Album Reviews
With A Season in Hell, Good Riddance frontman Russ Rankin returns with his third solo release, following 2012’s Farewell Catalonia and 2022’s Come Together Fall Apart. Unlike its acoustic-driven predecessors, A Season in Hell was envisioned as a full-band record, bridging Rankin's solo songwriting with the melodic punk energy of his main band.
Except for the drums (handled by Adam Gomez of the Dickies and D.I.), Rankin plays every instrument himself. The EP packs six tracks in total: three originals that didn’t quite fit the Good Riddance mold, and three covers paying homage to The Records, The Avengers, and Billy Bragg (who famously popularized Leon Rosselson's original work).
The original tracks hold up strong. It takes little imagination to hear opening track “March 8th” as a Good Riddance anthem, while “A Rising Tide” brings the classic energy of Dag Nasty to mind. The fast-paced “What Brand of Hell” rounds out the trio of Rankin-penned tracks with sharp intensity.
The covers are equally compelling. First up is The Avengers’ “Cheap Tragedies,” an altogether solid track featuring a simple yet undeniably catchy chorus. Next comes the power-pop greatness of “Starry Eyes” by UK outfit The Records. Power-pop might not be the first style that comes to mind when thinking of Russ Rankin, but as it turns out, it suits his vocal delivery extremely well. Closing out the EP is “The World Turned Upside Down.” Rankin takes his cues directly from Billy Bragg’s iconic rendition of the Rosselson classic, delivering a cover that hits with the straightforward grit you would expect.
A Season In Hell track listing:
- March 8th
- A Rising Tide
- What Brand Of Hell
- Cheap Tragedies
- Starry Eyes
- The World Turned Upside Down
Lacking the talent to actually play in a band, Tom decided he would write about bands instead. Turns out his writing skills are mediocre at best as well.
