Ray Curenton’s Ripples of the Past is a moving and reflective album that blends indie folk warmth with R&B soul and gospel-rooted vocals. It’s stripped back, intimate, and feels like an open journal. The record is divided into three acts that explore childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, but more than anything, it feels like a story about healing. The opener, Of Framingham, sets the tone with gentle acoustic guitar and lyrics that look back on childhood. It feels like a doorway into memory, inviting the listener into moments that shaped the artist’s identity. The simplicity of the production makes the song deeply personal, almost like Curenton is singing directly to you.
Ground Zero follows with more weight. The harmonies build slowly, carrying lyrics that speak of broken foundations and the difficult process of starting over. It has a rawness that shows both pain and resilience, and the emotion in the vocals makes it one of the album’s standout tracks. NFC slows the pace with a reflective tone. The production is minimal, leaving space for the voice to shine. The song feels like a quiet meditation on connection and memory, almost like replaying old moments in your head. Is That Alright? is gentle and vulnerable. The song feels like a letter to someone, asking for understanding and acceptance. The honesty in the lyrics makes it striking, and the stripped-back style gives it a fragile beauty. With Once Familiar Friend, Curenton leans into nostalgia. The lyrics touch on the ache of remembering someone who once mattered deeply. The arrangement balances sadness with comfort, making the track bittersweet but warm at the same time.
Happiness takes a thoughtful approach, asking what it really means to be happy. Instead of being bright or upbeat, it feels calm and searching, as if happiness is something fragile and hard to hold. The mellow rhythm works perfectly with the reflective theme. Unreliable Narrator brings a clever shift in perspective. The lyrics question the truth of memory, exploring how personal stories can be both honest and distorted. It’s one of the more concept-driven songs, and its playfulness with identity makes it stand out. Sandpaper lives up to its name with a sharper, rougher edge. The lyrics deal with friction and discomfort, and the arrangement gives it a slightly harsher texture compared to the earlier tracks. It adds variety to the album’s flow, showing another side of Curenton’s storytelling. The Year That Changed Everything feels like a centerpiece. It looks back at a pivotal moment with honesty and gravity, showing how a single period can shape the rest of a life. The emotion in the delivery makes it resonate long after the song ends. The title track, Ripples of the Past, brings everything together. It reflects on how memories and experiences continue to echo through the present. The layered harmonies give it depth, and it feels like the heart of the album—introspective, tender, and revealing. The record closes with For One, For All, which widens the scope beyond personal reflection. It feels like a message of connection, suggesting that individual stories can speak to something collective. The hopeful tone makes it a fitting conclusion, leaving the listener with a sense of peace. Taken as a whole, Ripples of the Past is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a carefully woven story about memory and growth. Ray Curenton has created an album that feels both personal and universal, filled with emotional honesty and quiet strength. It’s the kind of record that invites deep listening and lingers with you long after it ends.
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