Album Review: Ray LaMontagne – “Supernova”

By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) –

Around this time of year, a slew of artists release albums that look to capture the feel-good essence of Summer. This year, Ray LaMontagne’s Supernova shows the 40-year-old singer songwriter from New Hampshire honing  a new vibe, a new mood and a new groove, with the Black Keys’ Dan Auberbach on co-pilot producer duties to add his signature ‘60s fuzz and psychedelia.

Ten years ago, LaMontagne made his mark with the insightful and melancholic Trouble,  his emotive and painful songwriting process evoked elements of country and folk. Fans hailed LaMontagne’s gravitas as a second coming of Van Morrison (albeit somehow sadder) – a beautiful soundtrack for fashioning a canoe.

But with Supernova, LaMontagne has lightened up significantly; no longer wandering an uncharted New England side road, his sound has found a new home on the sunny West Coast. The country twang still stirs with the sublime folk melodies, but Auberbach’s presence at the boards injects sunny and wavy reverb to the backing arrangement and layered vocals. LaMontagne’s presence feels more assured,  he’s no longer hauntingly alone but starkly free to reminisce along with the rest of us.

While Auberbach’s sonic production choices denote nostalgia, LaMontagne doubles down on the sentiment withpsychedelic lyrics. The album kicks off with “Lavender” and right out of the gate evokes a different time. “We lie, under a lavender sky – Under a lavender sky we lie – Do you, do you remember the day? – Do you remember when we felt that way?”

On “Airwaves”, LaMontagne’s lyrics are time-locked to the early rock n’ roll era, circa 1962 when he croons “Where yougoin’ Rusty James? – There’s a Rumble on, Knives and Chains – What you doin’ Betty Sue? – What you think, I’m comin’ with you – I’m comin’ with you.” It’s LaMontagne at his most playful, and yet he still preserves a mastery of soothingly abstract lyrics.  LaMontagne paints an earnest portrait of puppy-love on “Julia”, a subject that the troubled Ray of yesteryear could not seemingly endure. Without an irony, doom, or gloom, he sings, “Julia, is it green in Aberdeen? – Yes, it’s really quite serene there in the summer”, projecting the wonderment of high school sweethearts in the crest of a new love.

LaMontagne’s maturing would not be complete without some lamentation creeping through. On “Ojai”, dark solemnity has its roots in LaMontagne’s disposition,  “I’ve been a Savior, a Sideman, a Stranger – Stung by anger, burned by law – Feel so Scattered, like nothing really matters anymore – Put that sign out, on my front door”

If left in another artist’s hands, these pivotal moments  would render Supernova disjointed, but LaMontagne shows maturity and growth in his career, embodying that without darkness there can be no light. Supernova’s refreshing combination of infectious sunny, and beautiful earnestness is hardly a combination you’d expect from Ray LaMontagne, but as with Beck’s Morning Phase proved earlier this year, a true artist shows growth from their debut, while still retaining their best parts.

Essential Tracks: “Lavender”, “No Other Way”, “Julia”, and “Ojai”.