TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

RT announces new album "Still" to be released June 29th 2015. Produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, this could be excellent ! Tour dates too... :

http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/richard-thompson-announces-new-jeff-tweedy-produced-album-tour-dates-68065

This could indeed be a major work.  Hope so.

Jules

The London date goes on sale Friday (Thursday for members), so possibly all dates do.

A taster from the album "Beatnik Walking" :

http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2015/04/28/richard-thompson-beatnik-walking/

Liverpool is Friday too

and Bristol (Colston Hall).  Like that sample track!  Very subtle backing vocals.  :)

I think it must be my current mindset, but I keep hearing new music by artists I adore...and finding it really really uninteresting.  Sadly this taster sits in that pile for me at the moment.

I haven't listened to it yet but I can't help thinking that to those who know and love RT's music, he is probably noy going to do anything surprising at this point. Which is not to say that the standard/quality will not be high. It always is but the style and sound is likely to be familiar.

I was listening to Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade a couple of days ago, an album on which he subtly deployed loops and what I would describe as break beats (old terminology). It was a slight but successful shift away from his usual sound and style and worked well. It would be interesting to hear RT experiment a little but in a way that does not detract from his core strengths.

I feel this way sometimes too. An exception is Robin Williamson's last album, which is one of his best ever, of so many. I think perhaps we build ourselves up for these things too much.

Same.  Sometimes it's because they are past their peak and just coasting on the long downhill slide.  Sometimes it's because I've reached saturation point and need to move onto fresh pastures for a while.

And sometimes it's because the new stuff is just simply s***e.   :D

Jules

I find that even 'uninteresting' RT is better than most stuff around these days! Even if the new material isn't up to the standard of his older stuff, he's still a force to be reckoned with live.

Don't put yourself down.  Your response to that rubbish Stills track suggests your ears are far less 'half empty' than mine are  ;)

Maybe I'm just less discerning!  I do tend to hope against hope with Stills, and that may influence my judgement.  I'm relieved when he doesn't suck, really.   :-\

Jules

Lol.  Been that way with me since I bought Right By You.

Thomo's not in the same ball park at all, but that track - as incisive and cutting as the lyrics are - sounds exactly like at least a dozen other Thomo tracks from the last quarter of a century.  It's a good track, but there's only so many times I want to hear it.  But, as I say, my old black dog's barking a bit at the moment so it may well be my state of mind...!

I hear ya.  I may only get troubled by a mid-brown coloured mutt, but he's sure making his presence known to me today.

I'm holding off having an opinion on the new RT until I've heard more.  The idea of him working with Tweedy excites me, and I'm still optimistic that some of it (at least) is going to kick some bottom.

Jules

It could be that you're subconsciously hoping for more of what they played when you got into them, but they've moved on.

Personally Ithought Electric was a massive return to form, so I'm looking forward to this way more then I have anticipated an RT album for many a year.

I'm sure there's more than a hint of truth in that.  Remember, the wooden ships were just a hippie dream...  ;)

I feel the same about the recent material as what most of you have written. And have even gone to live shows with the same mindset. But I saw him this past Saturday, solo acoustic, expecting to be entertained but not blown away. Wrong. Blown away. The new material was top-notch, songwriting-wise and instrumentally. His playing has maybe never been better. His singing has gotten more expressive and subtle.
As an aside -- the facility where he was playing has two old theaters next to each other, and Jeff Beck was playing next door. I know Simon Tassano, RT's sound man, so I emailed him before the show to see if there was any chance of them playing together. When I saw Simon at the show he said, "Not a chance. They've never even met." When RT came on stage, one of the first things he said to the audience was, "Well, you had your choice of guitar heroes tonight. This is guitar lite."

Got my ticket for Liverpool Phil on 8th September - I wonder who the 'special guests' (ie support act) are?

Well, the support band for many a Stadium gig was Greasy Bear... shurely shome mishtake?

I'll be in Brizzle tomorrow, so may pop in & get a ticket for that show.

The announcement on his website probably could have done with a once-over from the admins...  

"Still was recorded in a two-story rehearsal loft in Chicago over the course of just nine days with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy at the helm, backed by several longtime players from both Thompson’s and Tweedy’s bands. Insert Jeff Tweedy quote."

 :)

"All Buttoned Up" another pre-release track from "Still".  :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhiTO6tC-lM

(Sadly), I refer the honourable gentleman to my earlier answer...  :-\

I think it's OK, but prefer the other taster track, Beatnik Walking.

Jules

They're both 'ok'.  That's the disappointment really (for me).  

If I'd never heard him before I'd probably be hyperventilating.  I guess that's just the way it is...

