Everybody from the 80's generation(myself included)is familiar with "In A Big Country"(an MTV video favorite), a guitar driven tune with that familiar bagpipe sounding guitar.Big Country's 1st cd "The Crossing" was a big success(over 2 million copies sold) and contained this breakout song for the group. "Buffalo Skinners", their 1993 "comeback" cd is a more mature sounding effort and a pleasant surprise to hear. Gone are the bagpipe sounding guitars and what remains are some of lead singer Stuart Adamson's best song writing and lead vocals as well as some of the band's tightest playing. There were only a couple of minor radio hits off this release but the bottom line is this thing rocks! It sounds fresh eleven years after its release. Sadly, Stuart Adamson passed away in 2001, a casualty of depression and alcohol abuse. If you are into guitar driven rock with some heartfelt lyrics check this cd out...RIP Stuart.

If you're looking for standard Big Country, skip this CD. However, if you are a fan of The Alarm and early U2, this is right up your alley. The trademark bag pipe sounds are almost completely gone (there's a hint on one or two songs), but they make up for it in straight forward rock and roll. Yes, they keep their political views out front on many of the songs, one of the most blatant being "We're Not In Kansas", which deals with corporations selling out to oversea's businesses. "The One That I Love" and "Chester's Farm" are incredibly strong rock tracks, with the latter being set up perfectly for a soundtack album. I could see it playing over end credits for a movie on the song's subject (which has to do with government experiments on a farm).

Having just picked this CD up in 2003, it holds up incredibly well for a ten year old CD. With a few tweaks, it could be released as a current CD in the pop/rock genre.

This is one great album by one great band. It rocks so hard, it will make your ears bleed. It is a desert island recording, no doubt about it. If you like these blokes, this is a must. And you gotta love 'em.

While Big Country has released a "Best Of" CD with all their hits, that does not compare to this CD which marked a transition from the classic 80s Big Country "In a Big Country" and "Fields of Fire," which are still terrific, to some unbelievable rock. The Buffalo Skinners was a rebirth which, unfortunately, did not get the public acclaim it merited, but this is one of the few CDs I own which is strong throughout rather than mixing two or three good songs with a load of rubbish. The only regret I have is that it took me so long to find this lost gem.

I love everything Big Country does. Each album is special in its own right. Its hard to be unbiased but this, this one..... It absolutely kicks *ss. No doubt about it. It rocks, it kicks, it screams, it pushes the envelope. Not just underrated but one of the best albums ever. It has things to say but doesnt forget how to just blow the doors off any decent stereo system.

For those that are unaware of the Big Country gems, this one is a must. If you listen to any, The Crossing and Buffalo Skinners are just plain classics.