Skinny Boys — Skinny (They Can't Get Enough)

In 1981, Jacque "The Human Jock Box" Lloyd, Robert "ELD" Durrett, and brothers James "Superman Jay" and Shaun "Shockin' Shawn" Harrison formed a rap group, Superior Crush MC's, recording with the independent label Bush Records. In 1985, the Bridgeport, Connecticut-based group changed their name to Skinny Boys, in response to the more famous Fat Boys, the member ELD goes away, and they released the single "Awesome". The song caught the attention of New York label Warlock Records, one of the labels of Adam Levy (son of the infamous Morris), who signed the boys the following year and released two singles ("Jockbox", inspired by Fat Boys member Human Beat Box, and "Unity") and a studio album.

Produced by Rhonda and Mark Bush of Bush Records, the album received a positive commercial response and Skinny Boys were signed to Jive Records the following year, who released two singles ("Skinny & Proud" and "I Wanna Be Like") and their second LP, distributed by RCA also for the British market, although sales were slow this time. In 1988, Skinny Boys released the single "Stylin'" and came out with their third effort in three years.

This isn't up to the precedents, but it was physiological to fall after a while. "Skinny (They Can't Get Enough)" is the first song, scratched functional hook, accessible and simplistic beat, skeletal and minimal drum machine, a little heavy, good flowing and fresh delivery, hardcore delivery attempt, decent cut. Is choice as a single in 1989 and is the last single ever of the group. The next one is the other single "Stylin'", slightly below average: simplistic production, bare and minimal drum machine, decent-hardcore delivery on rhythm that offers annoying tight looped sirens in the background. When the sirens cleared up the atmosphere improves, however we remain on the poor rhythm with a drum machine more distant than usual.

"Free Your Mind" presents the Lawrence sisters, a female rap duo who refreshes the album over a rhythm condensed by synths. The next two tracks are decent, formed by the drum machine solo here frantic here normal, the Skinny Boys deliver a little flat but the disc goes on and side A is accessible, despite the last track of this first part, "Skinny Groove", suffers from a trivial hook on tight beat. 

It's the B-side to sink this third LP of the group: the dark lines keep the minimal rhythm of "Get Pepped" afloat, while "Cause We're Getting Ours" uses a samples of the post-punk ESG group, at in order to produce a dark and tight rhythm with an essential drum machine. We arrive at "Stop Crying": simplistic beat, skeletal and minimal drum machine, as usual then, but to the decent delivery, on the hook the group adds one of the most annoying sounds in the whole history of mankind, that of a crying baby. It takes away the strength to go on.

From here my perception of the album probably changes, but the remaining tracks aren't even up to A-side, although the elements are almost the same: the next track has a rhythm with ridiculous sounds and "On", although it seems to me it has the same characteristics as the previous ones, it's more boring than usual. Closes the album "Every Kid's Dream": I don't really know what this stuff is, single lines looped in the background, poor soundscape, bare and minimal drum machine, piano that has very serious and obvious problems, incredibly useless cut.

Jive released it on the US, UK and Canadian markets, the album managed to enter the R&B release charts, without making much progress and its failure (also critical) marked the end of the group's artistic career. 4.5/10.