Keeping this in mind, Ragan’s influence in front of the mic is a hell of a lot more effective than anything he had done with Hot Water Music, here with minimal distractions to deflect the attention away from him. Abrasive, passionate, and undoubtedly distinct, Ragan’s vocals are truly the record’s greatest asset. With only strings, occasional backing vocals, a harmonica, and an acoustic guitar to cultivate with, Ragan is howling his way through his most potent collection of songs yet providing more than enough vigor with his vocals alone. Rather, Ragan’s third solo album is a mastery of his stripped-down Americana.
While the aforementioned statement generally indicates a fresh and dissimilar direction from the artist’s previous works, Covering Ground doesn’t reveal anything about Ragan that was not demonstrated in his debut and sophomore release. With that said, Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music fame should be strongly considered for that latter category, as Covering Ground is the defining record of his solo stint. In some cases, the artist finds himself even more proficient solo than in his respective band, proving that the transition is a rather natural one. It is a simplicity that has boded so well for the likes of punk artists Frank Turner and Chris McCaughan (Sundowner) among others, who have gone on to feature outstanding solo careers.
Even greater, is when musicianship can be bypassed for potent lyrics and full-fledged passion saying what needs to be said without any showy to distract us from the focal point. There is something ultimately gratifying when certain musicians strike the balance between musicianship and pure poignancy, in order to craft that landmark record that the artist had set out to attain since their sonic inception. Review Summary: Hot Water Music front man releases his third and most affecting record yet
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