Quickie Album Reviews

Ray LaMontagne - Till The Sun Turns Black (RCA) With the release of his sophomore album, Mr. La Montagne proves it was no fluke, he is the real deal. A more focused and restrained affair than his first, it is nonetheless a glorious piece, with gorgeous baroque string quartets and tasty brass fills that never overwhelm, only compliment his amazingly haunting vocals. This album only cements his place among the great troubadours of all time. -Gabriel Burger Comets On Fire - Avatar (Sub Pop) Jampacked with sound, yet earthy and full of soil, retro, yet future-looking, Avatar is a beautiful, big record. While it may be their most accessible album to date, it still carries many challenges for the more discerning of listeners. A leap forward. -Gabriel Burger Primal Scream - Riot City Blues (Columbia) Taking another break from the electronic world, they return to the ground they previously mined with Give Out But Don't Give Up, but to better effect. A swaggering, bluesy record, with plenty of sing-alongs, Riot City Blues is a perfect party record, not meant to be studied, only boogied to. -Gabriel Burger