Trouble - Ray LaMontagne > Reviews > There is no trouble with Trouble

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	great voice to match a smooth and relaxed vibe
Disadvantages:	May be a bit gentle for some listeners

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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