ALBUM REVIEW: Doctor Baker - Not/Withstanding
*This review originally appeared in our June 2025 issue*
Photo by Danny Goodwin
“With songs that teeter on the edge of several genres, while having enough balance to make sense as an album, Not/Withstanding is a bold, confident release from the Albany foursome.”
It’s nothing new to say that music, in one way or another, tells a story. In fact, some would argue it’s the reason music exists in the first place. This does not necessarily mean that all musicians are storytellers, but when it comes to Ed Schwarzschild, the chief songwriter of Doctor Baker, he certainly falls into the storyteller category.
Not only is Schwarzschild currently the Director of Creative Writing in the English Department at the University at Albany and a Fellow of the New York State Writers Institute, he is also the published author of several books, including two novels and a collection of short stories. Therefore, when I say that he’s a storyteller, I mean that in the most esteemed and accredited fashion.
One thing that became apparent about halfway through the first song “Appointment” was that Schwarzschild could not only write a competent narrative, but could emote one as well. Repeating several times, he sings “You were always so happy telling me what to do/Tell me what should I do now?”
Every single time the line is repeated, it is slightly different. Not just different in delivery, but with a clearly delineated emotion. The words are exactly the same, but they are saying something unique with each refrain.
Schwarzschild’s literary ability continues to bask on full display with “Noise I Have To Hear.” Though an ultra-groovy rocker, the lyrics again shine through. Even without the music, this piece would make an incredible written composition. It paints a lifetime of stories in a matter of paragraphs, or roughly five minutes in song form. You can feel the tension and longevity in the tale, and if it wasn’t for the upbeat sound of the song, this could be a real tear-jerker—while the beauty of written word is always up for interpretation, “Noise I Have To Hear” feels to me like illustrating a case of two people growing old and lonely together.
“Prius Prime Blues” explores themes of fossil-fuels, electric cars, and alternate energy while the precise and incredibly jaunty drum beat pulls the tune along. While deeply rooted in the blues, this song has elements of rockabilly, country, and more than a hint of good old fashioned rock and roll. It is a great example of what can be done within a traditional framework. Which is to say, creating something unique and personal, while purposely paying homage to the architects of the genre.
Not/Withstanding is adept at exploring different topics, but the one/two punch of “Original Thoughts” and “Lockdown Drill” hit like the heavyweight champion of emotion and trauma. “Original Thoughts” digs into how past trauma can affect a person, long after the source is gone.
The opening line, “She said: I know your father taught you nothing, left you a long time ago in the dark. His stories, they were all lies, made the truth hit extra hard…” made it glaringly apparent that the protagonist has faced significant strife on the journey to adulthood.
“Lockdown Drill” says that maybe things are not okay now that the child is grown, with kids of their own. The song starts with perhaps the most haunting line on Not/Withstanding, “Unnamed threat, active shooter, time for another lockdown drill.”
While earlier songs on the album may have tackled serious subjects, the more upbeat music that accompanied the lyrics was the sugar that made the medicine go down easier. On “Lockdown Drill,” Doctor Baker keeps a more somber tone throughout. Even when it picks up during the chorus, there is never any mistaking that this song is delivering a serious message.
Iggy Calabria's guitar work is an important thread in the fabric of this album. The riffs and tones are unique and interesting and work incredibly well with Schwarzschild's guitar and voice. This makes sense considering that Doctor Baker began as an acoustic duo with Calabria and Schwarzschild. Chris Gockley’s bass lines, especially on the album’s title track, drive home grooves that are locked-in with Danny Goodwin’s razor-sharp drums, while also handily weaving their own pocket.
With songs that teeter on the edge of several genres, while having enough balance to make sense as an album, Not/Withstanding is a bold, confident release from the Albany foursome.
Not/Withstanding is available everywhere now.
