Ray Lamontagne - Trouble
Release Date: 2004
Producer:
Genre: listed with major retailers as Rock/Pop I would lean more to a folk/grassroots blues/Acoustic
Number of songs: 10
Availability: HMV, Virgin, WHSmith, Woolworths, CD-Wow and any other major music retailer
RRP: £10.99 although ... Read review
Some singer/songwriters (think Paul Westerberg and Elliott Smith) develop their ... more
world-weariness through the unforgiving trials of passing years and the heart-breaking grind of the music business. Others (Van Morrison, Neil Young) seem to have sprung fr...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Some singer/songwriters (think Paul Westerberg and Elliott Smith) develop their ... more
world-weariness through the unforgiving trials of passing years and the heart-breaking grind of the music business. Others (Van Morrison, Neil Young) seem to have sprung from out of nowhere with the fully formed soul of a life well-lived. Ray LaMontagne belongs with the latter. On this, his debut, LaMontagne has crafted a handful of quietly devastating meditations on life and love--and delivered them with a raspy vocal all his own. The simple, mournful lyrics of "Burn," "Shelter" and the title track recall a Hank Williams ballad, and the reserved production by alt-country/Americana genius Ethan Johns (the Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon) make this a great disc for smoky Saturday nights, and rainy Sunday mornings.--Ben Heege
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: great voice to match a smooth and relaxed vibe Disadvantages: May be a bit gentle for some listeners
...2004: - his debut album Trouble and the recent follow-up, Till the Sun Turns Back.
Ray was born into a musical family in New Hampshire in 1974. His father who though a respected musician proved to have a violent temper showing his force against his children and wife before abandoning them when Ray was still a child. Because of his father's background in music, LaMontagne avoided all things musical instead focusing on reading and enveloping ... ...
***Ray's success***
Trouble has sold over 500,000 copies world-wide since its release in 2004 and in 2006 it peaked as ~5 in the UK album charts. Ray's follow up album Till the Sun Turns Black sold 28,000 copies in its first week of release.
Ray's credibility as an artist was further confirmed when he was awarded three Boston Music Awards for Trouble in 2005 including Best Male Singer/Songwriter. More awards followed, ... more
Ray Lamontagne - Trouble
Release Date: 2004 Producer: Genre: listed with major retailers as Rock/Pop I would lean more to a folk/grassroots blues/Acoustic Number of songs: 10 Availability: HMV, Virgin, WHSmith, Woolworths, CD-Wow and any other major music retailer RRP: £10.99 although I got it on sale from Virgin for £8.99
***Who is Ray Lamontagne*** Ray, 33 is a talented folk singer/songwriter who quit his shoe factory job to follow his dream of making music. This turned out to be a life-changing decision resulting in the release of two successful and well-received albums since 2004: - his debut album Trouble and the recent follow-up, Till the Sun Turns Back. Ray was born into a musical family in New Hampshire in 1974. His father who though a respected musician proved to have a violent temper showing his force against his children and wife before abandoning them when Ray was still a child. Because of his father's background in music, LaMontagne avoided all things musical instead focusing on reading and enveloping himself into a fantasy world found in these books.
It was while working at the shoe factory in the 1990's that LaMontagne heard the Stephen Stills' song Treetop Flyer. LaMontagne credits Stills' album "Stills Alone" for inspiring him to pursue music. By 1999 LaMontagne had accumulated 10 songs for a demo which he sent to several local music venues. He was soon recruited as an opening act for the likes of Jonathan Edwards and John Gorka. Soon after, Ray was introduced to a producer from Chrysalis Music Publishing who went on to produce his debut Album for RCA Records and Echo Records.
***Ray's success*** Trouble has sold over 500,000 copies world-wide since its release in 2004 and in 2006 it peaked as ~5 in the UK album charts. Ray's follow up album Till the Sun Turns Black sold 28,000 copies in its first week of release.
Ray's credibility as an artist was further confirmed when he was awarded three Boston Music Awards for Trouble in 2005 including Best Male Singer/Songwriter. More awards followed, including accolades for Best New Acoustic Rock Artist, Male Vocalist of the Year and Act of the Year.
***The Album*** I bought this album after hearing the Woolworths advertisement as this method of choosing music had proved successful in the past having introduced me to both Norah Jones and Jack Johnson.
