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Hard Skin

Same Meat Different Gravy
2005
TKO

Hard Skin - Same Meat Different Gravy (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Anchors
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Home of Riddick Bowe and Tanya Harding (link)

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Published on June 28th 2005

Oh, you crazy Brits. Over the years you’ve exported the likes of the Beatles, Monty Python, and the Spice Girls across the pond. Okay, so maybe we could have done without the last one. Regardless, much of the music and comedy us Americans have enjoyed over the last half a century has come from your shores. Well, Hard Skin’s parody Oi! album Same Meat, Different Gravy attempts to encompass both of those traits in one simple, singalong, anthemic batch of songs. And for what they do, I can honestly say this is a damn fun album. If you go into this album with the right attitude, which is any attitude that doesn’t hope this music will improve your IQ, you’re bound to enjoy it.

At its basis, this is incredibly simple, relatively thoughtless music, not that most of the Oi! prevalent in Britain before this wasn’t, but since these songs are parodies, it brings even less thought to the table. With such simple song structures, it really begs the question: What the hell makes these songs so good? As somebody who’s never really enjoyed Oi! music before, I find myself wanting to join into these rousing singalongs right along with the band. These two-chord anthems provide plenty of those singalong moments, as ridiculous as the lyrics may be. This includes using the word “cunt” an unheard of amount of times, using “arse” in place of “ass,” and just other general shenanigans. The cheeky and fun kind, not of the cruel and tragic sort.

It’s the singalongs that make this album a fun one, and this is exhibited to a tee in “Law And Order (Up Your Arse)," which sounds remarkably like Rancid’s “Ruby Soho,” right down to the vocals during the verses. Similarities aside, the song is still a rousing good time, as is fist-pumping anthem “Still Fighting Thatcher.” “Skin Hard” is an almost hardcore-sounding song, complete with a chorus of handclaps that really get your foot tapping and head bobbing. Through all thirteen songs, the same spirit of having a good time and having a few drinks is present, as that’s just what this skinhead threesome is all about. There’s no hidden messages to be found, or alterior motives behind the song's lyrics; the album is just the soundtrack to drinking at the old pub with some good friends.

While Alex Trebek will never be asking you a question about Hard Skin’s less-than-poetic lyrics, for fans of Oi! bands such as Sham 69, the Cockney Rejects, and 4-skins, the lack of intelligence and overabundance of singalong choruses is just what’s in order.

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 2, 2005 at 11:09 AM (EDT)

Wot tha fack are you on about? Fence-Sitting? Us Hard Fackin' Skinz don't sit on no noncy fences, we sit in da fackin' pubs with our birds.

-Fackin' Ken

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 1, 2005 at 1:18 AM (EDT)

decent stuff

Posted by MrStabone on 2005-06-30 15:12:29

they just had an interview in MRR and got good reviews

i am no oi boi, but the music is always fun and simple

i just didn't know they were kidding until now. the pics in MRR made them look like a bunch of old fat skinheads, not people just dressing up for the stage

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 7:19 AM (EDT)

No, I'm prettysure he meant "fence-sitting".

As in "sitting on the fence"?

As in, this label doesn't have a commitment to any particular political viewpoint and prefers to remain impartial/ neutral/ doesn't consider the politics of the bands it signs to be a deciding factor.

How that term was relevant to a joke Oi! band I don't know, not do I know if it should actually be applied to TKO, but I'm sure that's what he actually meant to say.

I'm sure there are worse things wrong with punk than that guy.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 12:00 PM (EDT)

" I find it even more hilarious that this got released on the politically "fence sitting" TKO."

First of all, the term is "Fence Walking". Second, using the term implies that the label is somehow right wing sympathizers which is ridiculous. They release way more records from complete lefty punk bands than the 2 or 3 more politically conservative bands you are obviously talking about. In summation, you are what is wrong with punk.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 12:39 AM (EDT)
My Score:

If anyone knows Hard Skin, they know they are a 'Joke' band. However, I do love Oi! music and they do Oi! music better than most Oi! bands, isn't that funny? No, those of us who enjoy oi music are not confused by this album at all, its just that they do what they do so well (and funny). Do you think that people that listen to Oi! music are all a bunch of knuckleheads with some political agenda and no sense of humor? C'mon now!
Album gets 5 Blackeyes!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 5:12 PM (EDT)

if you want some classic oi, go get a blitz album.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 12:31 PM (EDT)
My Score:

This band is fooking ace, mate. Their first record, "hard nuts and hard cunts" was fooking ace too. Bollocks to you noncy cunts who don't like this band.

-Fookin' Ken

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 11:12 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Score is for Anchors cunningly sneaking a Super Troopers quote into the review. Respect is due.

Posted by Anchors on 2005-06-28 01:47:38

"Nice to see a review of a great Oi album for a change. This album is worth every penny, buy it! However, this has been out for a few months now. Why is there not a review of the new TEMPLARS CD 'OUTREMER' on here? It will be released today (6/28), I have heard it a few times now and it SMOKES! Five Hammers! Get it now with any means necessary."

I have that new Templars album to review, but I had no idea when it was coming out, now that I know it was today, it'll be one of the next few that I do.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 1:44 AM (EDT)

what an ugly fucking album cover, if your going to make your name stencil font at least make it look like it was sprayed or something.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 1:28 AM (EDT)
My Score:

The funny thing about HARD SKIN is that, yes, they're a "joke" band, but they're not even remotely skinheads or Oi! or whatever... the drummer Nipper is an emo kid who used to be in a band with J. Robbins' wife (!!!), Fat Bob is Sean Tyler who's been around the block 50 times and the other bloke used to be in Thatcher On Acid, Schwartzennegar (both very leftist, anarchist punk rock bands) and The 'Tone. HARD SKIN are a good band, with some cracking songs, I just find it hilarious that some skinheads out there take them seriously. I find it even more hilarious that this got released on the politically "fence sitting" TKO.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 1:11 AM (EDT)

Nice to see a review of a great Oi album for a change. This album is worth every penny, buy it! However, this has been out for a few months now. Why is there not a review of the new TEMPLARS CD 'OUTREMER' on here? It will be released today (6/28), I have heard it a few times now and it SMOKES! Five Hammers! Get it now with any means necessary.

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