A Mark In Time
Previous Albums => Down The Road Wherever (2018) => Topic started by: Rail King on October 17, 2018, 02:51:05 PM
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I've listened to the album three times now, and here are my first impressions. I'm only describing the first six songs in more detail for now, as I don't have time for the rest. But I will add notes on the second half, too, as soon as I can.
First, very generally: Down the Road Wherever is, indeed, the most adventurous album for Mark since, yes, Love over Gold. He really enters new territory – in terms of instruments, sounds and styles he tries. It almost seems as if he’d given himself assignments: Can you write a jazz ballad? Do you know how to use a trombone? Can you be truly funky? Is it possible to combine cowboy lyrics with a spacey ambient club atmosphere? Mark, being Mark, of course gets an A grade on pretty much everything. Whether challenging himself in this way leads to one of his best albums or not will be up for debate, and I’ll have to listen to the album many, many more times before I’ll be able to judge it. It surely must have been a refreshing exercise for him, though, and that’s probably a good thing – if only because it might allow him to go back what he does best next time.
What surprised me most is that Down the Road Wherever doesn’t sound at all like the countryesque, rural on-the-road album you’d expect when seeing its cover and title. There’s zero country sounds on here (and hardly any rocky ones, either, by the way; his marketers must have sneaked in “rockier leanings” in the promo text just for, well, marketing reasons). There’s nothing pushing you down the road like Don’t You Get It, Long Highway or even Border Reiver, it’s much more a record that you’ll want to listen to at home, in an armchair.
Overall, the album has a distinct late-70s kind of feel. Funk, Jazz, horns, ambient and even a little disco. All this in Mark’s typical tender, impressionist, quiet style of late, so don’t expect any stompers. It’ll make you tap, not stomp. A band I had to think of often when listening to it was Steely Dan. The careful, sparse but elaborate arrangements often make you think of the American West Coast, and L.A. in particular. Oh, and speaking of L.A.: Gladly, Good on You Son remains the only song where Guy’s production really causes serious harm. His sounds are all over the place, but if you accept the strikingly different style of the album, you’ll have to admit that what he does often works quite well. Maybe it’s just because I had been warned by Good on You Son, but I wasn’t shocked by anything else in terms of production. Very surprised I was, yes, but no necessarily in a bad way.
On to the songs, then:
Trapper Man – Entry sound reminiscent of Telegraph Road, which is kind of fitting given the topic (“Trapper Man’s in from the hinterlands …”). Then drum/bass/rhythm guitar break in, quite brutally, and establish a rough, monotonous rhythm pattern that continues throughout the song. It takes some getting used to, especially as it is not filled with something like Richard’s guitar chords, as you would usually expect it. The sparseness of it makes you long for the chorus section, which has nice, dynamic chord changes culminating in “you’ll neeeeed the trapper man”. I would have preferred this song to be produced without Guy’s gimmicks, but they don’t do much harm. Good opener.
Back on the Dance Floor – Easily the most unexpected thing Mark produced since the mid-80s. Ambient space pop, you could call it. It opens with something that sounds like, erm, waves of space wind, maybe? The whole song would fit nicely on Willy DeVille’s Miracle album, which Mark produced in 1987. It’s moody and rhythmically interesting, with a soaring guitar sound, and there’s so many synths and special effects here that they don’t really disturb the sound picture – they make it. Guy must have put in quite some extra hours on this, and I’ll admit that his soundscape does work. The only open question is why on earth (or why on Jupiter, rather) they decided to use a song about Stetson hats and revolvers for a sonic experiment like this.
Nobody’s Child – This is the only song on here where I would say that “Mark does Mark”. It’s melancholic in a way that nobody does better than him. Very touching. Essentially a folk song, but with shimmering electric rhythm and lead guitar. It has a bit of a Camerado flavour, but it’s sadder, slower. Also reminded me of Fare Thee Well Northumberland. The high-notes of “Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea” are almost whispered rather than sung, dreamlike. I love it – might turn out to be my favourite song on the album.
Just a Boy Away from Home – Mark playing (gorgeous!) slide guitar. The song from his back catalogue that comes closest would be Donegan’s Gone, but while I don’t mind Donegan, this is on a whole other level. It’s still a blues track, really, but then he weaves in the tune of You’ll Never Walk Alone and builds it up in quite dramatic fashion. He manages to do that just with his guitar and by way of composition, without any fancy production tricks. Admirable, and proof that he wouldn’t really need Guy to create a whole lot of atmosphere.
When You Leave – A jazz ballad. And, as such, as good as any. I keep being impressed how Mark can switch genres so effortlessly and successfully. Very sparsely arranged, in the vein of Monteleone. The song it mainly reminded me of, though, is A Place Where We Used to Live. As When You Leave describes a more common situation, it carries a bit less emotional weight than the former, which is an all-time favourite of mine, but it definitely is good. The trumpet is wonderful, and while I kind of regret that there’s no guitar solo – Mark could have done something even more wonderful – I do understand that it’s not necessary. Sometimes I get the impression that he’s preparing for a time when he won’t be able to play guitar anymore, but may still want to continue write songs. He obviously could.
Good on You Son – You know it. I still don’t like how it’s produced and what Guy does on it, but I must admit that it works better in the context of the album. And it’s obvious why it was picked as the single. It’s just the fastest, most radio-friendly song on the album, simple as that. Nigel’s sax work (which I like!) will be echoed later on in Nobody Does That.
My Bacon Roll – A wonderful song, kind of hard to describe. Like other songs on the album, it opens with a bit of ambient noise setting the scene (a diner). The tremolo guitar sound links it back to some of the songs on Kill to Get Crimson, and, musically and lyrically, it reminds me a bit of Home Boy. At it's center is that same kind of character - a loser you sympathize with - that Mark can pin down so well. The lyrics are just hilarious, but set against the melancholic tone of the music, you never quite know whether you should laugh or weep. Brilliant.
Nobody Does That – Straight-out funk. Again, I'm impressed how easily Mark can adopt a style that isn't his own - and kind of make it his own. Of course rhythm and syncopation were always things he did very well, and this song is as groovy as it gets. The whole sound is totally late 70s, slap bass, horns, saxophone, female background singers and all, including a Mickey-Mousey synth keyboard (played, I guess, by the fantastic Jim Cox) that I last heard in a TV series called Captain Future that was big here in the early 80s. Could work well as a replacement of Broken Bones as the concert opener, which wasn't completely different, but not half as much fun as this. If I'll ever need an example of a MK song that uses synths in a way that works in my opinion, I'll have this now. Happy.
