Richard Thompson – “Still”
A career which has spanned four decades, massive critical acclaim, and respect from fellow musicians. All of these statements describe the superb minstrel Richard Thompson.
Thompson is one of those artists that has continually produced stellar albums yet most people have not heard of him.
I hope that changes, and his obscurity fades with his new release ‘Still”. Produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco fame, “Still” consists of unique finely crafted songs of which Thompson is best known for insuring there is not a weak song to be found here.
Thompson is a guitar player’s guitar player. With his unpretentious style, he makes his Fender Stratocaster come to life with vibrant abandon.
This familiar guitar sound is evident in the song “All Buttoned Up”, a standout on the disc, including a riff and piff of frustration of a tumultuous relationship of convenience.
The politically themed “No Peace, No End”, shows the folksy side of Thompson’s split musicality. “Dungeons For Eyes”, proves that he still has the pipes, and “Beatnik Walking” shows his playful side.
The music on “Still” swings effortlessly from folk to rock, the lyrical themes bounce perfectly from stark to humorous, and in between he bakes up a slice of satirical pie.
Thompson even pays homage to his musical influences on the very interesting composition aptly named “Guitar Heroes”. Here he plays his guitar in the style of Django Reinhardt, Chuck Berry and he asks “I’ve got to know how The Shadows get that beat.” A true Thompson original.
If you enjoy refined guitar playing, intelligent lyrics, and exquisite songwriting, then Richard Thompson is for you. “Still” is a great start off point, and then feel free to pick any album from his repertoire and give it a listen. You’ll be glad you did.
