How do you rate Mangini's work on the latest album?

[Kotowboy]

Jeff Porcaro played on Dire Straits' final album.

[7deg_inner_happiness]

Jeff Porcaro played on Dire Straits' final album.

Yes, and a great job he did as always.

Jeff Porcaro had to be one the greatest studio drummers of all-time.  Check out all the different artists' recordings for which he has laid down the percussion tracks.  Amazing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Porcaro

To get back on track, my weigh-in on the topic of this thread:
I gave MM a 10 for his drumming on DT12.  IMO he is more precise (I'm NOT saying better) than MP.  That said, MP sounds more human (has more feel).

[Kotowboy]

I used to play along to On Every Street in my headphones trying to nail Jeff's feel and approximate his style.

People like Jeff and Steve White ( Paul Weller ) and Alan White ( oasis ) were what made me obsessed with groove and feel than

being fast or having crazy chops.

I would also play along to stuff like Prodigy and Leftfield - just trying to stay bang on the beat for as long as I could.

I hate drummers who think having tons of chops and being fast is better than being able to play smack on the beat.