Character Assassination

It’s not often that Ed Kuepper’s music recalls any of his peers – he generally stands apart from those around him. But there are aspects of Character Assassination that recall Richard Thompson’s solo albums: there’s a directness in delivery here that cuts to the chase, much as Thompson’s songs do; Kuepper seems to have peeled the songs right back, their tone almost conversational at times. The arrangements are sparing, mostly, but they’re always effective, and when Kuepper goes filmic, as he does on “My Best Interests At Heart”, the brass section, and the glittering, chiming guitars are perfectly staged; there’s also “So Close To Certainty”, which features some lovely, sweeping string arrangements. On “La Di Doh”, he even lets his pop heart shine through, though the melodies all through Character Assassination are masterful.