<![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me - Idolator Comments]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/idolator.com.png <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me - Idolator Comments]]> http://idolator.com Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:22:48 EDT Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:22:48 EDT http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c7270056 Didn't he get kicked off a Guster tour a couple of years ago for getting in a shouting match with a fan?

MrStarhead

]]> 33:398564:c7270056 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:22:48 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6788472 @owenmeany: I'm with you.

If you don't get it, you don't get it. Doesn't mean you have to shit all over it.

Dr. Winston O'Boogie aka MonkeySeeMonkeyDo

]]> 33:398564:c6788472 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:51:11 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6716355 If only it was a schtick! The guy really IS socially inept, and I think his music works precisely because it's understated. It doesn't grab you and shake you by the shoulders; just quietly asks to be let in and really reveals its strengths over time.

LemmyRamone

]]> 33:398564:c6716355 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:37:55 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6706443 @Tardy: It was his schtick: Ray has this "I'm so painfully shy and hurting" thing that apparently precludes him being a polite human being.

Actually, having seen the guy live, I have to agree -- his shy, retiring bullshit did nothing for me.

Still: the records are pretty. OhToWant1Thing is basically dead-on with the "sad bastard emo pop" thing.

Chris Molanphy

]]> 33:398564:c6706443 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:28:05 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6705595 @heyzeus: Whoever suggested this guy sounds like Jeff Buckley or Elliott Smith needs to be slapped. Hard and repeatedly.

DaeSu

]]> 33:398564:c6705595 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:37:53 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6705584 @OhToWant1Thing: For me I think it's the "tortured artist" appeal. I like hearing him sing about being a coke-binging wanderer. It's kind of like... sad bastard music on par with mall emo pop, but for grown-ups. Or something.

I think that's it exactly. And that's why he pisses me off.

I saw him perform when he shared a bill with a fave band of mine a couple of summers ago in Prospect Park. Musically, he was fine - decent anguished folk-rock with a solid band behind him - but nothing earth-shattering. Even the hippie/emo kids did annoy me all that much. It was his schtick: Ray has this "I'm so painfully shy and hurting" thing that apparently precludes him being a polite human being. He came on the stage; he sang; he left. No thank yous to the crowd who paid nearly $50 and stood in line in the rain to get in. No band introductions (they were quite good). No acknowledgment of the opening band or band following him on the bill. Nothing. Seriously: how hard is it to say thank you?

The following week he dropped off the tour. I have a feeling it was more about 'assholishness' than 'shyness,' but that's just a guess.

Tardy

]]> 33:398564:c6705584 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:37:29 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6701319 Apparently I'm in the small demographic of dudes that like LaMontagne's music. Hmm.

For me I think it's the "tortured artist" appeal. I like hearing him sing about being a coke-binging wanderer. It's kind of like... sad bastard music on par with mall emo pop, but for grown-ups. Or something.

I'm probably going to music snob hell for saying that.

Josh Mock

]]> 33:398564:c6701319 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:12:27 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6698602 Man, I am not going to try to defend Ray LaM. against this wall of vitriol, but all I'll say is: I was at the Beacon show two Decembers ago, which was good, not life-changing; the first record's better than the second; and yeah, mostly it's gals I know who have gotten me into him. I dunno, I like the sound of his records, and I think Norah Jones is far snoozier.

Chris Molanphy

]]> 33:398564:c6698602 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:59:43 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6696441 The person who first told me about him said "he's kinda like jeff buckley meets elliott smith."

So i listened.

He is not.

heyzeus

]]> 33:398564:c6696441 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:06:05 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6695587 Pete Yorn for people who like beards.

Thierry

]]> 33:398564:c6695587 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:43:35 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6695285 @owenmeany: Re-read the post. I don't think the songs sound anything alike, just that gravely voices don't automatically equate with "soulfulness".

Dan Gibson

]]> 33:398564:c6695285 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:35:51 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6695170 I think he's dreadful.

bcapirigi

]]> 33:398564:c6695170 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:33:21 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6695019 Soulful=full of emotion. Check.

Relate-able lyrics (esp. to NPR listeners). Check.

Beard. Check.

What's your question??

BTW, with the greatest respect, comparing "Young Turks" to anything by Ray LaMontagne mkes me think you should stick to writing about Pete Wentz, sir.

owenmeany

]]> 33:398564:c6695019 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:30:33 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6693424 Or, a too-earnest Kenny Loggins.

DaeSu

]]> 33:398564:c6693424 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:58:33 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6693395 He's like Marc Cohn's play cousin. Meh.

DaeSu

]]> 33:398564:c6693395 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:57:31 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6692811 @Lax Danja House: Heartbreaker, obvs.

Dan Gibson

]]> 33:398564:c6692811 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:39:10 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6692739 @GhostOfDuane: @How do I say this ... THROWDINI!: Never underestimate the raw purchasing power of old ladies.

SomeSound-MostlyFury

]]> 33:398564:c6692739 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:36:45 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6692241 Chicks dig beards. End of story.

TheRunningboard7

]]> 33:398564:c6692241 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:23:38 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6691968 by which I mean, I really like one Ryan Adams disc

Heartbreaker or Gold?

Lax Danja House

]]> 33:398564:c6691968 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:17:32 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6690693 @GhostOfDuane: Of my friends whose musical taste I trust (read: mostly agree with), its only the girls that like this guy. Most of the guys' opinions can be summarized as "eh."

How do I say this ... THROWDINI!

]]> 33:398564:c6690693 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:47:55 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6690177 @SomeSound-MostlyFury: You got it. Old people like him. As someone who likes music that old people like, I don't really get him either.

GhostOfDuane

]]> 33:398564:c6690177 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:35:44 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6690120 I don't own an album by the guy, and I can't say that I have rushed out and bought any of his discs, but I will say this, the soulful goodness of this song can't be denied:

+ Watch video

Tauwan

]]> 33:398564:c6690120 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:34:06 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6689674 Last year I heard a long NPR segment (weekend edition maybe?) with an interview and some songs performed. I think you can't underestimate the power of that on the exact audience for this kind of music.

jetsetjunta

]]> 33:398564:c6689674 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:21:25 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6688917 He fills concert halls with the same music fans who fill concert halls for Norah Jones. Soft, pleasant, sometimes slightly jazzy arrangements, sleepy voice, love songs. Old people swoon.

SomeSound-MostlyFury

]]> 33:398564:c6688917 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:02:04 EDT <![CDATA[Please Explain The Appeal Of Ray LaMontagne To Me]]> http://idolator.com/398564/please-explain-the-appeal-of-ray-lamontagne-to-me#c6688692 Nope. I feel pretty much like you do. (Actually, based on my thoughts on him here (scroll down a few paragraphs), I seem to have really hated him but like you I'd barely remembered him at all recently.)

Ned Raggett

]]> 33:398564:c6688692 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:56:09 EDT