Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Steve Baskin follows up his debut album with Naked. The new record continues down the path that his debut album, I Sometimes Think, began with singer/ songwriter power pop spiced with a bit of Southern fried seasoning, and he has expanded his range with new styles, sounds and themes. While I Sometimes Think largely explored emotions around love and relationships, Naked’s themes run all over the place – love; love gone bad; running; the stress of the office; the Zen of the river; runaways; prostitution; and death.


Steve wrote the majority of the lyrics and music and handled lead vocals and guitars on Naked. He also collaborated on songs with Nashville writer and Little River Band lead guitarist, Rich Herring as well as North Carolinian, Tracy Brown. But perhaps the big surprise on the record is when we find Steve channeling Keith Partridge on his take of the Tony Romeo-penned I Think I Love You.


Steve’s band, some of Atlanta’s top musicians, played throughout the record: Alex Slinin (who in addition to his excellent guitar abilities has engineering credits with artists like Eminem and Dr. Dre) handled the lead guitar chores. Joe Randolph played bass. Brian Hudson (Memory Dean) played drums and percussion. Richard “Zoot” Blasingame helped out on vocals, keyboards and organs, accordion, and bari sax. Steve also had album sessions with Pamela Bishop on vocals, Ruben Harris on cello and Mark Van Allen (Sugarland) on steel guitar.


The album was recorded by Jonathan Beckner at Real to Reel Studios and by Steve at his Underground Music Studio. Glenn Matullo, who has worked with such artists as John Mayer, Shawn Mullin and the Indigo Girls, mixed the songs at Orphan Studio. Colin Leonard mastered the record at Glenn Schick Mastering. All of the production was done in Atlanta, Georgia.


In a 2007 article from The Valdosta Daily Times, Steve’s debut album I Sometimes Think was described as “a poppy blend of groove and soul with a nice slice of edge.” In a recent article, the newspaper contends that his new release Naked is both more raw in its emotional impact while more refined in its musicianship and production. "This second CD maintains a pop quality fueled with a charging rock attitude. And it’s just some unvarnished great music.”


Not Lame Recordings compared Steve’s debut album with John Mayer, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Duncan Sheik. Creative Loafing said “Power-pop aficionados looking for some new stuff from the deep underground, try out Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Baskin's new effort. All the touchstones are in place: grabby tunes, stacked (but not heavy) guitars, shiny vocal harmonies.” Southern Fried Magazine exclaims that Steve’s “got a great rockin’ sound”. Paste Magazine featured Steve’s song, “How I Feel” on one of its heralded compilation CDs.


Naked is available online at CDBaby.com, iTunes, Amazon.com, at select Southeast record stores and right here at stevebaskin.com.

What folks are saying about Steve's music


Steve’s mom
I like this one even better than the first one.


Awaken Music
If its textured Americana alt/pop-rock that you're into, then you'll dig Naked, by Atlanta-based, Steve Baskin. Surrounded by a stellar band, they create soundscapes that accurately articulate each song and Baskin's vocals.

Album opener, Catch Me If You Can, is overly poppy, and lends itself to all listeners. It comes across like a blend of Counting Crows and Blue October. Later track, A Day in My Shoes seductively explodes with a great, soaring lead guitar riff. The melodies aren't quite as singable, but the hooks come at you one after another.

Something Smells Fishy belongs main stage at Bonnaroo. Its jammy and catchy all the same. Clearly, these guys know their way inside a studio. Their sounds are solid, and they all complement each other song after song. Ross Christopher


Dean Poling, Valdosta Daily Times <full article>
The Valdosta Daily Times’ 2007 article described I Sometimes Think as “a poppy blend of groove and soul with a nice slice of edge.” Naked is both more raw in its emotional impact while more refined in its musicianship and production. Naked is a CD about “love, love gone bad, running, the stress of the office, the Zen of the river, runaways, prostitution, and death.”

