A Mark In Time
Previous Albums => Privateering (2012) => Topic started by: BloodGator on August 03, 2012, 01:17:28 PM
-
I'm new here on the forum(when i say new i mean in the last 10 minutes) ;D
Love it already
Was just wondering, if you've heard the snippets, whats your favourite song so far, you're only allowed to pick one! :P
For me it's Yon Two Crows, the way he speaks in it and the eery kind of music, he's just incredible! This could rival STP as my favourite album
-
Go, love
Seattle
Kingdom of gold
These are the three that comes to mind first.
The blues... well, I like the blues music but, when I listen to MK, I want to listen to MK, not to blues... they are good but... not as good as a MK song would be ;D
-
Hmmm yeah i like what your thinking. Personally, i love th blues, and it means we've heard IT ALL from Mark, some of them may sound similar at first but i've heard the snippets over and over again now and each of them are incredibly different and enthralling ;D. I think this album has it all though. You've got a good rocker in CBC. Some slow, majestic songs in Go, Love and Seattle and then some real catchy tunes like Got To Have Something and I Used To Could :lol
-
It's a very difficult question, because I really like them all and different ones are my absolute favourites every day.
Today:
Seattle
Radio City Serenade
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Kingdom of Gold
I Used to Could
Today is OK..............
-
Dream of the Drowned Submariner is on the top of my list, there's something special in this song that makes me shiver. The instrumental part has been in my head for days now, and that long awaaaaaay, I just love it!
But I think all of the songs are really good as far as we can tell from the snippets. There probably ain't gonna be any skipper song for me in this album!
-
Today mine are :
Privateering
Miss you blues
Corned Beef City
Yon two crows
Gator Blood
I used to could
Bluebird
The dream of the drowned submariner
I really love the dream of the submariner ! a beautiful melody, the clarinet et the acoustic guitar solo...
-
1. Bluebird 2. Bluebird 3. Bluebird 4. Go, Love 5. Seattle But that may change, when I can hear them in full lenghth...
-
Yon Two Crows, Haul Away, Bluebird.
-
What I
-
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Redbud Tree
Privateering
Yon two crows
-
Yon two crowns
Gator blood
Radio city serenade
Dream of the drowned submariner
Hot or what
Seattle
Miss you blues
I used to could
and so on, so on :) WHen the subject is MK it's always hard to choose.
-
It's not been mentioned and I find Blood and Water very interesting too, medium paced, reminds me a bit The Trawlerman's song. It seems that it has a nice solo on it.
-
The whole frigging album since it is MK's best album ever. But if I have to break it down somehow...
1) Corned beef city (possibly one of the better ones since DS, Gravy Train part 2)
2) I used to could
3) Gator blood
5) Got to have something
4) After the beanstalk
5) Today is okay
So more power and more blues, less of the fancy chords and beatiful words ;)
I really like the fact that some tracks, especially "Got to have something" really have that good JJ Cale vibe to them.
And, am I the only one to really fancy "After the beanstalk"? ???
-
Bluebird
Seattle
Blood and Water
-
IAnd, am I the only one to really fancy "After the beanstalk"? ???
No. I love it too, but I could have written down the whole 20 songs - it maybe on my list tomorrow, with another selection of "favourites"! ;D
-
Go, Love
Yon Two Crows
Gator Blood
Privateering
Haul Away
One is impossible, even these 5 are very much random. It might be easier to say that the only tracks I don't like is Blood And Water. In fact, all the others
are on my mind the whole day...
LE
-
Oh, I forgot to add Corned Beef to my list! As has been said before it's easier to list the songs we don't like. For me it's the title track.
On a light note for our "English-as-a-second-language" speakers there is Scottish slang that says corned beef means to be hard of hearing! ;D
-
Redbud Tree
Haul away
Seattle
-
It's impossible for me to say which song I like best. Each one has something different to offer. First of all, his voice sounds fantastic. I love the harmonizing in Seattle --- very spamy :P
The harmonizing is very s-e-x-y. NOT SPAMY ???
-
Today is "After the beanstalk" the song that I
-
Go, Love
Yon Two Crows
Gator Blood
Privateering
Haul Away
One is impossible, even these 5 are very much random. It might be easier to say that the only tracks I don't like is Blood And Water. In fact, all the others
are on my mind the whole day...
LE
It is really creeping in - suddenly you realize that you are humming a certain song the whole day - so I think I must really like it, just listen to it again, and yeah, I like it indeed: TODAY IS OKAY, although not complete yet, is the first "grower" for me on Privateering, absolutely catchy chorus.... I wonder what will happen when the complete album is on heavy rotation... ;)
LE
-
Same with me. I like all 20 of the songs, but one I liked a bit less than the rest - "Miss You Blues" - then I found myself humming it a lot and now it has joined the other 19! :)
Another thing - I wasn't too keen on CBB when I heard it on tour, but now I really like it a lot.
-
Funny enough, that one I liked from the first second - as I wrote somewhere earlier, has a Ry Cooder touch (which i like), just a nice little up-lifting melody and I love the guitar solo on it... when I read the lyrics first I was wondering what dull song that might be - but when he fills the pure words with music it is really like stepping in another dimension...
The same with Go, Love or Yon Two Crows. Just reading the lyrics left my somewhat undecided, but when his voice is flowing in and collaborates with his guitar - I am in heaven before you know... :lol
The nice thing about these snippets: We all know for sure that MK is always able to give a song a proper format - a "real" intro, beginning, and a proper end is something that is a signature for his songwriting... I hope we will have some little suprises to come... I was wondering where the clapping and "unusual" background singing in the song Privateering will take place...
Sorry for getting off topic...
LE
-
As far as I can tell by the snippets, my favourites are:
Redbud Tree
Haul Away
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Kingdom of Gold
I Used to Could
Gator Blood
Today is Okay
... and I just realize that's half the album ... :lol
-
I felt very moved yesterday when watching the EPK and MK was singing alone with his guitar "Haul away"
What a beautiful song, really moving.
-
... oh, and I forgot Bluebird. How could I, I love it!
-
Meanwhile everybody knows, that my favourite is Bluebird, because I mentioned it several times before ;) . It
-
I like lots of the songs (even though there appears to be too much harmonica) but I just can't get into the title track at all. When he starts humming or whatever it is he's doing, it gives me the creeps! :o
Haul Away is a song that grew on me. Love it now, so much better though on acoustic guitar than the National he used on tour. Also his singing wasn't too great on tour imo, sorry Mark. :-X
-
Today its still Haul Away... MK made me feel the beauty in that song with his acoustic perfomance in the EPK. I
-
The only songs I don't like that much is "Hot or What" and "Don't Forget Your Hat", but otherwise I enjoy every inch of the album (well, from what we've heard).
A lot of songs have grew on me in the past. Didn't like "Corned Beef City" at all from the last tour; thought it sounded cheesy and he didn't sang it too well either. But on the album it sounds great. Or maybe its just that it is an up-tempo song. I don't know...
I guess these are my favourites if I try to single them out:
Privateering
Yon Two Crows
I Used to Could
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
"Privateering" was a song I loved from the beginning and I can't wait to here the full version of it after the EPK snippet.
YTC speaks for itself.
Love his voice in IUTC when he sings "GMC Cannonball going like a train". Can listen to that line all day just because of his voice. ;D
DoyDS is one of the most beautiful melodies I've heard, with great lyrics as well.
-
My favs, for what it's worth are Seattle and Dream of the drowned Submariner.
Mark's voice on the "typical Mark songs" is just great. His voice is not suited to rythmn n blues imo and these songs are the weakest on the album because of that, but I bet they will be good live. Listen to Topley on Rollin n Tumblin to hear a white guy sing good r n b vocals.
-
Lonesome Blues and Radio City do nothing for me. The rest sound great and the wind part on Submariner is stunning.
-
Yon Two Crows, Bluebird, Dream Of The Drowned Submariner.
P.S. Blood And Water. Nice track too. Mark hardly used his Gibson ES guitars on this album
-
I am not able to tell what my favourite songs will be from album just by listening to the snippets I heard, from iTunes. Though of the snippets i like best Haul Away (wonderful vocal melody), "Go, Love", Yon Two Crows, Gator Blood and Dream of the drowned Submariner.
-
For me the same Guitarman 1972
Plus Bluebird
-
Corned Beef City still remains no. 1. (Followed by Corned Beef City (unmixed) from the Deluxe ;D )
Can't wait to hear it live!
-
They vary quite often, and I really think THIS is going to be MK's best album ever...
For now, quite persistent are:
Redbud tree
Haul away
Privateering
Go Love
Yon two Crows
Seattle
Bluebird
Blood and water
Dream of the drowned submarine
After the Beanstalk
10 out of 20 are most preferred!!! And I love the other ones too... :D
-
Even thou I hoped for more faster and "energetic?" songs with more distinct "What It Is-ish strat sound"...and at first take didn't get amused by percentage of Blues also which I do not like that much, after fey days I just can' t stop listening to samples and must admit that, even a quite slow, songs seems beautiful, with particularly lovely singing melodies.
Top 3 for me at the moment are;
Go, Love
Blood And Water
Yon Two Crows (quite a nice mix of Silvertown and New Orleans atmosphere)
This album perhaps might have most of DS feel of all Mark solo ones...RadioCity reminds me somehow on Why Worry...etc etc
-
I only had a quick listen in poor sounding conditions (at work) before my extra long 2 week summer vacations and I was not very impressed.
first impression : too bluesy, too slow, not enough Les Paul, The Ragpicker's Dream part II.
I want to give this album a real chance and I will wait for the release.
Anyway, I like the songs I've heard in full and that's a good sign.
I know there will a few gems whose full potential will only be released live.
Favourite songs : Corned beef city, Redbud tree, Privateering, Kingdom of gold
-
This album perhaps might have most of DS feel of all Mark solo ones...RadioCity reminds me somehow on Why Worry...etc etc
Yes, Hot or What has a lot of similarity with Millionaire Blues.
-
First of all I see many new members joining us and that is wonderful! .......I like to welcome you all to this wonderful Knopflerfamily
and hope you will have such a great time as I have for years! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v510/Fieneke2/Emoticons/3511504d6836511af49a93488fbc3c4a1c3.gif)
I have been very busy the last weeks and didn't have much time listening to the snippets. I listened now a few times and must say that every time there are more songs I have to add to my list of the songs I like! (http://audiocandy.com/images/smilies/clap.gif)
Since I heard Haul Away during the tour with Bob, I LOVE this song! :P Listening to the version at the album still gives me shivering, really fantastic song and this one will get a place at my list of Marks best songs ever......oohhh and there are already so many! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v510/Fieneke2/Emoticons/Grinning.gif)
Well these are my favourites:
- Haul Away
- Redbud Tree
- Privateering
- Miss You Blues
- Bluebird
- Dream Of The Drowned Submarine
I am sure there will be more at my list soon!
Fieneke
-
It' s kinda off topic but, I just almost accidentally listen (after "100 years") Imelda and Don't You Get It outro solos, and ...what a drumming!, what a energy!
Am I crazy for (sort of) missing that? And even for wishing to hear it again from Mark? As obviously that's gone for now...
-
Is it me, or does anyone else's teeth cringe at hearing the first guitar solo in 'Gator Blood?' Boy, does that guitar screech and for me detracts from the song. MIght feel differently on hearing the full version. For me, 'Go Love', 'Seattle' and 'Mariner' stand out tracks but the whole album is not probably not going to be off my CD player for quite a while. Add the three extra tracks from the God knows whatever super edition they are coming out on, one of which is over eight minutes, (the longest cut from Mark for years!) and it sounds like we have a lot of Knopfler music to listen to over the next few months. Bring it on!
-
I like that screeching! If anything, Mark's albums have been too clean in the past, so I'm glad to see him getting raw!
