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Rating:
Tradunt...
They say that in 1999, Ray decided to leave Maine and a job in a factory to chase a dream: becoming a folksinger. It is also said that Ray made this decision suddenly, after hearing a song by Stephen Stills on the radio (Tree Top Flyer).
Now, I don't know if this story is true or not. Maybe it's the usual little fairy tale that the majors have the habit of prepackaging to weave a rich and fascinating image for the public around a new musician. My innate cynicism leads me to lean towards this hypothesis, although I would really like to believe it. However, in the end, it doesn't matter much, because what matters is that Ray managed to realize this dream, no matter how it originated.
Trouble (RCA-2004), his debut album, is the proof. It's a beautiful folk album that, despite the title, can be listened to serenely, without problems or excessive thoughts. And for me, this is already an important quality, because it's not easy at all to record this kind of album, without unnecessary frills, managing not to fall into absolute banality.
With this, I'm certainly not daring to say that Trouble is a masterpiece. Masterpieces are quite different and must stand the test of time. But nevertheless, it is a good debut work for this American folksinger. It is therefore "just" a pleasant album that can be enjoyed, thanks especially to his vocal qualities, being endowed with a charismatic voice, warm like a ray of sunshine and dense like honey, which perfectly matches a setting played on the balance of themes like pain, hope, melancholy, and naturally, love.
It may not have the vastness of Van Morrison, the depth of Bob Dylan, the charisma of Neil Young, or the stylistic refinement of John Martyn, but Ray LaMontagne possesses an important gift: naturalness. This is felt throughout the entire album, perhaps with the sole exception of the track "How Come," which loses spontaneity due to the presence of an electric guitar somewhat out of place. But it is perhaps the only misstep of a respectable and intelligent production by Ethan Johns - former producer of Ryan Adams and Kings of Leon. Respectful of the singer-songwriter's style, it doesn't add much to his voice accompanied by an acoustic guitar: a hint of strings in the background, a slight rhythm section, sometimes a second female voice, and the trick is done. This results in a fairly linear listen, without peaks, with its defined stylistic coherence.
It is, in short, the ideal album to listen to in the car on a Sunday afternoon while taking a trip with some friends, because it is the classic album that remains in the background, without disturbing anyone. But it will probably carve out its own space until one of the travelers says, "Nice album, who is it by?" And then you can surprise your unsuspecting travel mate by saying, "It's called Ray LaMontagne, you know he had a dream..."
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Trouble (04:01)
Trouble...
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble
Trouble been doggin' my soul since the day I was born
Worry...
Worry, worry, worry, worry
Worry just will not seem to leave my mind alone
We'll I've been...
saved by a woman
I've been...
saved by a woman
I've been...
saved by a woman
She won't let me go
She won't let me go now
She won't let me go
She won't let me go now
Trouble...
Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble
Feels like every time I get back on my feet
she come around and knock me down again
Worry...
Oh, worry, worry, worry, worry
Sometimes I swear it feels like this worry is my only friend
We'll I've been saved...
by a woman
I've been saved...
by a woman
I've been saved...
by a woman
She won't let me go
She won't let me go now
She won't let me go
She won't let me go now
Oh..., Ahhhh....
Ohhhh
She good to me now
She gave me love and affection
She good tell me now
She gave me love and affection
I Said I love her
Yes I love her
I said I love her
I said I love...
She good to me now
She's good to me
She's good to me
02 Shelter (04:36)
I guess you don't need it
I guess you don't want me to repeat it
But everything I have to give I'll give to you
It's not like we planned it
You tried to stay, but you could not stand it
To see me shut down slow as though it was an easy thing to do
Listen when all of this around us will fall over
I tell you what we're gonna do
Hey
You will shelter me, my love
And I, I will shelter you
I will shelter you
I left you heartbroken
But not until those very words were spoken
Has anybody ever made such a fool outta you
It's hard to believe it
Even as my eyes do see it
The very things that make you live, they're killing you
Listen when all of this around us will fall over
I tell you what we're gonna do
Hey
You will shelter me, my love
And I, I will shelter you
I will shelter you
I will shelter you
I will shelter you
I will shelter you
Listen when all of this around us will fall over
I tell you what we're gonna do
Hey
You will shelter me my love
And I, I will shelter you
If you shelter me too
I will shelter you
I will shelter you
04 Narrow Escape (04:39)
Lejos and Mary
Lay dazed in Liula
Dreaming of tropical signs
As Lejos lay sleeping
She knelt over him weeping
Feeling the weight of his crimes
It seems he cut a man down in a Tennessee town
He's just licking his wounds for a spell
But it won't take long for the boys to catch on
And soon he'll be running like hell
Run Lejos run
This ain't no time for that ball and chain
Run Lejos run
Climb on that pony and ride like you ain't never done
Well their love it was long
It was gentle and strong
And for a while she forgot his sins
And she kissed him for love
She kissed him for luck
She kissed him one time for a kid
Well they came in without a warning in the hours before morning
They come-a blasting through the windows and walls
When the smoke it did clear
Somebody cried out, he ain't here
Killed ourselves a woman that's all
Run Lejos run
This ain't no time for that ball and chain
Run Lejos run
You climb on that pony and ride like you never done
Ride like you never done
06 Forever My Friend (05:44)
Who am I to tell her
Who am I to play god
Who am I to think I can go it alone
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Something tells me this is bringing me down
We've been through some changes
Always seem to hold on
Lately it feel like you can't take anymore
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Forever my friend
Forever my love
Forever the woman that I'm thinking of
I just think if we keep our hearts together
Just think if we build on this trust that we have for one another
Baby we can make this last a lifetime
Who am I to tell her
Who am I to play god
I don't know just what's for real anymore
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Something tells me girl this is bringing you down
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right
Maybe it's the last thing you want to hear me say
I just think if we keep out hearts together
I just think if we build on this trust that we have for one another
Maybe we can make this last a lifetime
Forever my friend
Forever my love
Forever the woman
That I'm thinking of
I just think if we keep our hearts together
I just think if we will build on this trust that we have for one another
Maybe we can make this last a lifetime
09 Jolene (04:10)
Cocaine flame in my bloodstream
Sold my coat when I hit Spokane
Bought myself a hard pack of cigarettes in the early morning rain
Lately my hands they don't feel like mine
My eyes been stung with dust, I'm blind
Held you in my arms one time
Lost you just the same
Jolene
I ain't about to go straight
It's too late
I found myself face down in the ditch
Booze in my hair
Blood on my lips
A picture of you, holding a picture of me
in the pocket of my blue jeans
Still don't know what love means
Still don't know what love means
Jolene
Ah, La, La, La, La, La
Jolene
Been so long since I seen your face
or felt a part of this human race
I've been living out of this here suitcase for way too long
A man needs something he can hold onto
A nine pound hammer or a woman like you
Either one of them things will do
Jolene
I ain't about to go straight
It's too late
I found myself face down in the ditch
Booze in my hair
Blood on my lips
A picture of you, holding a picture of me
In the pocket of my blue jeans
Still don't know what love means
Still don't know what love means
Jolene
La, La, La, La, La, La, La
Jolene
La, La, La, La, La, La, La
Jolene
10 All the Wild Horses (03:16)
All the wild horses
All the wild horses
Tethered with tears in their eyes
May no man's touch ever tame
May no man's reigns ever chain you
And may no man's weight ever defrayed your soul
And as for the clouds
Just let them roll
Roll away
Roll away
As for the clouds
Just let them roll
Roll away
Roll away
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