Mark Knopfler - Metroland: Music and Songs from the Film

Metroland is what locals call the suburbs surrounding London's Metro rail system. It's also novelist Julian Barnes's metaphor for middle-class complacency, the refuge the film's Christian Bale somehow finds himself in by the late '70s after a hedonistic '60s Parisian interlude spent rebelling against traditional mores. Those are also the geographic and chronological poles Mark Knopfler's score orbits, from wistful title music that edges perilously close to Kenny G-Land to playfully cheesy, tongue-in-cheek cocktail jazz and riff-rock. Along the way Knopfler also pays homage to gypsy jazz-guitar great Django Reinhardt (who's also gratifyingly represented here by two vintage cuts, "Blues Clair" and "Minor Swing") as well as serving up the quiet, melodic melancholy familiar to admirers of Local Hero and Cal. The balance of the collection is devoted to a motley collection of period-pop (The Stranglers' droll "Peaches," Hot Chocolate's "So You Win Again," Elvis Costello's breakthrough "Alison," Knopfler's own "Sultans of Swing," and Francoise Hardy's "Tous les Garcons et les Filles"). Knopfler's done stronger work (perhaps he's rusty; this is just his second score of the '90s), but the album's shaggy eclecticism has its charms nonetheless. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

good but incomplete

i appreciate Mark Knopfler's fitting compoition and the jingle-jangle Django lounge tunes as much as anyone should. I like all the instrumental tracks to this album. But it is lacking in some of the edgy punk that reflected the current setting of the story, which contrasted that much more with the suburban lifestyle. Remember the Subverts? Where are they on this album? I hate when some of the best, hardest-to-find songs of a movie are left out of a soundtrack. June 28, 2006

Be sure to VIEW THE FILM!

This is not Knopfler's strongest soundtrack -- I'd credit LOCAL HERO, CAL or WAG THE DOG with that honor. However, it is still very good, but the caveat is do not buy unless you have seen or plan to see the film. Taken on its own, the music may not be that interesting to some listeners. Placed in the context of the (poignant and underrated) film, it is excellent. April 14, 2000

M. Knopfler is doing a good job , but could have been better

M.K, is not whith so much at this album, well ok on a couple of songs. The other artists is absolutely not so good as him. Elvis Costello well, i guess he's allright, a little. the others is not so good. The tracks whith M.K and the other dire straits members , did always good music, this record has no chance in comparation whith them. But this record is not so bad, it's a very good album. another good soundtrack. why not buy it? bye. /a fan. May 18, 1999

Rejoice Musak fans!

At least Masak fans can rejoice while listening to the first Masak inspired jingle, Metroland Theme, which is just perfect for reminiscing nostalgically about the last time you lounged in your dentist's chair having that cavity filled, the morning spent in the elevator, last week grocery shopping, etc.. As for the rest of the album? Seriously, I have not heard such interesting musicianship since the last time I listened to a lounge band at a Holiday Inn. April 2, 1999

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