Eskimo Joe-Black Fingernails, Red Wine

Record Label: Mushroom
Year: 2006
Track listing:
01. comfort you
02. New York
03. Black fingernails, red wine
04. Breaking up
05. Setting sun
06. London bombs
07. Sarah
08. This is pressure
09. Beating like a drum
10. Reprise
11. Suicide girl
12. How does it feel

Eskimo Joe is back with their latest album, and if you haven’t fallen in love with them already, then this surely is the album to do it. And if it doesn’t then, this band is not for you.

One thing, fans of the band will notice immediately, is the shift in sound. While their last album, came off as almost too pop, this album has a darker sound to it.
Many people have already cast impressions that some tracks such as Black fingernails, red wine and beating like a drum, have shades of Michael Hutchence to it.

Granted, there is an almost eerie alikeness to a few of the tracks to the sound that was Hutchence, but I think that is where it ends.
The only thing Bassist,and songwriter, Kavyen Temperley could say about their resemblance, was that when writing the album they wanted to make the album, with the concept that they were a stadium rock band, and asked themselves the types of songs INXS may write.

The theme from the album seems to be dark, haunting, and moody and definitely shows a more mature sound for Eskimo Joe. The lyrics are well written, and the album well arranged, with an underlining maturity that will help the band attack the US market in force.

The band scope on themes has also widened greatly since their last albums, and again it shows the maturity of the band as they take on world issues.
London Bombs, indeed shows how far the band has come, when at one time, they struggled with the idea of an old man’s clothes with their dorky song, sweater.

I guess in this sophomoric album, the band has realized to make it they need to grow up, and their new approach, is definitely one for the better.

Songs not to miss: the haunting New York, Sarah, Black fingernails Red wine, beating like a drum

I give it 4/5
You can buy Eskimo Joe's Black Fingernails, red wine here
Eskimo Joe's Official Website
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