, at all. A little variation in the pace, towards the end, serving it well and the whole package is there. Just doesn’t stir any emotions.

Wheel Of Love – Ballad, introing in the standard way, for a ballad. Yes, it’s honest and beautiful sentiment, but it just leaves the rock world behind, in favour of pop sensibilities, which just doesn’t work for something presented as rock. That’s not to criticise the delivery of the very real passion, at all, though. It’s obviously a very personal track, with a lot of emotion behind it. Nothing can detract from that. It’s just much more pop ballad than rock ballad. Having said that, it’s a very tough sound to conquer, which only very few truly achieve, so kudos for trying and for the still very decent musicianship.

This Time – That’s better! More Green Day, ‘Basket Case’-esque. Hitting the flatter notes easily. Fast-paced number. Still some great drum fills in there, fitting well with the whole structure and rhythmically holding it together well. Effectively placed bass line, just past the mid-section. Speeding it back up, again, it’s got an undeniable kick to it.

Make A Change – Introing with a bit of plucky stop start vocalisation. The drums do a very decent job again. It does gel together very effectively. The beats are really central to the whole melody, working unarguably well, instrumentally. Even a Beatles-esque sense to the sound. Always a good thing, inspirationally speaking.

Take The Blame – Taking the mood back up again, with that soft alt rock intro. Once more, it’s very resonant of the Rembrandts. It’s just that there’s very little to mark it out from other tracks. Quick, upbeat outro.

Heavy Metal Interlude – Ah, that’s more like it! My metal senses just breathed a sigh of relief). Fast-paced speed riffs, chased by battering drums, connected by a great arrangement. ARGH, it’s over!

Stand Alone – Back to the emotional melancholia. Drat it. Those vocals are definitely very believable and he really does give it his all. The conviction level’s not in question. Or the beats of the rhythm. It just moves back into that samey, generic pop/alt rock derivative sound. These guys are certainly talented musicians and they do pour their whole being into it. The sound just fits much more into softer/alt/pop rock arenas.

Overall – A well produced and performed album, with seamlessly consistent delivery, throughout, ‘DTOTL’ is undeniably proficient. It does fall down, however, in the originality stakes. A very derivative, mainstream sound, it’s lacking in USP’s and in general memorability, with too much melancholy sentiment to maintain listenability. Expression’s good, but it needs rocking up and diversifying from the norm.

6/10 ******

For fans of The Virginmary’s, The Foo Fighters, The Beatles, Oasis, The Kooks, The Rembrandts, Green Day, Wheatus.

http://www.stampedepress.co.uk

Skinny Knowledge – Don’t Turn Out The Lights