-
Is it me, or does anyone else's teeth cringe at hearing the first guitar solo in 'Gator Blood?' Boy, does that guitar screech and for me detracts from the song. MIght feel differently on hearing the full version. For me, 'Go Love', 'Seattle' and 'Mariner' stand out tracks but the whole album is not probably not going to be off my CD player for quite a while. Add the three extra tracks from the God knows whatever super edition they are coming out on, one of which is over eight minutes, (the longest cut from Mark for years!) and it sounds like we have a lot of Knopfler music to listen to over the next few months. Bring it on!
You got me thinking about song lengths! This is the longest song from MK since MFN and Why Bother at 8:30 and 8:29 respectively.
-
I like that screeching! If anything, Mark's albums have been too clean in the past, so I'm glad to see him getting raw!
Yes, yes, yes, exactly my thoughts! I like this new sound!
And btw, I can very clearly now NOT answer this topic but can say that there are clearly two skippers for me, two songs which probably will never get into my playlist because I find nothing interesting in them:
Blood and Water and After The Beanstalk. That's it, the other 18 songs are all great, and some of them
are really absolute great tunes! I like! More and more!
LE
-
For me, no real skippers. Those I like the least are Don't firget your hat and Hot or what.
I love particularly The dream of the submariner.
Radio city serenade has a nice intro (amazon snippet)
-
For me every blues song is a skipper in potential...
I like blues, but its not what I
-
I just mixed two parts of Go, Love. One from soundcloud and other from iTunes so now I can enjoy song from the beginning to wherever it ends...
Really one of the greatest, easy going ones MK ever recorded ;)
I also mixed Seattle the same way ;)
-
Really one of the greatest, easy going ones MK ever recorded ;)
Exactly my thought about this really awesome tune. I am very thrilled about hearing it complete. Also "Miss You Blues" is of special interest for me, can't wait to hear it in full length!
LE
-
At this stage I won't be able to tell what my favourite is. I really need to hear the whole song. The most promising seems to be "Yon Two Crows". There will be somewhere between 5 or 10 skippers I think. Skippers are actually songs that don't end up in my DS/Knopfler playlist en my full pop/rock playlist with misc. artists.
I always copy the CD directly to my PC, since I use my PC with high end soundcard and high-end Dynaudio Monitors and Sennheiser HD580 headphones for listening to my music. My hi-fi set hardly gets used anymore.
Then I listen to the whole album alot for a few weeks and after that i make a selection of the songs I like and delete the 'crappy' ones. Though a crappy Knopfler song is often better then the most music you hear on the main stream radio. Over here in the Netherlands we have a radio station called 538 that is really horrible. It has one of the highest listening ratings, if not the highest, of the country. You won't hear Mark's songs there. But you get that awful song "Someone Like You" every two or three hours. I pitty everyone who is made to listen to that channel, by his or her collegues. The problem is democratic decision at the work place when it comes chosing which radio station will be listened too.
-
Dream of the drowned submariner is a song that's catching me for some reason.
Seatle, Yon two crows, Go Love sound really great too. But who knows what happens after listening the whole songs for at least 10 times in a row :D
-
Dream of the drowned submariner is a song that's catching me for some reason.
I drove a bike two days ago, about 5miles, to buy some magazines...anyhow, I forgot my iPhone and ended up humming/singing the lines from that particular one :)
Off course, only the part available on iTunes :) It was kinda strange...because I do not know the song actually :)
-
At this stage I won't be able to tell what my favourite is. I really need to hear the whole song. The most promising seems to be "Yon Two Crows". There will be somewhere between 5 or 10 skippers I think. Skippers are actually songs that don't end up in my DS/Knopfler playlist en my full pop/rock playlist with misc. artists.
I always copy the CD directly to my PC, since I use my PC with high end soundcard and high-end Dynaudio Monitors and Sennheiser HD580 headphones for listening to my music. My hi-fi set hardly gets used anymore.
Then I listen to the whole album alot for a few weeks and after that i make a selection of the songs I like and delete the 'crappy' ones. Though a crappy Knopfler song is often better then the most music you hear on the main stream radio. Over here in the Netherlands we have a radio station called 538 that is really horrible. It has one of the highest listening ratings, if not the highest, of the country. You won't hear Mark's songs there. But you get that awful song "Someone Like You" every two or three hours. I pitty everyone who is made to listen to that channel, by his or her collegues. The problem is democratic decision at the work place when it comes chosing which radio station will be listened too.
the exact reason why I use my iPod at work 24/7 ( of my work time)
-
I have to say it again...
Corned Beef City is one of the better songs in many many years from the man!
-
I had to stop ritualistic listening of album just to write this - Go, Love is... huh man... one of D ones...
...and Hot or what (guitar solos specially)...Yon Two Crows also, huh...
Kingdom of gold! ...Bluebird;)
Sub-ma-ri-ner! Just...what a tune! A hymn! Staggering outro...
and Blood and Water, my type of blues ;)
-
Bluebird ! I love this song !
-
after listening to all in complete
dream of the drowned submariner is a masterpiece - classic knopfler song that will satisfy all the strait-fans out there, ...
followed by haul away and privateering.
bit too many f***** fade outs again on this album (who is mixing this stuff ??? guy ???? arrgh - what is it !??? , so after hearing that, i correct my opinion, it
-
Nice outro on Go, love.
-
After listening to the album last night I've got to say I'm very satisfied. It's better than I thought it was going to be with some really good songs on there. There is one criticism I do have, however and that lies with the length of the songs; they are too darn short! Too many seem to either start suddenly or end abruptly.
None is this more evident than in Bluebird where all of a sudden Marks vocal begins when one was expecting a bit more of an introduction, then at the end just as I was expecting a nice play-out the solo stopped after about ten seconds! This is a very good song with the potential to be a great song and it's not alone in that respect. An album not living up to it's full potential, but still very good as it stands. 8/10 (MK standards).
NB: My uneducated opinion! ;D
-
After having listened to Privateering a few times, I have several favourites !
Among the blues tracks :
- Bluebird
- Miss you blues
- Today is okay (MK writes fucking good songs about Sonny Liston !!!)
Among the other tracks
- The dream of the submariner
- Go Love
- Yon two crows
- Radio city serenade
A masterpiece !
-
Mine are, in no particular order:
Redbud Tree
Miss You Blues
Go, Love
Seattle
Dream Of The Drowned Submariner
Bluebird
-
May as well list mine (as if anyone's interested ;)):
Haul Away (yes it's grown on me)
Miss You Blues (don't know why this very average number tickles me, it just does)
Corned Beef
Hot Or What
Yon Two Crows
Radio City (love the way MK strums the National at the end just to put his signature on it)
Bluebird
Dream Of the...
Today Is Okay
-
My favourits are: (No order)
Haul Away
Miss You Blues(love the intro)
Corned Beef City
Go, Love
Yon Two Crows
Kingdom Of Gold
Radio City Serenade
I Used To Could
Dream Of The Drowned Submariner
Privateering
Redbud Tree
Skippers are:
Don't Forget Your Hat
Hot Or What
The rest is okay! (Seattle, Got To Have Something, Gator Blood, Bluebird, Blood And Water, Today Is Okay, After The Beanstalk)
-
Today is "After the beanstalk" the song that I
-
My five favs are:
- Redbud Tree
- Miss You Blues
- Corned Beef City
- Yon Two Crows
- Radio City Serenade
-
Today is "After the beanstalk" the song that I
-
haul away just opened itself to me. nice one!!
-
Glad to hear they did put some time to the songs. Recording ~40 songs may result in lots of "unfinished" or "underproduced" stuff, but here it doesn't feel like it at all. The title track, Radio City and Drowned Submariner are good examples I think.
-
I avoided the snippets, so today I've had two proper listens - I must say I was initially skeptical, didn't want to get my hopes too high, but I love half the songs instantly (in a mellow relaxed way) and another quarter I like!
The many standard blues beats left me cold at first. But as I sit here listening to Today Is Okay, I think they will define the feel and sound of the CD. Overall it's quite thematic and nothing stands out as too jarring or out of place.
-
This is my first post after finding the forum :)
Overall great album. Prefer disc 1 to disc 2.
Yon two crows is for me the standout track on the album. Love the melody/feel, build up, metpahor lyris between crows and trying to make a hard living. Instrument interludes also sound incredible. One of the best MK songs in recent times imho.
Most of the other tracks on disc 1 are excellent.
-
The snippets didn't promise too much. The album is quite fantastic.
My absolute favourite is "Dream Of The Drowned Submariner". First, when I heard the snippets, I was quite excited about all those new, beautiful songs. When it came to DOTDS I felt like I was electrified. I stopped from one second to the other in my motion and didn't move for seconds. It was like a little shock.
Now I'm listening to the full version. Can't describe it; it is like kind of being hypnotised of that song.
-
This album is just sooooooo stunning!!! OMG! Mark is totally on fire on pretty much every track..... the Blues stuff is amazing too... lol I can't wait for the tour now!
-
On fire? We must have a different definition of "on fire".
I've listened to the album a few times, and I'm already bored.
Sorry.
-
The snippets didn't promise too much. The album is quite fantastic.
My absolute favourite is "Dream Of The Drowned Submariner". First, when I heard the snippets, I was quite excited about all those new, beautiful songs. When it came to DOTDS I felt like I was electrified. I stopped from one second to the other in my motion and didn't move for seconds. It was like a little shock.
Now I'm listening to the full version. Can't describe it; it is like kind of being hypnotised of that song.
Felt exactly the same! As I said yesterday, I purchased a copy from a Brazilian online store but it won't arrive til Sep 13 so yes, I downloaded it... Since I couldn't listen to it at work I burnt a copy and had my first listen during my ride back home. I got mesmerised. Didn't even care about the traffic jam that held me up for 2 (!!!) hours. No skippers. Lots of favorites, Dream of the Drowned Submariner is one of the most beautiful things ever written imho.
-
Tastes differ.
So can I assume you're more of a "dire straits" kinda guy?
-
Blood and Water is so damn nice. Like the chord progressions very much.
-
occupation blues. like it hell yeah...
-
nice piano noodling by old Cox J.
-
allready singing along to it, nice chorus!
-
Yon two crows is in repeat mode. ;D
I'm dreaming they will play it live and include Silvertown Blues licks in the extended outro. 8)
A few nice tracks :
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Redbud Tree
Kingdom of gold
Privateering
Haul away
CBC
-
HFB from the madrid show :-)
-
love miss you blues.the intro alone..
-
Yon two crows is in repeat mode. ;D
I'm dreaming they will play it live and include Silvertown Blues licks in the extended outro. 8)
A few nice tracks :
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Redbud Tree
Kingdom of gold
Privateering
Haul away
CBC
Tunnel85 Yon two crows is my absolute favourite too. It has what you could call that distinctive Knopfler signature sound to it. Though I feel this song still needs to grow. Like with Hill Farmer Blues. It needs a climax with a lot of banging on the cymbals and toms and heavy lead and rythm guitar part underneath, like with Speedway.
Looking at the rest of your list I have a feeling our taste and what we look for in Knopfler songs is about the same.
I read alot on this forum that people think this album is the best Knopfler has done. I really don't understand why. Maybe because it's new and all. Sailing To Philadelphia will remain my favourite. Hope "Yon Two Crows" and "So Far From The Clyde" will make it's way to the setlist.
-
corned beef city, brilliant...
-
Some stated that Miss You Blues is the weakest or the least best song ... I can not agree. For me it is one of the highlights together with Go, Love. Highlight means, I hardly find a song I don't like apart from Blood And Water (I know it is good in composition and all, but it reminds me too much of "Small Potatoes which I also never liked - it is this lazy voice in these two that I don't like) but if I had to choose the 5 best, these two would be among them.
From the first early snippets I loved Miss You Blues. And it is such an lighthearted, nice melody, the SOUND of it is so great and it reminds me a lot of Ry Cooder...
Go, Love has a breathtaking outro which is totally unexpected when just listening to the snippets - the song takes a turn and has something from "Follow me Home" if I am not mistaken, at least it remembers me of some of the best stuff of early MK...
