When an artist releases a two-disc set, there is always the fear that the material will be an exercise in self-indulgence, after all, who has enough new material to fill or warrant a double? The answer to that is Mark Knopfler, whose two-disc release “Privateering” is nothing short of a masterpiece, without a single dud.
Growing up, I was a casual fan of Knopfler’s work in Dire Straits, especially the huge MTV hit “Money for Nothing.” After listening to “Privateering,” I have a newfound appreciation for just how talented Knopfler is.
What makes the album great is the songwriting. Each song captures a unique emotion, lyrically and musically. Take “Radio City Serenade,” as an example of Knopfler’s lyrics, “You’ve got to have no credit cards to know how good it feels. The howling of the bridges, the sidewalks bound with steel.”
There are so many great moments on the 25 song collection, which captures so many musical styles, including Celtic, blues and Americana. The acoustic instruments and Knopfler’s vocals are sonically perfect, simply put; it is one of the best-produced albums I have heard in years.
As I stated at the beginning of this review, I am a casual fan of Knopfler and I expected a good album with some filler. What I heard was a great album, one that I have no problem labeling a musical masterpiece. Fans of great songwriters like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, will absolutely love this album.
