Album Reviews

In an indie-rock era saturated with smirky, slacker irony, the roots-rocker Ray La Montagne comes across as downright solemn. He and his group execute cleanly and almost reverentially, funk, blues, jazz and country, which La Montagne sings in a honey coated gruff voice that veers between Joe Cocker and Tim Hardin. The man is sincere and like Tim Hardin, he knows how to move three chord rounds. 

In an indie-rock era saturated with smirky, slacker irony, the roots-rocker Ray La Montagne comes across as downright solemn. He and his group execute cleanly and almost reverentially, funk, blues, jazz and country, which La Montagne sings in a honey coated gruff voice that veers between Joe Cocker and Tim Hardin. The man is sincere and like Tim Hardin, he knows how to move three chord rounds. 

The writing is conceptually clean musically and lyrically. La Montagne deftly quotes familiar musical constructions while making them fresh. For instance, "Beg Steal Or Borrow" is reminiscent of "If I Was a Carpenter,"  but sounds nothing like it. "New York City's Killing Me" is almost a parody of a country lament. 

While the songs have the pedal steel trappings of country, the vibe is more the rock practiced by The Band and the soul of Van Morrison. 

LaMontagne's austere sincerity sells it with conviction as the pleasingly melodical and vaguely familiar tunes roll comfortably by. You hear them once and you want to hear them repeatedly.

Veteran engineer Ryan Freeland mikes everything intimately and purely, producing an intimate setting and large, physical images that are warm, dry and present. The sound doesn't exactly sparkle, yet you're left not wanting more or less of anything. Freeland pays the music the perfect complement.

The gatefold packaging is deluxe: printed on well textured stock and embossed. The photos inside are evocative of late winter. The look is vaguely western and old-fashioned like The Band's second album photos, but there's no attempt to evoke a long gone era other than on the surface. 

The visuals are to the music what the music is to the engineering, much like those elements compliment one another on The Band's second album. It's rare for that to happen. 

The artist is the producer and he knows what he wants, that is for sure. This is an album about craftsmanship on all levels. It's more comfortable than challenging but its done so well you'll know you haven't wasted your time. 

The man who wrote "Trouble" has proven he's no one hit wonder.