Sam Baker - Say Grace

by Malcolm Carter

published: 29 / 7 / 2013

Label: Sam Baker Music
Format: CD

Intimate and life-affirming fourth album from American folk singer-songwriter Sam Baker, who was one of the survivors of a terrorist bomb attack upon a Peruvian train in 1986

Review

Sometimes we get a ‘press release’ with the albums we get to review. A few details about the artist, a little background on the making of the album maybe. At times I’ve actually read reviews that have been a rehash of a press release. Admittedly a well-written rehash but a rehash nonetheless. I can honestly say I’ve never read such a thing here, and I am not going to be the first to break that tradition. I am not going to rehash the press release for Sam Baker’s fourth album, but I am going to quote directly from it for a couple of reasons. Firstly it states much more eloquently than I could one of the reasons why Sam Baker makes music. Also, although Baker is apparently a man of few words, when he does speak it’s worth listening to, much like the songs on ‘Say Grace’. So here we go; “ In 1986 I was on a train in Cuzco, Peru that was blown up by terrorists. It killed the people I was sitting with. I had a cut artery, brain damage, blown in ear drums and should have died but I didn’t. I had lots of surgeries. Lots of ups and downs…I tried to figure out what it means to be blown up-to survive when others die” “My first record was ‘Mercy’…in 2007 ‘Pretty World’ was released and in 2009 ‘Cotton’. They formed a rough trilogy that I later called ‘The Mercy Trilogy’. The big theme was: Everyone is at the mercy of another one’s dream.” “This record is called ‘Say Grace’. It is the same as the other records but different. Just like life. The same but different. To say grace means to say thank you. It means to be grateful for what is before me - for what I have. It means to not be bitter about what I don’t have and really, to not be bitter about things I lost”. “Life is a gift. I went through a lot of bitterness - a lot of anger. But those things are toxic…all I’ve got-no matter what I hold in my hands, drive around in, or put in the bank-all I’ve got is this one breath, and, if I’m lucky, I get another”. Baker possesses one of the most warm, gently sand blasted voices you will ever hear and, when coupled with his remarkable talent for not only painting pictures with his songs but creating little movies in your head, you’ll be wondering why Baker isn’t more well known after four albums of simply stunning music. It is not just a matter of writing short stories and setting them to attractive pieces of music. There is not a lyric here, not a section of music that Baker hasn’t poured his heart and soul into. Music with no depth, with no substance, to be discarded when we get tired of it is in plentiful supply these days. Music of the quality that Baker makes should be treasured. Not only a fine lyricist, I could listen to Baker singing about my next-door neighbour’s cat and still be moved, I’m sure. Baker also has a winning way with melodies, so much so that on first listen it is Baker’s melodies that capture you before his lyrics command your attention. Then there’s that voice; at times Baker almost speaks his words rather than sings them. This makes listening to Baker quite an intimate experience. Many times through the course of listening to ‘Say Grace’ you feel that Baker is singing just to you and he will, without fail, hold your attention. Baker’s vivid descriptions of people we all come into contact with daily pull you even further into his songs. Most listeners will recognize the people, the places and the situations that Baker describes in such detail in these songs. Baker’s characters really do come to life as his stories unfold. The album opens with the title song, a touching tale of an ageing woman looking back on her life set to a lovely, haunting melody. Then there’s Baker’s ode to a pipe layer in ‘Ditch’, While littered with amusing lines such as “My wife, God bless her and for what it is worth, thinks she and Taylor Swift were twins at birth” still gets Baker’s message across about the lack of safety and risk of life and limb while carrying out a such dangerous work. Still the working man’s pride shines through as Baker sings, “Glad I got work, glad I got pay”. There’s not a song on ‘Say Grace’ that won’t move you in some way. Baker’s, at times, monologue vocal style is well suited to these songs, somehow enhancing all the small nuances in his music and making you eventually more aware of his all-important lyrics. With excellent support from a host of musicians including Gulf Morlix and with Carrie Elkin returning the vocal support Baker provided on her ‘Call It My Garden’ album from a couple of years back, ‘Say Grace’ must rank as Baker’s finest to date. With a short UK and Ireland tour on the cards for September, this could well prove to be the album that gets this original, talented and thoughtful musician the recognition that has been so long coming in Europe.

Track Listing:-

1 Say Grace
2 The Tattooed Woman
3 Road Crew
4 Migrants
5 White Heat
6 Ditch
7 Interlude
8 Isn't Love Great
9 Introduction to Feast
10 Feast
11 Sweet Hour of Prayer
12 Panhandle Winter
13 Button By Button
14 Go in Peace