claudio carpentieri

I know very well that if I had wanted to receive a page full of comments, a review (ooopppsss, perhaps it's too much to consider it such, right?) of Dire Straits or more mainstream albums would have been more suitable. How can I say, I consider “debaser” a family where everyone contributes a bit of their own, right? Therefore, I think it's right to also dedicate ourselves to albums that are often hastily set aside and that we might be inclined to listen to and (re)evaluate precisely because a friend suggests them. That Shangri-La isn't an essential work is evident, but if one is attracted to the material, it becomes so, just like the ten soundtracks released by the Scottish artist to date. A forcibly Dire Straits album today would not appeal to me; it would be like nullifying the artist's journey over the last 25 years or as if each of us were asked to return to how we were between 1978 and 1991… a bit difficult and perhaps unfair, unless to relive the years when each of us let ourselves be swept away by music in a way different from how we (perhaps) do today. I even read about a supposed classification among those who follow Knopfler; well, maybe there are some who experience music in this way, but let's leave it to the artists to walk their own path… and still in friendship, enjoy listening to "Shangri-La," of course…

Thanks to everyone (…let's not exaggerate, not exactly) who shared their comments, making this attempt of mine to translate into words the feelings that an album can convey a continuation of my text, enriching it with considerations of both historical and personal nature, making it even more enjoyable to read. Beyond personal tastes, one must be objective in the evaluation, focusing mainly on: 1) the historical context of the album (considering what the contemporary bands could offer, the popular genres of the time, etc.); 2) reflecting on the current value of the album in question.
I am aware that reviewing an album after nearly 40 years of history is also a comfortable task, given that (perhaps) if I had to say a few words at the time of its release (age permitting;-)...) my words might have been different.
We are here to exchange friendly thoughts on an album that has nonetheless left some indelible mark of its existence on all participants… leaving the pointless bla, bla, bla to the incoherent and to those who struggle to arrange subject-predicate and object, titles in English included!!:-)
Warm regards and happy listening…

...and not only that, I believe there is also a common respect as well as a strong admiration for them...

Oh my God, with all due respect to the writer, I prefer to make sure of it myself...

Well, the latest "Legend..." features 4/5 outstanding tracks alongside a truly captivating theme; if you say this is a cheerful album despite lacking innovations from its predecessors? Well, music is also this, as long as the formula isn't exploited ad infinitum.

...we will wait...

Let's start by saying that the words expressed today for this work would have been the same at the time of the CD's release. This time, quite objectively, the rating I would have given would be 3.5, but honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to round it down (…that’s why on more than one occasion I felt compelled to ask my "editor" friends at our beloved site to introduce the ½ point …), also because there are several pleasant tracks, and qualitatively, regarding the compositional aspect, MK doesn't seem to have held back. I understand that many (probably more among those who have started following him in recent years) hope to find the Knopfler-straitsman of yesteryears, but those who have been listening to this artist, who has all the characteristics to be truly defined as a "singer-songwriter," know what to expect from his solo works, soundtracks included. I'm sorry for the "hopefuls," but Knopfler is a take-it-or-leave-it kind of deal... I, without nostalgic regrets, can appreciate this journey as well, which represents nothing more than the origins from which he developed that magical sound of which he is still a protagonist.

These days, the Led Zeppelin revival at home (and beyond) has come back to life, and the appreciation for this album (which isn't exactly the pinnacle of their "works") is still high... just not the highest.

A record that, although not considered essential, doesn't lack pleasant surprises....enjoy listening.

Pleasant review and pleasant album!!!