Release Date: Sep 13, 2011
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Record label: Side One Dummy
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Hot Water Music man returns with his possibly his best effort yet... It might, on rare occasions, stray almost too close to the back catalogue of Bruce Springsteen, but this, Chuck Ragan’s third full-length solo release, oozes blue-collar charm. Sounding like a twisted love song to the road with its folky violins and pained harmonica melodies, 'Covering Ground' is Ragan’s most personal and engaging record yet.
What is it about punk and hardcore-rooted guys’ desire to play in an acoustic side project? Dallas Green played as City and Colour while he was in Alexisonfire, Thrice’s Dustin Kensrue has his acoustic thing, and Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan is putting out his third acoustic solo album. With all the one-off albums and halfhearted acoustic songwriting, it can be hard to tell which Martin-gripping, tattooed guy is doing it for real and who isn’t. With his latest album, Covering Ground, Ragan is making a respectable case that he’s the real deal.
Third solo album from the Hot Water Music frontman. Alistair Lawrence 2011 It’s fitting that one of the voices behind Hot Water Music should start his third solo album with a song titled Nothing Left to Prove. Chuck Ragan’s main band now has their influence felt from the world-weary earnestness of Against Me! and The Gaslight Anthem to more high-octane offerings from relative newcomers such as Title Fight and Make Do and Mend.
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