The Ragpicker's Dream | 
 enlarge | Artist: Mark Knopfler
Label: Mercury Records Ltd (London)
Category: Music
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £4.50
You Save: £4.49 (50%)
New (37) Used (15) from £1.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 21790
Media: Audio CD
Running Time: 55
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 044006329222
EAN: 0044006329222
ASIN: B00006L3SV
Release Date: August 25, 2003
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
|
| Tracks:
| • | Why Aye Man | | • | Devil Baby | | • | Hill Farmer's Blues | | • | A Place Where We Used To Live | | • | Quality Shoe | | • | Fare Thee Well Northumberland | | • | Marbletown | | • | You Don't Know You're Born | | • | Coyote | | • | The Ragpicker's Dream | | • | Daddy's Gone To Knoxville | | • | Old Pigweed |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Up until now, Mark Knopfler seems to have had three separate modes of operation: there's been the moody rock style of Dire Straits, the quieter introspection of his soundtracks and the more boisterous lads-down-the-pub humour of his solo outings. With The Ragpicker's Dream, his third solo album, he indulges in all three, often to great effect. Naturally, the humorous tracks (the "King of the Road"-like "Quality Shoe" and Auf Wiedersehen Pet theme "Why Aye Man") are throwaway items. But when Knopfler mixes his two dearest loves--American roots music and the "real" life of the working-man--he produces some of his most heartfelt material to date. The title track is a sweet Christmas narrative, a downbeat "Fairytale of New York". "Marbletown" and "Coyote" are both Southern-style travelling songs, the latter being like an up-tempo "Ode to Billie Joe". Best of all, though, is the mournful and slightly loungey "A Place Where We Used to Live", in which the protagonist looks back on the poignant moments of a hard life. It's a beautiful song, almost matched by the delicate, and sorely troubled "Hill Farmer's Blues", the only track to feature major bursts of that trademark Dire Straits ambient guitar. Knopfler fans will love this album, and there's plenty for roots aficionados, too. --Dominic Wills
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Missing the Mark May 20, 2008
Apart from the opening track, `Why aye, man', which has all the elements a good song should have (at very least, enough lyrical deftness and musical hooks to make you want to listen to it more than once, or find yourself singing the riff in the car three days later), almost everything on this album is pretty forgettable.
While I defer to no one in my admiration for Knopfler's guitar playing and large parts of his body of work as a recording artist, the direction he's increasingly following in his solo work, though allegedly fulfilling for him and more representative of `what's in his heart', makes for pretty tedious listening.
There are two main elements to this: firstly, his increasing tendency to let his obvious interest in (nay, obsession with) americana get the better of him; secondly, his leaning towards character vignettes which give songs such lyrical specificity that, coupled as this usually is with a surprising lack of musical lustre, one listening is enough to last a lifetime (a problem first seen with `My Party' and `Ticket to Heaven' on the last Dire Straits album).
Knopfler is no doubt in a position from which he neither solicits nor accepts advice from anybody. But was it lack of wise counsel that allowed the throwaway ditty of `Quality Shoe', the old-time country swing (at once saccharine, banal and cliched) of `Daddy's gone to Knoxville' and the overstretched metaphorical triteness of `Old Pigweed' to see the light of day? Certainly, it's difficult to see some of Knopfler's solo recordings as serving any purpose other than acting as a showcase to encourage future cover versions from other artists (usually of the Stetson-wearing variety -- does any one else remember Knopfler's rather bizarre one-time tendency to precede live performances of songs with a list of the people who'd done covers of them?).
Bottom line: disappointment was my overweening emotional response to listening to this album -- disappointment that all the songs put together aren't worth one `Lady Writer', and disappointment that self-indulgence can, in the end, catch up even with an artist as phenomenal as Knopfler.
 Quietly Beautiful March 31, 2008
I only truly appreciated the quality of this album when I played it on a Sunday morning; it has that relaxed and easy feel to it, it's excellent lyrically and the music, especially the guitar, is excellent if a little unvaried. Recording and production are also sky high, so play it through some good speakers/headphones if you get the chance.
