Modern-day troubadour Richard Thompson is at it again with his new album release Sweet Warrior. His first electric disc since 2003's The Old Kit Bag, Warrior is a must for Thompson fans or a great introduction if you're not familiar with his work.
Ranked as one of the top 20 guitar players of all time (according to Rolling Stone 2003), Thompson is more craftsman than just guitar slinger. Over his 40-year career he's garnered a reputation for stellar musicianship, wry lyrics, offbeat phrasing, and a knack for telling a good story.
Sweet Warrior is no different. A collection of vignettes, poignant and passionate; Thompson is never afraid to pull at the heart strings or tackle uncomfortable subject matter.
As the name implies Sweet Warrior is about war, but there's so much to read between the lines and as Thompson reminds the Associated Press, "It's kind of a war record, not just political war but also domestic war or relationship war. There's a sweetness to it as well."
And the sweetest of all the tracks has to be She Sang Angels to Rest. A simple acoustic guitar line opens this tune followed by Thompson's honey-toned vocals over a minimalist arrangement featuring acoustic bass, violins, and the viola. The composition showcases Thompson's voice and lyrical mastery asking, "How do you love when your heart isn't well?"
Another couple of tracks that tug at the sentimental are Poppy-Red, a widower's ode to the departed ("Now my love makes her bed/Where poppies grow over her head"), and Take Care the Road You Choose, a dreamy piece where subtle guitar flourishes set the tone for the ballad based around Thompson's unique phrasings.
But it's not all about the ballad. Mandolin lines punctuate the opener Needle and Thread, a good old romping tune that's the most radio-friendly cut and a great way to kick off the album. Other burners on Warrior are I'll Never Give Up, Bad Monkey, and the Celtic rock sounds of Johnny's Far Away.
Irony abounds in the scathing Too Late to Come Fishing, which has nothing to do with aquatic creatures, and Mr. Stupid ("I can numb you with my dumbness/Lay it on with a trowel." But the track that will get the most press is Dad's Gonna Kill Me showing Thompson's penchant for writing about the unsavory. It's a firsthand account of a terrified young soldier stationed in Baghdad (abbreviated "Dad") pondering his own mortality: "I've got a wife, a kid, another on the way/I might get home if I can live through today."
The album wraps with classic Thompson storytelling in Guns are the Tongues. This seven-minute story unfolds slowly, taking four verses just to reach the chorus. Thematically it's set in a world of political turmoil but Thompson explains, "[It] is not a political song. It's a song about human relations, and what people do to each other and expect from each other."
And you can expect a lot from Thompson's latest.
For the uninitiated, Sweet Warrior is a great way to get your feet wet but get ready for a rollercoaster ride with soaring highs, mournful lows, and ample breathing room in between.
Catch Richard Thompson on tour this summer and see for yourself what a living guitar legend looks like.
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