I heard Ray LaMontagne perform on Saturday Night Live and instantly fell for his soulful sound. He performed "You Are the Best Thing" and it was one of those songs that I could just listen to over and over again. I was so excited about Ray, I looked everywhere the next day to find his latest album 'Gossip in the Grain' which actually came out back in October. To my dismay, I was having a hard time locating a copy & couldn't fathom the idea of having to wait to receive it in the mail. Finally, success! After calling around town with no luck, I got some good news & snatched up my coveted CD right before closing time Sunday evening. You can definitely hear his influences Otis Redding and Ray Charles, he has a raspy, earnest hunger in his voice. Honest lyrics, coupled with a mixture of folk rock and bluesy jazz creates a uniquely raw sound. This is probably the best album I have heard in a while-- a great blend of tracks. My favorites are "You Are the Best Thing" an upbeat, sincere theme song; "Let it Be Me" an authentic ballad, lyrical poetry that really moved me; "Meg White" a gritty love letter to White Stripe's drummer...Meg White. Now that's aggressive & I like it! You have to get your paws on 'Gossip in the Grain'!!!
3.24.2009
Yay for Ray!
I heard Ray LaMontagne perform on Saturday Night Live and instantly fell for his soulful sound. He performed "You Are the Best Thing" and it was one of those songs that I could just listen to over and over again. I was so excited about Ray, I looked everywhere the next day to find his latest album 'Gossip in the Grain' which actually came out back in October. To my dismay, I was having a hard time locating a copy & couldn't fathom the idea of having to wait to receive it in the mail. Finally, success! After calling around town with no luck, I got some good news & snatched up my coveted CD right before closing time Sunday evening. You can definitely hear his influences Otis Redding and Ray Charles, he has a raspy, earnest hunger in his voice. Honest lyrics, coupled with a mixture of folk rock and bluesy jazz creates a uniquely raw sound. This is probably the best album I have heard in a while-- a great blend of tracks. My favorites are "You Are the Best Thing" an upbeat, sincere theme song; "Let it Be Me" an authentic ballad, lyrical poetry that really moved me; "Meg White" a gritty love letter to White Stripe's drummer...Meg White. Now that's aggressive & I like it! You have to get your paws on 'Gossip in the Grain'!!!
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Check out 'Three More Days' by this fella....
ReplyDeleteI Looooooove Ray LaMontagne -- 'Trouble' is a great one too! If you like him, you should check out Alexi Murdoch -- 'Orange Sky' one of my personal favs :)
ReplyDeleteI <3 Ray LaMontagne... discovered him about 6 months ago and he's a permanent fixture now on my playlist... Alexi Murdoch is another good one. so is Justin Nozuka.
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