New Album - One Deep River

[border_reiver]

Is there anyone who knows something more about the box set?

It's not listed on Swedish or German Amazon. Nor is it offered on regular webstores within Sweden. Other sites has it, but to 3 times the price of MK.com

Is it time to give up and just place an order with the official store?

[Jules]

Just wait, it will appear sooner or later.

[Matchstickman]

About "unhurried" (some will say: boring) music:

I was listening to Neil Young's "Harvest" for the very first time yesterday. Call me a total ignorant (and you'll be right), but somehow I never got to Neil Young up to this date. I saw the album mentioned somewhere, and thought I'd give it a listen. I was unaware of the fact that this is his signature album, and was a billboard no. 1 back then. I just thought: Okay, here's an album that some people seem to like, let's see how it is.

Now, the reason I'm mentioning this: The album is good, I liked it a lot. But in no way is it something that immediately says: hit record! It's totally unassuming, simple melodies, (mostly) sparse arrangements, temperate guitars and singing. Nothing groundbreaking even for 1972, nothing bold or loud or risky or experimental. But still very good! There's not one song on it that I didn't like, and several of them I found touching. In short: "Harvest" is in no way better or more surprising on a first listen than what I've heard of Mark's upcoming album so far. And still it seems to have achieved legendary status over time!

Harvest is a fantastic record and an undeniable classic. But, the comparison with Mark seems farfetched. First, there are a couple of heavy songs musically speaking, in Alabama and Words. Second, this is almost a collection of Young's best songs, at least some of them. Old Man, Needle, Out on the Weekend... Lyrics, singing, guitar playing, and overall mood are simply striking in each one. And there is tension. It sounds as if life depends on it.

Mark has always produced slow songs, but they used to be in the minority, unlike now. More problematic for me, though, is that they are often devoid of tension these days, and sound similar to the point of being interchangeable, frequently lacking proper hooks.

The whole focus on "storytelling" has always had the effect of maintaining a certain distance, with songs about boxers and ships and what not. More personal lyrics, like on the latest single, sounds promising in theory, but the music leaves me flat.

[cannibals]

https://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/mark-knopflers-one-deep-river-review

[Robson]

https://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/mark-knopflers-one-deep-river-review

Reviews! Start! Thank you.

[Rail King]

About "unhurried" (some will say: boring) music:

I was listening to Neil Young's "Harvest" for the very first time yesterday. Call me a total ignorant (and you'll be right), but somehow I never got to Neil Young up to this date. I saw the album mentioned somewhere, and thought I'd give it a listen. I was unaware of the fact that this is his signature album, and was a billboard no. 1 back then. I just thought: Okay, here's an album that some people seem to like, let's see how it is.

Now, the reason I'm mentioning this: The album is good, I liked it a lot. But in no way is it something that immediately says: hit record! It's totally unassuming, simple melodies, (mostly) sparse arrangements, temperate guitars and singing. Nothing groundbreaking even for 1972, nothing bold or loud or risky or experimental. But still very good! There's not one song on it that I didn't like, and several of them I found touching. In short: "Harvest" is in no way better or more surprising on a first listen than what I've heard of Mark's upcoming album so far. And still it seems to have achieved legendary status over time!

Harvest is a fantastic record and an undeniable classic. But, the comparison with Mark seems farfetched. First, there are a couple of heavy songs musically speaking, in Alabama and Words. Second, this is almost a collection of Young's best songs, at least some of them. Old Man, Needle, Out on the Weekend... Lyrics, singing, guitar playing, and overall mood are simply striking in each one. And there is tension. It sounds as if life depends on it.

Mark has always produced slow songs, but they used to be in the minority, unlike now. More problematic for me, though, is that they are often devoid of tension these days, and sound similar to the point of being interchangeable, frequently lacking proper hooks.

The whole focus on "storytelling" has always had the effect of maintaining a certain distance, with songs about boxers and ships and what not. More personal lyrics, like on the latest single, sounds promising in theory, but the music leaves me flat.

I think I see where you're coming from, but my experience is a very different one. When you say that Mark's recent music leaves you flat, I'll have to say that for me the opposite is true. I'm deeply touched by by certain songs on each of his albums, and that's as true for his solo albums just as it is for Dire Straits records. Actually, the songs that touch me most of all might be from his solo career. Do they have as much tension as, say, "In the Gallery" or some of Neil Young's songs? They certainly don't. But tension isn't everything. Take a song like Mark's "Silver Eagle" - zero tension, but an awful lot of melancholy (or whatever that feeling might be). I leaves me stunned every time I hear it. More so than anything on "Harvest", to be honest. And I could name dozens of other Knopfler songs that do the same or something similar for me.

I wouldn't want to doubt your judgement in any way - it's as true for you as mine is for me - but I honestly wonder what role the so-called "halo effect" plays when we listen to old and legendary records. Is it possible that we rate them higher because so many people have rated them high for such a long time?

That's why I thought my experience with "Harvest" and it's juxtaposition with Mark's latest songs was so interesting. Both were equally new to me. Both made me want to hear them again. But I couldn't say that on first listen, "Out on the Weekend" touched me more than "Watch Me Gone". My reaction to both songs was very similar. I thought they were both great.

