Album Review: Rich Ragany – Like We’ll Never Make It

Prolific songwriter Rich Ragany has written, recorded and released a trio of full length albums in the last three years with London based power pop outfit The Role Models in the shape of 2015’s The Go To Guy, 2016’s Forest Lawn and 2017’s Dance Moves. Clearly he’s not content to take a well earned breather as he has now recorded his first solo album, Like We’ll Never Make It. He is backed up in his latest endeavour by an impressive band that includes members of Glitterati, Dedwardians, Shush, UK Subs, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Scott Sorry Band and Mallory Knox, as well as fellow Role Model Simon Maxwell, to create a touring outfit, Rich Ragany And The Digressions, who will be hitting the road over the coming months and into 2019.

If anyone is surprised that there’s a similarity to The Role Models previous releases then you’ve not been paying attention as half of the band appear on Like We’ll Never Make It, but this is no a carbon copy, Rich’s approach on his debut solo release is to show a softer side than The Role Models full tilt sleazy power pop. From the opening track, To The Sea, onwards you get an album that captures the essence of what makes The Role Models such an essential band, but it’s delivered with a lazy smile rather than a good natured snarl. The album’s title track is a perfect example of this, you can almost hear The Role Models pumped up version in your head when you’re listening to the easy going melodic approach he’s chosen on Like We’ll Never Make It.

There would be no point making a solo album that is identical to Rich Ragany‘s better known outfit, although this hasn’t stopped many singers doing exactly that. There needs to be a difference that highlights the singers own style rather than the band’s collective approach, with Like We’ll Never Make It he’s done exactly that. Rich Ragany‘s songwriting is instantly recognisable and you can sense Mr Hyde lurking underneath, but the approach is very much Dr Jekyll. When you consider that this is his fourth album in four years you’ve can’t help but tip your hat to him, with his debut solo album Rich Ragany has proved himself to be one of the most prolific and consistent artists out there. Like We’ll Never Make It can now be pre-ordered via Pledge Music if you want the extras and goodies that this option offers, and via Glunk Records if you just want the music.

Like We’ll Never Make It can pre-ordered via Glunk Records on CD here

You can pre-order Like We’ll Never Make It via Pledge Music here