Rumbleseat - Rumbleseat is Dead

No Idea Records nerds have been waiting eagerly for a good while on this release. The aptly-titled Rumbleseat is Dead compiles the short-lived Gainesville band’s output, collected mostly from 7” records with short press runs and four tracks which had been previously unreleased. This acoustic trio was comprised of Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard on guitars (whom you may know from their other project, Epitaph’s Hot Water Music), and Samantha Jones (ex-Bitchin’) on bass. Vocals are shared amongst the three, with the boys' trademark gruffness spewing out over the banging of their acoustic guitars, abandoning their familiar sound, and paying homage to bands such as Uncle Tupelo, with these down-to-earth, suited for the back porch on a cool Southern summer evening songs. I read a review that touted Rumbleseat as “Hot Water Music meets Johnny Cash,” and that’s not far off. Footstomping and whiskey-imbibing may accompany a listen through Rumbleseat is Dead, and though it’s been six years since these songs were recorded, it’s wonderful that they’re not forever buried in Gainesville history and haven’t become victims of the dreaded “out-of-print” tag that so much vinyl seems to carry these days. [www.noidearecords.com]