Drover’s Road – A somber, almost solemn Celtic ballad, in the vein of Before Gas and TV. Showing Mark's earnest side and thus counterbalancing the previous song. Instantly makes you feel like the shepherd it's about, alone on a windy, foggy mountain top. I like it a lot, but I could see people say that it's "more of the same", something he did before in very similar fashion. They would be right, but hey, someone like James Brown (I still have to think of him after Nobody Does That) used to recycle one and the same thing throughout his whole career. It's okay for Mark to have a couple of similar songs, isn't it?
One Song at a Time – I said above that in spite of the album title, there are no obvious "driving" songs on the album, but this one might be the exception. Not just because it contains the title lyrics. It also feature a driving beat which, in combination with the Celtic instrumentation, makes it a sibling of Border Reiver and Laughs and Jokes and Drinks and Smokes. Together with Drover's Road, it forms the "Celtic" section of the album, but it's very different in mood, uplifting and light. That is, if you overlook the nice little dig he's having at the "poor old fakers trying to dance in my old shoes". Except for Alan Clark, Phil Palmer and Chris White, I can't see anyone not liking this.
Floating Away – Another song about a painter by Mark, and arguably his best one so far. Certainly the most lyrically interesting - the painter is painting himself, and he as a fat, ugly old man. I'll spare you my interpretation here, if you know what I mean. The song's moody in a Rüdiger kind of style, although I personally like this one better. Like other songs, it features some fancy sounds (even some scratching, window-cleaning, or what is it, Guy?), but they're used in an unobtrusive way that works and help to, erm, paint the picture. Beautiful melody supported by beautiful background voices.
Slow Learner – The second jazz ballad, produced the same way as When You Leave. Like on that one, Mark denies us a jazz guitar solo, even though he's proved with Fade to Black a long time ago that he can play incredible things in that style. Instead of it, the song features that Chet-Baker-style trumpet again. Fittingly, it's about as relaxed as a song can possibly be, and it appeals to me a lot because I'm a slow learner myself.
Heavy Up – This came as a total surprise. A cheery sing-along earworm that I would have expected from Paul Simon rather than from Mark. With its horn section and background choir, it has both a gospel and a Mexican tinge. Some people might call it cheesy, but with the music is definitely supposed to work as a contrast to the highly poignant lyrics. As in: "You want me to lighten up? Well, here's a light song for you, dumbass. How about you heavying up for me, now?" Not everybody will like or get this kind of irony, but it's something Mark has done repeatedly, and quite brilliantly, in my opinion. The tradition goes from Les Boys through Money for Nothing or Ticket to Heaven all the way to this. Good fun in my opinion, and a nice change from the more somber tracks.
Matchstick Man – A pure folk song, just Mark on guitar. The melody very, very similar to Heart of Oak, but the lyrics are much more personal here. And even though there's zero other instruments or effects on this, you can really see and smell the glistening snow. The loneliness of the character is reflected perfectly in the sparseness of the recording. If it should be Mark’s last song (Heaven forbid!), it would be a very unassuming, but also very fitting ending.
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:clap :clap :clap
you said it far better than me ! :)
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:clap :clap :clap
you said it far better than me ! :)
Oh, there's no better or worse here ... it's just impressions, and everybody will have their own. We seem to agree that it's a very interesting album, though!
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:clap :clap :clap
you said it far better than me ! :)
Oh, there's no better or worse here ... it's just impressions, and everybody will have their own. We seem to agree that it's a very interesting album, though!
I mean that english is not my mother tongue, so it' sometimes hard for me to explain my impressions. And you found the right words to say what I had in mind :)
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Wow! Thank you Rail King. I want November 16 !!!
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Many thanks, Rail King! Your impressions give me goosebumps on my goosebumps! How on earth will I survive until November 16th? :think
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Thanks for the review so far. This sounds really promising. I think nobody expects Mark to really rock out anymore. I actually would find it a little corny if he did. But that he experiments and goes for new flavors and styles in his typically understated and laidback way I'm all up for.
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Thanks Rail King. A thing to which (unfortunately) I care a lot to know. Like all, we are linked to Mark's music especially for his past as DS: from your point of view, even if JF had already talked about it in his review, is there any song that goes back to the DS melodies?
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I knew it, you won’t wait till the weekend :)
Thank you very much for your review, two reviews till now and both amazing.
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:thumbsup
sounds great!
(although i skipped the song by song part!)
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Thanks Rail King!
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Thanks for your review Rail King!!! :clap :clap :clap
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Thank you RK!
However I get mixed feelings about this album. I don't want to see a KTGC vol 2.
Then again, I'm one of those who like Corned Beef City the most.
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Thanks Rail King. A thing to which (unfortunately) I care a lot to know. Like all, we are linked to Mark's music especially for his past as DS: from your point of view, even if JF had already talked about it in his review, is there any song that goes back to the DS melodies?
Like JF (I think) already said: Not really. Back on the Dancefloor definitely has a lot in common with the sound of that Willy DeVille album, which was produced during the Dire Straits heyday. But no, nothing here sounding like Dire Straits, I'm afraid. Of course we've got the saxophone back, and there are more synths on the record than on any other MK solo album, but those two things don't constitute the DS sound. Also, as you know, there isn't just one DS sound. There the early DS, which Beryl reminded us of, and then there's the Springsteenish sound of Making Movies, the sonic experiments of Love Over Gold and Brothers in Arms, and finally the countryesqe style of On Every Street ... Mark's new album doesn't sound like any of those, in my opinion. It has lots of elements from his previous solo album, but also quite some stuff I'd never heard (or even expected to hear) from him.
Funnily enough, even though it's so diverse, the songs seem to work as a whole, as an album that you like to listen to in one go. It was funny to hear him say (in that Italian interview) that he thought the album was "too long". I always thought that of Golden Heart (with its 14 songs), and of Shangri-La (with 14, too), but not of the new one (with, again 14). But maybe he was referring to the deluxe edition. ;)
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Thank you RK!
