Question - Ray Lamontagne

[Kali]

Decent? What kind of sound? Trying to get a clip from YouTube, but I am on REALLY slow dial-up and it is taking forever. Getting a kind of Joe Cocker feel to the voice - am I right?

Explanation for those who might care: One of the sons is having one of those life experiences we all must go through as no amount of verbal warning ever seems effective for this situation. Music club. Yes he just got his first forgot-to-say-no-to-the-monthly-selection "Till the Sun Turns Black".

So trying to figure out if I should just keep it for myself (I know what a sucker) or if he needs to try to send it back unopened.

[Madrone]

1. It's good!!!

I have that cd, and his previous one. I don't know what I'd compare him to - so heres the Wiki comparison entry:

Ray LaMontagne is particularly known for his raspy voice, which he claims to have learned by singing through his gut and not his nose.<15><16> LaMontagne claims that he is highly influenced by Stephen Stills, and critics have compared LaMontagne's music to that of Van Morrison, Nick Drake, and Tim Buckley.<17><18> LaMontagne refers to himself as a "very private person", and infrequently gives interviews. He also usually does not interact with the audience between songs during his live shows.<19> LaMontagne has been known to perform live shows in the dark in order to separate himself from the audience.<2>


It's a GREAT cd. I recommend it.

[Kali]

2. I was afraid of that

:rofl:

Thanks for the reply.

[Phillycat]

3. Blech.

Whiny and way too quiet for me. But then, I hate that shit. :) Lots of people really like him.

[Kali]

5. I was a little worried about potential whiny

When I searched for him on my community station's playlist he showed up on several of the shows I really don't care for (and whiny is one reason why!)

The vocals I was getting on the You Tube clip weren't too bad, but I couldn't really get a good feel...

[Fran Kubelik]

4. Someone here - hippychick maybe? - is a big fan

She has him in her sigline.

[fishnfla]

6. I have both his cds

send that one back and get the first. Huge sophomore slump.

dont tell hippiechick :hide:

[MassLiberal]

7. I have his first cd and really like it

Haven't heard the second one yet. He sounds a little like Joe Cocker and a little like Rod Stewart (although he is not mod like Rod).

[RevolutionaryActs]

8. Here, listen to some of his songs on MySpace.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=10492098


:hi:

[leftofthedial]

9. reminds me of the introvert singer-songwriters of the 60s and early 70s

James Taylor, for the first two or three records

early Jackson Browne

very minimalist performer

I like it though.

[InternalDialogue]

10. My opinion: fantastic singer-songwriter

His first album, Trouble, is a great set of stripped back folk, more reminiscent of early Van Morrison than anything else I could compare it to. Till The Sun Turns Black is much more thoroughly produced but still a great set of writing. (Comparison to Joe Cocker only really works on a shallow level -- they both have unconventional techniques, but I think Joe's come from pushing himself; Ray's comes from withdrawing.)

I've seen him live four times, in four very different settings, and the thing that has come through to me every time is his ability to draw you close, to drop any pretension, and let the stories hit you as they will.

Whiny is only whiny if you don't feel the pathos. I don't get whiny at all from his stuff, although I'll admit that my familiarity with him may bias my opinion. But I think Ray is real, and the emotion he puts into his songs reminds me of Elliott Smith.

As far as CDs that end up in your hands by chance, it's probably meant to be. Give him a chance, listen to the CD twice in a quiet setting and hear what he's saying. I think the odds are heavily in favor of your becoming a fan, if the style of music is something you like anyway.

And yes, hippiechick is a huge fan. If you desire more info or recommendations, she's the woman to ask.

[Kali]

12. Wow thanks.

That is the sort of info I was looking for. I hate to bail the kid out of a life lesson but maybe it would be worth the intro to a new artist ... I kind of agree about when music ends up in your hands unexpectantly...I'd say 80 to 90 % of the albums I've bought just for cover art have turned out to be pretty cool musically as well :rofl:

[enigmatic]

11. You'd probably like William Fitzsimmons as well

Ray's fantastic and I play him on my overnight show all the time, so I highly recommend him.

We're playing the heck out of William Fitzsimmons right now on my show and our Indie Nation show; he runs along the same lines as Ray and Iron And Wine:

http://www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons

Here's a video for "Funeral Dress", which is probably my favorite cut of his:

http://recluseshow.blogspot.com/2007/02/funeral-dress-william-fitzsimmons.html

[InternalDialogue]

13. Thanks for the William Fitzsimmons mention

You got me to check him out -- I'll be looking to get some of his music when I'm able.

:hi:

[enigmatic]

14. William's great

And a really nice guy, too; he needs to be heard by as many people as possible..

[xchrom]

15. a great singer song writer in the old style.

simple, clean -- thoroughly enjoyable.