“Grain” is the best and most curious album of LaMontagne’s brief career. Pumping up his primarily acoustic feel with a number of songs which deviate from the formula, the disc develops a full statement which firmly announces LaMontagne as a well-rounded artist — not just a flakey folkie.
The record begins with a bang in “You Are The Best Thing,” a track which is sure to polarize old fans and bring new ones in. In it, LaMontagne celebrates devotion in his trademark smoky vocals, a raspy whisper which recalls a less-quirky Van Morrison. But instead of his typical guitar work, the track is a full-band affair straight out of the Stax catalogue, complete with heavy horns and soulful female backing vocals.
LaMontagne follows with “Let It Be Me,” a beautiful shuffle of a ballad which will keep followers of his earlier downbeat work satisfied. Yet the experimentation soon returns. “Sarah” emerges as a contemporary take on the fingerpicking style exhibited on classics such as The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and Bob Dylan’s “4th Time Around,” tugging at the heart with a swelling string section. Country licks creep into “A Falling Through,” a hazy lament of a relationship gone sour. Most jarring is “Meg White,” a quirky jam in tribute to LaMontagne’s favorite garage rock drummer.
“Meg White” aside, LaMontagne’s sincere music is matched by heavy lyrics, such as on the off-kilter “I Still Care For You,” in which the singer admits that, “Open me and you’ll find / Only bones burned to glass.” Thankfully, LaMontagne is able to skip the most obvious metaphors and utilize language which reflects his true sensitivity.
“Grain” is an album which could bring LaMontagne out of the acoustic softie pigeonhole and turn him into a high-demand artist. Allowing a musician a step out of the box to experiment can often be a risky move, but this old soul proves that such a transition can be landed gracefully.
Maine native William Earl is a musician and music writer. He’s currently living in Boston but has his ears on Maine-made music.