Legend
Lord Cash Pockets, 2019
8/10
Though this might be his debut solo album, Chad Carrier has a long history in the music industry, most notably as the bassist/vocalist for Big Mess, who are still very much active. Here on his own, Carrier brings us timeless acoustic tunes, some of which were originally written for the many bands he’s played in over the years.
“Stop What You’re Doing” starts the listen raw and memorable with Carrier’s strong vocals on the unplugged track that even brings in some gang vocals, while ”Pete Spratt’s Tavern” continues with a gritty spirit as Carrier’s punk roots are evident on the playful rocker.
In the middle, “Chelsea Jeanne” recruits backing female vocals on the rugged Americana highlight, and “DMV” follows with humorous wordplay alongside spirited guitar work.
Deeper in the listen, Carrier covers Iggy Pop’s “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, which retains the biting vocals but injects a rustic quality with the instrumentation, and “Trouble” continues the rebellious setting with a swift strummer and nods to folk-punk. “Everything Is Going To Be Ok” ends the listen brief with keys alongside a dreamy atmosphere of cautious musicianship.
An artist who is very much embraced in the Southern California punk scene, this solo effort unfolds with much grace and vivid storytelling as contributions from Dave Corrardi on guitar help make this outing another must hear chapter in the esteemed career of Chad Carrier.
Travels well with: Mike Ness- Cheating At Solitaire; Frank Turner- Poetry Of The Deed