[rating=4.50]
If you’ve heard Ray LaMontagne’s first two albums, Trouble and Till the Sun Turns Black, you already know his voice is something to behold. I remember the first time I heard “Hold You in My Arms,” immediately knowing it was something special; I was certain that I had just found my favorite new artist.
Gossip in the Grain, his third offering, finds LaMontagne at the top of his game, with his voice again being his best weapon of choice. The opening soulful “You Are the Best Thing” wastes no time in letting LaMontagne’s pipes rip open and soar, while the tender “I Still Care For You,” with guest vocals from Leona Naess, proves to be a classic Ethan Johns-produced track. “Hey Me, Hey Mamma” sounds like something Bob Dylan and The Band could have made famous, while the weirdness of “Meg White” just makes you want to chuckle (in a good way).
But what I’ll remember most from this album is the fragileness of “Let it Be Me” and “A Falling Through,” two songs that will undoubtedly stand among LaMontagne’s best in his growing catalog. I’m sure some will call this a sleepy record, but the more time I spend with it, the more alive I feel
