CHUCK RAGAN
''TILL MIDNIGHT''
MARCH 25 2014
36:20
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01 - Something May Catch Fire 03:52 (Chuck Ragan, Joe Ginsberg)
02 - Vagabond 03:53 (Chuck Ragan, Todd Beene)
03 - Non Typical 04:08
04 - Rewed 03:13
05 - Bedroll Lullaby 03:24
06 - Gave My Heart Out 03:06
07 - Wake With You 03:11
08 - You and I Alone 03:57
09 - Whistleblowers Song 02:54
10 - For All We Care 04:38
Tracks By Chuck Ragan
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Ben Nichols, Chad Price, Dave Hause, Jenny O., Jon Snodgrass - Backing Vocals
David Hidalgo Jr. - Drums, Backing Vocals
Joe Ginsberg - Electric Bass, Double Bass, Backing Vocals
Christopher Thorn - Electric Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar (Dobro), Additional Piano
Jon Gaunt - Fiddle
Rami Jaffee - Glockenspiel, Additional Organ
Chuck Ragan - Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vocals
Todd Beene - Pedal Steel Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals
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REVIEW/AMG
Thom Jurek
Since 2007's Los Feliz, singer/songwriter Chuck Ragan has established a reputation for delivering intimate, lonesome tunes as a primarily acoustic troubadour -- even when backed by a band. Till Midnight is a rock & roll changeup. Here the singer/songwriter is backed by his longstanding backing group, the Camaraderie. He also gets some help from producer Christopher Thorn, Rami Jaffee, and a handful of backing vocalists. Hope, faith, the desire for community and deeply connected relationships link these tunes thematically. Musically, Ragan's inspirational sources are self evident -- perhaps too much so. One can readily hear Bruce Springsteen's anthemic, hooky choruses in songs such as "Vagabond" and "Non Typical" -- the latter like something off The Seeger Sessions with mostly electric instruments save for Jon Gaunt's wailing fiddle. In "Bedroll Lullaby," the same fiddle approximates the Celtic soul of Dexys Midnight Runners more than it does the Irish rock of Flogging Molly, and weds Americana rock to folk tradition. "Gave My Heart Out" recalls Willie Nile's melodic sensibility and streetwise attack with different instrumental colors. Frantic acoustic guitars, snare, whining pedal steel and fiddle drive "Revved," but there's so much Springsteen in the melody and stacked vocal harmonies that the only trace of Ragan remains in his heart-on-his-sleeve delivery. "Wake with You" is a lovely, lilting country song whose intro suggests Neil Young's "Love Is a Rose," though its melody is pure Ragan. The elegant arco bass and pedal steel interplay counter his ragged vocal. "Whistleblowers Song" has an urgent minor-key Celtic rock attack and contains some of the set's finest lyrics. The best is saved for last in "For All We Care." It commences with a fingerpicked acoustic guitar, graceful bowed upright bass, and pedal steel, which help to erect an atmospheric platform. They build gradually until fiddle, electric guitars, and drums rush in and it erupts with a backing chorus buoying Ragan. Despite using his influences too liberally, Till Midnight is a strong set. There are few recordings with so much seasoned, lived-in optimism at their core. Ragan's insightful writing lends itself to both anthems and love songs, revealing the singer/songwriter's maturity and savvy. He just needs to trust his vision more.
*******************
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Corey Apar
With his emotional and gravel-coated bellow, vocalist/guitarist Chuck Ragan made a name for himself as one-fourth of the much-loved Gainesville post-hardcore outfit Hot Water Music before releasing his first solo album in 2007. Alongside friends Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo, Ragan formed Hot Water Music in the early '90s. Through a slew of well-received albums for labels like No Idea, Doghouse, and Epitaph -- and an incessant grassroots touring regime -- the passionate crew turned itself into a highly respected and influential act on the underground scene. Outside of his main gig, Ragan also recorded two side albums with some friends, including the stripped-down rock of Rumbleseat and the punk-oriented Cro(w)s. In the spring of 2005, Hot Water Music went on an indefinite hiatus, largely spurred by Ragan's desire to spend time outside of the band with his growing family. The group's other members went on playing music together (soon forming the Draft), while Ragan concentrated on his home life and, eventually, writing some acoustic-based material.
Hot Water Music officially closed up shop in May 2006, and Ragan began playing various shows solo, logging time by the year's end alongside acts like Dustin Kensrue, Flogging Molly, the Lawrence Arms, Rob Huddleston, and Tim Barry. Ragan (who was a carpenter by day) signed with California indie SideOneDummy Records in early 2007 for the May release of his intimate debut, Los Feliz. Recorded live on February 19, 2007 at Tangiers in Los Feliz, California, the album features Ragan armed with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica, and occasionally joined on-stage by Ted Hutt and Jon Gaunt. Ragan also set up a "singles club" with his buddies at No Idea, sending subscribers a new 7" (six total) every month or so from September 2006 to June 2007. In 2008 Ragan launched the Revival Tour, a long-running, internationally acclaimed acoustic collaboration that's featured a revolving door of talented musicians from the alt-country, bluegrass, and punk scenes over the years. He released his second solo outing, Gold Country, the following year and the Christopher Thorn-produced Covering Ground in 2011, and reunited with Hot Water Music in 2012 for the album Exister. Till Midnight, his fourth solo long-player, followed in early 2014. A year later he and songwriter Rocky Voltolato released a split EP entitled Kindred Spirit on Side One Dummy.
