Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves - Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves

Listening to Chris Wollard makes me want to take a permanent road trip. Could be the general wandering vibe of the album, with the open road cover art and recurring lyrics like “Far away from home” and “I’ll go anywhere / Just get me out of here.” As Wollard’s solo project from bands Hot Water Music and The Draft, the CD is a reflective and candid acoustic spin off the more electric sound of his previous work. Wollard’s gritty, meandering vocals make a few tracks unexpectedly reminiscent of a somber Johnny Cash (but I also tend to see Johnny Cash in grilled-cheese sandwiches). The solid, full-tilt pub sound could get a little repetitive or could be preferably “consistent.” Considering the low-key feel of the album, I liked listening to Chris Wollard for the same reason that I like to wander with no particular place to go.

Published in Volume 63, Number 26 of The Uniter (April 2, 2009)

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