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 | Title : The Ragpicker's Dream
Author : Knopfler, Mark
Release Date : 20021001
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $12.28
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Editorial Reviews :
Even at the peak of Dire Straits' fame, Mark Knopfler's music often seemed informed by a restless worldview as abstruse as his guitar playing was fluid and expressive. This follow-up to his impressive 2000 collection, Sailing to Philadelphia, finds Knopfler chasing a similar musical and lyrical muse, with results that are even more surprising and loose-limbed. 'Why Aye Man,' the bracing opening chantey that sets much of the album's tone, draws parallels between Geordie pub-speak and Native American chants whilst lamenting economic refugees of Thatcherism forced to ply their blue-collar trades--and keep their Brit pub culture alive--deep in the Fatherland. From there, Knopfler takes us by 'A Place Where We Used to Live' for a lounge-y, Jobim-inflected reminder that one can never really go home, drops in on 'Quality Shoe' for a tribute to Roger Miller, and gives us a typically dry, so-deadpan-it's-funny rundown of his Circus Sideshow pals on 'Devil Baby.' 'Marbletown,' a graveyard folk-blues, showcases the musician at home on solo acoustic guitar, while the loping, laconic 'Coyote' draws its good-natured inspiration from a beast named Wile E. But it's the way that Knopfler connects disparate cultures and histories with subliminal, deceptively effortless grace on 'Fare Thee Well Northumberland,' 'You Don't Know You're Born' (both of which feature Knopfler's signature languorous, blues-inflected soloing), the folksy 'Hill Farmer's Blues,' and the country-fried 'Daddy's Gone to Knoxville' that make the album a triumph of understatement.
Buyer Reviews :
Mark Knopfler's third solo album (not counting his numerous film soundtracks) is his bluesiest yet. 'The Ragpicker's Dream' features 12 tracks and clocks in at almost 56 minutes. All tracks include vocals and the backing band is top notch and features (of course) Guy Fletcher on keyboards and some nice drumwork by Chad Cromwell. Paul Franklin adds his pedal steel mastery to three of the tracks. The piano (played by Jim Cox who also plays organ on several of the more bluesy tracks) is more prominent than on previous solo efforts as well, and adds a jazz-like quality to several of the tracks.
Musically, 'TRD' is steeped in the blues with hints of folk, swing, and jazz. As for comparisons with previous work, this disc is most similar to the 'Wag the Dog' soundtrack and (in some instances) Dire Straits' 'On Every Street'. The focus is the music (and also the lyrics) and not so much the guitar work. There's some crying and singing, but mostly the playing is subdued and workmanlike. There are no hyper-emotional solos (although some of the work on 'Devil Baby' comes close) like on 'Are We in Trouble Now' or 'Nobody's Got the Gun' from 'Goldenheart'. If that's what you're looking for, you may be a tad disappointed in TRD. If not, you'll be well-satisfied by this release. There are a lot of bluesy numbers ('Why Aye Man', 'Marbletown', and the Soggy Bottom Boys' sounding 'Fare the Well Northumberland'), some jazz-inflicted tracks ('A Place Where We Used to Live') and several playful tunes ('Coyote', 'Quality Shoe' and 'Daddy's Gone to Knoxville'). The brilliant 'Ragpicker's Dream' would've fit (musically) nicely on 'The Princess Bride' soundtrack.
Lyrically, TRD focuses on blue collar workers and workingclass towns. The songs are poetic (especially 'Ragpicker's Dream' and 'Old Pigweed'), wistful, and often deal with working--both the land, the job, and other people. Overall, this album is a positive continuation of 'Sailing to Philadelphia' with a familiar, but more bluesy feel to it and still fewer emotional guitar solos. Definitely Recommended.
(by J.D. Cetola)
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