However I get mixed feelings about this album. I don't want to see a KTGC vol 2.
Then again, I'm one of those who like Corned Beef City the most.
Don't worry, it's not KTGC vol. 2. It's much more diverse in sound and styles than KTGC. (Whether that's a good thing will be up for debate. Personally, I tend to like very homogenous albums like Shangri-La.)
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I knew it, you won’t wait till the weekend :)
Thank you very much for your review, two reviews till now and both amazing.
Thank you; I'll add more about the second half of songs later this week. They're just as good as the first half in my opinion.
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Thank you RK!
However I get mixed feelings about this album. I don't want to see a KTGC vol 2.
Then again, I'm one of those who like Corned Beef City the most.
Don't worry, it's not KTGC vol. 2. It's much more diverse in sound and styles than KTGC. (Whether that's a good thing will be up for debate. Personally, I tend to like very homogenous albums like Shangri-La.)
exactly my thoughts :thumbsup
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Thank you so much Rail King for your clarification! Whatever this album is, I will love it like all the other Mark albums. And anyway, every new album by Mark is always a great event for us that we have always appreciated his music. :)
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Thanks for your review Rail King. The wait is killing me!
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I think that KTGC get quite mixed reviews from AMITers. Some liked it a lot, some much less. Do yout think that this might be similarly dividing us?
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This time, through the two reviews of JF and RailKing, make me not a good feeling waiting this new album.
Reading all with much attention, all words used, sure people loving MK's music like me, the impression is that
ITs 'never play' or 'little bit disco' or 'thing that not awaited from him' etc
Sure that will be song like Nobody's child where Mark do Mark or a new folk ballad like One song, but what I expeted from 3 years Is an album where can find beautiful songs like Sailing To Philadelphia,Get Lucky or Speedway at Nazareth...
Now, are in this album songs, better, 'GREAT SONGS' that can say is a MK's masterpiece?
thanks guys :thumbsup
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From reviews JF and Rail King, I can not imagine Back on the Dance Floor, Nobody Does That and Heavy Up.
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In fact, I too thought that Trapper Man and especially Back On The Dance Floor had a sound very close to the DS ...
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thank you rail king getting very excited !! now cant wait for the 16th of November!!
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I knew it, you won’t wait till the weekend :)
Thank you very much for your review, two reviews till now and both amazing.
Thank you; I'll add more about the second half of songs later this week. They're just as good as the first half in my opinion.
waiting ....
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In fact, I too thought that Trapper Man and especially Back On The Dance Floor had a sound very close to the DS ...
That's the difference of interpretation between JF and Rail King. In the end you need to like it yourself ;)
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In fact, I too thought that Trapper Man and especially Back On The Dance Floor had a sound very close to the DS ...
That's the difference of interpretation between JF and Rail King. In the end you need to like it yourself ;)
:thumbsup :)
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I knew it, you won’t wait till the weekend :)
Thank you very much for your review, two reviews till now and both amazing.
Thank you; I'll add more about the second half of songs later this week. They're just as good as the first half in my opinion.
for Rail King and JF :
You have not named Imelda May, what happens with her voice?
Thanks
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Now, are in this album songs, better, 'GREAT SONGS' that can say is a MK's masterpiece?
thanks guys :thumbsup
it depends on what is a masterpiece ? it's obvious that we all have diferent tastes
some will say that a song is a masterpiece while others will say that it's boring
so very dificult to answer to your question
I can't pick up right a now ONE song from the album and saying it's a masterpiece, but I find the whole album works very well in his globality
I LOVE songs like STP, WII, Silvertown blues, and (yes you can kill me if you want ;D) I don't find that SAN is a masterpiece, but I find that Baloney again is one. I find that In the sky is a masterpiece. I find that submariner is a masterpiece.
But of course it's MY taste, and maybe it won't suit yours
So all I can say is that I am very enthusiastic with this new album, but I can't predict if you will like it or not. If I had to bet, I'd say that people who like albums like STP or Shangri-La should like this new album, in term of "logic", but maybe I will be wrong.
And people who love the folkish-scottish-irish stuff will be disapointed because there's very few on it
Sorry if my words are note very clear, because my english is poor
Rail King explains it clearer and better :)
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Now, are in this album songs, better, 'GREAT SONGS' that can say is a MK's masterpiece?
thanks guys :thumbsup
it depends on what is a masterpiece ? it's obvious that we all have diferent tastes
some will say that a song is a masterpiece while others will say that it's boring
so very dificult to answer to your question
I can't pick up right a now ONE song from the album and saying it's a masterpiece, but I find the whole album works very well in his globality
I LOVE songs like STP, WII, Silvertown blues, and (yes you can kill me if you want ;D) I don't find that SAN is a masterpiece, but I find that Baloney again is one. I find that In the sky is a masterpiece. I find that submariner is a masterpiece.
But of course it's MY taste, and maybe it won't suit yours
So all I can say is that I am very enthusiastic with this new album, but I can't predict if you will like it or not. If I had to bet, I'd say that people who like albums like STP or Shangri-La should like this new album, in term of "logic", but maybe I will be wrong.
And people who love the folkish-scottish-irish stuff will be disapointed because there's very few on it
Sorry if my words are note very clear, because my english is poor
Rail King explains it clearer and better :)
You're right JF, this is definitely something to do with tastes and preferences, I think we all have a different opinions when it comes to music, movies, paintings, arts in general, the overall satisfaction matters, then, reviews are just one person's point of view, this could make me buy something or not though. I am happy with both reviews you gave us you and Rail King, and in the mean time, let's be patient and we will see.
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Now, are in this album songs, better, 'GREAT SONGS' that can say is a MK's masterpiece?
thanks guys :thumbsup
it depends on what is a masterpiece ? it's obvious that we all have diferent tastes
some will say that a song is a masterpiece while others will say that it's boring
so very dificult to answer to your question
I can't pick up right a now ONE song from the album and saying it's a masterpiece, but I find the whole album works very well in his globality
I LOVE songs like STP, WII, Silvertown blues, and (yes you can kill me if you want ;D) I don't find that SAN is a masterpiece, but I find that Baloney again is one. I find that In the sky is a masterpiece. I find that submariner is a masterpiece.
