Ray LaMontagne - Trouble

Blame Damien Rice.

Album Review by Suzanne Mitchell | 14 Aug 2006
Album title: Trouble
Artist: Ray LaMontagne
Label: The Echo Label/14th Floor
Blame Damien Rice. Since 'O' every whiny guy with a guitar and tale of woe has made mainstream critics drool and fall over themselves trying to out-do other critics in complimenting the poor tormented soul. Ray LaMontagne, with debut album 'Trouble' is the latest darling of the media that has journalists lining up to kiss his ass. I cannot see why. Sure, he's got a soulful, emotive voice, but there isn't enough experimentation with his best asset. Basically, all the songs on the album are derivative and self-indulgent, with the usual themes of love and loss. Token violins are thrown in for dramatic effect, just in case we weren't feeling his pain quite enough. This is the kind of stuff to send you to sleep, and not in a pleasant way. It will probably only appeal to the type of people who think Coldplay are musical masterminds. [Suzanne Mitchell]

Trouble' is out now. http://www.raylamontagne.com