LE
-
On fire? We must have a different definition of "on fire".
I've listened to the album a few times, and I'm already bored.
Sorry.
Me too.... and It's very sad to say for me.... Obviously is only my opinion and I totally respect other feelings.... but what the hell a double CD??? Many of these songs are standard song.... not Knopfler quality..... not Knopfler touch.... sure wonderful "stories"... but not musical knopfler touch....
Very sad....
-
sorry to read it makes you sad. i am happy to be able to say i like most songs except the radio city thing, boring as fuck.i used to could is not mentioned too often, but it is brilliant too!
-
Gator blood : really like the slide guitar here! He must play this one live, two times, with extended slide solo!
-
bluebird! forgot about that one. just hearing Kim Wilson tear through the song, goooooddd..
-
Also it sounds that a lot of songs are one takers? Or am I the only one who thinks?
-
blood and water, LE, how can you NOT like the awesome playing at the end! get in there and check it again young man!!
-
will do... the solo is nice I know... (in fact, coincidentally, I have it on my earphones JUST right at this moment...) maybe it will grow on me...
LE
-
But "Today Is Okay" has not to grow in me, it is GREAT! I love the lyrics on this one - the idea that it is Sonny Liston, the "Bear" who "never smiles", and Mark gives him such a great mood and such a good day... and the drums are phantastic on this one (as on the whole album in general)... no, I am not sure if Danny could have delivered such quality... real live feeling and interaction between drums and Mark ...
"
And the beginning of "I Used To Could": These drums! The first lines are sung almost like a intro, and then, when MK sings "DMC cannonball going like a train - all down the 40 in the driving rain" the song REALLY starts and I get goosebumps EVERY time!... Could on the same about so many other songs on this great album...
LE
-
i start to prefer the blues tracks at the moment. crazy.
Got to have something. hear this loud - the intro is great.
indeed, danny is a cool guy and passionate drummer, but i think ian brings an new style into the tracks -
-
Great album, another collection of a lot great songs.
Are very great:
Blood and Water: very nice song, great Les Paul 8) 8) 8) 8)
Bluebird: no doubt best blues song in the album 8) 8) 8) 8)
Gator Blood: this one is special, very surprise JJ sound 8) 8) 8) 8)
Go love: you can put it in all DS albums 8) 8) 8) 8)
Dream Of Drowned Submariner: wonderful like all his intimist songs 8) 8) 8) 8)
Privateering & Haul away: Best folk songs :D :D :D
Redbud tree & Seattle: stratocaster forever :D :D :D
Miss you blues & Corned beef city: bottleneck go go go :D :D :D
I think that the level of album is highter but there's not THE SONG this time like other albums for example So far from the Clyde in GL.
Straitsway75
-
i think i am bit melancholic and thoughtful at the time, as i will be father of twins soon and life goes in new direction ...
the silent songs about death and hope makes me shiver - only the music of knopfler can achieve those emotions in me ...
"submariner" stays my masterpiece -
can
-
I have to say that the more I listen to the blues tracks..the more I like them..and the addition of Kim Wilson to the lineup for those songs was shear genius! LOVE his harp playing..adds a new dimension to Mark's attempts at the blues.
-
sorry to read it makes you sad. i am happy to be able to say i like most songs except the radio city thing, boring as fuck.i used to could is not mentioned too often, but it is brilliant too!
I can't understand not liking Radio City, it's instantly likable - poll to ban Pottel?
-
There ain't no bad song on this album !
I only heard them on my computer so far, cos I ain't got the CDs yet....
But it gonna's be a good moment !
I used to could, gator blood, bluebird, today is okay, corned beef city, after the beanstalk, blood and water.... on a high level on my hi-fi system, I'm waiting like a kid for his toy !
;D
-
Your perfect song is also wonderfull. Oh and HFB from the download bonus, stunning version!
-
MK is a melody genius, as weel as a guitar genius or a songwriting genius !
All his songs always have a melody that catches your brain !
-
sorry to read it makes you sad. i am happy to be able to say i like most songs except the radio city thing, boring as fuck.i used to could is not mentioned too often, but it is brilliant too!
I can't understand not liking Radio City, it's instantly likable - poll to ban Pottel?
interesting, first mutiny attempt on here...
-
The only one which has way too sudden end is Yon Two Crows. I was really expecting a fey rounds more long solo at the end, after that great theme :-\
Got no probs with fade outs though...
-
If they start banning those who don't understand Radio City Serenade, it's gonna be a full time job. For at least two or three people ;)
And then we have to set up a new forum. A red one, I was told the color is free now. ;D
-
Radio City Serenade is like mixing two worlds. One is that old evergreen style, F. Sinatra-ish with trumpet or something, which I like, but other part is too much like "A night in summer long ago" which is fine but, I listened to GH album so much times by now that even a slightest reminder almost makes me sick :-[ :)
-
Radio City Serenade is like mixing two worlds. One is that old evergreen style, F. Sinatra-ish with trumpet or something, which I like, but other part is too much like "A night in summer long ago" which is fine but, I listened to GH album so much times by now that even a slightest reminder almost makes me sick :-[ :)
None of those worlds is my cup a tea. Two reasons for me to skip RCS. Really.
Interesting if MK mixes different styles : instead of having one Shangri-La style song, one Sinatra-like, one ANISLA-like, one Blues, so 4 songs, he can mix them together and release only one song. ::) ;)
-
The Irish theme is obviously illustrating the Irish in the narrator? Irish policeman?
I have some questions about the lyrics anyway, so I can do it here I guess:
"the lady by the sea" - could that be the Statue of Liberty? I have no idea, also could be what he calls his hometown in Ireland or a "real" wife??
"Rockette" - What's that?
"You've got my arms" - Arms as in Brothers of Arms, means Weapons? Or arm the long shiny thingis on my left and on my right?? ??? ;D
Disturbs me when I have absolutely no clue what he talks about...
LE
-
wife??
"Rockette" - What's that?
LE
This:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rockettes
-
It seems that, anyhow, Mark had a great fun (maybe more than ever?) while recording tunes, because there are so many background "aaaaahs, yeas nad ooohs" on this album :)
Specially after some harmonica licks :) Like those to be honest, cheers me up :)
-
It seems that, anyhow, Mark had a great fun (maybe more than ever?) while recording tunes, because there are so many background "aaaaahs, yeas nad ooohs" on this album :)
Specially after some harmonica licks :) Like those to be honest, cheers me up :)
I agree, he sounds like he's having fun and playing well. Hope it doesn't wear off by the time he gets to America!
-
The Irish theme is obviously illustrating the Irish in the narrator? Irish policeman?
I have some questions about the lyrics anyway, so I can do it here I guess:
"the lady by the sea" - could that be the Statue of Liberty? I have no idea, also could be what he calls his hometown in Ireland or a "real" wife??
"Rockette" - What's that?
"You've got my arms" - Arms as in Brothers of Arms, means Weapons? Or arm the long shiny thingis on my left and on my right?? ??? ;D
Disturbs me when I have absolutely no clue what he talks about...
LE
My interpretation is that this is a song about a homeless veteran, of which there are plenty I fear (you've got to have no credit cards to know how good it feels ... sitting on the sidewalk with a party to arrange), who takes comfort in the feeling that the city (NYC - my beautiful Rockette) is his home in a way that only homeless people must feel. You and I have a house in a city somewhere, but the homeless consider the entire city they live in their home, I think. The references to the Statue of Liberty that run throughout the song (lady with a light) correlate with what this person stood for when he was a soldier and how having that silhouette of the statue to view from perhaps a temporary home under a bridge (have I got you a river view) is comforting to him (a person now living on the margins of life) as he reflects on the sights, sounds and symbolism of the city and country that he loves.
-
Nice interpretation, thank you. Maybe I should forget about the policeman then? Was this damned post at Guy's forum months ago where someone asked about Chris Botti playing on a song on Mark's new album about an Irish NY cop... So that has influenced me - until now! Will hear it again with your lines in mind... ;)
LE
-
occupation blues is REALLY getting to me. like the noodling and like the chorus. also, jim is delivering some great piano playing here. and Richard on his bouzouki.i find the mcgoldrick/mccusker influence not being to high on this album by the way, anyone else noticed??
-
LE, My link from Wikipedia (above) states that Rockette's are dancing girls from Radio City! Perhaps you missed it! ;D
-
Yeah, I noticed that, too.
I think Follow The Ribbon is a really great song, too. Would have been perfect to end the whole Double album as a last song.. 8 minutes, veeeeeery relaxed and calm, but nice repeating melody, puts you to sleep nearly, but in a good way... ::) if you know what I mean... I think I will put it at the end of Privateering or even change it with After the Beanstalk on my playlist...
LE
-
LE, My link from Wikipedia (above) states that Rockette's are dancing girls from Radio City! Perhaps you missed it! ;D
No, Val, I saw that but forgot to say thank you. So THANK YOU! :D But somehow I have to manage now to put this together with the story of Rkd... Or with the cop story...
LE
-
The only one which has way too sudden end is Yon Two Crows. I was really expecting a fey rounds more long solo at the end, after that great theme :-\
Got no probs with fade outs though...
Just off the top of my head I can think of the fabulous Bluebird for a start. One of my favourite song from the album cut short. Just hope it's played live with an extended solo. This song can easily last an extra minute or so.
-
Would be great if he'd play all 24 new songs during the 2013 tour! ;D
-
Would be great if he'd play all 24 new songs during the 2013 tour! ;D
I think you're on the wrong forum; this is Mark "safety" Knopfler we're talking about! ;D
-
I actually like RCS a lot....all about an Irish cop's love of the city he has sworn to protect. The references to him as a soldier are merely referring to him fighting battles on the streets to serve his beloved town. It's almost cinematic...you feel like your walking along the sidewalks of Battery Park looking out over the Statue and the harbor. The foghorns in the beginning set the scene (Down on the Waterline!). It's not a song to listen to all the time..you need to be in the mood.
As far as best so far for me..tough call..it's between 3 songs.."Bluebird", "Yon two crows" and lastly...the studio version of "Haul Away" was all that I had hoped for and then some! The thing that I love about this album as a whole is the diversity..probably why it ended up a double..Mark just had so much material ...hard to cut any of it.
-
Would be great if he'd play all 24 new songs during the 2013 tour! ;D
I think you're on the wrong forum; this is Mark "safety" Knopfler we're talking about! ;D
or "This is the real Mark Knopfler we are talking about, not the one we are dreaming about"
-
It will not happen, I know, but still. It's just the idea! :lol
-
occupation Blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Radio City Serenade
Seattle
Follow the Ribbon
-
Least favourite is Don't Forget Your Hat. Any of the bonus songs could've replaced that, what a shame.
-
Corned beef city would e a wicked opener
-
Corned beef city would e a wicked opener
Yes oh yes!
Followed up by 'I used to could'
-
Maybe I should forget about the policeman then? )
LE
I hadn't heard anything about the policeman possibility till now. Square one.
-
occupation Blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah!
-
occupation Blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah!
Occupation Blues is really great! My favourite of the bonus songs. :D
Many thanks to those who offered to share the songs. It was most appreciated! :)
-
The "outro" and the guitar playing at the end of "Dream of the Drowned Submariner" is VERY nice.... I would say one of the best guitar solo parts on the album... very touching and moving... could have been a few bars longer though in my opinion - I love the way Mark builds it up - first a few notes, like a sketch, and then with every repeat some more until we have the complete playing at the end - and the tone itself is also awesome... Love it...
LE
-
Occupation Blues is really great! My favourite of the bonus songs. :D
Superval99 I totally agree. It is my fav from the bonus songs too! :D
Though I must say I don't like the first 21 seconds of the song (intro). I am going to cut those away from the song with an audio editor. The violin part sounds very amateur like. As if someone is playing during his first violin lessons with a cheap violin. :disbelief
-
"Go love", second 21, ... when drums take part.
simply great moment
this are the details coming up when all is growing.
