If Disney were ever to make an animated movie that involved the protagonist turning Congress into an alcoholic shitshow, then taking his magic carpet over to Guantanamo Bay and seeing America's secret war on terror, and then completing his own personal heroic journey back in New York, Aaron Scott would provide the soundtrack, as well as most of the story. You know those soundtracks, voices over pianos that sound like they could travel over valleys and canyons, triumphant and massive. This is Scott's voice, although in his case Beauty is punk rock and the Beast is the United States government. Walt Disney, eat your heart out.
Dead Skin / Dried Blood is the work of Scott and a handful of his friends singing under the moniker of Attica! Attica!, and is full of personal journey and politics. Scott is no newcomer to the punk scene, having sung in New York bands Marathon and De La Hoya, although this is more of a solo-based effort. The punk influence is still evident, much like Crime-era Against Me!. However, there are such a myriad of influences that it's impossible to label the band with one category. It's folk punk with nods to country and Americana, with pianos, cellos, and a slew of other traditional and untraditional instruments thrown into the fray.
Scott's voice is on display on Dead Skin / Dried Blood's first song, "Motion Sickness." Only a piano and slight use of a cello backup Scott, his voice echoing over the piano keys. The song is the beginning of the journey, Scott promising to, "Watch this world die through these windows," even though he realizes he has to try and help somehow. "The Play's the Thing" is next, and features more traditional, electric instruments and Scott and company singing about how these songs are liberating and free them the toils of everyday life. A few songs later, "Tires and Mint" provides a rousing, fast, acoustic anthem.
"Way Down in Gitmo" is one of the more political songs on Dead Skin / Dried Blood, with an acoustic, country twanged guitar helping Scott take the perspective of someone in support of torture and racial profiling, showing the absurdity of the prison. The beginning of the song takes a more humorous approach to the topic, Scott sounding like a beer guzzling, wife beating conservative as he sings, "If I don't have my barbeque the terrorists have won, and if my neighbor brings his Arab friends I'll call the Pentagon." As the song progresses, Scott becomes more serious and desperate, realizing the anguish these "criminals" are facing.
While "A Dirge for the Underground" is one of the weaker songs on the album, equivalent to an elementary Green Day song about underground music being a threat, "The Party Party" is one of the best on Dead Skin / Dried Blood. Scott sings about taking over Congress, to "reclaim democracy, with a righteous party." Nobody is spared, as Tom Tancredo plays beer pong with illegal aliens, Tom Delay goes on a beer run, and Scott asking the most important question: "Who brought the Zima? I think it was Scalia."
The album continues to get more personal as it goes on, with "We'll Always Be Home," the album's equivalent to "8 Full Hours of Sleep," providing a nearly a capella effort, Scott as confident as ever. "Flamethrower" ends the album, basing the structure with the album's first song, making things come full circle. An acoustic guitar has replaced the piano, house beats come and go, and Scott's personal journey is complete.
