Get the Glory
Baxter - Sloan (Blast from the Past Tuesday)
Despite loving Sloan pretty much since I was born, I’ve only written about them once here on Ear Bites. I knew I wanted to write about them again, but I wasn’t sure what to do… that is, until yesterday. You see, June 16th 2025 brought a massive win for the Casa household — the announcement of a brand new album, Based on the Best Seller, due out in late September. This was exciting in itself, of course, but it got even better when I checked out the tracklist. Everything looked great… and then there it was. Shining brightly at track four — “Baxter”! Maybe it’s a coincidence. Maybe they decided to write a whole new song that just happened to share the name of possibly my favorite track to come out of the One Chord to Another reissue. So that’s why I’m here today — to bring that “Baxter” to the masses (rather, whoever reads this review) on the off chance the one on the upcoming album is different… or bring it to you so you know everything about it when it hits your ears officially later this year!
“Baxter” hits that perfect middle between demo and finished product. The thing I’ve always liked about the songs Andrew fronts is the distorted filter on the vocals. It’s like one of those radios you gotta put right up to your ear, the kind that blows itself out in a good way. I feel like it fits with the way the lyrics are sort of snarled with a self-assured confidence. The instrumental has a mellow bounce to it that gives it a laid-back feel, supported by a reliable bass line and endlessly strummed electric guitar. “Baxter” is a great example of exactly how to use a double track — it’s always in the right spot, helping emphasize a certain phrase without differing the melody too much. I also like the harmonization on “technological intervention”… the sing-song way that part goes is exactly why this song has stuck in my head for years!!
I guess half the reason I’m writing about it now is because I’m hoping the new “Baxter” is the same as the old one. It’s a total killer of a song that I never imagined could be brought back all these years later… but man am I glad it has the chance to get the glory it deserves!
Got something you think I should hear? Let me know here!
Follow Ear Bites on Instagram here!
Follow Ear Bites on Spotify here!
My radio show, “No Static at All”, will be back in the fall :)