Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris
 

Anyone get the new album today? I'm really enjoying it so far.. what does everyone else think?

ACK! :eek: I missed 'em this past weekend on Prairie Home Companion! Did anyone hear them?

I've heard a couple of tunes on Radio 2 over here. Sounds good stuff. They are touring but I'm not going to see them (I saw MK twice last year and on top of my Clapton and Gilmour tickets I've just paid for tickets to see George Michael in November so my "tour fund" is rock bottom now and can't take another blow! :lol: )

It's nice to see Knopfler moving between genres again and working on a country album, although I realise stating that Knopfler is versatile in his musical skills will upset Gerald again. :lol: :wavey:

It needs more Emmylou and less Knopfler. Might as well have just called it a Mark Knopfler album featuring Emmylou Harris. I'm keen on almost two-thirds of it, but a lot of it is just so bland & never rises above midtempo dullness. It's no surprise that the two best cuts were written by Emmylou ("Belle Starr" & "Love and Happiness"). "Right Now" is a great tune, too, as is "This Is Us." Definitely a grower, but I don't know if I'll ever care much for more than six or seven of these obtuse songs.

Doesn't that just describe a Mark Knopfler album exactly :laugh:

Yes. In a word.

silly me....and to think of all the time I wasted admiring his talent........:shrug: :rolleyes:

I love Knopfler. He may be the biggest single influence on me as a guitarist but I have to admit his style is very laid back these days. Which is not a complaint. I actually like the mellow work hes doing now.

He's much more lively in concert than he is on record. That has always been the case. :nod:

I haven't heard it yet, but I'm seeing them in Berkeley on June 30th.

saw them on letterman last night - they did "this is us." fell in love with it. what a great song - sadly it is not yet on itunes canada (only US). went looking for the lyrics, too, but i guess it's too new. sounded like a perfect wedding song, but not a horribly corny or shmaltzy one. :laugh:

Knopfler's career path
 

I always admired him; amazing songwriter. His songs on "Making Movies" and "Love Over Gold" have such sadness and lyricism.

But, what happened? What happens to lots of songwriters as they get older? He's still talented ("Boom! Like that" is good), but doesn't seem to have that soul or melancholy drive behind his work.

Happily, this is not true of LB, maybe 'cause he hasn't overused his talent. He mostly released good stuff, so it never got like a routine to put out albums.

** bump **

this finally landed on iTunes canada today... and it's keeping me up! i love it. no grower for me - first listen, i was hooked. "donkey town" is absolutely gorgeous, as are "beachcombing," "this is us," "love and happiness," "beyond my wildest dreams..." but then i am a complete sucker for harmonies. it's utterly gorgeous. i can't wait to go running tomorrow just so i can listen to it on my ipod in my complete state of solitude.

^^^^

:laugh: I totally know what you mean about being really excited to exercise b/c of listening to music. My ishuffle broke a couple weeks ago and I feel so uninspired. :p

My station has been playing "This is Us" for a few weeks now. Obviously, it sounds beautiful. I'm not sure I like it that much, though. I'm not in love with the country sound, as of now.
The harmonies are very gorgeous.
Is that song typical of the rest of the album?

oooh, that's right! That would be fun on my birthday, and easy. That's actually pretty exciting!

Actually it isn't.. most of the songs on the album have an acoustic/alt. sound.. more so than a country feel.. you should try it out! It really is a pretty good album..

i saw ´em live couple of weeks ago,they were really good
absolute highlights for me were donkey town and why worry
the only bad thing was romeo and juliet,mark´s singing was very uninspired.
he should drop it from the set list if he´s bored with it.
if you have a chance to see them,i recommend it.

oh, i'm dyin. i just found out they're playing toronto this monday - and i can't go!!! :distress: i am so loving this album - i agree donkey town is a high point. but sorry to hear romeo and juliet was unispired - i adore that song.

I like it. My favorite tracks are This Is Us, Belle Starr, All The Roadrunning, Red Staggerwing (it's cheesy but fun), I Dug Up A Diamond, Rollin' On, and Love & Happiness. Actually I guess that's most of the album. The main complaint I've seen is what Diss said about it being stuck in that midtempo limbo. I agree that it is sort of a sleepy record, but not in a bad way, imo. It feels soft and mellow and summer-y to me. There are a few good solid songs; the rest are decent. Sweet, good textures, beautiful harmonies, not overdone... it's not my new favorite cd, but definitely worth picking up.