Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Very mid but had a few good songs
I am a fan of a lot of the songs, but it is a lot of the same and very long. Some fantastic songs though and I love dire straights
Igen en oplevelse af at skulle høre et album for første gang, men så kan jeg alligevel vrøvle teksten på alle sange. Sjov oplevelse fordi min far har preppet mig på den gennem hele barndommen.
Mark Knopfler gets guitar god points. The mechanically insistent drum track doesn't help this effort, like they had a click track and let it handle all the work. The vocals too can drift into mechanical land, as if Mark gets a groove that he is not comfortable deviating from (except when he's doing Your Latest Trick mode, though that cut is totally yacht-rocky). In fact a lot of this album seems kind of yacht rockish. Can be interesting, though not often enough.
I think the anthems have wormed their way into the public consciousness. It’s almost like you can’t help yourself sing along. But some of it is turgid.
Boy, did these experts miss the freakin' boat on this band. They picked the albums with the big hits like a bunch of amateurs. This record fell flat on me when released—and I was a big fan at the time (still am)—and this listen only reinforced that whoever's great idea it was to ask Mark Knopfler to lay of the genius guitar playing and stick to writing radio songs might have gotten lucky with "Money For Nothing," but as an album, it ain't playing the hand your dealt. I said it before, but if you're going to pick two Dire Straits albums, I vote Love Over Gold and Making Movies. The '80s production is another kick in the crotch on this one.
I was excited when I saw this one pop up. I love Dire Straits, I loved Brothers In Arms back in the day. What a letdown. It's still Mark Knopfler so I guess I can't be too harsh.
Three great songs, highly produced, not hitting the spot for me
Album starts strong with the first 3 songs. It does wander a bit after that, and really loses steam by the end. Still an overall good album. “Walk of Life” is catchy. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
Ok
The difference between the British media’s perception of what bands were big in America and the bands that actually were big in America are a case study of how an insular elite can convince themselves of an alternate reality.
this is like if the cure was mid
I mean this was fine, easy listening. I liked it.
Mild. Pleasant. After-dinner-mint rock ‘n’ roll. Dire Straits have some decent songs but they are terribly, terribly overrated.
Not their best album, still a belter
lol was not expecting that saxophone solo
Walk of life is probably one of the most iconic songs. The rest of the songs are not to bad. Quite a different vibe between some of the songs. Will rate this album a solid 7/10
i heard some of these! not terrible, but idk if i would ever seek these out. maybe pluck a few for a playlist or something. better than dylan. 3/5
A British Dylan and countrified Ray Davies. Sometimes very pleasant.
Better than I remember it being. Of course, the popular songs (Walk of Life, Money for Nothing) were overplayed, and I wasn't in the mood for the deep cuts. It definitely hit differently now than when I was part of the MTV/ College Rock generation.
This has a few really good songs, but also a few really bad ones, and a few in the middle. The production is pretty painfully 80's at times. This could easily drop a star depending on mood and attention span
Some long jams
Die Dire Straits nahmen Brothers in Arms 1984/85 in den AIR Studios auf Montserrat auf. Die britische Band um Mark Knopfler setzte hier auf eine klare, digital produzierte Klangästhetik, die das Album zum Vorzeigewerk der frühen CD-Ära machte. Die Mischung aus Rock, Blues und Pop wird von markanten Gitarrenlinien getragen. „Money for Nothing“ mit Gaststimme von Sting, „Walk of Life“ und der Titelsong gehören zu den bekanntesten Stücken und prägten das MTV-Zeitalter nachhaltig. Inhaltlich reicht die Spannweite von ironischer Medienkritik bis zu ernsten Reflexionen über Krieg und Zusammenhalt. Insgesamt wirkt das Album geschlossen, zugänglich und zugleich zeittypisch, ohne an Wirkung verloren zu haben.
Decent.
All time classic. Doesn't hold up as well in 2025 but the obvious highlights are the guitars throughout and the title track.
chicks for free
Money for Nothing and Walk of Life are great, the rest is a bit too mellow dad-rock for me.
I love the Dire Straits but.... This album starts of strong. I like So Far Away, Money for Nothing, and Walk of Life, but it falls off hard for me to with Your Latest trick. Not their best album. 2.5 but rounding up.
