Album Review: Skin by Melissa Etheridge

Album Name: Skin
Artist: Melissa Etheridge
Year/Label: 2001 / Uni/Island

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Review by Anne Deming

I’ve always been a huge fan of Melissa Ethridge; she’s one of those musical geniuses I feel compelled to place on an artistic pedestal to worship for the duration of my existence here on earth, but sadly…she has fallen off. SKIN was released on July 10th and I had it blaring wildly in my car disc changer not 36 hours later.

My initial response was happiness because I felt the familiar, yet far from repetitious, acoustic rock rhythms flying through the air… but then she started to sing. The dark and eloquently sensual side of her songwriting is blatantly absent from her recent release. The songs are littered with self-pity and sadness minus the poetry that can convince a listener to empathize with an artist.

She seems stuck in a certain phraseology, mixing promising songs with pedestrian thoughts and tiresome cliches.

There is, however, a glorious piece of music on the album called “The Different” which is so far from the expected that it’s hard to match the sound with the voice sneaking through the speakers. Melissa seems to achieve what the album could, and should, have been with “The Different” by melding vocal effects, electronic drums and funky strumming into a classic, yet innovative sound.

Unfortunately, the rest of the CD offers only a glimpse of the powerhouse vocals, meticulous guitar work and lyrical beauty I have come to expect from a true artist.

Posted on July 16, 2001

Track Listing
Listen to track samples
1. Lover Please
2. The Prison
3. Walking On Water
4. Down To One
5. Goodnight
6. It’s Only Me
7. I Want To Be In Love
8. Please Forgive Me
9. The Different
10. Heal Me

[Melissa Etheridge Official Site]

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Comments:

Rating: 5 Stars
Comment: I am 37 years old I love Ethridge music.Iris is my name I work at daycare. I live in Manitoba ,Canada BRRRR… waiting for spring.I have two yong adults living with me Tylor age 15,and Luanne age19 ,I am blessed .
By Iris flett on Thursday, February 17, 2005

Rating: 5 Stars
I absolutley love Melissa. She has a way of really connecting. I think she knows just how to put the words together, and I definatley can relate to her music, and this album especially. Not to add, that her voice is absolutley amazing. She can really lift me up when I am down throughout her CD Skin. I wish everyone could hear Melissa, instead of judging her over her sexuality. Melissa, you ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amanda Lorenz on Friday, June 11, 2004

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