Whispering Pines - Jason Ringenberg, Hausey, Howard
Under Your Command
Trail of Tears - Jason Ringenberg, Attaway, Murray
For Addie Rose
A Pocketful of Soul
Hay Bailing Time - Jason Ringenberg,
The Last of the Neon Cowboys
The Price of Progress
Merry Christmas My Darling
I Never Knew You
The Last Ride - Jason Ringenberg,
Jason Ringenberg has always been as much a farm boy as a firebrand at heart, even when fronting Nashville's hard-rocking Jason and the Scorchers. Thus this acoustic collection in celebration of rural values, released on Ri... more »ngenberg's own Courageous Chicken label, is less a musical departure than a homecoming. With multi-instrumentalists George Bradfute (who coproduced the album at his home studio) and Fats Kaplin providing string support, Ringenberg sings of Christian conviction ("Under Your Command"), country Yuletide ("Merry Christmas My Darling"), and his daughter's birth ("For Addie Rose"). He additionally pays tribute to country tradition with a lilting renewal of Johnny Horton's "Whispering Pines." Though the album-opening "Oh Lonesome Prairie" is a little too cornpone even for Ringenberg, whatever he sings, his sincerity shines through. --Don McLeese« less
Jason Ringenberg has always been as much a farm boy as a firebrand at heart, even when fronting Nashville's hard-rocking Jason and the Scorchers. Thus this acoustic collection in celebration of rural values, released on Ringenberg's own Courageous Chicken label, is less a musical departure than a homecoming. With multi-instrumentalists George Bradfute (who coproduced the album at his home studio) and Fats Kaplin providing string support, Ringenberg sings of Christian conviction ("Under Your Command"), country Yuletide ("Merry Christmas My Darling"), and his daughter's birth ("For Addie Rose"). He additionally pays tribute to country tradition with a lilting renewal of Johnny Horton's "Whispering Pines." Though the album-opening "Oh Lonesome Prairie" is a little too cornpone even for Ringenberg, whatever he sings, his sincerity shines through. --Don McLeese
Acoustic country flavored folk delivered with heart and soul
Ned Rinalducci | Savannah, Georgia USA | 10/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With age comes wisdom--now in his 40s Jason Ringenberg knows what is important to him-family, home, and faith. As leader of Jason and the Scorchers, Ringenberg is part of one of the greatest live acts in rock & roll and virtually created the category of music called "alternative country" long before it had a name. While Jason and the Scorchers often found success covering classic country and folk songs in their rock & roll--punk infused style, the band's original material is what holds up best--and most of that work was penned by Jason Ringenberg. In this album, his song writing is front and center and striped down to its barest essentials. Jason has always had a way to convey a sense of honesty and sincerity in his music, but in Pocket Full of Soul, he takes it to a new level. This is clearly not a Scorchers record, nor is it very similar to his first foray into making a solo album (One Foot In The Honky Tonk); this is acoustic country flavored folk music delivered from the heart with more than a pocketful of soul. Jason sings about his children, his wife, his faith, and his rural roots. The personal contentment Jason has found at this stage in his life is evident in this collection of timeless songs. Like his work with the Scorchers, this album probably will not find great commercial success and will never produce a chart topping single, but you would be hard pressed to find better music being made anywhere. A line from The Last Of The Neon Cowboys is an especially appropriate description of Jason's own efforts on this album: "When the music starts he'll give all of his heart and you will believe again""
Jason's Stories are Timeless
Lee Armstrong | 09/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
""A Pocketful of Soul" drew me in from the minute I starting playing this new release from Jason Ringenberg. I always say any one who writes 'em and can play 'em too gets the most respect in my book. I've been a fan of Jason and "Jason & the Scorchers" for alot of years years now. Jason Ringenberg has produced another great masterpiece.Congratulations, Jason!"
I know, I know. There's no such thing as a five star LP. My
Ricahrd A. Salzer | Chesapeake, Virginia, USA | 06/06/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It is absolutely superb! Nine really
strong songs and even a couple Christ-
ian cuts as well. I loved it, Jason.
Your best work outside of Jason and
the Scorchers yet. Bravo to George
Bradfute and Fats Kaplin as well!
If the Scorchers are finished, I'll
cry! But keep these solo gems a-comin'!"
Beautiful Bright Spots
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 10/18/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"There are many beautiful bright spots on this laid-back effort by Jason & the Scorchers' front man Jason Ringenberg. Jason's voice is sweetly lilting on Johnny Horton's recorded "Whispering Pines." Guadalcanal Diary's "Trail of Tears" has a nice midtempo energy, "Hell burns hot in a killer's heart, a shallow grave in an unmarked plot." "For Addie Rose" is as gorgeous as the picture of Jason kissing his daughter on the insert; you can tell there is a lot of love, "On the day that you were born heaven saw a new star form; God's light was shining true on all you are & all you'll do." The title track is a great country ho-down. I also greatly enjoy "Last of the Neon Cowboys" penned with Kevin Welch about a guy who doesn't have great luck with women, but loves to sing with the band. The 2 instrumentals "Hay Baling Time" & "The Last Ride" are excellent short bluegrass blasts. "Merry Christmas Darling" is a touching country Christmas song about a guy apparently in Vietnam fighting, thinking about his family back home at Christmastime. "Pocketful of Soul" is a good retro-country set with some beautiful bright spots to make it a great addition to your music collection. Enjoy!"