This second CD maintains a pop quality fueled with a charging rock attitude. And it’s just some unvarnished great music.


Gumbo Show with Joe
"Subtle yet powerful album. This album is full of hard driving yet nuanced tracks that take you on a journey through the soul of a singer/songwriter surrounded by top-notch talent. I hope you will enjoy this album as much as I have!"


Wildy's World
Naked opens with "Catch Me If You Can", a catchy rocker with a candy-coated chorus you won't soon get out of your head. "Please Don't Leave" plays in much the same vein, a classic rock roll love song with a chorus that sticks with you. "Something Smells Fishy" is likely to be a fan favorite, particularly live; an upbeat yet dark blues tune that will have you hitting repeat. "I Think I Love You" is pure bubblegum, and doesn't seem to change much no matter who covers it. It might just be the perfect pop song and is therefore very hard to make a mess out of. Baskin gets it right with a solid rendition.


"Baskin's lyrical, meaningful styple is equally balanced with inventive melodic phrases. This set of tunes is both highly entertaining as well as deep with a new magic." ML tri-boy from iTunes



"My husband and I haven't been able to stop listening to this! I've been runnng to it, always have it on in the house, in the car. It works for any mood I'm in. I can't remember the last time I liked every single song on an album, although Naked is our favorite." Loungechair from iTunes


This is the sort of music that should get a lot more attention -- lyrics that make you think or take you away, music that is easy to get close to but still has an edge. I like Pete Yorn a lot. I like Steve Baskin a bit more. I hope Steve gets some of the credit and attention that has been coming to Pete lately, as Steve's music is better." Yodle-ay-HEEEE from iTunes


Southern Fried Magazine
Steve Baskin hails from Valdosta, Georgia (ok, now he's from Atlanta). He is a singer-songwriter and usually, we picture coffee shops and tip cups with those terms, don’t we? But Baskin has a raspy, dark voice that gives everything an edge. “How I Feel” is very Southern Rock. “Where You Are” has a modern rock sound, in a very good way. Baskin calls himself “Adult Contemporary”, but if I were his manager, I’d come up with something else – he’s got a great rockin’ sound. Col. Tamar Alexia Fleishman


Creative Loafing
Power-pop aficionados looking for some new stuff from the deep underground, try out Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Baskin's new effort. All the touchstones are in place: grabby tunes, stacked (but not heavy) guitars, shiny vocal harmonies. --ES


Not Lame Recordings
Excellent singer/songwriter acoustically grounded pop that reminds me a lot of early 90's Soul Asylum when they were doing that commercial "Runaway Train" thing. Baskin has solid power pop roots being in Atlanta's great 90s band, The Hippycrickets. This is the sound of sitting on the back-porch with friends and breaking out the guitars and having a nice BBQ and good local beer. Fans of Toad The Wet Sprocket, Josh Joplin, early John Mayer, Edwin McCain and Duncan Sheik check this out.

Very Highly Recommended!


Valdosta Daily Times
"I Sometimes Think" is a poppy blend of groove and soul with a nice slice of edge.

Some listeners may hear a Beatles influence in Baskin's song "Better (I Can't Sleep)" especially followed by his hard-hitting, slowed cover of The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night," but "Better," Baskin laughs, owes more to a riff from the Atlanta Rhythm Section than it does John, Paul George or Ringo.



"It's the best music ever." Snaek from iTunes



"Jack Johnson move over. Wow . . . I've never been a real fan of this type of tunage. But this won me over. Each song has a completely different personality. I love 'Lucy'. Get the whole thing and play all at once and you'll see." musemastermusic on iTunes



"I can't stop playing this CD!!! The first time I played this CD I was blown away. it is a rare treat when you can play a record from beginning to end and be utterly pleased with every track. Pop perfection with SOUL. I love the music of John Mayer, Keane and David Gray. And Steve Baskin's music is right up there with those artists." drummergirl07 on iTunes