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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Gossip in the Grain, Ray LaMontagne's third full length, is a slightly different record from 2007's Till the Sun Turns Black. But then that album was of course a move on from his 2004 debut, Trouble. Obviously creative progression is a large part of LaMontagne’s vision, which chimes well with that of his pal and producer Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams). On Gossip in the Grain, they offer a rainbow mix of mellow "Bonnie Prince Billy"-style Americana, brassy Memphis soul and meandering folk. The horn-fuelled opener "You Are the Best Thing", gets the record off to a flying start, but LaMontagne soon settles into a more introspective groove with the folksy "Let It Be Me" and the more expansive "Sarah", a tune that wouldn’t be out of place on Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. LaMontagne continues to careen casually across a plethora of styles, from the psychedelic "I Still Care for You", and the upbeat "Meg White", (an ode to the White Stripes drummer), to the catchy banjo-and-trumpet of "Hey Me, Hey Mama". Infectiously free-wheeling yet beautifully focused, this is arguably LaMontagne’s most career-defining album to date. --Paul Sullivan
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Been waiting to take delivery for a while...and was hoping that it would live up to all the reviews - it arrived...and yes - a masterpiece - possibly his best album yet and that says alot! Ray does it again - no end to this guys talent!! Highly recommended!Owen
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Like many great albums this is a grower. You'll think you know what your favourites are but you'll listen again and other songs will emerge as magic. Trouble was heartfelt whilst retaining catchiness. TTSTB was dark, epic and moving. `Gossip' is all of those things and so much more. Here Ray shows what he is capable of in Genres from Soul to Country to Folk to Foot Stompin' Blues and back to gut wrenching Soul. This is a man that LISTENS to music. Lots of music and absorbs it like a sponge.
The single (You are the best...) is just pure STAX soul. Let It Be Me takes us back to classic Ray indicative of `Shelter' off Trouble. Wonderful vocals here. Sarah is a wistful ukulele laden number that reminds me of early Van Morrison. I Still Care for You with Leona Naess is a beautiful and calming song (a real grower). Winter Birds is possibly the greatest song the man has ever written. Nick Drake style picking with very strong images conjured up in the lyrics pertaining to the winter months.
After the first half, this album takes a trip through country and blues paying a tongue in cheek homage to Meg White. As well as a glimpse at his sense of humour, Meg White has some very Beatles-esque (White album) backing vocals. There is also use of the Metronome used on the White album. Hey Me, Hey Mama has a real jaunty barn dance feel to it. I can imagine an instrumentally talented southern family jamming this on their porch one Sunday afternoon. Henry Nearly Killed Me is what many fans have been waiting for...a blues foot stomper (hey he has the voice for it). My only complaint about this is that it doesn't breakout to be MORE raucous. A Falling Through (another grower) calms things down to bring us to the end which is the title track. The closing song wouldn't have been out of place on TTSTB with its eerie air about it and the scrape of Ray's pick audible over the strings, a great finish.
Overall I'd give the album 4.5 but settled for 5 (to compensate for the ridiculously childish and uninformed reviews of some of the others). Ray Lame-ontagne?? Deary Me. If you like blues/soul/country plus all the other sounds and individuality associated with established American music, then I recommend giving this a real listen.
The single (You are the best...) is just pure STAX soul. Let It Be Me takes us back to classic Ray indicative of `Shelter' off Trouble. Wonderful vocals here. Sarah is a wistful ukulele laden number that reminds me of early Van Morrison. I Still Care for You with Leona Naess is a beautiful and calming song (a real grower). Winter Birds is possibly the greatest song the man has ever written. Nick Drake style picking with very strong images conjured up in the lyrics pertaining to the winter months.
