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Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs: God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise

RCA

It would seem possible for Ray LaMontagne to lose himself behind the session musicians of his backing band that have recorded with every alt-country icon from Lucinda Williams to Ryan Adams. But LaMontagne is a strong, genuine blue-eyed soul singer not about to be intimidated by anyone’s pedigree. The auxiliary musicians came to support; LaMontagne came to dominate. Time has proven that his albums improve with age, but God Willin’, —album number four—is his first to connect with complete immediacy. He growls husky for “Repo Man” and “The Devil’s in the Jukebox,” but he’s at his incomparable best on the Greg Leisz pedal steel feast “New York City’s Killing Me,” the bittersweet “This Love Is Over” and the satisfying traditional country melody of “Old Before Your Time.” Recording at home in western Massachusetts, LaMontagne takes charge of the band on “For the Summer” and turns in a relaxed harmonica tune worthy of Neil Young, circa Rust Never Sleeps, on “Like Rock & Roll and Radio.” It does not get better than this.