David Skene is a songwriting genius - you just don’t know it yet. One spin of this Manic Shakes front man’s first solo effort will be all the proof you’ll need. The album is filled with cleverly crafted singer-songwriter/lo-fi pop songs that at times are blended with garage, dashes of punk and hints of alternative rock that create a recipe that’s memorable and fresh to your musical palate. The opener, Dylan Thomas, is as brilliant as lo-fi pop music can get and immediately hooks you for all the songs to follow. Is This What You Were Waiting For? shows a poignant poet serenading us with an acoustic guitar. But overall, the album truly showcases Skene’s gift for melody. This album is the kind of art you should have to pay for - but Skene is offering it for free at www.maryjanestolemygirl.bandcamp.com. Genius.

Published in Volume 66, Number 21 of The Uniter (March 1, 2012)