Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and TA-80 - Split single

I am very pleased to have yet another opportunity to write about Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin's split singles series, and this latest installment is one I've been especially stoked about! With a lot of these singles, I've become more educated about bands or artists I was not yet super familiar with. This time out, Moss and his band are collaborating with TA-80, one of my favorite bands. So in this case, with me being a big fan of both bands, I was really excited about hearing what would happen when they traded songs. It seems an unlikely pairing on the surface, but that is what makes it so intriguing. 

Moss and Skin-Tight Skin (which, on this release, finds lead guitarist Marshall Keith joining bassist Tom McNally and drummer Steve Naff ) take on TA-80's "Black Glitter" from the 2018 album of the same name. Moss notes that he saw Marshall Keith playing with The Slickee Boys back in late 1979 or early 1980. And the impression that that performance made on him was massive. Says Moss: "They were having so much fun on stage that, even though I had yet to pick up a bass or a guitar, I knew I had to start a band. So, for me, Marshall playing on my songs now is a treat." The original version of "Black Glitter" is a typical TA-80 pop/punk rock 'n' roll party-starter. Moss and his band transform it into a grittier old school punk sing-along with snotty vocals and ripping lead guitar. It's a killer take on a fantastic song! Both versions of the song are chock full of attitude, but they are definitely different kinds of attitude. If you heard this track on a playlist, you'd have no reason to suspect Moss didn't write it.  

On TA-80's half of the split, the band tears into "Two Slices of Bread," which originally appeared on Moss's excellent 2022 album Now With More Rockets. Moss wrote the song as an homage to Willie Alexander and The Boom Boom Band. TA-80 has taken the song and run with it, turning into something that sounds like early '80s Southern California hardcore punk! The energy and speed are dialed way up. The band's affection for the original version is undeniable, but I love that it brought its own unique energy to this version (replete with some obligatory guitar shredding). 

In keeping with the spirit of this entire series, both bands here were not at all handicapped by a fear of changing the songs they were covering. They both really went for it, and what results is a single that's a lot of fun to listen to. It's like watching two monsters swap brains and get up and try to dance. If you're a fan of both bands as I am, this single is an essential purchase. If one of these two bands is new to you, I imagine you'll be inspired to dig into their back catalog! This is another winner in a series that continually hits the mark.

-L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/album/split-single-black-glitter-two-slices-of-bread
https://www.facebook.com/RobMossAndSkinTightSkin/
https://www.instagram.com/rob_moss_and_skin_tight_skin/
https://www.facebook.com/ta80band/
https://www.instagram.com/ta80band/

Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and The James Clark Institute - Split single

For the seventh time, Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin have released a digital split single that finds them swapping songs with another band or artist. If this just involved straight copies of the original songs (like you might hear at a live show), this series would have gotten stale by installment 2. But somehow Moss has turned the "Let's both cover one of each other's songs!" concept into a proper art form. I always look forward to these splits, and I'm always pleased by what I hear. Part of that is the musical diversity of the bands and artists Moss collaborates with. But an even bigger part of it is the approach.  

In this latest installment, Moss teams up with Toronto's The James Clark Institute. Moss notes that The James Clark Institute's cover of "A Donkey" (from Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin's album Now with More Rockets) is very, very different from the original. But he points out that's an entirely good thing. "That's what keeps me interested in doing this series of split singles, " he says. "The one rule is that no one does a note-for-note cover. But beyond that, there are no limits on how one goes about reinterpreting the other's song." You can really hear that no-limits philosophy coming to life on TJCI's version of "A Donkey." While the original is all fire, fury, and snarl, Clark reimagines it in his signature style of modern and slightly quirky guitar pop. It's fascinating to hear two very distinctive vocalists with extremely different styles put their stamps on the same song. Here the remake proves to be as powerful as the original but in an entirely different way. If you didn't know better, you'd think Clark wrote the song, part of which is because he made many changes to the lyrics. It would not sound out of place on any of his records. 

On their half of the split, Moss and Skin-Tight Skin cover "Bettie Page Rides A Donkey" from Clark's album Sideshow Unattraction. That's right: both songs on this release mention donkeys, which makes for a very cool connection. Moss, backed by Glenn Kowalski (from 7 Door Sedan) on lead guitar, Tom McNally on bass, and Steve Naff on drums, transforms Clark's stripped-down, melody-driven original into a deliberately paced and somewhat other-worldly glam-punk rocker. The significantly altered arrangement and Moss's cool, understated vocal delivery completely change the feel of the song. Moss and his band manage to honor the genius of Clark's original, but they don't hesitate to make it their own. This is what doing cover songs is all about! 