-
Hi,
Can someone share the 4 bonus tracks ? I've already asked this morning but no answer...
thank you
-
see my comment on those requests inthe bonus tracks thread.
-
Though I must say I don't like the first 21 seconds of the song (intro). I am going to cut those away from the song with an audio editor. The violin part sounds very amateur like. As if someone is playing during his first violin lessons with a cheap violin. :disbelief
Hmmm. Your post indicates that you are maybe capable of playing violin or at least know a lot about it, which I don't do. But could it be that there is a certain difference in looking at the instrument as "violin" or as "fiddle"? And that John McCusker seems to know what he is doing here? This song has (for me) a certain French Occupied Zone 1943 - DJANGO REINHARDT feel to it. And a proper violin would not fit in my opinion. Do you think John McCusker is a good player?
LE
-
The "outro" and the guitar playing at the end of "Dream of the Drowned Submariner" is VERY nice.... I would say one of the best guitar solo parts on the album... very touching and moving... could have been a few bars longer though in my opinion - I love the way Mark builds it up - first a few notes, like a sketch, and then with every repeat some more until we have the complete playing at the end - and the tone itself is also awesome... Love it...
LE
Absolutely! My favorite moment on album 100% :)
-
Radio City is a 10/10...
Cant believe how wonderful this song is...
Kingdom of gold was the big dissapoinment to me, I expeted it to be great, but its not... 6/10 being generous.
-
Radio City brought tears in my eyes when hearing it the first 2 times.
Somehow really moving at least to me
-
just listened to occupation blues for first time. Its a great song,and it should have kicked at least one of the lesser blues tracks off the album in my opinion.
-
I agree. This is really fantastic song. Stratocaster tone is superb in this one. I like the catchy chorus too.
-
Any of the songs left out of the album are easily at the same level with many that made the cut.
I'll have to listen to the album a few more times to make a more consistent and final review.
But my initial feelings are very good. We will see...
-
Radio City brought tears in my eyes when hearing it the first 2 times.
Somehow really moving at least to me
I love it too but I thought maybe it was just because I'm American and it's a song about NYC. Glad to know it has more universal appeal. I just think it is a really complex song.
-
Alright, after a weekend of not doing much more than listening to this album, here's my definite hit list:
1. Seattle. Must be one of the greatest song's he's ever written. Top this, any of you songwriters out there!
2. Haul Away. I first thought it should have been recorded faster, like he plays it in the EPK. Not so sure now, it works that way, too. Amazing.
3. Bluebird. A perfect example of how Mark can take a "normal" blues pattern and then make more of it, somehow. That's not the case for all the blues songs on this album, unfortunately.
4. Red Bud Tree. Just the way he sings "... a place of ferns and grass" makes me love it. Don't know why, it just has that kind of feeling only he can create.
5. Kingdom of Gold. Is it too much, with the choir and everything? I don't think so; there's enough irony to this song. Brilliant.
6. I Used to Could. Kim Wilson adds a lot to this album. Together with Today is Okay, it's the best of the traditional blues songs on here.
7. Privateering. You gotta love it, even if I don't like the comped production, the fading out of the choruses etc. But the song's too strong to really take damage.
8. Yon Two Crows. He could have done without the pasted intro, but still. Great knopfleresque drive in the lyrics and guitar work.
9. Radio City Serenade. Just as good as A Night in Summer, Long Ago, of which it reminds me. Beautiful! And did anyone notice the intro, the link between "Gotta Have Something" and this?
10. Today is okay. Love the syncopated rhythm. Keep humming it all day.
11. The Dream of the Drowned Submariner. I usually hate synths, but have to admit (grudingly) that they are kind of necessary here, to create the submarine atmosphere. And what a melody.
12. Corned Beef City. The long awaited rocker. Simple and strong.
13. Gator blood. Just for that crying guitar "solo". Ha, Mark has come a long way with his solos!
14. After the Bean Stalk. Well, you either love or hate this, I guess. I love it. Whaaa-wha-whaaaa ...
That makes 14 great songs
-
Alright, after a weekend of not doing much more than listening to this album, here's my definite hit list:
1. Seattle. Must be one of the greatest song's he's ever written. Top this, any of you songwriters out there!
2. Haul Away. I first thought it should have been recorded faster, like he plays it in the EPK. Not so sure now, it works that way, too. Amazing.
3. Bluebird. A perfect example of how Mark can take a "normal" blues pattern and then make more of it, somehow. That's not the case for all the blues songs on this album, unfortunately.
4. Red Bud Tree. Just the way he sings "... a place of ferns and grass" makes me love it. Don't know why, it just has that kind of feeling only he can create.
5. Kingdom of Gold. Is it too much, with the choir and everything? I don't think so; there's enough irony to this song. Brilliant.
6. I Used to Could. Kim Wilson adds a lot to this album. Together with Today is Okay, it's the best of the traditional blues songs on here.
7. Privateering. You gotta love it, even if I don't like the comped production, the fading out of the choruses etc. But the song's too strong to really take damage.
8. Yon Two Crows. He could have done without the pasted intro, but still. Great knopfleresque drive in the lyrics and guitar work.
9. Radio City Serenade. Just as good as A Night in Summer, Long Ago, of which it reminds me. Beautiful! And did anyone notice the intro, the link between "Gotta Have Something" and this?
10. Today is okay. Love the syncopated rhythm. Keep humming it all day.
11. The Dream of the Drowned Submariner. I usually hate synths, but have to admit (grudingly) that they are kind of necessary here, to create the submarine atmosphere. And what a melody.
12. Corned Beef City. The long awaited rocker. Simple and strong.
13. Gator blood. Just for that crying guitar "solo". Ha, Mark has come a long way with his solos!
14. After the Bean Stalk. Well, you either love or hate this, I guess. I love it. Whaaa-wha-whaaaa ...
That makes 14 great songs
-
I admit you don't like the blues tracks, but Go, Love isn't on your list, it's such a beautiful song.
Same with Blood and water !
Believe me, I had a hard time leaving these two songs off! I like them both, but they're not my favourites. There is no song on the album that I really don't like. I could have lived very well without "Miss You Blues", though.
-
I admit you don't like the blues tracks, but Go, Love isn't on your list, it's such a beautiful song.
Same with Blood and water !
Believe me, I had a hard time leaving these two songs off! I like them both, but they're not my favourites. There is no song on the album that I really don't like. I could have lived very well without "Miss You Blues", though.
Rail King - I always find that those songs I like least, at first, on an album, eventually become firm favourites - they just need a lot of listens! ;) Don't give up on them yet! :)
-
This morning I listened to River of grog in may car and I really find it very beautiful.
Just MK and his acoustic guitar.
His voice is raw, his whistle blows in the microphone, it's simple but very nice !
-
Just realized that Bluebird got some similarities (God I hate comparing songs in general, but it's stronger than me) with Fade To Black, especially the way he played that great solo at the end.
-
@LE
Though I must say I don't like the first 21 seconds of the song (intro). I am going to cut those away from the song with an audio editor. The violin part sounds very amateur like. As if someone is playing during his first violin lessons with a cheap violin. :disbelief
Hmmm. Your post indicates that you are maybe capable of playing violin or at least know a lot about it, which I don't do. But could it be that there is a certain difference in looking at the instrument as "violin" or as "fiddle"? And that John McCusker seems to know what he is doing here? This song has (for me) a certain French Occupied Zone 1943 - DJANGO REINHARDT feel to it. And a proper violin would not fit in my opinion. Do you think John McCusker is a good player?
LE
LE I don't play violin myself, but I do listen to alot of violin music. Mainly bluegrass fiddle, jazz and classical. My favourite violinplayer is the classical violinplayer Maxim Vengerov. But I have also alot of CDs with jazz violinplayer Jean-Luc Ponty. John McCusker is a very good player, but not a great player in my humble opinion. Stuart Duncan is what I call a great player when it comes to folk/bluegrass fiddle. John McCusker is on the other hand a multi-instrumentalist (violin, fiddle, cittern). So it's logical in some area's he compromises.
Also a good or great player doesn't have necessarily a good sound. There are many great technical guitarplayers, but who have actually a horrible guitar sound. I don't know if in this case John is to blame or the one who did the micing/recording of the violin. Maybe it's a matter of taste, but personally i find the violin part of Occupation Blues sounds horrible.
-
[/quote]
Rail King - I always find that those songs I like least, at first, on an album, eventually become firm favourites - they just need a lot of listens! ;) Don't give up on them yet! :)
[/quote]
No worries, I never give up on ANYTHING Knopfler related! :lol
-
Hi,
In my opinion the new album is a big positive surprise. For me the best since the outstanding STP record. Yes, there is a lot of blues tracks, but I really like the turn from much folk to much blues. It's hard to find a weak song on the album, but " Radio City Seranade " and " After The Beanstalk " will never be big hits for my taste.
It's also hard to mention some favorites, because of the high number of quality songs.
At the first disc I really love " Redbud Tree ". What a fantastic little solo in the middle of the song :)
The song " Corned Beef City " is great. Allways like these faster songs made by Mark :)
I'm what you can call a typical DS fan, so " GO Love " and " You Two Crows " are at the top for me :)
At the second disc the song " Dream Of The Drowned Submariner " is the best.
Also best at the whole album. Love it :) :)
My other faves are " Gator Blood ", " Bluebird " and " Blood And Water ". Pretty MK guitar on these :)
-
I love it too but I thought maybe it was just because I'm American and it's a song about NYC. Glad to know it has more universal appeal. I just think it is a really complex song.
Hold on. You live in America and were able to listen to the album? HOWHOWHOWHOWHOW? Amazon's telling me that it doesn't come out here 'till September 11!
-
The album has been leaked since last Thursday - available to all (incl. all bonus) if you know how.
-
By far, the best one is... "River Of Grog"...!!!
Cheers,
Eric
-
Yes, it's amazing song, Eric! I've already even transcribed and learned it, thanks again shangri la 1 for lyrics!
Maybe I'll record cover of it sometime.
I wondering when MK has wrote it... sounds like 1000 years old song ;D
-
Yes, and I'm still wondering if it was MK seeing double that particular night... ;)
And still, I'm also wondering HOW and WHY such a song didn't make the record! It's a complete shame!
Foma, some years ago I used to cover some special MK songs, like "Marbletown" (i.e. on youtube), but this time I will wait for your try on this one... ;)
-
Funny how taste differs, for me it's one of the weakest :)
I like it that all people find something different in all songs :D
-
You know usually with Mark's albums/songs, the more I listen to them the more they grow on me. This one is different though because listening to the songs today I seem to be starting to like them less and less.
Now don't shoot me down here because they're still far better than anything else out there, but I'm just getting a little disappointed in some of them. I think he struggles to find a decent melody these days for one thing. Miss You Blues has a nice melody (coincidence) imo but in this one it's the lyrics that are awful. The lyrics of Seattle are very cheesy and the melody is staid to say the least with the guitar sounding like it's about to start the outro of You Don't Know You're Born.
The similarities don't stop there either but they've been spoken of before. The blues numbers promised much and delivered very little; unoriginal sounding songs and uninspired performances. Marks "solos" we've heard the same, and far better a million times before with the NHB.
I have 9 songs out of 20 ticked in my iTunes now, the rest I can skip. There's only really 5 that get me going though. I'd rather have quality over quantity any day of the week. LOG had only 5 songs remember, and I wouldn't have minded if he'd just released that! People wouldn't accept that these days though especially with the advent of the CD.
Or maybe it's just one of those days!
-
I Used To Could
Bluebird
Dream Of The Drowned Submariner
Today Is Okay
Miss You Blues
Go, Love
Yon Two Crows
Follow The Ribbon
are my favourites at the moment in no particular order, which means, they are the ONLY ones that I listen to, the rest is skipped...
