SPACEPORT CONVENTION
RT’S new millennium on record
THE OLD KIT BAG
COOKING VINYL, 2003 Thompson started off the century with one of his best, a stripped-back set led by bittersweet opener “Gethsemane”. Underpromoted at the time, and still underrated. 8/10 FRONT PARLOUR BALLADS
COOKING VINYL, 2005 The Telecaster on the cover is a misdirection, for this might be Thompson’s most acoustic album. Recorded in his LA garage, it sports a simple, unfussy sound that suits these carefully crafted songs. 7/10 GRIZZLY MAN
COOKING VINYL, 2005 REISSUED ON NO QUARTER, 2022 Recorded for Werner Herzog’s harrowing documentary, here’s an instrumental triumph that finds Thompson experimenting alongside the likes of Henry Kaiser and Jim O’rourke. The title track’s shimmering cloudburst is especially sublime. 8/10 SWEET WARRIOR
PROPER/ SHOUT!, 2007 In many ways the start of a new era, with Thompson confidently rocking out on the likes of “Needle And Thread” and the superb “Dad’s Gonna Kill Me” (now a ‘thing’ thanks to Sons Of Anarchy). At 68 minutes, though, it could do with a trim. 8/10 DREAM ATTIC
PROPER/ SHOUT!, 2010 Thirteen new songs recorded live on stage, Dream Attic might not contain many Thompson standards but it does boast some of his most electrifying guitar solos, such as the country-picking storm of “Haul Me Up”. 7/10 ELECTRIC
PROPER/ NEW WEST, 2013
With Buddy Miller producing, Thompson creates a bona fide classic, from the wonderfully galumphing blues-rock stomp of “Stony Ground” to the acoustic country-folk of closer “Saving The Good Stuff For You”. 9/10 ACOUSTIC CLASSICS
PROPER/ BEESWING, 2014
An attempt to document the material he plays at his solo shows, this newly recorded 14-track ‘best of’ was an embarrassment of riches: “I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight”, “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”, “Beeswing” and more. 8/10 STILL
PROPER/ FANTASY, 2015
Jeff Tweedy takes over production duties: little wonder, then, that an RT album has rarely sounded this subtle and layered. The mood is elegiac and mature, but there’s still room for lighter fare on the closing “Guitar Heroes”. 7/10 13 RIVERS
PROPER/ NEW WEST, 2018
A top-tier Thompson LP, this finds him and his live band concentrating on darker, heavier material with stunning results. “The Rattle Within” and “Her Love Was Meant For Me” are especially raging. 9/10 SHIP TO SHORE
PROPER/ NEW WEST, 2024
A selfproduced counterpart to 13 Rivers, just as strong but a little lighter on its feet. “Freeze” is a clattering, thrilling opener, “The Old Pack Mule”’s mix of the ’60s and the 1600s is a revelation, and “Trust” shows Thompson’s gift for pop melody is still strong.
9/10