3: o z >- ~ Z ::J \/I M-USIC ritical acclaim didn't do it.</p><p> A famous mother and father (Richard and Linda Thompson) didn't do it.</p><p> A major record label and big-time producer didn't do it.</p><p> Constant touring didn't do it.</p><p> But maybe, just maybe, it will be the movies that finally bring the talented musician Teddy Thompson into the spotlight.</p><p> Thompson is featured on "Rogue's Gal lery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chan teys," an all-star two-CD compilation out Aug 22 and tied in to the biggest movie of the year, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." Also out is the soundtrack to the docu mentary/concert film "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man," a movie that enjoyed critical raves and an extended run at Film Forum. (Despite an all-star lineup that includes members of U2 and Pulp, Nick Cave and Thompson's pal Rufus Wainwright, among others, the one perfonnance that stands out is Thompson's crystal-clear rendition of Cohen's ''Tonight Will Be Fine.") Hopefully, fans discovering Thomp- son on these sound tracks and tie-ins will also pick up his second album, "Separate Ways" (Verve Forecast).</p><p> Given an "p,:' by Entertainment Weekly, praised by USA To day for offering "supple, evocative melo dies" and "tunes that sparkle and linger," it's a triumph for Thompson, who was dumped by VIrgin Records practically the day his debut CD hit stores six years ago.</p><p> He took his time after that setback, record ed songs at his own pace and on his own dime and approached labels only when he had an album that was done to his satis faction. "I did feel dispirited," admits Thomp son, whose natural pessimistic reaction to good news is to wait for the bad news that surely must follow. "I didn't have a par· ticularly good experience with VIrgin Records.</p><p> And nobody likes to be told they're not wanted." Born in the U.K., Thompson still feels British at heart, even though he moved to Los Angeles at 18 and has been a longtime New Yorker (he often perfonns at the down town space the Living Room). "I've always wanted to live in New York," says Tliompson. "I only went to L.A. because 1 knew some people there and my dad was living there.</p><p> When 1 was 18,1 would have gone straight here, but 1 didn't think I was capable of making it.</p><p> New Yorkers almost don't know what New York means to people that move here.</p><p> It's a mythical, amazing place." The son of legendary folk- rock singers Richard and Linda Thompson, Thompson is cur rently touring all over the world, perfonning songs like the plain tive "Sorrvto See Me Go" and the droll atbum opener "Shine So Bright," in which Thompsonjok ingly longs for overwhelming fame_ For months, that fame has been com ing closer.</p><p> He has been jumping from the U.S. to the UK and Canada and then back again, performing to larger and larg er crowds every time.</p><p> His album "Sepa rate Ways" has garnered much more in tense media attention overseas.</p><p> British critics have garlanded the album with rave four-star reviews and compared his inti mate songwriting with Jackson Browne, though Thompson himself feels much closer to the pop craft of Crowded House and Cohen.</p><p> Like Cohen, Thompson has a w.ry sense of humor that sometimes gets con fused for melancholy or boastfulness . "Some people think I'm arrogant or don't care, but it's usually me trying to be funny," says the handsome singer-song writer, who turns 30 this year "Some peo ple just don't see the humor in some of the songs.</p><p> You can't expect everybody to get everything .</p><p> But it's been good for me to be in England.</p><p> I feel my sense of hu mor is a bit more understood right off the bat.".