I was really fine with this album, but nothing really stuck out to me. Maybe it's just my mixture of jetlag, sleep deprivation, and manic nature.
Solid album. Not their best but an enjoyable listen.
Money for Nothing is straight fire. The rest are...fine.
Some excellent tunes and some not excellent tunes.
Some parts that I enjoyed but also long parts that I found a bit boring to be honest. We got saxophone and slap bass though so that's something.
A little uneven but some great tracks.
The first half of the album is great, Walk of Life in particular is one of Dire Straits' best songs I think. A much poppier sound than their debut which I've previously heard on this list but with Knopfler's "geetar" skills at the forefront The second half is OK but gets a bit 80s stadium soft rock - it's kinda middle of the road. Ride Across the River in particular is a boring song at 7 minutes long on the CD mix which I listened to. So I'm between a 3 and a 4 and will probably end up at 3 because of the homophobia
I grew up with this album. Despite that second verse of "Money For Nothing" not aging very well, the rest of the record very much does.
This album started out hot with three strong songs. Unfortunately it fell off immediately after and couldn't really regain that form. The rest of the album was mellow, softer rock ranging from jazzy to folky. Plenty of blues influence persisted, but it never really "rocked" again after Walk of Life. Brothers in Arms came the closest (though it still fell short for me). Of course, there was lots of good stuff happening. The guitar was expert, the music had lots of interesting qualities, and the vocals were engaging. Perhaps if they had broken up the tracks so they were spread out more among the softer/slower ones, it wouldn't have felt like such a nosedive. I may have liked those songs more if they hadn't followed up the three best songs on the album in succession. While I didn't find the overall length to be a problem, it didn't help that so many of those songs were 6+ minutes long, sometimes just because of an interlude of sorts. I think they could've easily left one of those middle tracks off and had a better overall album. The LP version apparently is shorter, mostly because it cuts off sections of the longer songs. Maybe the cut time would make it a better listen, but I really think its the quantity of the songs rather than their length that's the issue. For example, I prefer the long version of Money for Nothing. All that said, I didn't hate this album or find it bad. I just felt like it was a let down after the first third and got boring. I doubt I'll listen to it in full again, but I will definitely come back to the tracks I liked. They definitely carried it and are the main reason I give it a positive rating. Overall: 2.8/5
not for me Really
Top : Your latest trick Walk of life Brothers in arms (HM : one world )
Fantastic!
7/10
I've never really listened to Dire Straits before. This album was pretty good, I liked the songs and performances for the most part. A little corny but not enough to care too much.
Suffers heavily from having all the good songs up front, genuinely all good stuff but I rarely get past “Walk of Life.”
Better than I expected. I vaguely recall being aware of money for nothing, but it not meaning much to me. Finally revisiting it, it's much catchier than when I listened to it younger. I enjoyed the album and some use of uncommon instruments throughout
I still think the eponymous song is overrated.
Couple good songs
Meh
Good stuff
Is there a better intro riff than the one in Money for Nothing? Too bad the second half of the album is so meh
Songs are either all out bangers or bland easy-listening. Man, I really wanted to rate this one higher...
Reminds me of digging up potatoes at my grandmas summer house. Child labour.
This album cover looks like every CD my parents own (even though I don't think they own this album). But I'm glad there are album covers, because at this point in the journey I'm losing track of what we've already listened to, and I would have guessed we already had this one. Are there multiple Dire Straits albums? (If so,,,, talk about dire straits.) Nah, it's not that bad. Like a peppy Michael Bolton. There sure are a lot of songs called 'So Far Away'. I wonder what the most common song title is? Probably just covers of 'Hallelujah'. (A quick search reveals it's actually 'Intro'.) I didn't know Sting was the "I Want My MTV" guy! Actually, I always thought this song was a famous mashup (idk where I got that idea -- Weird Al maybe?) but it turns out it's just a weird 8 minute song. With slurs in it >:( But also a good delivery on "microwave ovens". So even if it's not a mashup, it contains multitudes. Wow, I know 'Walk of Life'! Actually, I think I just know the intro. It must be in a lot of media. It's fine. I like that the woo-hoo-hoos sound like Ducktales. I like the random sax in 'Your Latest Trick'. 'Brothers in Arms' is a weird tone shift. Almost Poguesy. Weird album altogether. Long songs with some catchy bits, but also some annoying bits. Add it to the 3 pile!