But of course it's MY taste, and maybe it won't suit yours
So all I can say is that I am very enthusiastic with this new album, but I can't predict if you will like it or not. If I had to bet, I'd say that people who like albums like STP or Shangri-La should like this new album, in term of "logic", but maybe I will be wrong.
And people who love the folkish-scottish-irish stuff will be disapointed because there's very few on it
Sorry if my words are note very clear, because my english is poor
Rail King explains it clearer and better :)
Thanks JF,
...when you say 'I can't pick up right a now ONE song from the album and saying it's a masterpiece, but I find the whole album works very well in his globality' and 'I like WII & STP' (that are SURE two masterpiece of the man), is like you want say 'OK in my tastes, like in everyone, I like this album but not can say of a track/or tracks that is/are 'worthy follow in 'MK's history.
In all MK's album, objectively there are minor tracks and other that are, even a few tracks that are worth of the whole album.
For example in Love over gold sure that TR is the top, in Dire Straits sure that SOS in Cal sure that TLR or IB (also if it irish don't care the style) and in Golden heart sure that ANISLA is another one...and going to now.
I hear from you and RailKing that in this album MK play jazz, OK, but when I hear little bit near disco or space music I think is not good for me.
Good on you son is a good song, but musically, the end mostly with his sound too charged of eletronic drums has all my disappointment with it, never happened with a MK's single.
Mark is free, sure, also to give hiself to rap or dancemusic, but for his history, from where he started and how he came to today, it would not be a good result.
I hope to listen Down the road wherever and stay very good like always for every MK's album, but this time I doubt it..... :think
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First sorry about my english ;D One more time thank´s to JF and Rail king!!!a question in the new album besides that 2 songs(if i understand well)jazz style,is there some like : dream of drowned sb.,so far from the clyde,silvertown b.,hill farmers b.,i mean not equal but in terms of some resemblance!!!thank´s very much guys!!! ;) :) :clap
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Now, are in this album songs, better, 'GREAT SONGS' that can say is a MK's masterpiece?
thanks guys :thumbsup
it depends on what is a masterpiece ? it's obvious that we all have diferent tastes
some will say that a song is a masterpiece while others will say that it's boring
so very dificult to answer to your question
I can't pick up right a now ONE song from the album and saying it's a masterpiece, but I find the whole album works very well in his globality
I LOVE songs like STP, WII, Silvertown blues, and (yes you can kill me if you want ;D) I don't find that SAN is a masterpiece, but I find that Baloney again is one. I find that In the sky is a masterpiece. I find that submariner is a masterpiece.
But of course it's MY taste, and maybe it won't suit yours
So all I can say is that I am very enthusiastic with this new album, but I can't predict if you will like it or not. If I had to bet, I'd say that people who like albums like STP or Shangri-La should like this new album, in term of "logic", but maybe I will be wrong.
And people who love the folkish-scottish-irish stuff will be disapointed because there's very few on it
Sorry if my words are note very clear, because my english is poor
Rail King explains it clearer and better :)
This is really hard to answer after just a couple listenings, but I very much agree with JF that "the whole album works very well in his globality". In spite of the stylistic diversity, it's a well rounded whole. I will also say that there's not one weak song on it - but I'm used to that with Mark by now. It's why I admire him so much. I can also say that Nobody's Child, Just a Boy Away from Home and My Bacon Roll will most certainly make it onto my ever-growing list of MK favourites. Which probably means that their masterpieces, yes. I'm just not quite ready to use that word yet. My guess is that most people who like his solo work will consider this album just as good as his others. Whether you'll prefer it over others or not will depend more on your stylistic preferences than on the quality of the songs. They are top-notch as far as I'm concerned.
By the way, I added notes (all the way up in the original post) about the second half of songs now.
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:thumbsup
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Great Rail King :thumbsup
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for Rail King and JF :
You have not named Imelda May, what happens with her voice?
Thanks
indeed there are a lot aof female background vocals, and I like them a lot, but I must admit I didn't listen to imelda May before, so it didn't struck me if her voice was here or not. For ME, it could have been anyone else's voice, It would have been the same.
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First sorry about my english ;D One more time thank´s to JF and Rail king!!!a question in the new album besides that 2 songs(if i understand well)jazz style,is there some like : dream of drowned sb.,so far from the clyde,silvertown b.,hill farmers b.,i mean not equal but in terms of some resemblance!!!thank´s very much guys!!! ;) :) :clap
my impressions are (but Rail King's ones might be different) :
- I don't see any song with resemblance with so far from the clyde, because if memory serves, there are no songs in 3/4 or 6/8, you know that kind of "waltz" rhtyhm
- I can't see any song that has some resemblance with submariner neither.
- Silvertown blues : maybe a little bit back on the dance floor, but I would rather say something between millionaire blues/ride across the river in term of atmosphere
- Hil farmer's blues : maybe a very very little bit on Trapper man, but the hard-driving riff comes at the start, not at the end of the song. Imagine the whole song in the same musical flavour as the HFB live outro, blended with a Darling pretty touch.
I am speaking only musically of course
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Sorry for the outburst but I can not understand why, a little less than a month after the release of the album, we still can not listen to any snippets. If I remember correctly (correct me if I'm wrong) it did not happen with the last albums. Unbelievable ... :(
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Thank's very much JF!! :)
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Sorry for the outburst but I can not understand why, a little less than a month after the release of the album, we still can not listen to any snippets. If I remember correctly (correct me if I'm wrong) it did not happen with the last albums. Unbelievable ... :(
But as a trade off you have a sooner release date. I'm perfectly fine with that, although I wish later on they will just drop the album and that's it. No leaks, no snippets, no reviews, no nothing, just drop the album. If anything, I think it would only increase the sales anyway.
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Tracker didnt had any snippets i think.
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Tracker didnt had any snippets i think.
If you count some snippets of Taormina and something else in EPK, then it actually had. By the way, for some reason I like the sound of Taormina being recorded through the boom mic in the documentary more, than the actual version. So no, I can't find something good about snippets...
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Tracker didnt had any snippets i think.
If you count some snippets of Taormina and something else in EPK, then it actually had. By the way, for some reason I like the sound of Taormina being recorded through the boom mic in the documentary more, than the actual version. So no, I can't find something good about snippets...
