as a fitting showcase for not only Thompson’s undeniable skills as a virtuoso guitarist, but also as a phenomenal songwriter capable of deftly tapping into a wealth of human emotions". He also states that the album "plays like an hour-long live performance stripped of crowd noise, giving it an intimate immediacy that draws in the listener and makes them feel as though this were a command performance for one". The Financial Times critic David Honigmann feels differently, writing in his review that "this attempt to capture the spirit of Thompson’s celebrated acoustic concerts is unexpectedly bloodless". Timothy Monger of AllMusic states that "it's a true pleasure to hear (Thompson's) effortless command of the instrument as well as his rich, commanding baritone in the warm, unplugged format" and feels Acoustic Classics is an essential album for Thompson fans and British folk fans in general". The Guardian review by Neil Spencer is more conservative, writing that "most of these pieces are best heard in original form" but does concede that "Thompson brings the experience of his years to bear on 14 dazzlingly good songs, singing more intensely while playing more nimbly". American Songwriter'''s Hal Horowitz writes that "these updated versions bring a newfound fire and/or subtlety" and comments that you can "relish these terrific songs played and sung by a master still at the top of his game and wise enough to realize he actually can improve on the originals." Joe Breen writing in The Irish Times writes that "there has always been a tension in Thompson’s writing...here it sounds even starker in this solitary performance" and that "the “live” performance seems naked without applause". Colin Irwin writes in Mojo'' that these versions of the songs "are scarcely comparable to the original band versions...but there's a certain magic in hearing the classics in such intimate form". He summarises by stating that "the increasingly rugged, bluesy quality of Thompson's voice can be fully appreciated". Track listing All tracks written by Richard Thompson except “Persuasion” by Thompson and Tim Finn Personnel Richard Thompson - guitars and vocals Chart performance References Richard Thompson (musician) albums 2014 albums Proper Records albums