If you feel you may need Zoloft, or have recently questioned life’s futility in anyway, do NOT listen to this album. You will be found with a belt around your neck. Things are pretty bleak by Richard Thompson’s view. On the other hand, if you have the strength to listen to this with an open mind, you can find some real beauty. The lyrics seem sad and depressed, but much like Harry Chapin or Leonard Cohen actually are more about a fascination with the art of surviving real life. If you can see what’s pretty about a dirty alley you will enjoy this.
First impressions of the music are interesting. A unique mix of almost American country with British folk. Acoustic guitar backed by pan flute. Blues interrupted by a renaissance quartet. There’s no fear in these arrangements. It’s obvious to say that Thompson had no care for conventions. Yet it never sounds wrong. Somehow it always ties together. "Has He Got a Friend For Me" is a great example. In the beginning it could be mistaken for the Flying Burrito Brothers, then in come the wood flutes. Beautiful song though.
"The End of the Rainbow" is one of the most beautiful melodies I’ve heard. At it’s heart a very simple song it builds itself around a very open arrangement, allowing for lots of space to layer the different instruments. All of which lets the most dismal worldview ever put to song come through the lyrics. This is just the first verse and chorus:
I feel for you, you little horror
Safe at your mother's breast
No lucky break for you around the corner
'Cause your father is a bully
And he thinks that you're a pest
And your sister she's no better than a whore.
Life seems so rosy in the cradle,
But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow.
There's nothing to grow up for anymore
Yup. About sums that up, huh? I’ll wait while you go call a suicide prevention hotline.
Back? ……No?
………uh oh……
In all seriousness, this is quickly becoming my favorite discovery from the list so far. Most the really great albums I was already at least familiar with, but this one was completely new to me. I’d heard covers of one or two of these songs, not knowing the were covers. After a few listenings I’m ready to go on a road trip with this album playing, which for me says a lot. The title track is classic, as is "Withered and Died" (the most country song on here). I can’t delve too deeply into breaking each song down, as I don’t want to lessen the impact for anyone, but I need to add that Linda‘s voice is a perfect match. At times soft, at others strong, her sense of underplayed drama just adds to the creeping allure of the music. This is by far the most emotional music for me that we have reviewed, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Especially for you cynics out there.
-the fat man
Once in awhile an album comes along that has been around for years and makes you re-evaluate your musical tastes. I Want to See the Bright Lights tonight is one of those albums for me. The minute I heard "The Calvary Cross" I got chills. Yep, that good. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the album included a live version of the song. Blew me away. I listen to it daily.
This album just does everything right and is extremely accessible, despite being a folk album. By which I mean, some folk albums get you weird looks from passengers in your car when they come on. This one, on the other hand, received this reaction: "Man, this song sounds fuckin' awesome. Who is this?"
From "When I Get to the Border" to the closing lines of "The Great Valerio," this album is an example of songwriting and musical composition done right. The album perfectly blends both Richard and Linda Thompson and allows them the ability to showcase their talents. Both artists are granted the right to show off their vocal pipes and rightfully so. While Richard provides the traditional male folk singer feel to the album, Linda offers us soulful ballads reminiscent of a Emmylou Harris type of female vocalist. Her voice is so effective that the listener disregards the lyrics which border on the verge of pitiful, especially on the track "Has He Got a Friend for Me."
With such a vast array of themes and subjects, the album could have definitely appeared scattered and haphazard. Instead, tracks such as "The Great Valerio," "Border," "The Calvary Cross," and the title track fuse to create something unique and wonderful.
I can't say enough about this album. I just read Mike's review and laughed because he shares my exact sentiments on this disc. By far, my favorite discovery and the exact reason we decided to undergo this epic (and often times, impossible) feat.
Switched it up this time around......M. Ward and Zooey cover.
-d.
-the fat man
Once in awhile an album comes along that has been around for years and makes you re-evaluate your musical tastes. I Want to See the Bright Lights tonight is one of those albums for me. The minute I heard "The Calvary Cross" I got chills. Yep, that good. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the album included a live version of the song. Blew me away. I listen to it daily.
This album just does everything right and is extremely accessible, despite being a folk album. By which I mean, some folk albums get you weird looks from passengers in your car when they come on. This one, on the other hand, received this reaction: "Man, this song sounds fuckin' awesome. Who is this?"
From "When I Get to the Border" to the closing lines of "The Great Valerio," this album is an example of songwriting and musical composition done right. The album perfectly blends both Richard and Linda Thompson and allows them the ability to showcase their talents. Both artists are granted the right to show off their vocal pipes and rightfully so. While Richard provides the traditional male folk singer feel to the album, Linda offers us soulful ballads reminiscent of a Emmylou Harris type of female vocalist. Her voice is so effective that the listener disregards the lyrics which border on the verge of pitiful, especially on the track "Has He Got a Friend for Me."
With such a vast array of themes and subjects, the album could have definitely appeared scattered and haphazard. Instead, tracks such as "The Great Valerio," "Border," "The Calvary Cross," and the title track fuse to create something unique and wonderful.
I can't say enough about this album. I just read Mike's review and laughed because he shares my exact sentiments on this disc. By far, my favorite discovery and the exact reason we decided to undergo this epic (and often times, impossible) feat.
Switched it up this time around......M. Ward and Zooey cover.
-d.
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