One thing starts to annoy me: The double album stuff: How can there be an album feel with so many songs? I think Kingdom of Gold bad as an opener for the second CD, right after Seattle, and a bad song in general, not as expected... Suggestion: Delete this song from the album and put Yon Two Crows as track one on the second album .... - that one has much more an "opener" feel... I still find less than nothing in Blood and Water and Beanstalk and would have thought of Follow The Ribbon as a perfect closer for the double album...
No album feel, as I said. Wonder if it will come along after more listens...
I like Miss You Blues very much and have a theory about the meaning of the lyrics. It has to do with
Knopfler/Atkins and Dylan/Cash...
LE
-
The ones I have ticked are:
Haul Away
Miss You
Corned Beef
Yon Two
Seattle
Radio City
Bluebird
Dream of the
Blood and Water
I still have all the bonus tracks ticked but Occupation Blues grabs me first as a nice one. Like the solo in it too.
I think we underestimate the importance of melody in a song as we naturally tend to discuss what a song is about. This is fine, but although it is nice to understand the lyrics it's not essential and the melody is an essential part of the listening experience - obviously! Therefore, I would argue it is more important than a songs lyrics and Corned Beef City is probably the only one with a real groove that gets my feet a-tappin.'
-
One thing that irritates me is that, even though Mark's voice has improved in that he has a wider range, he sounds pretty wimpy on some songs because he sings them in higher keys. Especially the blues numbers that require some growl and oomph. I truly miss the husky voice he had during the OES days. The guitar playing too could be more fiery at times.
By the way, I just listened to Dylan's new album (http://songs.to/#!s=Tempest&c=album), and you may say what you want about his voice, but he's got an intensity in his singing and music that is absent in Mark's work. And I'm not a Dylan fan.
-
One thing that irritates me is that, even though Mark's voice has improved in that he has a wider range, he sounds pretty wimpy on some songs because he sings them in higher keys. Especially the blues numbers that require some growl and oomph. I truly miss the husky voice he had during the OES days. The guitar playing too could be more fiery at times.
By the way, I just listened to Dylan's new album (http://songs.to/#!s=Tempest&c=album), and you may say what you want about his voice, but he's got an intensity in his singing and music that is absent in Mark's work. And I'm not a Dylan fan.
+1
-
I just received my Deluxe 3 CD a couple of hours or so ago and I have listened twice. After the first listen, I was a bit disappointed, because I had got used to hearing the snippets and somehow the whole thing seemed not as I imagined it would be. Then I went out for a walk and when I came back I listened for the second time.
I agree with a previous comment that it somehow doesn't seem like an album, because it is so diverse. Also, having heard the bonus songs, all of which I think are really beautiful, I think it would have been great to have them on the main album istead of one or two of the weaker ones.
Just a few comments:
Got to Have Something - Mark's vocals sound a bit weak on this, but the band is great - I like Jim's piano on this one.
Gator Blood - ends very suddenly, but the song is OK
Today is OK - I love the outro - that train wreck sound is fabulous!
Not sure about:
Don't Forget Your Hat
Blood & Water
Both need more listens!
One surprise - having not really liked Miss you Blues from the snippets, I now like it very much!
I really like most of the rest of the album and after listening to Yon Two Crows, I actually clapped, even though I was alone! ;D
Need to listen many more times now!
-
Considering the fact that Dylan has that amount of energy at 72 ... How I'd wish Mark again would make something that's as cool as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wefT_t2lHU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wefT_t2lHU)
As good and clever and sonically pleasing the new stuff is, it just pales in comparison. I almost feel like crying.
-
Moving on from this afternoon - I have now listened to the album quite a few times AND - I really love it! :D However, there's still one song I can't get my head around and I'm not sure I ever will, but I'll keep persevering - "Don't Forget Your Hat"! The rest, I'm loving more and more with each listen! I even like "Hot or What" and I didn't expect I would! ;) I think "Yon Two Crows" is my favourite of the moment.
-
Funny how taste differs, for me it's one of the weakest :)
I like it that all people find something different in all songs :D
It is funny how we all disagree so much about MK.
-
Funny how taste differs, for me it's one of the weakest :)
I like it that all people find something different in all songs :D
It is funny how we all disagree so much about MK.
He set the bar too high with some of his early stuff for a lot of people I think.
-
Considering the fact that Dylan has that amount of energy at 72 ... How I'd wish Mark again would make something that's as cool as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wefT_t2lHU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wefT_t2lHU)
As good and clever and sonically pleasing the new stuff is, it just pales in comparison. I almost feel like crying.
I agree that "In the Gallery" is mind-alteringly good. One of my all-time favourite songs. But I don't think that a song like "Seattle" pales in comparison. It's something completely different, but - at least to me - just as touching and brilliant.
-
By the way, I just listened to Dylan's new album (http://songs.to/#!s=Tempest&c=album), and you may say what you want about his voice, but he's got an intensity in his singing and music that is absent in Mark's work. And I'm not a Dylan fan.
Intensity
-
By the way, I just listened to Dylan's new album (http://songs.to/#!s=Tempest&c=album), and you may say what you want about his voice, but he's got an intensity in his singing and music that is absent in Mark's work. And I'm not a Dylan fan.
Dylan's "singing" at the moment, is the main drawback for me! I have only heard the five leaked songs, so far, but of these he isn't singing, just gargling! I like the songs very much, with the exception of ERK, but his voice - no, I can't listen without the feeling I need to clear my throat!
-
prolly the only one on here that really, really likes "Miss You Blues"....
-
check out the whole album on itunes val. well worth it. right now Scarlett Town is my favorite song, but haven't heard all songs yet, was too tired last night.
-
I really like Miss You Blues, but really really like:
Submariner, Seatlle, Radio City, Follow the Ribbon, Yon Two Crows :)
-
prolly the only one on here that really, really likes "Miss You Blues"....
Huh? Did you ignore ALL of my last 250 posts?? ;D You might like it, but I LOVE it! The things that seem to be so easy and lightweighted are sometimes the hardest things to do... Great guitar, great melody, great voice...
Has anyone noticed how GREAT Mark sings on Your Perfect Song? His voice has really some vibrato in it, seldom heard.
LE
-
check out the whole album on itunes val. well worth it. right now Scarlett Town is my favorite song, but haven't heard all songs yet, was too tired last night.
But I've heard "Scarlet Town" a few times now and his voice is croaky. The only one of the five I can listen to is Narrow Way, but the song isn't so good as the rest imo.
btw Regarding "Miss You Blues" - I didn't like it at all from the snippets, but on the album, hearing it whole, it's one of my favourites! :)
-
I haven't heard the Dylan album yet (should arrive soon), but from what I've heard (Dusquesne Whistle, Early Roman Kings, bits of Scarlet Town)
-
The whole Dylan album can be listened to here: http://songs.to/#!s=Tempest&c=album
Rail King: I agree it's not all about intensity, but Mark's output since STP has been extremely mellow. In my opinion, that mellowness sums up Mark as a person these days. I'm not saying it's only starving miserable artists that make good art, but that air of snugness and comfortability is not exactly a great catalyst for excitement.
-
The whole Dylan album can be listened to here: http://songs.to/#!s=Tempest&c=album
Rail King: I agree it's not all about intensity, but Mark's output since STP has been extremely mellow. In my opinion, that mellowness sums up Mark as a person these days. I'm not saying it's only starving miserable artists that make good art, but that air of snugness and comfortability is not exactly a great catalyst for excitement.
You may have a point here. But I keep being amazed at how much emotion he packs into his best songs. Songs like "Fare thee well, Northumberland", "Old Pigweed", "Back to Tupelo", "True Love Will Never Fade" or "Seattle" bring me to tears. And that's quite an achievement, I think.
-
Regarding Miss You Blues, it's actually the melody that I like about this song! I know all about this "thing" and I'm not even going to say it, but the arrangement is so nice. Is this just a coincidence that one of the few songs with a good melody on the album has it's origins elsewhere? Is Mark still producing good melodies these days? There isn't much to get my feet going and compared to previous albums it's tragically short. In fact it's been getting that way over the last few records.
-
Speaking of length - at the opposite side of the spectrum you've got Follow the ribbon at 8:08, where the last three minutes are just unidentifiable guitar and pedal steel solos on top of gently strummed acoustic guitars and accordion! That's worse than the Why Worry ending.
I must say, those that paid the extra cash for the deluxe version to get the bonus songs really got a bad deal.
-
Speaking of length - at the opposite side of the spectrum you've got Follow the ribbon at 8:08, where the last three minutes are just unidentifiable guitar and pedal steel solos on top of gently strummed acoustic guitars and accordion! That's worse than the Why Worry ending.
I must say, those that paid the extra cash for the deluxe version to get the bonus songs really got a bad deal.
It's pretty weary, isn't it. Perfect for insomniacs! :lol
-
I haven't heard the bonus songs yet, sounds promising! ;)
And dmg, does Mark Knopfler still produce good melodies these days? Erm, sorry? Haul Away, maybe? Privateering? Seattle? Kingdom of Gold? Dream of the Drowned Submariner? These are among the most melodic songs he's ever written, and easily among the greatest, too. You can bemoan anything in Mark's recent work, but certainly not a lack of melody!
-
Rail King - listen here http://songs.to/#!s=Privateering+Bonus+CD&c=album (http://songs.to/#!s=Privateering+Bonus+CD&c=album)
-
By the way, at the moment most viewable chords on Ultimate Guitar is the chords for Haul Away.
-
Ending of Why Worry: Great!
Follow The Ribbon: Great song, BECAUSE of this great long ending, repetitive, yes, but phantastic dreamy and I wish it would never end!
LE
-
Ending of Why Worry: Great!
Follow The Ribbon: Great song, BECAUSE of this great long ending, repetitive, yes, but phantastic dreamy and I wish it would never end!
LE
+10
I've never understood why the WW studio ending is quoted as "boring" by many
I like it very much.
Most of DS/MK sound and mood is based on ambience, atmosphere, not necessarely adding solos
and Follow the Ribbon ending is great for dreaming or travelling don't you think :)
I like music which bring prictures in my mind, and DS/MK music do this very well
If I want soaring-screaming guitar solos, I must admit than I don't listen to DS/MK first....
-
Yeah, but more than three minutes with going back and forth between two chords and melodic development? Probably great for yoga.
And it doesn't have to be screaming guitar solos to make things interesting.
-
I enjoy the long outro on WW too but it's actually interesting because of the brilliantly played drums on this part. Follow the Ribbon is boring because of the sheer slow pace and lack of anything interesting going on (to me anyway).
Regarding melody, I do find these songs you mention as having a lack of melody personally. Mark's songs are mostly driven by their lyrics these days. Ask yourself: when was the last time we had a good guitar riff or when was the last time you were tapping your feet to every song/almost every song on the album and you'll have to cast you're mind back.
Submariner and Haul Away are two of my most favourite on the album and I like them very much, but they don't have great melodies. An album can get away with a few songs like this but nothing original at all?
-
Yes agree.
the term "screaming" solos was maybe not appropriate, but what I wanted to say is that I don't listen DS/MK and e.g. SRV in the same purpose.
I must admit that if I want "tapping my feet", my first idea would not be DS/MK, I'd rather go for Stones, Hendrix, Lynyrd Synyrd, ZZ Top, who and so on.
When I put a DS/Mk CD on, I know it's more for "dreaming", relaxing, travelling, and of course mainly with late solo stuff.
I thinks his music fit very well when you're in train, or in car and watching landscapes, I guess you get the idea.
But when I go to work, on the highway, I find AC/DC more appropriate ;D
However, you're right, his latest work lacks sometimes some melody or some energy, but I'm not surprised when I listen to a new MK album, because I don't expect this anymore since many years. I know that old days are gone, so I don't put too much hope in his next albums, therefore, I'm never disapointed :)
-
I like the melody of "Today Is Okay", even if it is "just another" blues song... But during the fade-out Mark plays a little lick that gives the meldoy that I whistle and have in my mind the last few days!
