Ray LaMontagne

[JayFreddy]

I can't believe I missed this guy when he first came out... That's the price I pay for not having a TV. I'm glad I found him eventually. Reminds me of all those memories that I haven't made yet.

(...and quite a few that I have!)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6a_1R3w5i4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqrJJ6-f1co


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPPw_pNBREk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU0yJS2smxI

Ray, if you ever get tired of those long Maine winters, you know you're always welcome in Texas. You might be surprised at how many friends you already have here. The weather's nice too, at least until about May...

[winny pooh]

I did not catch on to "trouble" but am loving the new album with the prairie dogs

[chippertheripper]

I thought he was an African American woman when I first heard him sing. Ray, it's fairly non-descript. We went to see him at a tiny place in Cambridge, and I thought this scruffy white kid gets up there...I thought he was an opener. Then he started to sing, my wife and I were flabbergasted.

I agree, with better production his stuff is way better. But I like all of it well enough to have gone and seen him a couple more times.

[Joe Baggadonitz]

My wife and I saw him last summer. I felt bad for him, somewhat, he had to close the show after Daniel Lanois and Emmylou Harris. Needless to say, they are tough acts to follow. I was unfamiliar with his material and I said to my wife, he better be good.

[ac15]

I thought his first album was great. I did not like the second album much and I basically have not kept up with his work since then. He does have a great style though. Saw him live about 5 years ago. I find his live performances somewhat off-putting - not because he doesn't talk to the audience, but because I just don't buy the "I'm so shy I can barely talk to people" act. Seems pretentious. Still, great singer.

[Cunningham26]

I only listen to him in one very specific scenario. Let's just say there's a reason your wives were so pumped to see him. He should change his name to LL Cool Ray

[ROADMAN]

saw Ray last autumn and really enjoyed the show...great singer ,songwriter and tight band ....loads of chicks at the show which is never a bad thing

[JayFreddy]

I like Zac Brown's version of Jolene too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZD_H5KfbaM

[xjazzy]

My favorite Ray songs are from the first record: Let it be me and You are the best thing.
His new band is great:

[JulianPrimeaux]

Originally Posted by xjazzy

My favorite Ray songs are from the first record: Let it be me and You are the best thing.

Those are both from his third album. My favorite record by him is definitely his debut - Trouble . I agree with ac15, I didn't care for his second album for the most part, but there are a few good songs on it. "Burn" is another excellent one off the the first record. I have seen him live twice and he was fantastic both times!

[xjazzy]

Originally Posted by JulianPrimeaux

Those are both from his third album. My favorite record by him is definitely his debut - Trouble . I agree with ac15, I didn't care for his second album for the most part, but there are a few good songs on it. "Burn" is another excellent one off the the first record. I have seen him live twice and he was fantastic both times!

Ups!
It was the first record I heard from him!

[JulianPrimeaux]

No sweat!

[J-man]

I waas always more of an Iron & Wine fan.

[scrapyardblue]

Have the Trouble album and God Willin', big fan of both. Funny thing is this isn't the first time I've heard earlier listeners say they don't like the new stuff, but I sure do.

Same with Jackie Greene, I thought Giving Up the Ghost was a classic, but early fans thought it was a sellout.

[JayFreddy]

For anyone who's interested, I posted a transcription to Jolene in the Tabs forum:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tab-tips-...ml#post3977063

[Mike Eskimo]

On the Letterman clips he has Jay Bellerose on drums.

Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt just because of that but -

there's no "center" to his voice.

It's all raggedy fuzz.

Even Rod Stewart had a center note.

Ray's on the far end opposite extreme from an opera singer (which is all "center").

I liked the music to Repo Man but I don't know...

UPDATE : just had coffee so part of my brain kicked in - the part that says he reminds me of Michael Bolton to a certain extent...

[JayFreddy]

Ray writes passionate guitar oriented songs. Glad I discovered him. Yup, maybe some of Ray's stuff is reminiscent of other bands. Nope, I don't think he's the Second Coming of the Messiah. Maybe he's not even technically that great of a singer... But I still like it. That includes his new songs as well as his old ones.

[ac15]

Originally Posted by Mike Eskimo

On the Letterman clips he has Jay Bellerose on drums.

Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt just because of that but -

there's no "center" to his voice.

It's all raggedy fuzz.

Even Rod Stewart had a center note.

Ray's on the far end opposite extreme from an opera singer (which is all "center").

I liked the music to Repo Man but I don't know...

UPDATE : just had coffee so part of my brain kicked in - the part that says he reminds me of Michael Bolton to a certain extent...

Kinda funny, the Bolton part. I know what you mean by the center in his voice. I think that goes part of the way in explaining why I liked his first album better than the second. I don't think he was singing that way as much on the first album, but the second album seemed to be all whispering and I just didn't like it as much (the songs or the singing).