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Our dedicated team has collaborated with some of the leading names in the music industry. Whether it’s testing headphones or critiquing albums, our specialists strive to deliver reviews you can count on. Discover how we conduct our reviews.
It has been a full 25 years since Skunk Anansie broke boundaries as the last band of the past millennium to headline Glastonbury, capping off a sensational series of multi-platinum records and chart-topping hits. After an extensive hiatus filled with solo projects, the bold British pioneers of “Clit Rock” reformed in 2009. Unfortunately, their ongoing resurgence has thus far yielded just two somewhat uneven albums.
Skunk Anansie’s long-awaited first release in nine years, The Painful Truth, emerges in the midst of a challenging phase for the band. With changes in management and both bassist Cass Lewis and drummer Mark Richardson facing cancer treatments, life has taken on a newfound urgency. Standing still is not an option for their creative growth.
In pursuit of this goal, the band enlisted producer Dave Sitek, known for his work with the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Weezer, and Beyoncé. Sitek removed the band’s iconic heavy guitar-driven sound and thunderous drums, introducing a more electronic post-punk vibe, yielding largely favorable results. While their alternative rock essence remains, the over-the-top nu-metal elements have been toned down.
This bold approach is immediately evident in the striking opening track An Artist Is An Artist, a powerful spoken-word piece layered over energetic, Krautrock-inspired beats and sharp guitar. The lyrics assert that genuine artists stay vital and active regardless of age, critical backlash, or evolving trends. Skin declares, ‘They ain’t here for your pleasure, changing like the British weather!’ If any seasoned band required an energizing mid-career statement, it’s certainly this one.
Elsewhere, a stunning diversity prevails. In the trip-hop ballad Shame, Skin reflects on unresolved familial issues with a fragile yet powerful vibrato, before transitioning into a grand, soaring chorus. The deadpan disco track Fell In Love With A Girl explores the intriguing facets of a unique love triangle involving another woman and a ‘typical fuckboy’. Drawing inspiration from Dennis Bovell’s production style for The Slits, Sitek and the Skunks craft a lively dub-tinged punk-reggae celebration in Shoulda Been You.
While parts may seem sharp-edged and clunky, this album showcases Skunk Anansie’s most daring musical exploration to date, rich with poignant love songs, emotional piano ballads, and anthem-like expressions of desire. It’s rejuvenating to see these alternative icons return with such vibrant, adventurous, and heartfelt artistry.
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