Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
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Free Music Notes for Shangri-La
Free Music Review: Astonishing!
Hit: 5 Stars
Having read some Shangri-La reviews, I wonder why some still want to compare this album and other MK's solo efforts with his Dire Straits albums. I understand that some are still searching for Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits guitar solos and may not be interested in a laid-back effort as Shangri-La. The man has grown older and his music has flourished and matured by age. When Shangri-La was released I didn't hesitate to buy it immediately and on the first listen I was absolutely amazed. I loved his previous effort 'The Ragpicker's Dream' as well but that album was too country for Mark Knopfler except the excellent 'Why Aye Man', 'Fare Thee Well Northumberland' and 'You Don't Know You're Born'. With Shangri-La however Mark delivers a rockier sound evident on numbers such as 'Boom, Like That' and 'Song For Sonny Liston'. He plays more lead guitars than Ragpicker's Dream and isn't affraid to tell stories about Krac, Liston, Presley and others. His playing is mature and the band including Richard Bennett, Guy Fletcher, Chad Cromwell and Glenn Worf accompany him better than ever. Other Standout tracks are: The Trawlerman's Song, 5:15 AM, Our Shagri-La and the beautiful Don't Crash The Ambulance. Few artits today can combine style with emotion and awareness. Mark Knopfler's is a master and Shangri-La deserves attention. Thumbs up for the Master!Free Music Review: High Quality
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD is a lot like "The Ragpicker's Dream". It has a slow tempo throughout, and features well crafted songs that place an emphasis on the lyrics and often involve stories. There are no extended guitar flourishes which we Mark Knopfler fans relish. The guitar is used to highlight the songs rather than wow the audience.
The first half of this CD is very strong for a collection of slow songs. But the affect is subtle; it doesn't hit you over the head. I especially like "Back to Tupelo", a very expressive low-key song about an aging rock star; and "Boom like that" with it's signature Knopfler guitar line and humorous lyrics about the rise of hamburger king Ray Kroc.
But, like "A Ragpicker's Dream", this CD kind of starts dragging toward the end. "Song for Sonny Liston" may be interesting to hear once or twice, but musically it is repetitious. By the time of "All That Matters", I found myself resisting the slowness. That is not to say that the last half does not have it's hightlights. "Don't Crash the Ambulence" is vintage Mark Knopfler, and in the same vein and as entertaining as "My Parties" and "Money for Nothing".
It would have been better, in my opinion, if he had picked up the tempo more, but this work is very high quality, especially in comparison to all of the junk out there today; and deserves 5 stars.
Free Music Review: Knopfler at his very best
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a huge fan of his songwriting and guitar playing since the first Dire Straits debut many years ago. I felt he and Dire Straits strayed too far from what made them so amazing during the Making Movies and through Brothers In Arms by the time they called it quits. However, he has proven through these past several years of making solo albums that he has not lost a step. This album is as good as it gets. How can someone make an album that is so low key and smooth yet so fresh and original? It's pure genius when an album that on the surface sounds so, um, adult contemporary (I guess that's the best phrase for this one) can still sound so fresh and new after many listenings. I 'm guessing it is because Knopfler starts with the essential ingredient in any great album - great songwriting, and keeps the instrumentation to a minimum so the beauty and sophistication of songs can still be appreciated. Great job, Mark. Please release a DVD of your current tour in support of this album and please play as mush of your solo stuff as possible and don't feel the pressure to play Sultans & Money just to appease those who only know you for what you did 20+ years ago. If you must play that band's songs, then be original and daring and choose some of your great songs they don't know, like Industrial Disease or Les Boys!Free Music Review: He's back!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have to preface my comments with the admission that I have been a huge fan of Knopfler's since the early '80s. More than any other artist, his music has been in constant rotation on the evolving soundtrack of my life. So my bias is pretty transparent.
But this is a beautiful album that should please anyone who has moved beyond the need to hear their favorite musicians simply showing off (a Van Halen record might do for those - no offense to Eddie).
My favorite tracks are "5:15 am," "the trawlerman's song," "shangri-la," "everybody pays, "postcards from paraquay," and "all that matters." But every song seems excellent to me. The tunes and the playing are impeccable; as you might expect. But it's the lyrics that really drive the album. Mr. Knopfler is still a bit of a teacher for anyone with the good sense to pay attention to what he is saying.
Like many fans, I also wish to hear him "air it out" occasionally and blow us away with his virtuosity (ala "Speedway at Nazareth"). But apart from the lack of extended solo excursions, I can't find any fault at all with this offering. We'll just have to catch him on tour to hear our collective jaws drop in humble awe of his playing. For now, this album satisfies me just fine!
Free Music Review: Didn't miss the Mark
Hit: 5 Stars
Sorry, bad pun. But anyway, some people were probably wondering if Mark Knopfler was going to put out a new album any time soon, after the motorcycle accident last year that nearly cost him his life. But he persevered and soon emerged with his fourth solo album, Shangri-La.
If this is your first Mark Knopfler album, you might not be the biggest fan at first listen. Not that the music isn't good, but those that have been following Mark since his days in Dire Straits should know that sometimes his lyrics can go from uncanny to risqué (remember the line, "the little f****t with the earring and the makeup" from "Money For Nothing"?). This album's best example of that would be the very last song, "Don't Crash the Ambulance". But it's still a great song, and the rest of the songs aren't far behind.
Highlights include "Our Shangri-La", the pensive "Stand Up Guy", and the memoriam "Song For Sonny Liston". And "Boom, Like That" is also a great song. Actually, ALL the songs are great. It may not exactly sound like Dire Straits, as other reviewers have argued, but that's because it's NOT Dire Straits; it's Mark Knopfler (there IS a difference). Anyway, Shangri-La is a must-have in any contemporary music collection.
Anthony Rupert