British rock icons SKUNK ANANSIE have released their brand album The Painful Truth, today, along with brand new single ‘Shame’.
The Painful Truth is a truly mesmerising, provocative, powerful and emotional album. It is the sound of Skunk Anansie facing up to who they are and what they want to become. It is more than an album title. It is a reality that they have lived through and has been greeted by rapturous reviews.
THE PAINFUL TRUTH REVIEWS
“Has a raw, experimental feel… creating a record that has a bleak, sonically rich beauty” – MOJO
“From proudly queer love songs to spine-tingling piano weepies to stadium-sized lust confessionals this is Skunk Anansie’s most musically ambitious album yet… lively, adventurous, emotionally raw” – Classic Rock
“Confronts issues with candour and defiance. Songs hurtle through electronic rock, ska, dub and even tinkling pianos in moods from urgent to ethereal [with a] sense of creative rejuvenation” – The Guardian
“Defiant synth-punk… they dabble in dub, rock and disco. [Skin’s] voice is still stunning” – Daily Mirror
“Vibrant and vital… a band reborn” – Daily Star
“Vocals are delivered with a defiant energy. With tightly wound basslines and a thumping drum track [announcing] them as a band full of vigour despite 30 years in the business” – The Sun
“[An] extraordinary new album” – The Independent
“The Painful Truth adds an electronic edge to the band’s bracing rock and Skin’s typically British lyrics… With Skin equally adept as a balladeer and full-blown rock diva, Skunk Anansie are a band reborn” – Daily Mail
“Skunk Anansie’s very fine new album” – Daily Telegraph
“Skunk Anansie’s most vital and inventive album in years… they’ve taken everything that made them special in the first place – the punk attitude, the driving rock melodies, and frontwoman Skin’s incredible voice – and rearranged it all into something thrillingly fresh and recognisably now…. Skunk Anansie at the absolute peak of their powers” – Metal Hammer
“The Painful Truth sounds eye-openingly fresh for a band with such history… shinier, more expansive, less guitar reliant, and frankly as good as anything they’ve done… mixing ska with rock, electronics and synths with throbbing bass and disarming melodies” – Kerrang!
“A return that is determined, defiant and thrilling” – Songwriting Magazine
“An immensely strong album that will only grow in appreciation and stature” – Powerplay
“A record that shows Skunk Anansie as true masters of their art” – Devolution
Produced by David Sitek of TV On The Radio fame it’s a fresh, frank, uplifting and textured album, with the band’s knack for writing big pop songs remaining defiantly undiminished. If anything, their hooks this time around are sharper and sink in quicker.
The Painful Truth is Skunk Anansie’s first release on the newly formed FLG Records, and it comes with a freshness that belies their storied career and previous multi-platinum achievements. It’s a record that sees Skunk Anansie reclaim their place as one of the most exciting, visionary and important bands in British music.
“When I really think about it, yes, we have made some good records in our time but it’s been a long time since we have made a great album. And that is the painful truth,” confesses Skin. “Understanding that, led us to making what I genuinely think is our greatest record yet.”
Skunk Anansie will be playing album release shows across the country over the next seven days, starting with a very special headline performance at Good Times Festival tonight.
23rd May – Good Times at The Ridings, Chipping Sodbury
24th May – Crash, Leeds @ The Brudenell (SOLD OUT)
25th May – Jacaranda, Liverpool @ Camp & Furnace
26th May – Rough Trade East, London (MATINEE & EVENING SHOWS SOLD OUT)
27th May – Truck, Oxford @ The Bullingdon (SOLD OUT)
28th May – Rough Trade, Nottingham (MATINEE & EVENING SHOWS SOLD OUT)
29th May – Banquet, Kingston Upon Thames @ Pryzm (SOLD OUT)
The band have another run of huge European headline shows this summer before appearing as Special Guests in the UK at the two outdoor Smashing Pumpkins shows in August.
Aug 10th London, Gunnersbury Park w/ Smashing Pumpkins
Aug 14th Colchester Castle Summer Series w/ Smashing Pumpkins
Full details for all live performances can be found at www.skunkanansie.com
PHOTO CREDIT: ROB O’CONNOR