[Robson]

"is front-porch lazy day music, but with lyrics that underscore the album’s poignant theme of stability in the face of change"

[Robson]

"In fact, the same might be said of Knopfler’s songs throughout his career: they’re what you were listening to when you were a youngster, and that feeling is always the same every time you hear it. From his Dire Straits days through several decades of solo albums, Mark Knopfler’s voice may sound like a faded pair of ancient jeans. It’s never grown old – it just is old, in a timeless, wise, and wonderous sense. It’s a voice many of us listened to for decades. And whether we’re heading out or coming back, the power of Knopfler’s storytelling hasn’t gone away"

Nice.

[Love Expresso]

Front porch lazy day music ... ouch 

LE

[Love Expresso]

Album Review six weeks before release date? Idiotic behaviour..

LE

[Robson]

Album Review six weeks before release date? Idiotic behaviour..

LE

I was surprised too. A little too fast.

A modest and strange review. Only 5 songs are listed.

[qjamesfloyd]

I have not read every post but, was it discussed about the pre-order of the album that includes a chance to win a tour of British Grove studios with Guy? You have to order any format from the Mark Knopfler online store before 6th March 12:00 GMT You and a guest will be shown around on 20th April.

[Jules]

I have not read every post but, was it discussed about the pre-order of the album that includes a chance to win a tour of British Grove studios with Guy? You have to order any format from the Mark Knopfler online store before 6th March 12:00 GMT You and a guest will be shown around on 20th April.

And most important, you have to be a UK resident.

After reading that, lost all interest in this.

As if London wasn't reachable from most European countries with cheap or affordable flights...

[Matchstickman]

About "unhurried" (some will say: boring) music:

I was listening to Neil Young's "Harvest" for the very first time yesterday. Call me a total ignorant (and you'll be right), but somehow I never got to Neil Young up to this date. I saw the album mentioned somewhere, and thought I'd give it a listen. I was unaware of the fact that this is his signature album, and was a billboard no. 1 back then. I just thought: Okay, here's an album that some people seem to like, let's see how it is.

Now, the reason I'm mentioning this: The album is good, I liked it a lot. But in no way is it something that immediately says: hit record! It's totally unassuming, simple melodies, (mostly) sparse arrangements, temperate guitars and singing. Nothing groundbreaking even for 1972, nothing bold or loud or risky or experimental. But still very good! There's not one song on it that I didn't like, and several of them I found touching. In short: "Harvest" is in no way better or more surprising on a first listen than what I've heard of Mark's upcoming album so far. And still it seems to have achieved legendary status over time!

Harvest is a fantastic record and an undeniable classic. But, the comparison with Mark seems farfetched. First, there are a couple of heavy songs musically speaking, in Alabama and Words. Second, this is almost a collection of Young's best songs, at least some of them. Old Man, Needle, Out on the Weekend... Lyrics, singing, guitar playing, and overall mood are simply striking in each one. And there is tension. It sounds as if life depends on it.

Mark has always produced slow songs, but they used to be in the minority, unlike now. More problematic for me, though, is that they are often devoid of tension these days, and sound similar to the point of being interchangeable, frequently lacking proper hooks.

The whole focus on "storytelling" has always had the effect of maintaining a certain distance, with songs about boxers and ships and what not. More personal lyrics, like on the latest single, sounds promising in theory, but the music leaves me flat.

I think I see where you're coming from, but my experience is a very different one. When you say that Mark's recent music leaves you flat, I'll have to say that for me the opposite is true. I'm deeply touched by by certain songs on each of his albums, and that's as true for his solo albums just as it is for Dire Straits records. Actually, the songs that touch me most of all might be from his solo career. Do they have as much tension as, say, "In the Gallery" or some of Neil Young's songs? They certainly don't. But tension isn't everything. Take a song like Mark's "Silver Eagle" - zero tension, but an awful lot of melancholy (or whatever that feeling might be). I leaves me stunned every time I hear it. More so than anything on "Harvest", to be honest. And I could name dozens of other Knopfler songs that do the same or something similar for me.

I wouldn't want to doubt your judgement in any way - it's as true for you as mine is for me - but I honestly wonder what role the so-called "halo effect" plays when we listen to old and legendary records. Is it possible that we rate them higher because so many people have rated them high for such a long time?

That's why I thought my experience with "Harvest" and it's juxtaposition with Mark's latest songs was so interesting. Both were equally new to me. Both made me want to hear them again. But I couldn't say that on first listen, "Out on the Weekend" touched me more than "Watch Me Gone". My reaction to both songs was very similar. I thought they were both great.

Well, we all have different views, but Harvest is a young Neil on top form, and so would more suitably be compared to young Mark. My present views of Mark and Neil are roughly the same.

[Nick14]

Reviews coming in now. One posted in another thread. Today I saw one in Uncut. 8 out if 10, short, mentioned slow and measured, quiet gentle etc, similar overall to the other review. Said Watch Me Gone was the highlight.