Junk Punk with the Skeleton Key

Can you imagine what it might sound like to hear a Bass Tape coupled with trashcan percussion, a 60’s dirty guitar sound that somehow still managed to remind you of a music box? That’s about what the new album by Skeleton Key sounds like. Somewhere between Lo-fi stripped down rock, experimental funky basslines and clangy drumming resides the cryptic allure that makes this new album a magnificent piece of ear candy. Quite frankly, it might be the best album of last year that no one talked about.Skeleton Key has been on hiatus for a few years while the band membership changed after their amazing first album “Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon.” In fact, not one person that played on this album except the flagship member bass player/vocalist Erik Sanko is in the band anymore. Skeleton Key is clearly Erik Sanko’s project but the contributions of departed members guitarist Chris Maxwell and trashcan percussionist Rick Lee certainly helped perfect the album. However, Sanko might be the new school Billy Corgan of underground music. His basslines sets the groove while he vulnerably sings his heart out about women being like “sweet candy” not being able to “roost in peace” and then all the other musicians create a lush aural tapestry around it.