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I'm beat! I can't tell you whether this is a Country album or not. What I can say is that it's one of the best albums I've heard this year.
It's no nonsense music: simple melodies, uncluttered lyrics, tight arrangements and outstanding music.
And in these days where producers seem to want to dress every track up with "something special", it's refreshing.
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What stands out on this album is the sheer quality of the musicians. And Thompson had the wisdom not to mush it all down into one huge sound. Instead, he's mixed it so you can hear every instrument through every track. Brilliant!
There isn't a weak track among the ten. But there are - for me - three stand out songs.
First up is the title track, "Further On". This is based on a poem written by Thompson's grandfather, Wesley Sober. Thompson says: "It was found on an old yellowed piece of paper after he died. He must have written it in the 1920's or 30's. I just put the melody to it."
This could become a country classic. Eighty-year-old Don Helms - who played for Hank Williams - agreed to play steel guitar on the song and his presence adds to the whole thing. It's an event.
Second up is "Molly and Tenbrooks". If there's a Rodeo fan out there who hasn't heard this heartbreaking story of a race between a filly and a stallion, they should.
Bill Monroe made the Steve Gillette song a hit back in the 1940's and Thompson's vocals here give voice to the song's emotion. Absolutely superb.
The third highpoint for me is "Songbird". Garrick Alden's banjo picking cuts right through the heavy duty electric guitars and the melodic hook just sticks in the mind - annoying yet delighting. Add to that Cindy Alden's riveting harmonies and the whole thing is a joy!
I don't believe Thompson's intention is to get chart hits out of this album. His love is for the music, his craft is delivering it well.
That said, "Leave The Light On" is a tale of love's trials and it might be Thompson's best chance of a hit single on the album, because it's more accessible than the rest.
Thompson shows what a quality vocalist he is on "Riptide". Co-written by Thompson and Viqui Dill, this is a is a bare-knuckle ride through a marriage break-up and Thompson delivers it superbly.
Many pop-music drummers have tried, but I've yet to hear one who can use the snare on a backbeat like a Country drummer. Andy Hamburger's a master of the craft and his skills are on full show on "Don't You Remember".
"Ol 97" is a wonderful take on a classic song. Thompson's version has a much more traditional feel than better known versions, maybe because he plays the verses in a minor key where most versions use a major. You'll love it or you'll hate it. I can't see much middle ground here.
Elsewhere on the album, "Going Down To Lynchburg Town" is a powerful fast moving track, "Don't You See", is probably the plainest Country song here and "Rocksalt and Nails" is a well arranged version of the song.
So is this a Country album? Heck, I don't know. It could be. It could be Americana. Some of it could be folk music.
Tell you what folks - you call it what you like: I'll just say this is Randy Thompson music, and it's superb!
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