Whys every song 8 minutes
It’s alright. Songs are too long
Starts out so strong “so far away”, “money for nothing”, and “walk of life”, but then falls off a cliff of quiet boring nothingness until “brothers in arms” for me. Some of the lyrics don’t really stand the test of time either.
I'd never really listened to much beyond their hits, but it's a fairly good listen throughout. Nothing too revelatory, but a good listen. I may go back and give it another listen just to dig a little deeper.
Dire Straits somehow walk the line between boring and nice to listen to. Guess it just depends on the day for me. Today though, I enjoyed this, even if some of their songs felt quite a bit long. 6/10
when i was a very small child my whole family went on a hungary vacation and thats when i first heard money for nothing. little me would then proceed to terrorize my family the whole trip with demanding that song to be played on loop. and they say there were no signs ts ts ts.
Lots of songs I ‘knew’ but didn’t actually know they were by the Dire Straits. Kind of liked it 3.5 stars
3.5
I’ve never liked Dire Straits, not even their singles. However much I hate Walk of Life, you can’t deny its catchiness. And the saxophone on Your Latest Trick really makes the song, which would be worthless without it. The B-side is totally forgettable 5/10
The guitar playing on this album is melodic and hypnotic. The voice and the songs are almost secondary. Which is just as well as apart from so far away and brothers in arms they are a difficult listen. An album very much of its time and the big songs are too familiar to be regarded as unique
Yep it's pretty good. The production makes me want to listen to 80s Bruce Springsteen which makes me want to listen to 70s Bruce Springsteen. I won't be spending a ton of time with this one.
Twas ok, fast ones and slow ones for an odd tempo mix
Nostalgic
Some really nice music. Why Worry and Brothers in Arms are beautiful songs.
I'm indifferent
2 good songs, 2 absolute belters. The rest is very dated and not great at all. It can get an extra star for Money for Nothing though, and early song in my memory of "I think I like this guitar stuff"
Não aprecio Dire Straits mas este disco é sem dúvida um clássico
Just want to say that the more ambient, jammy album tracks actually go kind of hard, but I hate Money for Nothing so much it knocks the score as a whole down like half a point.
I like the hits, but overall -- this is too slow for my tastes. Pretty chill though.
Come for the hits, stay for the jam band
6/10 This is an album that has 4 good singles on it and a load of stuff that wasn’t great. Lots of mawkish Americana that doesn’t excite, with the occasional banger that we all know. Best: Walk of Life
Started off as a 4 but then slowed down quite a bit for me.
A weak 3 for me. Nothing that I had not heard was appealing. Nothing too awful.
esto si que se parecía más a música para viejos. no debería mirar la nota que tienen los álbumes antes de escucharlo porque las expectativas son muy malas. la mitad de las canciones las ponía mi padre en el coche cuando era peqjeño
Was constantly on the radio. One of the best British album. Very good but also overplayed. Do not enjoy the vocals.
OK, seems to enjoy saying f****tt a bit too much tho
Super high highs contrasted by pretty boring roots rock leaves me with an uneven listening experience
80s vibes. Besides 'Money For Nothing' it's not especially memorable though. 3/5 #87
Förmodligen Dire Straits sämsta album. Märkligt text till Money For Nothing. Är den homofobisk, gubbsjuk och rasistisk? En vers om that faggot, en rad om banging on the congas like a chimpanzee. A-sidan mest trams, B-sidan mest tröttsam. Dire Straits övriga album betydligt bättre. Bästa spår Brothers In Arms.
I liked this better than most 80’s music.
The mix on this album is just so crisp. Seriously most albums are not clear for every instrument. Here you can listen to the bass or drums, you can hear the guitars so clearly. It's a marvel and a far cry from the early 00's loudness wars BS. That said it's a good album, it's got the hits you all have heard, it's got some great deep cuts, there are some filler but it's not a one hit wonder album. The music is great, Knopfler is a great guitars. The entire band is amazing. It does have a problematic lyric, yes I get the why, I understand what it's pointing out but still. This album is a great time capsule album that fits rock in 85.
