Richard Thompson: Electric

The subject matter also seems influenced by all the area’s glittery cowboy hats and rich musical history. Thompson hoists his legendary storytelling and drops it into a pair of Levis outfitted with fashionable holsters. He nods to the middle-class (“Stuck On A Treadmill”) with impassioned exasperation. Existentialism Lite crops up, too (“Where’s Home?”). Alison Krauss even makes an appearance (“The Snow Goose,” a track on which I really wish I heard more of Krauss’ chirpy, sweet vocals). Most Nashville of all, Electric talks about women screwing over and generally screwing up.

And there’s barefoot fun. “Straight And Narrow” corkscrew-noodles around. It’s a cautionary tale, sung to the tune of a strut number, with a sometimes surfy undercurrent.

But back to the women thing. “Good Things Happen To Bad People” is classically bitter, suspicious, accusatory. Thompson grinds a toothpick to spitty pulp between his teeth as he sings, “You’ve got a secret or two / Your hair’s in a brand new ‘do / And you’re so happy.” His jovial, kiss-off demeanor reminds me of Harry Nilsson’s similar robe-rubbing shrugging. However much I love the faceskin-to-molten-liquid guitar work and especially the narrative, it’s the latter that trips me up a bit—there’s a line, “You cried the day I walked you down the aisle.” So… is this actually a bit of an incest anthem? Probably not—Thompson’s likely singing about a cheating spouse. I don’t know. And I don’t really care. I choose to let that tiny snag wash over irrelevant because this well-crafted song—especially that Jason Falkner-ish riff opening the cut—strikes me down to my knees.

Before we knew Electric, we knew Thompson could shred. We knew he could gracefully, honestly build a blow by blow. After Electric, we now know Thompson can shave a little polish in favor of a lukewarm beer and get along just as well. I can’t wait to see what he picks for karaoke after the next round.