Claude says:Ray LaMontagne emerged from a Maine shoe factory in the early 2000s after a Stephen Stills song on the radio convinced him to quit and chase music — a backstory that suits his warm, soul-inflected folk. This album leans into his trademark rasp and gentle, organic arrangements, the kind of thing that sounds best on a long drive or a quiet evening. You gave it a quick spin in early 2009, circling back to "Hold You in My Arms" once before moving on.