Ray Ray LaMontagne

The obvious: I am a HUGE fan of Ray L.
The not so obvious: His newest album "Gossip in the Grain" is wretched.

This is not to say the music is necessarily bad. Ray is popular not only for his great lyrics, but his raspy, soulful, heartfelt voice. I like Ray for his unconventional recordings without too many extras; without too much production. That's what originally drew me to him.

His new album, however, is so over-produced and influenced by the studio, that one might not even recognize it as his. Was this his point? Is he trying to reach-out and expand his audience? Perhaps. But I liked the old Ray Ray better. The guy who had a passion for HIS music. The guy whose voice and music was unmistakeable.

I attended his live performance at the Strathmore Auditorium in Rockville, MD, this week. Live, his music was as expected--same old Ray. On the way home, however, I put in his new CD purchased at the show, and was...well...shocked! No more raspiness. No more "Ray." His voice was clean and smooth---Say whaaaa!? Digitally enhanced music is not what I was expecting, nor wanting.

Of the 10 songs on the new CD, I found just 3 that I could appreciate as the Ray I know. I hope he will get back in the studio to cut a new record soon, otherwise I'll be listening to and appreciating his oldies for a while---not that there's anything wrong with that!

Please, Ray Ray, stick to your roots. Keep the Digital Studio manipulations in the hands of the singers that really need it. We want YOUR voice, not a computer's interpretation of it.

http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/10/ray_lamontagne_you_are_the_best_thing.php