Rayland Baxter – Imaginary Man (ALBUM REVIEW)

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raylandalbumRayland Baxter’s sound has certainly evolved on his new record Imaginary Man, the fantastic follow-up to 2012’s strong debut feathers & fishHooks. He’s mostly a classic folk artist that somehow manages to never remain too predictable. While his first album was definitely a lot more stripped down and acoustic, Man pushes the envelope and allows Baxter to really stretch and expand into the all the corners of his talents, be it his sweet, gentle harmonies or his catchy hooks. His melodies are fuller and richer, and the production is a little more rock-pop than we’re used to from him, in part thanks to the impressive roster of producers who had a hand, but also due to Baxter’s seemingly endless quest for adventure in his music.

Proving he can’t be cornered, Baxter has spent time on the road with everyone from country rebel Kacey Musgraves to folksy troubadour Shakey Graves, and even sultry rocker Grace Potter. He’s got a free spirit aura about him, and it comes across on all levels, including his quirky social media persona. Man is the embodiment of this vibe, as it soars and flows majestically. The arrangements are lush and grandiose, particularly on “Oh My Captain”, a sort of melancholy journey of a song that builds from simple folk narrative to epic pop proportions. “All in My Head” is another gorgeously sad breakup tune that tricks you into thinking it’s a ballad, and then takes flights and leaves you swooning. Following a similar sonic aesthetic to folk pop band Lord Huron, taking the storytelling aspect of folk music and setting it amidst a stunning soundscape that’s vivid and dreamy.

So many “guy-with-a-guitar” artists unfortunately blend into the background, but Baxter stands out for many reasons, namely his voice and his smarts when it comes to developing his sound and pushing it as far as he can. He has cross-over appeal whether he wants it or not, and it’s not hard to imagine his songs playing on pop or rock radio, or to picture him on a stage at Newport Folk Festival down the line.

Man is a dynamic record with a little bit of edge and lot of thoughtful detail. Baxter worked with the same producers who have skillfully helped craft records with Deer Tick, Diamond Rugs and Andrew Combs, all artists who have dipped into the pop music pool significantly with their latest records. Man also features appearances from pop maestro Mikky Ekko, Delta Spirit’s Matt Vazquez and Jessie Baylin, all thoughtful choices given their own respective evolutions with their latest work (both Baylin and Delta Spirit have released their pop-iest records yet in the last year).

With Man, Baxter feels poised for an onslaught of attention from all angles, including the mainstream. Songs like the almost Black Keys-ish “Young Man”, a dark, sun baked tune; “Mother Mother”, a Harry Nilsson-smooth treat; and “Yellow Eyes”, a fiercely well-written and beautifully crafted heartbreaker are just a small handful of Baxter’s offerings that will bewitch new listeners and only continue to grow his fan base.

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