Mark Knopfler

Sailing To Philadelphia

A Special Set of Songs

Review Score:

(8/10)
Knopfler is a multi-talented guitarist, singer and writer whose creativity, sensitivity and artistry are in full bloom on this very interesting record, which covers a lot of stylistic ground. I agree with other reviewers that the first cut, "What It Is" is a standout -- I can't get enough of this track. It rocks, it swings, it seduces, it flows, it combines traditional and modern elements in a seamless way...and it really does evoke the beautiful city of Edinburgh, which I've had the pleasure to visit. Lyrically Knopfler shows his full range in this well-crafted song, and the musical "hooks" are as catchy and infectious as any ever written.

"Well-crafted" describes the record as a whole. Although there are several themes on the record, the main one is the American Experience as seen through the eyes of various characters, about whom Knopfler has written ironic, romantic, or just plain offbeat vignettes in the first person. There's the history of Mason and Dixon, in a lovely folk-songy duet with James Taylor ("Sailing to Philadelphia"). Althought Knopfler likes to whisper his way through some of these tunes, on "Philadelphia" he really sings, and his voice sounds great. There's the African-American gospel group traveling around the deep south in the 1950's, forced to sleep in their car and eat bologna sandwiches because of segregation, rendered in a subtle, gorgeously bluesy ballad ("Baloney Again"). There's the desperately lonely pioneer, suffering from a mixture of anticipation, lust, terror and longing, who marries a woman he's known only by letter ("Prairie Wedding"). This is perhaps the most poignant and beautiful track on the record. There's a nasty, funny, campy look at gay male culture ("El Macho") which is not homophobic, but rather, a take on a particular type of ruthless cad that one could find in just about any bar in town. And it's got an appropriately sleazy, catchy trumpet riff. How Knopfler came up with the idea for "Speedway at Nazareth" is something I'd love to ask him myself, because here we have an exciting and driving (pun intended) cut about a professional race-car driver touring the country in search of a win, who finally finds "redemption" at Nazareth. I presume the allusion to Christianity is intended, but in any case, it's another great cut.

Knopfler has an interesting way of arranging his songs, and many of them end with a long instrumental coda rather than a sung recap of the chorus. This gives him the opportunity to play more and lends the songs a fully-produced, balanced feel that is quite unique in the world of pop music.

By the way, a number of reviewers have trashed the song "Do America." Permit me to set the record straight on this song: Folks, IT'S A SATIRE! It is deliberately tacky, right down to the overblown ending. "Do America" is about a swell-headed young Englishman dreaming of rock 'n roll stardom and glory in the good old U.S. of A. Music and lyrics are equally ironic. It's a funny song, in the tradition of Randy Newman. Few rock 'n rollers bother to offer commentary about anything these days, particularly humorous commentary, but Knopfler does so brilliantly here.

I've given the record 4 stars instead of 5, because there are a few tunes that just don't measure up. The duet with Van Morrison, "The Last Laugh," is one such disappointment, despite the great sound of Van Morrison's voice. Another dull filler is "Who's Your Baby Now." And "Wanderlust" is too sleepy to sustain my interest.

But on the whole, what you've got here is a masterful opus by one of rock 'n roll's most thoughtful, multi-faceted virtuosos.

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