Bakers Pink - Bakers Pink (CD)

All Music Guide

Named after a shade of pink that was once used in asylums until it was discovered that it aggravated the patients' mental illnesses, Bakers Pink's one and only major-label album is a textbook example of the kind of rock music that labels were banking on before grunge came along. Offering hooks that revolved around wah-heavy funk guitar and groovy beats, the band fit nicely into the alternative metal scene that was quietly forming in the wake of Jane's Addiction. Bakers Pink's biggest drawback is how derivative the band sounded, rarely coming off as original. This is most apparent on its hard rock tracks, which alternate between funky rave-ups à la Mother Love Bone or spiritually motivated metal straight out of the Cult's songbook. Luckily, the band has a penchant for hypnotic and slightly psychedelic slow songs, resulting in some excellent mid-tempo material. "Untouched" shuffles along with a gently strummed guitar and eventually turns into a rootsy jam, while "Lonely, Lonely, Lonely" ...is a soulful stab at Drifters-style RB. They tend to focus on this aspect of their sound a third of the time, inviting the listener to wonder what they might have made of themselves with a few albums to work with. But as it stands, this debut is typical of the era, offering a mixed bag of forgettable rockers and interesting psychedelic rock that never quite gels despite some really great songs strewn throughout. - Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide Read more Less