Bella

Teddy Thompson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B003VWR1WO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,216 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson's forthcoming album Bella is set for release February 8 on Verve Forecast. The album follows 2008's A Piece of What You Need, which The Guardian declared "one of this year's best," and debuted at #9 in the UK charts. Bella is Thompson's fifth set in a career that has consistently garnered critical praise. NPR proclaims that he's "the musical equivalent of an arrow to the heart," while The New York Times calls his work "beautifully finessed."

Recorded in New York City and produced by David Kahne (The Strokes, Regina Spektor, Paul McCartney), Bella features some of Thompson's boldest material to date, combining lean rock and roll with lush string arrangements through the album. Thompson began working on the material for Bella after he returned from his last tour; he structured his writing sessions by going to a Manhattan office each day where he developed these songs, honing in as a recording deadline loomed. Using his touring band--Ethan Eubanks (drums), Jeff Hill (bass), Daniel Mintseris (keyboards)--Thompson and Kahne cut basic tracks at Avatar in midtown Manhattan, the former site of the legendary Power Station.

Says Thompson, "It was quite old-school recording studio, which there aren't many of anymore. It felt almost decadent, making an old fashioned record in a big studio. In the first few weeks, when we were going into the big room, I felt like I was really going to make a record as opposed to going into some little room with computer screens, which it so often is these days. We definitely did a lot of that later on. At least in the beginning it was very rock and roll."

The son of folk legends Richard and Linda Thompson, Teddy Thompson formed his first band in his teens. His original tunes and live gigs generated such acclaim that he was soon signed to Virgin Records. By the time Thompson released his self-titled solo debut in 2000, he'd already played in his father's touring band and contributed guitar and backing vocals to his father's albums, You? Me? Us? and Mock Tudor. In 2002, Thompson played a key role in drawing his mother out of a 17-year musical retirement to record her landmark disc Fashionably Late, which he played on and co-produced. Thompson also toured as part of Rosanne Cash's band before signing with Verve. This is his fourth release for the label.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teddy's Rich, Angst-Ridden Virtuoso Vocals, February 22, 2011

By 

cdset "cdset" (Saylorsburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bella (Audio CD)

Teddy Thompson's yearning, aching new CD, "Bella" is a superb showcase for his rich, angst-filled vocals. Not since his friend Rufus Wainwright's "Want" CD, has an artist's romantic suffering produced such a glorious display of gut-level heartache.

The heartfelt longing in the songs is perfectly captured in Thompson's versatile singing. His vocals on this CD show his enormous versatilty and range. In one song, he seamlessly switches from falsetto to a lower octive in the span of a few seconds. Teddy alternately channels the sadness of Roy Orbison and Richard Thompson, the immediacy of Jackson Browne, and the sly, witty irony of an upbeat Crowded House. The arrangements are denser and lusher than his previous outings, similar to Wainwright's "Want", but the songs are more tightly focused and crafted. The only misstep here is the opener, "Looking For a Girl". The lyrics of the song are too pedestrian when compared with the rest of the CD.

That Teddy Thompson is not a huge star defies logic. He is one of the finest singer/songwriters of his generation. His voice is a thing of beauty, with few contemporary rivals. Teddy wears his heart on his sleeve, and for that, we should all be grateful.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Album, February 11, 2011

By 

Russell Zellers (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bella (MP3 Download)

I confess it: I'm a BIG Teddy Thompson fan. I just think he's a major talent that is not getting nearly enough attention. But I find this new album is only at a "good" level. His earlier works, like "Separate Ways" and "A Piece of What you Need," are so extraordinary that the comparison bar is very very high for this guy. He's a brilliant performer, however, and any of his stuff is enjoyable. Great voice, great songs, beautiful arrangements.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strongest voice yet..., February 12, 2011

By 

musiclover (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bella (Audio CD)

I'm a fairly new Teddy Thompson fan. First heard him in a Nick Drake tribute concert. Lovely singing voice and this album showcases that voice at it's best so far. Although "Separate Ways" and the eponymous first album, "Teddy Thompson" are better(Brink of Love and Separate Ways are beautiful songs that have no equal on this new album);his voice on Bella has never sounded lovelier. Is he trying to channel Roy Orbison on "Take Care of Yourself"? Teddy's albums are consistently well written and performed with terrific back up vocals (Rufus and Martha Wainwright) and musicians (Richard Thompson). This is a good solid album. Maybe a little more produced and commercial than priors, but worth listening to and purchasing.