Music
Press
WVIS, NY
--"Phil Ochs, wherever his spirit is floating these days, would think that Jim Baron had done him proud."
WRSU, NJ
--"...a very talented singer-songwriter."
WBAI, NY
--"...one of the good troublemakers." - mixed sources
"There must be something in the drinking water in Brooklyn, New York that makes for great, modern pop rock. Within the wiry voice of Jim Baron exists the wit, wonder and melodic prowess of Lloyd Cole, Billy Bragg and Robyn Hitchcock, all of whom learned their craft from Messrs. Lennon and Dylan. Aside from those monster analogies and hallowed references, Baron has the goods to compete withn any star on the contemporary singer-songwriter scene and then some. This mini-LP offers a smorgasbord of sub-genres strung together by Baron's love-struck melodies and wry wordplay. Jangle-pop defines "Dying Breed", "Stay, The One You Love" pumps neo-soul into the proceedings, and the title cut fittingly filters folk-rock with a fresh, acerbic attitude. And that's just half the disc. With a razor sharp backing band, smart harmonies, and crisp production, Baron's karma Chameleon changes colors but never loses focus." - Amplifier Magazine
"...there`s a sweet, engimatic shine inside this material,... You can tell that Baron is a busker, a man comfortable with just a guitar and song in his head. Recommended! " - NotLame.com
"...a melodious, ruminating vocal range and a clear new evolved spirit".
- THE INSIDE CONNECTION, NY
"Sharp, silver-sarcasm, from this Baron of songwriting, that
jets forcefully into your brain and careens around and
around. JIM BARON's musicianship is unique and
ambitious, and lends a fun counterpart to his lyrically
driven songs... an authentic breed of upbeat New York folk
and acoustic pop."--Live performance at Laila Lounge, NYC - Jezebel Music
Discography
Chameleon, 2003
7 song, 29 minute LP
WVIS, NY: WGBB; NY; CJTR, Saskatchewan, CA; pOpBang radio, Portugal
BUY CD @ www.cdbaby.com/jimbaron2
Now!, 1997
4 song EP
WRSU, NJ; WPKN, CT
WBAI, NY
Not For Nothing, 1995
4 song EP
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Jim Barons latest release, Chameleon, is a collective expression of strong angst. It tracks a character lost somewhere between stoically refusing worldly change in the post-alternative American wilderness but anxiously awaiting change at his own pace, in his own way, and in his own inner world. CDBABEL.com described Jim as: "unabashed and sharp...he's got the spark of a rebel in him." Amplifier Magazine called Chameleon: ...a smorgasbord of sub-genres strung together by Barons love-struck melodies and wry wordplay, elements of Jim Baron music from its beginnings.
In 1996 Jim released his first solo EP, Not For Nothing. It featured live studio takes of Jim on vocals and guitars, accompanied by keyboards and percussion. The sparse arrangements of Not For Nothing and its cohesively dark mood were notably punctuated by Jim's haunting vocals, his evocative lyrics and his intricate guitar playing. The Musicians' Exchange wrote: "Jim Baron is a singer-songwriter who has really come into his own." Not For Nothing garnered regional recognition for Jim in the Northeast as he soon became an established solo act with his unique blend of pop, rock and roots music.
In 1997 Jim began supplementing his income from live performances and CD sales by busking street corners and subways in New York, Boston and Montreal . Inspired by his personal experiences, he soon became a local musical icon for the satirical and sociopolitical material that he put forth on 1997's Now!, and he became a regular guest on New York's WBAI radio station. The title track from Now! displayed a new vibrantly upbeat feel, and songs like "Head" and "I Sing My Life Away" showed a humorous side of Jim's work. The inside connection noted Jim for "...a melodious, ruminating vocal range and a clear new evolved spirit".
In '98 Jim was a featured performer at Pennsylvania's annual Burn Fest music festival and was prominently included on a compilation CD of the event. Since then, Jim has played regularly both as a soloist and with backing musicians. Many of these new musicians helped shape the power pop edge of Chameleon. Amplifier Magazine wrote: Baron has the goods to compete with any star on the contemporary singer-songwriter scene and then some. And cuts from the new CD like Stay and "Why Don't You Go" have been enjoying radio airplay. Chameleon contains some of Jim's finest work to date, so grab a copy and play it loud!
Links
