REVIEW

Music Review: Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails, Red Wine

Written by Janine Macdonald
Published May 28, 2007

Eskimo Joe are back with their latest album and if you haven’t fallen in love with them already then this surely is the album to do it. If it doesn’t, this band is not for you.


One thing, fans of the band will notice immediately is the shift in sound. While their last album came off as almost too pop, this album has a darker sound to it. Many people have already cast impressions that some tracks such as "Black Fingernails, Red Wine" and "Beating Like A Drum" have shades of Michael Hutchence to it. Granted, there is an almost eerie alikeness to a few of the tracks to the sound that was Hutchence, but I think that is where it ends.


The only thing their Bassist and songwriter, Kav Temperley, could say about their resemblance was that when writing the album they wanted to make the album with the concept that they were a stadium rock band and asked themselves what types of songs would INXS write. The theme from the album seems to be dark, haunting, and moody and definitely shows a more mature sound for Eskimo Joe. The lyrics are well written, and the album well arranged with an underlining maturity that will help the band attack the US market in force.


The band's scope on themes has also widened greatly since their last albums and again it shows the maturity of the band as they now take on world issues. "London Bombing" indeed shows how far the band has come. At one time, they struggled with the idea of an old man’s clothes with their dorky song, "Sweater".  I guess in this sophomoric album the band has realized to make it they need to grow up and their new approach is definitely one for the better.

Songs not to miss: the haunting "New York", "Sarah", "Black Fingernails Red Wine", and "Beating Like A Drum".

I give it 4/5

Record Label: Mushroom
Year: 2006
Track listing:
01. Comfort You
02. New York
03. Black Fingernails, Red Wine
04. Breaking Up
05. Setting Sun
06. London Bombs
07. Sarah
08. This Is Pressure
09. Beating Like A Drum
10. Reprise
11. Suicide Girl
12. How Does It Feel

Janine is a freelance music Journalist, who has written for several different magazines, and websites including faster louder, and xwiredonline.
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Music Review: Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails, Red Wine
Published: May 28, 2007
Type: Review
Section: Music
Filed Under: Music: Rock
Writer: Janine Macdonald
Janine Macdonald's BC Writer page
Janine Macdonald's personal site
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