Review: Bracing tenor helps Teddy Thompson do retro right

Teddy Thompson, 'œHeartbreaker Please'ť (Thirty Tigers)

Teddy Thompson's roots are showing, and that's nothing new.

The New York-based singer-songwriter is the son of British folk-rock royalty but grew up on Sam Cooke, Hank Williams and the Everly Brothers, and he often makes music suitable for a sock hop jukebox.

Such is the case with 'œHeartbreaker Please,'ť an album of 10 new songs that want to be oldies. There's even a tune titled 'œRecord Player,'ť on which Thompson grouses about the quality of today's pop.

That debate aside, Thompson's retro sound sounds great. 'œWhy Wait'ť and 'œIt's Not Easy" are the kind of horn-driven fare that has gotten kids dancing since 'œAmerican Bandstand,'ť and the waltz 'œTake Me Away'ť pairs Chris Carmichael's inventive string arrangement with a nifty melodic twist. The title track benefits from the subtle guitar work of Thompson patriarch Richard, who partnered with Teddy's mother, Linda, on some of the best records of the 1970's and is still making great music today.

Credit good genes for Teddy's glorious tenor, and here it's bracing but warm and never showy. On the ballad 'œBrand New,'ť he lingers softly on one sad note for four beautiful bars.

Much of the music was inspired by a breakup, but nothing gets too heavy, and the formidable Thompson family wit peeks through. 'œI'm a metaphor that's reaching,'ť he sings on 'œNo Idea,'ť a great lyric in any era.