If Faith Doesn't Matter

About the Artist
2002 is shaping up as a banner year for roots rocker Rich McCulley, who’s swinging for the fences with a terrific new album, a rocking new band, and a renewed hunger for the road. "I put my heart and soul into this record, and now it’s time to take the music to the people," says McCulley, who already has his battered guitar case stowed by the door.

It’s no wonder he’s so eager.

McCulley’s new self-produced record, "If Faith Doesn’t Matter" (due July 2002), takes his impressive roots rock sound to the next level from 2000’s "After The Moment Has Past" – a solo debut that BangSheet called "as pure a guitar-centered power pop blazeaglory as anything being pressed these, or any, days."

The easy confidence of the songwriting is a testament to the years McCulley has spent writing, producing, and playing music, including many months touring as fiery sideman with a succession of major label acts such as country rockers Big Blue Hearts (Geffen) and blues rock blazers Sweet Vine (Columbia). His own band, SparkleJet, released two well received indie albums and ruled the Fresno club scene in the late 90s.

Each of the twelve fresh new tunes showcase McCulley’s distinctive chopped gravel vocal rasp -- hailed by Indie-Music.com as "a great rock and roll voice." Glazed with plenty of soaring harmonies, his pipes are perfect to deliver his dead honest lyrics straight to the heart. Fans of Tom Petty, the Replacements, or Wilco will feel right at home here in an Americana sound that shifts effortlessly from full on rock to laid back California cool.

After spending most of 2001 touring the west coast in support of "Moment," McCulley relocated to San Francisco in search of a new beginning. He found it in his infectious new band, featuring three hungry players whose unbridled affection for Rich and each other shows in their broad smiles and ballsy playing. "I auditioned a ton of people for the band, but I felt an instant kinship with these guys," says McCulley. "They take the tunes to a whole new level and we always aim to bring the house down."

Trading guitar leads with McCulley is Duff Ferguson, a New York City native with an eye-catching Gibson Moderne guitar (shaped like a melted Flying-V) who meshes the rip of a Billy Gibbons with the clean-tone space twang of Bill Frisell. Bassist Eran Ellerbeck brings a solid boom to the room, built off years plying the rock and punk scenes in the Mid West heartland. Rooting the rock is eclectic drummer Alex Sack, whose loose, powerful drumming never lets the 4/4 fall the floor.

According to High Bias, Rich McCulley’s music is "approachable, genuine, and unpretentious" and there’s "plenty here to keep you coming back." Grab a copy of "If Faith Doesn’t Matter" today and we guarantee you’ll be back for more...

Product Description:
Rich McCulleys's music and this CD are a blend of roots rock, pop, alt. country, and just straight up rock and roll. Rich is a singer/songwriter/guitarist whose raspy, edgy vocals and brilliant guitar playing can be heard where it matters most..the songs. This album is full of wonderful songs and great performances by Rich and his band. His music has drawn compariisions to Wilco, The Replacements, Big Star, Tom Petty, The Stones, Steve Earle...well, you get the point.

Tracks:

Waiting
Unwound
Say Bye-bye
Uncertain
Nothin To Say
Please Sing Along
Fight It
Hang Me
Bend For No One
Heaven or Hell
Only Fool
Youre So High

Album Description

Rich McCulleys's music and this CD are a blend of roots rock, pop, alt. country, and just straight up rock and roll. Rich is a singer/songwriter/guitarist whose raspy, edgy vocals and brilliant guitar playing can be heard where it matters most..the songs. This album is full of wonderful songs and great performances by Rich and his band. His music has drawn compariisions to Wilco, The Replacements, Big Star, Tom Petty, The Stones, Steve Earle...well, you get the point.

Customer Reviews:

Dallas Morning News - Thursday, February 27, 2003.......2003-03-10

Rich McCulley
If Faith Doesn't Matter (Self-released, 2002)
What this San Francisco-based singer-songwriter lacks in vocal power, he makes up for with lyrical honesty and musical chops. His brand of roots pop is both twangy and sunny, and his melodies can be as breezy as a Southern California wind. Mr. McCulley's album is full of unadorned songs about love gone awry. But there's never a downtrodden feel to the proceedings thanks to his jubilant way with guitar-fueled rhythms.

- Mario Tarradell

The Big Take Over-Issue #51.......2003-01-05

Rich McCulley -If Faith Doesn't Matter
Those of you who enjoy the rootsier side of artists like George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Alex Chilton, Paul Westerberg, and Emmit Rhodes will find San Francisco's, Rich McCulley`s self-released sophomore effort, If Faith Doesn't Matter right in the proverbial ballpark... Backed by a crack band who have an intuitive feel for his music, McCulley's songs are realized tomes of heartache and loss that never sound forced or pretentious. Keep an eye out for this guy. Something tells me he's itching for something bigger. A strong showing of an emerging talent. Lovely! - Bryan Swirsky

Power Of POP.......2003-01-02

Power of Pop - webzine - Sunday, December 01, 2002

Rich McCulley
If Faith Doesn't Matter (Self-released)
Good news, folks, looks like McCulley has discovered the twang! This sophomore effort has McCulley lining his obvious pop-rock chops with a rustic country edge. The benefits are immediate - the opening "Waiting" is an infectious gem. The rest of Faith continues this fine blend with the Elvis (Costello that is) evoking "Unwound," the heartfelt "Say Bye Bye," the Stonesy "Fight It" and the austere "Heaven or Hell" making this album a worthy acquisition for all lovers of melodic rock 'n' roll, country rock and everything in-between. -

Probably deserves 4 and 3/4 stars.......2002-11-21

I must admit, Rich is a friend of mine going way back, but his new album is the best thing he has done in the 12 years plus I have known him. Rich has always had a roots rock sound, but his new stuff keeps the roots, but brings it modern enough to be on the radio. Good Ballads, some rockers...Straight forward, good production, tight playing, good lyrics.....Everything a rock & roll record should sound like and there good live too...

If you took Matchbox 20 and the Wallflowers, but added the balls of Exile on Main Street Stones, that would be the best way to describe this CD.

rich rocks!!.......2002-10-11

when rich moved his band from fresno to san francisco i was so upset! but as long as he keeps putting out albums like this i suppose i shouldn't complain about his moving on to bigger and better things.

there's tons of cool music on this disc and it plays really well in my cd changer alongside all different kinds of music. lots of great songs and rich's voice is always right whether the band is rocking full steam or it's just him on acoustic guitar. i never hear anything different on the major radio stations these days and it is so refreshing to hear rich's music playing on the fresno indie station.

keep on rocking rich but don't forget the roots where you came from!...

Music Album:

Music Album