I was immediately taken by LaMontagne's voice which to me was reminiscent of a slightly more subdued Joe Cocker or Van Morisson with its raspy and smoky undertones supporting the passion of the lyrics he is singing. Somehow, LaMontagne manages to combine this smokiness with a smooth velvety aspect that gives the songs a flow and sets the mood and atmosphere of the album.
It is a relaxed, sexy and passionate piece of work and when listening to it I find myself transported to a tiny, smoky, dimly lit subterranean club with a stage only big enough to support LaMontange on a stool with his guitar and harmonica. There is an ambience to this album which just isn't found with many artists these days. He has the raw feel of artists from the 60's and 70's when music was a personal journey and yet he has wrapped his own contemporary twist to it which avoids alienating younger listeners.
Trouble, the first release is obviously the best known song and with good reason. It is a passionate homage to the strength gained from the woman in his life. My partner said it reminded him of me though with less nagging and bossing about! One of my favourite songs on the album is "Hannah" on which Sarah Watkins plays the fiddle and sings alongside Lamontange. This is a truly graceful song and Sarah lends a gentle and endearing aspect to the song.
Lamontange shows us a more upbeat side to himself with "Now Come" which bears more than a passing similarity to one of Joe Coker's songs, Feeling Alright". This is a triumphant effort which seems to take the album towards its natural conclusion perfectly.
Ray was lucky to have the support of several other artists working on this album, including a five-piece string section which is used not for just one song but throughout the album, Jennifer Stills (daughter of Stephen Stills) who lends her voice to "Narrow Escape" and Ethan Jones (album's producer) who played guitar, percussion, piano, bass guitar, harmonium on the album.
***My opinion*** There is no question, that despite the comparisons to the likes of Joe Cocker, Neil Young and Van Morrison, it is not likely in this day and age that LaMontange will scale the same heights of success as they did. However, what I expect to see is a growing respect and a strong and loyal fan base that will travel with him and take the journey from one album to the next with dedication and a commitment of any long-term relationship.
*Song-list* Trouble Shelter Hold You in My Arms Narrow Escape Burn Forever My Friend Hannah How Come Jolene All the Wild Horses
Advantages: Ray's voice, use of different song structures Disadvantages: Has to be listened to with no distractions to fully appreciate
...music.
-The Album-
Trouble was re-recorded in two weeks at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles. To date it has sold over 400,000 copies worldwide.
Trouble
The album starts off energetically with acoustic guitar, rolling bass line and drums. Then the best thing about this album hits. Ray's voice lands and melts in your ears. As a songwriter, this is the kind of voice I wish for. Full of soul, and what sounds like more than a few cigarettes (though ... ...song is the phrasing. I still sit back in amazement at the amount of words he sometimes manages to fit into a line. And what a line at the end of the chorus. "I've been saved by a woman". Ain't we all! 'Trouble' is the perfect start to an album, happy with tinges of sadness, and enough to make you listen for more.
Shelter
'Shelter' starts off a bit slower in almost a swing beat. Nice introduction, with some good use of seventh chords for a bit ...
btr_beri 05.07.2007 (04.07.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
Advantages: A great introduction to Ray Lamontagne and a great set of songs. Disadvantages: none
As written in my review of Till the sun Turns Black, i discovered Ray first on Later with Jools Holland and proceeded to discover Till the Sun Turns Black before working my way backwords to this album Trouble.
With my initial reaction to Till the Sun Turns Black (read other review) i had huge expectations for this album. Perhaps it is not as much a complete work as Till the sun turns black it is still a collection of quite wonderful songs. there ... ...some acclaim as singles and as a first release from Ray Lamontagne the album is really a great success. The simple song structure, use of mainly acoustic guitar and drums is complimented perfectly by his gentle voice. songs such as 'Hold you in my arms' and 'Burn' show the depth of beautiful sadness in this mans songwriting. the subject matter of most of the songs being of lost love or lonliness. Others such as 'Jolene', 'Trouble' and 'How Come' ...
ciao_rossi 23.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
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Advantages: A classic, brooding album Disadvantages: Can't think of any!
