"Rarely has a musician successfully combined so many different musical genres with as much success as Martin Sexton.” —VINTAGE GUITAR MAGAZINE

“As with most of its predecessors, Sexton shoots wide on the set and mostly hits, presenting a 13-track musical travelogue rooted in rootsy Americana.” —BILLBOARD

Music critic Edna Gundersen highlights 10 intriguing tracks found during the week’s listening: “‘I wonder why nobody wonders why,’ he sings on a pointed post-9/11 indictment of politicians and media.” —USA TODAY: The Playlist

  “Martin Sexton employs his impressive baritone in such a range of vocal tricks that you’d be forgiven for forgetting about his guitar prowess . . . his guitar work helps connect the dots among musical influences from gospel to blue-eyed soul, creating a sound that’s all his own.”—M: MUSIC AND MUSICIANS
 
“. . . a solid studio follow-up to 2007’s Seeds.” —ACOUSTIC GUITAR

“Martin Sexton may not be a household name — not yet, anyway — but in the intensely competitive singer/songwriter realms of greater New England, he’s managed to eke out an impressive reputation, one that encompasses more than half a dozen albums and graduation from major label status to running his own record label. So too, he glides easily between genres, from breezy folk ruminations to serious contemplation, with the studied deliberation of a master musician . . . amiable melodies [instilled] with . . . deliberate purpose.” —BLURT

“There are a lot of singer/songwriters out there, each trying to find some truth in their writing, but only a handful succeed in a meaningful way. Martin Sexton is in that elite group.” —POPDOSE.COM

“His latest release, Sugarcoating, is chock-full of Sexton’s honest, soulful, quirky, funky, real musicianship. Imagine it: a guy can be in his mid-40s, happily married, a father, intelligent — and not even skinny — and still be cool. Damn cool, as a matter of fact.” —JAMBANDS.COM

“Martin Sexton is one of those guys who’s probably your favorite singer-songwriter’s favorite singer-songwriter. A 20-year veteran of the folk/acoustic circuit, Sexton’s rich, soulful vocals and eclectic songwriting style have influenced an entire generation of his fellow troubadours.” —METROMIX (national)

“Martin Sexton’s extraordinary voice howls, growls and purrs in the best tradition of blue-eyed soul. It is raw and expressive and can move in an instant from a glorious falsetto to an edgy rock plea or a simple folk lament.” —CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

“Martin Sexton might just be an American musical treasure . . . With the gorgeous and diverse Sugarcoating, Martin Sexton has once again shown his peers and his fans the limitless possibilities of folk music and his incomparable ability to explore all of them in a single set of songs.” —CITYBEAT (Cincinnati)

“A high vocal range and a sense of normal-dude humility usually don't go together, but they are the two most convincing things about . . . Sexton. Even his smoothest, jauntiest folk-on-soul moments — like ‘Livin the Life,’ from the new Sugarcoating — make him sound like a less-craggy John Hiatt, floating on the easygoing vibe instead of jamming it down the audience’s throat.” —THE ONION A.V. CLUB

“ . . . a superb singer who could just as easily ply his trade as a soul, gospel, or even jazz singer alongside the likes of Al Green . . . Sexton matches Green’s burnished, soulful croon and soaring falsetto on ‘Livin the Life,’ even copping a bit of the Rev.’s uplifting, do-the-right-thing message. But that’s just one cut on an album that grasps eclecticism by the collar and goes for a ride . . .” —CITY PAGES (Minneapolis)

“Sexton’s raw talent was apparent as he emerged in the Boston folk scene of the 1990s. Sugarcoating displays how well that talent has matured.” —BOSTON GLOBE
 
“In terms of pure vocal prowess, few can match Massachusetts resident Sexton. The man’s blessed with a magnificent larynx. But in the songwriting department, he occasionally falls back down to earth. Melodically, “Sugarcoating” finds Sexton in fine form.” —BOSTON HERALD

“(On) his new record, Sugarcoating, he tackles a handful of personal narratives regarding his family on songs like ‘Friends Again’ and reconciliatory apologies on ‘Stick Around,’ it’s the album’s title track where Sexton looks more outwardly than in.” — SPINNER.COM

“If you’re already a fan, Sugarcoating will give you 13 more reasons to love Sexton’s music. If you haven’t yet been inducted to the cult, it’s as good a place as any to start. What’s stopping you?” —BULLZ-EYE

“You could fault Martin Sexton for what appear to be retro tendencies, but he uses his soul, blues and rock materials in fresh ways.” —NASHVILLE SCENE

“For such a sweet-singin’ dude, Martin Sexton can sure bop you over the head. The veteran songwriter has carved out a successful career in alt-adultcontempo pop, but can sometimes leave you feeling shaken . . . 13 new tracks breeze by with alarming ease. What he lacks in ragged sonic Dylanisms, however, shows up with a vengeance in his lyrics.” —ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER

“a rare virtuoso who can blend songwriting and amazing guitar and vocal chops into a whole that’s greater than the sum of the parts.” —THE DETROIT NEWS

“If you’re already a fan, Sugarcoating will give you 13 more reasons to love Sexton’s music. If you haven’t yet been inducted to the cult, it’s as good a place as any to start.” —BULLZ-EYE
 
“Martin Sexton uses words better than a politician uses lies. He lays the music out to grab your ear and hold. His vocal chords are black belt status and rival Chuck Norris’ roundhouse kicks. A constant force in the world is growth, Martin Sexton has grown and learned restraint. The fewer notes the better. While he has never been known as a musician to overproduce or over play on a song, he eases up even more so as age sets in on his new release Sugarcoating.” —FOLKWAX
 
“Uplifting soul, folk, stylish pop, swing and a dash of twang mix together like distinct but complementary ingredients in the singer-songwriter’s latest offering.” —PASADENA WEEKLY

“In a career full of quality records, Sugarcoating can stand alongside his best.” — MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS (Pittsburgh metro)
 
“Sugarcoating sets the bar for the best music of the year.” —ACOUSTIC MUSIC.COM
 
“By any measure, this CD is a stunning success.” —DAILY LOCAL NEWS (Philadelphia metro)
 
“The album really shows Sexton’s diversity with his musical arrangements and talent. I can’t say that there’s one song on this album that I don’t like, and I enjoy it more with each listen.” —RANDOMVILLE
 
“Among his fans the man is known for his ability to connect with his audience in concert in a way that is known to cause goosebumps as well as grins and boogie-feet.” —BOISE WEEKLY

“The Northeast troubadour's latest release Sugarcoating is another treasure trove of harmonious folk melodies coated in a blend of soul and passion — as unique as the man himself.” —PRESS-REPUBLICAN (Upstate New York)

“a fiercely independent artist . . . nothing can replace hearing this troubadour live.” —ISTHMUS: The Daily Page
 
“Martin Sexton is one of the finest, most versatile, blue-eyed soul singers alive.” —BILLINGS GAZETTE