What do you get when you take Clutch and tell Neil Fallon to take a hike? You get The Bakerton Group. While you might think you've lost a lot, and you have, you've also found something new, different, and unique.
The Bakerton Group is the band' debut full-length and first for Emetic Records. I honestly hadn't heard this project's previous EP so I wasn't sure what to expect. The label had me thinking NOLA-influenced metal, but it is not. Instead the listener is treated to eight tracks and thirty-five minutes of instrumental jam-rock. One could loosely compare them to Clutch, but there are other artists that also come to mind. "The Shickley" sounds similar to Led Zeppelin in their jam-freakout phases. Meanwhile "Great Bakertons" and "Last Orbit" have quite a funk and even jazz influence. "Bruce Bigsby" reminded me of Josh Homme's Desert Sessions for some reason, it's got that vibe here and there.
This is a solid album to put on if you've got some work to do and need some tunes while you dig in. The music isn't overly powerful or complex that it demands your undivided attention, but it's intricate enough to keep you intrigued.
