Raygun Carver is the music of Pacific NW artist Michael Soiseth. The name ‘Raygun Carver’ is a play on that of the late local author Raymond Carver, who is buried in Soiseth’s hometown of Port Angeles, WA. As Raygun Carver, his music has been aptly described as “Urban Americana Noir” by Queen City Sounds and Art, incorporating elements of Americana, Brit Pop and folk.

Today Raygun Carver has released the single “Rain Is Coming,” which is featured on the upcoming album Bad Thing, the follow up to the 2020 LP Moon Fields Yawning.  “I was at someone’s home and they had an acoustic laying around. I was checking it out and this song came out of the blue without any intention or thought on my part. I just wrote what flowed naturally. Probably one of the easiest tunes I have ever written,” said Soiseth.

Some of the songs on Bad Thing have been kicking around Soiseth’s heard for years, but he was never able to write the definitive versions until now. The bulk of the record was written in Port Angeles during the span following the release of Moon Fields Yawning. The one cover, Bob Dylan’s, “Simple Twist of Fate”, is unusual for Soiseth. “I typically have not done covers but this one called out to me and hence it is on the record” he says.

In addition to Soiseth, Bad Thing features Phil Madeira (Emmylou Harris) on keys, accordion, slide, and electric guitar. Ryan Svendsen (Elton John) played the trumpet, while baritone and slide guitars were performed by Jay Stapley (Roger Waters). The strings on ‘Satellite’ were arranged and played by Kaitlin Wolfberg (H.E.R.) and the clarinet and sax for “Would I Lie to You’ were played by Keith Ward (Natalie Cole). Rob Wollam played all drums and percussion.

Weary, woozy, and intoxicating, Bad Thing is heady stuff. Immaculately executed, the record settles in around you, whispering oft-told tales as the fire crackles and the whisky seems to magically drain from the glass.

Photo Courtesy: Eric Olson