Note to Sam's friends and fans: This is the official Myspace of Sam Baker. It is maintained by Sam's management, but Sam does check in from time to time.
Sam Baker's is a hard-hewn grace, transcendentally wrought with grit, brutally chiaroscuroed by a weary deliverance sought in common lives. If the local songwriter's first album, 2004's Mercy, grasped for a deeper understanding of the dark tragedies beyond our control – a return to the Peruvian train rent by a bomb that nearly killed him in 1986 – then Pretty World (2007) was its reconciliation, a turn outward with grateful eyes renewed by contemplation. Persistent in Baker's vision is an empathetic evocation of treading life's stilled waters, beauty welled in the dirt of daily endurance. His characters, drawn with the insight of Townes Van Zandt and John Prine, toil unglamorously, overlooked save for Baker's rough, sing-talk psalms giving them fitting voice. Cotton likewise finds its muse on the outskirts: the Mexican immigrant of "Mennonite," the roadside pleads of "Signs," the girl, tired and worried yet calmly knowing, in "Not Another Mary." These tales labor under the heavily shouldered harness of history, Baker's Texas a parabolic culmination of inescapable genealogies, from the tent revivals of twin tracks "Palestine I" and "Palestine II" to the handcrafted inevitability of "Bridal Chest." His familiar intertwining of traditional fare roots the tales with inescapable inheritances, the album's opening strains of "Dixie" breaking upon the title track's grounded blues as female voices rise against Baker's hard drawl. Cotton's biggest shift is the fuller accompaniment that empowers Baker's ballads, especially Steve Conn's piano and the electric guitar growl of "Palestine I," but his poignancy emerges best in the soft lullaby of "Moon" and unshakable loss of "Angel Hair." Closing with the thematic counterpoint to the toil of "Cotton," "Snow" finally gestures toward a momentary redemption in patient penitence, a complete, if fleeting, renewal: "First light city streets are white pristine. They are waiting." - Doug Freeman
Sam, I just got through perusing your website and am compelled to comment here. Your story is heart wrenching yet VERY uplifting. Your talent is simply amazing. When I am through writing this I am returning to your website do devour the rest of what you have there. We also have an interesting mix of mutual friends. Tell all my Austin pals that I will eventually be back in town. If you are playing when I get there your gig will be on my agenda ......FOR SURE. You're powerful, my brother.
Sam, Sorry I didn't catch you at the shows after the Eindhoven one. Grateful to have seen and meet you in Eindhoven, though. Take care and all the best. May a thousand pretty worlds be in store for you. - Henk
I've been listening to "Cotton" all day.... another beautiful and brilliant piece of art from you. I fell in love with a few songs instantly, and the others are getting better and better with each listen. Thank you for the wonderful songs.
Your tour schedule is so tight. Take care!
Tomoko in Tokyo P.S. I wish I could be at your Cactus show in October...!!!
Fantastic gig in Norwich - Tim was outstanding, the rapport between you both was very special. We think the Cotton album is your best yet, great vocal harmonies too. Please come back to the Banham Barrel next time you're over, I'd be honoured to support you. We're organising a Bring Baker Back to Banham campaign!! Take care of yourself - hope the rest of the tour goes well. And hope the Orangutan is alright! Geoff & Ali
Hopefully you'll get to read this sometime, Sam - it was an amazing gig at St Bonaventure's last night. First time I've seen you - all I had on CD was Mercy until last night, though I've heard a lot more on Bob Harris - and I loved your style of performing, the interplay with Tim and, hey, even the pirate joke and pantomime! I hope that you'll get the sponsorship deal with DAB that you so richly deserve too ha ha ha. :) And more importantly your songs are so much more moving, if that were possible, when sung live. Hopefully see you next time!
Thanks for bein a friend --- good luck across the pond! And if y'all are gonna be near Wales, give me a shout, there are some very cool folks there you should meet!
Alice just ordered "Cotton" from cduniverse --- can't wait to have it playing on the home system! You've really done something special, I hope y'all can feel it.
Hey, Sam, I've been enjoying Cotton and playing my advance copy on my radio show. I've spread word via emails and on a webpage across the water about your upcoming tour in the UK and Holland. I sincerely hope the tour brings many new listeners to your fine work.
Thanks again, Sam, to you and Gurf for indulging my request list at Mistahyah on Sunday...you know I did not really expect that you would actually play more than one on the list but I am grateful that you did.
That place is special. Whenever I've been there, I've felt privileged somehow. Despite the chill of our northern air, I hope you both left feeling like all was well and that it will not really be the last time we sing together under the stars like a contented group of old friends.
Safe journey, music man, from your friends in the north country.
Thanks so much for stopping by in Kilkenny to chat. I'll let you know when it airs. I hope your cold has improved and the Belfast gig was as good as it was in Cleere's. Feel free to stop by anytime! And, by the way, the girl with the pink shoes you saw in the town? That was my daughter. See, things are just meant to be sometimes...Martin (;-)
I can't get no...I can't get no...I can't get no Sam Baker in Virginny...need a Texas run! Ian loves Angel...takes you in the OR all the time...so lovely. Holler back, Sam..miss you!
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