With Skin, his most intimate album yet, Nashville-based Sean McConnell mines his own demons, struggles, and insecurities for material. The result is sometimes dour, often emotional, but always genuine, as he deftly blends soul-baring lyrics with a moody but beautiful folk-rock soundtrack.
Along with his own career as a musician, McConnell has made a name for himself as an in-demand songwriter. He has penned songs for a slew of country artists, including Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, and Ashley McBryde, and artists from other genres, like Hayes Carll, Lori McKenna, and Michael Franti.
On McConnell’s “Demolition Day,” one of the more rock-focused tracks, he sings about his own sobriety, while the stripped down “Never Enough,” a song that is on the other end of the spectrum musically, is a sweet look back at his relationship with his wife; it’s beautiful in its frankness and realism. “The West Is Never Won” – a song about McConnell’s daughter – is one of the early standout tracks on the album, as stunning as it is moody, while showing off his voice perfectly. “Take It Easy Darlin’” about loving someone deeply but not being able to help them, is one of the most affecting moments on the record, and his lonely vocals echo long after the song is over. The album closes on the piano ballad “New Sons And Daughters,” musically and emotionally one of the heaviest songs on the album, offering no real relief from the deep feelings stirred throughout.
After turning 40, McConnell – a husband and father – started looking inward for inspiration for his latest record. And what makes these 11 tracks so compelling is not just that he is asking big questions and trying to find order in life’s big changes and disruption but that he ultimately doesn’t necessarily offer simple answers. A lot of these songs are questions that we all have but remain unanswered long after the record ends, adding to the reality. Skin is certainly not a breezy listen that plays in the background as you clean the house. Rather, it’s an important, deeply personal statement from an artist who knows how to deftly stir emotions.
