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<\/a><\/p>\nSettle down readers dim that light because old Rags is clearing his throat and with his newly assembled comrades he\u2019s gonna take you on a journey along his story highway – so buckle up folks it’s gonna be the ride of your lives.<\/p>\n
There are many things that puzzle me like how does gravity work? Why does the bread land butter side down and how the fuck Rags isn\u2019t a household name in this God forsaken industry?<\/p>\n
After knocking out three albums in three years with his beat combo Role Models he\u2019s back in the room with this- something of a debut solo record Hell its got his name on the sleeve, of course, it’s a solo album.\u00a0 Songs that didn\u2019t quite fit the Role Models remit but most certainly needed to be heard.<\/p>\n
Had this record not been recorded then I\u2019m sorry folks that would have been a travesty a tragedy even and I\u2019m not for a second joking around.\u00a0 Once you get stuck into this album – time will be an irrelevance and you\u2019ll have a bunch of your new favourite songs.\u00a0 You\u2019re gonna laugh and maybe even wipe some of that stuff that falls from your eyes when watching Lassie because this is the work of a man and a band so on top of their game it\u2019s nuts.<\/p>\n
With something of a gentile opener \u2018To The Sea\u2019 is just a couple of guys playing acoustic and electric guitars as they harmonise you know the deal just like the good ones used to back in the day y\u2019know those Don and Phil boys – that kinda deal. It does build but in keeping with the tempo and it never gets ahead of itself or reveals its hand too early as the key being able to hold everyone nicely in place as you the listener gets as comfortable as possible.<\/p>\n
\u2018That World\u2019 has some guitar breaks that wouldn\u2019t sound out of place nestled in the best work of Peter Buck or Dave Pirner (I\u2019m not even joking) with some fantastic twists like Johnny Marr always throws in his work but it\u2019s all wrapped up nicely around a great Rags tale Take a bow Gaff you nail with such empathy.<\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t like to say that the album reaches an unassailable peak this early but \u2018Your Distance\u2019 is a stunning piece of writing from the intense lyrics to the playing of the band this is easily Rags finest three minutes and twenty-five seconds of songwriting and the backing vocals give me chills even after the one hundredth play.\u00a0 I might be accused of over-hyping records and I admit to getting carried away (who doesn\u2019t? Isn’t that what music is supposed to do?). Trust me, \u00a0I\u2019ve had these songs in my possession for months and I promise you I simply can\u2019t get enough of it and I make no apologies for \u2018bigging\u2019 it up or going overboard.\u00a0 \u00a0when you have to say it like it is then just let it out so here it is guys consider this me letting it out!<\/p>\n
The title track is a bright song that has Kit Swing on fire with her vocals and the arrangement lifts it ten feet tall as Rags holds his own and manages to raise a smile with some great lyrics.\u00a0 Feel free to punch the air rocky style once you put down the tennis racket after playing air guitar to Gaffs (Michael Gaffney) great solo.<\/p>\n
Onto \u2018Lose With Me\u2019 what might well be seen as a distant relative to some 80\u2019s \/90\u2019s Americana juggernauts like…Nah I\u2019m not naming them this stands shoulder to shoulder with them.\u00a0 This is the sound of a band having an absolute blast working with some superb songs and running with it giving it everything they have and the final mix is the pay off as we all get to hear it.<\/p>\n
To show that Rags can fish out a pair of glitter bellbottoms and paint his face like Marc did as \u2018Scotty Thompson\u2019 sounds like Mott The Hoople and Roxy Music stumbling in at sunrise with the keys to Elton\u2019s Roller and having no idea how that happened.<\/p>\n
Settle back down kids and pour yourself another glass because Rags has sat on the rocking chair and is opening up his big book of stories as \u2018Story Highway\u2019 unfolds and again you can feel your face resting into the smile because it\u2019s another shade as his brush sweeps over yet more quality songwriting.<\/p>\n
Me I might never measure up for that guitar-shaped swimming pool\u00a0 I was going to build but you know what? Give me a record as complete as this any day of the week. \u2018Heart Souvenir\u2019 has some great keyboards holding this one to book as Simon Maxwell, Andy Brook, Ricky McGuire, Gaff, and Kris Rodgers all play with great sympathy but without their deft touches and light and shade, something would be missing.<\/p>\n
Say it quietly but Rags has surpassed himself here and these songs show that he has so much talent and such a great ear for a song and with a little help from his friends has written played and arranged the years finest album. Oh sure he also manages to sing his heart out as well and he\u2019s most definitely taken his music to places he\u2019s not been before and sounded accomplished and capable with songs that are rich in depth, feeling and above all quality. ol\u2019 Rags has shone his light into corners of music that can often be dark and cold but not this. Warm- engaging \u2013 uplifting and without a doubt his finest work so far.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s still the upbeat \u2018Later Than it Is\u2019 to underline what\u2019s gone before it and to add that confident exclamation mark before we ride off into the sunset happy to know that we are here and we get to hear this great music.\u00a0 It only leaves the squeezebox on \u2018Easy\u2019 to show that this is anything but, but in the hands of professionals, it certainly sounds it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Be smug \u2013 Be happy \u2013 spread the word Rich Ragany & The Digressions have turned in one hell of an album that\u2019ll inspire you and make you believe that great music is out there and you want some and this is the proof.<\/p>\n
Hey Rags before you decide on where to go next let\u2019s take …Like We\u2019ll Never Make It… and get as many people as possible to jump on board and hear these songs because they deserve to be heard make no mistake about that.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/170406000538729\/<\/p>\n