Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior
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Free Music Notes for Sweet Warrior
Free Music Review: WOW!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the BEST sounding record I have heard in a LONG time. (And I hear a LOT of music). The only thing better was hearing him do these songs live at the 9:30 club in DC! (BTW... NPR's website has a podcast of that show). This CD gets me through my pain in the butt commute to work in *lovely* over-populated N. VA. The first two songs are sure to get my blood pumping in the morning! The musicians that Thompson uses on this CD (mostly the guys he tours with) are fantastic. (Danny Thompson is one of my favorite bassists!). But everything about this CD sounds great... the songwriting(!), the arrangements, the musicians' performances and the production. I can NOT get tired of this album. What strikes me the most about this CD - as all of Thompson's music - is that he sounds like NO ONE ELSE. His songwriting is unique, and his lyrics are interesting. He gets away with lyrics that would sound weird written by anyone else ("Mister Stupid"). But the way he puts songs together just WORKS! He is at times political without being obnoxious about it. And then there's THAT guitar playing. I can't comprehend what he does with a guitar most of the time (even after seeing him live), but I LOVE the way it sounds! The first half of the album has a lot of punch to it, and gets mellower toward the end (I smell a record label's influence there!). But it remains powerful throughout with stellar performances all the way to the beautiful "Sunset Song" at the end of the disc. I NEVER hit "skip" with this CD (except to get back to the beginning of the CD at the end of the last song!).Free Music Review: Perhaps the master's greatest album to date.
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is simply stunning. As one who's studied every release to which the great Richard Thompson has lent his name, this reviewer bows in awe to this work.
Each song reveals more treasures upon repeated listenings, and there isn't a weak one in the bunch. The album effortlessly treads the line between "collection of individual songs" and "concept album," never stepping too far to either side of the fence. As a complete work, it's deftly held together by returning themes of battle (be it in war or the bedroom). The diverse and always engaging songs seem to gain depth as the album goes on, culminating in the masterpiece "Guns Are the Tongues," followed by the serene denouement of "Sunset Song."
Richard Thompson, co-producing this album with Simon Tassano, has realized a full, rich sound that compliments these masterfully crafted songs perfectly, delivering a sonic feast that's completely satisfying. The acoustic instruments impart the essential organic feel, while his searing electric guitar will certainly please those who regretted its absence from last year's "Front Parlour Ballads."
It's hard to imagine a more impressive tour de force than this. It's an essential inclusion in any record collection.
Free Music Review: Anti-Warriors Never Sounded More Sweet
Hit: 5 Stars
Devoted fans of Richard Thompson have a tought time being objective about the man's music. We view him on a different level of musicianship than the "normal" mortals who walk on stage. Thus, it's difficult for me to rate any RT record lower than 4 stars.
Five stars, however, means the man has hit a mark as high as "Shooting Out the Lights," "Mock Tudor," and the often overlooked "Across a Crowded Room." Five stars it is for "Sweet Warrior," one of the finest records Sir Richard has recorded over his unjustly obscure career. (I knighted him on my own years ago.)
Thompson's lyrics are sharp and clever as always. His back-up musicians are a typically stellar bunch. His guitar work. . .well, there is simply no one on the planet playing electric guitar with the same complexity and crystal clear note beauty as this.
Better still, the record's anti-war theme provides RT with a fresh topic to attack with the same deeply bitter light and irony he's previously shined on lost love. Will the man ever acquire the wide audience he deserves? Doubtful. So we, the cult faithful, will just have to keep him to ourselves, luxuriating in his brilliant sound!
Free Music Review: As good as his best...
Hit: 5 Stars
Wow! I was turned on to Richard Thompson only about 8 years ago, but have since become an ardent fan and I've been picking up anything I could by him ever since.
I generally don't like a heavy dose of political opinion mixed in with my music, but RT pulls it off here without being annoying, and considering the state of worldwide affairs it's actually pretty timely anyway. His anger in I'll Never Give it Up makes me wonder if he's dissing Bush or Blair, but one's own interpretation of the lyrics is what can make a song so delicious. His guitar playing continues to send shivers down my spine, especially on the track Take Care the Road You Choose. And who cannot feel sharp pangs of sorrow for the poor soldier in Dad's Gonna Kill Me ? Wow. RT's ability to elicit such emotion (through his lyrics or playing) are part of what make him such a treasure.
All of the songs are at least good, and most are outright great. In my opinion, this album will stand with RT's all-time bests.
Free Music Review: Absolutely brilliant!
Hit: 5 Stars
There is not much more that can be said about this superb release from former Fairport Convention guitarist Richard Thmpson. He just gets better each time out. "She Sang Angels To Rest" is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. If the test of a great song is its ability to stir emotion in the listener, then Thompson has certainly accomplished that with this beautiful tune. The album moves perfectly from the rocking "Needle and Thread", which was a great choice to open up the album, to the hilarious "Mr. Stupid", to the tongue in cheek "Dad's Gunna Kill Me"---a tune about everyone's REAL Dad, to the excellent shanty, "Johnny's Far Away", which makes me want to go order a Guiness in a little Irish Pub ever time I hear it.
Truly not a bad song on the entire collection. This may be Thompson's best effort, to date.