Album Review: Chuck Ragan - Covering Ground

It’s hard to believe that ‘Covering Ground’ is only Chuck Ragan’s third full-length album considering the size of his recorded output since he first embarked on a solo career over five years ago, is huge. It is also astounding that so little material has been duplicated for his full lengths. ‘Covering Ground’ is the sound of a man that has done just that since his last album, covered ground. Contemplative, wistful and full of longing, Ragan makes you feel the loneliness of life on the road in a way only someone who has played thousands of live shows can.

‘Covering Ground’ proves to be an apt name in more ways than one. Not only are the lyrics largely about life on the road, but musically Ragan covers some old ground and some newer pastures. The opening three tracks are largely old ground with subtle hints of the new. For example, on opening track ‘Nothing Left To Prove’ the subtle use of an organ in the background is the perfect accomplice to the glass-shredding voice of Chuck Ragan. On 'Nomad By Fate’, Ragan is at his up-tempo honest best, wailing “I’m coming home” like he’s at the wheel of his pick-up traversing the route back to his wife. These first three tracks are exactly what we’ve come to expect from Chuck Ragan, honest and straight up Americana-laced folk music.

The album starts to take some baby steps into new territory on the brilliant ‘Wish On The Moon’, where the subtlety of the strings and the rather surprising inclusion of a line and melody from Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love With You’, are a refreshing addition to Ragan’s standard formula. On the rootsy ‘Come Around’ and the rip-roaring ‘Valentine’ Ragan’s rough-voice is neutralized by the tender and haunting vocals of Audra Mae, another wonderful addition. The biggest contrast lies on the backwater lullaby ‘Right As Rain’ and the hidden untitled track. The former track encapsulates that mid-summer evening feeling, as the strings play and a banjo is plucked, Ragan’s lamenting howl ebbs and flows with a rough beauty. The latter track however is more of an ode to Springsteen’s ‘The Wrestler’, musically uncomplicated, but lyrically majestic, it’s Chuck Ragan, but at his most exposed.

‘Covering Ground’ is probably Chuck Ragan’s most accomplished album to date. Rooted in honesty and experience, you’ll be hard pushed to find an album that is more indebted to the strains and struggles of life on the road.

5/5

'Covering Ground' is out now on SideOneDummy Records.

Dan Issit