A Mark In Time
Previous Albums => Down The Road Wherever (2018) => Topic started by: Nick14 on October 25, 2018, 01:26:15 PM
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I thought it would be useful to have a thread to collect review of the new album. I browed the new UNCUT and MOJO in a shop last night and saw that the album features in both - three stars in one, 7/10 in the other. I remember one indicated it was well done but a little lacking in excitement - and the other was a little warmer and stated that it was elegant and well written etc - apologies I can;t recall more! I was surprised that neither review indicated that the album was different from others, or went anywhere new - indeed, my recollection is that both, or at least one, suggested that the album was going over very familiar ground.
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Hi. Can you put links? Thank you.
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I'm sure the album was given just a cursory listen by the journalists who reviewed it, unlike JF and Rail King who have probably listened many times and have delved into the nitty gritty of the songs, because they are MK fans and are more likely to have similar tastes to those of us on AMIT. I never give much credence to music-mag reviews, because my taste in music rarely gets the high ratings of the likes of rap or hip-hop for example! ;)
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yes exactly. it depends on the point of view.
When I say it's different, I am saying this in MK's world if you know what I mean
of course for "lambda" people, they maybe will say that it has nothing particular, because they don't know MK's carreer like we do
All is RELATIVE. jounalist's point of view has to be seen in the WHOLE music world, and of course this album will maybe not shine all above other music production released at the same time. Maybe music-critics will find it "common".
it's normal. remember that our views are biased. We live in MK's world, so all our impressions are based on that, but 99% people in the world are not like us ::) ;)
I know I repeated this again and again : don't make too much expectations, it's not a revolutionnary album ! It's not something we've never heard before !
I called it "fresh and new", but regarding previous Mark's albums, not regarding all that has been done in music ! ;D
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Re links - I read them in the shop - UNCUT and MOJO reviews are not online as far as I am aware. Anyone who buys them could scan and post. Other reviews can be posted here as links. Even if I disagree I am interested to read reviews.
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:thumbsup :)
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both magazines are on the readly app.
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I like these reviews a lot. And especially their rating system... Like, what's this, Dark Side Of The Moon? Great album, but 4 stars out of 5. LOL.
Mark almost always gets 3 or maximum of 4 stars. According to what? I can get when Mark himself says he 20% good. But these reviewers? No way...
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Just nipped into local shop to read the Mojo review, one paragraph with no real insight.
Generally positive but I'd read the reviews on here, far more insightful.
X
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Pretty early release of these reviews?
LE
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juts to let you know, I have the GO by my chief for an album review, but............only 2 or 3 days before the release :'( :'(
that means not before the 13th or 14th november :smack
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I like these reviews a lot. And especially their rating system... Like, what's this, Dark Side Of The Moon? Great album, but 4 stars out of 5. LOL.
Mark almost always gets 3 or maximum of 4 stars. According to what? I can get when Mark himself says he 20% good. But these reviewers? No way...
only for remenber that also BIA was not acclaimed from critics and in general almost never DS or MK had it!
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I remember one indicated it was well done but a little lacking in excitement
Isn't this what everyone says about anything Mark has put and puts out?
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we should get an "Articles" section, where everyone can scan and upload the articles they used to cut(/rip out from newspapers, magazines etc...
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we should get an "Articles" section, where everyone can scan and upload the articles they used to cut(/rip out from newspapers, magazines etc...
Like this? ;D
https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?board=16.0
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meaww.com REVIEW Media, Entertainment, Arts, WorldWide (https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6394.0;attach=3045)
See review here:- https://meaww.com/mark-knopfler-album-review-down-the-road-wherever-music-dire-straits
'Down The Road Wherever' review: Mark Knopfler switches gears on the ultimate long drive
By Allan Moses · Published On : 16:51 PST, 26 Oct 2018
The 14-track offering, Mark Knopfler's ninth solo studio album, is an affirmation of how well-traveled the guitarist is and he shows no signs of slowing down
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'Down The Road Wherever' review: Mark Knopfler switches gears on the ultimate long drive
Mark Knopfler is the true journeyman. From the early '80s 'Going Home' and 'The Long Road' songs to his sojourner albums like 'Last Exit to Brooklyn', 'Sailing to Philadephia', 'Privateering', 'All The Roadrunning' and 'Tracker', one thing is crystal clear - Knopfler is well-traveled and shows no signs of slowing down. And, if that doesn't cement it, his latest musical offering 'Down The Road Wherever', the guitarist and singer-songwriter's ninth solo studio album, seals the deal on the voyager's passion for songs on the road.
Due for release November 16 on Knopfler’s own British Grove Records via Blue Note, the album features 14 new songs inspired by a range of stories he tells in each track - from his early days in Deptford with the erstwhile Dire Straits, a stray soccer fan lost in a strange town to the compulsion of a musician hitching home through the snow and a man out of time in his local greasy spoon diner.
THREE WEEKS. Have you pre-ordered your copy of 'Down The Road Wherever'? Get yours at https://t.co/tzHRcYmPHO pic.twitter.com/Xpizounp9s
— Mark Knopfler (@MarkKnopfler) 26 October 2018
Spanning a timeline that goes decades down the road, the album celebrates his allegience to country and folk, but alo raises a toast to his British rock days with Dire Straits while dabbling generously in dreamy infusions of jazz and slow ballads. The mood change is very distinctive. Those who've followed the guitar legend for years will find that although 'Down The Road Wherever' stays true to his strong folk and roots-inflected solo ambience, the record introduces new elements of jazz, funk and even a hint of the rockier leanings of earlier days.
In fact, it was in 'Tracker', the four-time Grammy Award winning artiste's previous album in 2015, that his new friendships also began to unravel musically on his tracks, especially with saxophone cameos by Nigel Hitchcock. The English jazz musician returns to team up with Knopfler's now-regular ensemble, including Jim Cox and Guy Fletcher on keyboards, Tom Walsh on trumpet, John McCusker on fiddle, Mike McGoldrick on whistle and flute, Glenn Worf on bass, Ian ‘Ianto’ Thomas on drums and Danny Cummings on percussion.
Richard Bennett and Robbie McIntosh also feature on guitar, Trevor Mires adds some trombone notes while Imelda May, Kris Drever, Lance Ellington, Beverley Skeete and Katie Kissoon all add backing vocals. Every song is a journey and is in no hurry to tell its story. So, a listen to 'Down The Road Wherever' is one that cannot be rushed. The leading track 'Trapper Man' establishes that. Although the beat kicks in soon enough to the rhythm-driven song launching the album to a groovy start, the song actually sets the tone for some neatly-distributed surprises along the tracklist.
'Back On The Dance Floor' brings the ride back within the speed limit. A track with a name like that, and you'd be surprised at how it churns out. Slowing down to a laidback mellow pace, the trippy song offers an 80s club vibe that makes for a steady drivethrough listen.
Tipping his hat to more meandering grooves in 'Just A Boy Away From Home', Knopfler tells a neat narrative of dreamy young days in the keys-heavy composition. All songs in the album are written by Knopfler except 'Just A Boy Away From Home' on which he shares writing credits with Rodgers and Hammerstein. He cleverly uses a piece of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ to spin the song’s tale of a lone Liverpool F.C. fan wandering the empty streets of Newcastle after midnight.
It's a quick U-turn in 'When You Leave', where the baritone singer takes a moment to show his exemplerary vocal skills in the balladesque romantic song. Vividly simple and sparse in its soundscape, the sax lead in the middle exudes nuances of a bright jazz ballad. 'Good On You Son', the single Knopfler launched as a teaser to the album, sees the veteran musician return to the road, this time on a bike (from the music video that he released accompanying the song).
A veteran singing from experience, the conviction to lead by example is evident with the surity in his voice. The rhythmic off-the-road sonic rampage of sax, drums and guitars, only accentuates the message - wise words from the wizened roadster in this one as he asks: "You wanna know what happiness is?"
There's background noise in 'My Bacon Roll' as a steady string note repeats on loop. The clutter of people, dishes and food, lingers long after the song moves on to a steady swing. "'Scuse me, 'scuse me. Have you got my roll? my roll? My bacon roll," you hear in the chorus line. You'd think there's more to the song, but no, Knopfler jests us with his funny side on this heavy on food track, like the ones you get in a drivethrough fast food joint - a quick toastie or a roll. A real fun listen from the man who loves his tea between songs at his live gigs.
Behind the scenes at British Grove Studios, during the recording of 'Down The Road Wherever'. Out November 16th. Pre-order now at https://t.co/tzHRcYmPHO pic.twitter.com/qkMRd3hnOt
— Mark Knopfler (@MarkKnopfler) 11 October 2018
And, if that doesn't make you want to hit the road and drive past endless fields through long, winding highways and into the sunset, 'Nobody Does That' will make you do just that! The beats drop heavier and the trumpets blaze boldly. The music gets "too hot" as it builds. "Nobody Does That", Knopfler affirms in the chorus but he certainly does a number in this eclectic piece. A marvellous brass segment opens up in mid-section, synth keys follow, the guitars dive in and the band just plain loses it on this roller-coaster treat.
