Ear on TV: Week of October 13 - Ray Lamontagne

In a light week for musical guests at least we have 'the voice' to look forward to. I'm of course talking about Ray LaMontagne, who releases his third album (Gossip in Grain) since he came out of nowhere four years ago. Wednesday night, on Conan, LaMontagne will be performing the Van Morrison-like first single, "You Are The Best Thing". The song also doubles as the album opener, setting the stage for an album both steeped in the sound of an actual band and one perhaps a bit less serious than the previous two releases (2004's Trouble and 2006's Till the Sun Turns Black.

I say 'perhaps,' because it's still LaMontagne we're talking about, an artist who's voice drips with the seriousness of loss and desire, and so the next four songs on the album wade through that sweet spot, including wonderful Nick Drake-like "Sarah." But then LaMontagne "let's loose," relatively speaking, with the song "Meg White," a love letter to the White Stripes drummer. Featuring a Meg White-like chugging rhythm along with some Morricone whistling, LaMontagne has never been more playful, with lyrics like: "Baby, you're the bomb/ Oh, Jack is great, don't get me wrong/ But this is your song." It's borderline hokey, but nonetheless serves as a welcome change of pace from such a normally serious artist.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, October 13
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ra Ra Riot
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Conor Oberst
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Kool Keith
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Flobots
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Cat Power (REPEAT)
ABC: The View: T.I.
Tuesday, October 14
FUEL: The Daily Habit: CSS
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Serj Tankian (REPEAT)
Wednesday, October 15
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Ray LaMontagne
Thursday, October 16
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ne-Yo
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Tally Hall
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Lenka
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Nikka Costa
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: The Hoosiers, The Black Keys, Manu Chao
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Natasha Bedingfield
Friday, October 17
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Aesop Rock
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Black Kids
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Ludacris
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: The Boxmasters
Saturday, October 18
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Cyndi Lauper
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Adele
PBS: Austin City Limits: Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, John Hiatt, Joe Ely