RCA • Producer: Dan Auerbach
Score 9/10
This brooding troubadour sounds as if he is enjoying himself immensely on this latest opus. Maybe it’s something special that producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys brought to the studio, but the sonic reference points are enthralling: San Francisco psychedelia on “Lavender” and “No Other Way,” Brit pop on “Smashing,” dreamy ambiance with “Pick Up a Gun,” Van Morrison on “Airwaves” and garage rock with “Julia.” LaMontagne has never sounded this multi-dimensional. No wonder he seems so exultant: Supernova reveals a glorious soundtrack for the summer. – Dan Kimpel
