Released 20 years ago
Till the Sun Turns Black
Ray LaMontagne · 2006
48 min · 11 tracks · folk music
A soulful blend of folk and blues, weaving introspective lyrics with rich acoustic instrumentation and haunting melodies.
Top tracks — play these first
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Be Here Now Start here — The opening track sets an introspective tone with its poignant lyrics and gentle melody, encapsulating the album's themes of longing and presence.
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Three More Days — This song showcases LaMontagne's emotive vocal delivery paired with a driving rhythm, highlighting his ability to convey urgency within vulnerability.
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Till the Sun Turns Black — The title track serves as a reflective centerpiece, blending somber lyrics with lush instrumentation, embodying the album’s exploration of love and loss.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends folk and blues with introspective lyrics, showcasing strong craftsmanship and emotional depth.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature a steady, mid-tempo rhythm with layered acoustic guitar and piano, establishing a warm, inviting atmosphere.
- Several songs incorporate strings and subtle backing vocals that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics without overshadowing the lead vocals.
- The album closes with a gradual deceleration in tempo, particularly in the last two tracks, creating a reflective and somber conclusion.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- late-night contemplative moods
- dynamic emotional journeys
- steady, consistent energy levels
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Represents a significant artistic development and received critical acclaim.
- Themes
- love and loss· introspective longing· acoustic melancholy
- Career context
- Released in early 2006, Till the Sun Turns Black is Ray LaMontagne's second studio album, following his acclaimed debut Trouble. At this point, LaMontagne was solidifying his place in the folk music scene with a signature sound that expanded on the emotional depth of his first release.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Iron & Wine· Damien Rice· Nick Drake
Tracklist
- 1 Be Here Now Start here 6:23
- 2 Empty 5:17
- 3 Barfly 3:55
- 4 Three More Days 3:36
- 5 Can I Stay 3:41
- 6 You Can Bring Me Flowers 4:12
- 7 Gone Away From Me 4:27
- 8 Lesson Learned 4:39
- 9 Truly, Madly, Deeply 1:52
- 10 Till the Sun Turns Black 4:28
- 11 Within You 5:43
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Our Endless Numbered Days
Iron & Wine
Shares a similar acoustic melancholy with introspective lyrics and rich, warm instrumentation.
Pink Moon
Nick Drake
Equally haunting melodies and deeply personal themes of love and loss, wrapped in soft acoustic arrangements.
O
Damien Rice
Explores emotional depth through soulful vocals and intimate, stripped-down folk instrumentation.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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