Listening to “Get Lucky” for the First Time

This event wouldn’t have its own dedicated blog entry, however short, had it not been such an amazing experience.

At around 9:00pm, we dimmed the lights, shut down all phones and started playing Mark Knopfler’s Get Lucky on Jeroen’s surround sound system.

The first song, Border Reiver, wasn’t new to us as it was published in Mark’s official website a few weeks ago; however that was the first time I listened to it through a great sound system and it sounded even more amazing that way. We came to an agreement that this song would be the perfect gig-opener during the tour. There is so much positive power in this song to make you fly, kind of like a “boom” to send you right into heaven right at the beginning of the show.

The next song, Hard Shoulder, is a very soft song. I can think of very few songs that are such a perfect fit for a walk down a moonlit pathway – by yourself. This song placed right after the dramatic Border Reiver really relaxes you.

The next song is a You Can’t Beat the House. The first time I listen to the band playing blues. This song is fundamentally different than all other songs in the album – somewhat jolly, very different style, cheering you up and putting a smile on your face (listen to the lyrics, of course).

Before Gas & TV comes right after. Begins slowly and quietly, but soon enough becomes dramatic; the instrumental work in this song is phenomenal, led by guitar work that haunts you in very much the same way that Brothers in Arms’ does. I am an absolute and complete sucker for guitar works such as these, which makes this song one of my all-time favourites.

Monteleone follows. A quiet, soft song – already heard it in the Prince’s Trust concert and the album version is superb. Chills you out in no time; Mark’s voice goes as soft as I have ever heard it – whispering and literally forces you to relax. Great strings work. Such a simple & great song.

Cleaning My Gun is an island of rock music in this album. This is as close to rock as this album gets – rhythmic, flowing very well with great guitar work. I’m thinking this entire song consists of four chords – very simple and gets you into an optimistic, cheery mood (interesting lyrics…)

The Car was the One for some reason reminds me of KTGC’s The Fizzy and the Still at times. Nice song, somewhat “restrained” with great piano work and interesting lyrics (the CD’s insert provides Mark’s explanation of this song. Bizarre, I always got the impression that Mark prefers to not discuss the meaning behind his songs).

Remembrance Day follows. What a touching song with brilliant keyboard work and guitar work so haunting and touching that can easily make you choke up in a gloomy day. The choir accompanying the song, consisting primarily of the family members (wives, kids) of band members as well as people closely associated with them, adds an interesting “aspect” to this song. Very well done!

Get Lucky, the title track, is next. When this song was first published in Mark Knopfler’s official website, it immediately made its way into a one-song playlist that played for hours in a loop straight into my brain – it is that beautiful. What’s interesting, though, is that if you listen to this song after listening to all previous songs in the album, you get a totally different “atmosphere” from the one you’d get if you listened to this song by itself. This is “musical priming” at its best.

So Far from the Clyde follows. This song and Before Gas & TV are my favourite tracks in this album. While all other tracks are amazing, these two are my favourite for a simple reason: they are dramatic with extremely prominent, well-timed and well-emphasized minor chords. As for this song – I can only describe it as a “never-ending provider of shivers”. EVERYTHING in this song is perfect – the guitar work (my God), keyboard work, accordion, and of course the whistles, flutes… what more could I have asked for.

Piper to the End concludes this beautifully-crafted album. Mark has written this song in reference to an uncle he never knew (lost in battle). The lyrics are very touching, and together with heart-warming instrumental work you end up getting a simple, yet powerful song. As the song builds up, you realize that the album is almost over, which makes you quite sad because you haven’t listened to such perfect music in quite a while and you don’t want it to end. Viciously enough, this track ends in a fade-out (the only track that fades-out in this album)… I really didn’t want this fade-out to end. It’s like you’re seeing the finest ship in the world sailing away from you. You want to hold it so it doesn’t leave your sight, but yet it sails away and you are nearing tears when you realize that there’s absolutely nothing you can do to make it stay there with you.

In total, this is a fantastic album. I tend to be very attentive to the smallest details and so far, after listening to this album pretty much all day, I have to say – I am stumped. This album has no flaws in it. Nothing. These are the best musicians that I have ever come across, playing perfect music in perfect harmony, creating an album that, in my opinion, is the apex of Mark’s creations so far.

I have to say that this is a little frustrating. Yet again, Mark has claimed that he’s going to create a “better album”, I couldn’t believe it’s even possible and I come up a loser.

Shortly after listening to the album, I logged into a prominent Israeli news site and reported my impression in one of the music forums there. I have claimed, quite vigorously, that this is Mark’s best solo album so far and the two main reasons for it (in my opinion) are the facts that it has been recorded in a brilliant studio and, even more importantly, that it was performed by a group of musicians that appear to have perfect symbiosis between them.

I didn’t want this album to end, really… and while I am looking forward to listening to some tracks from this album being played live in 2010 as I will attend the entire tour, I can’t escape the thought about the emptiness of the day after.

 

Isaac