Baxter Hall “The Work”
Hailing from Boston, Baxter Hall is just releasing a new EP The Work, which thematically considers the various ways one has to work through situations, challenges, and heartaches that come from broken relationships of various types. Baxter’s music is labelled alternative but it carries itself more lightly on balance than some of your typical “alt” music, at least until it hits its crescendoes, and then it’s all in. In terms of the wordsmanship, Baxter Hall crafts lyrics that are complex as they wind their way through language and emotional, inviting you to follow until you hit the chorus, which will stick in your head all day.
“You Were the One” is a touch of earlier Wilco-esque in an examination of what happens when a relationship changes and ends: “you were the one who made this awkward… you were the one who made this bad, and you were the one who said ‘I’m not hurt’ because you were the one who can’t face the fact…” This song carries a whimsical feel all the while it also delves into uncomfortable truths, including the fact that when you have any relationship with a songwriter, expect to end up in a song.
The title track exposes the way that people often leave the work of healing to another person, and they unfortunately fail to provide the healthy supportive nets that we wish they would. This song starts out with introspection, then builds up until the high octane finale of “I’ll do the work my goddamn self.” It’s moving, it’s majestic, and it’s noble.
As Baxter tells it, “’The Work’ EP is really four different versions of the same story told from completely different emotional states. There’s anger, sadness, and even some passive aggressive humor, but the title track ‘The Work’ I felt encapsulated it all and enforces the theme of resolution and alchemy — which is ultimately what songwriting is all about for me.”
“Tricks” pulses with some dark dreamscape vibes and there’s angry at what someone put them through. “I see right through you this time… your tricks don’t work on me, I know you think they do, well, that’s what I want you to see, because I am tricking you…. ” The rhythm keeps things pulsing and dark throughout the outpouring
On “Way Too Easy” there’s a little more pain exposed with “I hate the way I got taken for granted.” There are wounds here, and we’ve all felt them in some form or another. This song serves as an example of the way music can be far more cathartic and therapeutic than is sometimes considered.
Topically this EP very accurately identifies the range of emotions experienced when you’ve been hurt, lied to, betrayed. It hits that bulls-eye dead center. Musically, it’s refreshing and enjoyable, demonstrating a tight expertise in terms of the arrangement. The guitar and melodies keep you listening and bopping along up above, while the rhythm and the heavier guitar parts, when they kick in, bring the emotional intensity down and ground it at just the right time.
More details and show dates are available here on his website: https://baxterhallmusic.com
The Work was produced by Baxter Hall, Bella Lepore Hall and Jon Evans; recorded at Brick Hill Studio in Orleans, MA; mixed by Jon Evans; and mastered by John Mailloux at Bongo Beach Productions in Westport, MA. Music and lyrics by Baxter Hall with additional lyrics by Bella Lepore Hall on on all tracks except for “Tricks.”
Musicians on The Work are Baxter Hall on vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, drums, and organ; and Jon Evans on electric and upright bass, percussion; tenor guitar on “You Were the One”; and programming on “Tricks”; with EP artwork by Baxter Hall, Bella Lepore Hall and Alandra Hall; and
press photos by Adriana Arguijo Gutierrez