Richard Thompson "Mock Tudor" 1999***

I was just reading a piece on Richard Thompson on the latest issue of MOJO. I was immediately struck by the beginning of the article, as it starts off with an unexpected scene: former bandmate Sandy Denny's funeral. Sandy died tragically at 31, after drunkenly falling down the stairs. Apparently everyone present commented on the singer's premature death and unrealized potential, but Thompson thought differently: she had glowed brightly for a while, but had nothing else to give as her creativity was stifled by her alcohol and drugs consumption. You may call him insensitive or just a realist. He made his opinion public anyway, on the spot as well as, much later, in this song: "That's All, Amen, Close The Door" on 1999's Mock Tudor.

After reading the article, I had to go back to the CD and hear for myself. Could the song be as cold and cynical as it sounded? In truth, no. It's rather sympathetic in tone, acknowledges its subject's (no-one specific is mentioned, but in retrospect it does fit Denny well) contribution to the world and expresses, above all, resignation in the face of death: "That's all, that's all there was/Say amen, close the door/She gave as much as she had to give/Please don't ask for more". Musically, it's a bluesy mid-tempo ballad, as blandly agreeable as can be expected from a middle-aged singer-songwriter. Closer "Hope You Like The New Me" is acoustic and desolate sounding as would befit a deeply emotional song - only the protagonist is as callous a bastard as one can find in Thompson's discography. After listening to the album's penultimate and last tracks, I took it from the beginning: opener "Cooksferry Queen" is a much better introduction, being a gem of a blues rocker with harmonica and electric guitar reminiscent of Dylan circa '65. It sets the pace for the first third of the album (which is clearly divided in three parts) entitled Metroland: the songs are a bunch of upbeat folk rockers revolving about different women - not all of which as wonderful as the the "queen" of the first song, though. "Bathsheba Smiles" sounds a bit like Tom Petty, "Two-Faced Love" rolls on rockabilly-style, and "Hard On Me" even borders on hard rock a la Pearl Jam. Not what I expected from a former Fairport Convention folkie. But then this is Thompson's "American" period on Capitol Records. It proved to be his last album for a major label, as it sold badly despite the great reviews. Part 2, entitled Heroes in the Suburbs, displays more "Englishness" as exemplified by "Crawl Back (Under My Stone)" which chugs pleasantly with a ska rhythm and satirizes British social class separation. The next three songs ("Uninhabited Man", "Dry My Tears And Move On", and "Walking The Long Miles Home") are more typical folk rock balladry - the latter with a distinct country flavor. The 3rd part is entitled Street Cries and Stage Whispers and starts off with "Sights And Sounds Of London Town", featuring a parade of Dickens-like characters living hard lives under the skyscrapers of The City at a time of booming stock markets and golden real estate deals. It is, at last, the traditional English folk song needed to justify the album's title. It's embellished with mandolin, acoustic guitar and upright bass - and all the social astuteness and satirical bite of a Ewan McCall to boot. Not that I didn't enjoy the rockier songs of Part 1, mind you. On the whole the album is a nice listen and displays a lot of wit and good musicianship - it's easy to see why critics liked it. If I was a critic, I'd also give it a glowing review. But, while there are no bad or even indifferent songs here, there's very little that's really memorable - maybe 3 or 4 songs I'd care to revisit. Don't be dissuaded by the 3* rating, though, give it a listen - it certainly is worth listening!

**** for Cooksferry Queen, Hard On Me, Crawl Back (Under My Stone), Sights And Sounds Of London Town

*** for Sibella, Bathsheba Smiles, Two-Faced Love, Uninhabited Man, Dry My Tears And Move On, Walking The Long Miles Home, That's All Amen Close The Door, Hope You Like The New Me