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Rating:
Second and last work for the band from Spokane, created in June 2001 with a lineup change that saw the departure of rhythm guitarist Craig Johnson in favor of Alessandro Cortini, who, after the band's breakup, would make a great impression on Mr. Trent Reznor, enough to recruit him permanently in his Nine Inch Nails.
The album was not very successful in sales, partly due to the poor publicity from the record company, with which they severed the contract in 2002 and decided to attempt different paths.
As is well known, the leader Myles Kennedy, having supported a tour of the Creed, took over the position after Scott Stapp left, renaming the group Alter Bridge and releasing two well-crafted albums such as "One Day Remains" and the very recent "Blackbird."
"Second Skin" is more hard rock, but less incisive than the previous "Fallout," which had the merit of blending typically Zeppelin-like sounds with the intimacy and depth of artists like Jeff Buckley. The guitars sound dirtier and gain more power compared to the beginnings, the singer uses some vocal effects to further enhance his already remarkable skills, as heard in the first track, "Sick and Wrong," also supported by the new entry Cortini on backing vocals.
Echoes of Alice in Chains, musically speaking, can be heard in "Loose Cannon," the guitar riff reminiscent of "Dam That River," while the voice, filtered and with a "megaphone effect," at times resembles Scott Weiland's. Typical stars-and-stripes hard rock tracks alternate like "High," "Backslide," "Flatley’s Crutch," with electro/acoustic ballads, "Eden," "Carry on," to twilight and dark tracks like the beautiful "White Flag."
"Summergirl," closing, just voice and guitar in the first part, amazes with its resemblance both vocally and structurally to Jeff Buckley's compositions, where, in the final crescendo, Kennedy unleashes a high note that brings to mind the one in "Grace," so identical do they sound.
Sufficient album, at times inconsistent, put together hastily to try to give a future to the band, but which, sadly, decreed its end.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Mars Hotel (03:58)
I saw her in an empty bar
The smell of wine and cheap cigars
Trigger visions of her face to this day
We tried to dance for years to come
But two can't lead and waltz as one
We loved and learned
And learned to love
But it was not enough
Foolish pride got in our way
She could take my heart and soul
She could take my hand to hold
But why'd she have to take advantage of me
I tried to pay for all the things
She could want or ever need
Don't make me pay for all the past please
So now we're living far apart
I hope to god our paths don't cross
This may seem shallow..but her beauty makes me weak
I long to hold her once again
And reconcile and then give in
To realize that later on we made the same mistake
Hold on to the lessons you've learned
She could take my heart and soul
She could take my hand to hold
But why'd she have to take advantage of me
I tried to pay for all the things
She could want or ever need
Don't make me pay for all the past
So much to tow
Bogged down with all the history to hold
The blame fell hard on me
Apologies were too short lived
She never really could forgive mistakes
She took my heart
She took my soul
She took my fragile hand to hold
She took advantage all the time
I'll take her back cause her love makes me blind
05 Eden (03:55)
Farewell, goodbye
God knows we tried
Our union so unsure
Could never endure
So we turn the page
And say goodbye
And walk away
Form everything
That we worked
So hard to save
Brought down by our storm
Our return is no more
But we were so lost in love
That we never found resolve
So we turn the page
And say goodbye
And walk away
Form everything
That we worked
So hard to save
I don't want to
Start all over
And try and find
Another shoulder
To lean on 'cause
Yours makes me feel safe
And now you're moving on
You're such a blessing
And please stay strong
For what it's worth
I'm wishing you the best
So we turn the page
And say goodbye
And walk away
Form everything
That we worked
So hard to save
I don't want to
Start all over
And try and find
Another shoulder
To lean on 'cause
Yours makes me feel safe
So we turn the page
And say goodbye
And walk away
Form everything
That we worked
So hard to save
I don't want to
Start all over
And try and find
Another shoulder
To lean on 'cause
Yours makes me feel safe
Yours makes me feel safe
'Cause yours make me feel safe
I'm wishing you the best
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