Rating: NNNN
An astute social observer who can say more about humanity in one well-formed verse than most can given all the space in the world, an immaculate guitar stylist and writer of meticulous melodies, our bard of the broken heart is back at it with Front Parlour Ballads. All 13 tracks are Thompson’s, and he’s given the electric guitar a break, opting instead for a sparer, largely acoustic set that still manages to sound rich, highlighting his excellent ability to tell a great story. It’s typically morose in the true Thompson way, and retains all the intensity of his best work, resting comfortably alongside the likes of Shoot Out The Lights or I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight.