Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves- S/T (No Idea Rec.)
There must be about 10 offshoots of Hot Water Music by now (The Draft, Rumbleseat, The Blacktop Cadence, Crows, etc.) and though none of them are a patch on the greatness achieved by HWM, I have yet to find one I don't really enjoy. With that said, I had to request a copy of this from the fine folks at No Idea when I caught wind of it.
Similar to Chuck Ragan, Wollard's solo work is very reminiscent of Hot Water Music and also very reflective, and moody, almost an 'easy listening' campfire version of HWM. Most of this disc is characterized by gentle, folksy acoustic guitar strumming although from time to time he does plug in and pick up the pace on some mid tempo rockers. Wollard's smokey, whiskey tinged voice is still as unmistakable as ever as he glides through gloomy melodies and somber pop songs with an ease he's all too used to after 15+ years of being one of this generations most noted songwriters.
Though you can't deny there are scads of alt- country, folky, americana singer songwriters out there, Wollard clearly has an unparalled songwriting ability, whether it comes out electric or acoustic, abrasive or gentle, solo or with a band. Simply put, the guy knows how to write a memorable tune.
Recommended for fans of Tim Barry (Avail), Rocky Votolato (Waxwing), and Ben Nichols' (Lucero) solo work.
