************************************************************************************
You can order the new album directly at Cherry Red Records now!
************************************************************************************
Dear All,
It has been a very interesting year so far! I’m just about to set off for a couple of weeks holiday, so before I do, I thought I would write a new message. As I said, it’s been an interesting year. With the release of Toys & Dishes, there were a whole lot of activities to take care of, interviews, acoustic Radio performances playing both old and new songs by myself, live concerts with the band playing a lot of the new songs, a live performance of “Dark Side” at one of the Holi festivals with my friend DJ Pascal Dolle where everybody is covered in coloured powder and of course worrying about what people thought of the new CD…… Well “Live” I‘m very happy with the way the new songs were received, especially the 2 acoustic songs which surprised me, and I must say reviews of the CD have been very very positive, but I wanted to share two reviews with you, so you can see what artists go thru after releasing new music.
They were both from the internet. The first one only appeared a couple of weeks ago, on the“ Let it Rock” site . It amazed me as the reviewer understood absolutely what I was trying to achieve with each song.( I’m patting myself on the back here!!!) So here it is.
Let it Rock Review
Shining, rather than blinding, one of the finest pair of pipes in rock hits the soft spot hard.
To see Chris Thompson only as a vocalist of MANFRED MANN‘S EARTH BAND is a criminal understatement of the singer’s talents. Since the beginning of this millennium the songwriter, who co-penned “You’re The Voice” and was Sarah Brightman’s duet partner, has been experimenting with heavy metal, jazz and even rap, although on-stage the veteran mostly sticks to the time-tested oeuvre. But for all his penchant for such an adventure, one could always feel Chris’ desire to get back to his roots one day, and now the day has come, so while Thompson’s not a protagonist of the backbeat-blowing “Eddie Wants To Rock,” that’s what he does here, the album’s title reflecting the artist’s wish to combine harsh reality with playful detail.
The twain meet and clash in opener “Million Dollar Wonder Hit” in which sweet pop harmonies and acoustic strum cover the bitter truth behind the showbiz that sucks out a creator’s soul. The piece’s upbeat mood is infectious and shows the singer’s perseverance in his toil, yet the same inflections in “Sad Songs Wishes” are hopelessly romantic. Sure, Chris draws solace and happiness from affairs of the heart to make the strings-drenched lullaby of “Dream Away Little Girl” and the merry “Millie Christine” bubble with warm emotions, but “Hey You!” is filled with heavy, if streamlined, anger. Balancing that, “You’re The One I Love” hops, handclaps and harmonica in tow, on a country horse, whereas the anxious “Dark Side” with its insistent piano line finds Thompson in his classic ’70s mode – banishing his inner turmoil and keeping those he holds dear away from chaos.
And Thompson succeeds at it, as the shimmering “Talk To Me” swings with a gentle caress, while “We Run” offers a glorious dance, and the acoustic blues of the spirit-seeking closer “Woe Is Me” stresses the fact that this album is the artist’s personal triumph: a joy he so generously shares.
*****
Man…. I got five stars, I wish I could buy that man a beer!!
And now for a review that appeared in March in Prog Planet. This was one of the first reviews I read!!! I wanted to immediately write to this guy Tonny Larsen and tell him that I can be accused of many things, but “ just going thru the motions” and “becoming a shadow of myself”, are not two of them. Come to a gig Tonny.
Anyway here it is.!
That wonderful hoarse and expressive vocal of Chris Thompson, which for my part did wonders while he was lead singer with Manfred Manns Earth Band !! The voice is still there, but I am afraid that only hard core fans will wanna own this new album! He treads the same path as so many big stars before him, let me just mention a few: Joe Cocker, Sting, Phil Collins in their later period, the path mentioned is the treadmill pop/rock style, nothing new under the sun, no excitement, going thru´ the motions! Yes them are harsh words and I am sorry, not for saying it, but rather that these fine musicians have become shadows of themselves and sadly so have Thompson. I guess he has his fan crowd and public, but me I am disappointed !! I don’t know what I expected, but this was certainly not it!! Sorry Esoteric and Chris!! I am not trying to an a-hole, I merely say what I mean and mean what I say!
**
I’ve put 2 stars here, but actually it was only one and a half, but I don’t know how to type half a star! 
I probably should have left that interview where I found it, and of course everybody is entitle to their own opinion, but having received so many great reviews for the CD I just had to share it!
Finally, for those of you on holiday in August, have a great one! I know I will and please check out my Facebook page for upcoming concerts. I look forward to seeing you on the road someplace.
Take care and Keep on Rockin’
Chris Thompson
