Gabriel Baker

Rodriguez: Cold Fact

By Gabriel Baker

There's still three more months left in the year, but the rediscovery of Rodriguez and his modest debut masterpiece may just be the most pleasant surprise of 2008. [19 September 2008]

Irma Thomas: Simply Grand

By Gabriel Baker

With the damage of Hurricane Katrina still fresh in her mind, Irma Thomas attempts to reconcile and move on with the help of a host of friends and guest artists. [14 August 2008]

Quiet Village: Silent Movie

By Gabriel Baker

By outsourcing from all sorts of musical subgenres, Quiet Village attempts to create an eclectic summer time mix. However, Silent Village can't seem to distance itself from the lethargic, schmaltzy source material it cites. [11 July 2008]

Rob Brown Ensemble: Crown Trunk Root Funk

By Gabriel Baker

Generally well-balanced, eminently exploratory, and surprisingly funky, Crown Trunk Root Funk is a successful product from a musician just as adept in the studio as he is on a New York club stage or at any other venue. [3 July 2008]

King Khan and The Shrines: The Supreme Genius Of

By Gabriel Baker

King Khan and the Shrines are back with a blast from the past. This compilation of earlier funk-soul cuts mixed with a scattering of new songs proves that even Khan is aware of how under appreciated he is. [2 July 2008]

Various Artists: Soul Messages From Dimona

By Gabriel Baker

The latest Numero Group import is probably its most conceptually cohesive album to date. And it sounds great too. [16 June 2008]

Follow Your Heart: Moving with the Giants of Jazz, Swing, and Rhythm and Blues by Joe Evans

By Gabriel Baker

It's fun discovering that Jackie Wilson used to be a prizefighter or imagining band members waking up a drugged-out Charlie Parker right before his solo. [28 May 2008]

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra: Live in Zurich, Switzerland 2.5.1950

By Gabriel Baker

This 14-track set of Duke Ellington and his outstanding orchestra thankfully leaves in all of the between-song banter, highlighting Ellington’s gift as a showman as well as a musician. [16 April 2008]

Man Man: Rabbit Habits

By Gabriel Baker

As musically rambunctious and jubilant as Man Man’s earlier releases, but underneath its trademark cacophony is some of the darkest subject matter the band has tackled to date. [8 April 2008]

Elvis Costello and the Attractions: This Year’s Model

By Gabriel Baker

The latest expanded edition of Costello’s classic looks extremely enticing on paper. Unfortunately the two-disc set ends up re-hashing material in an uninspired fashion. [2 April 2008]

Be Your Own Pet: Get Awkward

By Gabriel Baker

By riding high on punchy impulses, Get Awkward ends up being a solid follow-up even if it doesn’t sound as instantly re-playable as the band’s charismatic first LP. [21 March 2008]

The Dirtbombs: We Have You Surrounded

By Gabriel Baker

The R&B obsessed garage-rockers deliver their signature punk-soul stylings while exploring new, more varied musical terrain. [10 March 2008]

Mixed Media: Top 5 Videos of 2008: Gabriel Baker [4 December 2008]