Are you a fan of Damien Rice, James Blunt or David Gray? Then this is an album you simply must at least listen to.
A modern classic that should be up there with the greats, Van Morrison, Damian Rice's "O" or James Blunt's Back to Bedlam.
He has a fabulous voice and a raw talent for writing amazing songs, and he should be a huge star.
Apparently the story of RayLaMontagne discovery is a bit of a legend. Living in Maine, as a recluse in a log cabin, he underwent a sudden conversion to music. Armed with his guitar, off he travelled to California to make music, he met up with Ethan Johns, the amazing producer behing Kings of Leon and within a matter of months, Trouble was made.
LaMontagne's songs are rewarding and have many layers, there's so many songs I love on this album, but it took a couple of listens to get really into it ...
Advantages: Soulful songs written with style and depth Disadvantages: maybe a bit too melancholy for some peoples tastes
you warm and relaxed.
Songs like Trouble and Forever My Friend have an immediacy that will have you hooked in no time, but there's also an undercurrent of songs that although not exactly radio-friendly, have a depth and character all of their own. The album shares similarities with Bruce Springsteens "Nebraska" on some of it's more melancholy tracks which goes someway to describing it's rootsy feel.
It's a real whiskey-sipping album with it's own time-zone and one which I've had nothing but positive comments from to the friends I have played it to. The strange thing is that for an album with a running time of 44 minutes, it feels like it's over too soon.
Let's hope that Ray doesn't miss the reclusive life too much and trades the studio for his much-fabled log cabin. ...
Advantages: Slow,soft and melodic.Really different to Trouble.Sincere in feeling,content&deliverance. Disadvantages: If you are looking for something R&B,folk-country sounding like Trouble then this is different.
Two years after he released Trouble, RayLaMontagne released this album. In this album he tries something really different to Trouble. This album is less country-folk, R&B roots and more athmospheric and wistful in feel and sound. But dont be mistaken, the songs are just as poignant, strong and effective without all of that.
Most of the songs use a very gentle ensemble of string instruments which gives it the delicate and airy feel that isn't present in Trouble. And his voice too is a bit different in this album. I loved his warm gravelly tones in Trouble and they are still just as lovely in this album, but they are...softer, I think is the best word to use and definitely more subtle.
Lyrically this album is really charming too, although less lyrically reliant than Trouble. Some of the songs still have a ballady, oldy worldy ...
Product Information for "Trouble - Ray LaMontagne" »
Product details
Title
Trouble
Performer
Ray LaMontagne
Genre
Rock & Pop
Release Date
19/06/2006
Recomended Retail Price
14.99 GBP
Recomended Retail Price
12.99 GBP
Original Release Year
2004
Label / Distributor
14th Floor / Cinram Logistics
Producer
Ethan Johns
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
825646333929
Catalogue Number
2564633392
Additional notes
Album Notes
Every once in a while a singer/songwriter comes down the pike in the grand emotive tradition of Neil Young and Van Morrison. In the early 2000s, the quietly intense folk of Iron & Wine and the rootsy-experimental stylings of Sufjan Stevens continued that lineage. Ray LaMontagne, whose impressive 2004 debut, TROUBLE, draws on alt-country, roots rock, and progressive folk in a unique, strikingly sincere way, seems a likely candidate for the keeper of the flame. The title track, which opens the album, introduces LaMontagne's deeply textured singing. Simultaneously raw, lilting, and expansive, LaMontagne's voice bristles with emotion, and immediately commands the listener's attention. Though the instrumentation on the album rarely changes--strummed acoustic guitar, tasteful string arrangements, bass, drums, and electric guitar for accents--the moods shift subtly from song to song. "Burn" is harrowingly intimate and hushed, while "How Come" works a shuffling groove and "Hold You in My Arms" has a wistful, waltz-like feel. LaMontagne's lyrics, strong on narrative detail and vivid imagery, are the crowning touch on these moving songs of love and loss. TROUBLE is so well realized, in fact, that it sometimes belies the truth that this is the artist's first effort.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Trouble
2.
Shelter
3.
Hold You In My Arms
4.
Narrow Escape
5.
Burn
6.
Forever My Friend
7.
Hannah
8.
How Come
9.
Jolene
10.
All The Wild Horses
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05/01/2007
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