Review → Chris Wollard & the Ship Thieves – s/t (2009)
Chris Wollard & the Ship Thieves
Chris Wollard is most notably one of the singer/guitarists- along with Chuck Ragan- of Gainesville’s beloved post-hardcore quartet Hot Water Music. After the departure of Ragan, he and the rest of the band formed the Draft, and now, he’s assembled a team of musicians to back him on what is more or less his solo album, Chris Wollard & the Ship Thieves. Comparisons to Ragan’s post-HWM work are inescapable, particularly in light of Chuck’s collaboration with Austin Lucas last year.
The album kicks off with the rocker “No Exception,” which is definitely a highlight of a rather strong album. Chris honed his chops, both in terms of writing and playing, in Hot Water Music, and it comes to a fore here, with songs that range from straight-ahead rock songs, to more quiet, country-influenced ones.
Chris has a smooth vocal delivery, notably different than the scratchy, gruff vocals of his HWM cohort Ragan; the dynamic between the two voices was one of the best parts of their music. Here, with Chris’s vocals given the entire record, he’s great. Sure, he’s not taking any huge leaps or anything, but this is the work of a guy who knows his strengths, and plays them perfectly. Perhaps most impressive is how his voice melts into each song. For an example, check out “Same to You.”
The album consists of about half rockers, and half the mid- to slow-tempo, country-tinged songs, like the aforementioned “Same to You,” “Reason in My Rhyme.” Despite my references to Chuck Ragan’s recent output (Bristle Ridge), these aren’t the early-20th century folk throwback found there; rather, this is more of an acoustic record, punctuated at times with traditional rock band instrumentation.
Overall, this is a great album, no two ways about it. Chris Wollard is a great singer, guitar player, and songwriter, and this offers just that much more proof. Not that anyone needed any, but if you did, this album is it.
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