Some will know Chuck Ragan from his early career singing and playing guitar in post-hardcore band Hot Water Music.  The Gainesville, Florida four-piece released seven fairly consistent studio albums between 1995 and 2004.  Since 2007, Ragan has been making a different kind of music, and those expecting solo albums to sound like Hot Water Music might be sorely disappointed.  His solo records are a mixture of folk and country; the distorted electric guitars and drum sets replaced by fiddles and acoustic rigs.  The only sonic holdover from Hot Water Music is Ragan’s coarse, raspy vocal performance.

This album, his fourth solo full-length in this style, features some impressive cameos:  Frank Turner, The Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon, and several members of Lucero.  Blind Melon’s Christopher Thorn produced the record.  The guest list is impressive, but it is unclear exactly what contributions each have made.  Overall the record is tonally consistent and the production is crisp.

The record is fine, but it’s kind of depressing.  For certain artist, making downer albums can be incredibly compelling, ensuring that the record will be listened to end-to-end once started.  I don’t get that compulsion with Covering Ground at all.

(Side One Dummy, 1944 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90068)