Graham Coxon - I Can't Look At Your Skin / What's He Got? Single Review

Graham Coxon

I Can't Look At Your Skin/ What's He Got

Single Review

With the bitterness between Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn emerging periodically to cast a shadow over some of the most hypnotic guitar crafting of the Brit-pop age, Mr. Coxon now seems to be turning his anger into his bruising music. The Luis Figo of the guitar world also knows when simplicity is the key and, on 'I Can't Look At Your Skin' he takes the lead from the Sex Pistols to build on his ramming guitar riffs with a terse, hate-riddled Johnny Rotten vocal slant.

'What's He Got' tones things down a bit musically, but the trademark rising vocal style of Coxon kicks in to gush out feelings of bemusement and resentment. The lyrical punch immediately raises the question as to who is the object of this verbal lashing?

"What's he got that I haven't got? Where's he been that I've never seen?

Can't bear to see you walking hand in hand, he's kind of cool,

But I don't understand; what in the world has he got?

I guess he's just better looking than me."

With all the pub talk being of The Smiths and The Stone Roses reunions, the fiery debate as to the merits of such a thing will not involve consideration of Coxon rejoining Blur, as he is careering off on his own tension releasing ride of discovery.

Rating 7/10

David Adair

Photographer: Pennie Smith

Date: 01 Nov 2005

Copyright: Pennie Smith