'Drover's Road' will surprise you. Switching gears to an anthemic Western, the song reminds you of cowboys riding off into the sunset. "He likes to find his own way home," confirms Knopfler as he sings before letting his guitar unleash a haunting riff that will stay with you long after the song is over.
The song that started it all follows. 'Down the road wherever' is a line from 'One Song at a Time,' which was inspired by wise words from his friend and guitar legend Chet Atkins. 'One Song At A Time' is nostalgic as Knopfler croons: "I'm picking my way outta here, one song at a time." The track is another getaway song, but from a much earlier era.
The trip slows down to an unplugged 'Floating Away' with the background voices seamlessly blending with the simple acoustic guitar tones. 'Slow Leaner' is a piano-driven story set in a relaxed behind-the-wheel tune. "I like good things to last. I'm taking it slow," sings Knopfler. This slow-burner is his 'Hakuna Matata'. The album nears the end of its destination as it meanders to a jive-infused, sax-laced track 'Heavy Up'. You can notice the excitement in Knopfler's guitar as he leads the playful song.
'Down The Road Wherever' wraps the journey with 'Matchstick Man', another personal memory that poignantly captures Knopfler as he was, and as he remains. The album is produced by Knopfler and Fletcher from Dire Straits, and was recorded at British Grove Studios in London. 'Down The Road Wherever' will be available via digital download, CD, double vinyl, deluxe CD with three bonus tracks and a lavish box set that will include the album on both vinyl and deluxe CD and an additional 12" vinyl EP with four bonus tracks, a 12" print of the artwork and a 12" guitar tablature of ‘Back On The Dancefloor.’
Check out the tracklist below:
1. Trapper Man
2. Back On The Dance Floor
3. Nobody’s Child
4. Just A Boy Away From Home
5. When You Leave
6. Good On You Son
7. My Bacon Roll
8. Nobody Does That
9. Drovers’ Road
10. One Song At A Time
11. Floating Away
12. Slow Learner
13. Heavy Up
14. Matchstick Man
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Thank you shangri la 1 :)
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Many thanks, Shangri La! A very good review! :)
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Thank you Shangri-La
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That's not a review it's a description. Too many reviews are nothing more than track by track descriptions. That's not really a review!
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That's not a review it's a description. To many reviews are nothing more than track by track descriptions. That's not really a review!
Totally agree.
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we should get an "Articles" section, where everyone can scan and upload the articles they used to cut(/rip out from newspapers, magazines etc...
Like this? ;D
https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?board=16.0
lol, yes, exactly that...
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Down The Road Wherever by Mark Knopfler
Album Review
by David Schuster
It’s many an artist’s dream to be able to produce their work, unfettered by the constraints of commercialism. As one of the world’s most successful musicians, that (I imagine), is the happy situation that Mark Knopfler finds himself in. His latest album, Down The Road Wherever, comes across very strongly as the product of a man doing what he loves best, regardless of anyone else’s opinion but without self-indulgence. I like it a lot for that.
Knopfler has a relaxed way of singing lyrics as though he were telling you a story across the flames of a campfire, as illustrated by his best-known numbers with Dire Straits, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Brothers in Arms’. The record starts and finishes with good examples of this style: ‘Trapper Man’ and ‘Matchstick Man’. The latter may well be autobiographical, but if not, he’s certainly drawing on personal experience for the opening verse; “So there he was then, Penzance to play, Christmas Eve in a nowhere band. Now early morning Christmas Day, he’s hitching home to Geordie land”.
Silken”
‘Nobody’s Child’ tells a sadly familiar story of a boy nobody wants left to fend for himself by turning to violence and crime. “The ragged kid nobody wanted, left alone to ramble wild. Long ago he was abandoned. Nobody’s child”. Then later in the song, “Learned to swing a broken bottle. Learned to use his fists and knife. In the bar rooms and bordellos of his life”. It’s set in the cowboy era of the American west, but it could just as easily be a modern-day estate in any large city.
However, this is by no means a maudlin album. There’s the light hearted ‘Good On You Son’ and ‘Nobody Does That’, and a couple of laugh out loud tracks, ‘My Bacon Roll’ and ‘Heavy Up’. The former is a beautiful and poignant song that draws you into its silken embrace, before you realise it’s about a sandwich! There’s also some musical humour too, as towards the end of ‘Just A Boy Away From Home’ the slide-guitar solo subtly morphs into the melody of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Brilliantly catchy”
I’m a fan of records which are named for something other than the track which the marketing team think sounds the most commercially promising. Down The Road Wherever avoids this pitfall. The line is taken from the lyrics of ‘One Song At A Time’ and is redolent of the long American highway stretching to the horizon on the cover of the CD.
This then is a great album. Will it be commercially successful? Only in as far as the sales you would expect for an artist this famous. Are there any hit singles on it? Unlikely. That said, I’m confident that, at this stage of his life and career, Knopfler won’t worry unduly about that. I know this because that’s the point made by the brilliantly catchy ‘Heavy Up’: “How much is your praise really worth? About the same as your thumbs down. And why should I lighten up for you, if you can’t heavy up for me?” Indeed.
8/10
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Nice review.
I love this line from the song Heavy Up:
“How much is your praise really worth? About the same as your thumbs down."
That sounds very Mark.
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‘This then is a great album.’ ‘8/10’
Does anyone else find these remarks inconsistent? If an 8/10 album can be described as great, what adjectives do you use for a 9 or 10 out of ten album?
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‘This then is a great album.’ ‘8/10’
Does anyone else find these remarks inconsistent? If an 8/10 album can be described as great, what adjectives do you use for a 9 or 10 out of ten album?
Maybe a masterpiece ;D
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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mark-knopfler-interview-the-dire-straits-frontman-on-his-new-album-down-the-road-wherever-s9993qtdb?shareToken=c85e5ffbb447ff27ba7643813e3b677a
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Thanks Robson for letting us have access to the Times article, I enjoyed it.
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Thanks for the link! Very nice article, and a first response to the whole RRHF-thing!
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Thanks Robson, nice to have a couple of new stories.
Not sure I believe Sid Vicious wanted a Dire Straits badge but you never know. :)
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Thanks. Nice interview. Pity we couldn't get the stories behind other songs though.
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Nice find, Rob ;)
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;)
"We used to do that whole Rock Garden, Hope & Anchor circuit, where you had to load the gear in through the coal hole on the pavement,” he goes on...
Incredible.
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A Danish review here: https://hsfo.dk/kultur/aNMELDELSE-Mark-Knopflers-nye-album-er-redeligt-og-lidt-kedeligt/artikel/196851 The reviewer calls "Knopfler's new album [...] honest [?] and a bit boring" and says many of the songs are too long (past five-minute mark).
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High-praise review in a bavarian Magazine (original german):
MARK KNOPFLER – DOWN THE ROAD WHEREVER
It almost seems as if nothing in this world could upset this man. Sitting relaxed on his motorcycle, getting inspired by Britain's nature and then entering the studio to form his impressions and passing thoughts on the fly to great songs. The image, conveyed by the video clip for the first single "Good on you Son", is not deceptive: "Down the road forever" is the next stroke of genius by Mark Knopfler.
You'll hardly discover Mark Knopfler in melodramatic newspaper headlines or talent show juries, according to a biography of the guitarist, singer and composer, who has left behind the celebrity life in the spotlight long ago. This kind of life no (longer) fits to the former head of the dire straits, who is very successful as a solo-artist since "Golden Heart" (1996).
Regardless of the high chart positions Mark Knopfler is undoubtedly one of the most important rock musicians. His playing skills are as distinctive as his voice. You expect much, when Knopfler releases a new album, and on "Down the road wherever" you get much.
Accomplished songwriting jewels, presented in the distinctive Knopfler-style.
The ninth solo-output, once more emerged with long-term companion Guy Fletcher, accelerates quickly. After an experienced-rocking kick-off ("Trapper man") "Back On The Dance Floor" is sneaking up from behind with an outrageously catchy refrain. Bit of 80's flair is around - the image of the go-getting star of the past, in terms of fashion slightly disoriented and musically revolutionary, is popping up now and then in the course of the album. Like a mischievous boy, reflected in the eyes of the wise, older man, giving himself modestly.
"My whistle under the archways still echoes down the street and all the way back to Deptford days": Of course, the mention of the place of establishment of “dire straits” breathes nostalgia. The corresponding song is significantly called "One song at a time". You inevitably bob up and down from the first chords, devote yourself to the Knopfler-style seduction-procedure of emotional depth and delicately smoothed melodies and listen spellbound to his story - immediately noticing: He still can do it. Like no other.
