Post by Georgina on Dec 1, 2009 23:15:58 GMT -5
What an excellent, excellent album. I just had the opportunity to listen to it end-to-end this evening, and it's simply brilliant. This one review articulates my thoughts about it better than I can. The Celtic/blues blends are the best and seamless.
We have a surprise contender entering the Album of the Year competition for 2009. Welcome again to the Big Boy Table™, Mark Knopfler. I don't know why it should be a surprise – least of all to me – but "surprise" is just one of many superlatives to heap upon Get Lucky.
What makes it such a surprise? Has he drastically changed his style or sound? No. He continues to mine familiar sonic ground with folk, Celtic, blues, country, and Americana elements quilted together to form the recognizable tapestry of a Mark Knopfler record. What makes Knopfler stand out is the way he weaves these elements together. There are scores of bands who do acoustic folk and Celtic folk and countless more who play around with blues and country. But no one synthesizes these elements quite the way he does.
The trouble for Knopfler is that he's been doing that so well and so consistently ever since parting with his more famous band, Dire Straits, and has never written anything remotely pop or radio friendly while on his own. Careful listens to his solo records reveal he has been a consistent craftsman of impeccable taste and skill. That consistency can be misinterpreted and used against an artist. Albums can be difficult to distinguish when similar blueprints are adhered to and the quality rarely waivers.
What separates Get Lucky is the quality of his ideas. He continues to blend these same musical elements in his unique style and filters them through his musical past. When an artist gets self-referential, they run the risk of becoming a self-parody. Sharp, vivid lyrics and fully realized compositions combine with outstanding contributions from his collaborators, creating an album that stands tall among his career accomplishments.
Get Lucky finds Knopfler in a contemplative, reflective place. In the liner notes, he provides some commentary and background for several songs. These songs are filled not only with the warmth of familiar sounds but the bonds of family and the memories of childhood. "The Car Was The One" was inspired in part by racer Mark Donohue. Knopfler found a kindred spirit in the late driver. Donohue's passion to race as expressed in his autobiography reminded Knopfler of his own drive as a young man to be in a rock band. Musically, "Car" has shades of "The Fizzy And The Still" from his previous record Kill To Get Crimson.
blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-mark-knopfler-get-lucky/
Thanks so much for the recommendation.
We have a surprise contender entering the Album of the Year competition for 2009. Welcome again to the Big Boy Table™, Mark Knopfler. I don't know why it should be a surprise – least of all to me – but "surprise" is just one of many superlatives to heap upon Get Lucky.
What makes it such a surprise? Has he drastically changed his style or sound? No. He continues to mine familiar sonic ground with folk, Celtic, blues, country, and Americana elements quilted together to form the recognizable tapestry of a Mark Knopfler record. What makes Knopfler stand out is the way he weaves these elements together. There are scores of bands who do acoustic folk and Celtic folk and countless more who play around with blues and country. But no one synthesizes these elements quite the way he does.
The trouble for Knopfler is that he's been doing that so well and so consistently ever since parting with his more famous band, Dire Straits, and has never written anything remotely pop or radio friendly while on his own. Careful listens to his solo records reveal he has been a consistent craftsman of impeccable taste and skill. That consistency can be misinterpreted and used against an artist. Albums can be difficult to distinguish when similar blueprints are adhered to and the quality rarely waivers.
What separates Get Lucky is the quality of his ideas. He continues to blend these same musical elements in his unique style and filters them through his musical past. When an artist gets self-referential, they run the risk of becoming a self-parody. Sharp, vivid lyrics and fully realized compositions combine with outstanding contributions from his collaborators, creating an album that stands tall among his career accomplishments.
Get Lucky finds Knopfler in a contemplative, reflective place. In the liner notes, he provides some commentary and background for several songs. These songs are filled not only with the warmth of familiar sounds but the bonds of family and the memories of childhood. "The Car Was The One" was inspired in part by racer Mark Donohue. Knopfler found a kindred spirit in the late driver. Donohue's passion to race as expressed in his autobiography reminded Knopfler of his own drive as a young man to be in a rock band. Musically, "Car" has shades of "The Fizzy And The Still" from his previous record Kill To Get Crimson.
blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-mark-knopfler-get-lucky/
Thanks so much for the recommendation.