It opens with 'Why Aye Man', perhaps the only real initially catchy song on the album. Because of this, it was an early favourite of mine, but while I still see a lot of quality in it, the choris now grates. 'Devil Baby' is more what the album is about, and it's one of the stronger songs here, upbeat and with a nice melodic feel, and slightly wistful. It's the perfect lead in to the album's masterpiece, 'Hill Farmers Blues', a song that my words couldn't do justice to. Lets just say that it's much better than the far more overstated 'Brothers In Arms', and almost up to the quality of the Sailing To Philadelphia title track.
'A Place Where We Used To Live' is another understated track which really grew on me; essentially about memories, it has a rather dark vocal at times. Quality Shoe should be excellent, though it is sadly ruined by the ridiculous lyrics. Fare Thee Well Northumbaland is too long and doesn't quite achieve what it's meant to. Marbletown livens things up again, as much as this album can be livened up - it isn't to dance to, it's to chill to, and all the better for it given who;s behind it.
'You Don't Know Your Born' confirms the album is back on track, a strong if a little unmemorable tune, followed by the semi-rock of Coyote. Next is the title track, another incredible moment and probably the second best song here. Great lyrics and delivery, and it's songs like this, retrospective folk acoustic half-ballads that Knofler really excels on. 'Daddy's Gone To Knoxville' sounds like it could be on STF, and that isn't entirely a bad thing. Old Pigweed is a fitting way to end, given most it represents the albums predominant sound.
All in all, this is a nice little collection of songs. It doesn't reach classic status, and I'm not sure any of Knopfler's records have or ever will, whether in Dire Straits or as a solo artist. But for an artist without a classic album, he has a whole host of classic songs, and there are two or three on here to really blow you away. It needs to be given time though, and while it may initially seem pretty boring, it's fufilling in the end.
Good old laid back rock and roll November 3, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
You know what you'll get with this:Fine songs,lyrics-often with a twist,some brilliant moments of guitar playing and a slow-
laid back feeling all along.You'll LOVE "Coyote",especially when
you're in your car and feel like putting the pedal to the metal...
Keep on rolling, Geordie boy February 8, 2005
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
It's no use comparing Knopfler's solowork with Dire Straits. The Straits are history, and they are relevant only to the extent that you can hear where Mark came from. His ever-brilliant playing now suits his songwriting. Less is more, I know.I am really only interested in discovering where Mark wants to go to, what he is searching for. And ever since his solo debut "Golden heart", his musical horizon (and mine) has only become wider. From blues, rock, country, folk... his songs have only become richer and Mark's latest work sounds like he's finally managed to do what he always wanted to do: sailing between the roots of American and European music and becoming better as a musician and guitarplayer. This albums sounds very natural, very acoustic and that is why I think "The Ragpickers..." sounds better than "Sailing to...", which still has some poprock-feel to it, but the songwriting on "Sailing..." (my personal favourite up til now) was stronger. Still, this is a must have for any Knopfler-fan. Take your time to get into it, you won't be disappointed.
 Low key and easy November 18, 2004
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
I lost interest with Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler pretty soon after "Brothers In Arms" but this solo collection was a pleasant surprise. It may not cause your jaw to drop but it's a really easy listen, immaculately played and produced and with enough little nuggets to warrant the investment (I bought the special 2 CD edition cheap here on Amazon which was a real deal.Most of the tracks are laid back, rootsy blues and folk tunes with simple but effectrive arrangements that won't challenge but sooth. "You Don't Know You're Born" and "Coyote" are straight out of the J.J.Cale songbook, "Quality Shoe" wouldn't have sounded out-of-place on George Harrison's last album and there's a fair sprinkling of Geordie blue collar songs ("Why Aye Man" the theme from Auf Weidershen Pet is the only really upbeat track on the collection). The mixture of North East folk and Americana works quite well, but some of the lyrics begin to grate for me after a while. At times it sounds a little like Springsteen -lite ("A Place Where we Used To Live")but overall it's a gentle, undemanding listen and quite refreshing compared to some of the more overblown corporate rock I began to associate with Dire Straits. The Special Edition CD contains a live version of "Brothers in Arms" which still sends a shiver down my spine and is worth the purchase price alone. If you like country blues, a bit of ragtime, a lot of J.J.Cale and some tasteful, un-pretentious guitar playing, this is a good buy. Don't expect to be blown away, play it on a Sunday morning reading the papers and you won't be disappointed.
|
|
|
