skinsNbones’ “Is There Meaning”

Equal parts barking and brash melodicism, the lead vocal that attacks us at full strength in skinsNbones’ “Is There Meaning” definitely makes the track feel pretty punkish, and it’s not the only element doing so. What makes “Is There Meaning” sound so rebellious is its tempo, its gritty instrumental tone, the attitude of its lead singer, and even the stylization of its cover, all of which pay homage to an era in rock n’ roll history that couldn’t feel much further from the mainstream in a year like 2022. This is definitely an alternative, and it’s one that couldn’t have come soon enough this year. 

URL: https://skinsnbones.com/

The beat is controlling the mood of this music even more than the lyrics are, and I would argue that the narrative in the song would be entirely different – even with the same lyrical structure and content as it contains now – if presented at a slightly slower pace. The modulated melodies and ebbtide of the rhythm are what make “Is There Meaning” feel like a waving fist aimed squarely at the establishment in rock today, and if you take that away from its construction, you don’t have the fiery piece of material you certainly do in this case. 

This mix is definitely on the retro side of the spectrum, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s lacking the depth to appeal to more modern listeners who didn’t grow up with Black Flag on the stereo. The abrasiveness of the guitar parts is actually rather mild in comparison to what the vocal is putting up in the middle of the firestorm, and save for a couple of moments where the bumpiness of the bass comes in contact with the swing of the drums, the bottom-end is consistently more foundational in this track than it typically is in most modern rock. 

I will say that while the guitar parts are a little lower in this mix than I would normally prefer, I can understand what skinsNbones might have been going for when deciding to go with this angle over something a little louder and hard-charging. There’s nothing wrong with limiting the presence of a boisterous distorted guitar when you’ve got as much heat coming off of the other instruments as we do here, and to some extent, I think you could even say this act is going further with the ‘alternative’ labeling in doing something most rock bands never will – putting the guitar in the backseat of the mix. 

If this is skinsNbones at its most carefree, cut-loose and wild, there’s going to be an influx in positive feedback coming in the direction of “Is There Meaning” this March. It’s been trying times in the late history of rock n’ roll music lately, but just hearing a bit of aggression coming from this strain of underground talent has got to be enough to put a smile on a lot of diehard rock fans’ faces. It will be hard-fought, but material like this can put the genre back on the map. 

Michael Rand 

The music of skinsNbones has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division.  Learn more https://musikandfilm.com