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Shot Baker

Awake [reissue] (2007)
Underground Communiqué

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Contributed by: Ben_Conoley
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 15th 2007

Hot damn, this is shaping up to be a great summer with a slew of great releases. Though it came out in March, Chicago's Shot Baker recently re-released their debut album Awake well in time for some serious bike ride action.

Of course, the announcement of a reissue is often accompanied by a sigh and a complaint. But don't sweat it: Shot Baker one-upped most of the re-issuers by entering the studio to re-record the album (except for the drums) and remastered it to boot, leaving the latest product much more refined than its predecessor, yet still in retention of its finest qualities.

Shot Baker are one of the latest in a long line of fine Chicago punk bands bringing forth honest punk rock largely free of any overt outside influence. Sure, Shot Baker sounds like they could pass off with Gainesville passports, but just when you start to think they sound a lot like, oh, say Osker, Avail or Hot Water Music, they blast through your stereo with a shot of Shot Baker straight up. Awake is largely rough-sounding punk rock heavy on the rock'n'roll, but Shot Baker throws in plenty of harmonic moments, especially in the backing vocals and catchy-as-hell choruses.

Chances are, not a whole lot of people outside of Chicago managed to get their paws on one of the original copies of the record, which is now out of print. By re-recording and remastering it they've made the old product that much better and while it's not going to blow anyone away for its originality or musicianship, it's still a damn fine album that promises to provide plenty of rock-outs and "Hey, that was pretty cool" observations.

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nathanw (August 2, 2008)

I set these guys up a house show when they came through. This CD's awesome, nice guys too

Anonymous (June 17, 2007)

"Douch."

cute, ya fuckin' assclown

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

i went to search myspace for this band to check them out and i accidentally typed in shotmaker. score is for them. these guys arent bad either.

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

"I'm in Naked Raygun. Still think they smoke my band?"

Douch.

SloaneDaley (June 15, 2007)

this the same band as Shotmaker?

thats what I thought when I read it too, then I was kinda dissappointed but this sounds like something I'd like also so meh.

JerryCola (June 15, 2007)

This re-issue/re-recording fixes every problem that I had with the original album.

The overall production is a lot louder & better balanced. The vocals are a lot louder, crisper, and they are sung much better this time around. The guitar sounds a lot louder & crunchier and you can actually hear the bass this time around.

The songs from the Time To Panic EP are gone but the song “Echoes Of The Dead” that they added sounds great and I can’t believe they left it off the first time round. The better production makes great songs like The World She Hides, Let It Go, Point Of No Return, Awake sound even better.

Overall the best way I can describe this band for someone who has never heard them before is that they sound like Avail with an obvious Chicago influence. I’ve noticed that the vocalist for Shot Baker sounds somewhat like the lead singer from Death By Stereo whenever the DBS guy sings in songs.

I’ve seen Shot Baker probably four or five times by now, they’re always opening for really good bands like The Mopes, Methadones, The Bomb, Naked Raygun, & etc. and they always put on a great live show.

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

I'm in Naked Raygun. Still think they smoke my band?

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

Just because your ("used bin" comment guy) band sucks balls, don't take it out on Shot Baker who smokes any young band from Chicago. These guys are legit.

justinius (June 15, 2007)

who the fuck are oskar? do you mean OSKER?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osker

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

"Chances are, not a whole lot of people outside of Chicago managed to get their paws on one of the original copies of the record..."
Don't worry, you can find it in any used bin in any record store in all of Chicago for $.99

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

chi town and bikes. skateboards in the midwest. chicago/midwest hardcore at its finest. thank you.

Ben_Conoley (June 15, 2007)

Uh, yeah, I meant Oskar.

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

These guys are fucking great. I cannot wait until their new album. I saw them play at the Riot Fest Pre Bash last year and I was totally sold. Then, again, at the Raygun show at House of Blues. These guys are Chicago -- no younger band even comes close!

justinius (June 15, 2007)

who the fuck are oscar? do you mean osker?

Anonymous (June 15, 2007)

I don't have this album, but this band is great!

feeeding5000 (June 15, 2007)

Is this the same band as Shotmaker?