1 is the Loneliest Number

This week, Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump is putting out his first solo album, Soul Punk. Getting excited for this album has got me thinking about some of my other favorite singers that have done work on their own outside of the main band. It's usually harder to accomplish true greatness on your own in music. If you think about it, far more bands have reached the upper echelons of rock n' roll than solo artists, and many solo artists that make it big started out as members of previously established bands. Personally, I'm always stoked when a singer from a band I like steps out on his own to create something different. 

There are certain criteria that I feel a solo album must meet to make it worthwhile: It's gotta be noticeably different from the artist in question's main band. Otherwise, what's the point? Why do I want to hear Billie Joe Armstrong sing a bunch of songs that easily could have ended up on the next Green Day record? I don't. Additionally, I have no interest in hearing a collection of odds and ends that weren't worth fleshing out into tunes for your day job. Last year, Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba put out just such an album, appropriately titled Demos. Skiba is one of my all time heroes, but I just didn't care for what was essentially an assortment of skeletons that weren't good enough to become Trio songs. 

Enough rambling: here are 5 solo records I've been spinning lately from artists who are taking a break from what they normally do to put out something special.

Dave Hause – Resolutions: Dave Hause sings for an awesome Philadelphia band called the Loved Ones. Earlier this year, he released this slept-on gem on Paper + Plastick Records, and I must say, even as a huge Loved Ones fan, this is his best work to date. Resolutions fluxuates nicely between the reminiscent ("Time Will Tell") and the inspirational ("C'Mon Kid"); finding a home somewhere between a more folky, relaxed version of the band he fronts and an acoustic take on Anchors Aweigh-era Bouncing Souls. Pick this one up and get healed.

Chuck Ragan – Covering Ground – Hot Water Music's burly, bearded bard just put out his 3rd full length solo album on Sideonedummy Records. Ragan's first two solo outings were certainly passable, but often just came off as acoustic Hot Water Music songs. This time around, Ragan ups the ante, adding more harmonica, fiddle and cello into the mix for an earthly, troubador vibe that belies HWM's sweaty punk rock legacy.

Nick 13 – Nick 13 – The frontman for rockabilly heroes Tiger Army certainly fits the bill for an artist going in a completely different direction on their solo album. Nick 13 is a straight up Nasville, Grand Ole Opry style country album, complete with the twangiest guitars and the singer dressed like a Waylon Jennings roadie in the album's cover art. It's really great stuff, and not just for country aficionados and Tiger Army fans. Give this one an honest shot; it's worth taking the leap of fate.

Jarrod Gorbel – Devil's Made A New Friend – Former Honorary Title lead singer Jarrod Gorbel stepped out on his own last year after the former band's demise, much to the fanfare of emo kids everywhere. However, the Dashboard crowd didn't get exactly what they were looking for. In my opinion, that's a good thing. Gorbel really lets his beautiful voice cut loose in a way the Honorary Title's songs never allowed him to do, especially on wistful acoustic jams like "Ten Years Older." This guy has a long career ahead of him.

Max Bemis & the Painful Splits – Max Bemis & the Painful Splits – I picked up this tour-only 10 song outing last year while Max and the boys in Say Anything were playing a show in Boston with Saves the Day. While not a necessity, this is a cool collection of home recordings featuring only Max, an acoustic guitar, and the occasional vocal assist from his wife, Sherri Dupree of indie rockers Eisley. Bemis' trademark sardonic wit is in full swing here, and the vocal effects on songs like "Chlorine Bath" are very befitting to the singer's infinitely odd persona.

Solo albums can go either way. Sometimes you're Dallas Green and sometimes you're Chris Cornell, but it's always interesting to get a more magnified peek at the inside of one of your favorite singer's heads. Check all these records out! Whether you're into the bands these guys play in or not, there are some cool moments on all of these albums, and they provide a more intimate look into the tastes and personal directions of these musicians, as solo albums obviously reflect more of an artist than an album with a full band does. As always, email me at brking@plymouth.edu and let's talk about your favorite solo albums.