Trouble is an appropriate title for Ray LaMontagne's 10-track debut album, as it certainly will raise some eyebrows. Not only is it original, mellow and filled with soul, the lyrics in each song tell a story to which every listener can relate.
Growing up with his single mother, LaMontagne spent his childhood and teenage years just trying to get by. According to his Web site, www.raylamontagne.com, LaMontagne said he wrote his album from personal experiences. As he sings in the opening track, Trouble
Trouble been doggin' my soul since the day I was born.
His experiences inspired him to record a demo and his first album.
Aside from the title track, LaMontagne's CD is full of acoustic guitar, harmonica, piano melodies and soft drum beats. Along with his acoustic guitar talent, LaMontagne's voice has a raspy quality that evokes a sense of southern blues, folk and tranquility all rolled into one.
With LaMontagne, Nickel Creek's Sarah Watkins plays fiddle and sings on the tracks Hannah and All the Wild Horses. Jennifer Stills, the daughter of Stephen Stills from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, provides back-up vocals on Narrow Escape. A five-piece string section also appears on several tracks.
LaMontagne opens on the quick-moving track, Forever My Friend about trust in relationships, singing if we keep our hearts together - maybe we can make this last a lifetime. In Shelter he laments on the unplanned events in life that often can drag people down, crooning you will shelter me my love; I will shelter you.
LaMontagne's freshman album, Trouble
is packed with tunes to hum and certainly is worth listening to on lazy fall afternoons.
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Natalie Pezzenti
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