Category: Dan Baker
Dan Baker ‘Pistol in my Pocket’ review at Johnny’s Garden
You can read the review here.
Dan Bakers debuut, Outskirts of Town, was een akoestisch, tamelijk uitgekleed, geheel. Een project waarbij singer-songwriter Baker opvallend sterke composities voor het voetlicht wist te brengen. Dat hij ambitieus was bleek ook al uit deze eerste plaat. Opvolger Sad Song Junkie hakte er genadeloos in. Een uiterst gedreven plaat die serieuze luisteraandacht vereiste. Pistol in my Pocket, zijn derde plaat, is van eenzelfde niveau. Dansbaar kun je het nog niet noemen, maar de plaat is een stuk toegankelijker. Zijn verhalende teksten vragen, als voorheen, de nodige aandacht. Persoonlijk, zoals de gebroken relatie in She’s Not Gonna Call, met een sterkere grip op zijn eigen schrijvend talent. A lost soul to be found, a true believer. Eerlijkheid is op alle vlakken het toverwoord.
Vraag me niet waarom, maar bij deze derde plaat kreeg ik associaties met Tom Waits ten tijde van zijn Blue Valentine periode. Een artiest die tracht zijn eigen geloofwaardigheid te onderstrepen, terwijl de liedjes al voldoende voor zichzelf spreken. Ik kan mij voorstellen dat, wanneer waardering uitblijft, een gevoel van miskenning optreedt. Of speelt een voortijdige beëindigde relatie hier een rol? Mogelijk dat Baker zoekend is naar een andere vorm? Dan Baker huilt nagenoeg van vertwijfeling, en schreeuwt om aandacht voor zijn muziek. Desnoods met een pistool op de borst, alsof hij onzeker uitroept: “Luister dan!” Tien introverte liedjes, gebundeld om gehoord te worden. Opnames vonden plaats in 1867 Recording Studio te Chelsea, Massachusetts. Deze studio wordt omschreven als een uit zijn kluiten gewassen tempel. Het plafond zit op ongeveer achttien meter hoogte, hetgeen meteen het atmosferische geluid verklaart. De liedjes werden ter plekke live opgenomen. Het album Pistol in my Pocket is niet een plaat die zich laat luisteren in gezelschap. Dit is luistergenot voor iemand die zich vertrouwd voelt met Amerikaanse folk en blues. Sfeervolle muziek met een duister tintje.
Dan Baker ‘Pistol in my Pocket’ review at Some Diurnal Aural Awe
You can read the review here
Pistols and rifles: Dan Baker sings very occasionally about firearms because they exist, not because he’s trying to grab any mantle from Charlton Hestons’s cold dead hands. Based near Boston, in a town called Chelsea, Baker is a gritty singer songwriter in as much as he often snarls and shouts his songs, and the ghost of Dylan is in that growl somewhere, a lineage that seems important to me in reflecting musical authenticity, not that Dylan ever howled like a freight train as Baker does near the end of One of Them. The rawness of so many of the fine songs on this album also reflects another kind of authenticity, sincerity over polish, not that the performances aren’t carefully crafted, but just that their immediacy conveys honesty. I like the simple chronological observations of Up On The Roof that seem to evoke the power of music and even a spiritual suggestion, but it gets lost a little in the drawl, again as if any polish would spoil the sincere stream of consciousness in the lyric. Musically it is mainly a piano-in-an-empty-room fullness and the occasional emotive violin of Rob Flax. There’s resignation in the tone at times, not quite world-weary but pragmatic dismay, as in the album closer Not Gonna Say It. This is counter-balanced by my favourite, the comparatively lively Threw Me Down The Well – with Rob Flax’s empathetically tortured violin – and Baker argues against his lover’s mistreatment with all the pained anger of defeat. Brilliant. This is followed by another howling in Never Alone where defiance shuns irony for a genuine declaration of simple pleasures, exemplified in these opening lyrics I have unraveled a little from the seemingly intoxicated slur,
I got six strings, I like to strum
…tuna fish, pack of gum
and I got the moon shining on my soul
I ain’t ever alone
Dan Baker ‘Pistol in my Pocket’ review at Keys and Chords.
