Chuck Ragan- Los Feliz (Side One Dummy Rec.)
I'm starting to lose track of how many times Hot Water Music has broken up or gone on hiatus. Just when I start to think there's no hope for HWM to be back together, I hear about a show somewhere they're playing. At the most, they're a part time affair now, especially when you consider how many spin offs of HWM have and do exist, i.e. The Draft, Rumbleseat, as well as solo records by Chris Woller and Chuck Ragan.
'Los Feliz' is Chuck Ragan's first solo release and was recorded live. A first release being live might be a little unorthodox for the average musician, but since Ragan has probably played literally thousands of live shows by now he's quite familiar with the medium.
Ragans unmistakable voice lets you know immediately where his roots are, but his music now has more a stripped down folk sound, complete with harmonicas, fiddles, and mandolins. His prolific story telling is still intact, and in a lot of ways he has become the Bruce Springsteen of punk rock, singing the working man blues for the common man/woman.
This disc is a little dated now, and since then Ragan has put out a slew of other releases, all of which are a must have for fans of anything related to Hot Water Music or anything acoustic or folk related (e.g. Woody Guthrie, Billy Bragg).