Yes, the mini docu of Henrik Hansen and the Track by Track EPK with Mighty Man. But no snippets on Itunes
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Tracker didnt had any snippets i think.
If you count some snippets of Taormina and something else in EPK, then it actually had. By the way, for some reason I like the sound of Taormina being recorded through the boom mic in the documentary more, than the actual version. So no, I can't find something good about snippets...
Yes, the mini docu of Henrik Hansen and the Track by Track EPK with Mighty Man. But no snippets on Itunes
It's easy for me to say now that I can listen to the whole album, but i don't like snippets, either. It's almost disrespectful to the song to just cut out a little bit. That said, of course I couldn't resist, either, when we got snippets in the past. I remember hearing the intro to Mighty Man and thinking: Okay, this is going to be a great song. And indeed it was. Same with Taormina.
And to answer the question about So Far from the Clyde and Dream of the Drowned Submariner: I agree with JF, nothing like it, really. Drover's Road has a somewhat similar atmosphere and guitar sound to So Far from the Clyde, but that's about it. You'll probably like this one when you like Clyde. And while there are no songs reminding me of Submariner, there are a lot of very atmospheric song on the album. It might even be Mark's most atmospheric album so far (atmospheric in the sense of ambient sounds evoking a certain scene).
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Tracker didnt had any snippets i think.
If you count some snippets of Taormina and something else in EPK, then it actually had. By the way, for some reason I like the sound of Taormina being recorded through the boom mic in the documentary more, than the actual version. So no, I can't find something good about snippets...
Yes, the mini docu of Henrik Hansen and the Track by Track EPK with Mighty Man. But no snippets on Itunes
It's easy for me to say now that I can listen to the whole album, but i don't like snippets, either. It's almost disrespectful to the song to just cut out a little bit. That said, of course I couldn't resist, either, when we got snippets in the past. I remember hearing the intro to Mighty Man and thinking: Okay, this is going to be a great song. And indeed it was. Same with Taormina.
And to answer the question about So Far from the Clyde and Dream of the Drowned Submariner: I agree with JF, nothing like it, really. Drover's Road has a somewhat similar atmosphere and guitar sound to So Far from the Clyde, but that's about it. You'll probably like this one when you like Clyde. And while there are no songs reminding me of Submariner, there are a lot of very atmospheric song on the album. It might even be Mark's most atmospheric album so far (atmospheric in the sense of ambient sounds evoking a certain scene).
fully agree;
that's why I somehow quoted Ride across the river or millionaire blues; It's not about guitar, melody, riff or whatsoever, it's about ambiance, atmosphere, feelin, flavour...
I noticed that there are some "ambient "sounds, I mean talking voices : in the middle of Trapper man, at the start of my bacon roll, and on another song but cant' remember which one just now.
Like if Mark wanted to give a sort of "movie scene" kind of style to his songs....ok yo might say taht almost all his songs has this kind of movie-scene, but here you have some sounds or voices like if it was taken from a movie
so see what I mean Rail King ?
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I love that.
LE
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Tracker didnt had any snippets i think.
If you count some snippets of Taormina and something else in EPK, then it actually had. By the way, for some reason I like the sound of Taormina being recorded through the boom mic in the documentary more, than the actual version. So no, I can't find something good about snippets...
Yes, the mini docu of Henrik Hansen and the Track by Track EPK with Mighty Man. But no snippets on Itunes
It's easy for me to say now that I can listen to the whole album, but i don't like snippets, either. It's almost disrespectful to the song to just cut out a little bit. That said, of course I couldn't resist, either, when we got snippets in the past. I remember hearing the intro to Mighty Man and thinking: Okay, this is going to be a great song. And indeed it was. Same with Taormina.
And to answer the question about So Far from the Clyde and Dream of the Drowned Submariner: I agree with JF, nothing like it, really. Drover's Road has a somewhat similar atmosphere and guitar sound to So Far from the Clyde, but that's about it. You'll probably like this one when you like Clyde. And while there are no songs reminding me of Submariner, there are a lot of very atmospheric song on the album. It might even be Mark's most atmospheric album so far (atmospheric in the sense of ambient sounds evoking a certain scene).
fully agree;
that's why I somehow quoted Ride across the river or millionaire blues; It's not about guitar, melody, riff or whatsoever, it's about ambiance, atmosphere, feelin, flavour...
I noticed that there are some "ambient "sounds, I mean talking voices : in the middle of Trapper man, at the start of my bacon roll, and on another song but cant' remember which one just now.
Like if Mark wanted to give a sort of "movie scene" kind of style to his songs....ok yo might say taht almost all his songs has this kind of movie-scene, but here you have some sounds or voices like if it was taken from a movie
so see what I mean Rail King ?
Very much so, yes. He always had these "cinematic" songs, but the concept is supported even more evidently on this album with the ambient noise he uses.
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Is the album leaked somewhere given this topic of reviewing the songs based on having listened to them?
If yes......would someone send me a PM
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Is the album leaked somewhere given this topic of reviewing the songs based on having listened to them?
If yes......would someone send me a PM
No, it's the journalists who for some reason have the album beforehand so they can write a review of it. As if they can't do it after the release :lol
All the music they have is heavily secured and watermarked so they can't share it unfortunately, so the solution is easy. To become a journalist :lol
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:smack OK....thanks for the feedback!
Is the album leaked somewhere given this topic of reviewing the songs based on having listened to them?
If yes......would someone send me a PM
No, it's the journalists who for some reason have the album beforehand so they can write a review of it. As if they can't do it after the release :lol
All the music they have is heavily secured and watermarked so they can't share it unfortunately, so the solution is easy. To become a journalist :lol
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For almost 3 weeks now, the leitmotiv on "One song at a time" made me think to another MK musical theme and I couldn't find which one it was, and I finally found it today :
it's "training" on the "A shot at gory" soundtrack, the passage from 2:06 to 2:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wjarV-rFEE
not the same kind of drums or pipes, but the melody has some similarities (not the same key though)
Rail King do you hear it ?
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For almost 3 weeks now, the leitmotiv on "One song at a time" made me think to another MK musical theme and I couldn't find which one it was, and I finally found it today :
it's "training" on the "A shot at gory" soundtrack, the passage from 2:06 to 2:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wjarV-rFEE
not the same kind of drums or pipes, but the melody has some similarities (not the same key though)
Rail King do you hear it ?
