Ray LaMontagne/Belle Brigade

Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne can sound a bit sleepy. So credit goes to the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, producer of his latest album, Supernova, for waking the guy up. The title track itself is a real work of wonder as it brings out the best of LaMontagne’s tender vocals and spices them up with what sounds like handclaps and ’70s synths. The moody “Lavender” is downright trippy as LaMontagne croons “do you remember” as if he’s in some kind of drug-induced coma. The sparse, souful “Airwaves” is another highlight, and closer “Drive-In Movies” has a great folk feel that’s punctuated by LaMontagne’s soaring vocals. Ultimately, the album is even more engaging than his last effort, 2010’s Grammy-winning God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise. (Jeff Niesel)