Music Review: Randy Thompson - Collected.

There has always been a dynamic tension between old and new in the more thoughtful forms of country music.  How does one combine traditional forms with modern instruments and rhythms?  Bluegrass, for example, was created when Bill Monroe and company took traditional sounds and repackaged them in a new, hard-driving approach..

Randy Thompson has been composing and playing what he calls “Virginia Red Dirt Roots Music” for a couple of decade, and has several albums to his name (Wearin’ Blue – 1998, That’s Not Me – 2004, Further On – 2008).  He traces his Virginia bloodline back to the 1700s, specifically to the picturesque and historic Piedmont region.  Many of his songs reflect this roots heritage.  Collected. consists of 12 songs redone from previous releases, plus three new songs.

Thompson’s band (including Garrick Alden – lead guitar, Rickie Simpkins – fiddle/mandolin, Andy Hamburger - drums), has a distinct musical style.  Part of it comes from Thompson’s taut, expressive baritone.  The songs he writes merge traditional styles with more modern concepts.  Finally, the group combines traditional, acoustic instruments with heavy rock-style rhythms and highly amplified electric instrumentation.  The result is an enjoyable multi-layered mix of country, rockabilly and classic folk sounds.

“Songbird”, which opens the CD, blends high-volume electric guitars and a heavy backbeat, underlined by banjo arpeggios and traditional call-and-response lyrics:

Where are you going, with your head hung down that way
Where are you going, with your head hung down that way
I’m looking for a songbird to keep in a cage.

Will your songbird whistle, will your songbird sing,
Will your songbird whistle, will your songbird sing,
My songbird will whistle, but only for me.

The song concludes on a less possessive mindset:

“Unknown Zone”  explores Thompson’s Virginia roots, specifically the heritage of the Civil War. 

Hey now, what’s that sound whispering in the wind
Maybe you heard what you thought you did,
It’s the phantom cavalry of Mosby* and his band,
Riding hard into the wind.
You turn around and they’re gone,
Yeah, You’re entering an unknown zone.

Article Author: Phillip Barnett

Phillip Barnett is a software geek with multiple, conflicting musical fantasies. He has played jazz piano, folk guitar and klezmer clarinet (not all at the same time - that would look ridiculous). You can follow his meanderings through twitter.

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