LE
-
However, you're right, his latest work lacks sometimes some melody or some energy, but I'm not surprised when I listen to a new MK album, because I don't expect this anymore since many years. I know that old days are gone, so I don't put too much hope in his next albums, therefore, I'm never disapointed :)
LOL
-
No outstanding tracks that you want to hear again several times on its own but for me no skippers either.Warming to the blues songs and hope he plays a couple live .Good mixture of jokey songs and gritty songs in there.
-
I like the melody of "Today Is Okay", even if it is "just another" blues song... But during the fade-out Mark plays a little lick that gives the meldoy that I whistle and have in my mind the last few days!
LE
I know exactly what you mean - same here.
And sorry, I DO think Haul Away, Seattle etc. have great melodies. These songs sound like the definition of "great melody" to me. Great melodies are not to be confused with great guitar riffs. We have less of those, true, but there are some (Corned Beef, Gator Blood ...) These riff-driven songs are the ones I tap my feet to. I don't tap my feet to Seattle, true. I rub my eyes instead! :lol
-
Rail King - listen here http://songs.to/#!s=Privateering+Bonus+CD&c=album (http://songs.to/#!s=Privateering+Bonus+CD&c=album)
Many thanks! But I'll wait for the weekend, when I'll have more time. Feel free to laugh at me, but listening to new Knopfler or Dylan songs is something quite special for me. I don't have the time for that right now (and should stop posting, too). Glad to share my thoughts on the bonus material next week
-
I agreed that listening to MK new album is a very special moment for me too. I got my copy yesterday, but couldn't find the perfect moment until this morning. I refused to listen to any snippets on Itunes. Except for a few songs Mark played last tour with BD. 2 songs that instantly became my favorites are : privateering and Go Love. privateering sounds better to me in studio than Live from last year. I love the guitar intro of GO, Love. I'll be spending a lot of my time familializing myself with the new songs, there are just so many of them.
-
Don't mean to sound like a whining old man here, but having compared Mark's and Bob's new albums, Bob's wins by a mile. Now I just listened to Ry Cooder's new CD, and that's what Privateering should have sounded like. It's just under 40 minutes, but by jove, it's good! Rocking, bluesy, folksy, intense, in your face. If you can get past Cooder's pretty leftist preferences, you ought to get it. Have a listen here:
http://songs.to/#!s=Election+Special&c=album (http://songs.to/#!s=Election+Special&c=album)
-
I will comment on Dylan's album here as soon as I've had a chance to listen to it.
For Ry Cooder I have a lot of respect, and I agree about production and album length. His songwriting can't compare to Mark Knopfler's, though. As much as I like what Ry Cooder does, he's a much more limited songwriter than Knopfler. If Ry Cooder writes a song about an investment banker, what you get is "Mutt Romney Blues". If Mark writes about the same thing, you get "Kingdom of Gold". No matter which approach you prefer, I think Mark could write something like "Mutt Romney Blues" anytime, if he wanted to. Ry Cooder could never write something like "Kingdom of Gold".
Sure, Knopfler could learn a lot from Dylan and Cooder when it comes to production. I hope he does. But if you're disappointed with the new album, you also have to remember that there wasn't ever a Mark Knopfler album with so much live recording! There's hope that he's heading in the right direction.
-
Agree with you on that one, RK. Mark's writing is par excellence, Cooder's not so. Then again, maybe it's all about horses for courses or whatever appeals to your personality? I've always prefered music that excites me emotionally rather than intellectually, and to do that, it needs a certain energy and genunineness.
-
Agreed, Mark could use more of that. I think the best thing that could happen to him would be a different producer, or co-producer, to be precise. Daniel Lanois, for instance, would be able to produce a superb Knopfler album, I'm sure.
-
Hehe
Don't forget we're dealing with Mark "Control Freak" Knopfler here. Never going to happen. But it would be interesting to hear what someone with a very different production style would be able to get out of Mark and his songs.
-
... a different co-producer ...
As much as I appreciate Guy Fletcher's input, I have a feeling he's very much a yeasayer AND I also question his gustatory proclivities. Some of the synth sounds he's come up with are hideous, and the fact that he's been able to convince Mark to use them is just beyond me.
-
I think it would have made a tight 10 track album thus -
Redbud Tree
Privateering
Corned Beef City
Go, Love
Hot or What
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Radio City Serenade
Bluebird
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
The rest is really good, of course, with the exception of Don't Forget Your Hat, which is just You Can't Beat The House but even longer and more tedious, and Kingdom of Gold which is a retread of Heartful of Holes and Haul Away which completely interrupts the momentum of the beginning of the album which is already on thin ice when it's starting with Redbud Tree. Corned Beef City would have been a better opener.
However, I love Go, Love. I can imagine it on Love Over Gold, it's that good. I wish he'd go back to writing rock/pop songs rather than over relying on the folk and, now it seems, blues templates. Having said that, Hot or What is good fun and it's great to hear him swing for once.
-
I've got to agree with most of what you say pjh3121. Not so fond of Go, Love mind you so I'd rather have Haul Away but I agree that Hot or What is good fun. I just think it is not done very well - or perhaps I should put it - as I would like it!
I wish also that he would get away from the folk stuff because he does country rock so well.
-
You can't beat the house is my GL favorite track !
-
I'm playing pjh's suggested playlist right now. Will see how that turns out :)
Edit:
However, I love Go, Love. I can imagine it on Love Over Gold, it's that good.
Go, Love is superb. One of the tracks on the album that I really like. And the organ and guitar interplay does indeed remind me of the Love Over Gold sound. The outro solo is amazing. Moody and husky minor key songs are where Mark excels.
-
... a different co-producer ...
As much as I appreciate Guy Fletcher's input, I have a feeling he's very much a yeasayer AND I also question his gustatory proclivities. Some of the synth sounds he's come up with are hideous, and the fact that he's been able to convince Mark to use them is just beyond me.
Couldn't agree more. And that's been true for all MK albums except maybe Shangri-La. Back then, I was seriously hoping that the Fletcher influence was about to fade ...
-
By the way, I was discussing synths with Guy Fletcher some years ago, via email. And I must say that although he didn't agree with me, he was very open, even truly interested to hear my point of view. The bad thing of course is that Mark is probably never even going to hear that kind of complaint. If he did, I'm sure he'd think: "Wait a minute ... maybe there's some truth in what these guys say." I'm not sure he will ever change his mind about synths and production in general, but at least someone should make him aware of it. I think that has yet to happen.
-
I think it would have made a tight 10 track album thus -
Redbud Tree
Privateering
Corned Beef City
Go, Love
Hot or What
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Radio City Serenade
Bluebird
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Just finished listening to this sequence, and that's a really nice collection of songs. Feels very coherent, although it might need one more uptempo song. This list feels like an A and B side - the first a bit more firey, the second more moody and dark. I like that. I guess that's something I miss from the LP/tape days.
-
I think it would have made a tight 10 track album thus -
Redbud Tree
Privateering
Corned Beef City
Go, Love
Hot or What
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Radio City Serenade
Bluebird
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Just finished listening to this sequence, and that's a really nice collection of songs. Feels very coherent, although it might need one more uptempo song. This list feels like an A and B side - the first a bit more firey, the second more moody and dark. I like that. I guess that's something I miss from the LP/tape days.
Thanks for that ! I agree that a faster one should go in there somewhere, perhaps put I Used To Could in after Seattle.
-
Seeing your playlist, I began to think if Mark actually views his album that way: as playlists rather than coherent works of art. I like the new songs a lot, but I miss is that album feel. Privateering feels like a random collection of songs, like him saying to the management:
"Oh boy, I've recorded 32 songs! Let's take these 20 here and release them. Ah, and one more thought before I go
-
Seeing your playlist, I began to think if Mark actually views his album that way: as playlists rather than coherent works of art. I like the new songs a lot, but I miss is that album feel. Privateering feels like a random collection of songs, like him saying to the management:
"Oh boy, I've recorded 32 songs! Let's take these 20 here and release them. Ah, and one more thought before I go
-
I'm a bit surprised at my own initial reaction - as much as I like blues, I find some of the blues songs a bit long and they are quite similar to each other. A couple are really good though.
I cannot comprehend how they treat the title song. It's so good - the riff, the chanting, etc, but the arrangement is completely off - it takes forever for the band to join in, and then they disappear again. And the outro with the weakest drum sound in the history of music... Don't get me started.
Favourite right now: Bluebird. That one sends shivers up my spine. Lyrics, atmosphere, guitar, harmonica, it all comes together here.
-
After having heard the album and songs in full length for several times, it's time to give some impressions:
Fantastic songs:
* Go, love: gooooosebumps; very catchy tune, sounds so DS-like; reminds me of Fade to black from OES, I like the way MK is singing it so fresh, fine bluesy guitar, outro could go on and on (maybe on tour)
* Blood and water: finally we have the the longed for wonderfull rocky solo and noodling around (outro), starts easygiong, then becomes more intensive and bluesy (change from to moll-chords), MK please more of these
* Bluebird: so intensive, a traditional blues scheme with a MK note, that's how blues has got to be
* Haul away: a real musical gem, so peaceful, how does MK creat such great melodies
* Yon two croes: interesting song-structure, I had to listen to it a few times to "decode" it; as many people said before there's a kind of similarity to Silvertown
* Follow the ribbon: nice les paul-licks, should have been on CD1 or 2 at the end
songs that are listenable to me:
* Corn beef city
* Seattle
* Occupation Blues
* Submariner
The pure blues songs (apart from Bluebird) are not my cup of tea. There's to less MK influence and style in it. These are songs that could also be written by Bob Dylan or other artists playing traditional blues songs. MK probably was influenced by Bob.
Hope my favourites will all be played on the road.
Q: Didn't Guy mentioned that they made "some radical changes" on Yon two crows? Hopefully not a guitar solo was cut off. Mabe we'll hear it on tour.
-
At the moment I just can't get enough of "Yon Two Crows" and "Today is OK", they are amazing! 8)
-
I Used to Could, Gator Blood, Today is Okay and Got to Have Something are all instantly forgettable. Even typing this I had to go back and check their names. They could have been left off to make a much more tuneful and cohesive album.
My playlist album now is -
Corned Beef City
Redbud Tree
Privateering
Go, Love
Yon Two Crows
Radio City Serenade
Hot or What
Bluebird
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Blood and Water
Occupation Blues
I think that makes for a great single album that hangs together well.
-
Redbud Tree
Privateering
Corned Beef City
Go, Love
Hot or What
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Radio City Serenade
Bluebird
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Wow, that list you made is SPOT ON. Although I do actually have a problem with Hot Or What, its similarities (especially the intro) to previous MK songs are... unsettling.
I find it hard to stomach all of the blues/America style songs, maybe because I'm an Australian? But there are some high quality tracks in this here album, I do say.
:)
-
Redbud Tree
Privateering
Corned Beef City
Go, Love
Hot or What
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Radio City Serenade
Bluebird
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Wow, that list you made is SPOT ON. Although I do actually have a problem with Hot Or What, its similarities (especially the intro) to previous MK songs are... unsettling.
I find it hard to stomach all of the blues/America style songs, maybe because I'm an Australian? But there are some high quality tracks in this here album, I do say.
:)
Thanks, I think Hot or Not stands out from the other blues songs because it swings in a jazzy style where as the others just plod.
-
Funny how the straight blues songs (on disc 1 anyway) leave me thinking, meh! But the minor blues songs I just love, Bluebird / Blood and Water.. very Claptonesque, love Marks singing, the subtle guitar licks and that high pitched squeal is a delight !! :)
-
Funny how the straight blues songs (on disc 1 anyway) leave me thinking, meh! But the minor blues songs I just love, Bluebird / Blood and Water.. very Claptonesque, love Marks singing, the subtle guitar licks and that high pitched squeal is a delight !! :)
Exactly my opinion. Don't like the straight-blues, nothing new, no MK-thing
-
The only ones of the blues songs I don't like, at the moment, are "Don't Forget Your Hat" and to a lesser extent, "Blood and Water". All the rest I really like, especially "Bluebird" "Hot or What" and "Today is OK". :)
-
On the straight blues tunes, he sounds like he's trying hard to imitate Dylan's music. Feels a bit forced.
