Dan Baker: Press

Dan Baker is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who’s made his bones in Boston, but one listen to his debut album, Outskirts of Town, reveals that this guy is far more familiar with the dynamics of small-town America. He can dial up both the romance and the disappointment inherent in your average burg and he understands how those two extremes can be intertwined in poignant ways. That authenticity of place is what makes this debut so promising.

The immediate thing you tend to do with a new songwriter is try and play “spot the influence.” Whenever someone is as wordy as Baker, Bob Dylan flashes to mind. The streetlife fascination would point the way to 70’s-era Bruce Springsteen. But while there are echoes of both of those titans, I would suggest that Baker reminds me of the woefully underrated but highly influential John Prine.

…what he has proven is his ability to take in all the minutiae of his surroundings and spin them back to us without artifice or condescension

Like Prine, Baker fearlessly gets inside the skin of his characters, even if it means portraying himself in a less than flattering light. The anti-hero of “Bad Man” fully understands the error of his ways but still goes ahead with his womanizing and rabble-rousing. Baker also takes a cue from Prine on how to dissect the horrors of war from the inside-out; “Untraveled Road” looks at the strain that war puts on families in much the same way Prine’s seminal “Sam Stone” did almost 40 years ago.

And, like Prine, Baker’s writing never skimps on humor, which is a refreshing change from some of the dour navel-gazers out there. “God Might Be Crazy” and “Dreams” both have their tongue firmly in their cheek but never cross the line into snark. The best of the funny ones is “Live Like A Dog,” a hilariously insightful look at how our four-legged friends get away with wretched behavior and still have it made.

Baker does have some weaknesses common to first-time songwriters. He tends to overdo it with the lyrics, pouring on line after line when brevity might have served his purpose better. The title track is guilty of this; a trenchant line about small-town ennui like “Where the women have babies and then they go nuts” gets lost in the long, wordy denouement.

Meanwhile the arrangements of the songs are kept minimal: Acoustic guitar, some piano, a few flourishes here and there. It’s all tasteful, and there wouldn’t be anything wrong with this if Baker had an expressive voice like Dylan or Prine, who sounded like grizzled veterans even as a youngsters. Instead, the newcomer tends to sound whiny when he tries to emote.



Some better melodies and some instrumental variety could remedy that; both are present on the string-laden “Surrounded”, as Baker describes a love as suffocating in the best possible way. His knack for off-kilter approaches to songs like this one definitely helps to mitigate the shortcomings and keep the songs sounding fresh.

At album’s end in the song “Spinning Round,” Baker finds himself in the local sinkhole/bar feeling both stifled and blessed by his lot in life. It remains to be seen if this new songwriter can expand his worldview past the parameters of his local hamlet. But what he has proven is his ability to take in all the minutiae of his surroundings and spin them back to us without artifice or condescension, ennobling his humble characters in the process. And that’s a talent worth watching.

Dan Baker - outskirts of Town

Dan Baker is a tiny bit reminiscent of the young Dylan, by his way of singing, but he soon appears to have its own sound. He builds his songs around subtle but very effective, subtle arrangements that his CD after each turn, turn better, because you increasingly hear the subtle details. But that's just about, that are the songs, which are simply wonderful and often poignant. Pretty nice.

If you're listening to a typical album of Bob Dylan "Together trough Life" turn to an independent release that you just feel that enthusiasm which said master fails to do so. Do it in Fort Worth, Texas born but raised in Boston Massachusetts singer-songwriter Dan Baker.

Baker is so me and someone who in every alley of a city can face. Armed with a pocket-it's post, he describes what he observes. The self-adhesive yellow valances arrive on the door of his American refrigerator. Every day he pulls open which sometimes falls on the ground. As puzzle pieces fall together as the ten were also very nice life contemplative songs now on his debut CD "outskirts of town" is.