Major highlights include again the ballads - getting directly under your skin: "When You Leave" is nothing less than one of the most beautiful love songs of the year. "Slow Learner" appears like a muted statement against the seemingly uncontrollable present-time fast pace. "Matchstick man" deals with an apparently clichéd topic (lone musician at Christmas) in such a wonderful way, that you find yourself remaining delightfully in silence after the end of the song.
A great album. From the hands of a great musician.
Rating: Masterpiece
Teleschau - media service
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Interview from a Dutch site
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2792156/op-studiobezoek-bij-mark-knopfler
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This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.
Interview from a Dutch site
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2792156/op-studiobezoek-bij-mark-knopfler
This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.
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This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.Interview from a Dutch site
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2792156/op-studiobezoek-bij-mark-knopfler
This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.
You can create a free account for premium articles on that site. I don't know if it is allowed to post the full article here.
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This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.Interview from a Dutch site
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2792156/op-studiobezoek-bij-mark-knopfler
This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.
You can create a free account for premium articles on that site. I don't know if it is allowed to post the full article here.
Is there some info in the article that help us with the meaning/inspiration of the songs?
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This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.Interview from a Dutch site
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2792156/op-studiobezoek-bij-mark-knopfler
This is a premium article, someone from my compatriots the full text? It is only a few lines readable.
You can create a free account for premium articles on that site. I don't know if it is allowed to post the full article here.
Is there some info in the article that help us with the meaning/inspiration of the songs?
No new insights I'm afraid. He explains the album title ("That is a line from the song 'One Song At a Time' which I got from my great hero and colleague Chet Atkins"), but nothing more specifically about the album or songs.
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Interesting that thress songs we are yet to here (most of us) as highlights - When You Leave, Slow Learner and Matchstick Man.....
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My review on the french site culturebox has just been published :
https://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/musique/rock/un-parfum-de-dire-straits-dans-le-dernier-album-de-mark-knopfler-281581
nothing new for you of course, and it's in french
the title means "a Dire Straits flavour in the last Mark Knopfler's album"
I know that many here will find it exagerated, but this was my first impression at first listening, and compared to his other solo albums, I stand by it :)
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My review on the french site culturebox has just been published :
https://culturebox.francetvinfo.fr/musique/rock/un-parfum-de-dire-straits-dans-le-dernier-album-de-mark-knopfler-281581
nothing new for you of course, and it's in french
the title means "a Dire Straits flavour in the last Mark Knopfler's album"
I know that many here will find it exagerated, but this was my first impression at first listening, and compared to his other solo albums, I stand by it :)
Great review Jeff !
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I really like your article, Jeff!
Here's another review I just detected in an Austrian newspaper (my home country) - again a very positive one:
https://www.tt.com/ticker/15012843/ueberzeugt-in-der-komfortzone-mark-knopflers-souveraenes-spaetwerk
Besides some facts, that are already well-known to AMITers, there are also a few (partly album-specific) lines, that may be of interest to you - so I tried to translate these parts for the non-german-speaking majority:
Convincing in the comfort zone: Mark Knopfler's sovereign late work
Mark Knopfler managed to do something, that only few world stars achieve in dignity: the singer and guitarist stepped back voluntarily into the second row, making smaller records and playing smaller concerts than he did with his Platinum and Stadium rock band dire straits. But he's doing it very, very well - now again on the solemn "Down the road wherever".
As a solo artist, the multiple Grammy winner chooses a different approach since his debut "Golden Heart" (1996): the albums of course are still fantastically produced, but less polished and trimmed on surface charms. The same here on "Down The Road Wherever". As on the predecessors "Privateering" (2012) and "Tracker" (2015) - both reached 1st place in the Austrian album charts - he devotes himself on his favorite music without major compromises.
The new songs again include melancholic ballads, instantly likable singer-songwriter tracks, Celtic folk, Americana and ambitious pop rock, partly with Latin, soul, and jazz elements. Especially the Tom Walsh-trumpet-decorated tracks "When You Leave" and "Slow Learner", the funk track "Nobody Does That" and the bluesy 'Floating away' stand out from the warm, earthy song material.
Another highlight: the nostalgic song "Just a boy away from home", on which Knopfler embeds the football anthem "you'll never walk alone" with his guitar.
In general: This restrained virtuosity, these gently flowing, unpretentious solos manage to impress again and again - as also his nonchalance to insert his rather limited sonorous baritone voice.
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Thanks El Macho and Knopflerado :)
I guess we know each other on FB maybe ?
sorry if I miss the link between avatars on AMIT and names on other social media :) :wave
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I hope that with the release we also get the usual official press kit in text and video... He usually talks about most of the songs there.
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I hope that with the release we also get the usual official press kit in text and video... He usually talks about most of the songs there.
Would be great indeed. Something like the 'Track by Track' -video he did for Tracker would be nice.
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I hope that with the release we also get the usual official press kit in text and video... He usually talks about most of the songs there.
Would be great indeed. Something like the 'Track by Track' -video he did for Tracker would be nice.
That was brilliant.
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Yes it was, apart from Mark sitting at the desk of his high end studio and playing music from an apple Notebook .. instead of using the technical fascilities..
LE
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Yes it was, apart from Mark sitting at the desk of his high end studio and playing music from an apple Notebook .. instead of using the technical fascilities..
LE
Lol that' a very interesting observation, never thought about that. Reminds me this "not listen to MP3" stuff...
Honestly, speakers on laptops and phones are so good nowadays and so enjoyable, that I often "do it" like this.
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Amercican Sogwriter
Mark Knopfler: Down the Road Wherever
Written By Hal Horowitz /
It has been clear, back from his first solo album in 1996, that Mark Knopfler was not entirely comfortable with the guitar-slinging rock-star image cultivated in the “Money For Nothing” years of Dire Straits’ most commercially successful period. Since then, his non-soundtrack solo albums — this is his ninth — have edged into quieter, more pastoral areas. He has continued to explore the space around his notes, creating often atmospheric songs where his honey and salt blue-collar vocals meshed with music that was tamped down and rustic. While these are all beautifully and artfully crafted, most haven’t found wider audiences beyond an existing cult willing to follow Knopfler down these more sensitive, often folk- and Celtic-inflected avenues.
Like Eric Clapton, Knopfler is more concerned about the song than the fret shredding he’s certainly capable of, and that extends to this new 14 (16 on the deluxe edition) track collection. But just when you think this is another lush, lovely, slightly lazy soundtrack for your favorite coffee shop on Sunday morning, the singer-songwriter throws in some changeups that push this into diverse and intriguing territory.
Press play on the opening “Trapper Man” and you immediately hear … nothing. Then softly picked guitar and finally 30 seconds in, the drums kick out, urging the music into moderate rocking territory. Female backing vocals and Knopfler’s trademarked snakelike guitar winds and curls around this story of the titular character as it moves to a funky break creating a groove you wish he would tap into more often. And there’s more similar to it. On “Nobody Does That,” Knopfler employs punchy horns to accentuate the JJ Cale-styled lope on one of the album’s most unusual, jazzy and catchy selections.
He gets reflective on “Just a Boy Away from Home,” a look back as his young dreams meet the harsh glow of older reality, all in a slow yet insistent rhythm (with refined horns again), not far from Little Feat territory. Knopfler tills Bryan Ferry’s restrained party vibe for “Back on the Dancefloor,” bringing Imelda May in on harmony vocals and working a sensual sway that’s hypnotic in its rhythmic underpinnings. He even echoes his Dire Straits days for the hooky “Good on You Son,” complete with a nifty sax/guitar call and response for this disc’s most vibrant moment.
There are also a handful of softer, charming, noir pieces as Knopfler finds his inner Sinatra for the piano based supper club jazz of “Slow Learner” and the sweet, somewhat schmaltzy “When You Leave.” The closing solo acoustic James Taylor-influenced “Matchstick Men” leaves us in a familiar area as Knopfler picks slow and sweet, singing in his most intimate voice. This expansion into different musical genres and styles helps make On the Road Wherever a varied, uncommon yet inviting wander off Mark Knopfler’s usual path. He’s probing fresh sounds with the class and sophistication we’ve come to expect from this gifted veteran, whose MTV days seem like blurry images in a rear view mirror.
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https://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article183840650/Mark-Knopflers-neues-Album-Das-ist-fast-schon-tanzbar.html
Another great review: The author says: Dire-Straits leader Mark Knopfler has made a new solo album. Does this interest us? Yes, because "Down The Road Wherever" is his best for 30 years.
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I'm glad because I see that I am not alone with my positive review. It seems there are many.
