Daring Adventures (1986)

Daring Adventures (1986)

By 1986, Thompson’s evolution from a traditional folk performer into a more conventional but still profoundly compelling rock and pop performer was just about complete. The strong solo albums Hand Of Kindness and Across A Crowded Room had impressed critics, but failed to sell, and Daring Adventures finds Thompson under commercial pressure from his label to produce a hit. No hit was forthcoming, although the buoyant, sardonic “Valerie” by all rights should have fit the bill. Instead, what the record company got was another in a line of sharp, well-conceived rock albums replete with strong, clever songs, magnificent playing and lukewarm public appeal. No accounting for taste, but consumers will find plenty to enjoy on Daring Adventures, including the scenester-baiting opener “She Hasn’t Got A Bone Through Her Nose,” the stunning, melancholy waltz of “How Will I Ever Be Simple Again,” and the vituperative emotional hatefuck of “Jennie” (although the latter is much better heard in the live version featured on the 1993 Watching The Dark compilation). Like Elvis Costello’s Trust or Van Morrison’s Common One, Daring Adventures is an accomplished release by a terrific artist that doubles down on his talents without straining to reinvent the wheel or repurpose his approach. It’s not necessarily a place to start, but if you like the things Thompson does, you’ll be more than happy to own a copy.