More known for folk classics like 1952 Vincent Black Lightening, Richard Thompson is back with his follow-up record to 2024’s Ship to Shore. His 20th studio record Hippies, Thugs and Heroes is due to be released in a matter of weeks. I have had the pleasure of seeing Richard in concert back in the early 2000s and a dream came true when I heard 1952 Vincent black Lightening live. So, I am a bit biased and always looking forward to hearing new music from him. His previous record had a bit of a folky sea shanty vibe…as the title hints…so let’s see where he goes with the new record.
Well, if your new record has “thugs” in the title and the lead single is called Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking…it’s a pretty good guess that the record is going to be a bit rough around the edges. The track starts out with a 70s style folky guitar intro, but quickly gets bluesy and smoky. Classic 4/4 beats and ripping guitar crunch ushers in a vocal soaked in whiskey and regret. There is a slight echo on the vocal, which gives the vibe that the entire track is being recorded live on stage at some dive bar. With the guitar, drums and bass you can feel the heat and almost smell the beer and wooden floorboards. Classic pub rock may have hit a peak in the 70s, but good guitar rock is relatively timeless. Cocaine Walking has that timeless quality and feels like good genuine rock and not some superficial throwback. This is as far from folk and sea shanty as you can get, but it suits Thompson.
Even though I would characterise Thompson as folk, he has always had a rock edge to him. I mean, he sand about motorcycles, death and the darker sides of life. This track very much fits that milieu as he sings about tattoos, copious drug use and regretting alcohol fuelled mistakes. Having said that, most of Thompson’s darkness is wrapped around some love and light. Similar in this case where all of his drug and alcohol driven regret is in the name of trying to make his love of a woman work…even when everything is telling him that this is another one night stand doomed to failure. This more edgy raw side of love really suits the track’s rock energy.
As Thompson continues in his career he reminds me a lot of Bob Mould. Much like Bob, his vocal is deepening, he’s experimenting with his sound and he still has a lot to say. Even though his career is close to its 6th decade, Thompson shows no signs of slowing down…which is great for music.
Listen to Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking
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