Another french one also says that the album will please DS fans.... I am not the only one to say this....
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Another very positive review in the Elmore Magazine:
http://www.elmoremagazine.com/2018/11/reviews/albums/mark-knopfler-down-the-road-wherever
Quote: "The result is a delight, an album that again sparkles with Knopfler’s eye to detail, his story-telling lyricism, melodic magic, and downright original, vital fretwork, always an outstanding, masterful masterclass in itself.
A truly delightful release, rippling with Knopfler’s own musical stamp, stature and charisma."
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So happy to see these reviews!
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Another 5-Star-rating with track by track-description
https://www.readjunk.com/reviews/albumreviews/mark-knopfler-down-the-road-wherever/
… and minutes ago a small review by the famous "Washington Post" popped up:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/review-wide-range-of-styles-on-mark-knopflers-latest-cd/2018/11/14/20a5883c-e825-11e8-8449-1ff263609a31_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6e703ea25518
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Another 5-Star-rating with track by track-description
https://www.readjunk.com/reviews/albumreviews/mark-knopfler-down-the-road-wherever/
… and minutes ago a small review by the famous "Washington Post" popped up:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/review-wide-range-of-styles-on-mark-knopflers-latest-cd/2018/11/14/20a5883c-e825-11e8-8449-1ff263609a31_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6e703ea25518
“I’m a slow burner... I do everything slow,” Knopfler sings :think
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https://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article183840650/Mark-Knopflers-neues-Album-Das-ist-fast-schon-tanzbar.html
Another great review: The author says: Dire-Straits leader Mark Knopfler has made a new solo album. Does this interest us? Yes, because "Down The Road Wherever" is his best for 30 years.
The author says too: „Drovers’ Road“ und vor allem „Matchstick Man“ sind typisch pathetische Knopfler-Balladen ("Drovers' Road" and especially "Matchstick Man" are typically pathetic Knopfler ballads)
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Only enthusiastic reviews. I am happy :)
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https://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article183840650/Mark-Knopflers-neues-Album-Das-ist-fast-schon-tanzbar.html
Another great review: The author says: Dire-Straits leader Mark Knopfler has made a new solo album. Does this interest us? Yes, because "Down The Road Wherever" is his best for 30 years.
The author says too: „Drovers’ Road“ und vor allem „Matchstick Man“ sind typisch pathetische Knopfler-Balladen ("Drovers' Road" and especially "Matchstick Man" are typically pathetic Knopfler ballads)
Hopefully this is a reference to MK's use of pathos rather than the usual use of the adjective 'pathetic' in English!
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I enjoyed this review: https://www.npr.org/2018/11/15/667919648/down-the-road-wherever-mark-knopfler-builds-a-village
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Nothing spectacular new here - but nicely written review and some fresher quotes than usual in my opinion (p.e. MK listening incognito to a bunch of young guys jamming Sultans in a London Underground station …) - Mainly for the german speaking AMITers - unfortunately I'm too busy at the moment to translate …
https://www.waz.de/kultur/mark-knopflers-neues-album-ein-dickkopf-erinnert-sich-id215805683.html
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I enjoyed this review: https://www.npr.org/2018/11/15/667919648/down-the-road-wherever-mark-knopfler-builds-a-village
Thanks. Very nice review :)
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… and here we learn, that "Matchstick man" and "Back on the Dancefloor" will be part of the 2019-tour-setlist …
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/get-buzz-kid-mark-knopfler-talks-road-wherever/
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… and here we learn, that "Matchstick man" and "Back on the Dancefloor" will be part of the 2019-tour-setlist …
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/get-buzz-kid-mark-knopfler-talks-road-wherever/
PLEASE NO!!! Was hoping they'd skip BOTDF from setlist, so many better songs to pick... Sorry but it's nothing to include in the setlist....
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… and here we learn, that "Matchstick man" and "Back on the Dancefloor" will be part of the 2019-tour-setlist …
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/get-buzz-kid-mark-knopfler-talks-road-wherever/
Ohh yeah, I'm gonna be grooving during BOTD
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They will play it three or four times and then they will realize that it won't work live. ;D
LE
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The notoriously grumpy, "old" man from the danish tabloid "Ekstrabladet" is pretty harsh in his review of DtRW: (Hope my translation makes sense):
Oh no: Rock giant with a walking frame
The british veteran Mark Knopfler sounds like a sack of potatoes [translation note: in Danish, it is commonly known that the only thing that rhymes on Knopfler is kartofler (potatoes)] on a hauling, boring album opus.
On the stylish tune ‘Slow Learner” Mark Knopfler mumbles “I do everything slow”.
By that he’s right.
The legend’s more than 70 minutes long album, “Down the Road Wherever” is so calm that it makes you feel time moving backwards.
More than ever, Knopfler changes sprawlingly between almost indolent and just leaned back tones, while his fundamental skills and craftmanship none the less are some guarantee for a certain quality.
Swinging his wooden legs
The old timer, turning 70 next summer, however seems to be using a walking frame, even making you fear for his health, as he with understated humour swings his wooden legs on “Back on the Dance Floor”.
Without any success, Knopfler discreetly experiments with a brass section and soul grooves, but somehow ends standing obdurately still in a weirdly edgy and flat sounding production.
His bone dry caprice is lukewarm and the inspiration only glows by exception in the dusty western-ballad “Nobody’s Child” and the jazzy “When You Leave”, where it - for once - seems something is at stake in his slumbering world.
A track like “Nobody Does That” would none the less make J.J. Cale swing a bit from his grave, but you end up with the empty feeling that Knopfler only went to the studio because he was bored.
That’s contagious. Tardily.
(Source: https://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/intlalbum/aah-nej-rockgigant-med-gangstativ/7396311)
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Crap :thumbsdown
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Thanks for that "review." Sounds like the author is quite the comic. :lol
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He is. And quite criticized as well.
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They will play it three or four times and then they will realize that it won't work live. ;D
LE
I can see Ricardo "shaking it all down" and it doesn't look good. :smack
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How refreshing to finally read a bad one! :lol
LE
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How refreshing to finally read a bad one! :lol
LE
Haha, yes, but with him it's a rarity with positive reviews. But a bit funny none the less.
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Reading that his albums are boring is.... so boring!
LE
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… and here we learn, that "Matchstick man" and "Back on the Dancefloor" will be part of the 2019-tour-setlist …
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/get-buzz-kid-mark-knopfler-talks-road-wherever/
I thinkit' will be the first time ever that Mark will play alone on guitar in front of live audience.
At least he always had Guy on keyboard, or bass and drums (Sonny Liston), but alone I can't remember
I don't count Tv and radio promos
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This danish journalist must be the life of the party :lol
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Dire review in The Times today from Will Hodgkinson. I’m not sure he’s listened to the whole thing, and I’m pretty sure he’d written most of the review in his head before listening. He even manages to quote from the wrong song:-
★★☆☆☆
Dire Straits’s former leader is revered for his guitar wizardry, has produced everyone from Tina Turner to Bob Dylan and is in high demand as a soundtrack composer.
Nonetheless, as Mark Knopfler goes, “Mmm, yeah’’, in a voice somewhere between Dylan and JJ Cale on Trapper Man, he sounds like the last word in dad rock: clean, precise, unremarkable, ideal for listening to while chugging along the M1 at a steady 70mph.
Matchstick Man even offers a day in the life of the pro-level dad rocker, albeit one without Knopfler’s £75 million: “So there he was, then, Penzance to play . . . early morning Christmas Day, he’s hitching home to Geordie Land.” There are some nice reflections on ageing, and plenty of tasty blues licks and smooth grooves, but it really is hard to find this interesting. (Virgin)
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The 75 Million line says it all really. Don't know why that has to be mentioned in an album review really.
I agree that after a first superficial listen Mark's music could be described as he did maybe. But that's the thing, he's the opposite of supetficial.
LE
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… and here we learn, that "Matchstick man" and "Back on the Dancefloor" will be part of the 2019-tour-setlist …
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/get-buzz-kid-mark-knopfler-talks-road-wherever/
I thinkit' will be the first time ever that Mark will play alone on guitar in front of live audience.
At least he always had Guy on keyboard, or bass and drums (Sonny Liston), but alone I can't remember
I don't count Tv and radio promos
3rd June 2007: 'Secondary Waltz' at Hay on Wye was just MK on guitar... (No input from Guy)
Both the Live interview in the barclays tent and also the Hay on Sky programme...
'Fish and the bird' - Kill to get crimson tour 2008??
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The "dad-rock" accusation is fair to the general public though. Having had the new album on with my long suffering wife and 19 yr old daughter, MK stands accused of delivering so called "dad-rock" verbatim! It's the same way I felt when I first discovered MK had had a solo career way back when I joined AMIT !!! Quite a shock - yet now one of my favourite go to places on a train journey is KTGC!!
