This day (14 february) in 1978

[superval99]

I'm all in favour of diversity, that's why I am an MK fan, because each one of his solo albums are diverse in themselves!   True, GL is folk-based, but there's lots of other stuff going on too, like Monteleone, You Can't Beat the House, Hard Shoulder, etc.  It's not all flutes and whistles, which I feel are used to great effect on the right songs.

RPD was blues based, but there were other things too!   GH was romantic, but again there were a lot of other sorts of music going on.    STP had everything but the kitchen sink!

When I listen to a lot of other artists albums, I am usually bored stiff after half-way, because everything sounds the same, particularly EC, so much so that I have given up buying his albums completely!  This has never happened to me with MK, because of the diversity on each album.

[Jackal]

@dmg, dusty - I completely agree with what you're saying. I'm not against the whistles and fiddles (I love folk music, and stuff like Transatlantic Sessions is just wonderful), but like you say, it has to fit the song and not everywhere.

@val - I'm not against variety, and I don't say Mark's solo albums aren't varied. As a matter of fact some of them are so varied that they border on being unfocused, but that's a different story. But even that they are varied, they are just so dull and lifeless. What I miss is a real toe-tapper. That's why Border Reiver got my hopes up so much. But alas, that was the only upbeat song, basically since Ragpicker's Dream. Then we get stuff like Before gas and TV and Monteleone *YAWN* You know, some albums are like this - you put the CD in the CD player, sit down to listen, and from the first note, there's just a big grin on your face. I bought a jazz album last year, Cannonball Adderly Live in San Francisco. That album was like that, a bubbling, joyous live concert. The first DS album is like that too. When you listen to the first DS album and then put on, I don't know, Shangri-La, it's like going from Cannonball Adderly to some smooth, slick LA jazz. Kenny G type of thing. OK, the comparison isn't fair, but you get my point. Mark's music now is Sunday music, the perfect complement to your afternoon tea and bickie. Mark's gotta get out of that lazy, hazy afternoon mode and find that spark somewhere.

[Earth to Jackal - Rant mode off]

[superval99]

You see, here's where you and me are different!   "Monteleone" and "Before Gas & TV" are two of my favourites from the album!        Perhaps you are not really an MK fan these days!   

[Jackal]

@ val - You're probably right. He was my first guitar and music hero, so even though most of the newer stuff bores me stiff, I can't quite let him go. There's still a strand of hope in me, that one day, maybe one day, we'll get to hear him play the Strat the way that only he can and that he'll come up with something truly inspired. Until then I'll follow from the sideline. And listen to Ry Cooder 

[Pottel]

try Leo Kottke and Richard thompson for a change.
oh, and Rodriego Y Gabriela, brilliant stuff!

[vgonis]

@Jackal. I have the exact same feelings as you do, no matter how hard i try to blame it to the lack of time. I listen to music-i mean concentrate, doing nothing else, usually in the metro or bus- when i can and it is never less than an hour a day. I have to say that some times likes and dislikes are generated and/or connected with seemingly irrelevant situations. For instance, I like Shangri La a lot, because i was in London a month before the release date (August 2004) and was chasing the promo in every second hand store i came across! It was the soundtrack of these days, and i can't be objective about the quality of the songs. TRD was a slow burner, but it grew in me and is one of my favorites, STP had both instant appeal and long lasting effects, by far the most listened to-CD,  GH was a great surprise, since i received it as a present from my brother while i was in the army serving at a distant island, but it wasn't actually what i expected (a DS sound alike?), but still felt good at the sound of a familiar voice and guitar. KtGC was not my cup of tea. I don't know what's wrong with it, maybe it is too simplistic, maybe the compositions were slim, i really can't tell. As for the co-operation with Harris, there are times i like it and other times i can't stand it. And i like Harris at her solo albums! Last one GL has some songs in the KtGC vein, but i really can't decide what it is lacking. But wait a minute, the other day i tried to listen to Brothers in arms and the only songs that I could listen in full was So far away and Brother in arms. But it is one of the records i have played hundreds of times the last 20 years, so it might be boredom.  (oh, what great results we could have if we were discussing with the same fervor and devoting the same amount of time and money, to solve the problems of our everyday life, our nations' and our world's. But don't let me spoil the discussion. It was just a passing idea...)