Review: Mark Knopfler – Tracker

Following a 15-year career with the British rock band Dire Straits, which included his brother David Knopfler as rhythm guitarist, with John Illsley on bass and Pick Withers on drums, legendary front man Mark Knopfler released his first solo album, Golden Heart, in 1996. Now he is back with his eighth release, Tracker, a work of varied musical and cultural influences by the singer, songwriter and guitarist. As a child in the 1950s, he had been introduced to rock ’n’ roll music and slowly began to cultivate a knack for writing songs prior to his Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms success in the mid-80s. Throughout his career, Mark Knopfler has also produced for greats like Bob Dylan and Tina Turner, not to mention composing and producing Hollywood film scores. Being ranked 27th on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, the four-time Grammy Award winner also designed a top notch recording studio in London, where he has produced albums since 2006.

On Tracker, Knopfler pulls the trigger with “Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes”, a whimsical caldron of jazz and bluegrass with Celtic mystique waltzing throughout the composition. Adding to the song’s revelry is the chorus of voices that bring to mind a group of spirited Irishmen chugging pints in their favorite pub. “Skydiver” starts with a resounding boom-boom before morphing into a serious honky-tonk and, ultimately, settles into a bouncy little feel good ditty. Giving off an Eastern meditational resonance, “Mighty Man” sounds like the pensive moments of sunrise in many ways, followed by “Broken Bones” which is raw in its bluesy, yet funk-heavy guitar, bass, and hand-clapping drive.

“Long Cool Girl” and “Lights Of Taormina” are offered as more low key and touching ballads, and the album pretty much slows down until “.38 Special”, which picks up with a banjo and guitar Americana flair. Adding a bit of Johnny Cash-like edge are the songs “My Heart Has Never Changed” and the dark chords of “Terminal Of Tribute To”. Given the pomp and circumstance with which the album starts, it ends on a humble note with “Heart Of Oak”, an ode to the solid character of a great man. Given the superior musicality of the album listening to the digital version of Tracker, I’d jump at the opportunity to hear it on vinyl.

Written by Mai Perkins

Originally from Los Angeles, Mai Perkins is living a genuine bona fide love affair with NYC and the music that keeps its spirit moving. While spending the majority of the last decade in Brooklyn, many of her adventures around the globe are documented on her blog: Mai On The Move! www.MaiOnTheMove.com

Author’s rating for Tracker

Pop Magazine’s official rating for Tracker

Rating key
MASTERPIECE a must-have
SUPERB for heavy rotation
EXCELLENT a great achievement
VERY GOOD a respectable result
GOOD worth checking out
FAIR an average outcome
WEAK not convincing stuff
BAD an underwhelming effort
VERY BAD quite a waste
FAIL a total failure