Check It. Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs.

Ray LaMontagne is one of my favorite musicians, and thankfully his albums age really well. Trouble is still great all the way through. It's always nice to have some new music, though, and today his fourth studio album is out, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise.

The album cover reminds me of Ryan Adams & the Cardinals' Cold Roses - and LaMontagne with the Pariah Dogs are like Adams and the Cardinals. Talented touring bands backing great singers of today - but sometimes you kinda just want the singer on their own. Nevertheless, both are CDs worth having in your collection. You can listen to album tracks here on NPR music, including "Old Before Your Time", which I recommend.

Ray LaMontage is playing the Greek Theatre with David Gray September 10.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: stereogum.com