Album of the Week: Ray LaMontagne

Ray LaMontagne released his fourth studio album, God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise on August 17th, and a day later it topped both the iTunes and Amazon album charts in the #1 spot. The album features the musical addition of the Pariah Dogs, which consists of Jay Bellerose (drums), Jennifer Condos (bass), Eric Heywood (guitar) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar). Because of this addition, the album explores a full sound that critics have been praising since its release.

While working in a shoe factory in Lewiston, Maine, LaMontagne became inspired by Steven Stills album Stills Alone and quit his job in order to pursue a career in music. Success struck almost immediately, and LaMontagne is familiar with topping charts, talk show performances, and U.S. tours for months at a time. God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise is satisfyingly peaceful and familiar, a showcase of the soulful songwriting by the band.

Before you buy your copy, check out what critics are saying about the album:

The Good:

• Los Angeles Times: “On this new effort, self-produced at home with his touring band on hand, LaMontagne made the good decision to not worry much about packaging. God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise has a natural feel, comfortably ranging from bar-band rave-ups to contemplative acoustic numbers, with master pedal steel player Greg Leisz leading several tracks into the expertly unfussy territory of blue-chip Nashville country rock” — Ann Powers
• NPR Music: “With God Willin’, LaMontagne continues to churn out soulful tunes that relentlessly tug at the heart strings. He isn’t covering new territory, but his music is no less satisfying for its familiarity… It’s still very much present, but he rarely belts the notes as on previous records. Instead, he favors clarity and a smoother delivery, as evidenced by the contemplative ‘Old Before Your Time’” — Jess Gitner

The Bad:

• American Songwriter: “Something feels a bit off; perhaps it’s that LaMontagne took over the production reins from Ethan Johns who has so masterfully manned that post on each of LaMontagne’s previous releases. God Willin’, while a pretty record and certainly head and shoulders above so much of what has been released this year, it is nearly completely bereft of the emotion that we’ve come to expect from LaMontagne. Maybe he was too busy behind that control panel” –Jon Stone
• The NY Daily News: “Given the fact that Lamontagne chose, for the first time, to split a CD’s credit with his touring band (the Pariah Dogs), you’d think the disc would center on the rich dynamics of the players. But only the first cut, “Repo Man,” does to a pronounced degree. It rolls on a blues groove so hot, sexy, and wild it could rock on far longer than its already generous six minute length” — Jim Farber

The In-Between:

• Entertainment Weekly: “Ray LaMontagne broke up with longtime producer Ethan Johns to make this live home recording with his ace band. On God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise, ‘Repo Man’ plays it loose and frisky from the get-go, a soul shuffle that gets LaMontagne all riled up. But it doesn’t take long for the singer to retreat into his beard for some Laurel Canyon-style sensitivity exercises. With a band this agile, it’s a shame he doesn’t dance a little more” — Greg Kott
• SF Gate: “It lacks the ghostly appeal of his first two albums, which were largely solo affairs. There are also few traces of the endearing R&B influence that permeated his previous CD, “Gossip in the Grain.” But on songs here, such as “New York City’s Killing Me” and “This Love Is Over,” LaMontagne sounds remarkably relaxed (and occasionally rowdy), which, in a way, is a major accomplishment in and of itself” — Aidin Vazir

God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise is available on Amazon for $7.99, and on iTunes for $10.99.