"Queenstown is an acoustic rock masterpiece. Simple and to the point, Andy Baker provides uplifting, fun music with a supertight horn section."
"Baker's music frequently drifts into reggae-style breakdowns, creating a smooth transition from his acoustic lull to booty-shakin' ska. Each cut on the album attacks a different genre of music while still maintaining Baker's acoustic feel."
"Toying with a string section, slide guitar and vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Beach Boys, Baker's album is constantly changing, adding a spontaneity missing from Anchorage's local music scene. Baker's voice is a blend of Sting in his early years and Van Morrison, producing a wonderfully unique sound with an essence of the classics."
"Andy Baker's songs include the topics of traveling and love...he also included some humorous tracks, including "Finish That Song" in which he recounts the difficulty of writing song lyrics."
"Queenstown contains 10 songs, with the longest being just over four minutes...the few times the music became repetitive, the song would end and a completely different feel would follow."
"Congratulations to Andy Baker on his new CD Queenstown. His song "Foreign Land" has been chosen as a 1st in the Rock category, and his song "Finish That Song" has been chosen as a 1st in the Novelty category in the Alaska Public Radio Network's 7th Annual Song Of The Year Contest. The final round judging was conducted in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks..."
Anchorage singer-songwriter Andy Baker celebrated the release of his new CD, Queenstown, saturday night at the Wilda Marston Theatre. Baker, with Pro Mitra on guitar and bass and Sam Gray on drums, played for more than an hour, pulling mostly from the new CD. The music was interspersed with the stories behind the songs and repeated thanks for support. Some of Baker's songs, such as "Foreign Land", are about his travels around the world. Baker's musical talent and song craftsmanship on the CD are remarkable.
Queenstown is well produced (it was made in Anchorage's Surreal Studios) and contains several artists playing a combination of instruments. In concert, the three piece band played so tightly the production extras weren't missed; Pro Mitra's harmonizing is wonderful, both in concert and on the CD. Queenstown's strong songs? "Hole In Your Heart", "Try Again", and "Hold Steady".
Baker has been receiving payback for his hard work with two first-place finishes in the Alaska Public Radio Network Song Of The Year Contest, and an opening slot at the recent trio of John Prine concerts in Alaska.
