Sweet Warrior

Sweet Warrior

by Richard Thompson
Sweet Warrior

Sweet Warrior

by Richard Thompson
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Overview

After being given his walking papers by Capitol Records in 2000, Richard Thompson has taken a modest approach to his subsequent studio releases, 2003's The Old Kit Bag (a purposefully spare trio set) and 2005's Front Parlour Ballads (an acoustic collection recorded in Thompson's home studio). But Thompson seems to have relaxed a bit with 2007's Sweet Warrior, which boasts a more expansive sound and ambitious reach than those two albums. Produced by Thompson with his longtime aide de camp Simon Tassano, Sweet Warrior more clearly recalls 1991's Rumor and Sigh than any of Thompson's other albums; it lacks the high gloss of Mitchell Froom's production on that disc, but the broad dynamic between upbeat and dour numbers and the thematic sweep of these 14 songs certainly suggest Thompson was thinking big while making this album, and it suits him. Thompson is able to play his traditional theme of romance on the rocks for laughs on this set with the witty "Needle and Thread" and the droll but pointed "Mr. Stupid," while the sax-infused "Bad Monkey" is downright rollicking and the ska-influenced offbeat of "Francesca" is slinky and sensual. At the same time, Thompson digs deep into more serious themes, especially on the striking "Dad's Gonna Kill Me," a tense first-person tale of a soldier on patrol in Iraq, and while a very different sort of combat frames "Guns Are the Tongues," its story of a dull-witted boy turned against his own interests is equally compelling; both songs show Thompson's narrative skill and gift for wordplay are as strong as ever. Producer Thompson gives guitarist Thompson just the right amount of room to show off his estimable skills on these sessions, and the core band -- bassists Danny Thompson and Taras Prodaniuk, drummer Michael Jerome, and rhythm guitarist Michael Hays -- is as strong and versatile as one could hope for. At 68 minutes, Sweet Warrior feels just a bit overstuffed, especially given the simplicity of its immediate predecessors, but there's a hefty portion of fine songs and masterful playing here, and no one who has ever succumbed to Richard Thompson's magic should pass this up. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date: 01/05/2024
Label: Proper Records
UPC: 0805520030328
Rank: 8345

Tracks

  1. Needle and Thread
  2. I'll Never Give It Up
  3. Take Care the Road You Choose
  4. Mr Stupid
  5. Dad's Gonna Kill Me
  6. Poppy Red
  7. Bad Monkey
  8. Francesca
  9. Too Late to Come Fishing
  10. Sneaky Boy
  11. She Sang Angels to Rest
  12. Johnny's Far Away
  13. Guns Are the Tongues
  14. Sunset Song

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Richard Thompson   Primary Artist,Accordion,Harmonium,Hurdygurdy,Handclapping,Penny Whistle,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Organ,Vocals,Autoharp,Mandolin
Taras Prodaniuk   Bass (Electric)
Sara Watkins   Fiddle
Joe Buck   Violin
Joe Sublett   Sax (Tenor)
Judith Owen   Handclapping,Vocal Harmony
Simon Tassano   Handclapping
Michael Jerome   Drums,Percussion
Chris Kasych   Handclapping
Danny Thompson   Bass (Acoustic)
Alan V. Michaels   Violin
Novi Ola   Viola
Michael Hays   Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Rhythm)

Technical Credits

Simon Tassano   Audio Production,Mixing,Producer
Richard Thompson   Audio Production,Producer,String Arrangements,Composer
Jeff Palo   Producer
Doug Tyo   Engineer
Jim Wilson   Mastering
Chris Kasych   Assistant Engineer
Ron Slenzak   Photography
Kate DeVriend   Editorial Supervision
Al Quattrocchi   Art Direction
Robert Y. Kim   Project Assistant
Jeff Smith   Art Direction
Emily Johnson   Artwork,Package Supervision
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