Very vaguely, yes. I must say that I like One Song at a Time much, much better, and that it reminded me much more of Laughs and Jokes and Border Reiver stylistically. I never liked the soundtrack of A Shot at Glory very much, to be honest. But maybe it's unfair to compare it to a regular album, as it was supposed to support a film, not to be listened to on its own.
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For almost 3 weeks now, the leitmotiv on "One song at a time" made me think to another MK musical theme and I couldn't find which one it was, and I finally found it today :
it's "training" on the "A shot at gory" soundtrack, the passage from 2:06 to 2:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wjarV-rFEE
not the same kind of drums or pipes, but the melody has some similarities (not the same key though)
Rail King do you hear it ?
Very vaguely, yes. I must say that I like One Song at a Time much, much better, and that it reminded me much more of Laughs and Jokes and Border Reiver stylistically. I never liked the soundtrack of A Shot at Glory very much, to be honest. But maybe it's unfair to compare it to a regular album, as it was supposed to support a film, not to be listened to on its own.
The part between 2.06 en 2.35 is the best part of that song. I always liked that very much :) Also a big fan of Laughs and jokes and Border Reiver.
:D One song at a time must be awesome then.
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Funny. Is "leitmotiv" actually an english word? In German we call it "Leitmotiv" :D
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Funny. Is "leitmotiv" actually an english word? In German we call it "Leitmotiv" :D
I think became a "universal" word. We say the same in french
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Very vaguely, yes. I must say that I like One Song at a Time much, much better, and that it reminded me much more of Laughs and Jokes and Border Reiver stylistically. I never liked the soundtrack of A Shot at Glory very much, to be honest. But maybe it's unfair to compare it to a regular album, as it was supposed to support a film, not to be listened to on its own.
agree; the first song that came to mind wahen I heard it for the first time was Border Reiver (much more than LAJADAS)
But just this particulary musical phrase was in my head too
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I think a lot about the new MK album. I analyze and imagine, but my imagination is too small. JF, Rail King, does it make sense?
Trapper Man - americana ?
Back On The Dance Floor - ?
Nobody’s Child - ballad
Just A Boy Away From Home - blues
When You Leave - jazz ballad
Good On You Son - :)
My Bacon Roll - ?
Nobody Does That - ?
Drover's Road - celtic ballad
One Song At A Time - rock and celtic ?
Floating Away - ballad ?
Slow Learner - jazz ballad
Heavy Up - ?
Matchstick Man - acoustic
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You're right Robson, I'm curious to know too.
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Trapper Man - americana ? yes . country-folk-rock ballad
Back On The Dance Floor - ? laid back pop rock mainstream FM (on the good side)
Nobody’s Child - ballad. slow. laid back blues
Just A Boy Away From Home - blues. at the start yes, but the outro is...well I don't know how to call it "cooderish ?". more seriously, I would say "soul"
When You Leave - jazz SLOW ballad
Good On You Son - :)
My Bacon Roll - ? ballad folk laid back
Nobody Does That - ? funk groovy soul RnB laid back
Drover's Road - celtic SLOW ballad
One Song At A Time - rock and celtic ? celtic ballad, not very rock, I'd rather say folk
Floating Away - ballad ? laid back pop
Slow Learner - jazz SLOW ballad a little bit bluesy/jazzy
Heavy Up - ? easy listening ;D
Matchstick Man - acoustic folk
it's hard to put musical styles on songs. That's why I said several for each song. the result is a mix of them, at leats to MY ears. Maybe someone else would call them differently
I would say that they all sound Mark ! but sometimes in a surprising way, I mean not in the way he was used to on latest albums
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Rail king and JF...
When "Matchstick man" ends, did you wait until the very end just in case there is a hidden song? It is supposed that there is another song, "Back in the day", that we don't know yet in which edition will be, and I just thought it might be hidden after Matchstick man. Sometimes happens...
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Rail king and JF...
When "Matchstick man" ends, did you wait until the very end just in case there is a hidden song? It is supposed that there is another song, "Back in the day", that we don't know yet in which edition will be, and I just thought it might be hidden after Matchstick man. Sometimes happens...
no I just ckecked it again to be sure : the file lenth is 2:54, and there is no other sound after the song ending
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Trapper Man - americana ? yes . country-folk-rock ballad
Back On The Dance Floor - ? laid back pop rock mainstream FM (on the good side)
Nobody’s Child - ballad. slow. laid back blues
Just A Boy Away From Home - blues. at the start yes, but the outro is...well I don't know how to call it "cooderish ?". more seriously, I would say "soul"
When You Leave - jazz SLOW ballad
Good On You Son - :)
My Bacon Roll - ? ballad folk laid back
Nobody Does That - ? funk groovy soul RnB laid back
Drover's Road - celtic SLOW ballad
One Song At A Time - rock and celtic ? celtic ballad, not very rock, I'd rather say folk
Floating Away - ballad ? laid back pop
Slow Learner - jazz SLOW ballad a little bit bluesy/jazzy
Heavy Up - ? easy listening ;D
Matchstick Man - acoustic folk
it's hard to put musical styles on songs. That's why I said several for each song. the result is a mix of them, at leats to MY ears. Maybe someone else would call them differently
I would say that they all sound Mark ! but sometimes in a surprising way, I mean not in the way he was used to on latest albums
:thumbsup Thank you :)
23 days
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I made a mistake : "a little bit bluesy/jazzy" was meant for "Floating away" (but of course, "slow learner" is also both jazzy and bluesy)
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Trapper Man - americana, country-folk-rock ballad
Rail King:
...Then drum/bass/rhythm guitar break in, quite brutally, and establish a rough, monotonous rhythm pattern that continues throughout the song"
Here I have a problem :) Ballad - brutally, and establish a rough, monotonous rhythm pattern that continues throughout the song
:think. My concept of the ballad has been demolished :)
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Trapper Man - americana, country-folk-rock ballad
Rail King:
...Then drum/bass/rhythm guitar break in, quite brutally, and establish a rough, monotonous rhythm pattern that continues throughout the song"
Here I have a problem :) Ballad - brutally, and establish a rough, monotonous rhythm pattern that continues throughout the song
:think. My concept of the ballad has been demolished :)
it depends on the perception. I don't find it monotonous, but yes the rhtyhm doesn't change a lot
I would say it's a mix between Darling Pretty and Why aye man. it's what I am hearing, but again it's MY ears and my sensibility, maybe someone else would say someting completely different
the term brutally is because the intro is "quiet", "aerian" so to say, and then you got immediatley into a saturated guitar, with a driven rhythm type song....well a little bit like Darling Pretty ;)
did I already say I like it a lot ? ;D and I find it is a great opener for the album, and would be for a show as well
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I understand. :thumbsup
Do you often come back to this album? To attracts?
