Now that The White Stripes have gone global, it's de rigeur for us all to be digging out our old Charley Patton and Robert Johnson albums to feel so frightfully contemporary. So, bearing in mind those recordings were made prior to the Second World War, THE BLUESKINS record collection obviously terminates circa 1976 must make them extremely futuristic by comparison.
It's certainly true to say that little aside from the gritty, punked-up r'n'b sound of early Dr.Feelgood flies into the 'Skins orbit ("User Friendly" itself utilises some great wailing, Lee Brilleaux-style harp), but "User Friendly" exists in its' own energetic sphere and never once threatens to outstay its' welcome.
What's even more amazing is that the whole basic package is produced - with brilliant incongruity - by ex-Spacemen 3 man Richard Formby of all people and that's he's obviously just let this Wakefield quartet get on with laying down their no-nonsense, shitkicking boogie. Neither "Give Me Your Hand" or "Blue Sneakers" deviate much from the blueprint (geddit?) and are all the better for it.
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They actually have a tune called "Lager And Lime," which is quite possibly the last word in great, dumb-ass rock'n'roll, but even though that's not included here, this is still a promising debut in its' own inimitable, couldn't-give-a shag way.
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