God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise

by Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs

Heartache. That's the way this album starts with the upbeat blues-shuffle song "Repo Man". With an angry vocal tone that sounds a lot like Joe Cocker, Ray LaMontagne sings about not taking his lover back after the word is out that she has been rejected by her current fling. "What makes you think that I will take you back again? I ain't your Repo Man!" Great guitar and drum work throughout. A great song.

Following that up, he goes right into the soul-searching "New York City's Killing Me". In this slow, Stephen Stills-esque ballad, Ray longs for the country to "have a couple drinks with the good 'ol boys"

Chorus

Just got to get me somewhere

Somewhere that I can feel free

Get me out of New York City, son

New York City's killing me

Laden with steel guitars and rock-a-billy style solos, it has a bit of a country flavor with folk-style vocals. As I'm sure that anyone who has spent time in a large city can attest, sometimes you just long for a change of scenery. Once again, Ray LaMontagne connects with his fans on a personal level.

According to Wikipedia (and if it's there, you know it's true) Ray had a rough childhood with a traveling mother and a musician father that abandoned their family. He originally wanted nothing to do with music, but decided to start writing and performing after hearing a Stephen Stills song. So, you can see where he gets the inspiration for some of his more heartfelt writings.

Hopefully, his recent success doesn't put a damper on his passion. You may remember Taylor Hicks singing his song "Trouble" on American Idol, as well as Chris Sligh, in season 6. His songs have also been featured on many TV shows including ER, One Tree Hill, House, Rescue Me, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Bones, Covert Affairs, and Parenthood.

Here is the song "Be Here Now" which was featured in the movie "27 Dresses"

A shy performer, Ray LaMontagne sometimes performs in the dark to avoid distracting bright lights, and to separate himself from his audience. He also refrains from doing videos, leaving that to the "beautiful people". Other than the obvious influence of Stephen Stills, Wikipedia also claims that Richard Manual and Rick Danko help to shape his style, and that critics compare his music to The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake, and Tim Buckley.

Judge for yourself. Here is the link to the album.

Song list:

Repo Man

New York City's Killing Me

God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise

Beg Steal or Borrow

Are We Really Through

This Love is Over

Old Before Your Time

For the Summer ***Another favorite of mine

Like Rock & Roll Radio *** This one too!

The Devil's In the Jukebox

Anyway, if you're tired of the same old music, and looking for something that finally has some depth and passion, this is the album for you!

John Mayer - Continuum

I caught John Mayer a week or so ago on the PBS Show, "Austin City Limits". What a great show! Nothing fancy, just some great grooves, deep, meaningful lyrics and great vocals. The band was flawless, and John's guitar playing keeps getting better and better every time I see him play live. By the way, I have to mention something here. Although I suppose he is a good-looking kid, I can't stand to watch his facial expressions. It's like trying to watch Joe Cocker or something. One side of his face is fine, usually smiling when he is really getting in to it, but the other side of his face looks like it's trying to vomit! Oh, well, as long as the music is good, don't change a thing, John! I'll close my eyes if I need to.

The most amazing thing to me, is when he is laying down complicated guitar rhythms, he can still sing as comfortably as if he wasn't playing at all. Actually, I think the more difficult it is to play, the better he will play it. It seemed like he got bored sometimes playing his actual solos, and couldn't wait to get back to slapping a rhythm out. If you have the CD, you can hear what I'm talking about on the song, "Gravity".

Well, everyone has heard the song "Waiting on the World to Change", so I won't give you much on that one. It's success pretty much speaks for itself. Every track on the album is good, though, with some rising above the others. It comes with a second disk of live tracks, which I like, because it gives the band a chance to groove out on a couple of the songs. The song "Belief", for instance, sounds like it is meant to be played live.

One of my personal favorites is "Gravity", which kind of speaks about life's struggles, and how no matter how hard you try, there is always something trying to pull you down.

On the song "I Don't Trust Myself", there is a really eerie sounding harmony, which I thought at first was a pitch modulator on the lead vocal, but I think he actually plays the melody on his guitar, and sings the harmony. It's an odd combination of sounds, and a unique trick.



I think the most honest, heartfelt track is "Stop This Train". (The video is shown above, from a fan who posted it on YouTube. There is a video from the "Austin City Limits" show, but the sound is soft, so I posted this one instead), in which John addresses the subject of inevitable death, and his fears of growing old and living the rest of his life without his parents. In fact, it includes a conversation with his father (real or made-up, it's still a great reflection), in which his "old man" says "Turn sixty-eight. You'll re-negotiate". He also eluded to this thought on "No Such Thing" from "Room For Squares" when he wonders if his parents "wished for anything better".

I would call 3 of these songs Break-up Songs, "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room", "Dreaming with a Broken Heart", and obviously, "I'm Gonna Find Another You". The songs are published and copy written in 2006, but you can't help but think that these might be written about a certain Ms. Simpson. Who knows?

Here is the full song list:

Waiting on the World to Change
I Don't Trust Myself (with Loving You)
Belief
Gravity
The Heart of Life
Vultures
Stop this Train
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
Bold as Love
Dreaming with a Broken Heart
In Repair
I'm Gonna Find Another You