Skin Deep

Buddy Guy

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 22, 2008)
• Original Release Date: July 22, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Zomba
• ASIN: B001870MES
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,078 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #3 in	Music > Blues > Modern Blues
  #5 in	Music > Blues > Chicago Blues
  #7 in	Music > Blues > Regional Blues

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It’s erroneous to characterize this 2008 Buddy Guy release, his first in three years, as a comeback, since he’s never been gone. But between a spotlight stealing performance in Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones concert flick Shine a Light in the same year and the appearance of Skin Deep, Guy has returned to the crossover arena as the magnetic and dynamic blues journeyman he has always been. Drop the laser anywhere on these dozen tunes, all but five authored or co-penned by the Chicago guitarist, and it’s like a blast of hot wind in the face. Even with drummer Tom Hambrige’s somewhat slick production, Guy is in your face, spitting out words with strutting swagger and peeling off molten licks that leave smoldering scars. Guests such as Derek Trucks and Eric Clapton seem like an afterthought, yet the former’s sensitive slide work on the titular ballad brings a crying gospel quality to the song. Trucks’ wife, Susan Tedeschi, makes a vibrant vocal foil on the mid-tempo "Too Many Tears," an obvious single. Roots guitar fans will thrill at the six-string intensity of the ferocious slow blues "Out in the Woods" where Guy unleashes torrents of raw sound that make this disc so consistently riveting and a highlight in the legend’s extensive catalog. --Hal Horowitz

Product Description
Skin Deep is the 2008 release by Buddy Guy. The album features The Memphis Horns, Willie Mitchell,Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph and Quinn Sullivan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Let me explain this...", July 25, 2008

By	Mike (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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."

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buddy Sounds Vibrant and Refreshed, July 24, 2008

By	John Kellogg (Greeley, CO. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plangent chords possessed by the ghosts of John Lee Hooker, August 6, 2008

By	R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

You want some strong blues by the best players around, this is your CD. Guy plays some funky hard guitar here and he's got Robert Randolph (who some say is the next Jimi Hendrix) and Eric Clapton right up there playing with him. And if you want some serious gritty female vocals, there's always Susan Tedeschi.

I usually mention a couple of favorites. So far, "Out in the Woods" is the song that's gotten the most repeats. Think New Orleans bayou on a full moon night with the loup garous howling. This is one where Randolph plays, and the guitars are just howling.

"Best Damn Fool," which is the CD opener, epitomizes the blues sentiment.

Guy and Tedeschi were intended to sing together. Just listen to the two of them on "Too Many Tears."

I have a feeling this one's not going to get out of my CD player for a long time. My prediction is "Skin Deep" is going to be one of the best albums of 2008.

Rebecca Kyle, August 2008