"Skins" is the eighth studio album by the American alternative rock band Buffalo Tom. Released on February 15, 2011, the album constitutes the band's first new studio material in nearly half a decade since their 2007 album "Three Easy Pieces." Produced by the band and recorded in Boston and Los Angeles, "Skins" includes a range of songs from the classic Buffalo Tom sound to more acoustic-driven numbers.
"Skins" also features guest performances, such as violins by indie rocker Tanya Donelly on "Don't Forget Me," and backing vocals by Tom and Chris Toppin of Fuzzy on "Guilty Girls." A unique aspect of this album is its distribution. The album was released in a new "pay what you want" model, where fans chose their price, marking a new phase in Buffalo Tom's two decade-long career. Notably, songs from the album like "Guilty Girls" garnered significant attention, becoming an instant fan favorite.
As for the band, Buffalo Tom, the group was formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1986, with Bill Janovitz on vocals and guitar, Chris Colbourn on bass, and Tom Maginnis on drums. They emerged from the late 1980s post-punk scene to establish themselves as a prominent part of the 1990s alternative rock movement. The band's early works were heavily influenced by the likes of Hüsker Dü and The Replacements. Despite going on a brief hiatus in the early 2000s, the band reformed and continued making music, with "Skins" being a part of their remarkable discography.
