New Buffalo Tom Record Due Out February 2011

Cover art for new album by Buffalo Tom titled Skins

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a huge fan of Buffalo Tom.  I latched onto this Boston based band around 1992 and have been a loyal listener ever since.  Their albums Let Me Come Over (1992), Big Red Letter Day (1993) and Sleepy Eyed (1995) became classics alongside other 1990's acts that had their starts in the late 1980's or early 1990's like Pavement, Superchunk, Sebadoh, Yo La Tengo, Teenage Fanclub, and Uncle Tupelo. In fact, two of my favorite shows of all time were performances Buffalo Tom gave at the late, great Mississippi Nights in St. Louis, MO in 1993 and 1995. 

So, when I read last winter that Buffalo Tom was in the studio working on a new album I immediately started anticipating their new album. That wait is now over. The new record, Skins, their first album since their 2007 release Three Easy Pieces will be released on their new label Scrawny Records on February 15, 2011. Skins was produced by the band in their hometown of Boston, MA, and mixed by long-time friends Paul Q. Kolderie (known for his work at Fort Apache) and Tom Polce. Kolderie produced the band’s breakout third album, 1992’s Let Me Come Over and Polce produced 2007's Three Easy Pieces. In addition to the regular edition of the album on CD and vinyl there will be a deluxe edition with demos, B-sides, and a postcard. The first single, "Arise, Watch" was premiered this past Monday at Stereogum. Check out the track here. The album also features the track “Don’t Forget Me,” a collaboration with another Boston icon, Tanya Donnelly (Throwing Muses, The Breeders, Belly).

Here’s the tracklist for the regular edition:


01 “Arise, Watch”
02 “She’s Not Your Thing”
03 “Down”
04 “Don’t Forget Me”
05 “Guilty Girls”
06 “Miss Barren Brooks”
07 “Paper Knife”
08 “Here I Come”
09 “Lost Weekend”
10 “The Hawks & The Sparrows”
11 “The Big Light”
12 “The Kids Just Sleep”
13 “Out of The Dark”


For some thoughts on the new album and the direction of the band from guitarist/singer, Bill Janovitz, check out this interview from The Alternate Side. For a more private look at Janovitz, please check out his blog. When he's not working his day job in real estate, Janovitz also finds time to write about his life and music and includes great stories with his versions of some of his favorite songs. Finally, you can find the group on Twitter and Facebook.