Bluebird is great though. Kim Wilson is sublime on this one.
-
On the straight blues tunes, he sounds like he's trying hard to imitate Dylan's music. Feels a bit forced.
Bluebird is great though. Kim Wilson is sublime on this one.
With "Got To Have Something", I thought the same; the Dylan influence is obvious here. But to sound like Dylan, he would not only have to be a different singer and player, he'd also need a totally different band. These guys are way to disciplined for that approach.
-
I also find that the standard blues songs are a bit too standard at times, including the slide playing, which is not impressive. But this is surely the loosest record that Mark ever released, and I applaud that. Songs come off as humorous and dynamic, with voice, guitar, harmonica, and piano dancing around each other in a way I would not previously associate with MK.
-
True, Tally. Def a step in the right direction!
-
Hi,
Here after some days of listening, I must say that this record is the best made by Mark for many years. It's just getting better for evey new listening. I love all of the solo albums, but at some of them there are a little to many skippers. Sometimes also too many sleepy songs. Some lack of energy too.
It's different on the new album. Can whitout any problems hear it from the start to the end. I'm in love with nearly all the songs this time. Mark's has a very strong vocal, much better since the DS days. The record has a solid dose of awesome guitar sound. Not so many long solos, but it's easy to hear who the player is. For me it's clearly the best material since the STP album. No doubt here. :D :D :D
The song " Dream Of The Drowned Submariner " brings me very nearly to tears because of it's unbelieveble beauty. The top song for me on both discs and now one of my faves of Mark's solo work. Another highlight for me is " Go, Love ". Very much Dire Straits and my god I love it. The opening song " Redbud Tree " is another song who smells lovely of early Dire Straits. ;D
The tittle track is special, but I like it. Maybe to many blues songs, but many of them are great. Songs like " Bluebird " and " Blood And Water " to mention a few. It's great to have some rockin'roll too, and i'm glad that " Corned Beef City " made it for the record. The song " Haul Away " is a masterpiece too. Few can write songs at this quality.
Only two skippers for me this time. Both on disc 2. It's " Radio City Seranade " and " After The Beanstalk "
Love, Love, Love............Loooooove Mark Knopfler ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Privateering is a great album; sounds like Mark had some fun with it too.
My favourites are:
Redbud Tree
Haul Away
Don't Forget Your Hat
Miss You Blues
Corned Beef City
Go, Love
Hot Or What
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Radio City Serenade
I Used To Could
Gator Blood
Dream Of The Drowned Submariner
Today Is Okay
Would make a strong 14 track album..
Yes, the Blues tracks are kinda similar, and just like 'You Can't Beat The House' (which I love too) but it's good that Mark has produced a mixture of styles for this album. Just a shame there isn't many big guitar tracks.
Not too keen on 'Privateering' though.
Spending time with Bob Dylan certainly is evident with 'Bluebird'; it would fit on Bob's 'Together Through Life' perfectly.
4/5
-
I have heard it 3 times now and it is not what I expected.
Lots of reconsituted arrangements, melodies and lead licks from the past.
Not sure why the long blank intros on some songs or why the blues. I agree it looks and sounds like an album that has been thrown together rather than each song meticulously placed in some semblance of order.
It is like he has tried to put in something for everyone.
Songs that spring to mind when i listen to it are;
My Parties
Rocks and the Thunder
Slow lead lick from the live SOS
The Car Was the One
True Love will never fade
Madame Genevas
heart Full Of Holes
Donegans Gone
Cant Beat The House
So Far From The Clyde
Solid Rock
It may grow on me more and more and I hope it does. These are just initial thoughts.
-
... a different co-producer ...
As much as I appreciate Guy Fletcher's input, I have a feeling he's very much a yeasayer AND I also question his gustatory proclivities. Some of the synth sounds he's come up with are hideous, and the fact that he's been able to convince Mark to use them is just beyond me.
Couldn't agree more. And that's been true for all MK albums except maybe Shangri-La. Back then, I was seriously hoping that the Fletcher influence was about to fade ...
I remember a MK interview where he said he wished he had never had the acccordion for the intro to Brothers In Arms and that he doesn't know what he was thinking of when he arranged it that way. But he still plays the song and with an accordion.
-
i dont think there is a Guy influence as such, just a proffesional and talented multi-instrumental player that also produces and enginees... A dream for any musician to have someone like him.
-
Since I received my free CD a couple of days ago I've had a chance to listen to it on speakers instead of just headphones on my laptop. I am astonished at the difference this has made to the enjoyment of this album. Usually it doesn't matter quite as much, but this is one album that - for those who don't have it yet - really benefits from being played through the speakers.
-
I have to say, I am completely delighted with the new album. If I have one small niggle, it is only that the blues tracks sound just a little too similar in instrumentation/arrangement and therefore make each other seem redundant to some extent. I really enjoy the more up-beat rockers, played straight from the hip, and I also really like the Celtic/folk tunes; it's a style that MK seems so comfortable with and accomplished at.
I really love the title track . . can't stop hearing it over and over in my head . . and I've been having lots of fun trying to get it down on the acoustic (..almost, but not quite there!) As always, I am bowled over by the subtlety and deftness of touch that MK can bring to even the most seemingly simple of tunes or rhythms. There is so much to really get into on this new album, it is going to have great longevity. I rate it a full 5 stars; for me, it's definitely a keeper!
-
After 1 week listening to the album, I have to say, that there's no really "fav" songs for me. I like them all "equally"
No highlights, but no skippers.
I just like to listen to different songs depending on context.
Yesterday I tried the "driving" tunes for going to work : the blues tunes, Privateering, CBC, etc.. fit very well on car, with the beginning of the day, the sun...
and when returning to home at the end of the day, by night, with rain : Rebud tree, Go Love, Seattle, Submariner, Kingdom of gold, Radio city serenade : wonderful ! :)
-
You made me thinking!
It is good to have a Frenchman here to make this clear!! :lol
So my next try - after thinking about the lyrics:
Hungary. Mark's dad is from Hungary, and was in prison ("he never hurt anybody"), Hungary was occupied of course... and over all, I think the key is in the intro: It is not only a nice little intro, but it obviously reflects some of the country where the song is set, I could imagine.
Well, it is not exactly the same, but you might get the picture by this, the clip is called "Hungarian tune", note the instrumentation and the sound of the violin that some posts before was already mentioned:
Also listen from 1:55 on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUm_l-NfRUs
;)
LE
-
Hm. Hungary. Yes, you might be right!
-
You made me thinking!
It is good to have a Frenchman here to make this clear!! :lol
So my next try - after thinking about the lyrics:
Hungary. Mark's dad is from Hungary, and was in prison ("he never hurt anybody"), Hungary was occupied of course... and over all, I think the key is in the intro: It is not only a nice little intro, but it obviously reflects some of the country where the song is set, I could imagine.
Well, it is not exactly the same, but you might get the picture by this, the clip is called "Hungarian tune", note the instrumentation and the sound of the violin that some posts before was already mentioned:
Also listen from 1:55 on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUm_l-NfRUs
;)
LE
I guess you refer to the other topic/thread ? :D
Indeed Hungary could be a clue
When I said "eastern Europe music", I was thinking "Gypsy" ("tzigane" in french), yiddish music, you know violin, accordion, waltz/polkas, with that "semi-tango" touch
Iggy pop's "in the death car" has this feeling, and Occupation blues made me thinking immediatley at this one
Of course "tzigane" music is linked with France because of Django, so your intial idea was pertinent :)
But when we say "french" music, we think at "valse-musette" ;D (which is not very a compliment for Mark's music... ;D ;D ;D ;D)
-
Can't progress to a lot of the tunes because I'm still stuck on a few. I listen to them over and over and over again!
But, maybe my favorite is Follow the Ribbon.
Go Love might be second or twentieth. Or, Miss You Blues.
TODAY though...Yon Two Crows!!!!
I think a Broadway Musical should be made with that rousing, amazing song at center! Whaddya think????
-
Kingdom of Gold definitely sounds like film music to me! I love the choir effect, etc at the end, especially. :)
"Yon Two Crows" is probably my favourite at the moment, but it changes from day to day! :)
-
I am of the opinion that there isn't a bad song on the whole album; they are all really great in their own ways! That said, I do think there is an argument to be made regarding the order the tracks are arranged in. When I listen to the album in sequence, I am immediately struck that Don't Forget Your Hat comes too early in the playing order. At first I wasn't very keen on the song, but now I realise I actually like it a lot but that it just sounds 'wrong' to me because it comes where it does, as the third track. It seems to interupt the establishing flow of the first disk. But as to where it should come in the playing order, well, that's actually quite difficult to say. Maybe between Miss You Blues and Corned Beef City, or perhaps because of it's initial similarities with Hot or What it should have been somewhere on the second disk. Oh, I dunno!
As for picking a favourite; Yon Two Crows gets my vote, it is the standout track of the whole collection for me. Musically interesting, with the most incredibly vivid and poetic lyrics, the words stand in their own right as a beautiful poem (not often the case with song lyrics!) . . and with the fade-in intro it has that almost cinematic quality once again . . it really speaks to me (and I'm just a van man, not a sheep farmer!) Second favourite, particualrly good when driving, Corned Beef City . . just ace in the van!
But hey!, like I said, I love 'em all! ;D
-
When I listen to the album in sequence, I am immediately struck that Don't Forget Your Hat comes too early in the playing order. At first I wasn't very keen on the song, but now I realise I actually like it a lot but that it just sounds 'wrong' to me because it comes where it does, as the third track. It seems to interupt the establishing flow of the first disk.
Yes totally agree.
But, as it has already said, I think that this "album" is more a collection of songs, rather than a one piece work.
So I pick some songs among this "collection", the ones I want to hear, depending on the mood.
I think that nowadays, the "album sequence" si no more important as it was 40 years ago.
During the 50s -90s, when people wanted to listen music, they had to put their vynils on their turntables and listen, and change the side. It was really a "sequence"
When CD appeared, then you could skipped easily a song, something not really easy on a turntable.
Now, you can make playlists on your computer, on your mp3 plyer, you can burn discs with songs that you like, in a different order, etc...
So, the order choosed by the artist (or the record company ?) isn't the order choosed by many listeners, as it was in the (good) old days.
-
Kingdom of Gold definitely sounds like film music to me! I love the choir effect, etc at the end, especially. :).
I agree. Kingdom of Gold could be the soundtrack for some beautiful epic film, i.e. Lord of the Rings.
-
Kingdom of Gold definitely sounds like film music to me! I love the choir effect, etc at the end, especially. :).
I agree. Kingdom of Gold could be the soundtrack for some beautiful epic film, i.e. Lord of the Rings.
Talking about a banker with a lot of money and political power?
Can
-
Kingdom of Gold definitely sounds like film music to me! I love the choir effect, etc at the end, especially. :).
I agree. Kingdom of Gold could be the soundtrack for some beautiful epic film, i.e. Lord of the Rings.
Talking about a banker with a lot of money and political power?
Can
-
New music has arrived to my house (other genres) and gets some playing time on my stereo... so Privateering backs up a little... and what do I really miss?
I think this album has the lowest number of "deep" or "moving" songs ever. While I still listen to (the song) Get Lucky, Before Gas & TV, Border Reiver,
Monteleone, The Car Was The One..., it seems Privateering offers really MUCH beloved MK stuff... but really touching at the moment are only Go, Love and Submariner ... so that is a new quality of a new MK album for me... I rather would have prefered not to like ALL the songs at first listen and let them grow on me in the first weeks if you know what I mean... instead of that it all starts to wash out a little.
