Customer Reviews

Shoot Out the Lights (Dlx)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The music, the guitar playing, the lyrics, the sound quality are superlative in every way on this amazing RT album. Of course experiencing RT live is a whole other ball of wax, run to the nearest gig--he's touring now in fact--you will be knocked off your feet with every aspect of the experience--unless you are a staunch political conservative in which case, well maybe you'll actually learn something...this album is more than just the best of the guitar player's guitar player, it hasn't a false note, an extraneous lyric or note. Visceral, elegant and eloquent on all levelsm, a deeply engaging musical creation, moving, dark and soulful all at the same time.

A perfect looking replica of the original 1980 release on vinyl, "Shoot Out the Lights" sounds terrific on this remastered CD. The real find, though, is the remastered b-side "Living in Luxury" which was on the original first edition CD issued in the US. The sound here is crisper and cleaner with better definition. The label on the CD itself looks a bit different than the one on the original vinyl version I owned many moons ago.

Although folks discuss how "Shoot Out the Lights" reflects the failing marriage of the Thompsons, the songs were actually written two years before (in fact there are early recordings of some of these tracks on the Richard Thompson Anthology produced by Gerry Rafferty and Hugh Murphy)this album was ultimately recorded. From the galloping guitar that opens "Don't Renege on Our Love" we immediately know that this isn't your typical album of love songs. Although there's a concept behind the album and the album is generally unified in terms of its subject matter (basically a failing marriage/love affair/relationship), "Did She Jump or Was She Pushed" is about former Fairport Convention singer Sandy Denny. "Wall of Death" which uses a rollercoaster as a perfect metaphor for the ups and downs in a relationship. It was the last album the duo made as their marriage crumbled shortly after the release of the album.

You get the a miniature inner sleeve with the lyrics printed on them and a sheet with the lyrics in Japanese and English. Although I didn't see any note as to who did the remastering, I imagine it came from the same master that was used for the SACD-stereo hybrid issued earlier. My only complaint with the hybrid edition is that for all its great sound, it's a stereo hybrid not a 5.1 version. No doubt Hannibal/Ryko will issue that again later and make us buy it all over again.

Decent enough album. I don't regret purchasing it.