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Kill to Get Crimson ReviewI enjoy some of MK's music a lot. When listening to his albums, I just get the feeling that his music has 'quality written all over it' - fine songwriting (especially the lyrics), immaculate guitar playing and superior production. Yet, despite this, I often find each album contains only 3 or 4 songs that I really enjoy, a couple which bore me to tears, and the rest are just OK (but to be fair, enjoyment of his music does benefit from several listenings). There will be some people for whom MK 'can do no wrong' and I also feel that way about a few artists - but MK is not (yet) one of these. So, I was a little cautious about buying this album, but I thought I'd take a chance because some of the pre-release editorial reviews suggested that I might like it. As it turns out, I was not too disappointed.THE SONGS - MK's lyrics are always fascinating but he seems to have surpassed himself on this album - in many songs, capturing the quintessence of post-WW2 life for ordinary English people. Although, for the most part, the melodies are good (a few having a distinct Gaelic flavour), I wouldn't describe them as 'infectious'; and I thought 2 or 3 were, by comparison, rather bland. There are no up-tempo songs to speak of (a couple come close) and there are certainly no 'full-tilt rockers'. Few of the songs have that 'americana' influence to be found on previous albums (the 'Springsteen-esque' 'True Love Will Never Fade' being the main exception) - MK has moved eastwards across the Atlantic for much of his inspiration on 'Kill to Get Crimson'. It is the songs that define the mood of the album and I would describe this as 'nostalgic-reflective' (in a very English sort of way).
THE PLAYING - You get little in the way of 'rock guitar' and most guitar solos are brief; but MK's playing permeates all tracks and the sound is absolutely sublime. In addition to percussion and bass, accompaniment is provided by accordion, violin, cittern, flute, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet and vibraphone; these are used judiciously (and very effectively) to enrich the overall sound - the phrase 'less means more' is very apt here.
THE VOCALS - MK has a rich baritone voice which is 'slightly frayed around the edges' - a voice which may be an acquired taste for some but one which I find very appealing; his singing is somewhat smoother than on past albums and he manages to inject a 'folksy' lilt from time to time. His limited vocal range has occasionally let him down in the past, but there is little evidence of this on 'Kill to Get Crimson'.
For a change, I enjoyed the majority of the songs on this album; for what it's worth, the following in particular : 'Heart Full of Holes', 'We Can Get Wild', 'Secondary Waltz', 'Punish the Monkey', 'Behind With The Rent', and 'Madame Geneva's'.
If I were rating this album purely on it's all-round musicality and 'technical' proficiency, then 5-stars would be amply justified (as another reviewer has summed it up, it is 'clean, clear and perfect'). However, 2 or 3 songs didn't do a lot for me and so, in terms of my subjective enjoyment, 3.5/4-stars are more appropriate. The extent to which you are likely to enjoy this album much depends on whether you prefer MK's music with a North American or an English/Gaelic influence. Also, if you liked All the Roadrunning, there's a good chance you will like 'Kill to Get Crimson'. When considering the album's mood and musical content, of his earlier albums, The Ragpicker's Dream probably comes closest - so this is something else to bear in mind (but don't sue me if I'm wrong!). It's a very mellow and relaxing album which, vocally and instrumentally, is almost devoid of any edginess.
I liked this album quite a lot, but if your initial reaction is 'more boring stuff from Mark Knopfler', I would ask you to sit down and LISTEN to the music, one or two tracks at a time spread over a few weeks, because 'coming to terms' with MK's music is a gradual process. I think this is a good way to start appreciating, more fully, MK's beguiling songs and accomplished playing.
If you are not too familiar with MK's solo work and would like to try a compilation of his music, I can recommend Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler. Just over half the tracks are Dire Straits' best known songs and the others are MK solo performances. This album is available as a 'Standard' version (1 CD & 14 tracks) and a 'De-luxe' version (2 CDs & 21/22 tracks); the link here directs you to the 'De-luxe' version.
Kill to Get Crimson OverviewBuilding on last year's Grammyr-nominated All The Roadrunning collaboration with Emmylou Harris, his highest charting non Dire Straits album to date Top 20 Pop, scanning 400,000 copies in the U.S. acclaimed singer-songwriterguitarist Mark Knopfler unveils his fifth solo album, Kill To Get Crimson. While certain to appeal to his loyal fan base, the album's artful guitar rock will also entice new fans to Knopfler's signature sound (he's #27 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time), instantly recognizable vocals and smart lyrics. A multiple- Grammy winner who has sold more than 110 million albums worldwide, Knopfler remains one of rock's most admired artists.
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