PRIVATEERING
| Mark Knopfler
PRIVATEERING
Privateering
Critic Reviews
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Slant Magazine
2013 - Knopfler still remains a more consistent songwriter than most of his dad-rock compatriots. The pleasure isn’t in the gimmick or the dress-up, but in the disciplined play of emotion behind them. 4/5
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Rolling Stone
2012 - Knopfler’s sueded voice has changed little since his 1980s heyday, and his elegant electric-guitar work sounds better than ever. The 20 songs, most top-shelf, are a textbook of folk styles ... 3.5/5
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All Music
On Privateering, his seventh solo outing, Knopfler has crafted his most ambitious and pugnacious collection of songs to date, going all in on a two-disc set that pits all of the aforementioned influences against each other without ever succumbing to the convenience of their architectures. 4/5
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The Telegraph
this is a warm, authentic and durable record: the musical equivalent of a well-worn plaid shirt 4/5
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2013 - a rootsy testament to Knopfler’s rich reservoir of influences C+
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Pop Matters
2013 - At the same time, this album can be just as incredibly sweet and tuneful as anything he's done before.
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Local Spins
Knopfler’s impressive musicianship and heartfelt songs on “Privateering” stand on their own as bluesy, Americana-styled classics.
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The Absolute Sound
2013 - The folk material is mystical and memorable; the blues more predictable and dispensable. The rather congealed mix de-emphasizes the supporting players, but forefronts Knopfler’s comfortable singing and playing. 3.5/5
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Louder Sound
2012 - while he no longer shoots for the technicolour grandeur of Telegraph Road et al, he constructs some lovely miniatures, from Redbud Tree’s lyrical soloing to the haunted blues of Dream Of The Drowned Submariner 3.5/5
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Music OMH
2012 - Privateering is arguably Knopfler’s strongest solo effort and one which shows off his ability as a guitarist, a vocalist and a songwriter. It’s a testament to his talent that he can pull off a double album with so few weaknesses and from this evidence, Knopfler has many more miles left in the tank.
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Blog Critics
2012 - What I really appreciated about this disc is how easily Knopfler is able to cross the ocean musically from his adopted land of blues and country music back to his homeland’s folk traditions.
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The blog of Rob Grayson
2013 - But if you want to kick off your shoes, dim the lights, sit back, relax and be taken on an enchanting musical and lyrical voyage, it’s perfect.
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Mark Knopfler Guitar Site
2012 - After writing this review I notice that some of the words that appeard many times were “nice”, “blues”, “beautiful”, so maybe these sum up the album.
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The AU Review
2012 - Overall, the album was a disappointment, with the great tracks outweighed heavily by the average/bad ones. 6/10
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Super Deluxe Edition
2012 - The guitar work is largely understated, and overall, this album feels like the work of a man well within his comfort zone.
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The Up Coming
2012 - Privateering, proves that Knopfler is a dependable source of brilliant music
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Classic Rock Revisited
This is an album of heartfelt music that actually means something to both the creator of the music, and the performers playing it. The listener can't help but get swept up in the album's humaness. B
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Pop Dose
2012 - Knopfler is at a stage of his career where his dedication to serving the song rather than bending it into a wholly commercial product is a key ingredient that makes his music more authentic and his stature in the music community so respected.
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Indie London
It’s got a lot to offer and savour.
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Guitar Command
Privateering contains some beautiful songs, but is ultimately spoilt by having too many blues numbers which detract from the overall atmosphere.
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The Biss List
While the various directions the album takes from song to song sometimes threaten to pull it apart, the recurring musical styles and lyrical elements somehow manage to stitch it all together.
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Vintage Vinyl News
Pleasingly and surprisingly there is little excess baggage across the two albums. There is the expected folk twist of the title track, country blues (Miss You Blues) and even a bit of Money For Nothing-ish rock (Corned Beef City).
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Uncut
2015 - It adds up to a little more than just another solid Mark Knopfler offering. 8/10
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Global Texan Chronicles
here the pivotal point is a passionate minimalism, when every note counts like an emotional ton, and the instruments wave softly like a caress to the soul
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Record Collector Magazine
Knopfler’s guitar work is considered and rarely flashy 3/5
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Madison
2013 - Part of the charm of “Privateering” is that he clearly felt no pressure to chase after a radio single as he has on previous albums, instead being free to indulge his longtime love of roots music
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The Second Row
Mark’s kombi van has bestowed him with the freedom to explore a road map of musical styles, yet his signature finger picking remains a testament to his roots.
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Montreal Gazette
2012 - Some of these beauties, in fact, rank up there with the finest in his catalogue. 4/5
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Hamilton News
2012 - Privateering is a classy set of songs, in fact, a generous two discs of 20 tracks taking in Knopfler and his band's affinity for top-shelf musical collaborations. 5/5
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Narendra Kusnur's Music Musings
2012 - It’s a clear indication of Knopfler’s genius when it comes to songwriting. In every way, ‘Privateering’ is perfect hearing. 5/5
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Lexington Herald
2012 - Privateering is one of the most luscious-sounding albums of the fall, a two-disc set that frames pop and folk sagas in regal quiet while making an unexpected foray into the blues.
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Macomb Daily
2012 - a moody and entrancing musical travelogue spread over two discs
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