Thompson, Aaron / Aaron Thompson
Album: Aaron Thompson   Collection:General
Artist:Thompson, Aaron   Added:Oct 2010
Label:Sockets Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2011-03-27 Pull Date: 2011-05-29

Album Review
Be Sharp
Reviewed 2011-02-16
This is one sensitive dude. He’s sort of a sad, emo-indie, alt-folk singer-songwriter type. All the lyrics are sad, unrhymed, free poetry. The word “melancholy” doesn’t capture the mood here; “pathetic” is closer. There’s some interesting songwriting and some nice moody instrumental sounds; but Thompson’s not a good singer to be honest. Tracks 1 and 2 worth hearing.
No FCC issues.

1. * First impression is he’s doing a Moby-style thing. (Unique to this track.) Starts intriguingly w syncopated electronic sounds. You’re struck with a strange, drone-like quality of his voice, likable & interesting at first. Some pretty synthesizer & strings. (5:18)
2. * Catchy pop melody, like an early Paul Simon song. Cello is interesting. (4:19)
3. A dreary, sad tune in 3/4 time. A bit of Celtic sound with recorder & violin. (3:32)
4. Folk-song story-telling. More up-tempo than others. Instrumentally he brings the kitchen sink: old-timey piano, electric guitar, electronics, strings, etc. (4:23)
5. Blues harmonica opens this with promise, but then we get a schmaltzy sing-song melody and off-key singing. (2:54)
6. Warbling vocal evokes (maybe?) a Native American chant. Not easy to listen to. (3:00)
7. A sad, lost-love country-folk song. Banjo is an interesting element. (4:19)
8. Yet another sad one. Poetry is perhaps reminiscent of a Leonard Cohen song. Folky, finger-picking guitar style is most interesting aspect. (3:32)
9. Mid-tempo. Harsh singing over twangy elec guitar w banjo. Poor sound quality. (4:06)
10. Sad again: love was lost on a summer past. Acoustic guitar and banjo this time. In the chorus, he amps up the vocal style and attempts a David Gray sound. (3:48)
11. Nice strings and piano. Pretty trumpet solo. Reedy, falsetto voice. (3:48)

Track Listing
1. Vals   6. Den Of The Wolves
2. Bethany Lane   7. Don't Say You Love
3. Houses In Water   8. Sad Mona Lisa
4. Solitude   9. Island Creek
5. Grey Highway   10. A Record, A Wheel
  11. The Garden & The Road