God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise
by Ray LaMontagne
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Aug 17, 2010
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Jaytch
    Nov 5, 2010
    9
    The latest release from Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs is a masterful continuation of the recording and performing genius of LaMontagne. This is his, and his band's, best display of instrumental talent to date. The guitar work is miles better than that on his previous recordings. The lap steel and slide guitars are a beautiful touch, adding a layer of texture and context throughout.The latest release from Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs is a masterful continuation of the recording and performing genius of LaMontagne. This is his, and his band's, best display of instrumental talent to date. The guitar work is miles better than that on his previous recordings. The lap steel and slide guitars are a beautiful touch, adding a layer of texture and context throughout. Ray's voice is still plenty raspy, but the extra breathiness has been cut down, which is a great thing. His vocals are as good as ever with his phrasing and dynamics even more refined. As a songwriter, LaMontagne has had stronger efforts in the past, but looking at the album as a whole, it is his best yet. The melodies are simple, interesting, and intriguing the way that melodies are meant to be with equally relevant lyrical messages. 7 of the 10 songs are 5 star songs, with the other 3 getting a 4 out of 5 rating. This is folk music at it's best. The album layout and song order is put together well, no complaints here. The production is strong and clear with just enough softening around the edges and speaks to the quality of the albums mixing and mastering. Overall, a great record. I can't say that I'm surprised.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. PopMatters
    70
    It's his most country sounding CD yet, with lovely pedal steel and banjo and harmonica backing his melodious vocals. There's no mistaking it, Lamontagne's target audience is not the tween-agers nor the youth market at all. This recording will reach a largely under appreciated adult contemporary market.
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  2. American Songwriter
    50
    God Willin', while a pretty record and certainly head and shoulders above so much of what has been released this year, it is nearly completely bereft of the emotion that we've come to expect from LaMontagne.
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  3. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    91
    Though he's reluctant to vary his sound, the end results are far too magnetic, far too majestic and far too masterful to even allow a twinge of disappointment.
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