After reviewing goodness knows how many books, DVDs, and CDs I have become aware of a very interesting conundrum. The more innovative and original the work, the harder it is to write a review about it. Normally I can develop a frame of reference and evaluate a piece within it, reporting how well the person, band, or creators have met the needs of that definition.
But when you're dealing with a work that moves outside the familiar you have to develop an unique context in order to properly frame a response to the work. The compensation for this is, on the whole, the work is much higher quality than normal and well worth the effort. Even when the work ends up being crap, you can revel in the joy of puncturing a balloon or two of pretentious twaddle (like I'm one to talk) and direct people to run as fast as they can in the opposite direction.
The last few years have seen a return in the music industry of something that had vanished for a while – the sensitive male singer who pens songs about his innermost thoughts and feelings. A great deal of it, like what came round in the seventies with the likes of Dan Hill, is self-indulgent claptrap. If they have so many problems they need to be in therapy, not passing their troubles off as art. If they're writing the stuff because they think it's good music than they really need to be in therapy.
But amidst all of the schlock, there are a couple of performers out there who manage to transcend the self and write songs that are not only musically interesting but also lyrically intelligent and emotionally honest. One of the best of this crop is Ray LaMontagne a singer/songwriter from New Hampshire in the United States.
Ray's debut CD, Trouble, sold over a quarter million copies through word of mouth alone. Its combination of musical skill and lyrical integrity struck a chord with audiences everywhere. It seems no matter what the marketing geniuses would have us believe, there is a healthy market out there for music that is more than just simplistic lyrics, sung by a half naked nymphet, and a heavy bass beat.
For his second disc Ray has shown himself to be both more than just a flash in the pan, and someone who's not content to just sit on his laurels and repeat a successful formula. Till The Sun Turns Black, if you will excuse the pun, is as different from Trouble as night from day musically speaking. While the first disc was comprised of mainly up-tempo, almost Rhythm and Blues, tracks, for this second effort he has striven to make each song more musically indicative of the themes expressed in the lyrics.
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Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
I had the opportunity to hear LaMontagne live when he toured with Guster. That night, he previewed two cuts from this album (it had not yet been released). The pairing of LaMontagne and Guster was an odd one but I did enjoy both performances.
2 - Dmenno
Souls are feeling heavy
And faith is growing thin
Fears are getting stronger
You can Feel them on the rise