Music Reviews
Issue date: 10/12/04 Section: Music
Ray Lamontagne
Trouble
This New Hampshire native is making a big stir in the music industry with his first solo project "Trouble." Lamontagne, one of six children, was raised by a resourceful mother who moved wherever she could to find a roof to put over her childrenÃs heads. With the constant moving, Lamontagne was always the new kid making him a misfit in high school, so he turned to drawing and writing stories. After graduation he left his family with no idea of what he wanted to do. Four years later while working in a shoe factory in Lewiston, Maine, he experienced an epiphany. He heard the song "Tree Top Flyer" by Stephen Stills. After hearing that song he decided that music was what he wanted to pursue.
In 1999 he cut his first demo and became the opening act for artists like Jonathan Edwards and John Gorka. After wrapping up production on the album ìTroubleî he was signed to RCA records. Lamontagne's album is a soft, earthy mix of folk music that has a nostalgic resemblance to Joni Mitchell or Crosby Stills & Nash. His vocals call out to his listeners and give a doorway into his pain with songs like "Burn" and "Trouble." This singer songwriter proves that his presence in the music industry will be felt and not forgotten.
Citizen Cope
The Clarence Greenwood Recordings
This is the second solo album from RCA's recording artist Clarence Copeland Greenwood (Citizen Cope). With this album Cope keeps it real, and he is able to make laid back alternative hip-hop come across as charming and earnest. Cope draws listeners with his unique spin on the urban poetry of this hip-hop generation. With this album you can feel that there was no holding back with his creativity. It is low key, subtle, and heartfelt. When listening to his tracks you are taken away to an insane universe with characters that face real dilemmas and serious passion.
His songs are mellow, organic, political, and spiritual. In this album CopeÃs lyrics are bent on touching human desire and emotions, with songs like "Bullet and a Target" and "Penitentiary." On this project Cope worked with artists like Paul Buggy Edwards, Carlos Santana, soulful pianist James Poyser, and MeÃshell Ndegeocello. With such an eclectic mix of musicians on this album, Cope proves to be an indefinable provenance.
Trouble
This New Hampshire native is making a big stir in the music industry with his first solo project "Trouble." Lamontagne, one of six children, was raised by a resourceful mother who moved wherever she could to find a roof to put over her childrenÃs heads. With the constant moving, Lamontagne was always the new kid making him a misfit in high school, so he turned to drawing and writing stories. After graduation he left his family with no idea of what he wanted to do. Four years later while working in a shoe factory in Lewiston, Maine, he experienced an epiphany. He heard the song "Tree Top Flyer" by Stephen Stills. After hearing that song he decided that music was what he wanted to pursue.
In 1999 he cut his first demo and became the opening act for artists like Jonathan Edwards and John Gorka. After wrapping up production on the album ìTroubleî he was signed to RCA records. Lamontagne's album is a soft, earthy mix of folk music that has a nostalgic resemblance to Joni Mitchell or Crosby Stills & Nash. His vocals call out to his listeners and give a doorway into his pain with songs like "Burn" and "Trouble." This singer songwriter proves that his presence in the music industry will be felt and not forgotten.
Citizen Cope
The Clarence Greenwood Recordings
This is the second solo album from RCA's recording artist Clarence Copeland Greenwood (Citizen Cope). With this album Cope keeps it real, and he is able to make laid back alternative hip-hop come across as charming and earnest. Cope draws listeners with his unique spin on the urban poetry of this hip-hop generation. With this album you can feel that there was no holding back with his creativity. It is low key, subtle, and heartfelt. When listening to his tracks you are taken away to an insane universe with characters that face real dilemmas and serious passion.
His songs are mellow, organic, political, and spiritual. In this album CopeÃs lyrics are bent on touching human desire and emotions, with songs like "Bullet and a Target" and "Penitentiary." On this project Cope worked with artists like Paul Buggy Edwards, Carlos Santana, soulful pianist James Poyser, and MeÃshell Ndegeocello. With such an eclectic mix of musicians on this album, Cope proves to be an indefinable provenance.