Track Listing 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
| Details | | Producer: | Ethan Johns | | Distributor: | BMG (distributor) | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes 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.
Editorial Reviews This soft-spoken singer-songwriter has the kind of earthy rasp and wounded sincerity that melts hearts and suggests lots of woodshedding with old Van Morrison records. Entertainment Weekly
3 stars out of 5 -- LaMontagne gets a bit more expansive here, gently juking his earthy rasp with Stax-y horns, guitar twang, and lilting lady backup vocals. Spin
3 stars out of 5 -- 'I Still Care for You' has a gentle Radiohead vibe; 'Winter Birds' verges on psych folk. There's also a new playfulness... Rolling Stone
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