gossip in the grain

now for the real surprise find. ray lamontagne.

first heard appearing on r.yamagata's 'duet'. thumbs up.

folk, singer-songwriter. but genre names are never of much help. the first song really throws you off because you won't hear another tune as unabashedly joyful until another 7 songs in.

i find it amazing how he feels at home whether he's singing uptempo stuff like 'you are the best thing', touching on country in 'hey me, hey mama', or sounding lovelorn on, well, most of the tracks.

9 very listenable songs out of 10 here. that's truly impressive.

right now the one i'm in love with the most is the ethereal 'i still care for you'. bass, chords and surreal slide guitar chasing a rolling drumbeat, storm clouds brewing in the distance. and the bridge, which seems to swirl around you and your lonely thoughts. morbid as they may be. ha.

the hours grow
heavy and hollow
cruel as a grave
open
me and you'll find only
bones burnt to glass

peggy's cove lighthouse, nova scotia.