My first impressions of this new one, is I like it much more than Tracker and this is a return to form that is on par with the best songs of Privateering; just the quieter dad ones though!
First impressions can be tricky though, only as the months and years roll on do we get a true taste of what endured.
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The interesting thing is that the reviewer in The Times review has missed completely that the "Mmm yeah" in Trapper Man is part of the character - MKs great strength as a writer - the Trapper Man is an A&R music man - and the Mmm Yead is very character appropriate. He misses that entirely and thinks it is a dad rock shout out.
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The interesting thing is that the reviewer in The Times review has missed completely that the "Mmm yeah" in Trapper Man is part of the character - MKs great strength as a writer - the Trapper Man is an A&R music man - and the Mmm Yead is very character appropriate. He misses that entirely and thinks it is a dad rock shout out.
Well spotted and very correct...
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I remember this brazilian journalist calling Mark 'pouca telha', a silly slang for bald head, when reviewing Golden Heart. His last sentence after dishing pretty much the whole album was 'well, how could an album that has a song called Je Suis Désolé be good?'. The reviewer from The Times seems to be from the same lot. I mean, I'm not saying everyone must love it, but at least do your job properly, listen to the songs carefully with an open heart, and then write your thing, either positive or negative, but providing knowledgeable reasoning instead of superficial judgement. Respect to the grumpy danish dude, he didn't like it but you can tell he did his job.
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Zuger Zeitung, Switzerland 20181117:
Mark Knopfler wünscht sich einen Gitarrenlehrer
ROCK Mark Knopfler ist einer der grossen Gitarristen unserer Zeit. Seit dem Ende von Dire Straits folgt er still und virtuos nur seinem Musikerherz. Auch in seinem neuen Album «Down the Road Wherever».
Umgeben von Gitarren sitzt Mark Knopfler in seinem Studio, verströmt Frieden und redet über sein neues Album «Down the Road Wherever». Es ist sein zehntes seit er vor 23 Jahren, sehr zum Schrecken der restlichen Bandmitglieder, Dire Straits aufgelöst hat. 69 Jahre alt ist er inzwischen. Er schreibe heute mehr Songs denn je, und aus dem Tonfall ist die Dankbarkeit herauszuspüren: «Ich sehe keinerlei Anzeichen dafür, dass die Songs am Austrocknen wären. Im Gegenteil, es kommen mehr und mehr.»
Soeben hat er auch noch die Lieder für ein ganzes Musical komponiert. Es handelt sich dabei um eine Bühnenversion von «Local Hero», der feinen schottischen Filmkomödie mit Burt Lancaster, für die Knopfler anfangs der 1980er-Jahre den instrumentalen Soundtrack eingespielt hatte. «Je älter man wird», sagt er, «desto länger wird die Liste von Dingen, die man noch erreichen möchte.» Ein paar Jahre lang waren Dire Straits die populärste Rockband auf der Welt. Ihr Album «Brothers in Arms» verkaufte sich weit über dreissig Millionen Mal. Auf der Spitze des Erfolges warf Knopfler das Handtuch. «Es war mir alles zu laut und zu gross geworden. Es ging nicht mehr um die Musik.» Die Zeiten, wo er das Haus nicht ohne Bodyguards verlassen konnte, sind längst vorbei. Jetzt ist es ihm wieder wohl. Nach der Arbeit im Studio kann er sich unbehelligt in den Pub setzen. Wenn ihn jemand anspricht, ist es mit Respekt: «Die Menschen sind wunderbar», strahlt er.
Der Vater war ein jüdischer Flüchtling
Möglicherweise hat das Bedürfnis nach Alltäglichkeit und Wurzeln den Ursprung in der Familiengeschichte. Knopflers ungarisch-jüdischer Vater, ein Architekt, war 1939 als Flüchtling in Glasgow gelandet und hatte dort eine Lehrerin geheiratet. Seine Entwurzelung mag auch im Sohn Spuren hinterlassen haben: Auch das Rockstar-Dasein kann eine Art Entwurzelung darstellen. Mark war acht Jahre alt, als die Familie nach Newcastle zog. Mit der Stadt ist er noch heute eng verbunden. . «Die Sache mit den Geordies (der liebevolle Spitzname für die Bewohner von Newcastle) ist die: jeder Mensch ist dort willkommen. Jedem wird geholfen.»
Er liebe es, Songs zu schreiben, erklärt Knopfler im Dokumentarfilm «A Life in Songs» (2011): «Ich liebe das Proben, ich liebe die Arbeit im Studio und ich liebe es, auf Tournee zu gehen.» Im kommenden Frühling geht es erneut auf Reisen. Im Mai gastiert er im Zürcher Hallenstadion. Obwohl es so nicht ausgesprochen wird, könnte es Knopflers letzte längere Tournee sein. Er müsse sich irgendwie die Zeit verschaffen, seiner Muse freien Lauf geben zu können, sagt er. «Wenn man eine Wahl treffen muss, fällt zuerst das weg, was am meisten harte Arbeit bereitet. Tourneen, das wird wohl der Baum sein, der zuerst gefällt wird.»
Noch weiss Knopfler nicht alles über die Gitarre
Das fleissige Songschreiben gehe auf Kosten der Gitarre. Man konzentriere sich auf völlig andere Dinge als beim Üben. Am liebsten würde er einen Gitarrenlehrer engagieren: «Einen, der jede Woche zu einer bestimmten Zeit kommt, der keine Ausrede zulässt, sozusagen Pilates-Sessions für die Gitarre.» Weiss er denn nicht längst schon alles, was es über die Gitarre zu wissen gibt? «Nein! Davon bin ich meilenweit entfernt. Was sage ich! Lichtjahre sind es, so gross ist die Entfernung!» «Down the Road Wherever» serviert vierzehn Lieder, allesamt im rootsig angehauchten, eleganten Singer/Songwriter-Stil, den der Saitenvirtuoso seit dem Ende von Dire Straits verfolgt. Man hört diesmal einige Bläser mehr als auch schon und ein bisschen weniger englische Folkeinflüsse. Geblieben sind die quecksilberhaften Gitarrenriffs, die nie ins Showhafte abrutschen, und die samtenen Melodien halbwegs zwischen englischem Folk und Americana. Ja, auch ein Hauch New Orleans ist zu spüren.
Geblieben ist auch die Knopflersche Vorliebe fürs Geschichtenerzählen. Nirgends kommt dies schöner zur Geltung als im Song «Just a Boy Away From Home». Er erzählt die Story von einem jungen Mann in Newcastle und seinem Heimweh nach Liverpool und endet mit Knopflers eigenwilliger Interpretation von «You’ll Never Walk Alone», der Hymne des FC Liverpool.
Hanspeter Künzler
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English translation (Google)
Mark Knopfler wants a guitar teacher
ROCK Mark Knopfler is one of the great guitarists of our time. Since the end of Dire Straits he follows quietly and virtuoso only his musician heart. Also in his new album "Down the Road Wherever".
Surrounded by guitars, Mark Knopfler sits in his studio, exudes peace and talks about his new album "Down the Road Wherever". It's his tenth since he disbanded Dire Straits 23 years ago, much to the horror of the rest of the band. He is now 69 years old. He's writing more songs than ever today, and the gratitude can be felt from the tone: "I see no sign that the songs are dying. On the contrary, more and more are coming. »
He has also just composed the songs for a whole musical. It is a stage version of "Local Hero," the fine Scottish comedy film starring Burt Lancaster, for whom Knopfler recorded the instrumental soundtrack in the early 1980s. "The older you get," he says, "the longer the list of things you want to achieve." For a few years, Dire Straits were the most popular rock band in the world. Her album "Brothers in Arms" sold well over thirty million copies. At the peak of success, Knopfler threw in the towel. "Everything was too loud and too big for me. It was no longer about the music. "The days when he could not leave the house without bodyguards are long gone. Now he is well again. After working in the studio, he can sit down unmolested in the pub. If someone speaks to him, it is with respect: "The people are wonderful," he beams.
The father was a Jewish refugee
Perhaps the need for everydayness and roots has its origin in family history. Knopflers Hungarian-Jewish father, an architect, had landed in Glasgow as a refugee in 1939 and had married a teacher there. His uprooting may also have left its mark on the son: Even the rock star existence can represent a kind of uprooting. Mark was eight years old when the family moved to Newcastle. He is still closely connected with the city today. , "The thing about the Geordies (the fond nickname for Newcastle residents) is that everyone is welcome there. Everyone is helped. »
He loves to write songs, Knopfler explains in the documentary film "A Life in Songs" (2011): "I love rehearsals, I love working in the studio and I love going on tour." Spring is coming again traveling. In May he will perform in the Zurich Hallenstadion. Although it is not said that way, it could be Knopfler's last longer tour. He must somehow get the time to give his muse free rein, he says. "When you have to make a choice, you're the one who does the hardest work first. Touring, that will probably be the tree that is felled first ».
