Scott Shiflett and I wrote the vast majority of this record sitting in my Underground Studio hashing it out song by song.
Steve (guitars, mandolin, bass and vocals), Scott Shiflett (guitars, harmonica and background vocals), Brian Hudson (drums and percussion) handled the playing on the majority of the tracks.
But we also had some awesome Atlanta and Nashville musicians helping us out. Zoot Blasingame (organs), Doug Carter (piano/organ) Bill Fleming (pedal steel), Rich Herring (electric and lead electric guitars, bass), Wayne Killius (drums), Charles Mishalaney (upright bass), Patrick Rusert (pedal steel), Dow Tomlin (bass), and Lester Walker (trumpet).
The record was written by Steve Baskin and Scott Shiflett except Single Thing About You (Chinchilla) by Steve Baskin, Scott Shiflett and Trey Hollingsworth and Killer Queen written by Freddie Mercury.
Rich Herring and John Behrens mixed the songs at Trax Productions, Nashville, TN. Engineered by me at Underground Studios; Joe Kay and Jeffery Gascione at Gaslight Studios, Atlanta, GA (drum recordings); Steve Rieck (drum recording – Precious). Mastered by Colin Leonard at Sing Mastering, Atlanta, GA.
Photography by Cameron Baskin. Designed by Cassandra Berrardicurti.
Dead Rock Star
2015 | CD, Digital My favorite review for Dead Rock Star was from a British Power Pop blog called Soul of a Clown.
If we’re honest, Steve Baskin pretty much won us over when we read that we’d hear a lot of influences in his music from KISS to Cheap Trick to Johnny Cash to Lyle Lovett. Let alone that it is described as “energetic pop and Americana rock and roll.” A little bit of added interest is also provided by the fact that it is a quasi soundtrack to a film script that he’s working on.
The album begins on a real bright note with “Kissed Me Forever” which has some almost glammy chops before we hit a real pop/rock gem. Along with “Single Thing About You (Chinchilla)” it’s a great statement of intent. The second of these is a great classic power pop tune with a feel almost like The Knack or The Cars.
Given Steve hails from Atlanta and the style of his music, it would really be amiss not to mention the great Butch Walker. It may not be a fair comparison but certainly the opening guitar on “I’m Down” is certainly reminiscent of Mr Walker. The song has a more mature pop sound to it. Songs such as this and the crunching pop of the title track, “Dead Rock Star”, would certainly not be out of place on one of Butch’s albums.
The album has a neat balance between the purely fun rock songs and a more polished adult pop sound. The latter of these is clearly shown by “Precious” and, big hit in the making, “Nobody Died Today”. Whilst in total contrast, the hoe down of “If I Died Today (I’d Still Be Young)” is just throwaway fun. One of the highlights of the album is the brilliant “Wasted All These Years” which is a great commercial, pop/rock number with a bit of a country feel thrown in for good measure.
This is all before we return to the classic power pop feel of “She’s Always Right.” The final track, “I Call Your number”, is a real curve ball with an almost jazz feel to it. It’s real odd ball end to the album and we can only hope that the lyrics are not autobiographical!!
Dead Rock Star was my third full-length record. Absolute Power Pop, Pop Geek Heaven and International Pop Overthrow all included the album on their Best of 2015 lists. (And the lyrics aren’t biographical. Mostly.)