And:
Yon Two Crows definitely is a disappointment for me. I am not one of those guitar squallers, but this song SHOULD definitely have had a great guitar outro. The whole song is promising it, especially the great background guitar sound. And the folk part has a right to be there, fits in indeed, BUT should be echoed with the same melody played on an electric. Just my opinion, but this version just isn't working for me. Incomplete in my ears.
Favourites at the moment (which means "only songs played at the moment"):
Miss You Blues
Go, Love
I Used To Could
Dream Of The Drowned Submariner
Today Is Okay
and the fabulous Occupation Blues, which definitely should have been put onto the record, instead of one or two fillers.
Sorry for this lame post..
LE
-
But I thought you really loved "Yon Two Crows" LE! ???
At the moment, there is only one song I am passing on and that is "Gator Blood" because I just don't like the screeching slide guitar in the middle!
Favourites? Hard to say, but these at the moment:
Yon Two Crows
Seattle
Kingdom of Gold
Radio City Serenade
Dream of the Drowned Submariner
Today is OK
After the Beanstalk
Occupation Blues
River of Grog
-
Yon Two Crows definitely is a disappointment for me. I am not one of those guitar squallers, but this song SHOULD definitely have had a great guitar outro. The whole song is promising it, especially the great background guitar sound. And the folk part has a right to be there, fits in indeed, BUT should be echoed with the same melody played on an electric. Just my opinion, but this version just isn't working for me. Incomplete in my ears.
My image is that YTC was born to be another Silvertown blues, but MK decided to cut its wings at the very moment of the recording proccess...
Nevertheless, is one of my favourites from the album
My favs stand in from the first listenings
- Redbud Tree
- Miss You Blues
- Corned Beef City
- Yon Two Crows
- I Used to Could
- After the Bean Stalk
With the not so late addition of
- Go, Love
- Radio City Serenade
- Dream of the Drowned Submariner
- Your perfect song
-
Val, I fell in love with the snippets from the first seconds (talking about Yon Two Crows). His voice sounds soo great, and the lyrics are fine, too. But as I said, after several listenings, I just miss the guitar - it is just not complete for me. That does not mean that it is a bad song of course.
LE
-
Val, I fell in love with the snippets from the first seconds (talking about Yon Two Crows). His voice sounds soo great, and the lyrics are fine, too. But as I said, after several listenings, I just miss the guitar - it is just not complete for me. That does not mean that it is a bad song of course.
LE
I know what you mean but what do you expect these days. :(
-
Val, I fell in love with the snippets from the first seconds (talking about Yon Two Crows). His voice sounds soo great, and the lyrics are fine, too. But as I said, after several listenings, I just miss the guitar - it is just not complete for me. That does not mean that it is a bad song of course.
LE
Haha LE, you are allowed to change your mind, of course!
When I was just listening to the snippets, before I had the album, in my head I had my own idea of how the songs would continue, but then when I heard the entire songs and they didn't continue the way I imagined, I was a little disappointed, but now I have forgotten about the snippets and everything is just fine - except for the slide solo on Gator Blood, of course! That came as a shock to me, I must admit! :o
-
Gator Blood seems to evoke a lot of discussion it seems (also at Guy's forum), I like that song, but no its beginning and the ending. MK is a master of great openings and intros, but on this one it sounds somewhat strangely cut... I know I am a bit crotchety today, :lol, but it is high-level-moaning about a high quality album..
The rhythm section is doing a very good job generally, all these blues tracks sound very great in my opinion. I stay with it: Don't Forget Your Hat would be a pefect opener for any live show. With a little break (before a longer slide solo) where MK would have time to say hi to the audience and say a little bit...
All the blues songs have potential for some longer live guitar work. I probably won't happen, as MK uses to reproduce album tracks live on stage as close as possible these days it seems.
LE
-
I like all of the blues songs now. At first, I was unsure of "Don't Forget Your Hat" and I was certain I would skip it, but now I love it. The same applies to "Blood & Water". Another thing - on "Hot or What", MK's guitar on the solo sounds almost like a saxophone - I love that jazzy sound!
-
Hi,
So many great comments here. Yes, " Occupation Blues " should have been on the album for sure. Like " Early Bird " should have been on the GL record. Sometimes it's hard to understand why these top songs doesn't make it for the records. :-[
About " Gator Blood " I agree too. I really like the song, but why that awful solo twice in the song. When that sound comes, I must run to my hifi and turn down the volume. Why make such a mistake ? :disbelief
I still think it's a wonderful album Mark made for us. Very very few tracks that I don't like. As someone said, it would have been nice with some more guitar work in the songs. For me that's a very important thing when it comes to MK. I still feel, that " Submariner " is the masterpiece of the whole album. Hard to describe it's beauty isn't it ? :D
The song " Go, Love " is another favorite. I love the guitar on this one. Pure MK sound here. I really like " Yon Two Crows " too. I agree, that a guitar solo at the end should have been made. ;D
The second disc is nice too. Better after some weeks listening. I enjoy all the songs from 4 " Used To Could " to 9 " Today Is Okay ". That's six in a row...........not bad at all :D :D
-
Hi,
So many great comments here. Yes, " Occupation Blues " should have been on the album for sure. Like " Early Bird " should have been on the GL record. Sometimes it's hard to understand why these top songs doesn't make it for the records. :-[
About " Gator Blood " I agree too. I really like the song, but why that awful solo twice in the song. When that sound comes, I must run to my hifi and turn down the volume. Why make such a mistake ? :disbelief
I still think it's a wonderful album Mark made for us. Very very few tracks that I don't like. As someone said, it would have been nice with some more guitar work in the songs. For me that's a very important thing when it comes to MK. I still feel, that " Submariner " is the masterpiece of the whole album. Hard to describe it's beauty isn't it ? :D
The song " Go, Love " is another favorite. I love the guitar on this one. Pure MK sound here. I really like " Yon Two Crows " too. I agree, that a guitar solo at the end should have been made. ;D
The second disc is nice too. Better after some weeks listening. I enjoy all the songs from 4 " Used To Could " to 9 " Today Is Okay ". That's six in a row...........not bad at all :D :D
I must admit, I reach for the volume during Gator Blood when these solo's come!
I don't know where all this love is coming from for the song Go, Love though. I think it's the worst on the record; simple, cheesy, unoriginal lyrics and a deathly slow pace. It's chronic.
-
I go for the volume during these slide solos, too, to turn it UP!!!!
Go, Love is by far the coolest track MK has recorded in YEARS!!!
;D ;D ;D
LE
-
Go, Love for me is a great nod back to the slower numbers on the early DS albums. Like Lions, Follow Me Home, etc. I loved those moody pieces way back when and still do. Just wish Mark would have played the lead guitar on a Strat.
-
I don't know where all this love is coming from for the song Go, Love though. I think it's the worst on the record; simple, cheesy, unoriginal lyrics and a deathly slow pace. It's chronic.
For me is the melody, the music... the lyrics sound like MK is playing with words, with the rhyme between them, playing with one simple idea "I
-
Go, Love for me is a great nod back to the slower numbers on the early DS albums. Like Lions, Follow Me Home, etc. I loved those moody pieces way back when and still do. Just wish Mark would have played the lead guitar on a Strat.
Yes, the song " Go, Love " and also " Redbud Tree " is a little journey back to the Straits days. This type of songs on Mark's albums has always a huge appeal to me. ;D
It's also important for me, that a MK record has some speedy and rocking tunes. Just to mention a few, songs like " Speedway ", " Don't You Get It " and " Punish The Monkey ". Another example is " Corned Beef City " on the new release. ;)
-
Go, Love for me is a great nod back to the slower numbers on the early DS albums. Like Lions, Follow Me Home, etc. I loved those moody pieces way back when and still do. Just wish Mark would have played the lead guitar on a Strat.
I don't see the similarities I'm afraid. However, I never was particularly fond of Lions.
FMH was one of his early mood pieces that always capture me. PONO is the masterpiece of this art though.
-
GO, LOVE for me. Follows by Privateering, Yon two crows. Too many great songs in this album. ;)
-
hunted down i came upon, ...great intro to a great song, i do not see redbud tree mentioned too often anymore..
-
hunted down i came upon, ...great intro to a great song, i do not see redbud tree mentioned too often anymore..
What a shame...............For me it's in top five on disc one. :)
1) GO, Love
2) Yon Two Crows
3) Redbud Tree
4) Corned Beef City
5) Privateering
( Haul Away is fantastic too )
Here after some weeks listening, I rarely listen to the four songs who isn't mentioned here. ;)
-
hunted down i came upon, ...great intro to a great song, i do not see redbud tree mentioned too often anymore..
What a shame...............For me it's in top five on disc one. :)
1) GO, Love
2) Yon Two Crows
3) Redbud Tree
4) Corned Beef City
5) Privateering
( Haul Away is fantastic too )
Here after some weeks listening, I rarely listen to the four songs who isn't mentioned here. ;)
You put Go, Love at number one just to annoy me, didn't you! ;)
Next you'll be telling me how great Long Highway is! ;D
-
Go, Love for me is a great nod back to the slower numbers on the early DS albums. Like Lions, Follow Me Home, etc. I loved those moody pieces way back when and still do. Just wish Mark would have played the lead guitar on a Strat.
As for me, the piece is the legitimate son of Rudiger with Your own sweet way, also songs with a very moody approach.
-
hunted down i came upon, ...great intro to a great song, i do not see redbud tree mentioned too often anymore..
That line, "hunted down ..." is one of my favourite album intro lines ever. Just the way he sings "... ferns and grass"
-
It's definitely written from the perspective of a homeless person, no? Both ironic and tragic at the same time. The bittersweet music suits it perfectly. Wonderful song.
-
Go, Love for me is a great nod back to the slower numbers on the early DS albums. Like Lions, Follow Me Home, etc. I loved those moody pieces way back when and still do. Just wish Mark would have played the lead guitar on a Strat.
+10
-
Go, Love for me is a great nod back to the slower numbers on the early DS albums. Like Lions, Follow Me Home, etc. I loved those moody pieces way back when and still do. Just wish Mark would have played the lead guitar on a Strat.
I don't see the similarities I'm afraid. However, I never was particularly fond of Lions.
FMH was one of his early mood pieces that always capture me. PONO is the masterpiece of this art though.
Lions is a masterpiece ! :P
wrote and composed in the studio during recording sessions
on location tour versions are really great with the beel intro, and chords changes in the outro :P :P
I love it far more then PONO
-
hunted down i came upon, ...great intro to a great song, i do not see redbud tree mentioned too often anymore..
What a shame...............For me it's in top five on disc one. :)
1) GO, Love
2) Yon Two Crows
3) Redbud Tree
4) Corned Beef City
5) Privateering
( Haul Away is fantastic too )
Here after some weeks listening, I rarely listen to the four songs who isn't mentioned here. ;)
You put Go, Love at number one just to annoy me, didn't you! ;)
Next you'll be telling me how great Long Highway is! ;D
:lol :lol :lol ;)...............
-
My favourite tracks from the album in order are as follows:
*Dream of the Drowned Submariner - a submariner and his last fading thoughts/memories
*Redbud Tree - a tramp/homeless person on a downer in life...(Great Strat sound!)
*I used to could - a motorhead looking back on his days driving his GMC Cannonball (Truck)
*Corned Beef City' - a guy looking for a job in these hard economic times
*Privateering - The trials and tribulations of being a privateer
*Yon two crows - An account of sheparding in all weathers
*Seattle - two lovers look back on themselves (Nice Strat again!)
*Bluebird - About a down on luck farmer
I actually dont really have any favourites as they are all marvellous but I guess I have these listed which I listen to and play along to too!!
-
*Seattle - two lovers look back on themselves (Nice Strat again!)
note sure, could also be the grestch (like fizzy and the still or hard shoulder) or the teisco (like True love) ?
-
the solo in Go love around 2:30 sounds VEEEEERRRRY Snowy whitish...
love it..
-
This is the solo i missed much on studio version :clap ...if it was there, surely my No1 track on the record, but as it is...mhmhm... :think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn8_n8aak6s