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I've been a fan of Mark Knopfler for 30 years since the release of Dire Straits' "Brothers In Arms" album that was one of the most popular selling albums of all time. I own, I believe, everything Mark Knopfler has ever released and wouldn't rate any of it poorly. Over the years Knopfler's style has gotten less rock-and-roll and more subtle storytelling in the Americana vein and that is exactly what you have here with "Tracker," Knopfler's 8th solo album.
Mark Knofler is a storyteller at heart and at 65 years-old he is old-school enough to make the decision to put out an album like this one that has a theme of loss, regret and looking back carried throughout making it a true album instead of just a collection of random songs. The music here ranges from jazz to Celtic to a bit of that old Dire Straits sound.
In regards to putting this album together Mark said, “The album title ‘Tracker’ arrived out of me trying to find my way over the decades. Out of me tracking time – looking at people, places and things from my past, and out of the process of tracking as in recording tracks in the studio.” Knopfler's attention to detail is on display here as there isn't a bad song in the bunch.
The sound quality here is excellent so props go out to longtime Knopfler confidant and ex-Dire Straits member Guy Fletcher for engineering the disc. Mark Knopfler's voice has never had a lot of range but it is still silky smooth and mellow which seems to fit these songs perfectly. While Knopfler, in my opinion, is one of the best guitar players of our time the guitar is not the focus of this record. Sure, you have your typical Knofpler licks, but the lyrics and the stories take the forefront on this release.
One of the highlights, for me, was the duet with Ruth Moody on "Wherever I Go" which is a sweet love song about being apart from the one you love. It closes out the standard version of the album. If you're not familiar with Ruth, her "These Wilder Things" album is excellent. She sings backup here on "Basil," "Skydiver," "Long Cool Girl," and "My Heart Has Never Changed."
"Long Cool Girl" is one of my favorite songs, a love song that has an underlying acousic guitar part which seems nearly lifted from "Romeo and Juliet" one of my favorite Straits' song. The lyrics are quite simple, "All I do is think of you / As I go around the world / All I do is think of you / Long, cool girl," but it's a track that has stayed lodged in my head after repeat listening to the album.
"Beryl" is part "Sultans of Swing" as Mark tells the story of author Beryl Bainbridge who was one of Britain's leading novelists who received an award posthumously that some thought came too late.
If you're in Germany or search the web you can find a bonus track called "Hot Dog" that musically sounds a lot like the "Calling Elvis" Dire Straits period with Mark singing the praises of, well, a hot dog. Brought a big smile to my face so be sure to track it down.
Overall, this is a very solid effort from Mark Knopfler that fans of his catalog will enjoy as long as they aren't looking for the Dire Straits' rock. I'd highly recommend finding the deluxe version with the extra songs on it as they are well worth being included on the album. Highly recommended.
- Audio CD (March 17, 2015)
- Deluxe Edition edition
- Original Release Date: March 17, 2015
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Verve
- ASIN: B00S1M7KXO
- Average Customer Review: 395 customer reviews
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#1,487 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #620 in Rock (CDs & Vinyl)
- #987 in Pop (CDs & Vinyl)
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