Knopfler does not know everything about the guitar yet
The diligent songwriting goes at the expense of the guitar. Focus on completely different things than practicing. He would like to hire a guitar teacher: "One who comes every week at a certain time, who does not allow an excuse, so to speak Pilates sessions for the guitar." He does not already know everything there is to know about the guitar ? "No! I'm miles away from that. What do I say! It's light years, that's the distance! "" Down the Road Wherever "serves fourteen songs, all in the rootsy-inspired, elegant singer / songwriter style the string virtuoso has been following since the demise of Dire Straits. This time you will hear some more wind instruments as well as a bit less English Folk influences. What remains are the mercurial guitar riffs, which never slip into showmanship, and the velvety melodies halfway between English folk and Americana. Yes, even a touch of New Orleans can be felt.
Also left is the Knopfler predilection for storytelling. Nowhere is this more beautiful than in the song "Just a Boy Away From Home". He tells the story of a young man in Newcastle and his homesickness for Liverpool and ends with Knopflers idiosyncratic interpretation of "You'll Never Walk Alone", the Liverpool anthem.
Hanspeter Künzler
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Classic Rock -> https://classicrock.net/review-mark-knopfler-down-the-road-wherever/
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Here's a quote from the Rolling Stone review by Jonathan Bernstein which I completely disagree:
"On an album with 14 songs, there’s certainly some filler (see the sleepy “When You Leave”)"
What part of this sentence makes sense?! 14 songs is not that much imo for an experienced songwriter like Mark, and I love the feeling of the song When You Leave, beautiful and one of my favorite slow tracks from the album, along with Slow Learner. I truly do not understand naming any song as "filler" when it comes to Mark Knopfler.
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Here's a quote from the Rolling Stone review by Jonathan Bernstein which I completely disagree:
"On an album with 14 songs, there’s certainly some filler (see the sleepy “When You Leave”)"
What part of this sentence makes sense?! 14 songs is not that much imo for an experienced songwriter like Mark, and I love the feeling of the song When You Leave, beautiful and one of my favorite slow tracks from the album, along with Slow Learner. I truly do not understand naming any song as "filler" when it comes to Mark Knopfler.
14 Songs?? - 16 on the slightly more expensive deluxe edition.....
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Another Danish review. It seems that the common opinion among the danish reviewers is that Knopfler is boring, but this review none the less ends up at 4 out of 6 stars. I have in serveral occsasions read about the "weak falsetto" in "Nobody's Child", which I in particular love because of that falsetto. I think it is beautifully emotional.
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Review: Mark Knopfler’s new album is decent and a bit boring
(4 of 6 stars)
Most of Mark Knopfler’s new songs are on the long side of five minutes. It would suit the songs to be at least a minute and a half shorter.
Music: On “Down The Road Wherever”, Mark Knopfler’s ninth solo album, the 69 year old Scot sounds like a mix of Bob Dylan and an ageing Johnny Cash.
The gallery of characters in several of Mark Knopfler’s lyrics could be stolen from a not yet written John Irwing novel: The fur trapper coming in to the nearest Klondike to sell his fur, the gambler preparing his comeback and the ragged child, who far to soon learns to speak with his fists, the knife and the bottom of a broken bottle.
The first single “Good On You Son” reminds you of Dire Straits in the less inspiring years. After a soft dance intro, the song develops into a halfway funky pop being scarred by a four to the floor-rhythm, which luckily is being drowned by a saxophone solo.
Gentle bossa
"Just A Boy Away From Home" is a clattering sump-skiffle with a lot of slide guitar. Underway the song develops into a second line-brass culminating rather humorous into the musical couple Rodgers and Hammestein’s “You Never Walk Alone”, mostly known as Liverpool’s anthem.
The drum-heavy “Trapper Man” borrows musical lines from the Beatles’ “Nowhere Man”. Knopfler has less success with “Heavy Up” which is inspired by Miriam Makebas "Pata Pata”, which I was force fed with in the early seventies in the music lessons in the primary school.
Knopfler moves around in the genres. “Back On The Dancefloor” is a lazy rhumba. “When You Leave” is a jazzy beguine, a small-talking ballad. “Nobody Does That” is one of my favourites; a playful funky song with a well fitted brass section, percussion, Moog and the special Stevie Wonder’ish synth-spinet sound.
On “Floating Way”, the latin rhythms once again dominates, while “Slow Learner” shows Knopfler as a crooner in a soft bossanova, which certainly has its qualities.
A nod to Cash
“Nobody’s Child” is musically an unmistakable nod to Johnny Cash, but Knopfler’s fragile falsetto does nothing good for the overall expression. “My Bacon Roll” is musically uninspired, but the slow shambling ballad is saved by the silly lyrics about the every day with every day on top of it.
On the good-natured “Drover’s Road” the cowboy movie theme melts together with the irish folk and the sound of a funeral procession – decent but boring.
"One Song At A Time" is probably the most redundant song on the album: A hero guitar solo initiates the song which lasts cumbersome six minutes and 17 seconds, because there in the best communist-jazz style needs to be room for interminable solos for almost every participant.
Short and concise
Mark Knopfler has had fun in getting as far into the musical corners as possible, and he deserves credit for that. But as all songs except one last over four minutes, most of them exceeding five minutes, is too bad, as Knopfler in transit runs dry of musical ideas.
At least one and a half minute could easily be cut off of almost every song. The albums’ praiseworthy encore is a proof of that. “Matchstick Man” is a shortie, which in under three minutes shows what it is Mark Knopfler does best when he’s inspired the most: Capture an atmosphere and portray a human destiny shortly and concise.
Source:
https://www.fyens.dk/Danmark-Kultur/Anmeldelse-Mark-Knopflers-nye-album-er-redeligt-og-lidt-kedeligt/artikel/3300422
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There's not much I'd agree with in that Danish review, but I have a sneaking feeling that knocking a minute and a half off several of the songs would have done them no harm!
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Anyone else hear an excessive amount of sibilance on vocals?
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No, I don’t, on a pretty high end system.
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That's an odd review - 4 out of 6 stars - very good rating - then critical about most of the songs.
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AllMusic Review by Timothy Monger [-]
Nine albums into a remarkably consistent post-Dire Straits solo career, Mark Knopfler has little to prove aside from living up to his own high standards. That's not to say he's incapable of surprises or the occasional left turn, but the general trajectory of his non-soundtrack output as far back as 2004's Shangri-La has continued to cut a pleasingly familiar groove that fuses his myriad preferences (country, jazz, blues, pub rock, folk, Celtic) into the distinctive brand of understated English roots rock that has become his bailiwick. A single elegantly muted guitar squall or dry vocal phrase is usually all it takes to recognize the author and yet, Knopfler has never been one to coast on his reputation, diligently putting in the work and honing each of his songs into their essential form. Such is the case with Down the Road Wherever, a classic Knopfler grab-bag that essentially picks up where 2015's Tracker left off. A wide-ranging mix of reflective autobiographical fare and warm, eclectic storytelling, it runs the gamut from tales of a footloose football fan strolling through enemy territory (the bluesy "Just a Boy Away from Home") and a wayward bar musician hitchhiking on Christmas Day (the spare solo acoustic cut "Matchstick Man") to a pair of deeply personal and elegant piano-led jazz ballads in "When You Leave" and the smoky "Slow Learner." Well-crafted midtempo rockers like "Good on You Son" and "Back on the Dance Floor" hit that deep pocket of hooky melodicism, nimble unhurried fretwork, and half-drawled cool that is one of Knopfler's specialties. A somewhat lengthy collection, the album does tend to drag a little in its second half and while there are no outright duds, a bit of editing might have turned a strong 14-track outing into an excellent ten or 12-track one. Still, the fact that Knopfler is writing and recording at such a high level of quality at this stage in his career makes each release something to celebrate.
Source:
https://www.allmusic.com/album/down-the-road-wherever-mw0003210690 (https://www.allmusic.com/album/down-the-road-wherever-mw0003210690)
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The notoriously grumpy, "old" man from the danish tabloid "Ekstrabladet" is pretty harsh in his review of DtRW: (Hope my translation makes sense):
Oh no: Rock giant with a walking frame
The british veteran Mark Knopfler sounds like a sack of potatoes [translation note: in Danish, it is commonly known that the only thing that rhymes on Knopfler is kartofler (potatoes)] on a hauling, boring album opus.
On the stylish tune ‘Slow Learner” Mark Knopfler mumbles “I do everything slow”.
By that he’s right.
