Mark Knopfler - Kill to Get Crimson
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.54 You Save: $6.44 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.31 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Kill to Get Crimson
Free Music Review: Another album that is clean, clear, and perfect
Hit: 5 Stars
Mark Knopfler puts out another album that is clean, clear, and perfect. Perfect is not always a compliment in the world of pop music, but, in this case it is. Whenever I listen to a Mark Knopfler release I get all excited to hear some tasty rock guitar, after all he was a guitar god in 1977 after his first record. (Note: they were records and tapes then and not CD's) He is #27 on Rolling Stones top 100 guitar players of all time, for what that is worth.
I was a little disappointed, then embarrassed, when I didn't hear awesome electric guitar parts jumping out of the MP3 player. (Like anything really could jump out at you from an MP3 player) It is the writing and how the guitar fits into the song that is MK's artistry. I spent some time going back over my old Dire Straits CDs to revisit those great songs, and that was exactly the point, it has always been about great songs from the first Dire Straits album until the last, it is the writing that makes it all work. Unlike other guitar legends, like the Allman Brothers that lived by the guitar riff, MK survived by writing smart interesting songs. The new CD Kill To Get Crimson is no different, except the guitar playing is a little mote subtle, But, considering he Debuted with Dire Straits 30 years ago that is not surprising. Please don't miss understand me, there is some great guitar playing on this CD it just may take a couple of listens to fully appreciate it.
The deep resonant sound of Mr. Knopfler's voice combined with the country/ English folk feel that he honed on his last two albums with Emily Lou Harris, gives this release a warm mellow feel. His choice of words like Kipper and tinker adds an English ambiance.
This album is one I knew I would like even before I heard it. Mark Knopfler really shows off what a mature writer and player can do without having to show off. His Writing and playing have a maturity that is lacking in today's new artists. (I couldn't resist saying the last line.)-jeffscotti.com
Free Music Review: Crimson Tide
Hit: 5 Stars
Oh my, what a stunning set of songs. What a beautiful album. Mark's hitting on all cylinders here. Don't expect a guitar extravaganza, though. This a continuation of the Shangra La style, but with none of the yawn-inducing filler. This is a modern day, older man version of Tea for the Tillerman. The comforting beauty of Mark's vivid bedtime storytelling comes to full fruition here. Kill to Get Crimson is alive with vivid characters and stories and feelings, not too long, not too short, pretty much perfect.
It's like a whole hour of that feeling of waking up on a Sunday morning in bed with the sun shining through the windows, perfectly content, feeling as one with the sheets and smelling the girl next to you and knowing life is good.
This is possibly the best set of songs Mark has come up with since the self-titled Dire Straits album - the perfect blend of moody yet optimistic songs, delivered in such a comforting, confident voice that you can't help but be moved. I think I'd be hard pressed to name an album of his material that is this focused and well thought out. Each song flows like a river into the next, like a wonderous novel which ends only to force you to re-evaluate the begining, and as such I've found myself listening to it back to back to back many times in the short week I've owned it.
Like I said, it's Very Mellow, but in this instance that's not a bad thing. Crack open a fresh Lager or Pinot Noir and prepare for some of the best songwriting you've heard since the aforementioned Tea for the Tillerman. Thanks Mark, many happy returns.
Free Music Review: Best music album (CD) I've purchased since 1979
Hit: 5 Stars
Mark Knopfler is stellar and this is his greatest work. Hard to believe someone can continue to grow, expand their horizons, and produce such first rate material decade after decade.
I've enjoyed Dire Straits since the mid/late-70's, and was lucky enough to see them perform in San Antonio in 1984. I've enjoyed Knopfler especially, and received notice of this album via "My Space." I don't normally buy too many CD's anymore, especially new music. My purchases tend to be "upgrading" my old vinyl records and cassettes to CD's.
This CD was more than worth the purchase price. Often, I just skip to one or two songs I like. This piece of work flows and other than Dark Side of the Moon, I can't think of anything I've enjoyed more, first run through. It just flows right, all the way through. His individual songs are awesome, but the complete CD is superlative.
I used to play Dire Straits "Brothers in Arms" to death. It's only my opinion, but Knopfler, in my view, topped that work with this set. His guitar is always amazing, and I love this man's voice. But there is something about "Kill to get Crimson" that distinguishes it from anything else. You can introduce this CD to any crowd. It's music that appeals at many levels. Music to have playing at a party, play it while you're working, but most especially, savor Mark Knopfler on your own. Every song tells a story, and this song-writer is aged to perfection!
Free Music Review: Heart full of holes
Hit: 5 Stars
Truth is, thi is one of the most endearing and human records Knopfler has ever created - on a par with the scores from Cal and Local Hero, and as poignant as Ragpicker's Waltz. It just is down to very real stories about very real characters who suffer, much as the protagonist in "heart full of holes". These are songs that will not reduce you to tears but leave you thinking long after they have ended. Knopfler is down to a basic quartet this time as well : Guy Fletcher and compadres are all the accompaniement he needs. What few guests there are absolutely add something shimmering to the quality of this recording. There are no numbskull duest with the King of Ponce, Sting, or rehashes of paeans to poolside twisting, mtv, ray kroc or whatever else he was on to when stumped for legitimate inspiration.
Instead the stories flow seamlessly from the tattoo artist paean to love that will never fade through to the borrowed Irsih lament that infuses the bird and the fish right to the very last tune. Perhaps time with EmmyLou Harris reminded him of telling a genuine story and how powerful that can be on its own terms. There is no flash, no hooks, just great, great songwriting and genuine stories. In the end, as this came to a conclusion, I thought that this might be the greatest example of songwriting this side of Gordon Lightfoot - real people, real lives, genuine human pathos. It doesn't get any better. Kudos to Knopfler.
Free Music Review: Lovely, low-keyed and honeyed
Hit: 5 Stars
I picked up the CD the day it was released, brought it back work, and listened to it through little tiny laptop speakers, and thought...
"Hmmm...no rockers, that's interesting, okay." I only picked up a few of the words, but the low-key melodies grabbed me from that first listen.
When I got home I gave it proper listen with good headphones, I just fell in love with it.
As another reviewer pointed out, the music he's making here is incredibly close to the soundtracks he did back in the `70's and early '80's for "Local Hero" and "Cal". All of the tunes on this CD have a very distinct Northern English or Scottish folk music feel.
The songwriting, of course, is perfect. Mark's the best at creating intricate, little short stories that become songs.
And, while I love the pared down studio band this time around, it still sounds incredibly rich to these ears.
Perhaps after dancing around the kitchen to LCD Soundsystem, or listening to the aural density of "Sky Blue Sky" and "In Rainbows", it's just great to hear a master doing what he does best with less.