The man is back! This is my 28th time reviewing Mr. Kurt Baker as a lead artist, and I always delight in hearing new music from him. Out on Wicked Cool Records, Baker's new 7" "Undertow Afterglow" veers a little from the pop-punk influence of his more recent singles. Here we hear Baker working in his familiar lane of power pop and classic guitar pop. "Undertow Afterglow," which Baker co-wrote with Dan Miraldi, reflects a challenging year in Baker's life both personally and creatively. In one respect, it's a love song. In another, as Baker says, it "exemplifies the ups and downs of life." Sometimes when you're pulled in by the undertow, you have to hold on for dear life and trust that there's light at the end of the tunnel. This a splendidly bittersweet number full of intoxicating melodies, and a lot of people will relate to this tale of relationship upheaval. On the B-side, "My Brave Face" is a splendid cover of a song co-written by two of Baker's musical heroes: Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney. If anyone was going to be up to the task of putting his own spin on this song, it was certainly Kurt Baker! And I love how the song complements the A-side both musically and thematically. This world is always a better place with Kurt Baker's music in it, and I can't wait to hear how this next phase of his creative journey turns out! Physical copies of "Undertow Afterglow" are available on mellow yellow vinyl while supplies last!
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