(Alt-Country, Folk) Chuck Ragan - Covering Ground - 2011, MP3, 320 kbps

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.
This solo project of Ragan’s strays rather far from the punk rock sound for which his band Hot Water Music has become so well known over the years; instead he has created his very own stripped-down acoustic sound based primarily on certain elements of folk and alt-country. It’s a way to disengage from the full band lineup and stand on his own; relying entirely on his fingers and voice to carry forth his music to the audiences he plays for. There is no one to hide behind, no feedback or distortion in which to lose one’s mistakes, no percussion to assist with timing, and the like. Rather, it is the type of endeavor which fully reveals the singer/songwriter for what he is truly worth.