The simple instrumentation of acoustic guitars, bass, brush drums, keyboard and violin surround the warm country folk songs, without really excel. Normally, for our daily purposes, meaningless events and characters pass in review. Homeless zatlappen, file annoyances or Goddienstig the grain in 'God Might Be Crazy, "too many to mention, you will find it all on this album. Baker wakes up from a dream but want to dream Dreams are going to make you die ". Eager though he is not, everything you can from him as you but its "Flamingo & Palm Tree 'afblijft. It sounds as logical as what and is even very easy to follow. As you have the missing text book required.

Dan Baker says the network as a 'Poet Fatherland ". Poetry of the street sometimes with a wink but clearly with some finger changes. Good honest debut. (Jan Janssen)

( translated from Dutch )

Just when the new album of Bob Dylan Only the Diehard fans' excellent 'is mentioned, seems to us the debut of a young man blowing from the ungodly Brockton, Massachusetts. Dan Baker finds himself, in the best tradition of Dylan, a writer rather than a singer, but this is already a point where he can and must speak. Indeed, the ten songs on this debut album shine, give true expression of an International WebSites@INTL.WS and flawless observations, but it sounds then even very convincing when he sings his lyrics. That has a lot to do with the way the plate and produced is very simple, nothing liflafjes or no overdubs, just in the studio, playing and recording. The perfect mix of country and folk, gelardeerd with a firm dose of disarming itself in perspective. It seems like Dan Baker purpose for everything, I think he even has an open position phonebook could write a song. How to bar in a cafe where you never met a girl picking up for example (Bad Man), or how you think of the emptiness and narrowness of your own life and would like it wants to exchange with the best dog, so you at least folks in the garden may be, whether you head through a car window may stabbing (Live Like A Dog). Absolutely huge price for my ears is the irony dripping song Flamingo & Palm Tree, in which Baker sings that he does not care what he afpakt nor his ten-speed racing, his car, or eating his plate, as long as you but afblijft of flamingos and palm tree baby blue, Christmas coffee mug. Phenomenal song from a truly impressive debut. Let now quiet old Dylan and radio: the successor is ready! (DH)

Dan Baker emerges as a talented singer/songwriter
Posted on 08 Jun 2009
By IAN ABREU

A singer/songwriter appears to be emerging from New England music scene.

After releasing his debut CD entitled Outskirts of Town back in 2008, Dan Baker has been receiving high praise as one of the best young song writer’s throughout not only the United States, but throughout Europe as well.

“I released Outskirts of Town in September and so far, the response has been really great. I'm also working with a distributer over in Sweden because the record is doing pretty well over there as well,” said Baker. “I've had some good reviews and some radio play. So, if that keeps up, I hope to head out there next year for a tour to help promote the record. Needless to say, I’ve been doing such promo stuff over in Europe.”

Outskirts of Town features 10 songs of original material and, according to Baker, wouldn’t have even happened if it weren’t for a local generous recording studio owner.

“The CD was recorded in Hyde Park at a place called Makeshift Studios,” explained the native of Somerville, Mass. “Darron Burke, the guy who runs the place, was both affordable and great to work with. He really gave me a great sound.”

Even though Baker is a solo act when he performs live, he did enlist the aid of a couple of local musicians to help him record his last album. Baker wanted to acknowledge their hard work.

“The bass player on the record is Andy Kissock. We met in college and have been hanging out and playing together ever since,” he said. “The drummer, Matt Malinn, knew Andy's downstairs neighbors. He would hear us jamming down in the basement, so he started hanging out and playing too. Those two guys really shaped the sound of the record.”

Describing his particular style of music as anywhere from folk, to Americana, to alt-country, Baker credits a long list of artistic influences as his inspiration.

“John Prine is definitely one of my favorites. The first record I ever bought of his was ‘Diamonds In the Rough’, and it's one of the finest records I've ever heard,” he said. “Richard Thompson is also another big one. His song ‘God Loves a Drunk’ might just be the best song ever written. Leonard Cohen also was a huge influence. ‘Songs from a Room’ is my favorite from him. Of course Bob Dylan, how can you not be influenced by the master?”

