Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love

British folk / celtic punk-rock band Skinny Lister has steadily developed a reputation as one of the most promising and dedicated upstarts in the genre over the past decade.  The always expressive sextet has defined themselves as purveyors of pan-folk genres, ranging from authentic sea shanties to anthemic bagpipe and tin whistle blowing ragers.  Their latest full length, A Matter of Life and Love, shows a level of refinement and confidence in each track that makes for a diverse yet coherent listen.

Opening with “Shout It Out,” the band doesn’t hesitate to go big and classy.  The track melds together smooth gang vocals, tin whistle notes and a slow pace that is best described as casual and relaxing.  Rather than vying to get your heart pumping like so many celtic punk bands, Skinny Lister eases listeners in invitingly.  The chorus call to “Shout your heart out, shake it all out, shout it out, don’t keep it all in,” aims to liberate audiences from past guilt and find their voice.  “Tough Stuff Like Us” and “Like It’s the First Time” further this agenda with a combination of piano keys and occasional accordion, feeling like something inspired by Madness’ now decade-old comeback album.  

But right when Skinny Lister feels about to fall into a predictable rhythm, they launch headlong into a dockside gail with “Damn The Amsterdam.”  Featuring backing vocals by fellow British folk band The Longest Johns, Skinny Lister offers up a fine example of an original sea shanty sung in the minimalist tradition of baritone acapella backed by booming percussion.  The style brings instant comparisons with Canadian folk-punk band The Dreadnoughts, with the precision and authenticity of execution reaching admirable heights.  It’s an odd and slightly misrepresentative choice to receive the video single treatment, but it serves as a distinct stylistic pillar representing A Matter of Life and Love’s most traditional inspiration. 

The loose celtic flare and beyond rides strong in a scattered collection of tracks conservatively punctuating the track-listing. For instance, “Embers” and “History” takes full advantage of the band’s fiddle and tin whistle, making for songs that brings to mind rugged green fields and highland beauty, while “Breakfast at Heathrow” feels like a jolly good drinking song in the vein of The Dropkick Murphys.  The latter in particular showcases the band’s knack for well-humoured lyrics as they detail a nervous flyer’s need to liquor up at the airport bars to calm the nerves before sleeping it off at thirty-thousand feet.  There’s even something of a gypsy-ska tune in “Bavaria Area,” which marries an interesting combination of accordion meets upstroke with undeniably infectious results.

Overall, A Matter of Life and Love finds Skinny Lister right where you’d want them to be after a decade of pounding the pavement and honing their craft.  The band’s commitment to folk rhythms new and old makes for a rich listen across all twelve tracks and keeps momentum strong from start to finish.  The only downfall will be felt by those looking for a specific “brand” of contemporary folk-rock/punk – in which they may lament the relatively brief period of time spent on any given sub-genre.  But personal preferences aside, the strength of A Matter of Life and Love lies in Skinny Lister’s knack for tying all the styles together so seamlessly.  Fans of associated folk genres stand to gain plenty of enjoyment from Skinny Lister, making A Matter of Life and Love an exciting addition to the band’s growing discography.