| A strain of deep ennui pervades this, the sixth (and, to date, final) studio album from one of the most wildly successful bands of the 1980s. This time, though, it's the sound of an older, rather less inspired songwriter: from the amiable R&B of "Calling Elvis", to the modest countrified picking of "How Long", Mark Knopfler seems to have left his rock inclinations far behind--allowing himself only a token indulgence, on the lumbering, "Heavy Fuel". It's not a complete waste of time: his guitar work, while untethered to anything especially interesting, remains evocative; and the best track here--the sexually-belligerent, richly atmospheric "You And Your Friend"--recalls the dark view of human relations (and the splendid dobro lead work) he featured on "Private Investigations". But for the most part, this is the sound of a man losing interest in his own life. --Andrew McGuire |
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