One point Baker wants to stress to all of his fans is that when you go see him play live, feel free to stop on over and say “hello.”

“Well, first off, my songs will rock the very foundation of your soul,” he said. “Second, I'm a pretty friendly guy, and if you buy a CD I will autograph it for free. Then after my set, we can sit at the bar and drink beer until closing, and right before last call, we'll do a couple of rounds of Jagermeister and refuse to leave the venue. Either way it would be a great night, and one we would never forget.”

( Translated from Italian )

It would be too easy, and at the same time unnecessary, draw on the title for sciorinare the usual avalanche of comparisons and the like, in fact, almost inevitable: life in the suburbs that recalls Springsteen in the blue overalls of the seventies, a yearning folk looking straight into the eyes of a such that the bazzichi Greenwich Village in search of answers in the wind ... There is but one though, or anything you like: Dan Baker is not just another new Dylan that is in addition to a now-ended list of disciples of the master. Of course, this is a classic songwriter who often gravitate around the folk tradition, but between the lines will intercept a particular style that moves the center of gravity influences a little 'further west, where in Chicago that a guy named John Prine moved the beginnings of an artistic rather than illuminated by the lights of the stage for cotanto colleague. This is a debut, and this is something that should not be underestimated because we are dealing with an artist, above average, which mixes the charm of the Texas native (born in Fort Worth) with the portraits of small town life where has increased, that of Massachusetts.

Prine to have that ability to songwriting that cuts the irony with the teeth, the lyrics are blunt and sharp, disposed of by a hangover of aniteroismo daily. Todd Snider Is there a filter to do, in fact some of the voice inflections trail recall his post-explosion, the Oh Boy, it is no accident that the label put it away in forging a sense the future and artistic legacy . On this axis move the ten songs that album, built on a sound system and semiacoustic thin, textured organ, piano and sometimes fiddle to incinerate the banality of life, the one who smiles when accepting the compromise with temptation, again But careful all'altrui existence. The only note, if you really want to try the hair nell'uovo covers some static tracks, which run on the same chord of inspiration without losing balance, indeed.

Thus the sounding social dips in solitude on the outskirts (the title track coated folk) and gives its best in Bad Man, pearl autobiographical-step error dall'inevitabile paced charm of sin, one sip from the plane of God Might Be Crazy, who joked with caution on a question that makes people smile since the first verse (He invented the pleasures of skin, but then he called those pleasures left). The body of Dreams intercept the core of a talented, Flamingo & Palm Tree and Surrounded - it washed by a lovely violin - play a hard game with the problems of heart, Untraveled Road is the discounting of Sam Stone at a distance of forty years to paint the canvas of the horrors of the sad realities of war, as if to say that from Vietnam to Iraq the experience did not lead counsel. There is room for the country of Live Like A Dog, while the beautiful and conclusive Spinning 'Round expresses clearly a innate predisposition, able to exit the provincial dimension to knock on the doors of paradise, in the sense that music does not seem to respond more the call.

(This is translated from Dutch... but you get the idea.)


