Shangri-La
Mark Knopfler (released September, 2004)

Shangri-La is typical Knopfler, perfection in production and lots of beautiful guitar sounds. It's his first since his 2003 motorcycle crash, in which he broke quite a few bones and was forced to undergo extensive physiotherapy, therefore leaving his guitars untouched for at least seven months.

What I really like about this CD is that it's a guitar player's guitar album. Knopfler's lead playing is not only fabulous throughout, but the icing on the cake is the rhythm work. Young guitarists should give it a listen, because it's something that today's music lacks all too often. Guitarists who grew up in the '60s and '70s are more used to this, as the work of The Beatles, The Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, etc., always had that accountable rhythm guy who played a constant stream of ever-changing, percussive chordal arrangements beneath the amazing fill in melodies of the lead man. Whether or not those arrangements were simple or hard was irrelevant, as the sound said it all. I'm not saying this doesn't exist anymore; I'm just saying that much of today's guitar playing is built around too much two and three note power chords, without much lead going on at all. Knopfler and Richard Bennett aren't playing in that early rock style here, but the job description of both lead and rhythm are quite obvious throughout.

Most of the CD is done in a traditional and laid back style. It's smooth and mellow in its entirety, with beautiful Knopfler leads radiating throughout. The lyrics are coarse and earthy, and are about people, both celebrated and ordinary. He sings of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, Sonny Liston, and skiffle king Lonnie Donegan. Traces of J.J. Cale and Chet Atkins are present in the sound, maybe a little Peter Green as well. But it's mostly a folky compilation, in an American-gothic way, mixed with British influence and storytelling. It's definitely adult contemporary, and even a tad unexciting at times, but the songs are beautiful and flawless. Knopfler is truly one of the greats, and proves it once again.

Musicians

Mark Knopfler: electric and acoustic guitar, vocals (mainly Fender Strat and Tele)
Richard Bennett: electric and acoustic guitar (Strat, Pensa-Suhr Custom)
Jim Cox: organ, piano, Hammond organ, and harmonica
Chad Cromwell: drums and percussion
Guy Fletcher: organ, piano (Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer)
Glenn Worf: bass

Tracks

1) 5:15 AM
2) Boom, Like That
3) Sucker Row
4) The Trawlerman's Song
5) Back To Tupelo
6) Our Shangri-La
7) Everybody Pays
8) Song For Sonny Liston
9) Whoop De Doo
10) Postcards From Paraguay
11) All That Matters
12) Stand Up Guy
13) Donegan's Gone
14) Don't Crash The Ambulance

A CD/DVD package is available as well.

Label

Warner Brothers

Links

Mark Knopfler
Amazon.com