"Tom Gavin is a Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and quasi-multi-instrumentalist—not necessarily in that order. Teasing unexpected twists from simple melodies, his music follows its own logic, roving from introspective murmurs to brash swells, all the while accompanying curious little vignettes of interpersonal friction and woe. Tom performs regularly with a long list of original groups, playing guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, and whatever else is nearby; his own band rounded out by long-time co-conspirators Chris Moore on drums and Gary Langol on upright bass."

"[Bellman Barker's] old-school sound rife with breezy melodies and infectious hooks makes the band an irresistible blend of '70s rock and modern swagger" -The Washington Post Express

"The obvious highlight is "Molly Maroon," a very Belle & Sebastian-esque twee-pop shuffle, complete with affected vocals. The hand claps and backing chorus in the song's final minute work perfectly and push the tune from cute to nearly irresistible." -Washingtonpost.com

"'Anise & Anisette' displays the eclectic talents of Bellman Barker: the confidence in their songwriting, hook after wonderful hook, the soft, yet assured delivery of the vocals, and their ability to revel in their songs’ sunny demeanors without coming across as saccharine sweet. For a debut EP, this is impressive stuff. It won’t be long before this band’s infectious ‘60s-style indie-pop starts making serious waves. The future is wide open for Bellman Barker." -On Tap Magazine

"Anybody who is familiar with my personal musical taste, knows how much of a feat it is for Bellman Barker to get a nod on my best of list. This EP is full of catchy, sun-drenched pop. The thing that makes these songs stand out, is the substance that exists behind them. Sugar usually washes away pretty quickly, but not in this case." -Instrumental Analysis

"DC's own Bellman Barker churns out the kind of heartfelt, summer-friendly indie pop that makes you want to hold hands and barbecue while listening to 'Molly Maroon' on repeat." -Panda Head

"...I remember thinking 'Super fun, yet oddly heartfelt' as I tapped my toes and definitely felt a hand clapping urge (which, in my opinion, is the sign of the highest of music quality)." -brightestyoungthings.com