The best songs on
Trouble, the debut release from songwriter
Ray LaMontagne, draw on deep wells of emotion, and with
LaMontagne's sandpapery voice, which recalls a gruffer, more sedate version of
Tim Buckley or an American version of
Van Morrison, they seem to belie his years. The title tune, "Trouble," is an instant classic, sparse and maudlin (in the best sense), and songs like "Narrow Escape," a ragged, episodic waltz, are equally impressive, with careful, cinematic lyrics that tell believable stories of wounded-hearted refugees on the hard road of life and love. Most of the tracks fall into a midtempo shuffle rhythm, so the words have to carry a lot in order to avert a sort of dull sameness, and when it works, it works big, and when it doesn't, well,
LaMontagne is so serious and sincere about his craft that you tend to forgive him instantly.
Sara Watkins of
Nickel Creek guests on "Hannah" and the sad, somber lullaby "All the Wild Horses," playing fiddle and adding vocals, and producer
Ethan Johns adds drums and other touches on most tracks. The sound is measured and sparse, with few frills (a five-piece string section is used on a few tracks, but is never intrusive), all of which supports the emotional urgency of
LaMontagne's writing. "How Come" sounds a bit like a rewrite of
Dave Mason's "Feelin' Alright," and a couple of other cuts seem a bit labored, but overall this is an impressive debut by an extremely special songwriter. [14th Floor issued their edition in 2006.] ~ Steve Leggett