You can read the review here
Op zijn vroegere langspelers ‘Outskirts of Town’ en ‘Sad Song Junkie’ profileert deze jongeman zich al als een begenadigd storyteller die zich in de inspirerende driehoek Dylan-Prine-Waits manifesteert. Evenals zijn illustere voorgangers komt bij Dan Baker alles recht uit het hart en wordt die stuff met ongehoorde passie gedebiteerd.
Vanaf de eerste gezongen noot sleurt hij je mee met niet zelden beklemmende verhalen die een uitzichtloos leven aan de zelfkant laten vermoeden. Ten tijde van de opnamesessies leefde hij toevallig in Chelsea, een bescheiden voorstad van Boston. In die wat troosteloze omgeving rijpten heel wat songs. Een van die songs haalde de cd. De titelsong ‘Pistol In My Pocket’ stamt uit flarden van een conversatie die Baker in de plaatselijke 7-Eleven supermarkt opvangt. Wat later smijt Baker de song op tape in de plaatselijke 1867 Studio, een voormalige pleisterplaats van vrijmetselaars waar hij met zijn begeleidingband een tijdelijk onderkomen vindt.
Die beklijvende, bij momenten hallucinante sfeer kleeft ook aan ‘Threw Me Down The Well’ en ‘ What I’m Looking For’, ‘Down In The Canyon’ Baker zingt of beter gezegd, huilt als een gewond dier dat zijn wonden likt . Dit wordt geventileerd in songs waarin steevast een onderhuidse spanning wordt opgebouwd.
Je hoeft zelfs niet aandachtig naar de teksten te luisteren van pianoballaden als ‘Never Alone’, ‘Up On The Roof’ om te begrijpen dat Baker niet bepaald als een vrolijk Franske door het leven dartelt. ‘Coming Home’ en ‘Not Gonna Say It’ wedijveren om de titel van meest desolate song. Als de lusteloosheid in deze donkere tijden even toeslaat sla je dit gitzwarte werkstuk beter over en ietwat labiele personen gelieve zich bij voorbaat te onthouden. Ze missen wel een verdomd intens en doorvoeld werkstuk..
Dan Baker’s ‘Pistol in my Pocket’ #5 on December EuroAmericana Chart
Dan Baker, Six Star General reviews in December issue of Motif
Along with coverage of upcoming shows with The McGunks and Northern Lands.
You can read the article here.
Six Star General – Hair Supply (75orLess Records)
Six Star General has had a difficult year that forced them to be on the sidelines for several months due to various medical maladies. In the meantime, they managed to finish another album, Hair Supply. In addition to being my motto, “I Don’t Know Where We’re Going (But I Know That It’s Not Good)” is a return to form noisy rocker that has been missing from the last couple of Six Star records. “Christopher Walken” and “I’m Expanding Slowly” are like stoner indie rock powered by hypnotic grooves. “Way Out of Control” is a noisy fun punk romp. “Life in Vain” is an infectious ditty powered by a cool hook and probably the closest thing to a single on Hair Supply. I look forward to hearing the new tunes live at the CD Release for Hair Supply at The Parlour on January 4.
Dan Baker – Pistol in My Pocket (75orLess Records)
I didn’t know what to make of Dan Baker at first on the title track of Pistol in My Pocket that comes off as a howling Beck imitation on one of his independent albums. Then things started to get good. “Threw Me Down the Well” is a blues number that comes across as an Americanized version of Nick Cave, thanks to the violin from Rob Flax. “Never Alone” and “Up On the Roof” are winners as spacey piano ballads that remind me of sitting out on my porch staring up at the stars. “Down in the Canyon” has kind of a later-day Dylan feel at times. On “She’s Not Going To Call,” Baker channels his inner Tom Waits with an added Americana touch on the outro. Baker’s best material is so raw it hits you straight in the gut on tracks like “Coming Home.” I didn’t know anything about Dan Baker before, but after listening to Pistol in My Pocket, I certainly want to know more!
– See more at: http://motifri.com/alt-nation-some-new-discs-and-shows-to-bid-2013-goodbye/#sthash.mdmZLpMf.dpuf
Six Star General – Hair Supply (75orLess Records)
Six Star General has had a difficult year that forced them to be on the sidelines for several months due to various medical maladies. In the meantime, they managed to finish another album, Hair Supply. In addition to being my motto, “I Don’t Know Where We’re Going (But I Know That It’s Not Good)” is a return to form noisy rocker that has been missing from the last couple of Six Star records. “Christopher Walken” and “I’m Expanding Slowly” are like stoner indie rock powered by hypnotic grooves. “Way Out of Control” is a noisy fun punk romp. “Life in Vain” is an infectious ditty powered by a cool hook and probably the closest thing to a single on Hair Supply. I look forward to hearing the new tunes live at the CD Release for Hair Supply at The Parlour on January 4.
