Building on last year’s Grammy®-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-songwriter guitarist 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.
Mark Knopfler Photos
More from Mark Knopfler
All the Roadrunning
Shangri-La
The Ragpicker's Dream
Sailing to Philadelphia
Neck and Neck
One Take Radio Sessions [EP] [LIVE]
Real Live Roadrunning (with DVD) [LIVE]
Golden Heart
Screenplaying [SOUNDTRACK]
Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler
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0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
what happened to Planet of New Orleans?Oct 12, 2009 unfortunately MK`s Kill to get Crimson is the continuation of ragpicker`s and shangri-la...all the exciting, soulful electric playing is gone and we are left with folk numbers that work great on an autumn afternoon but will make you drowsy any other time of the year. Luckily there is plenty of great music by our Mark such as the criminally underrate On every street, check that one out if you like his softer side
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
I don't love it, I just like itSep 09, 2009 Mark Knopfler is about as reliable as they come. He's got a laid-back approach to singing and writing. His fans would probably insist this means he's consistent while his haters would attribute it to stubbornness. Wringing songs from his post-Dire Straits formula does not seem like a theory that would work over the course of many albums. But what Mark sacrifices in excitement he makes up for in plain quality. Not a quality that slaps you in the face, but a quality that assures you that you will know what a new Mark Knopfler solo album will sound like before you hear it.
That being said, "Kill to Get Crimson" is even more mellow than his previous albums. Since "Sultans of Swing" will not be making a return anytime soon you need to evaluate these songs on what they have going for them; the flute lead in "The Scaffolder's Wife," the waltziness of "Secondary Waltz," "In The Sky," and "Heart Full of Holes," the addition of accordion (or perhaps it's a bandoneón), the fact that "We Can Get Wild" never, ever gets wild.
Mark's last proper album, "Shangri-La," had songs that grabbed me the moment I first heard them. "Boom, Like That," "Song for Sonny Liston," and "Donegan's Gone" all had bite, and that bite bit me and stayed with me. "Kill to Get Crimson" doesn't really have these moments. Even the two singles "True Love Will Never Fade" and "Punish the Monkey" will not relentlessly lodge themselves into your brain the first time you hear them. Nor the second, maybe.
This is a good album, just not a great one. Everyone's entitled to take a load off in their easy chairs from time to time. Mark, this can be your easy chair album.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Mellow, melancholy album tells tales with excellent guitar workFeb 13, 2009 Mark Knopfler's "Kill to Get Crimson" is about as far away from the amped-up Dire Straits albums of the late 80s and early 90s as you can get. Virtually none of the pep from "Walk of Life" can be found - instead we're faced with an album of quiet, mellow tunes replete with meaningful lyrics and soulful guitars.
And that's a good thing.
This is one of those albums that's a perfect accompaniment for driving by yourself on a quiet rainy afternoon, or sitting by the fire half-reading a magazine while thinking about life, or enjoying some quiet time with friends and loved ones. The songs tell stories that should be listened to and thought about - no repetitive rock-anthem stuff here. And each song is backed by Knopfler's trademark guitar - always a pleasure.
While perhaps not an album with universal appeal, it sure as heck will be keep finding its way to the top of your playlist or back into the CD shuffle tray. Check it out.
3 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Not Much EnergyDec 30, 2008 Just keeping this short and sweet, this CD is really void of any energy. Sure there may be a track of two with catchy chord progressions, but realistically, it's quite boring. I am a big fan of MK's music, and especially his guitar playing ability, but this CD just doesn't work for me, and, it won't be one that I grab for long road trips.
Half the time, I don't have a clue as to what Mark is singing about as his voice is muddled and trails off. This is part of the "energy" that is simply missing, both in his singing and his playing. I kinda get the feeling that MK just doesn't care anymore. (On the very first track I was reaching for the controls trying to boost treble, but for some reason, it is not "crisp"....what's up with that? Sounds like he recorded it in his living room). I'd pass on this CD.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Becoming a fanDec 04, 2008 This CD has some lovely melodies, and the lyrics are interesting as usual. My husband introduced me to Mark Knopfler's music, and my appreciation has increased with each CD I listen to. Husband thinks some of the lyrics are a bit too grim ("Madame Geneva's", for example). I find some of them startling and some puzzling, but either way, I enjoyed the music. "True Love Will Never Fade" is a beautiful tune.
based on 119 reviews
