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 Caught in the Carousel "There will be music despite everything"
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Chuck Ragan
Gold Country
SideOneDummy
SideOneDummy Records appears to have a vice-like grasp on what incredible musical talent can sound like. Naming just a few from their stable, it becomes evident with bands like Anti-Flag, Nathan Maxwell, and The Casualties. The argument is made crystal clear with Gold County, the sophomore offering from Chuck Ragan. The 12 tracks of this treasure are filled with passion. An artist has a lifetime to create their freshman effort. Whether that initial contribution is poorly or enthusiastically received, the artist has only a short time to let their follow up season and appropriately foment. With Gold Country Mr. Ragan has done that in spades.
Until 2006, Ragan was the front-man for Gainesville, Fl punk band Hot Water Music. With a deep and gravely - almost Tom Waits quality to his vocal delivery, Ragan takes us through his most mature music to date. In the lively fiddle and guitar driven track, "The Trench," lyrics like; "Looked into the sky, walked another mile, watching snowfall take its time to hit the ground/To bury this town," paint a picture and tell a story. Later, the haunting "Ole Diesel" opens with a sound suitable for a Ken Burns documentary of old time America as Ragan implores the "Ole Diesel" to "please take me home." It's as if he went back in time with his punk roots to sit on a porch and craft songs alongside Grady Martin, Hank Garland and Doc Watson as they traded flat-picking riffs over a jug. Folk/Punk meets the music born in Appalachia.
VIVA!
Rating: 4.5/5 Oi's!
Oi!, Oi!, Oi!, Oi!, O
—Peter Hamm
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