Rumor and Sigh, Richard Thompson

Rumor and Sigh, Richard Thompson, 1991, 1:01

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

At just over an hour, this album never feels overly padded.  It's filled with terrific musicianship, cutting lyrics, nostalgia, and gentle humor.  At times, the lyrics crackle with wit, with lines like "sitting on his lap / taking his dictation."  And the snarl of the anti-Thatcher screed "Mother Knows Best" is as surprising and agile as Dylan.  Other times, Thompson takes a darker turn, as in "Grey Walls," about a mental hospital.  What's impressive is how he keeps it catchy even while decrying the horrors of ECT. Musically, the songs showcase a wide variety of tempos and styles (the credits include some very obscure and archaic instruments), which keeps things interesting. Favorite tracks: "Read About Love," which chronicles a young lad's first exposure to sex in magazines; "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," a modern folk song centered around a coveted motorcycle; "I Feel so Good," narrated by a cad out to break some hearts; "Don't Sit on My Jimmy Shands," about demanding be allowed a turn to play his Scottish reel records (Find a lap or find a chair / You can park it anywhere / Just don't rest your cheeks against my man!").

On Every Street, Dire Straits

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 1991.

On Every Street, Dire Straits, 1991, 1:00 

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

The last, and probably worst, studio album by an extremely talented band. This one is more representative of Knopfler's later laid-back Slowhand tendency than I like. Knopfler's Bob Dylan vocal imitation is cranked to maximum Bob.  A Dire Straits album you'll put on at a party when you don't want any dancing to get in the way of the polite conversation.  Favorite tracks: "Calling Elvis," "Heavy Fuel," Bug."

More Noise and Other Disturbances, Mighty Mighty Bosstones / Where’d You Go, Mighty Mighty Bosstones

It’s Manic Monday! Wherein I listen to a rocker, a punker, or just a general banger.

More Noise and Other Disturbances, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, 1992, :30 

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Who doesn't love ska?  Not me!  This is the Bosstones' second album.  I've loved these guys a long time.  If you've heard anything by them, you've more or less heard them all.  Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you enjoy.  Gravelly voice, loud horns, tongue-twisting, mildly clever lyrics.  Favorite tracks: "Awfully Quiet," "What's At Stake."

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Where'd You Go, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, 1991, :13

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This EP — their second release — is a lot heavier than their later stuff. A riotous cover of "Sweet Emotion" basically renders it unrecognizable (but not better); "Enter Sandman," the best track, is much more straightforward.