Mark Knoplfer's Stunning New Album
Dire Straits, like Creedence Clearwater Revival, is one of those acts that most women hate. If I'm wrong, ladies, let me know about it. But I'm sticking to my guns. I hear it again and again. [UPDATE: The above statement has not been received well by my female co-workers. When I tried to explain that my attempts at generalizing were puckish, they scared me with mean looks.]
That said, if you played "most women" Mark Knopfler's solo work, from Darling Pretty to his soundtrack stuff, they'd no doubt swoon. There's something about Knopfler when he's away from the boys: more sensitive, more baroque, more romantic. [UPDATE: Yeah, this part's not going over too well, either. Instead of "swoon," I might as well have said "they'd no doubt get the vapors."]
New album Kill to Get Crimson, in stores Sept. 18, is phenomenally atmospheric, dreamy, smart. I can't get enough of it. It's instantly gratifying. There's a song on there, The Scaffolder's Wife, that has a gentle, vaguely Celtic swoon -- until about a minute in, when Knopfler's signature guitar (that tone!) kicks in, and you realize the heroine is not as innocent as you once thought. Wow. I'll write more in the future, but for now, keep Kill to Get Crimson on your radar.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
Clearly you are simply associating with the wrong women, because I've certainly never noticed any gender-specific dislike for Dire Straits or CCR. "Brothers In Arms" is one of the most played songs on my iPod, that haunting guitar at the start followed by that heartbreaking first verse- classic. And CCR rocks huge. (Heck, I've got a bit of a thing for John Fogerty- he's an AARP eligible hottie.) I'll have to check out this new Mark Knopfler CD, thanks for the heads up.
Sherrie
Posted by: Sherrie | September 13, 2007 at 02:37 PM
Ha! I KNEW you'd be the first one to put me in my place, Sherrie. But I seriously think you're the exception.
Posted by: Sean Daly | September 13, 2007 at 02:41 PM
Actually your half right in my house to SD. I love CCR, not a big fan of Dire Straits. The Mrs. loves DS and hates CCR. She really loved the Mark Knoplfer duet with Emmy Lou
Posted by: sparky | September 13, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Speaking of Dire Straits, Shooter Jennings' October release includes a cover of Walk of Life.
Posted by: Guy | September 13, 2007 at 04:01 PM
Funny you say that: I just received a watermarked copy of the new Shooter, "The Wolf," due Oct. 23.
Posted by: Sean Daly | September 13, 2007 at 05:07 PM
DS rule. Good call Sean, I'll buy this CD for sure.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Posted by: Al | September 14, 2007 at 08:29 PM