Sandi Thom - Merchants and Thieves

  by Fiona Hutchings

published: 5 / 5 / 2010

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Sandi Thom is best known for her 2006 debut single 'I Wish I was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) and the fact that she was one of the first internet born success stories. But I suspect she discovered, like others before her, that instant success and recognition can have a down side. 'I Wish...' was both new and fresh with its vocal only introduction and tribal drums but also something of a gimmick. Along with its steadycam video it was so distinctive yet familiar that it became a pastiche before the final note faded away. Thom's second single for her wonderfully-titled debut album 'Smile.. It Confuses People' charted poorly and the third not at all. But she has been busy in the last four years. 2008 saw the release of a second album and a variety of smaller and less than conventional public appearances. Time away from the bright lights has served her well. 'Merchants and Thieves' feels more accomplished and mature from the opening bars of 'Maggie Mccall'.'Runaway Train' wouldn't have been out of place on 'The Commitments' soundtrack. Thom's decision to go in a more nlues driven direction has paid dividends. She has a stronger voice, more depth, integrity and more confident of its ability to mount scales. There are distinct country flavours seeping in too, slide guitars in particular invoke the ghost of 'Southside' era Texas. That is hardly surprising considering their shared Celtic/blues heritage. The title track is a beautiful instrumental number that is weightless and meditative. 'Show No Concern' is the age old tale of a woman treated wrong by her man who is just biding her time "drinking with the devil/ He sends his regards." No sense of pastiche this time, homage would be more accurate. 'This Ol' World' featuring Joe Bonamassa bursts into life with a riff Clapton has borrowed from BB King and King borrowed from God knows where – probably the Almighty Himself. 'Heart of Stone' is a clap along, head bobbing, foot stomping ear worm. I fear this one is going to be stuck on loop for a while. I imagine seeing Sandi Thom live to be a really uplifting and invigorating experience. Its rare to get such a sense of 'live' enthusiasm and joy from a slick studio album. She is still only 28 but her soul is much older and the girl's got the blues.

Track Listing:-

1 Maggie Mccall
2 Runaway Train
3 Gold Dust
4 Let It Stay
5 Merchants and Thieves
6 Show No Concern
7 This Ol' World
8 The Sadness
9 Heart of Stone
10 Ghost Town
11 Belly of the Blues
12 This Ol' World (Sunset Marquis Version)

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