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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Let It Blow |
| 2. For Who's Sake? |
| 3. Miss Patsy |
| 4. Old Thames Side |
| 5. How Does Your Garden Grow? |
| 6. My Soul, My Soul |
| 7. Cressida |
| 8. Row, Boys, Row |
| 9. Mutton Street |
| 10. Precious One |
| 11. A Solitary Life |
| 12. Should I Betray? |
| 13. When We Were Boys At School |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Front Parlour Ballads is almost entirely acoustic, with all instruments but percussion played by Thompson. Despite the basic approach, however, this is not a sparse album. Thompson's guitar playing is as complex as ever, and the songs stand comparison with any of his best.
The opening track, "Let It Blow", is a funny account of a relationship conducted in the grubby glare of the tabloids, "For Whose Sake?" and "Miss Patsy" are sterling illustrations of Thompson's ability to frame modern sentiments and stories within time-served folk idioms. "Boys Of Mutton Street" starts with a riff which is surely intentionally an echo of Thompson¹s previously best-known acoustic song, "1952 Vincent Black Lightning", and "Solitary Life"{ sounds like it might be Thompson's take on Radiohead's "Fitter Happier".
There has been bizarrely little recognition of the possibility, but after the resounding classics Mock Tudor and The Old Kit Bag, Front Parlour Ballads suggests that Thompson may well be in the prime of his long and extraordinary career. --Andrew Mueller
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I agree with the former reviewer in which RT's new CD consists of demanding songs . But we RT fans know that Richard will always walk in the borders of light and darkness,or accesibility and avant garde. While 'Mock Tudor' and 'The Old Kit Bag' were really good, what I love about this new offering is finding a sense of unity that was the flaw of many RT's previous work ,even if you will find his usual eclecticism of celtic, blues and classic influence (like Debussy for instance).You won't hear the usual 'guitar solos' that,while excellent,have been a trademark in RT's career.However, this time RT offers pure naked songs that shine in the beauty of simplicity.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I would guess that most people have a strong preference either for Richard Thompson solo (and usually acoustic) or with the electric band. (Perhaps this is why his double album, 'You? Me? Us?', has one acoustic and one electric CD.) I would also guess that most people's rating of this solo acoustic album depends almost entirely on that preference. For myself, I prefer the stripped down, one man and his guitar RT. The songwriting on this album is his best for years. A mixture of styles include traditional English-sounding songs, the usual RT gritted teeth doom and gloom, and parlour song. Some lyrics are rather more oblique than usual, but I like that - gives pause for thought. And on this album RT is exploring new directions, which every artist needs to do. Stand still and you stagnate. An excellent listen that sounds great first time and then still improves with every listen.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Simply superb guitar playing and the singing's not bad either.
This stripped down acoustic approach really suits Richard Thompson and his playing is simply sublime.
Long regarded as a guitarist's guitarist, this album reinforces that opinion.
If you are a RT fan this is an essential. If you have never heard him before, you won't be disappointed.
This stripped down acoustic approach really suits Richard Thompson and his playing is simply sublime.
Long regarded as a guitarist's guitarist, this album reinforces that opinion.
If you are a RT fan this is an essential. If you have never heard him before, you won't be disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Meanwhile his eye did stray to the ample bustier of a novelty dancer...
Another album from Richard Thompson that's got some very good songs but just doesn't make for a very good album. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2010 by A. Willard
cd to collection
It's about of cd particularly exstraordinary - beautiful
Any songs are simple but in the same time raffined.
Together Richard there is the drumming Dehra Dobkin. Read more
Any songs are simple but in the same time raffined.
Together Richard there is the drumming Dehra Dobkin. Read more
Published on 1 May 2009 by Massimo Dal Borgo
Former Fairport Member
I have not heard the above album but I'm sure I will enjoy it when I do. What I am writing is why do people still say Richard Thompson formerly of Fairport Convention. Read more
Published on 7 May 2008 by D. Parker
A great contemporary folk album
As some of the other reviews indicate, this album splits RT fans down the middle- those who prefer the Ferringtoncaster'd rock with the Richard Thompson Band, and those who have an... Read more
Published on 1 May 2007 by RAJ Cardwell
Not one to grab you
I always look forward to a new RT album, but I have to say that Front Parlour Ballads is a bit of a disappointment. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2006 by Mr. N. Harvey
Too clever by half
I have followed RT's musical career for years, and have always been amazed by the stunning musicianship and great lyrics; so this was a big disappointment. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2006 by David Laws
One of his finest albums
I bought this album as soon as it came out, as I am a great RT fan. I was a little apprehensive as his previous album Old Kit Bag took a while to get into and is not one of his... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2006 by Damon
One of his best in years
This is a very short review of a truly great album.
I bought this at Cropredy festival just after it came out last year and my first introduction to some of the tracks was... Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2006 by Mr. Matthew Hughes
Not his best
I'm a big RT fan. But for every five great albums, he makes one dud. This is one of them. Yes there is some good guitar work. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2006
Not one of his best
I'm a big RT fan. But for every five great albums he makes there is one duff one. This is one of them, I'm afraid. The songs are dreary and monotonous. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2006
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