Customer Reviews

Gold Country

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Chuck Ragan shouldn't need an introduction at this point in his music career. However, perhaps Gold Country will be the record that he is known for (by those who weren't Hot Water Music fans or fans of his earlier solo work). From beginning to end Gold Country is a work of art. It's hard to remember what the last album was for me that did what this album does. The more you play it, the better it gets. That's not to say it was ever bad though. I actually fell in love with these songs on my first listen, but revisiting them is the true beauty of Gold Country. This record is a must own for music lovers, from the driving melodies of "For goodness sake" and "Glory" to the softer tracks like "Don't say a word" or "Get em all home" this album is a work of perfection. With a voice like that of Chuck Ragan this album comes off as powerful more often than not. Not only will you love Gold Country but you will wonder where it has been all of your life.

Gold Country is a strong production all the way through. Chuck Ragan's last work, Feast or Famine, had moving and interesting lyrics and some heart-pounding, fun (and sometimes extremely sad) tempos. I was worried this new work couldn't measure up. It does and it is in my opinion, more cohesive. Chuck Ragan is who i go to for early morning and late evening music. While some say this is country, i actually cannot classify it as such. I find this music more indie/alt with country instruments. Whatever that means. It's great. I saw CR live this summer and wow (!) what non-stop energy this guy has. I think he and Jon must have burned calories similar to running a marathon. Buy this album if you like country OR alternative. I have yet to find a musician who can appeal to both music styles simultaneously...transcending the genre is i suppose a hallmark of great music.

Wow, Chuck. This sounds like an honest-to-goodness country album. Really digging the backing band and electric guitar on some tracks. Same fire, soul, and drive as HWM, different application. If you liked HWM at all (Who Didn't?), get this record. Welcome to California!!!

Incredible, just another amazing album for this old and talented punk rocker from Gainesville. True music from the heart.

the progression of chuck's solo career has been very fun for myself to follow. being a HUGE HWM fan, i first found myself intoxicated by their early acoustic work in Rumbleseat. then HWM got really really bad. Chuck got out with dignity and went solo, while the rest of the boys formed the draft. the draft was and i guess still is pretty terrible.

This is the best out of all the Chuck albums. it will become certain to a HWM fan that Chuck obviously wrote all the good HWM songs back in the day...welp, they were all good....so Chuck must have written them all.

This album is more upbeat and kinda poppy as compared to his others. Chuck is the underground Bruce Springstein of our generation, so expect a ear full of workin' man's trials and tribulations. Its gentle stuff you wont feel like a Nancy for listening to. there is not a week track on the album. really really really good stuff.