Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
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Free Music Notes for Shangri-La
Free Music Review: It is 2005, not 1978. This is a mature album.
Hit: 5 Stars
I have many albums that I loved on first listening, but have not had on my stereo in years. Like a meteor, they burned out fast after impressing with superficial flash.
Then again, I have albums that took several times of playing through to "get it". These have more substance than flash, and they also have longevity. You hear something new on each subsequent listening.
Shangri-La falls into the second category. Great melodies, finely honed deep lyrics, and songs that are actually about something make up this album. For me, it is almost a compliment that I like this album, which is rejected by people that are into reading the lists of the top 10 records of the week. I'll still have Shangri-La in my short list of CDs being run through my players in both home and car when those folks are on their 50th crappy album of mindless fluff.
Knopfler is a grown man in his 50s now. His music should have and did change over the years. If you don't "get" this record, it might say more about you than the album.
Free Music Review: Guitar maestro improves songwriting in lieu of showoff licks
Hit: 5 Stars
My favorite album of 2004 and my favorite Knopfler work since Communique. Lots of beautiful melodies that get stuck in my head and many touching, human lyrics. Schmalzy on a couple tracks, but generally very moving and honest.
Fans of Money For Nothing, What It Is, and Sultans of Swing will probably be disappointed, however, because there are no extended guitar solos (fair warning!). Other reader's comments/criticisms about the slowness of the album are fair, but for some reason that didn't bother me (it usually does... such as with the great Knopfler sleeping pill, Sailing to Philadelphia). Fans who dig Clapton or Dylan are more likely to enjoy this album than fans of Jimi Hendrix or Van Halen. It's more artsy-fartsy and less kick-[...], but it is top-notch artsy-fartsy.
After two months of listening, I still haven't gotten tired of the following tracks in the least: 5:15, Trawlerman's Song, and Postcards to Paraguay. I'd especially suggest these for a listen.
Free Music Review: Men in Business, Success and Corruption
Hit: 5 Stars
I was gifted this album in mid-October. Gave it a listen once and enjoyed the general sound of it. And I didn't listen to it again until my XM trial-subscription expired on the first of December. For some reason, the colder the morning, the better these songs sound to me. I popped in the CD on a bitterly cold December morning and this album just clicked. It was a perfect match, clean crisp guitar, vocals and lyrics that warmed my soul.
I am unable to articulate words and phrases that describe the music, so my review stops here, you'll have to listen to it for yourself. But I would like to leave you with one piece of advice for listening to this music and for most others. Be alone, whether it's in your car or at home. And turn it up so you can feel it.
Additionally, I haven't seen a review that mentions the theme running throughout this album, "men in businesses, their successes and corruptions."
Free Music Review: A fine wine
Hit: 5 Stars
Mark Knopfler is like a fine wine: Unappreciated by children.
Mr. Knopfler writes songs that examine the deeper things of life; relationships and character of individuals that are often overlooked by self-seeking people.
The music that comes out of Mark Knopfler's heart is music that the majority of listeners overlook in their haste for a quick fix, for the instant feel-good rush. His music is characterized by calm, quiet textures that take time to sink in, but when they do, they touch your soul deeper than almost any other recording artist out there.
It takes a few listens to begin to gather what he talks about as he sings. It takes many times through to fully understand what he is saying. And no matter how many times you hear his words, you learn something new each time.
Music like this is wasted on the shallow and obtuse. For grown people, Mark Knopfler is like cool water on a hot afternoon in the sun.
Free Music Review: Absolutely Fantastic !!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought and downloaded this album from the iTunes Music Store. In the first two days, I thought that it was a good effort from Mark Knopfler, but not as good as his Golden Heart album.
However, and as I started listening more and more to this album, i started to appreciate the great music that it contains. To such an extent that nowadays I listen to it at least every day in my car and at home. It is aboslutely great. Although I enjoy all the songs, my favorites are : The Trawlerman's Song, Back to Tupelo, Shargri-La, the brilliant Everybody Pays, the excellent Postcards from Paraguay and All that Matters, and the fantastic Stand Up Guy and Don't Crash the Ambulance.
The music is mature, sweet and easy going with some great lyrics in places.
It has become one of those albums that I cannot imagine my life without it. This may sound to many like a bit too much, but frankly speaking, it is true...