Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3.5/5 Released: August 29, 2006 Reviewer: Trent Depue |
Approaching its release date, the expectations were high for Till the Sun Turns Black, the follow up to folk artist Ray Lamontagne’s stunning and surprisingly successful debut Trouble. Noticeably slower paced than Trouble and also, as the title suggests, a bit darker, Sun Turns Black is missing the influx of high energy numbers that makes up much of the debut, but in it’s own way, is still just as captivating.
The most impressive aspect of the album is Lamontagne’s ability to shift to a different format for this album, choosing to keep his material fresh and interesting, rather than riding on the success of Trouble. Musically the album is comprised of almost entirely acoustic guitar work, with stunning orchestral backing and lyrics that are equally as engaging. All of these traits are best exemplified in ‘Empty,’ a wonderful, albeit somewhat menacing, track that opens with “She lifts her skirt up to her knees / walks through the garden rows with her bare feet laughing / I never learned to count my blessings / I choose instead to dwell in my disaster.†The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song that comments on the importance of focusing on the positives in life.
With the combined success of his first two releases and by instilling a sense of wonder in what direction his music will take on his next release, Ray Lamontagne already has his fan base waiting with eager anticipation for his third album.
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