Shoot Out the Lights (CD - 1982)

Additional personnel: Stephen Corbett, Brian Jones (cornet); Stephen Barnett, Mark Cutts (trombone); Phil Goodwin (tuba); Pete Zorn (bass instrument, background vocals); Dave Pegg (bass instrument); Dave Mattacks (drums); Clive Gregson (background vocals).

Richard & Linda Thompson's marriage was crumbling as they were recording Shoot Out the Lights in 1982, and many critics have read the album as a chronicle of the couple's divorce. In truth, most of the album's songs had been written two years earlier (when the Thompsons were getting along fine) for an abandoned project produced by Gerry Rafferty, and tales of busted relationships and domestic discord were always prominent in their songbook. But there is a palpable tension to Shoot Out The Lights which gives songs like "Don't Renege On Our Love" and "Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed" an edgy bite different from the Thompsons' other albums together; there's a subtle, unmistakable undertow of anger and dread in this music that cuts straight down to the bone. Joe Boyd's clean, uncluttered production was the ideal match for these songs and their Spartan arrangements, and Richard Thompson's wiry guitar work was remarkable, displaying a blazing technical skill that never interfered with his melodic sensibilities. Individually, all eight of the album's songs are striking (especially the sonic fireworks of the title cut, the beautiful drift of "Just The Motion," and the bitter reminiscence of "Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed"), and as a whole they were far more than the sum of their parts, a meditation on love and loss in which beauty, passion, and heady joy can still be found in defeat. It's ironic that Richard & Linda Thompson enjoyed their breakthrough in the United States with the album that ended their career together, but Shoot Out The Lights found them rallying their strengths to the bitter end; it's often been cited as Richard Thompson's greatest work, and it's difficult for anyone who has heard his body of work to argue the point. ~ Mark Deming

The world's most underrated songwriter, although Thompson must tire of hearing it so often. Together with his ex-wife Linda they made a series of quite brilliant albums that garnered heaps of praise and minimal sales. This is another slice of perfection that veers from whimsical fun in 'Wall Of Death' to desperate emotions in 'Shoot Out the Lights', which features the definitive Thompson guitar solo. Critics have often been accused of hyping artists, but try as they may, they can't do it with this one. Time will tell but this album should be in many more homes.

The world's most underrated songwriter, although Thompson must tire of hearing it so often. Together with his ex-wife Linda they made a series of quite brilliant albums that garnered heaps of praise and minimal sales. This is another slice of perfection that veers from whimsical fun in 'Wall Of Death' to desperate emotions in 'Shoot Out the Lights', which features the definitive Thompson guitar solo. Critics have often been accused of hyping artists, but try as they may, they can't do it with this one. Time will tell but this album should be in many more homes. minimize