Covering the ground running!
This is the third studio album from the raspy-voiced ex-lead singer of Hot Water Music. Chuck Ragan delivers an album that you feel is exactly what he is all about. His 2007 debut album, "Feast Or Famine" set the blueprint of what his solo career would be about, and there are definitely similarities to his solo music and his previous side project, Rumbleseat. 2009 saw the release of "Gold Country", and for me this was more slightly more Country, and whereas 'Feast..' had you thinking of spit and sawdust bars, thick blue smoke and slightly inebriated women, 'Gold...' set the scene more in desolate shacks on a prairie, swamps and banjos. "Covering Ground" seems to be the first album on which Chuck has quit experimenting through a vast repertoire of Folk, Rock, Country and Bluegrass, and set the musical foundations to build on.
First song, 'Nothing Left To Prove' suggests just that, and sounds almost laid back as he sings over the acoustic guitar with strings and back up singers adding depth and putting the meat on the bones to a good song. Slightly more folky is the jolly jig of 'Nomad By Fate', and then Chuck almost sings with his chest puffed out in 'You Get What You Give'. The songs here are slightly more catchy than his previous offerings and the production is well polished and tight.
'Wish On The Moon' again has Mr Ragan full of optimism, and it's more out of a Happy-Go-Lucky acceptance, rather than brass foolhardiness, even borrowing a line from Elvis in, "Take my hand // Take my whole life too..." whilst changing a word, and for a second you could almost be listening to a that very song. Then there is a the Country influenced tune of 'Come Around' showing that Chuck's voice can lend itself to Country as easily as Folk or Hard-Rock. There is a lovely thud of bass, slide guitars and deep background vocals, showing once again that each layer has been well planned. This can also be said of the harmonica-led, 'Seems We're Okay', that is slow and thoughtful, before the tempo quickens and strings dance majestically in the background of, 'Valentine'.
There is a slow almost old-fashioned 50's-esque Country feel to, 'Right As Rain' that you almost feel guilty for enjoying so much. 'Meet You In The Middle' is a nice foot-tapper, before the banjo-plucking of 'Lost And Found' draws the album to a close. We do get the customary few minutes of random noise (we had the sound of waves lapping the shore in 'Feast Or Famine') before there is a great untitled acoustic song.
Chuck Ragan has hit the right notes here, and whilst this type of music is never going to be hip, it is pure, honest and unlikely to age. I enjoyed "Feast Or Famine" (giving it 11/13), and was subsequently disappointed with "Gold Country", however this is by far his best solo album yet, and I can only imagine how good his current acoustic tour is with Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem singer), Dan Andriano (The Alkaline Trio Bassist/singer) & Dave Hause (The Loved Ones singer)...enough said.