Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain

Artist:

LaMontagne, Ray

Description:

Personnel: Ray LaMontagne (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica); Eric Heywood (guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, background vocals); Ethan Johns (electric guitar, banjo, ukulele, piano, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, bass instrument, drums, percussion, background vocals); Lucy Wilkins, Howard Gott, Jules Singleton, Sally Herbert (violin); Sophie Sirota, Charlie Cross (viola); Chris Worsey, Sarah Wilson (cello); Peter Long (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Jonathan Scott (trumpet); Winston Rollins (trombone); Dom Monk (synthesizer); Jennifer Condos (bass instrument, drums, background vocals); Louise Marshall, Leona Naess, Melanie Marshall, Billie Godfrey (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Ethan Johns.
Arranger: Ethan Johns.
Rootsy singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne returns with his third album, downplaying the vintage soul vibes of his earlier work in favor of a more idiosyncratic feel rather akin to the sound that Cat Power has achieved with her recent albums. More so than on earlier albums, LaMontagne has toned down the old-fashioned Stax and Motown feel, although there`s still a natural bluesiness both in his vocals and in the soulful, molasses-slow arrangements. However, the album`s biggest outlier turns out to be its best song; "Meg White," a tongue-in-cheek ode to the White Stripes` drummer, sounds like a peculiar blend of that band and "I`m Not In Love" era 10cc, and, somehow, the combination works.

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. You Are the Best Thing
2. Let It Be Me
3. Sarah
4. I Still Care For You
5. Winter Birds
6. Meg White
7. Hey Me, Hey Mama
8. Henry Nearly Killed Me (It`s a Shame)
9. Falling Through, A
10. Gossip In the Grain

Album Information

Release Date:

10/14/2008

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Subgenre:

Folk Rock

Label:

RCA Records (USA)

Producer:

Ethan Johns

Catalog Number:

88697326702

Original Release Year:

2008

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

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