Skittish

Tragedy of the Commons

(self-released)

Record Review by Amber Henson

Skittish are actually well described by their name.  After listening to the first couple of tracks, I was ready to hail them as musical geniuses, but then, all of sudden, things became very different.  The songs were full of angst, or kind of silly, or like listening to a modern day waltz.  I couldn’t figure out what was going on until I remembered that genius is usually accompanied by a touch of crazy, and Skittish are no exception to that rule.

It’s good crazy, though.  I think I’ve mentioned that I’m a sucker for hearing a smile in the singer’s voice, and this happens a lot on Tragedy of the Commons, although it comes across best in the second track, “Carousel.”  This song also gives us a preview for the later tracks on the album that give off a slight childish sound to them, with a melody that is better attuned to Greg and Steve (if you’re a parent of a young child, you’ll get that).  There’s also a Brunettes quality to “Carousel” in its happy-go-lucky music and lyrics such as “She punches me in the stomach with her smile.

After “Carousel” is “Million Grey,” which is in the vein of Interpol.  It’s much darker, and you say to yourself, “My God, this band can do it all!”  The lyrics are clever and sung with such seriousness—what’s next?

Hmm, well, here’s where things get a little cuckoo.  Skittish seem to start this stage of the album with a Weird Al impression.  “Ugly on the Inside” is eerily reminiscent of something off of Bad Hair Day, with lyrics like “I’m only ugly where it counts [on the inside]”.  Then, a couple of songs later, lead singer Jeff Noller turns into a male Fiona Apple with a whiny emo ballad on acoustic guitar.  Talk about confused.

But the album comes back to its senses with “The Phantom’s Toast,” and if you don’t take Skittish too seriously, then you’ve got yourself one hell of a band.