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Reviews Of CDs By Richard Thompson, Marilyn Manson and Toby Keith

Published: Jul 6, 2007

RICHARD - THOMPSON:

SWEET WARRIOR

(SHOUT! FACTORY) ↑

If ever an album needed the swift, sure hand of an editor, it's this one. Richard Thompson has a habit of submerging a healthy ration of fine material on long-ish CDs that don't justify their length.

"Sweet Warrior" is one of his worst offenses both in that it's 68 minutes long and surrounds some stunningly good work with some shockingly forgettable numbers.

The guitar work is exquisite throughout, naturally, and "Dad's Gonna Kill Me" is an amazing anti-war tune. About half of "Sweet Warrior" is prime Thompson but there's simply too much dross surrounding the good stuff. Guess that's why they invented downloads.

Download this: "Dad's Gonna Kill Me"

Curtis Ross

MARILYN MANSON:

EAT ME, DRINK ME

(INTERSCOPE) ♣

It's been a turbulent few years for Marilyn Manson. He married and then ditched burlesque queen Dita Von Teese. He began directing his first movie. He fell for a much younger chanteuse, Evan Rachel Wood, whom he featured in an explicit music video.

And, oh yeah, he wrote and recorded a new album, his first since 2003's superior "The Golden Age of Grotesque."

It's not that the new songs aren't good - some rank among his best ("The Red Carpet Grave," "Putting Holes in Happiness") - but the album lacks the ferocity of "Grotesque," the vision of "Mechanical Animals" or the menace of "Portrait of An American Family."

Longtime fans will enjoy it, but Manson needs to focus on one medium at a time so as not to dilute his creativity.

Download this: "The Red Carpet Grave"

John W. Allman

TOBY KEITH: BIG

DOG DADDY (SHOW

DOG NASHVILLE) →

Keith is making a big deal about how this album is the first he's sung, written, produced and released on his own. He even recorded his own harmonies. That kind of vision and hard work is especially laudable in Nashville, where the producer and label are generally the kings.

But just because Keith could do so doesn't mean he should have done so. There are numerous places where a producer could have tightened arrangements, selected a better song or cut Keith off at 15 tired, pop culture catchphrases per album ("Hit It," "Get My Drink On," etc.). The title song, for example, will play well in arenas, but it's a mess of a recording, complete with background singers that sound like they came off a Dave & Sugar album from 1978.

Download this: "Walk It Off"

Jeff Houck