The legend’s more than 70 minutes long album, “Down the Road Wherever” is so calm that it makes you feel time moving backwards.
More than ever, Knopfler changes sprawlingly between almost indolent and just leaned back tones, while his fundamental skills and craftmanship none the less are some guarantee for a certain quality.
Swinging his wooden legs
The old timer, turning 70 next summer, however seems to be using a walking frame, even making you fear for his health, as he with understated humour swings his wooden legs on “Back on the Dance Floor”.
Without any success, Knopfler discreetly experiments with a brass section and soul grooves, but somehow ends standing obdurately still in a weirdly edgy and flat sounding production.
His bone dry caprice is lukewarm and the inspiration only glows by exception in the dusty western-ballad “Nobody’s Child” and the jazzy “When You Leave”, where it - for once - seems something is at stake in his slumbering world.
A track like “Nobody Does That” would none the less make J.J. Cale swing a bit from his grave, but you end up with the empty feeling that Knopfler only went to the studio because he was bored.
That’s contagious. Tardily.
(Source: https://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/intlalbum/aah-nej-rockgigant-med-gangstativ/7396311)
Den var jo totalt idiotisk...
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Italian review (very good!) and a video (in english, and italian subs)
https://www.rockol.it/recensioni-musicali/album/8329/mark-knopfler-down-the-road-wherever
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The notoriously grumpy, "old" man from the danish tabloid "Ekstrabladet" is pretty harsh in his review of DtRW: (Hope my translation makes sense):
Oh no: Rock giant with a walking frame
The british veteran Mark Knopfler sounds like a sack of potatoes [translation note: in Danish, it is commonly known that the only thing that rhymes on Knopfler is kartofler (potatoes)] on a hauling, boring album opus.
On the stylish tune ‘Slow Learner” Mark Knopfler mumbles “I do everything slow”.
By that he’s right.
The legend’s more than 70 minutes long album, “Down the Road Wherever” is so calm that it makes you feel time moving backwards.
More than ever, Knopfler changes sprawlingly between almost indolent and just leaned back tones, while his fundamental skills and craftmanship none the less are some guarantee for a certain quality.
Swinging his wooden legs
The old timer, turning 70 next summer, however seems to be using a walking frame, even making you fear for his health, as he with understated humour swings his wooden legs on “Back on the Dance Floor”.
Without any success, Knopfler discreetly experiments with a brass section and soul grooves, but somehow ends standing obdurately still in a weirdly edgy and flat sounding production.
His bone dry caprice is lukewarm and the inspiration only glows by exception in the dusty western-ballad “Nobody’s Child” and the jazzy “When You Leave”, where it - for once - seems something is at stake in his slumbering world.
A track like “Nobody Does That” would none the less make J.J. Cale swing a bit from his grave, but you end up with the empty feeling that Knopfler only went to the studio because he was bored.
That’s contagious. Tardily.
(Source: https://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/intlalbum/aah-nej-rockgigant-med-gangstativ/7396311)
Den var jo totalt idiotisk...
Håller med.. Vad hade han väntat sig? Rent DS-sound á la 80-talet? :think
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The notoriously grumpy, "old" man from the danish tabloid "Ekstrabladet" is pretty harsh in his review of DtRW: (Hope my translation makes sense):
Oh no: Rock giant with a walking frame
The british veteran Mark Knopfler sounds like a sack of potatoes [translation note: in Danish, it is commonly known that the only thing that rhymes on Knopfler is kartofler (potatoes)] on a hauling, boring album opus.
On the stylish tune ‘Slow Learner” Mark Knopfler mumbles “I do everything slow”.
By that he’s right.
The legend’s more than 70 minutes long album, “Down the Road Wherever” is so calm that it makes you feel time moving backwards.
More than ever, Knopfler changes sprawlingly between almost indolent and just leaned back tones, while his fundamental skills and craftmanship none the less are some guarantee for a certain quality.
Swinging his wooden legs
The old timer, turning 70 next summer, however seems to be using a walking frame, even making you fear for his health, as he with understated humour swings his wooden legs on “Back on the Dance Floor”.
Without any success, Knopfler discreetly experiments with a brass section and soul grooves, but somehow ends standing obdurately still in a weirdly edgy and flat sounding production.
His bone dry caprice is lukewarm and the inspiration only glows by exception in the dusty western-ballad “Nobody’s Child” and the jazzy “When You Leave”, where it - for once - seems something is at stake in his slumbering world.
A track like “Nobody Does That” would none the less make J.J. Cale swing a bit from his grave, but you end up with the empty feeling that Knopfler only went to the studio because he was bored.
That’s contagious. Tardily.
(Source: https://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/intlalbum/aah-nej-rockgigant-med-gangstativ/7396311)
Den var jo totalt idiotisk...
Håller med.. Vad hade han väntat sig? Rent DS-sound á la 80-talet? :think
This review basically sums up all that we moaners were moan about after this album came out. No, he wasn't expecting 80s DS sound, neither expected I. The review is about a completely different matter, which is the "feel" and an honest look at the production and the quality of the songs. If you like the album, its completely okay, because in a way it was designed to be as "likeable" as possible. And this is exactly what we moaners and reviewers are talking about.
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Mark now has the best voice he ever had in his whole career, and with the voice like that you expect better songs and less cheesy production. No, I don't want an intro that resembles Telegraph Road for no apparent reason. I don't want flashy guitar solos, I don't want Dire Straits, which Mark always bashes and calls his "old boots" while delivering the most DS-sounding record ever. Just give me the voice without embellishments, choruses, flangers, reverbs, delays, the good songs an a simple acoustic guitar. It's not rocket science, Guy and Mark!
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Mark now has the best voice he ever had in his whole career, and with the voice like that you expect better songs and less cheesy production. No, I don't want an intro that resembles Telegraph Road for no apparent reason. I don't want flashy guitar solos, I don't want Dire Straits, which Mark always bashes and calls his "old boots" while delivering the most DS-sounding record ever. Just give me the voice without embellishments, choruses, flangers, reverbs, delays, the good songs an a simple acoustic guitar. It's not rocket science, Guy and Mark!
Next album with less/no influence by Guy will satisfied you? :lol
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Mark now has the best voice he ever had in his whole career, and with the voice like that you expect better songs and less cheesy production. No, I don't want an intro that resembles Telegraph Road for no apparent reason. I don't want flashy guitar solos, I don't want Dire Straits, which Mark always bashes and calls his "old boots" while delivering the most DS-sounding record ever. Just give me the voice without embellishments, choruses, flangers, reverbs, delays, the good songs an a simple acoustic guitar. It's not rocket science, Guy and Mark!
Next album with less/no influence by Guy will satisfied you? :lol
The worst case scenario if the next album will have even more of all this. Then, this will be the end of MK for me personally. Imagine even more cheesier production, even more effects, even more sounds, even more drums and even more DS (contrary to what Mark says, again).
Someone told me that after Privateering and Tracker Mark had absolutely no other choice than to release such an album as Down The Road, a different album, because otherwise he would be crushed by people and reviewers as being "too Mark", too slow and boring, all that usual stuff. But somehow I think they took it too far and I hope Mark will get back at his "slow" roots as soon as possible. With, or without Guy.
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Mark now has the best voice he ever had in his whole career, and with the voice like that you expect better songs and less cheesy production. No, I don't want an intro that resembles Telegraph Road for no apparent reason. I don't want flashy guitar solos, I don't want Dire Straits, which Mark always bashes and calls his "old boots" while delivering the most DS-sounding record ever. Just give me the voice without embellishments, choruses, flangers, reverbs, delays, the good songs an a simple acoustic guitar. It's not rocket science, Guy and Mark!
This is the direction Mark decided to take with this album though and I am happy to go along with his decision. I am glad he has evolved from the pipes and whistles from the previous thousand albums. ;D
Perhaps listening to live versions will lower your blood pressure! ;)
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This is the direction Mark decided to take with this album though and I am happy to go along with his decision. I am glad he has evolved from the pipes and whistles from the previous thousand albums. ;D
Perhaps listening to live versions will lower your blood pressure! ;)
Guy probably won't be able to play ALL his synths and the cuíca at the time, so yes, some songs can rejuvenate live. I hope so! Who knows.
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This is the direction Mark decided to take with this album though and I am happy to go along with his decision. I am glad he has evolved from the pipes and whistles from the previous thousand albums. ;D
Perhaps listening to live versions will lower your blood pressure! ;)
Guy probably won't be able to play ALL his synths and the cuíca at the time, so yes, some songs can rejuvenate live. I hope so! Who knows.
Only that it's Danny who will play the cuíca lol and with all the tech Guy has at his disposal he can play as many synths as he wants :lol
I'm with dmg on this one, glad the pipes and whistles were put in the backseat to make room for new things. As much as I liked Get Lucky, Privateering and Tracker I was craving for a change of direction of some sort and they finally did it - and bloody nailed it.
