Saliva
Under Your Skin

By Todd Jolicouer

Josey and the boys show up and deliver the goods once again. Picking up right where Cinco Diablo left off, the opening track, ‘Bad Ass’ reveals the ability to keep a winning formula in place. Many people gave up on the band after the ‘Click-Click-Boom’ era, but the rock coming out of these guys for year has been solid. Saliva has a specific sound and they play into it without being sterile.

The songs presented here on their sixth major label studio album, Under Your Skin, are a good representation of what one can expect from the band. The tempo shifts after ‘Bad Ass’ as the band seems to slip between rocker and ballad on the next few songs. ‘Better Days’ slows down but is a solid tune regardless.

Josey has never sounded better than on this CD. You can tell the lyrics come from and are sung from within. The next two tracks, ‘Nothing’ and “Hate Me’ are slid tunes with catchy choruses. ‘Never Should’ve Let You Go’ is one of my favorites off the album. This is the Saliva version of Cinderella’s “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” for the next generation – but a little heavier. One of the few clunkers follows, but is followed up with another song that streamlines Saliva’s recipe for singles, ‘Burn It Up.’ The next song is forgettable, but if you skip it, you will roll into another great ballad, ‘Turn The Lights On.’ Haunting guitars and lyrics really drive this song home. ‘Spotlight’ steers the disc home.

It may not have been the fastest ride or the bumpiest, but sometimes a steady and constant cruise is just what is needed.