After the first half, this album takes a trip through country and blues paying a tongue in cheek homage to Meg White. As well as a glimpse at his sense of humour, Meg White has some very Beatles-esque (White album) backing vocals. There is also use of the Metronome used on the White album. Hey Me, Hey Mama has a real jaunty barn dance feel to it. I can imagine an instrumentally talented southern family jamming this on their porch one Sunday afternoon. Henry Nearly Killed Me is what many fans have been waiting for...a blues foot stomper (hey he has the voice for it). My only complaint about this is that it doesn't breakout to be MORE raucous. A Falling Through (another grower) calms things down to bring us to the end which is the title track. The closing song wouldn't have been out of place on TTSTB with its eerie air about it and the scrape of Ray's pick audible over the strings, a great finish.
Overall I'd give the album 4.5 but settled for 5 (to compensate for the ridiculously childish and uninformed reviews of some of the others). Ray Lame-ontagne?? Deary Me. If you like blues/soul/country plus all the other sounds and individuality associated with established American music, then I recommend giving this a real listen.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
First of all I would like to address the other review L.Nash has left. Leaving a three star review for an album of which he's heard only one song, which he said he liked, is unbelievable. I'm sure his intentions were good but when this album starts to get a lot of reviews, that three star clanger will drag the rating down.
Thanks to one of Ray's websites I have heard six songs off the album and I can confirm that the man with the voice like a dusty cabinet is still in a rich vein of form. The track listing has now changed. Instead of Achin' All The Time we get the brilliant You Are The Best Thing. I've also heard Hey Me Hey Mama, Sarah, Winter Birds, Meg White and Let It Be Me. If you've listened to a Ray album or are lucky enough to have caught him live you'll know what to expect from this third album, and from what I've heard so far it won't disappoint. Easiest five stars I've had to give.
Thanks to one of Ray's websites I have heard six songs off the album and I can confirm that the man with the voice like a dusty cabinet is still in a rich vein of form. The track listing has now changed. Instead of Achin' All The Time we get the brilliant You Are The Best Thing. I've also heard Hey Me Hey Mama, Sarah, Winter Birds, Meg White and Let It Be Me. If you've listened to a Ray album or are lucky enough to have caught him live you'll know what to expect from this third album, and from what I've heard so far it won't disappoint. Easiest five stars I've had to give.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A worthy album
Beautiful produced Ray's follow up to Sun turns black has perhaps a more varied feel to it than its predecessor. It doesnt quite have the impact of Trouble either. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Charl
More of the same
This was bought on the strength of "God Willin" which I bought earlier and loved. This might be even better, Ray has a lovely throaty whisper which is great. Read more
Published 6 months ago by purse
Gossip in the Grain: Ray LaMontagne - The best thing...
I must say I am continually impressed with singer songwriter Ray LaMontagne. His third album is another incredibly strong offering, building on his previous work but mixing in new... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Victor
Gossip in the Grain, Ray Lamontagne.
Love it , love it love it. somehow I missed this album , I have all his others. listens to a couple of tracks on you tube and loved them . Read more
Published 9 months ago by pebbles
Not his best work, but includes some very good tracks
Ray Lamontagne has such a lovely soulful voice, one that you can really feel when he blends it with great music. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Amillionmiles
great cd.
I have all Ray Lamontagne's cd's and at first I thought this was not up to his high standards, however after listening to this cd a few times I really began to appreciate the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. H. Hunter
Gossip in the rain CD
I heard one track on Radio two so took pot luck on which of his CD's to buy. Didn't get the one with the track I'd heard. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ms. Helen M. Barton
Masterpiece
Anyone who knows anything about music will realise Ray Lamontagne is an outstanding talent. This, like all his albums is a masterpiece.
Published 23 months ago by Keith Wagg
Great Album
Ray has delivered. After 'Trouble' I was skeptical he could keep the momentum, Ray has not dissapointed.
Published on 10 Mar 2010 by Goncalo Dumas Diniz
sell out
I instantly fell in love with Ray's music when i heard him do a cover of "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. "Trouble" and "Til The Sun Turns Black" are raw, emotional and honest. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2010 by Peggy G
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