About a year ago, a friend of mine turned me onto a new group from Liverpool, England named Gomez. By the end of the first track, I was hooked. Soon after, I reviewed the album (Bring Ir On), giving it four discs and returned the favor by turning other friends onto it. As I look back on it, I realize that four discs just wasn't enough.

With that, Liquid Skin is Gomez's second album and dare I say . . . it's every bit as good as their first. I can honestly say that I've never heard anything like this before--their music is completely original. You'd certainly never guess they were British. Lead singer Ben Ottewell's vocals provide just the right touch and although he sounds like Fogerty meets Vedder meets Tom Waits, it's not over-the-top at all. Their songwriting is first-rate and the sounds this quintet creates can even put R.E.M. to shame.

On behalf of the editorial staff of the Independent, I strongly urge you to go get yourself some Gomez, they're the one band we all agree kicks ass. Either album will do.