Slow Gherkin's
Shed Some Skin is an interesting entry into the ska revival genre, because along with the requisite up-strokes and barked vocals, this band brings a real knowledge of tunesmithery to the table. What separates the bands that are punk clichés from those like
Slow Gherkin, which embrace those clichés even while transcending them, is that the latter camp of bands pays attention to the little things. With two guitarists who aren't afraid to step out of the formulaic shadow of the Dance Hall Crashers and pay homage to
Black Sabbath and
AC/DC, and excellent usage of backup singers and horns (to accent rather than overpower the rest of the music),
Slow Gherkin simply blow away their peers.
Slow Gherkin are proof that the '90s ska revival wasn't just a watered-down trend (as detractors claimed), but when done right, could be an exciting alternative to straight-up punk. ~ Ari Wiznitzer