From the official Ray LaMontagne site:
RAY LAMONTAGNE TO RELEASE THIRD ALBUM,‘GOSSIP IN THE GRAIN’ ON SEPTEMBER 9THLauded singer/songwriter, Ray LaMontagne is set to release his much-anticipated third album, Gossip In The Grain, on September 9th on RCA Records. Recorded with returning producer, Ethan Johns in Box, England, and touching upon a range of styles and musical settings- spanning pastoral folk, railroad blues, front porch country, and plangent balladry – Gossip In The Grain proves to be his most creative and emotionally expansive collection to date.
Whereas LaMontagne’s two previous albums, ‘Trouble’ and ‘Till The Sun Turns Black’, were largely solo affairs, with Johns serving as multi-tasking instrumentalist, Gossip In The Grain sees him joined by members of his touring band, bassist Jennifer Condos and guitarist Eric Heywood (with Johns largely handling drum duties). Along with his band members, LaMontagne is also joined on two tracks – “A Falling Through” and “I Still Care For You” – by singer/songwriter Leona Naess.
As LaMontagne explains “It was time to open up a little bit more, not be quite so reserved in my choice of songs that I wanted to record. I’m really very critical of myself and it’s sort of a process of opening up. I felt like I was in the right space to show that side of myself.” Recently called by Vanity Fair “a fresh reminder that the genuine artist is not yet an extinct species,” Gossip In The Grain reconfirms Ray LaMontagne as an artist and a craftsman without limits, a songwriter who is able to work his melodic gifts and distinctive lyricism through any of the myriad musical traditions that catches his fancy.
Tracklisting:
1. Let It Be Me
2. Hey Me, Hey Mama
3. Sarah
4. I Still Care For You
5. Winter Birds
6. Meg White
7. Achin’ All The Time
8. Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s A Shame)
9. A Falling Through
10. Gossip In The Grain
Here’s a capture of Ray doing the first track live:
Okay, can I just say that I simply cannot wait to get my hands on this album?
Side comment: Don’t you just love all these new sub-sub-genres? Front porch country. Plangent balladry.
Makes me want to come up with my own. Like … fitting room hop. Or self-absorbed wailing.
Or teen angel slip-up.
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Wondering who Leona Naess might be?
The Alley Sessions
Heavy Like Sunday
Calling (live acoustic)

OH JOY!!!!! This guy must makes my heart clench with emotion when I hear his music. I own both cds and this will be on pre-order…And Ivory…when he comes to the area…let’s go see him!!!
That’s a definite YES! I’m aching to see this guy live.
AWESOME!
Fitting room hop! Heeeee!
Glad to have you back, hut!
I think the entire Bertou household just peed a little. My palette is officially whetted.
Hi Shane! Nice of you to drop by.
Er … please tell me there is at least one member of the Bertou household under the age of two.
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