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CD Review - Richard Thompson "Electric"

English Folk Legend enjoys himself

It’s all too easy to say you like Richard Thompson’s music, but in my opinion it’s impossible to like everything he has recorded.

Personally, I never liked Fairport Convention; but loved quite a bit of his songs with his ex-wife Linda Thompson and in later years I’ve run a mile from Thompson’s more worthy Folk recordings, yet Rumour and Sigh is in my Top 10 albums of all time.

Now you know where I’m coming from; I’ve absolutely loved ELECTRIC from first hearing opening track Stony Ground with it’s rather risqué chorus ‘he couldn’t keep his mind off her honeypot.’

Thompson is probably best known these days for his guitar playing and the opening bars of Salford Sunday are simply divine and the lyrics, themselves could easily have been by Morrissey when the Smiths were at the top of their game.

Possibly not to everyone’s taste but the atmospheric My Enemy should become a Thompson classic and be talked about in pubs and clubs for decades to come.

The quirky and commercial Good Things Happen to Bad People will no doubt get plenty of deserved airplay; as Americana producer Buddy Miller takes Thompson down yet another dark path and brings out the very best from the Folk Maestro.

The gently strummed acoustic guitar on Snow Goose is Richard Thompson at his very, very best and the fractured love song that features Alison Krauss on harmonies; will send shivers down your back and bring tears to your eyes before it ends.

ELECTRIC ends with a signature Richard Thompson song; the haunting and Bluegrass tinged Saving the Good Stuff for You which would have been the best track on any of his last seven albums; but is only part of a Master-work here.

If you are early you can buy a deluxe version of ELECTRIC that includes a second seven track album that features songs that could and should have been included in the original disc.

Opener Will You Dance Charlie Boy is Thompson and friends having great fun on a fast and furious jig that will no doubt be a feature of any future concerts.

Why The Tic-Tac Man was left off the 'proper' album I'll never know, as it is a truly great Folk Song and typical of Thompson; who has found a tiny character from Britain’s vast catalogue of characters and romanticized him in a way few others can match.

As I said in my introduction this, for me is Richard Thompson’s best and finest work since 1991 and all of the way through he sounds like he believes that too; but don’t be fooled by the title ELECTRIC as it isn’t all electric guitar by any stretch of the imagination, so perhaps ECLECTIC would have been a better title.

Order it here http://proper-records.co.uk/richardthompson-electric/

Tags: ., English Folk, Richard Thompson

Comment by Dave Crotts on February 4, 2013 at 8:35am: A friend told me that if you fish around on NPR music, you can hear whole main CD under a "first-listen-Richard-Thompson-Electric" category. I don't know how long this option will last. No option for 7 track bonus CD.

Comment by Alan Harrison on February 4, 2013 at 8:45am: I think there is/was a 'free' stream a week or so back, but can't remember which service it was through.

Comment by Easy Ed on February 4, 2013 at 12:01pm: Loved both Fairport and his work with Linda. Lean to his folkier sides and have run from his electric playing. So, opposite from you a bit. But this track, and a few others I've heard, just sound great and I can't wait to get my hands on it. From what I saw from his performance at the AMA this year, the man has kicked Clapton off from his God throne.

Comment by Alan Harrison on February 4, 2013 at 12:16pm: Clapton stopped being the #1 guitar player many moons ago; even Duane Allman played the tricky bits on Layla!

Richard is like Neil Young in many ways - diversifying on a whim; making it difficult to like everything in the armoury; but when they get it right.....it's as good as music gets :)

Comment by Dave Crotts on February 4, 2013 at 12:24pm: Another special thing about the CD is that it is produced by a special No Depression friend: Buddy Miller. IMHO Buddy is another guitar god and is now rivaling T-Bone Burnett as a top-flight producer.

Speaking of great roots guitarists, I have recently become a big fan of Eilen Jewell and her long-time guitarist, Jerry Miller, is no slouch either. Another unheralded guitarist is Rick Miller of the great trailer park spook band, Southern Culture on the Skids (Chapel Hill, North Carolina). And David Hildalgo of course.

Comment by Alan Harrison on February 5, 2013 at 4:12am: This link to a stream of the album has just gone up today 05 Feb http://t.co/TLQ8G2XP

Comment by Sheldon on February 5, 2013 at 7:17am: I agree with you - I love Richard but Fairport was not my cup of tea. His stuff with Linda was awesome. I saw him some years ago at Park West and he rocked. The comment comparing him to Neil Young is unfair. I love Neil but Richard Thompson crafts his songs while Neil rushes them, throws them against the wall and many don't stick. Richard Thompson has not made any bad albums (Neil has). On the other hand, Neil's music tends to have more variety to it, for better or worse. And Richard smokes Neil as a guitar player. Really looking forward to this CD arriving in my mail box.

Comment by Alan Harrison on February 5, 2013 at 7:33am: Sheldon, thanks. Without getting into the minutiae of their careers I think, just like Neil; Richard has released an incredibly varied selection of music over the years; and some have 'challenged' his hardcore fans (Front Parlour Ballads? 1000 years of popular ballads?)

It's as much an observation as it is an opinion.

Comment by John Bryan on February 8, 2013 at 7:53am: Just buy the album-all this free stream nonsense. Mr Thompson is nonparell-unique in his songwriting and guitar skills. A great shame that most of the UK population have never heard of him. Ah well when he's dead & buried the "great" BBC will dedicate a programme to the man-here's your fame for 45 minutes. Early fairport with Sandy Denny is/was superb.

Comment by Alan Harrison on February 8, 2013 at 8:09am: The 'free streaming' and free track download are all courtesy of his record company; who are trying their damndest to get RT into the public eye (and ears) so take it for what it is.

There was a 60 minute documentary on BBC 4 last year and Richard looked fit and well in my opinion; far from dead and buried; I'm pretty sure he's been heavily featured in BBC's amazing coverage of Cambridge Folk Festival too; in recent years.

We all have different tastes Mr Bryan and I stand by comments regarding his early work.

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