Front Parlour Ballads

Richard Thompson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 9, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cooking Vinyl
• ASIN: B00069I7B4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,263 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This selection of largely acoustic, predominately solo performances finds Richard Thompson trading the guitar pyrotechnics of his electric albums for greater intimacy, vocal subtlety, and emphasis on his storytelling lyrics. Though this is Thompson's first acoustic release of all-original material, "Row, Boys, Row" and "The Boys of Mutton Street" could pass as traditional British folk balladry, while the droll humor and stately musical grace of "Miss Patsy" recall some of Thompson's early work with Fairport Convention. The songwriting is as ambitious as the arrangements are minimal, from the bitter misanthropy of the character study in "A Solitary Life" to the bittersweet yearning of "Cressida" to the hypnotic insistence of "My Soul, My Soul." In "Let It Blow," Thompson applies his sharp wit to the tale of a serial husband with a penchant for quickie marriages, as the weddings signal the end of the romance. Even when he turns down the volume, he never tones down the creative intensity. --Don McLeese

Recommended Richard Thompson Discography

Fairport Convention, Unhalfbricking	Fairport Convention, Liege & Lief	Fairport Convention, Full House
Richard & Linda Thompson, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight	Richard & Linda Thompson, Shoot Out the Lights	Hand of Kindness

Product Description

Japanese pressing of 2005 album, includes two exclusive bonus live tracks 'John The Gun' & 'Lottery Land'. The bonus tracks are listed inside on the Japanese only insert. P-Vine. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cooking At Home, August 12, 2005

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K. H. Orton (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Front Parlour Ballads (Audio CD)

If some disgruntled reviewers have compared this to a home demo, they're not too off the mark. This is Thompson's most stripped down release since the "nude" half of YOU?ME?US?. It's mostly just JT, his guitar & a sackful of tales.

The emphasis seems to be more on song & less on Thompson's virtuostic playing. Which will lead to some disappointment for those looking for the raging solos of SHOOT OUT THE LIGHTS. Though his trademark shredding has taken a backseat here, there are a fair share of brilliant moments on things like the brooding "My Soul". But Thompson has always proved himself to be a wickedly playful lyricist & PARLOR's acoustic approach provides the appropriate backdrop.

The catchy opener,"Let It Blow" cynically lampoons a nation's obsession with celebrity marriage. "Boys Of Mutton Street" praises the all-too-fleeting joys of gang violence. Though I might add, musically it's a bit reminiscent of "Vincent Black Lightning 1952".

"Miss Patsy" introduces us to a terrorist who's been "fighting shadows on the wrong crusade". Despite having 2nd thoughts after handed the cyanide pill, Thompson still damns his protagonist to "rot & pine away in a foreign prison". An interesting notion, considering Thompson converted to Islam in the 70's.

"Row Boys Row" questions the wisdom of "kneeling with your arse poking free" and the idyllic pleasures of misanthropy are recalled in " A Solitary Life". Finally, "Boys At School" closes the book with a chill.

Personally, I found this a lot more to my liking than OLD KIT BAG which just didn't grab me except for "Gesthemene". And though his albums since RUMOR & SIGH have had their share of irreplaceable gems, I always felt the production was a bit heavy handed. So I've been wanting to hear him strip things down like this for quite a while. Which is one of many reasons why FRONT PARLOR BALLADS has left me a very happy fan indeed.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Thompson's best albums 4 1/2 stars, August 17, 2005

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WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Front Parlour Ballads (Audio CD)

With his remarkable acoustic performances, it's a wonder it took Thompson this long to release "Front Parlour Ballads" but I'm glad he did. Yes, he's tackled acoustic before ("You? Me? Us?" and a couple of other releases)but nothing with material this strong. In a remarkably consistent career, the material here is top notch and it ranks as one of his finest albums. The melodies shine here as does Thompson's rich baritone (although for many his voice can be an acquired taste). While low-key compared to his louder electric studio outings, "Front Parlour Ballads" still features the rich imagery and use of language that always makes his material better than just about everyone else's.

"Let it Blow" opens with a rollicking combination of acoustic (and electric guitar thrown in to accent the music if my ear doesn't deceive me) could easily become a radio hit with its catchy melody. While it may lack the immediate fireworks of "Rumour and Sigh" but makes up for that with amazingly assured songcraft and strong melodies. There's few songs I can think of here that would have benefited from a backing band and booming electric guitars and drums.

Thompson plays almost everything here and is accompanied by Deborah Dobkin on occasional percussion. Produced by Thompson in collaboration with Simon Tassano, "Front Parlour Ballads" benefits from the stripped down approach here. While I love many of the albums that Thompson made with producer Mitchell Froom, Froom's overly decorative production touches wouldn't fit here. Tassano and Thompson use the less is more approach not too dissimilar to the unadorned approach by producer Joe Boyd on some of Thompson's albums.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars splendid!, January 2, 2006

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Ann - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Front Parlour Ballads (Audio CD)

I live with a Fairport/Richard junkie, and I've had 6 years luxurious exposure to this music now. I love it, but I'm no expert. That said... Miss Patsy and a couple other elements of this album bring Steve Tilston to mind-- not just the spare guitar sound, but the bluesiness. When We Were Boys At School is classic Richard, boiling a bit of life down to the really sad reduction; the depressing reality, expressed so beautifully. This album is growing more captivating with each play, and is already one of my favorites. Acoustic Richard is the best.