Now I know the name Ray Lamontagne is not unheard of by any means. Google his name and you’ll be jolted into a jog of prime time TV series and commercials that may even surprise you. This man’s melodic music rings a nature of distinctness that can only be pegged as ‘vintage futuristic.’ Past its time, and behind its moment, the lyrical content of his songs is nothing but pure brilliance.
Perilous and persuasive, in every measure Ray Lamontagne has captivated his audience young and old. Just when you thought you had figured out his musical angle, he throws at you an album like Gossip in the Grain. Once again Ray Lamontagne has seemingly drained himself of all his emotions and poured it glass by glass into every track; sharing with us the timelessness of nothing less but magnificent music.
His more popular hits “Trouble,” “You are the Best Thing,” and “Be Here Now,” are all diverse musical indulgences in their own right. One from each of his three albums, but don’t let it surprise you there are many more phenomenal songs on all of the albums. You’ll just have to take a listen for yourself, and hopefully Ray Lamontagne will change your musical life just as he has mine.
Something resonates deeply within his songs to the soul. I can’t quite touch exactly if it’s his deep silhouetted raspy voice, or his poetic well strung lyrics that keep every song in tact with heavy emotion. It’s the mystery behind him; his less than ‘white picket-fence’ past, and his live performances. A man so profound and curiously shy, Ray doesn't often connect with his audience, and he rarely even gives interviews.
For most performers those aspects would come as quite a downfall to an artist, but for Ray none of that seems to matter. He has quite a dedicated fan base, and a following that keeps his shows sold out, and his albums selling. His laid back and secretive persona seem to give him a striding edge that flows reasonably well with his music, so in a way it all just seems to fit.
When I was first introduced to Ray Lamontagne, I disregarded him; just another quite guy in plaid, with a silly beard strumming a guitar. I stereotyped the music and the artist with an honest passiveness. Figuring it was to be just another soundtrack for a rainy, lonely evening (you know the kind). Much to my surprise, when I did let my guard down and decide to let Ray Lamontagne not only into my iPod, but give him a chance to resonate into my heart, it was like falling in love all over again.
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Article comments
1 - Eagle_flh
Very comprehensive article, concise and easy to understand. Looking forward to hearing more from this author.