Skittish / Rockity Roll

Mike Doughty | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 7, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Ato Records
• ASIN: B0006FO8SO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,815 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Miscellaneous > Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews > Poetry
  • #47 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Lo-Fi

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As the lead singer and songwriting force behind Soul Coughing, M. Doughty combined a slam poetry, ironic sensibility with jam band-ish, arty Downtown grooves. That group was an apex of smart stoner rock. Since the mid ‘90s Doughty has gone it alone, and his first release for ATO combines two self-released solo recordings that flirt with the sublime. Recorded in a single day in 1996, Skittish nicely replicates his solo performances, minus witty banter. "Real Love/ It’s Only Life" collapses a Mary J. Blige song into a Feelies tune, so of course it’s perfect pop. The 2003 EP Rockity Roll is just as stripped-down as Skittish, but electronic drums and keyboards dominate the mix. Mike has become a beautifully mournful, smart-ass singer-songwriter in the vein of Richard Thompson. Doughty’s voice is a tightly controlled, slightly nasal croon that sounds like he learned to sing by listening to trumpet solos off old bebop records. Rejecting the term "folk" for what he does, Doughty prefers his own phrase, "small rock." Surely, it’s more restrained, slower and less flashy than Soul Coughing. It’s also much better. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nicely Skittish, April 12, 2005

By 

Ouija (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Skittish / Rockity Roll (Audio CD)

Whether you're a Soul Coughing fan or not (I'm not), you need to own Mike Doughty's solo CD (actually two CDs), called Skittish/Rockity Roll. He's the former leader of the aforementioned group, which disbanded in ugly fashion a few years back.

Doughty recorded Skittish in 1996. As the time, he'd wanted to do some acoustic stuff, which didn't fit in with what Soul Coughing was doing. They hated it. So Doughty recorded the CD on his own, submitted it to SC's record label, and was promptly rejected. But some of the songs ended up on Napster anyway, and Doughty's fans were eating it up big time. So he burned a pile of Skittish CDs at home and sold them when he hit the road for a solo tour.

Rockity Roll, recorded in 2003, is a mix of acoustic, lo-fi, outtakes from Skittish, and some live songs (recorded in 2004). I think this is the stronger of the two CDs.

I was never a Soul Coughing fan, but I love Doughty's solo work. His guitar style is folksy, but cool, and his lyrics are intelligent, telling and strong. Doughty's casual style is part of his appeal - unassuming, yet obviously enjoying the ride.

I don't think anyone would be disappointed with this set, which costs a bit less than you'd pay for a regular CD. If you're skeptical, at least give a listen to "Move On," which is a low-key protest song from a guy who might believe the war is wrong, but still loves his country. If you like it, and you will, watch for the upcoming release by Mike Doughty's Band (yeah, that's the name of the band), which will be released sometime in mid spring on Dave Matthews' ATO Records. Yes, Dave is a big fan. You will be too.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching acoustic with a hint of electronic drums & keyboard, March 6, 2005

By 

Joel B. Carter "sco0bydont" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skittish / Rockity Roll (Audio CD)

So when I first heard this album I was so exited because this is the direction that I had hoped Soul Coughing (Mike's past band) would pursue ever since the first time I heard the song "Circles". Then as I gave it some more listens I realized that I was stupid for having ever thought that. Soul Coughing was an extremely innovative and inspired band, and Mr. Doughty was much the culprit of that. What Doughty does on this album is amazing. The hasty guitar riffs will have you setting the cd player on repeat, the intricate picking helps to set the stage for him to pluck at every emotion you have, and the poetic lyrics will have you comparing every relationship you've ever had to one of his songs. I'm ecstatic Mike Doughty came out with Skittish/Rockity Roll to scratch my acoustic itch, and I'm glad Soul Coughing stayed the course and made exactly the music they did. Pick up Skittish/Rockity Roll. Pick up Soul Coughing's El Oso. Enjoy each for the amazing needle they are in they haystack of mundane music out there.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Because I can only give it 5 stars--, December 8, 2004

By 

Ranj the Obscure (Kansas City, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skittish / Rockity Roll (Audio CD)

I have to somehow top that.
So you were like me probably, and Soul Coughing
filled a unique place in your ears.

Soul Coughing was like no one, and no one, even trying,
was like Soul Coughing. In 2000, I had a stroke and two bonus heartattacks on the same day-- and Soul Coughing broke up.
I am still trying to figure out which did the most damage to my psyche.

I kept hearing how incredible MD's new stuff was on tour. So I pre-ordered it and got it today I have listened to it all day.I am not tired of it at all.

If Michael isn't most gifted lyricist living, we got a beef. Sure, I can hear some echoes of his favorite riffs, but his stuff has evolved into a new ecological niche. It is tantamount to perfect with the unplugged sound and his playing is tasty. More importantly, his lyrics just soar.

It would take me about 300 more words apiece to begin to review these monsters. Just take my word for it, if this stuff doesn't steer you into oncoming traffic, you have the cdplayer turned off.

Back to my earlier point-- Soul Coughing did not split into one unique guy and the 3 dwarves. They went seperate, unique directions. Mr. Doughty, like all great writers, shows us exactly where he went, even though many of us would not voluntarily go there, or stay there as long with our eyes open as he did.
But if you have been down there, or someplace in the same zip code, it helps to hear it so well stated.

You did it Mike, you put a big-ass bandaid on my soul.
I now find myself loving the spot where Soul Coughing was missing. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the pride of Basehor Kansas, my old neighbor Michael Doughty!!!