Dan Baker – Pistol in My Pocket (75orLess Records)
I didn’t know what to make of Dan Baker at first on the title track of Pistol in My Pocket that comes off as a howling Beck imitation on one of his independent albums. Then things started to get good. “Threw Me Down the Well” is a blues number that comes across as an Americanized version of Nick Cave, thanks to the violin from Rob Flax. “Never Alone” and “Up On the Roof” are winners as spacey piano ballads that remind me of sitting out on my porch staring up at the stars. “Down in the Canyon” has kind of a later-day Dylan feel at times. On “She’s Not Going To Call,” Baker channels his inner Tom Waits with an added Americana touch on the outro. Baker’s best material is so raw it hits you straight in the gut on tracks like “Coming Home.” I didn’t know anything about Dan Baker before, but after listening to Pistol in My Pocket, I certainly want to know more!
The McGunks Holiday Party
Truth be told, The McGunks really don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party, as anyone who has been to one of their shows can attest. The McGunks are straight-on pub punk with bits of bands like the Supersuckers mixed in. Check out their recent CD, Highlights for Lowlifes for even more sweaty, booze-drenched rock & roll hi-jinks!
The McGunks and The O’Tooles will throw a punk rock Holiday Bash at Broad Street Tap in Cumberland on December 21.
– See more at: http://motifri.com/alt-nation-some-new-discs-and-shows-to-bid-2013-goodbye/#sthash.mdmZLpMf.dpuf
The McGunks Holiday Party
Truth be told, The McGunks really don’t need much of an excuse to throw a party, as anyone who has been to one of their shows can attest. The McGunks are straight-on pub punk with bits of bands like the Supersuckers mixed in. Check out their recent CD, Highlights for Lowlifes for even more sweaty, booze-drenched rock & roll hi-jinks! The McGunks and The O’Tooles will throw a punk rock Holiday Bash at Broad Street Tap in Cumberland on December 21.
Northern Lands
Narragansett Beer put together a beast of a party to celebrate their 123rd anniversary. Of course, I’d contest the year because they should have to subtract all the years the brand was dormant, but nobody listens to me anyway. This show has something for almost everyone. You want straight-out rock? Northern Lands and the slightly country tinged Jay Berndt & The Orphans will be there. Want something acoustic? Brian McKenzie will be there to deliver. Jazz? Michelle Lewis for the win! The only thing missing is metal, which is odd considering Berndt and McKenzie were in the ‘90s local juggernaut, Kilgore. In addition this will be the annual unveiling of the Gansett Girl Calendar. Narragansett Beer 123rd Anniversary Party featuring live performances by Northern Lands, Jay Berndt & The Orphans, Brian McKenzie Michelle Lewis and Jeff Byrd hits The Met Café on December 27.
Dan Baker ‘Pistol in my Pocket’ review at No Depression
You can read the review here.
Dan Baker – Pistol in my Pocket
75OL-183 Dan Baker – Pistol in my Pocket CD
$9.00 S&H Included
Digital download is available here
Track Listing
1. Pistol in My Pocket
2. Threw Me Down the Well
3. Never Alone
4. What I’m Looking For
5. Up On the Roof
6. Down in the Canyon
7. One of Them
8. She’s Not Gonna Call
9. Coming Home
10. Not Gonna Say It
Dan Baker was living in Chelsea MA, during the recording of his new record. A small city on the outskirts of Boston, Baker describes the city as “A place littered with factories, oil tanks, and pot holes… surrounded by great heaps of salt and scrap metal”. The city of Chelsea, luckily for Baker, is also where 1867 Recording Studio is located. A former Masonic Temple. The studio boasts 60 foot vaulted ceilings and walls still equipped with their masonic images and moldings. The result is Dan Baker’s third record, “Pistol in my Pocket”. A record that finds Baker more matured and in command of his craft. Songs of betrayal and revenge, as well as songs of love-lost and love-regained. For fans of dark rural blues, Okkervil River, Magnolia Electric Co., Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen.