Reviews . . .
November 2007
Thompson is a pro; he currently lives in Virginia and is an award-winning songwriter who has been in Springsteen's band (yes, THAT Springsteen) and written with Timothy B. Schmidt of the Eagles (yes, THOSE Eagles). All that experience and road-tested living are evident on Thompson's latest solo effort, Just a Blur in the Rearview.
The title and opening track sets the tone for what Thompson is all about ... a warm yet tough-as-nails voice with fine arrangements that lean toward the acoustic side of things. "Standin' in the Rain" picks right up with a soul-tinged sound, and his voice carries that, too. One of the standout tracks is "One-horse Town," a bittersweet remembrance of life growing up in a small town. "Everybody knows your business, talking on cell phones, emails, and over the fences." Yes, folks, this is the first time I've heard "email" referenced in a folk song that actually seemed to fit right in. Thompson pulled it off; he's that comfortable with what he does. "Desperate Man" also shows off his gravelly voice that seems to fit in so well with outlaws and emptiness. A fiddle adds the right amount of mournful soul to this simple acoustic track.
"Where You've Never Been (The Zhong Song)" is a downright cool tune, with a driving beat and the kind of hook you'd take along in a convertible for a cruise around town: "Come on baby, I'll take you where you've never been." It's good listening, pure and simple. The whole record takes that tone; it's lush and full, but none of the production gets in the way of the songs themselves or Thompson's voice. It's a good formula, and for people who like The Boss or any soulful folkies who like to rock, Thompson is a great bet.
Jana Pochop
indie-music.com
August 1, 2007
Here is a Virginia-based songwriter who's been recording albums since 1976. He's been in bands with Bruce Springsteen, co-written songs with Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, won the American Song Festival twice, and written tons of music for commercials and films. And his new album is a very competent and nice CD that is recommendable for you guys who like the acoustic side of Bruce Springsteen. Robbin sits on the same type of voice as The Boss and if Bruce went down to Alabama and recorded an album with John Prine you have the result in this album. Or at least half of it. Cause there is also another side on the album. A few songs like "I won't Quit" he takes the car and drive to the late 60's soul-scene. A genre where Robbin proofs what a great vocalist he is. An album that I warmly can recommend.
Michael Stanley is een held van me. In de jaren '80 maakte hij puntgave A.O.R. en daarna ontwikkelde hij zich tot een meester van de heartland-rock/midwestern-rock. Zeg maar het genre van Bruce, John, Tom en Bob maar die zijn elk genre overstegen. Rock als in Bob Seger's Like A Rock. Als Robbin Thompson opent met het titelnummer dan moet ik meteen nakijken of dit geen Michael Stanley nummer is. Eigenlijk moet ik kijken of het niet Stanley zelf is. Dat is het niet. Wel een raampje-open-haar-in-de-wind-juweel. Standin' in the Rain krijgt meer soul, zoals Southside dat ook kan maar in the end blijkt Thompson meer soul dan rock. I Won't Quit ('till I Get Home) is slijpen.
Nadat ik dit geschreven heb besluit op zoek te gaan naar meer informatie over Robbin Thompson. Nou, dat heb geweten. Et voila, in het kort, Thompson was de leadsinger van Steel Mill, één van de eerste bandjes van Bruce Springsteen. Dat heb ik toch een paar keer moeten nalezen. Er zijn er niet zoveel die kunnen zeggen dat ze The Boss ooit de baas waren. Hij nam zo'n twaalf cd's op, schrijft graag met Eagle Timothy B. Schmit en is in het dagelijkse leven directeur van een bedrijf dat muziek maakt voor films en commercials. Nou zet het zootje maar onder elkaar en dat wat je optelt is inderdaad de uitkomst. Just A Blur In The Rearview is soulvolle midwestern-pop-rock, 10 nummers lang scheuren over het midden van de weg. (Patrick Donders)
Veteran Performer Robbin Thompson Gazes Into 'Rearview'
Informative Q&A with Robbin . . . Don't miss this.
Lookin' Back and Rockin' Forward -- a review of Just a Blur in the Rearview, from RaleighMusic.com
His life sounds just like a song
Nostalgia big part of Thompson's 'Just a Blur in the Rearview'
By Melissa Ruggieri
March 9, 2007
Robbin Thompson likes to tell stories. About the "weird" instrument he discovered in China, the zhong ruan. About tracking down an idol of his younger years, Ellen McIlwaine, and getting her to sing on a new song. About how he was feeling wistful when he wrote the title track to his new album, "Just a Blur in the Rearview."
On that tune, he also wanted to pay homage to Tropical Storm Gaston, which challenged Shockoe Bottom in 2004.
"Life goes on like a runaway train/phone poles by highways/sometimes it brings you a hurricane/sometimes it brings you a sunny day," go the opening lines to Thompson's 12th release.
Though a feeling of nostalgia laces the 10 songs on the album, Thompson certainly isn't trying to bring down the mood of the room.
"I've just been thinking back on what I've been doing, and I can't believe I can say I've been in this business for 40 years. And I'm still doing it. That's the good part," Thompson, 57, said earlier this week.
During his career, the easygoing singer-songwriter sang with Steel Mill, Bruce Springsteen's early band, for about a year and had reasonable national success in the'80s with pal Steve Bassett.
Thompson has co-written songs with Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles and seen his material land on various compilation CDs and movie soundtracks. ("I Won't Quit ['Til I Get Home]" from "The Fighting Temptations" with Cuba Gooding Jr. is on this new album.)
And let's not forget that Thompson's the vice president and co-founder of In Your Ear studios in Shockoe Bottom, where most of "Rearview" was recorded.
He's also putting together a video documentary about his time spent sailing on the Chesapeake Bay -- a pastime so treasured he often sails to gigs -- in hopes that the Travel Channel, or something of its ilk, will be interested.
At this point in his career, though, Thompson says he isn't overly concerned with radio success -- "It's tough to deal with the stations because the people who want to play my stuff can't" -- but local support remains steady.
WTVR ("Lite" 98.1 FM) is regularly playing "Water From the Moon (The Zhong Song)," "Standin' in the Rain" and the title track of "Rearview" which Thompson co-wrote with country singer Phil Vassar.
"I think folks stay interested in Robbin's music because of the variety of styles he writes and plays in," said Adam Stubbs, the station's afternoon drive host and assistant program director.
"He's had the chance to write and perform with some fantastic folks, and as a result, on every new CD he releases, there's a great blend of rock, blues, folk, gospel and more. His lyrics are always relatable and often have some fun twists to them. They're always enjoyable to listen to."
Thompson admits that some of the reflection on this album likely stems from surviving the removal of an 8-pound tumor from his lower intestine seven years ago. He takes a daily pill now to maintain his health.
"Some of the songs are introspective; some have nothing to do with anything in my life," he says. "But [the album] does have this thread of what life is, how fast it's gone by. You just write what you have to and hope it means something to somebody."
To counter the pensive tracks, the album's closer, "Move on Down the Line," is a throw-your-hands-in-the-air gospel romp. And that big, swelling background chorus? All Thompson, achieved by stacking his vocals on a music software program.
It's just a coincidence that Thompson is soon going to his 40th high school reunion in Melbourne, Fla., where he lived from age 7 to 20.
There, he'll catch up with old classmates and perform a concert for them. And surely, at some point, talk will turn to how quickly life marches on.
© 2007 Richmond Times-Dispatch
One Step Ahead of the Blues
By Les Reynolds
Indie-Music.com
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