Skins
by XXXTentacion
  • Record Label: Empire
  • Release Date: Dec 7, 2018
Metascore
44

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 9
  3. Negative: 3 out of 9
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  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 14, 2018
    60
    Some of Skins is good, some of it is not good. Musically, the tone is, mostly, consistent and effective, and the album’s overall effect is that of a sickly, vivid insight into a troubled life. And there’s not much else to say about it.
  2. XXL
    Dec 11, 2018
    60
    The songs are short, not mixed particularly well and--perhaps due to his untimely passing--feel unfinished. Had X been around to see this album all the way through and hash out some of its rushed wrinkles, it has the potential to have been his best project yet. But as it sits right now, Skins renders itself another opportunity for XXXTentacion's cult-like following to continue enjoying new music.
  3. The Independent (UK)
    Dec 7, 2018
    60
    SKINS is another fiery blast of catharsis, a largely metaphor-free space where depression isn't hinted at poetically but invited to throw down. ... There are no songs as refined or showing such potential as ?'s “infinity (888)” and “Moonlight”, and many of them feel like half ideas.
  5. AllMusic
    Dec 7, 2018
    50
    Skins takes that unrealized potential and cobbles together these tracks--basically b-sides and outtakes--strictly for fans who needed just ten more reasons to hear his voice.
  6. The Observer (UK)
    Dec 17, 2018
    40
    There’s nothing here quite as aurally arresting as Moonlight, off XXX’s ? LP, but his recasting of Slim Shady as an eclectic depressive indelibly coloured this year.
  7. The Guardian
    Dec 7, 2018
    40
    Staring at the Sky is awful, like a snarky parody of a self-pitying grunge track that’s evidently meant in deadly earnest. There are really chilling moments, not least Train Food, with its ominous piano chords and feedback-laden guitar backing given a creepy intimacy. ... And there is stuff that just seems slight, as if its disjointed brevity isn’t always just an aesthetic decision, but occasionally also a way of covering up a scarcity of ideas, a lack of material.

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Discussed Album of 2018
72
#72 Most Shared Album of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
3.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 186 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 186
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 186
  3. Negative: 102 out of 186
  1. BlackManta
    Dec 11, 2018
    2
    Not a fan of this XXXTentacion album. Hopefully his next album will be better
  2. thedaywalker
    Dec 11, 2018
    1
    XXX has released 3 albums and i'm still failing to see what is so appealing about his music... Skins is just unnecessary cash grab, by whoeverXXX has released 3 albums and i'm still failing to see what is so appealing about his music... Skins is just unnecessary cash grab, by whoever is gonna profit from the sales of it.

    It is clearly compilation of unfinished work, with plenty songs with X just making some "melodic" sounds to the mic, over some amateurish beat selection and blend samples.

    The song one minute sees Kanye West just attention seeking and a very out of place, screaming XXX, the instrumental does not fit with what XXX wanted to achieve. Together with the single BAD! Which i can barely call a song, with so little said and what was said was basically said mumbling.

    Small highlights are the 2 first songs, Guardian Angel and Train Food, that show a more rapping XXX, more sharp with his delivery, even though lyrically it's nothing out of this world, but those 2 songs are definitely more pleasing to listen to then the rest of this album, unfortunately they aren't good enough to make this album any less of a drag to listen to. Really my least favorite album this year

    Favorite Tracks: Guardian Angel, Train Food
    Least Favorite Tracks: Rest of the album    … Full Review »
  3. GrantD243
    Dec 11, 2018
    4
    I mean, it's not downright terrible and I probably will listen to it occasionally, but it's extremely short and quite forgettable.
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