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I understand. :thumbsup
Do you often come back to this album? To attracts?
Leave the poor man alone! This thread is becoming like the child of 5 years old waking up at 6am on Christmas morning because it can't wait to open it's presents.
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My questions are not to you.
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I agree with dmg. If I was JF i would be so bored of questions that I won't answer anything else and I would think what the hell was I thinking when I admitted questions for the first time...
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Hey JF and Rail King, can you please tell if there's many songs with a capo? What about different tuning? How many waltzes, 6/8s? :lol
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Why is Rail King allowed to listen to an album which will released at November the 16th? Does he work for Mark?
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Why is Rail King allowed to listen to an album which will released at November the 16th? Does he work for Mark?
He’s a Jedi Knight.
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Hi guys, I understand Robson's point of view and I agree with him. I too am very curious and impatient (like everyone) to listen to the new album of MK and so I also want to ask a few questions. Surely you will understand.
For JF: have you defined Back On The Dance Floor laid back pop rock mainstream FM, do you think it is radio as GOYS or, indeed, could it be the first single of the album?
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Thanks dmg and Jbaent for your support :) and Lol Pavel :lol
my friends often say I am patient guy ;D
ok I wil try to answer (one more time ;))
I understand. :thumbsup
Do you often come back to this album? To attracts?
I asnwered the same question to a french guy who asked me this on FB (yes I also have questions on FB ;D) :
in the past, I played evrey new Mk album many many times each day during weeks. And I niw think I was worng, because it reuined e laittle bit the experience. I mean, I got (almost) bored by the album after 1 or 2 months, because too much heard
This time I want to "savor" it. So i don't listent to it every day, maybe 2 or 3 times in a week. So I haven't listened to it that much
But when I come back to it, it's always a pleasure !
BTW, I sometimes come back to parts of songs to answer questions posted here ;) ;D
Hi guys, I understand Robson's point of view and I agree with him. I too am very curious and impatient (like everyone) to listen to the new album of MK and so I also want to ask a few questions. Surely you will understand.
For JF: have you defined Back On The Dance Floor laid back pop rock mainstream FM, do you think it is radio as GOYS or, indeed, could it be the first single of the album?
For my taste, and IMHO, both Trapper Man and Back on the dance Floor could have made very good singles. And one advantage would have been that we fans wouldn't have found it similar to Early bird.
But for the generl audience, I understand why they chose GOYS. This song and Back on the dance floor are the two ones with the most radio-friendly sound/style I find.
I understand your questions and your excitement, but I have the impression to repeat myself many times, and I am not sure that my answers help you a lot for the waiting....but if it's the case, that's ok :)
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Thank you so much JF for the exhaustive answers. Certainly these answers make me understand that, unlike the last album, the latter will really be a superb album. :)
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Why is Rail King allowed to listen to an album which will released at November the 16th? Does he work for Mark?
it's up to him to answer, but I guess he is a journalist, or has a job "close to" journalism
many journalists (or medias in general) can lisen to albums long before their release, in order to write articles
As far as I am concerned, I am not a journalist, but I work at a TV Channel and I am allowed to write (few) articles on a french website, I explained it on te first page of this topic : https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=6343.0
so I have many contacts at labels, and I got via email many many many links to listen to many many albums before their release.
I also got many physical "promo" discs (yes the ones known as "collectors").
Its' the natural business : labels sent these CD to media in order to have promotion
I also asked for an interview by phone with Mark....let's wait and see... ::)
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Thank you so much JF for the exhaustive answers. Certainly these answers make me understand that, unlike the last album, the latter will really be a superb album. :)
I don't want to get into Tracker bashing, because it is great in many ways, and I like it too, but I foud it "predictable", I havent' got any surprise on it, while this new album really surprised me. I must admit I had lost hope since several years for having surprise again with a MK album, and I was wrong !
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Hey guys! I've been absent due to my studies but every now and then I drop by to check what's going on. Loved GOYS - despite the not so remarkable chorus - and having read the reviews JF and Rail King kindly presented us with all I can say is I haven't been this excited to put my hands on an album since STP. Everything sounds very promising.
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Hey guys! I've been absent due to my studies but every now and then I drop by to check what's going on. Loved GOYS - despite the not so remarkable chorus - and having read the reviews JF and Rail King kindly presented us with all I can say is I haven't been this excited to put my hands on an album since STP. Everything sounds very promising.
Good to have you back. I was worried the file I sent you had destroyed your computer! :o :smack
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Hey guys! I've been absent due to my studies but every now and then I drop by to check what's going on. Loved GOYS - despite the not so remarkable chorus - and having read the reviews JF and Rail King kindly presented us with all I can say is I haven't been this excited to put my hands on an album since STP. Everything sounds very promising.
welcome back Ed ! :wave
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Thanks, dmg and JF:) My computer is stil running, your file only brought me joy, thank you and jbaent for the links 8)
JF, is there any remarkable guitar solo on the album?
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JF, is there any remarkable guitar solo on the album?
not really. there are a lot of lead licks between sung phrases, but not any particular solo
I think the longest one is the slide outro on Just a Boy Away from Home, and I bet you will like the lead guitar on back on the dance floor,
but don't expect any epic or catchy guitar solo so to say. the good thing is more about the global impression on the whole album : sound, groove, feeling, atmosphere...
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JF, is there any remarkable guitar solo on the album?
not really. there are a lot of lead licks between sung phrases, but not any particular solo
I think the longest one is the slide outro on Just a Boy Away from Home, and I bet you will like the lead guitar on back on the dance floor,
but don't expect any epic or catchy guitar solo so to say. the good thing is more about the global impression on the whole album : sound, groove, feeling, atmosphere...
