Discover Top Posts Tagged with #13 rivers

Recently enjoyed. Vinyl Valley High #28.

#richard thompson #richard and linda thompson #gene clark #smoking popes #get fired #the records #small faces #the autumn stone #iggy pop #the idiot #witchcraft #coven #13 rivers #pour down like silver #back street mirror #big country #in a big country #7 inch #vinyl valley high #vinyl collection #b side

Richard Thompson

13 Rivers (2018) … back to basics …

#RichardThompson

#spotify #richard thompson #13 rivers #music on spotify

Richard Thompson Album Review: 13 Rivers

BY JORDAN MAINZER

Rivers are one of the most overused metaphors in rock and roll, often representing a cleansing of persona, a washing away of sins. By concentrating more on their natural flow, Richard Thompson succeeds. The self-produced 13 Rivers is about the nature of change, and Thompson and his band’s musicianship say as much about it as do his words, making for an arresting listen.

From the start of 13 Rivers, through the patience and structure of his compositions, Thompson tells us to take it slow. On “The Storm Won’t Come”, Taras Prodaniuk’s stubborn, yet propulsive bass refuses to speed up as Bobby Eichorn’s guitars and Michael Jerome’s drums follow behind. Thompson’s voice is shaky, but controlled. The guitar solo--the most out-of-control aspect of the song--arrives naturally without force. On “Rattle Within”, Jerome’s percussion takes a lead, clattering, representing the dangers within threatening to bubble over and exacerbate the audible outer tensions of the rest of the band. A sort of positive change manifests itself on “Bones of Gilead”, as punky fast picking catalyzes a tremolo-heavy sort of surf rock.

Thompson’s more of a realist than a fatalist, though. He illustrates the complexity of love on “Her Love Was Meant For Me”, jealousy intertwined with emotions of the heart. Over an appropriately circular rhythm, he sings, “Cupid shoots just like a baby / Her Romeo won’t let her be / Shoot them darts in my direction / Her love was meant for me.” The idea of a piercing arrow representing love is ancient but fitting; there’s pain within it. His imagery on “Do All These Tears Belong to You?” conjures similar ideas. “I’ve never seen two eyes so green / or seen a pair so black and blue,” Thompson, heartbroken, coos. A song like “Pride” reminds us why a word with a positive connotation can have negative consequences--too much of it causes us to do things we’re not proud of. And on the bluesy, sultry “Dog In You”, he begs someone for accountability: “Please don’t say, ‘That’s the way God made me,’ please don’t say, ‘I can’t help who I am’.”

You can argue that 13 Rivers reads like a collection of pro/con lists; you wouldn’t be wrong. (“You Can’t Reach It” argues that in isolated areas, at least people are friendly--can Thompson make up his mind about what he wants?) You can roll your eyes at the cliches of “My Rock My Rope” (finding strength in darkness) or the too-cutesy quirks of “O Cinderella” (“I’m not very house-trained, it’s true / But I want to make cupcakes with you.”). What’s undeniable is Thompson’s general ability to create something personal, universal, and new out of well-worn territory.

7.3/10