Search - Rainmakers :: Skin

The Rainmakers are back. . .and better than ever!

jochimbook@cs.com | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 06/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kansas City's biggest rock band made their mark with three excellent albums released in the latter half of the '80s. Endless tours of the Midwest and Europe gained them some notoriety. They became huge stars in Norway, releasing a live album there in 1990. And then they broke up. The mid-90's saw the release of a Norway-only "Best Of" and a new album released only in Canada and Norway. Now, they return with their first U.S. release since 1989's "The Good News And The Bad News." It retains the roots rock sound of the earlier albums with a late-90's social consciousness. Lead singer and songwriter Bob Walkenhorst examines the degradation of women in such songs as "Different Rub," "Too Many Twenties" and the title track. Guitarist Steve Phillips contributes two excellent cuts of his own (one co-written with drummer Pat Tomek). New bassist Michael Bliss proves to be an excellent backing vocalist as well and especially shines on the Irish-style acapella closer "To The Hum." The album is musically diverse as well - highlights being the acoustic "Remember Me By" and the second single "Eclipse Has Begun" which rocks as hard as anything the Rolling Stones ever put out. All in all an excellent addition to your CD playlist."

Terrific Effort from a Great Lost Band

jochimbook@cs.com | 01/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"They shoulda been contenders. The Rainmakers had a great sound when they arrived back in the mid-80s with a stunning debut album, and despite lean years since then they've broadened that sound without losing what made them so good to begin with. The rhythm section has a satisfying crunch without being bombastic, the guitar work varies from supple to spiky without getting show-offy, but the best thing about them remains Bob Walkenhorst, whose hyperenunciated sneer makes him sound like a snake-oil salesman out of "Huck Finn." Walkenhorst isn't afraid to take chances lyrically, as on the startling "Different Rub," "Good Sons and Daughters" and "Too Many Twenties." Sometimes they work (see above) and sometimes they don't ("Tattoo"), but they're always interesting. The band puts it altogether on "Eclipse Has Begun," which lures you in with a confident hook and then blindsides you with its quiet, triumphant consideration of family and community. It's almost a white-gospel rock song, which is pretty amazing for a band of Missouri renegades exiled to Scandinavia. Highly recommended, as is everything of theirs."

Great to Find Them Again

Mandjb | Soquel, CA United States | 01/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band is great recorded or live. Bob Walkenhorst is a fabulous lyricist - he can be sentimental or cynical, depending on the song (or the mood). Skin is better than Flirting With the Universe and is at par with the great albums they put out in the 80s, Tornado and their first self-titled album. Buy this one and if you can find those early albums with "The One That Got Away", "Doomsville", "Small Circles", etc., you can't go wrong."