Richard Thompson goes "Electric"

[Jerjo]

Not that he hasn't played plenty of electric guitar before but this promises to be something special.

http://www.npr.org/2013/01/27/170103...mpson-electric

[spellbound]

Thanks, Jerol. Listening now.

[bobert]

Thanks for posting that , sounds good to me. And it isn't over stating it by calling Richard Thompson a legend, one of my very favorite artists in the music world.

[R_burke]

Good stuff, thanks for the post

[Spiral]

Biggest music announcement of the year! This is a must for sure.

[moecurlythanu]

Just pre-ordered (and filled in a few holes too.) Thanks for posting.

[kid_runningfox]

Will be picking this up when it comes out - refuse to listen to it until then!!

[Wounded Land]

RT is the man. His recent output hasn't totally thrilled me (Front Parlour Ballads, Sweet Warrior), but I am definitely picking up the new one.

A legend indeed.

[Reid]

RT is the man. His recent output hasn't totally thrilled me (Front Parlour Ballads, Sweet Warrior),

He's still at the top of his game as a guitarist/vocalist, and this new record sounds like it's bristling with energy. But his songwriting on the past several albums hasn't had much staying power for me.

[Big Block 454 part 2]

Salford Sunday? I used to live in Salford until recently...

Listening now.

[Wounded Land]

He's still at the top of his game as a guitarist/vocalist, and this new record sounds like it's bristling with energy. But his songwriting on the past several albums hasn't had much staying power for me.

Agreed.

[Jerjo]

I've listened through this a couple times now and am going to order the CD. It's a different energy level here. Buddy Miller got something really crackling in these sessions. I don't think the songwriting is quite on the level of Mock Tudor (my fave) but it's still better than 95% of the stuff out there.

[JSS]

Sweet!
Closest his tour comes by me is in Chicago, on a Wednesday dammit.

1/2 way through it, good stuff. Nothing that different from his past few albums but the same strong playing, singing & lyrics. Is that Emmylou Harris I hear? They are touring together.

[Jerjo]

Here's a nice article in Slate and sets up a Thompson sampler on Spotify:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/...ric_audio.html

[JKL2000]

Anyone have any recommendations for their top couple of RT solo albums? I used to have one long ago (the title escapes me, but it had a song called "Bone Through Her Nose" or something like that) and it was pretty good but as it was on vinyl I sold it years back.

[Reid]

Bone Through Her Nose is from Daring Adventures. It's a great album!

Rumour And Sigh is another great one.

[Jerjo]

For me, it has to be Mock Tudor, Rumor and Sigh.

[Spiral]

For me, it has to be Mock Tudor, Rumor and Sigh.

Seconded. The live recording from Austin City Limits could also make a good intro with a nice selection across the catalogue.

[Reid]

The live recording from Austin City Limits could also make a good intro with a nice selection across the catalogue.

It's good, but imo, Live In Providence packs more of a punch. A killer performance!

[Spiral]

It's good, but imo, Live In Providence packs more of a punch. A killer performance!

Yeah, I prefer that one overall, but was sticking to CD releases.

[Sunhillow]

Bought it today. Spinned it once. Good album!

[bobert]

I just got it also, another winner from RT.

[progholio]

For me, it has to be Mock Tudor, Rumor and Sigh.

i can second those - Rumor and Sigh being probably my favorite (plus there's enough Mellotron for anyone who likes that sort of thing).

i can highly recommend the new one too.

oh hell, just print out the entire discography and throw a couple of darts at it and grab ahold of whatever they land on, you seriously can't go wrong with any of it.

[Oreb]

IMO The Old Kit Bag is his best solo album ever. It's a masterpiece that stands proudly alongside the transcendant Pour Down Like Silver.

Too much of Richard's recent stuff strikes me as worthy rather than inspired - Front Parlour Ballads, Dream Attic and Sweet Warrior are intelligent, beautifully played and sort of dull.

I'm not rushing to get this new one.

[jkelman]

My review of Electric is up on the weekend. Personally , I think with this and 2010's Dream Attic, he's upped the ante again. I agree that Kit Bag is a winner, but I think these easily stand up with it. I think Electric has some of his sharpest, most biting songwriting in a decade - largely a relationship record, but in the usual dark, Thompson fashion

Also, if folks buy the two-disc deluxe edition, see if you can find the gaff If not, I'll put you out of your misery a week after the review runs.

Hint: it has to do with the last track on disc 2, and where it's really sourced.