(8) Watch me gone

[Love Expresso]

And made by the same person, an extended version of the track:

Why would anyone extend this track anyway? It's too long already..

LE

[Dutchessy]

And made by the same person, an extended version of the track:

This one is terrible, the part starting at 2.50 is ugly as ....

[jbaent]

Actually I was expecting excatly what MK is delivering, more in the style than "Watch me gone" than "Ahead of the game", but wasn't expecting more. I'm very aware that MK had already made his best and the reason why he had decide to stop touring might be affecting also his creative modus operandi.

Saying this, I'm happy with it.

[superval99]

Nice enough but dull and instantly forgettable.  Backing singers seem completely pointless to me.

After all these years spent on this album the first two released songs have been completely underwhelming.

It may be instantly forgettable to you, but it has been going around in my head all morning!   

[kaleo74]

MK: My idea of heaven is a place where the Tyne meets the Delta, where folk music meets the blues... or the country 😉
To date, we've listened to 2 country(ish) songs. Is that the color of this album? We'll see, I'm waiting to hear more sophisticated arrangements and keyboards! For the moment, Doc is kind of absent from the 2 tracks, but there are hidden nuggets, as he said, in the album, I can feel it.
When DTRW came out, I was blown away by the arrangements on Good on You Son and Back On The Dance Floor, the other tracks are pretty good too, Guy Fletcher had brought a freshness to Mark's music, that's a fact.

[Robson]

The second fragment in the movie One Deep River part 1 is Guy:)

[shortfin]

According to Rolling Stone Italy:

 "Mark Knopfler says goodbye to Newcastle in 'Watch Me Gone'.

A departing train, a city, someone to say goodbye to, a dream that only one in a million can achieve. Watch Me Gone is the story of when Knopfler left Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England to pursue his desire to be a musician."

[Matchstickman]

When DTRW came out, I was blown away by the arrangements on Good on You Son and Back On The Dance Floor, the other tracks are pretty good too, Guy Fletcher had brought a freshness to Mark's music, that's a fact.

Agree, DTRW is not exactly a favourite, but at the time some of it felt fresh and different. You could tell that they had used their studio time then to create some new audio landscapes, especially in Back on the Dance Floor. The vibe in the chorus of that song is killer!

[Matchstickman]

As for looking back, I think that Mark has written very few stand-out tracks in recent years. Laughs and Jokes would probably be my favourite, it's absolutely terrific.

I have also come to like River Towns, though that song, like so many others recently, is more anonymous.

Rear View Mirror is a cool cat! Nice groove on that one - the band seem to be playing off one another on that song in a way that you rarely hear on a Knopfler record.

[Robson]

Watch Me Gone officially hit radio stations today

Produced by Mark Knopfler and Guy Fletcher
Recorded and mixed by Guy Fletcher at British Grove Studios, London
Assistant Recording Engineers: Rowan McIntosh, Eve Morris, Edie Delafield, Luie Stylianou and Tom Coath
Mix Assistant: Luie Stylianou
Drums by Ian Thomas
Percussion by Danny Cummings
Bass guitar by Glenn Worf
Acoustic guitar by Richard Bennett
Pedal steel by Greg Leisz
Piano by Jim Cox
Guitars and vocals by Mark Knopfler
Backing vocals by Emma Topolski and Tamsin Topolski
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine

Miscellaneous Credits:

Recorded at British Grove Studios, London, UK

[KnopfleRick]

Nice enough but dull and instantly forgettable.  Backing singers seem completely pointless to me.

After all these years spent on this album the first two released songs have been completely underwhelming.

Backing singer is his ex-wife who responds to MK going (symbolic) so it's not that pointless... At least that was my interpretation..

I like your interpretation.

[Rolo]

Better vocals, maybe a more original song structure of any kind, at least some  proper guitar playing, these are just not more than three note licks.. and some kind of "melody" maybe? Try to sing it, the only thing that stays in mind are these backing vocals and they are more like a parody in my ears. Sorry for moaning but I was asked what I expect. I learn today to expect nothing anymore obviously. Please no attacks for having an opinion, thank you.

LE

I totally agree with you.
I think people are trying too hard to appreciate these new songs and, perhaps, get a better feeling when the album comes in.

I think that when the music is great, it captives you to listen again and again so the music will grow and the hidden gems starts to appear.

In this last couple of songs, some of us are having the opposite way.
They are tryng to like the songs only because MK.
Both are, in my opinion, weak songs.
About WMG, i feel a strong movement for some on 'enjoy' the MK's lazy vocals and the lack of a main melody.
The only thing that is 'singable' is that awful backing vocals.

My feeling, after hearing the recent MK's songs, is:
"It cannot be serious! I'll listen it again"
"This is an MK song? I'll listen it again to search something that I'll like"

I m not expecting a long guitar solo or a recreation of a DS song.
For an artist on the level of MK, i expect a song played with meaning, effort, with a strong vocal, with feeling and good surprises.

[Dutchessy]

The vocals are sublime and very good on Watch me Gone. The vocal line/melody is beautifully done. Yes it's hard to sing along the first couple of times, but with some practice you can do it. I'm happy that i can enjoy this and i feel sorry for the fans who waited 6 years to be dissapointed again.

It was the same with his last album, and the album before

Ofcourse this is my opinion, and everyone has their own

[Matchstickman]

The vocals are sublime and very good on Watch me Gone. The vocal line/melody is beautifully done. Yes it's hard to sing along the first couple of times, but with some practice you can do it. I'm happy that i can enjoy this and i feel sorry for the fans who waited 6 years to be dissapointed again.

It was the same with his last album, and the album before

Ofcourse this is my opinion, and everyone has their own

Sure, but, luckily, there are another 100 artists to listen to, but this is an MK forum so that is what we discuss! 

[Robson]

Better vocals, maybe a more original song structure of any kind, at least some  proper guitar playing, these are just not more than three note licks.. and some kind of "melody" maybe? Try to sing it, the only thing that stays in mind are these backing vocals and they are more like a parody in my ears. Sorry for moaning but I was asked what I expect. I learn today to expect nothing anymore obviously. Please no attacks for having an opinion, thank you.

LE

I totally agree with you.
I think people are trying too hard to appreciate these new songs and, perhaps, get a better feeling when the album comes in.

I think that when the music is great, it captives you to listen again and again so the music will grow and the hidden gems starts to appear.

In this last couple of songs, some of us are having the opposite way.
They are tryng to like the songs only because MK.
Both are, in my opinion, weak songs.
About WMG, i feel a strong movement for some on 'enjoy' the MK's lazy vocals and the lack of a main melody.
The only thing that is 'singable' is that awful backing vocals.

My feeling, after hearing the recent MK's songs, is:
"It cannot be serious! I'll listen it again"
"This is an MK song? I'll listen it again to search something that I'll like"

I m not expecting a long guitar solo or a recreation of a DS song.
For an artist on the level of MK, i expect a song played with meaning, effort, with a strong vocal, with feeling and good surprises.

Try to accept that some people actually like these two songs. Nobody pretends.