Richard Thompson plugs in...sort of4 Out Of 5 Stars
While I doubt anyone will be mistaken into thinking this is the new posthumous Jimi Hendrix album, Richard Thompson relays his guitar mastery on "Electric." And while Thompson has traded up to electric guitars for this album, it's often hard to tell because Thompson's style is so unique. Even when he's picking at a slightly higher volume that usual, hardly anyone can match his guitar prowess.
"Electric" also shows off Thompson's skills as a songwriter. "Stony Ground" is a Celtic stomper about messing with the wrong lady, but it's filled with tricky wordplay. "My Enemy" (maybe my favorite song on the album) describes a relationship where everything may have gone to hell, but "how I need my enemy" keeps him coming back. This song, like many others, features backing vocals by Siobahn Maher Kennedy who adds a haunting touch to this particular song.
The other woman to share a song is Alison Krauss on "The Snow Goose." She also haunts the song, but in a different kind of locational way. It's beautiful work. There's more to "Electric" than doomed men and difficult women. Thompson has always had a sense of humor, which comes across on "Good Things Happen To Bad People." In a better world, it would be a popular single, but in real life it's a clever song with a catchy chorus.
If you're a fan of Thompson's work up and down the gamut, you're going to love "Electric." If you're new to his work, this isn't a bad starting point.
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