New West

Richard Thompson knows he has a more than-competent rhythm section behind him—that section being John Cale/Better Than Ezra drummer Michael Jerome and Lucinda Williams/Steve Earle bassist Taras Prodaniuk. With these seasoned players at his side, Thompson set out to Buddy Miller’s studio in a big house in Nashville, where they added English singer/songwriter Siobhan Maher-Kennedy on vocals for several tunes, fiddle player Stuart Duncan and Miller on rhythm guitar. Alison Krauss joins Thompson for a sweet acoustic duet, “The Snow Goose.” The fact is that Thompson’s such an experienced player that as long as he has the songs, he has the album. It also means that fans not well versed in the complexities of guitar playing will hear another “typical”
RT album. Be assured, Thompson never goes down easy and songs such as “Stony Ground,” “Salford Sunday” and “Saving the Good Stuff for You” are necessary additions to the man’s
voluminous catalog.