:: Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails, Red Wine

Eskimo Joe

There are many highlights in this excellent album by Eskimo Joe. It’s a measure of their purposeful and well structured arrangements that most songs will find appeal to fans and general music listeners. From the first few notes of ‘Comfort You’ through the delicate ‘London Bombs’ and stunning ‘Beating Like A Drum’, Black Fingernails, Red Wine is an exquisite record showing the ever-evolving maturity of Eskimo Joe with each new release. They‘ve come a fair way from a few years ago when their future seemed in doubt. These songs are rich and romantic. 'London Bombs’ is an obvious reference to the incident of 2005, and other such close-to-home occurrences for many Australians, and sets the tone for the record. Naturally, the title track is a beauty, one that should be considered as one of the best singles of 2006. They have been one of the most consistent bands in Australian music for a long time, notwithstanding the enforced break that I referred to earlier. It’s great that they have been able to return with rock that holds their usual charm effectively without losing any of the accessibility we've come to expect from the likeable trio.