Put this next album but the CD's Sam Baker. This Dan Baker, on the cover looking rather shy, do not really feel small in the company of his namesake. Because outskirts of town (house) is a great debut. Dan Baker lives in Boston, Massachusetts, but is originally from Fort Worth, Texas. As Sam writes Dan, has no family, beautiful narrative songs. And even though not escape the comparison with Bob Dylan, Dan Baker this is indeed an original artist. Especially the first two numbers of the CD, the title track and Traffic Jams, have something of Dylan. It is those stories which the words continue, driven by organ game. Traffic Jam and also of those long stretched words at the end of some sentences. Completely Before The Flood. That voice is also Baker damn much reminiscent of Jonathan Richman. Especially on Bad Man, a good sing song with talking again magnificent organ playing is the case. In this regard detailed zeurde singing style - I love that - he repented as an unbeatable woman conqueror. The magnificent Flamingo & Palm Tree is once again a story about the breakdown of a relationship and the problems it causes. You can take my car I can walk / My phone do not need to talk / My hat, my coat, my boots and my winter gloves / You can take anything that you might like / My old skateboard at my speed bike / You can even have my sixteenth century oriental back / But do not you take my / Flamingo and palm tree baby blue Christmas coffee mug. Humor has also Dan Baker. In this respect he has something of Jonathan Richman. And perhaps John Prineville. And as Sam Stone Prineville with a great anti-war song written during the Vietnam War, as Baker has also one. In Untraveled Road tells the sad story of a soldier killed in Iraq. Available at CD Baby.

If you liked Bob Dylan, you're really going to dig this kid! He's as comfortable sounding as your favorite old pair of sneakers.

(This is translated from Dutch so it might sound kind of funny)

You know: in the pub gets busy with a strange game that tells his life story. This time he himself as Dan Baker and he is living in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Where he comes from, a hard blowing wind and streets strewn with drunkards. Dan Baker fast friends, because he now has a dog and as Bob Dylan sounds.
The young singer-songwriter observe from the sidelines. Baker actually appears on his inspiration to pick up. Even if he car along the side of the road, packed his note pad and pedaling a few cross words, sooner or later to make a song out of it. Thus the ten songs on the excellent debut outskirts of town more or less naturally arisen.
Halfway through the CD says the frank Baker almost everything would stand. You can be car, skateboard and baseball pictures are, if you are flamingos and palm trees but still. If song is' FLAMINGO & Palm Tree 'typical Baker. The allemansvriend impresses with its delicious murmur and stories about daily life.

Dan Baker is a little like Bob Dylan put to a slow country beat, with just a touch of Steve Earle thrown into the pot. Most of Outskirts of Town is slow, sad, and often a little depressing. But Baker sings with sincerity, and is even convincing when his voice takes on a Bob Dylan whine, as during "Traffic Jam."

This disc’s best song is one called "Bad Man." On it, Baker – bad man in the story – sings of seducing a "good girl." Over a waltz rhythm, Baker describes himself as a slithery beast. "I curled around her like a snake," he admits, "that was ready to constrict." He knows he’s taking advantage of an innocent flower, but he just can’t help himself. Although he sees himself as pure evil during this sexual conquest, he still has trouble with the whole "sex is bad" thing. On "God Might Be Crazy," for instance, he wonders if God’s restrictions on sex might be a sign of deified insanity. "He invented the pleasures of skin, but then he called those pleasures a sin."

This CD is not by any means all about sex. Outskirts of Town, for instance, reminds one of Steve Earle’s "Someday." Baker complains about the doldrums of small town life. Baker also has a good sense of humor, which comes through during "Live like a Dog," where he imagines trading his hard life for a dog’s much easier life. This acoustic guitar-driven song is nicely colored by fiddle. It also has a nice country-fied electric guitar solo. Ironically, it includes a line about "chasing bitches" that isn’t at all demeaning to women. I challange any gangsta rapper to pull that off.

These song arrangements are extremely sparse for the most part, but "Spinning ‘Round" has sharp drums, electric guitar fills, and rhythmic piano. The song is also a good bookend to the title track. The latter tune speaks of the claustrophobic nature of a small town, while "Spinning ‘Round" narrows the environment down to a local bar, and then even smaller to the painful world inside Baker’s own head. "This bottle is the only friend that I got now," he admits, tragically.

It’s likely country music haters will recoil at the lyrical direction of Outskirts of Town because Dan Baker makes stereotypically sad country music. But you really need to give this music a fighting chance. Baker is a smart and insightful singer, who thinks deeply and writes intelligently about the curious thoughts spinning ‘round his head. It's great stuff, no matter what you want to call it.

Best record I've ever heard!!