I should probably admit, I’ve always enjoyed Richard Thompson’s guitar quite a bit more than his songwriting (blasphemy!).
Thompson doesn’t make crappy records; he rarely does anything mediocre, but I’m of two minds on RT these days. He’s been busy as hell with studio and live releases, his guitar playing is as sharp as ever, and goddamn if he doesn’t deserve some wider commercial success. And if RT does catch a hit with “Dad’s Gonna Kill Me,” a song about combat soldiers in Baghdad, I’ll be thrilled for him. On the other hand, while he has certainly become more accessible, Sweet Warrior leaves me fairly emotionless.
“Take Care The Road You Choose” is the highlight of the album. It’s subtle, with soulful vocals and some really outstanding guitar work. Somehow, when Thompson slows things down, he connects with more emotion and stands as tall as Mark Knopfler or any of his peers. Same for “Guns Are The Tongues.” So while Sweet Warrior might not be among RT’s best work, listeners will remain happy to know that he has more great stuff left in him.
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