Privateering? - Why Mark can't play the blues

A double CD and a big disappointment. Although the six previous solo albums from  Mark Knopfer have gradually lost impact, his latest Privateering  has hardly anything to commend it. A self indulgent descent into blues territory is actually pretty dire, and that is something coming from a big fan. Mark can do folk/country rock better than most, and his experiments with Celtic influences have mostly been fine. But blues? No way. Someone should have told him that putting together a band of talented musicians to back his virtuosity on guitar is never enough. There was no "blue" in his blues, no guts. Just interminable, bland work throughs coupled with some unstartling lyrics.

So having bought my ticket for this years residency at The Royal Albert Hall (and a superb seat it was too, having priority booking from having attended his last three concerts there), I eventually decided to give it up. I noted from my review from the 2010 concert that it was not as good as before, and that the instrumentals went on far too long. Having now read the first reviews, I'm very glad I didn't go. Here are some of them:

"Most of the material from new album Privateering was frankly awful"
"But for every rare classic there was an interminable trip back to the old country"

"a set of seemingly interchangeable epic, directionless new songs"

"it was too often a bore"

"material from new album Privateering sounded hammy, overcooked"

"a bit of damp squib"

"too much time was spent putting us through the newer material"

"Not quite Money for Nothing, but too darned close for comfort"

 

Most reviewers said he was playing for himself and not the audience. This was emphasised by the lack of numbers from his Dire Straits years, only three on most occasions, whereas we used to have six or seven. I'm glad I have the memories of those concerts instead.