Track Listing

1. Needle And Thread
2. I'll Never Give It Up
3. Take Care The Road You Choose
4. Mr. Stupid
5. Dad's Gonna Kill Me
6. Poppy-Red
7. Bad Monkey
8. Francesca
9. Too Late To Come Fishing
10. Sneaky Boy
11. She Sang Angels To Rest
12. Johnny's Far Away
13. Guns Are The Tongues
14. Sunset Song

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1949 in Music
• Released on: 2007-05-29
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Back in the '80s and '90s, Richard Thompson could be depended upon to release a well-crafted collection of Celtic-influenced folk-rock every few years. But when he left Capitol after 1999's Mock Tudor, Thompson headed off on side projects, all of typically high quality, but not the solo albums his established cult expected. Those fans can now rejoice, because on Sweet Warrior Thompson roars back with his first electric set of originals since 2003, and it's a winner. As the disc's title implies, he revisits the familiar territory of love as a battlefield in these 14 originals. The concept is emphasized by a liner photo of the singer/songwriter in army gear and camouflage flanked by two beautiful women planting kisses on either cheek. Supported by longtime backing cohorts, the guitarist adds to his six-string talents with occasional mandolin, autoharp, accordion, and even organ, all used as icing on a cake of tunes that further refine his established style. Perhaps the most startling song is the viciously anti-war "Dad's Going to Kill Me," about a soldier stationed in Baghdad (the "Dad" of the title), wondering if he will survive another day. "Guns are the Tongues" finds Thompson telling the tragic tale of a young man enticed by a woman's charms ending up as a suicide-bombing terrorist. Thompson's dramatic guitar solos are kept on low boil, occasionally bubbling up but never hogging the spotlight. They are, along with his distinctive vocals, actors in a play of characteristically classy tunes that will thrill Thompson's fans, who have been waiting for just such a set of literate and challenging music from a musician who never delivers less. --Hal Horowitz

Jon Pareles, NY Times, 5/28/07
"'Sweet Warrior' restores all the possibilities of his electric guitars, from steely architectural underpinnings to solos that can be as compassionate or biting as his words. Even when Mr. Thompson uses his caustic wit for laughs, the songs on 'Sweet Warrior' hold a tension and vehemence that make their bitterness linger."

Brian Mansfield, USA Today, 5/29/07
"As emotionally complex as his songs are, Thompson's guitar work is even more so, by turns sharp and tender, subtle and direct."-

Customer Reviews

Not his best, but still better than most!
His best being Mock Tudor or The Old Kit Bag. This is high quality song-writing backed by awesome guitar playing and energetic arrangements, his voice is a true powerhouse these days and shows a range of genuine emotions here. He is still extremely influencial guy with current artists like Nick Worrall citing him as something of a hero. Avoid this album at your peril.

Absolutely brilliant!
There is not much more that can be said about this superb release from former Fairport Convention guitarist Richard Thmpson. He just gets better each time out. "She Sang Angels To Rest" is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. If the test of a great song is its ability to stir emotion in the listener, then Thompson has certainly accomplished that with this beautiful tune. The album moves perfectly from the rocking "Needle and Thread", which was a great choice to open up the album, to the hilarious "Mr. Stupid", to the tongue in cheek "Dad's Gunna Kill Me"---a tune about everyone's REAL Dad, to the excellent shanty, "Johnny's Far Away", which makes me want to go order a Guiness in a little Irish Pub ever time I hear it.

Truly not a bad song on the entire collection. This may be Thompson's best effort, to date.

A stellar release from a great artist
I just found out about Richard Thompson last year when I picked up his album with his ex-wife Linda: "Shoot out the Lights" Since then I have started to collect more of his CD's. This latest release from last year is my favorite recording of the year. This recording has everything from political songs to haunting songs about death. Richard manages to make songs about these subject with great melodies and wonderful song structure. Do yourself a favor and pick this up. (And go to his live show if he is your area...he is one of the best guitar player I have ever seen)