Skins

Produced by the band in their hometown of Boston, MA, and mixed by long-time friends Paul Q. Kolderie (who produced the band's breakout third album, 1992's ''Let Me Come Over'') and Tom Polce, ''Skins'' is the follow up to 2007's acclaimed ''Three Easy Pieces'', which brought Buffalo Tom back into the spotlight after a nine-year hiatus. ''Skins'' is the first release on the band's own Scrawny Records via a worldwide partnership with The Orchard, and features guest Tanya Donnelly of Belly, Breeders and Throwing Muses fame singing on the song ''Don't Forget Me.'' Besides the standard CD, this deluxe edition is available with mostly acoustic demos and b-sides, as well as a vinyl version with a download card featuring the additional songs. ''Skins'' is everything you want from a Buffalo Tom album - its rock pummels and its ballads ache -- and reminds you why they hold such a strong place in so many people's hearts, including Jon Stewart, who had the band play on the final airing of his late-night syndicated talk show in the late '90s. Still comprised of the original trio of Bill Janovitz (guitars and vocals), Chris Colbourn (bass and vocals) and Tom Maginnis (drums), the song writing is as sharp and poignant today as it ever was. From the signature interplay of Janovitz and Colbourn's vocals to the scorching guitars and rolling thunderous drum arrangements, few other bands have been able to master depth and sensitivity at such volumes.