Thanks again JF, your explanations are creating more and more enthusiasm for the new album. From what I've always read from your review and our constant questions, I read a positive impression on Back On The Dance Floor. So, reading also the review that brought us Shangri la 1, I gather that, since there will be on sale even a version with a 12 "guitar tablature of Back On The Dancefloor, we may already have guessed the next single. :D
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Maybe the second single before November 16 :)
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Maybe the second single before November 16 :)
Who knows, maybe! ;)
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JF/RailKing, does the new album have a strong typical Knopfler style riff driven song? Like songs as MFN, HF, WII, WAM, ....
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So, you who have already heard his new album.. do you hope he picks many songs from this one for the tour or just a few?
I would like some mixed from Privateering, Ragpickers Dream... also DS of course...and of course some from the new album which will probably happen anyway...
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Hi Guitarman and vr46mk. Sorry if I'm intruding. Also I would like to read the answer (maybe to keep us curious about the subject until the release of the album) but if you look in the various answers that JF has given you will surely find the answer to your question. :) :wave
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JF/RailKing, does the new album have a strong typical Knopfler style riff driven song? Like songs as MFN, HF, WII, WAM, ....
Trapper man has a kind of riff/theme played several times, in the WAM style. but it's more a melody/lead line played on guitar rather than a riff imho
apart from this, no, not really
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So, you who have already heard his new album.. do you hope he picks many songs from this one for the tour or just a few?
I would like some mixed from Privateering, Ragpickers Dream... also DS of course...and of course some from the new album which will probably happen anyway...
hard to say. imho there are sevevral songs that could work very well live, but his choices are always a bit weird you know
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So, you who have already heard his new album.. do you hope he picks many songs from this one for the tour or just a few?
I would like some mixed from Privateering, Ragpickers Dream... also DS of course...and of course some from the new album which will probably happen anyway...
He's having a percussion and a trumpet, which are prominent in the new record, in his live band... What do you think?
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Hi guys. A little while ago, intrigued by the next new single out of Mark, I did a search and I found a guy who plays Back On The Dance Floor, as he read it from the tablature. JF, does it resemble the original song?
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Hi guys. A little while ago, intrigued by the next new single out of Mark, I did a search and I found a guy who plays Back On The Dance Floor, as he read it from the tablature. JF, does it resemble the original song?
I guess it was Pavel (Quizzaciously) right ?
can't find the link right now, I'll have more time tonight
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Hi guys. A little while ago, intrigued by the next new single out of Mark, I did a search and I found a guy who plays Back On The Dance Floor, as he read it from the tablature. JF, does it resemble the original song?
I guess it was Pavel (Quizzaciously) right ?
can't find the link right now, I'll have more time tonight
No, it wasn't me, although some people made recordings of this sounding cool, but I can't find it.
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Yes it was you. But it was also another one who took more work into it. Your version was simply the melody.
LE
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https://soundcloud.com/srniquito/dance
A certain Julio posted this at Guy's forum and said it was made by a friend of him. ;D
LE
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Hi guys, here it is:
https://youtu.be/LvTfJbewNkU
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https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6287.0;attach=2976
This was quizzy's first attempt on Sept. 20th.
LE
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https://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6287.0;attach=2976
This was quizzy's first attempt on Sept. 20th.
LE
Ah OK. I read that it was inserted yesterday, so I immediately asked for info. Thank you! :)
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Will be interesting to hear the original finally with all your versions in mind! :D
LE
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Will be interesting to hear the original finally with all your versions in mind! :D
LE
;D ;D ;)
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If the rhythm and general feel of the song is anywhere near the video, I know I will like it! In fact it is still in my head - already an earworm! ;D
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can't listen to the song right now, but the lick played on guitar on this video seems to be the line "back on the dance floor" sung by background female vocals, and by Mark
i'll check later and will get back
and the tempo on the real song is a little bit faster from memory
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can't listen to the song right now, but the lick played on guitar on this video seems to be the line "back on the dance floor" sung by background female vocals, and by Mark
i'll check later and will get back
and the tempo on the real song is a little bit faster from memory
:thumbsup
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just checked again :
that riff is played as intro by a guitar (clean/crunch) and/or a bass
less driven than in the cover, more laid-back style. the saturated guitar is the lead one 8)
just before the chorus (sort of a "bridge") the vocals sing "back on the dance floor" on that same line : first Mark alone, and then background vocals
an then, background vocals sing along this line : "doowap doowap"...yes I am serious
and then again the pre-chorus and the chorus
the outro is "doowap doowap" by vocals with synth lines, and lead guitar licks
and the end of the song is just "doowap doowap" by vocals.....yes I am still serious
so yes that line is the main theme throughout the song, a little bit faster than in the cover video
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just checked again :
that riff is played as intro by a guitar (clean/crunch) and/or a bass
less driven than in the cover, more laid-back style. the saturated guitar is the lead one 8)
just before the chorus (sort of a "bridge") the vocals sing "back on the dance floor" on that same line : first Mark alone, and then background vocals
an then, background vocals sing along this line : "doowap doowap"...yes I am serious
and then again the pre-chorus and the chorus
the outro is "doowap doowap" by vocals with synth lines, and lead guitar licks
and the end of the song is just "doowap doowap" by vocals.....yes I am still serious
so yes that line is the main theme throughout the song, a little bit faster than in the cover video
Ok, thanks again JF. I think if it comes out as a single it will be really amazing. I do not remember such an promotion of an album (with just a second single at the same time the album is released) from the time of DS, if I remember correctly. :D
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So, you who have already heard his new album.. do you hope he picks many songs from this one for the tour or just a few?
I would like some mixed from Privateering, Ragpickers Dream... also DS of course...and of course some from the new album which will probably happen anyway...
He's having a percussion and a trumpet, which are prominent in the new record, in his live band... What do you think?
Nobody Does That would be a sure winner live. And generally, I don't think there's a song on this album that couldn't be done live, maybe except for the jazz ballads which would sound odd in an arena environment. That's said, he'll probably include about the same amount of new songs as on previous tours.
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From November 16, all DS / MK albums are wronged. Only Down The Road Wherever the most important for me :)