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With as best song 'One Song At A Time' which got, indeed... whistles :)
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With as best song 'One Song At A Time' which got, indeed... whistles :)
Yes, but as I said before they are not so loud and prominent in the mix, even in Drovers' Road for instance. In fact I quite like them as long as there's not too much of it 8)
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But even Tracker didn‘t have too much of the folkies? Only two songs if i remember correctly
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With as best song 'One Song At A Time' which got, indeed... whistles :)
Yes, but as I said before they are not so loud and prominent in the mix, even in Drovers' Road for instance. In fact I quite like them as long as there's not too much of it 8)
Yes, as spice, not as the main ingredient :)
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But even Tracker didn‘t have too much of the folkies? Only two songs if i remember correctly
You're right. By the contrast I like Tracker now a million times more. Beryl is great, Laugh and Jokes really is a great opener and all the other songs are great, even Broken Bones :lol Thanks Mark for letting me like Tracker more.
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You're right. By the contrast I like Tracker now a million times more. Beryl is great, Laugh and Jokes really is a great opener and all the other songs are great, even Broken Bones :lol Thanks Mark for letting me like Tracker more.
I'm with you, Quizz.
I listened DTRW for 3 days and i really dislike the album.
It's a simple (not simplistic) album with simple tracks. Nothing special.
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But even Tracker didn‘t have too much of the folkies? Only two songs if i remember correctly
You're right. By the contrast I like Tracker now a million times more. Beryl is great, Laugh and Jokes really is a great opener and all the other songs are great, even Broken Bones :lol Thanks Mark for letting me like Tracker more.
I agree! I like the new album a lot, but Tracker is most definitely my favourite by miles! :)
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With as best song 'One Song At A Time' which got, indeed... whistles :)
Yes, but as I said before they are not so loud and prominent in the mix, even in Drovers' Road for instance. In fact I quite like them as long as there's not too much of it 8)
Yes, as spice, not as the main ingredient :)
Exactly. Or even being the main ingredient of one song every two albums or so, I'd be fine by that. But when it becomes the core of Mark's music it really gets on my nerves.
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Just got a very nice idea from one of the reviewers here in Russia. He says it would be great if Mark would create a separate project with Guy, possibly a duo album, where the would go all other the place, but under his name continue to be a slow and pipes loving... guy :lol
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https://www.rollingstone.de/rolling-stone-im-dezember-2018-titelthema-mark-knopfler-und-dire-straits-1589009/?fbclid=IwAR23OMKvmm71K7JrebxrIs7Uj6ZoD2KhGC0c8m2w9va45kiRfCL7NIF1OiI
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Very cool pic of him!
LE
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yes, much better than those voldemort ones
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https://www.rollingstone.de/rolling-stone-im-dezember-2018-titelthema-mark-knopfler-und-dire-straits-1589009/?fbclid=IwAR23OMKvmm71K7JrebxrIs7Uj6ZoD2KhGC0c8m2w9va45kiRfCL7NIF1OiI
"Mein leben in 10 songs"? That's interesting...
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No reviews from Brazilian outlets yet but DTRW is sitting at 7th on our iTunes ranking, which is quite impressive given the lack of cultural education the country currently suffers from.
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FAZ: Interview
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/mark-knopfler-von-dire-straits-das-gitarren-ass-im-interview-15896198.html
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FAZ: Interview
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/mark-knopfler-von-dire-straits-das-gitarren-ass-im-interview-15896198.html
This was a nice interview. Some new details. Interesting to note that Mark thinks the new album is too long.
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FAZ: Interview
http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/mark-knopfler-von-dire-straits-das-gitarren-ass-im-interview-15896198.html
Thanks, Markus! Easily the most interesting interview with him in recent times.
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https://www.rollingstone.de/rolling-stone-im-dezember-2018-titelthema-mark-knopfler-und-dire-straits-1589009/?fbclid=IwAR23OMKvmm71K7JrebxrIs7Uj6ZoD2KhGC0c8m2w9va45kiRfCL7NIF1OiI
Does anyone know how to get the magazine?
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Digital Version
iOS-Version: http://bit.ly/rsitunes
Android-Version: http://bit.ly/rsandroid
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No review has been released in Brazil as of yet, which makes me believe the local record company hasn't sent copies to any media outlets.
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Mark Knopfler: Leistungsschau mit der Frische des Alters -> https://www.tt.com/kultur/musik/15088869/mark-knopfler-leistungsschau-mit-der-frische-des-alters
Mark Knopfler: Das neunte Album ist das bisher beste -> https://diepresse.com/home/kultur/popco/popkritik/5538351/Mark-Knopfler_Das-neunte-Album-ist-das-bisher-beste
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Thank you very much.
The "signing with MK" line in the first review is funny because DTRW is the first album since Love Over Gold that is NOT signed with MK but Mark. :wave
LE
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Thank you very much.
The "signing with MK" line in the first review is funny because DTRW is the first album since Love Over Gold that is NOT signed with MK but Mark. :wave
LE
Maybe he doesn't want to be confused with a plug and socket manufacturer. :lol
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https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/2018/51/mark-knopfler-saenger-gitarrist-dire-straigts-traum
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https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/2018/51/mark-knopfler-saenger-gitarrist-dire-straigts-traum
Thank you! Love the picture! :)
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Thanks from me, too. Wonderful picture indeed.
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https://www.zeit.de/zeit-magazin/2018/51/mark-knopfler-saenger-gitarrist-dire-straigts-traum
The "slow learner" / "awkwardness" thing is getting a bit overdone now, don't you think? The man sounds like he has a physical handicap or is somewhat retarded.
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https://www.musicradar.com/news/mark-knopfler-my-playing-has-suffered-from-just-being-so-preoccupied-with-writing-songs-over-the-years?fbclid=IwAR2lhBjWEa0BrW8m7S0OTDzlE8rSSiYTgtfNctHmUYE9oNu08LMriML17cs
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https://www.musicradar.com/news/mark-knopfler-my-playing-has-suffered-from-just-being-so-preoccupied-with-writing-songs-over-the-years?fbclid=IwAR2lhBjWEa0BrW8m7S0OTDzlE8rSSiYTgtfNctHmUYE9oNu08LMriML17cs
Great interview. Funny how Mark's vocabulary was a little, let's say, wider that particular day if you know what I mean ::)
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https://www.musicradar.com/news/mark-knopfler-my-playing-has-suffered-from-just-being-so-preoccupied-with-writing-songs-over-the-years?fbclid=IwAR2lhBjWEa0BrW8m7S0OTDzlE8rSSiYTgtfNctHmUYE9oNu08LMriML17cs
Great interview. Funny how Mark's vocabulary was a little, let's say, wider that particular day if you know what I mean ::)
I thought just the same. It doesn't suit him well.
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https://www.musicradar.com/news/mark-knopfler-my-playing-has-suffered-from-just-being-so-preoccupied-with-writing-songs-over-the-years?fbclid=IwAR2lhBjWEa0BrW8m7S0OTDzlE8rSSiYTgtfNctHmUYE9oNu08LMriML17cs
Thank you very much, a pleasure of an interview!
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https://www.musicradar.com/news/mark-knopfler-my-playing-has-suffered-from-just-being-so-preoccupied-with-writing-songs-over-the-years?fbclid=IwAR2lhBjWEa0BrW8m7S0OTDzlE8rSSiYTgtfNctHmUYE9oNu08LMriML17cs
Great interview. Funny how Mark's vocabulary was a little, let's say, wider that particular day if you know what I mean ::)
I thought just the same. It doesn't suit him well.
Not at all. In fact I can't even picture him saying those words. I mean, not being judgemental here, we all curse in private but Mark talking like that in an interview was a first to me.
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https://www.musicradar.com/news/mark-knopfler-my-playing-has-suffered-from-just-being-so-preoccupied-with-writing-songs-over-the-years?fbclid=IwAR2lhBjWEa0BrW8m7S0OTDzlE8rSSiYTgtfNctHmUYE9oNu08LMriML17cs
Great interview. Funny how Mark's vocabulary was a little, let's say, wider that particular day if you know what I mean ::)
I thought just the same. It doesn't suit him well.
Not at all. In fact I can't even picture him saying those words. I mean, not being judgemental here, we all curse in private but Mark talking like that in an interview was a first to me.
I can only think of another interview where he drops the f bomb, and it was in a 1992 Guitar Player magazine, during the OES tour. At that time he was a lot younger plus he was going through a tough time (and I think the interview took place just after a show and that the journalist indicated that Mark had been drinking a little), so at that time it 'sounded' a bit different. Now that he is 'elderly' and in a very different situation in life, it just sounds strange.