Mark Knopfler

On his latest solo album, the former Dire Straits main man deserves credit for focusing on the people and places of his English upbringing, rather than writing odes to Tennessee. "Border Reiver" and "Southbound Again" are inspired by British lorry drivers, not long-distance truckers, while the title track describes an itinerant worker. "Remembrance Day" is a moving ode to fallen soldiers boosted by a choir of children and their mothers, and some silvery guitar lines. A similar theme and feel infuse "Piper To The End," dedicated to an uncle killed in WWII. Some tunes are marred by excessive production ― the strings on "Hard Shoulder" and "Monteleone." Knopfler's mellow voice lacks the gravitas of a Richard Thompson but is a pleasing accompaniment to his trademark tuneful guitar playing. Unsurprisingly, Knopfler has the cream of the sidemen crop here, including Richard Bennett, Guy Fletcher, Matt Rollings and Glenn Worf. Get Lucky is an unspectacular but solid effort.