Fourth full length from New England’s Ray LaMontagne (born in New Hampshire, has lived in Maine & Massachusetts) and the first credited to a band. The album was recorded at The Big Room at Apple Hill, on LaMontagne’s property in western Massachusetts.

Pariah dog is another name for Desi Kutta or Indian Pariah dog, though I always thought the band was some kind of pun on Prairie Dog and the idea of being a pariah. I don’t think the dog on the rear cover illustration or the photos inside actually is a pariah dog.

LaMontagne is one of my favorite discoveries of the last 20 years, his first album Trouble coming out in 2004.

My copy—via private sale—is a United pressing with Sterling lacquers.