I got real into Chuck Ragan’s solo work while I was working for the Bamboozle festival two years ago when a co-worker had told me to check out this guy’s live cd. I had only listened to some Hot Water Music songs before him so I wasn’t really sure what to expect considering it was a punk singer putting out a folk inspired album. Obviously I was pleasantly surprised or I wouldn’t be fucking writing about him on this site for a second time about how raw his vocals are and how strong his lyrics are in each song he writes. He strums the shit out of his guitar while he wails his wraspy vocals into each verse and I especially like the use of harmonica, fiddle, slide guitar and other folk and blue grass instruments on each song as well.
This leads me to his live performance he did for Daytrotter.com which always has great artists performing live songs. His new album Gold Country is going to be released soon on Side One Dummy records who happens to have one of my favorite bands on it The Gaslight Anthem. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the songs on the album after getting a taste of some of them on his Daytrotter performance. The song “Done And Done” is just what I would expect to hear from the smokey voiced ragan who sounds like he should be exhausted after each song he puts his heart and soul in. The album sounds like it should be a great follow up to his Feast and Famine release which is one of my favorite current Folk records in the past few years and I hope whoever reads this checks out the album. One of my personal favorites is the song “The Boat” which I would of loved to hear during this session but he does a good job with the songs “Symmetry” and “Between The Lines” so I can’t complain. I have the link to the session below so do yourself the greatest of favors and read the interview and hear the session. I’ve also given the album cover for his new release Gold Country which hits stores September 1st.
