Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Let me explain this...", July 25, 2008
The sixth track on this album, "Out In The Woods," begins as a twisted alliance between super-distorted electric guitar and acoustic slide...with Buddy informing us that he has wolf blood in his veins...and it crawls along at a slow, deadly simmer until he proclaims "LET ME EXPLAIN THIS"...
Then it's Buddy in full Kingsnake mode, claiming the throne, smacking down the contenders.
With John Lee and Muddy gone, Buddy is the last of a dying breed. This is raw, brutal, dangerous music. The Silvertone releases, with the possible exception of Heavy Love, have been extremely rewarding. "Skin Deep" is the heaviest album since Sweet Tea, and it can be appreciated on a number of levels. First, there's no shortage of guitar. Second, the vocals are attitude-filled and emotive. Finally, Buddy just HITS it from the first note and doesn't let up. There's no filler, no weak tracks, no throwaways. You get a few changes in tempo for variety but this is the guy who walked out on the Rolling Stones' stage in Shine a Light and reminded them of how it's DONE. As Mick Jagger said, "Buddy **********ing Guy."
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Buddy Sounds Vibrant and Refreshed, July 24, 2008
In my opinion, Buddy's last Silvertone release, "Bring 'em In," suffered from guest stars that overshadowed the affair, making Buddy sound like second fiddle on his own record. While there's still guest stars aplenty on "Skin Deep," Buddy sounds a lot more in control of his own rodeo, and the guest stars definitely sound like they are here to support Buddy, and not the other way around.
Sonically, "Skin Deep" does indeed have a clean and mondern sound, which may disappoint some looking for a down 'n' dirty blues album. Buddy's guitar is still dirty and gritty, though, and it's pushed to the forefront in all its nasty glory.
This album is being hyped as Buddy's first release with all-orignal tunes. That being said, there are a few throwaway songs that don't bring much depth to the proceedings ("Hammer and a Nail," "Smell the Funk"), but there was bound to be a little filler. Buddy does deliver the goods on every tune, however. He even delivers on the title tune, which can only be considered adult contemporary schmaltz. It's a hammy anti-racism tune, but Buddy delivers the lines with conviction and turns in a fine performance.
At 72, people might be expecting Buddy to have lost a step or two, but his guitar is still capable of peeling paint off of the walls, and his terrific singing voice has barely aged a day. In fact, Buddy sounds as energized and vibrant as I've heard him in some time. He sang "Done Got Old" several years ago, but now, he seems more content to throw away his Geritol, crank his amp to 10, and let the good times roll.
The songs themselves are mostly strong, with the occasional filler tune, like I already mentioned. This isn't exactly the "Buddy returning to his roots" record that has been promised before, but there is some straight-ahead blues to be found here, such as on "Lyin' Like a Dog," "Out in the Woods," (complete with tasty acoustic slide guitar) and "Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes." The rest of the tunes have soul, R&B and rock elements to them, but not in such heavy doses that you'll ever forget you're listening to a Buddy Guy album.
All in all, "Skin Deep" is a really fun listen. Buddy's singing and playing are in fine form, and he delivers great performances throughout. While some of the tunes certainly won't stand up to his legendary back catalog, Buddy just sounds like he's having too darn much fun for me to give this album a lower rating.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Moments Only, August 19, 2008
Buddy Guy remains one of the few artists that I actually track CD release dates. Silvertone has done wonders for his well deserved career creating some of the best music regardless of preference for blues or guitar rock.
The first half of this CD is terrific, especially the first two tracks- a classic, paint peeling Buddy jam followed by a great ensemble with Trucks and Tedeschi. My interest faded over the second half of the disc and I started to wonder where my copies of Sweet Tea, Slippin' In and Feels Like Rain had gone. Good but not great.
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by Buddy Guy 