I like it, but like Jules I prefer the first song released, which I could hear the tweak that working with Jeff Tweedy provided. This track doesn't sound dramatically any different than anything on Electric or its predecessors IMHO

I disagree. If you'd never heard him before you would probably completely disinterested. RT is not making records for people who have never heard him before at this point.

Did he ever?  I mean, really?

Jules

Probably not since I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight.

There is an argument that he was being pushed towards a new audience during the Capitol years with Amnesia & Rumor & Sigh

I would agree with what you say about those two albums but would include a third-Mirror Blue. 1952 VBL getting a lot of airplay on indie stations over here at the time surely prompted some record exec from Capitol saying- "Ok Rich, give us another one of those" thus giving us Shane and Dixie, a song I have never really warmed to.

Arguably, ever since Amnesia, RT's almost been obliged to put a "radio-friendly potential hit record" on every album, e.g. Bathseba Smiles, She Said It Was Destiny, Good Things Happen To Bad People, etc.

I seem to remember RT saying in an interview when asked about "Nearly In Love" from "Daring Adventures" that he deliberately added an awkward key change to avoid the eventuality of it being a hit. What a wag.  :)

My vinyl copy arrived this morning... Just giving it a first run through!

Amazon charged me yesterday, so it looks as though it's on the way

Mine's on it's way too. Here's an interview with RT from Premier Guitar, about the new album, of course...

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/22713-richard-thompson-the-incomparable-alchemist?page=1

Received mine yesterday, just going to give it a spin

I love 'Guitar Hero's'. RT shows two fingers to just about anyone who thinks they can play guitar.

Pony in the Stable would have fit right in on Human Fly

Now that's got me interested!

Jules

I thought the same 5 minutes ago at the beginning of No peace no end

A really good album, but be sure to get the deluxe version. The bonustracks are worth it.

Thanks for the tip, Alexander.

Jules

Yes, the bonus tracks are excellent. Too bad he didn't have a few more to make for a proper double album.

Seconded, I think the 'bonus' stuff is better than some of the 'proper' tracks to be honest.

Gutted!! Mine arrived this morning - but I seem to have ordered the 12" vinyl by mistake! So I won't be able to play it on my way home. It says there is a download available, but sadly my gadgets defeat me there, I always buy CDs and upload them from the computer. HELP!!!

Maybe explain the problem and exchange it for the CD.  I'm sure it'll be possible.

Jules

Sadly if you can't do downloads then there really isn't a lot of help available. As Jules says, get in contact with the vendor. You never know.

Playing my copy this morning. Rather good, at first listen.

David Hepworth's review in Q of RT's 1986 album Daring Adventures* :

"Daring Adventures has variety, melody, colour, drama, twisted humour, some of the best guitar playing likely to be heard this, or any other year, and occasionally the emotional force to pin you to the wall. It is, as I said, another Richard Thompson record."

Having finally given it a listen, these words could easily apply to his latest offering. The bonus cd's not bad either !


*as quoted in Patrick Humphries' Strange Affair biography - my stack of Q mags went to the great recycler in the sky years ago !

Interesting comparison. Had a proper listen to it a few more times this weekend. The bonus EP is actually excellent I thought, especially Don't Take It Lying Down, and worth the price of going for the deluxe edition IMHO. Guitar Heroes is just a lot of fun, and that backbeat on it is catchy.

Patty Don't You Put Me Down really seems like a homage to the Stones/ The ringing guitar chord during the chorus really reminds me of Jumping Jack Flash, and the feedback at the end is very reminiscent of Have You Seen Your Mother Standing In The Shadow or Mother's Little Helper

You know, I was going to post almost exactly the same sentiment, but either forgot to or hit the wrong button. As I'v e said before, i haven't bought a new RT album since the '80s. Until very recently, at least, when i picked up Amnesia cheaply.

Probably why you forgot to hit the button. It's a contagious condition that Am....y'know.....thingy....it's on the tip of my tongue. I'll get it in a minute....er.....

I think that track's rather got the feel of a one-note joke which is going to get a little wearing after a couple of listens. I'd rather it had appeared on the bonus disc.

I haven't tired of it yet after at least 10 listens - I keep hearing things I'd missed on previous listens.
But I don't play guitar so you probably have a different perspective from mine ... you likely heard all the things I'd missed by the second listen.  :)

I am given to understand that my copy has been posted through my letterbox this morning and will be waiting for me when I get home.  :)

Though I am unlikely to get a chance to listen to it until Friday at the earliest.  :(

Interesting hearing him on Radio 4 this morning, who's the famous person he refused to meet because they blood on their hands - Blair?

What program was that on?

Midweek.

 ;D

There's a case to be made that for long-time Thompy watchers the 'bonus' CD is arguably more interesting than the album proper.