Out of all the split singles Moss has done since he launched this project in 2024, this particular one shows the highest degree of creative reinterpretation yet. If you appreciate someone else's song enough to want to record it yourself, you ought to appreciate it enough to want to make it your own. Both of these tracks here sound like almost completely new songs, and I love it! If you're a fan of Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, be on the lookout for another split (with TA-80) in September and a Moss solo single in October!

-L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/album/split-single-bettie-page-rides-a-donkey-a-donkey
https://www.facebook.com/RobMossAndSkinTightSkin/
https://www.instagram.com/rob_moss_and_skin_tight_skin/
https://www.clarkinstitute.com/
https://thejamesclarkinstitute.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jamesclarkinstitute/
https://www.facebook.com/thejci/

Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and 7 Door Sedan - Split single

This is my sixth time writing about Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin's split single series. This series is one of the most interesting and enjoyable musical endeavors I've had the pleasure of following in recent years. Out today is the latest installment, which finds Moss collaborating with 7 Door Sedan, the Silver Spring, Maryland–based trio featuring singer/guitarist Glenn Kowalski from legendary D.C. punk band White Boy. 

As always, the format is that the two bands cover each other. I think what I like most about this series is that nobody ever settles for a straight "faithful" cover. In his vision for what these splits ought to be, Moss really seems to encourage creative interpretations of the selected songs. And we need more of that in today's music, when cover songs are too often dismissed as filler. There's real artistic value in taking someone else's song and making it your own. 

On this release, Moss, joined by Tom McNally and Steve Naff, adds a new wrinkle to that concept. He covers not one but two songs by 7 Door Sedan: the opening and closing numbers off the band's 2008 LP Killer Good. Remarkably, Moss and Skin-Tight Skin combine "Everything in The World" and "Cement Man" so seamlessly that you might not even realize these were two separate songs. As a single track, "Everything in The World/Cement Man" is not just a creative reworking of the original songs. It's also a little bit of a different sound for Moss: less sneering '70s punk and glam and more of a moody post-punk slow burn. Moss really shows his talents as a pure singer here, and I love his rather eerie guitar work. 

On its side of the digital wax, 7 Door Sedan goes big and takes on one of Moss's signature songs: "I'm On a Rocket Ship (Heading My Way Back Home)" from the album Now With More Rockets. As you would expect from 7 Door Sedan, the T. Rex vibes loom large. Kowalski played lead guitar on the original version, so he came to this song with a unique perspective. But he and his bandmates Josh Singer and Norman van der Sluys definitely transform the song here, trading the intergalactic anthemic feel of the original for a grittier, slightly Stones-ish approach. And I'm left feeling the way I don't feel enough when I hear covers: more appreciative of the original than ever but also blown away by the new rendition. 

What really hits me about all these Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin splits is that the two bands involved are never merely just friends — they're also huge fans of each other's music. You can sense the love for the source material and admire the effort made to do something genuinely transformative as a tribute. This latest installment involves two immensely significant figures in the history of D.C. punk rock. And the point is that neither is resting on any laurels. Moss and Kowalski are out there making vital and exciting music, and it ought to be heard.

-L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/album/split-single-everything-in-the-world-cement-man-im-on-a-rocket-ship-heading-my-way-back-home
https://www.facebook.com/RobMossAndSkinTightSkin/
https://www.instagram.com/rob_moss_and_skin_tight_skin/

Rob Moss - "And The Lies Go Round"

Following a series of tremendous split singles from Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, Moss has released a track that's 100% solo. Moss wrote, recorded, mixed, and played everything on "And The Lies Go Round." This is his first new original song since 2024, and it's a killer tune. We've come to expect everything from proto-punk to glam rock to post-punk from Moss. On this track, he's hitting a sweet spot for me: mid-tempo old school punk with a driving anthemic riff and a sing-along chorus. While Moss is often known for sarcasm in his lyrics, this particular song's message is more straight-forwardly serious. The song is about how people today are so quick to spread very damaging lies when they literally have no idea what they're talking about — and how this sort of thing can have very dire consequences. The lyric "And they believe/Everything that they've heard/Just like sheep/Standing in a big herd" could not be more spot-on. Since returning to the world of music back in 2020, Moss has developed a very distinctive style and sound as a lead artist. Fans of his excellent albums with Skin-Tight Skin ought to find this song very much to their liking.

-L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/track/and-the-lies-go-round
https://www.facebook.com/RobMossAndSkinTightSkin/

Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin/The False Positives - "Caveman"/"A Rocket Ship to You"

This is my fifth review of a split single involving Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin. The band's new collaboration with Boston's The False Positives is far and away my favorite installment in the series to date, and I've been a big fan of all of them. So yeah, this one is especially great! 

