(2) Ahead of the game

[Dutchessy]

Ahead of the Game   3.56

It's nothing but the hits in a room downtown
They're noisy as hell but nice
People don't usually get to play in there
More than a time or twice
You had you a regular spot
They were even advertising your name
Better than the usual thing you got
Staying just ahead of the game
Ahead of the game


And I can't tell you one thing new
About playing for the door
Some of my dreams back there too
With the sawdust on the floor
We're worn out and weary, all of us
But we know why we came
Banged up and battered like this old bus
Staying just ahead of the game
Ahead of the game


The sky's as big as nowhere
Which is where we've been
Left a dream behind there somewhere
You've got to have a dream


I gave your buddy a ride to the train
He was telling me he'd be back
It was a red light shining, love in vain
When we rolled across the tracks
Barista-bartender selling beat-up car
Needs a ticket for a bus or a plane
Singer-songwriter heading for home
Staying just ahead of the game
Ahead of the game

[dustyvalentino]

It’s “fine”.

Nice little guitar lick but otherwise a bit ponderous.

They have made strange single choices in recent years so there will likely be better stuff on the album.

[Love Expresso]

Thank you so much for this link. I am bad with this stuff. 

LE

[Love Expresso]

It’s “fine”.

Nice little guitar lick but otherwise a bit ponderous.

They have made strange single choices in recent years so there will likely be better stuff on the album.

I guess that monotonous part needs some more spins for you then? I loved it immediately, it has that JJ feel about it. What you call ponderous is exactly what I love about it. 

LE

[dustyvalentino]

I guess we shouldn’t be expecting anything different from MK at this stage in the game.

[sCHLUU]

I absolutely love it.
When I first saw the album name, it reminded me of J.J. Cale's River Runs Deep.

[Billy’s Tune]

Good song, like it, very JJ. Lovely bass sound from Glenn.

But- is it mark on lead? Not sure. Not that that matters!

[H97]

Maybe a bit of a safe choice for first single, but I like it! Lovely Communiqué or JJ Cale sounds here and there indeed

[hunter v2.0]

Yup. Sounds like a Mark Knopfler song  It has a lot of familiar elements from other songs of his. The main riff is very nice, and the guitar sound is gorgeous. Can't wait to hear that in good quality.

The solo breaks my heart a little. You can really sense how stiffly he plays. The solo works, but for us who know Mark's music and playing so well, we all know that this not how he would have chosen to play this had his hands and fingers been in good shape. No vibrato for example. None of those little bends that make his solos so smooth and fluid. I hope I'm wrong, and that it's just an "odd" artistic decision

[Dutchessy]

Small clip on youtube as well: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/o2gPsuo6j6c

[rmarques821]

Yup. Sounds like a Mark Knopfler song  It has a lot of familiar elements from other songs of his. The main riff is very nice, and the guitar sound is gorgeous. Can't wait to hear that in good quality.

The solo breaks my heart a little. You can really sense how stiffly he plays. The solo works, but for us who know Mark's music and playing so well, we all know that this not how he would have chosen to play this had his hands and fingers been in good shape. No vibrato for example. None of those little bends that make his solos so smooth and fluid. I hope I'm wrong, and that it's just an "odd" artistic decision

I got the same impression, but I'm so happy he's back with new music that I don't really care

[sCHLUU]

Ah okay, so april 12th it is...

[hunter v2.0]

Yup. Sounds like a Mark Knopfler song  It has a lot of familiar elements from other songs of his. The main riff is very nice, and the guitar sound is gorgeous. Can't wait to hear that in good quality.

The solo breaks my heart a little. You can really sense how stiffly he plays. The solo works, but for us who know Mark's music and playing so well, we all know that this not how he would have chosen to play this had his hands and fingers been in good shape. No vibrato for example. None of those little bends that make his solos so smooth and fluid. I hope I'm wrong, and that it's just an "odd" artistic decision

I got the same impression, but I'm so happy he's back with new music that I don't really care

Oh, I'm happy for the new music. I'm sure there will be several gems. But the whole thing still makes me a little emotional.

[border_reiver]

I like it. It has lots of traces from previous albums. Very MK.

This one is kind of a mix between Beryl and Pulling down the ride.

[Dutchessy]

Also on Youtube, edited the opening post