********************
WEBSITE
********************
TO THE TOP
********************
''TILL MIDNIGHT''
MARCH 25 2014
36:20
*******************
01 - Something May Catch Fire 03:52 (Chuck Ragan, Joe Ginsberg)
02 - Vagabond 03:53 (Chuck Ragan, Todd Beene)
03 - Non Typical 04:08
04 - Rewed 03:13
05 - Bedroll Lullaby 03:24
06 - Gave My Heart Out 03:06
07 - Wake With You 03:11
08 - You and I Alone 03:57
09 - Whistleblowers Song 02:54
10 - For All We Care 04:38
Tracks By Chuck Ragan
*******************
Ben Nichols, Chad Price, Dave Hause, Jenny O., Jon Snodgrass - Backing Vocals
David Hidalgo Jr. - Drums, Backing Vocals
Joe Ginsberg - Electric Bass, Double Bass, Backing Vocals
Christopher Thorn - Electric Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar (Dobro), Additional Piano
Jon Gaunt - Fiddle
Rami Jaffee - Glockenspiel, Additional Organ
Chuck Ragan - Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vocals
Todd Beene - Pedal Steel Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals
*******************
REVIEW/AMG
Thom Jurek
Since 2007's Los Feliz, singer/songwriter Chuck Ragan has established a reputation for delivering intimate, lonesome tunes as a primarily acoustic troubadour -- even when backed by a band. Till Midnight is a rock & roll changeup. Here the singer/songwriter is backed by his longstanding backing group, the Camaraderie. He also gets some help from producer Christopher Thorn, Rami Jaffee, and a handful of backing vocalists. Hope, faith, the desire for community and deeply connected relationships link these tunes thematically. Musically, Ragan's inspirational sources are self evident -- perhaps too much so. One can readily hear Bruce Springsteen's anthemic, hooky choruses in songs such as "Vagabond" and "Non Typical" -- the latter like something off The Seeger Sessions with mostly electric instruments save for Jon Gaunt's wailing fiddle. In "Bedroll Lullaby," the same fiddle approximates the Celtic soul of Dexys Midnight Runners more than it does the Irish rock of Flogging Molly, and weds Americana rock to folk tradition. "Gave My Heart Out" recalls Willie Nile's melodic sensibility and streetwise attack with different instrumental colors. Frantic acoustic guitars, snare, whining pedal steel and fiddle drive "Revved," but there's so much Springsteen in the melody and stacked vocal harmonies that the only trace of Ragan remains in his heart-on-his-sleeve delivery. "Wake with You" is a lovely, lilting country song whose intro suggests Neil Young's "Love Is a Rose," though its melody is pure Ragan. The elegant arco bass and pedal steel interplay counter his ragged vocal. "Whistleblowers Song" has an urgent minor-key Celtic rock attack and contains some of the set's finest lyrics. The best is saved for last in "For All We Care." It commences with a fingerpicked acoustic guitar, graceful bowed upright bass, and pedal steel, which help to erect an atmospheric platform. They build gradually until fiddle, electric guitars, and drums rush in and it erupts with a backing chorus buoying Ragan. Despite using his influences too liberally, Till Midnight is a strong set. There are few recordings with so much seasoned, lived-in optimism at their core. Ragan's insightful writing lends itself to both anthems and love songs, revealing the singer/songwriter's maturity and savvy. He just needs to trust his vision more.
*******************
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Corey Apar
With his emotional and gravel-coated bellow, vocalist/guitarist Chuck Ragan made a name for himself as one-fourth of the much-loved Gainesville post-hardcore outfit Hot Water Music before releasing his first solo album in 2007. Alongside friends Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo, Ragan formed Hot Water Music in the early '90s. Through a slew of well-received albums for labels like No Idea, Doghouse, and Epitaph -- and an incessant grassroots touring regime -- the passionate crew turned itself into a highly respected and influential act on the underground scene. Outside of his main gig, Ragan also recorded two side albums with some friends, including the stripped-down rock of Rumbleseat and the punk-oriented Cro(w)s. In the spring of 2005, Hot Water Music went on an indefinite hiatus, largely spurred by Ragan's desire to spend time outside of the band with his growing family. The group's other members went on playing music together (soon forming the Draft), while Ragan concentrated on his home life and, eventually, writing some acoustic-based material.
Hot Water Music officially closed up shop in May 2006, and Ragan began playing various shows solo, logging time by the year's end alongside acts like Dustin Kensrue, Flogging Molly, the Lawrence Arms, Rob Huddleston, and Tim Barry. Ragan (who was a carpenter by day) signed with California indie SideOneDummy Records in early 2007 for the May release of his intimate debut, Los Feliz. Recorded live on February 19, 2007 at Tangiers in Los Feliz, California, the album features Ragan armed with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica, and occasionally joined on-stage by Ted Hutt and Jon Gaunt. Ragan also set up a "singles club" with his buddies at No Idea, sending subscribers a new 7" (six total) every month or so from September 2006 to June 2007. In 2008 Ragan launched the Revival Tour, a long-running, internationally acclaimed acoustic collaboration that's featured a revolving door of talented musicians from the alt-country, bluegrass, and punk scenes over the years. He released his second solo outing, Gold Country, the following year and the Christopher Thorn-produced Covering Ground in 2011, and reunited with Hot Water Music in 2012 for the album Exister. Till Midnight, his fourth solo long-player, followed in early 2014. A year later he and songwriter Rocky Voltolato released a split EP entitled Kindred Spirit on Side One Dummy.
********************
WEBSITE
********************
TO THE TOP
********************
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