By now, you know the drill: Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin get together with one of their favorite bands or artists, and they each record one of the other's songs. The False Positives are a band I've been following since the pandemic days. They have an old school East Coast garage rock sound that pairs perfectly with Moss's '70s glam-punk approach. What I like about this split is that both bands absolutely bring it with their performances. And they each chose one of the other's finest songs! If you want to hear Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and The False Positives at their absolute best, you need to check out this single. The False Positives cover "A Rocket Ship to You" off of Moss's 2022 album NOW WITH MORE ROCKETS. In contrast to the anthemic old school punk feel of the original, The False Positives' version brings a rawer and more fiery garage rock energy. Dave and his band honor the spirit of the original, but they definitely make the song their own and even inject a little Stooges flair. As a fan of fun, filthy rock 'n' roll, I must say this track really hits a sweet spot for me. This is the most powerful and fierce The False Positives have ever sounded on tape! 

On their half of the split, Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin tear into "Caveman," a fantastic song which appears on The False Positives' 2022 album Demos. Clive Wright (Broken English, Cock Robin) is featured on lead guitar, and he tears it up. I love that Moss and his band glammed up this Boston-style garage rock banger. They also added some amazing new lyrics and came up with a new outro. Moss is always such a presence on vocals, and he's in top form here. I'm talking charisma for days! If you had never heard of either of these bands before, hearing this song would make you an instant fan of both. What a killer track! 

If you haven't kept up with all these split singles from Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, you are seriously missing out. Start with this one!

-L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/
https://thefalsepositives.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/RobMossAndSkinTightSkin/
https://www.instagram.com/the_false_positives/
https://www.facebook.com/falsepositivesrock/

Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin and Eytan Mirsky - "Good Hair Day"/"What Happened (to the Rock 'n' Roll)?"

I've been a huge fan of the series of split singles that Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin have released with some of their musical friends. Moss (ex Government Issue and Artificial Peace) has had a remarkable second act with his band Skin-Tight Skin since 2020. In addition to his three excellent full-length albums, his split singles with Arthur Alexander, The Amplifier Heads, and Shake Some have been must-hear events. 

The concept is always the same: Moss collaborates with a band or artist he admires, and they each cover one of the other's songs. The results are never disappointing, and no one ever settles for a straight re-make. Part of the appeal is that Moss collaborates with artists who are kindred spirits but not necessarily completely similar in musical style. It's always fascinating to hear Moss's own songs transformed, and it's always interesting to hear him put his signature on other people's songs. 

His latest split is with the brilliant New York City-based singer/songwriter Eytan Mirsky, who has been a mainstay of the indie rock world since the mid-'90s. Of all of Moss's splits, this has been the most intriguing one so far. For this release, Moss is backed by Tom McNally (bass, handclaps) and Steve Naff (drums, percussion) along with special guest star Saul Koll (The Lovesores and The Guerrilla Teens) on lead guitar. Moss and Skin-Tight Skin take on Mirsky's song "Good Hair Day" off his 2016 album Funny Money and reimagine it as a '70s-style punk ripper. Rather than try and compete with the original (which is truly a perfect song), Moss and friends genuinely make it their own. If you listen closely, you can tell it's the same song, but this is worlds apart from Mirsky's version. And that's a good thing. I enjoy these splits so much because they celebrate great songwriting. If you're not yet familiar with Mirsky's catalog, hearing this song will make sure wish that you were! 

Mirsky, backed by Peter Kohl (guitar, bass, percussion, backing vocals), Tommy Mandel (piano, organ), and Peter McDade (drums), offers up a wonderful rendition of "What Happened (to the Rock 'n' Roll)?" off of Moss's 2024 album, RECORDS. While the original was very glam rock, Mirsky's interpretation has more of a '70s pop soul vibe to it — almost to the point that you could be convinced that this is one of his own songs. There's even a slightly different feel to the lyrics based on how Mirsky sings them. The song comes off less cynical and more wistful, yet the spirit of the song remains unchanged. Popular music is not what it used to be, and we've lost something valuable because of it. 

If you've enjoyed Moss's albums with Skin-Tight Skin, these splits are indispensable. And if you have come to discover some new artists along the way, that's the whole point. Rob Moss and Eytan Mirsky are very, very different in their musical approaches. Yet they are both exceptional artists and genuine originals. They've collaborated on a split single that ought to interest any fan of great music.

-

L.R.

https://skin-tight-rock.bandcamp.com/album/split-single-good-hair-day-what-happened-to-the-rock-n-roll
https://www.instagram.com/rob_moss_and_skin_tight_skin/
https://eytanmirsky.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063292324148#