Castanets- Untitled #2 (live at Laundromatinee.com)

I’m thinking as I listen to this that, yes, Ray’s voice is incredibly distinctive and evocative.  But there’s more—his technique and treatment of his guitar sounds distinctive as well.  Listening to the first few picked notes, I was immediately taken back to hearing him play live at BAM last year.  I know guitar techs will immediately scoff and say, well sure, it’s reverb this and distortion that.  However, the combination of everything—his phrasing, his picking style, the effects, etc.—is really something special.  I’m sure it can be imitated by one of those über-talented youtube maestros that are boring as Hell, but Ray owns it.