Album Review: Skindred - Smile

I seem to have a hot and cold relationship with Skindred. Whereby, I’ll completely forget about them for a while only to be suddenly reminded of their existence as they put out another banger of a record. Well, their new album Smile, it seems to be that time again. A fiery, intensive album that hits the mark right on the bullseye. In fact, in the time it's taken for me to do this review, this album has already skyrocketed up the charts and won the hearts of many rock fans out there.

I, personally, found out about them with their 2011 album, Union Black I have tried to keep up to date with their music. However, I always seem to need to catch up to the fandom. So, will this album keep me around, well only time will tell at this point. For now, I can only tell you how I feel about this album after two weeks of playing it on and off.

I think Smile is a solid record bearing all of Skindred’s usual hallmarks. Funky reggae, check; hard-hitting riffs, check; ridiculously catchy chorus’ triple check. This album bubbles with life and keeps right on chugging to the finish line. Songs like "Gimme That Boom" and “Black Stars” serve as shining examples of how Skindred can bring the heavy.  Their use of those reggae rhythm patterns adds an extra little flavour and it’s been fascinating to hear how they’ve grown and adapted over the years to more common music trends. Like adding electronic funk sounds and lacing the tracks with synthetic elements to beef up the already beefy sound.  You also have to admire frontman, Benji Webbe. The guy just has the infectious energy, that consumes the album. When you listen to Benji sing you can just tell he’s having the best time. It makes me, as the listener, want to share that energy.

The album also has its softer side. In particular, place bam-smack in the midding of the album, the track “L.O.V.E. (Smile Please). A very humble and perfectly positive song that is there to share the love the band has and wants to share. The song feels loose and free and still has that carefully controlled rhythm that stays persistent. All while Webbe does his thing all over the track. A proper summer-anthem feeling tune. Another loose and free-feeling tune is “ State of the Union”. This one though, instead of a unifying anthem, has a biting cynicism to it. The biting lyrics and well-woven throughout the production.

I quite liked this record. Obviously, the people do too as it continues its tear up the UK charts. Skindred is one of those bands that could make an album where they singe the results of a Google search and I’m sure it would still sound interesting. The musicianship of this album is so intricate. Pugsley and Goggin’s rhythm work is undeniably amazing. Daniel Pugsley’s bass work sets a solid foundation but then you add Mikey Demus’ guitar work on top of that and you get a powerful, captivating sound.

I’m glad that this one is doing so well for them. I think Smile has to be one of the strongest rock records to have come out this year. Only time will tell if it stands up to the history books. For now, I think the band should be incredibly happy with this one.

Listen to Smile

YOUTUBE MUSIC | SPOTIFY