Richard Thompson

Consistency is considered to be an attribute — but for Richard Thompson, it's been a drawback, too. He was first championed during the late '60s for his contributions to Fairport Convention, among the most interesting English folk-rock groups of the era, and he saw his star rise again in the...

By Michael Roberts

June 7, 2007

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Consistency is considered to be an attribute — but for Richard Thompson, it's been a drawback, too. He was first championed during the late '60s for his contributions to Fairport Convention, among the most interesting English folk-rock groups of the era, and he saw his star rise again in the '80s thanks to Shoot Out the Lights, a beyond-brilliant conclusion to his collaboration with then-wife Linda Thompson. However, he's been largely taken for granted in recent years, despite — or perhaps because of — his prolific output (he's issued at least eighteen albums since 1988) and damnable steadiness (none of the platters has been less than worthy). Sweet Warrior, a new Shout Factory release, is unlikely to alter this situation. Although the CD is packed with mesmerizing guitar textures, distinctively gruff vocalizing and solid compositions exemplified by "Dad's Gonna Kill Me," a seething indictment of the Iraq War, it emerges as a reliable demonstration of his talent, not a groundbreaking effort sure to broaden his appeal. For Thompson, keeping up the good work still hasn't paid off.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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