Paranoid & Sunburnt

Skunk Anansie's Skin is an intense frontwoman from Brixton sporting a shaved head and powerhouse set of pipes. Set to squealing, no-frills, combat-boot rock with a powerful funk edge, her lyrics advance a strong social agenda, spelled out in bold capitals by such polemical song titles as "Intellectualize My Blackness," "Little Baby Swastikkka," and "It Takes Blood & Guts to Be This Cool But I'm Still Just a Cliche." The minor downside is that no matter how strongly you agree with the agenda, the forceful preaching, without any mitigating shades of contrast or subtlety, starts to wear thin (as an audio experience) after a few listens. Fortunately, the music is muscular and interesting enough to carry the burden. Those hungering for protest music working in a '90s rock context can fill their plates and slake their thirst here.