Besides The Choir and being a devoted family man, Hindalong has also
served as an exceptional producer for some bands' best albums like The
Prayer Chain's Mercury and Common Children's Delicate Fade.
Given those impressive production credits over the years, he has a talented
host of friends willing and able to make musical contributions, and they
do in droves. The band credits on Skinny read like a "Who's Who"
of really hip Christian musicians:John Austin, Marc Byrd, Tim Chandler,
Chris Colbert, Gene Eugene, Wayne Everett, Christine Glass, Jenny Gullen,
Mike Knott, Jason Martin, Andy Prickett, Matt Slocum, and Terry Taylor.
With a cast like that, you know the show is going to be a good one.
Not surprisingly, the combination of all these elements results
in a solo album of solid musical chops; poetic, witty, insightful and fun
lyrics; and, regrettably, vocals that don't always live up to the rest
of the album's potential. The overall sound is akin to a more aggressive
At the Foot of the Cross sound, being a fuzzified kind of percussive
folk music. Plus there are bits of the Ocean Blue, splashes of The
Lemonheads, and a whole lot of Hindalong throw in for good measure. The
result--a Choiresque version of classic rock meets singer-songwriter folk
via modern rock vibes--is exceedingly well done.
Although Hindalong could have taken a tip from Undercover's Ojo Taylor
and had other vocalists sing more, getting him out from behind the drum
set and into the limelight has its curious merits--like Hindalong's adequate
guitar playing (who knew?). Skinny is far from the embarrassment
sceptics might have expected. Far from it. The song-writing is too true
to his signature style for that, and once you've warmed up to his vocal
delivery (you will), the melodies are more than memorable; they're extremely
catchy. Singing along is an option, and your shower-only voice will seem
right at home here.
Skinny is very nearly the classic keepsake fans might hope
for--something more vocal effects and/or guest vocalist spots might have
further remedied. Regardless, to his credit, Hindalong's wispy vocals are
right at home on these tracks, and a few songs like the modern rockers
"Color Wheel," "Digging Your Style," and "Hey Killer" are genuinely enthusiastic
highlights. Actually, of the thirteen tracks on the album, not one of them
is a dog, and the majority are truly meritorious. Special attention should
be paid to the slightly mellower fare like "Winnipesaukee" and "To Be a
Blessing," which showcase Hindalong at his best. If you're looking for
something more humorous, "Woe is Skinny" may bring a chuckle, and "Love
Sanctifies" satisfies the more worship-oriented. From the gentle and melodic
to the dramatic and driving, all and all, there's something here for every
fan.
Skinny is a bold effort representing Hindalong's requisite
charm and gift for introspection, quaint images, and clever metaphors.
There are far worse ways for him to waste his time between Choir albums,
and it would pain me to pen that this project lacked pizzazz. Gratefully,
I don't have to. The last thing I want to do is rain on Hindalong's parade
and squelch dreams of his solo career. He is an exceptional artist and
deserves his due. Nevertheless, even in light of this album's strengths,
I would personally prefer to see him keep his day job, too: producing great
albums for others worthy of recognition, and writing superb songs and creatively
drumming to them for The Choir. It's not about fearing change; it's about
wanting to see a celebrated legacy continue. Let's hope this is a case
of having our cake and eating it, too.
By Steven Stuart Baldwin (10/2/98)
