Separate Ways
Label: Verve Forecast
Rated: NONE
WorkNameSort: Separate Ways
The son of English folk-rock royalty Richard and Linda, Teddy Thompson has been schooled in the vagaries of singer-songwriterdom and given access to top-flight accompanists to the point where it would be a little too easy for him to disappear into bland MOR. His second solo album sounds much like his first. His voice is naturally appealing, eliciting a Chris Isaak sense of lonely, late-night cool, short on quirks and strong on holding notes for maximum effect. His dad joins him on guitar for five tracks, mom harmonizes on the “hidden” cover of the Everly Brothers’ “Take a Message to Mary” and a group of second-generation musician kids Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Jenni Muldaur add backing vocals. Interestingly, Teddy’s folk roots seem less than British. Everything here vibes as if this were the Laurel Canyon scene of the early ’70s; everyone sounds relaxed and earnest, more Jackson Browne than Fairport Convention.
This article appears in Feb 22-28, 2006.