13 Rivers

It's pretty amazing that at age 69, RT gives us one of the best and freshest sounding albums of his legendary musical career. Here are five things that make this album especially good.1. Consistency: Every RT features some great songs and songwriting, but many albums also have their share of so-so songs (by RT's high standard) that feel as if they were crafted by the numbers. 13 Rivers is strong from beginning to end; you'd have to go back to 1999's Mock Tudor to find comparable consistency in a RT release.2. Singing: Back in the 1970's, RT's voice was barely listenable but improved and became far more confident and strong over time. His voice on 13 Rivers is in peak form. Listen to how he belts it out on "Do All These Tears" or the perfect phrasing on "The Dog in You" to see how far he has come in this area.3. Guitar: Of course, no RT album review can fail to mention the guitar playing. Only one longish solo (The Storm Won't Come), but great tone and lead guitar embellishments throughout. This album is more "electric" than his "Electric" album from a few years back. Love, in particular, the short atonal solo at the end of "Do All These Tears."4. Production Values: I'm no expert on production and engineering matters, but this music jumps out of the speakers at you. Crystal clear, punchy, and each instrument is able to shine. Ditch the earbuds for this one; this album deserves to be heard through full sized speakers.5. Michael Jerome: I've always been impressed by MJ's drumming, but here he is front and center and really drives the songs.In short, a must-have for any RT fan.

I am a relative latecomer to Richard Thompson's music, having been introduced to his work by a friend in the early 2000s. The last twenty years have been an amazing journey of discovery, and I have enjoyed and admired all of the RT albums I've acquired--about 25 so far. That said, "13 Rivers" stood out, from the first, as something special. I have listened to it closely several times now. The lyrics, by both their directness and their depth, are haunting, and rank among the very few in contemporary rock that can truly stand as genuine poetry. As always, the guitar work is sublime. Thompson's melodies grab ahold of you and won't let go. Throughout, the tracks have the integrity, and the ring of truth, that can only come when real life experience is refined into art. "13 Rivers" is a spectacular achievement, a masterful album that will surely be hailed as a classic in years to come. If you appreciate Richard Thompson's music, buy this now!

“13 Rivers” finds RT in top form as both songwriter and performer. The songs are catchy and intelligent and the guitar solos ring like a bell. This album continues RT’s streak of late-career gems that peaked with 2015’s Jeff Tweedy-produced “Still.” “13 Rivers” is a MUST HAVE for any self-respecting RT fan and is as good of a place as any for new fans to join the the fold.

Richard Thompson has never had to make a comeback, because he has never gone away. At 69 he continues to write amazing songs and produce outstanding albums every few years, and 13 RIVERS maintains his superb, high standard. It also confirms once again that he is among the best guitarists working today, and I say that fresh from the latest Jeff Beck tour!Joined by his regular band (Michael Jerome on drums, Taras Prodaniuk on bass, and Bobby Eichorn on rhythm guitar), and self-produced, this is a stripped-down set, blunt and electric, angry and determined -- Thompson's first since the tragedy of November 2016. While it seems that much of the material reflects events in his personal life, it is also clear that the anger is a reaction to events we have all lived through."The Storm Won't Come" opens with pounding tom-toms, and finishes with an awesome long guitar solo. The lyric is ambiguous -- what storm? However, there is an obvious political interpretation, and if you focus on that the entire album falls into place. "The Dog In You" is a blues number, the latest in a long line of wickedly scathing Thompson songs aimed at the evil and powerful:"You're on the trail of the innocent, the frailAnd you're going to rob them, you don't mind causing painAll that grief to give you some relief, just to satisfy the dog in you."It seems all too obvious which powerful politician/businessman this song is about. "Pride" is even more blatant, without naming any names, a rollicking tune that pulls no punches:"When you're great like you it's hard to be humbleYou never think twice, you never stumbleVanity, vanity, all is vanityDo you feel something for the rest of humanity?""Trying" is less blatant, but quite suggestive: "You bend me till I break. What kind of house are you building for me?""O Cinderella" is the comic interlude, a waltz-time pirate song from the point of view of a laughably sexist rogue. Thompson's guitar sounds appropriately woozy, and there is a mandolin that doesn't appear in the credits. "The Rattle Within" is a stomping Celtic dance with clattering percussion and guitar like pipes, a song about human frailty, temptation, and religious hypocrisy. "You Can't Reach Me" is a cheerful, upbeat song from the point of view of a religious fanatic: "I ditch the mercy and kindness and peace and love.""Her Love Was Meant For Me" is an example of one of Thompson's patented unreliable narrators. He is not the hero of the story: "Armageddon's in the mirror," he says, as the guitar plays an anguished blues. There are two actual, beautiful love songs, "Do All These Tears Belong to You?" with harmony vocals by Zara Phillips, and " No Matter," with harmony vocals by Judith Owen: "No matter what you say I'll believe." The latter also features the uncredited mandolin."My Rock, My Rope" and "Shaking the Gates" are both optimistic songs that seem to reflect Thompson's religious faith. The first sounds like a prayer, while the latter, with a touch of country guitar, includes the repeated refrain: "If life is for living, I'm your man."I love the cover. It's as if he's saying, "Comrades, let's get this meeting started. What the hell are we going to do?"There is no question about 13 RIVERS being one of the best albums of the year!*** *** ***RT has returned to New West Records for this album. The total time is 53:39. It was recorded in a historic old studio in L.A. The case is cardboard, no jewel case, and it opens to reveal a Tolkien-style map of 13 rivers flowing out of a central lake. The lyrics are all included on a single fold-out sheet.

In my opinion this is his best album since The Old Kit Bag (my favorite of his). If you liked the instrumentation on that album you'll probably really like this one!

I'm pretty sure I first got into Thompson with the release of Across a Crowded Room. I did buy Henry the Human Fly earlier in time but it wasn't special for me. Across started a good run on Thompson LPs and I started attending his concerts and he is still one of my all-time favorite entertainers. Also bought Shoot out the Lights in that run and it's as good as Thompson gets.His releases have been spotty since and including You? Me? Us?Like most artists from my younger days which are fairly distant now, they can't sustain their highest level of achievement. This Lp is not hugely disappointing but it misses the mark as many have of late. I still have releases such as RT and 1,000 years of Popular Music to fall back on in addition to the great catalogue run mentioned above. I simply can't suggest that anyone buy this over any number of better records that he's recorded.

Richard has returned to top form with this album. The band are tighter than ever and the songwriting powers continue to outshine all opposition.

OK - so you know how it is with vinyl - you play your favourite side incessantly and the other side(s) occasionally.So despite there's only 3 to 4 tracks on a side (and these are not long tracks - this could have been done as a double EP). I find myself playing the whole thing.Still it's not "Rumor & Sigh" or "Mock Tudor" but it's up there.

RT never disappoints. I love this disc.

長くRichard Thompsonを愛聴しています。70歳を過ぎても一向に衰えないどころか、ますます音楽に深みみたいなものが出てきた気がします。特に何とも言えないギターの音色には本当に魅了されますね。