Finally had the chance to listen to the album (though not yet the bonus EP). First impressions are that this has the potential to be regarded as on of RT's finest albums after repeated listens. My initial feel is it is his best, certainly since The Old Kit Bag, maybe since Mock Tudor.

I really love Jeff Tweedy's warm production, evoking Joe Boyd's work on on Bright Lights and Shoot. The guitar sound also largely seems to hark back to the pre Capitol era of Richard's work.

I am looking forward to further listenings and indeed the EP but mention of Mock Tudor reminds me that I must now get on with mowing the lawn!

Now there's a thing...

RT's new album had gone top 10!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums

Cheers

Nick

He made number 1 in the Irish chart....

One of the things I noticed about the new record is that he has not really done that this time round. There are several uptempo songs but nothing with quite that kind of feel or those kinds of big choruses. There are also no long songs with extended guitar workouts which have largely been a feature of his electric albums since Amnesia (with the possible exception of Rumor & Sigh).

Rumor & Sigh had Mother Knows Best, which is one of my favorite guitar workouts from him, though maybe not quite as extended as other ones.

Anyone spot the similarity in style of Pony in the Stable and Bring Me Back My Feathers on Myths and Heroes?

You'd almost think some of those musicians came from the same roots ;)

A couple of plays now and I agree about the production, it's a great sounding album with mandolin making a welcome return. It reminds me of You, Me, Us which is fine in my book. I think it's a really good album but just a song short of being a classic, it needs a Beeswing/Vincent level masterpiece to really put it right up there with his best work.

Interesting, and apt comparison that I had not noticed myself. Well spotted!

The Quietus' verdict is in... http://thequietus.com/articles/18278-richard-thompson-still-review

"Despite his 20 years under the LA palm trees". Um, more like over 30 at this point!

Exactly 30, I fancy. He married Nancy in 1985 and moved permanently to California at that juncture. (Although he had been visiting for a couple of years beforehand)

Ah, now that is where we have to disagree, those two songs not being favourites of mine. I know it s a controversial view. I know that Vincent is now regarded as Richard's great classic and God knows I would love to hear Dylan's performance of it but they just don't do much for me.

Vincent, shminzent, I can do without it. But 'Beeswing' is special. But I don't count as a RT fan, properly.

I'm more of a "Beeswing Schmeeswing but Vincent is special" kind of guy.   8)

Jules

As am I, very much.

 ;D 8)

Just wondered if, in light of the title of the ep "Variations", if anyone has figured out what songs each of these is a variation on yet?

Yeah that's the way it is I think. The bonus cd is a bit more naked, a bit more guitar, a bit more nerve.  :)
The regular album is good but not a Classic. A little too similar to Electric.

It only struck me today that No Peace, No End has an air of Myths and Heroes about it. Lord only knows what might have transpired if RT had guested on that.  [;-)

Yup, looks like Thompy's in town... ;D

[Photo over 400 days old. Removed by Admin.]

He's turned the world upside down too!   :o

Jules

I was going to ask if that was a reflection in the floods?!

Still placing quite high in Mojo's Best of 2015 end of year chart in the new issue.

Just finally got it this week. Easily one of his best in years. Strong songs, well produced. Nice blend of acoustic and electric stuff. Duets with himself on acoustic guitars. His electric guitar always panned hard to the right in the mix on every electric song was a nice touch, gives the whole album a continuity.

I realize that musical snobbery can turn a lot of people off, but my morning has been perked up by an online review describing 1985's Across a Crowded Room as an 'early' Richard Thompson album.
Mind you, then I realized it is a thirty year old record, so I guess proportionately...

And technically only his 3rd(?) solo album.

That was the period I really 'discovered' RT, through a couple of gigs in Nottingham with a friend who was studying there (I was up the road in Sheffield) - one was a solo gig in a pub, and the next year it was a band concert (with Clive Gregson and Christine Collister in the band) in a night club type place.

Actually, those were really productive trips for me - during them I also discovered 10,000 Maniacs (In My Tribe was playing through the speakers before the pub gig), and bought my first Oyster Band (Step Outside) and Home Service (Alright Jack) albums!

In a similar vein, I love it when Let it Bleed gets described as 'mid period Stones'.

We were in the same crowded room then!  :) CG took me backstage to meet Thompy at the latter.

You should have introduced yourself to me, then...  ;)

Jealous about your getting to meet the band!  I remember it as being a great gig.

Would love to see Chris Collister on stage with him again. They really seemed to gel.

Similarly again, I find myself describing  John Martyn albums after 1976 as 'later JM albums'.

And I guess 'recent' Fairport albums started 30 years ago, as well  :)

I was so much older then, I'm...

Right, quick, back on track before someone scary comes and tells us off.