Heard songs from it before. I think I'm turning into a middle aged dad because I really used to think that Dire Straits are a bit cringe but listening to the album now it felt like I finally Get It 3/5
Redelijke haat-liefde relatie met dit album. Aan de ene kant heb je de geweldig, al dan niet ietwat gedateerd klinkende, hits zoals Money for Nothing & Walk of Life, aan de andere kant heb je de minder interessante "B-sides", die ik zelf nooit zou opzetten. Mark Knopfler ansich blijft natuurlijk een geniale guy, maar, zoals ik wel vaker met hem heb, blijft het af en toe wat te veilig voor mijn smaak.
Total dad rock. But for all the times I’ve heard Money for Nothing in my life, I guess I’ve never actually looked at the lyrics? Not wild about the f-slur, but at least there’s the recognition that the arts are important and the gays will always be cooler than you 😎
You're a 1980s yuppie stockbroker with slicked-back hair and a condo on the 17th floor. Your cellphone is the size of a brick. You work all day in FiDi for a dream that slowly recedes, year by year. What is it all for? Sometimes it feels like a line dance, this corporate hustle; well, that's just the Walk of Life. You're chasing love too. She has big volume hair, teased and sprayed to the heavens with Aqua Net. Sketches of saxophone wrap you both in a cold hug as she breaks your heart again. Oh well. Nothing new on that front. Why Worry? There's always tomorrow in Reagan's America. The streets whisper as you walk down their narrowing corridor in fading light. You can’t win this game, but you are not alone. A host of yuppies joins you on the twilight boulevard. You draw strength from one other, Brothers in Arms.
A lot of nostalgia with this one. My dad is a huge music lover and especially all things rock and roll. He would play a game with me and my brothers anytime we were in the car where we had to guess who was playing and it taught us a lot. I have a core memory listening to “Money for Nothing” in particular. Right at the guitar solo in the intro my dad would crank up the volume as loud as it would go and do air guitar/drums and in general would jam to the music. There was a lot of head banging in my childhood and this was the start of reliving it. I was reading that the UK critics were harsh on this album because it sounded too American. They’re right, it does, and it’s part of what makes it fun/great. Enjoyed this one the most so far
I was in dire straits when listening to this album. But I appreciated it! It calmed me down in a few moments of stress. But no songs stood out.
Apparently this album is famous for popularizing CDs. Enjoyed the listen, some songs like Money for Nothing had really epic theatrical moments. But quality felt inconsistent and uneven.
Eerste nummers waren wel lekker, de rest van het album was iets te traag voor mijn gevoel. Nog wel prima luisterbaar tho.
A-side heeft een aantal banger, en de B-side wat meer experimentele nummertjes. De zang doet mij erg weinig, maar het gitaarwerk van Mark Knopfler is on point.
Solid Album with some familiar tracks
this rules actually
Favourite song: Walk of Life Least favourite: Why Worry? Rating: 3.5/5
This is a solid record for sure, and it sounds great - being one of the first all digital mainstream albums released. But, outside of the hits, I find it a little boring and lacking in energy that I want from a rock album. That said, excellent guitar playing throughout.
Nice enough cover. 1. Ok song. 2. Nice, beat. Their most famous. Good song. 3. Good song. Decent lyrics. 4. This is a miss, but only barely. Like the concept but the simplicity of the lyrics kills it. 5. Also a miss and also almost. 6. Ok. Passed by without mm making much of an impression. 7. Ditto. 8. Nice song. Lyrics are good ish 9. Also good night vbe great if I'm in the mood. OVERALL: A relatively decent album but most of the songs didn't hit, not for me.
Generic ass 80s album. Generic in every way. No idea what else to say. 6.5/10
Some good songs, but overall a little disappointing.
I have actually never listened to this entire album. I know the hits (the first three tracks) but the rest of the album was new to me. To be honest, after those first three tracks, the album starts to lose me. The tracks are good, but sleepy. I listened to the album twice to make sure my thoughts didn't change. I must say with not having listened to Mark Knopfler much (the most stuff I have heard from him was a recent live concert) I can safely say I enjoy his guitar playing more than his singing. I am not knocking this album, the songs are good, just not what I expected after the wham bam start of this album. Of the non-hits, I like The Man's Too Strong and One World.
Well mastered. Just a bit boring.
Let me start by stating that I understand why this album is on the list. Dire Straits were one of those groups that may be slowly disappearing from the public consciousness with time, but I always admired their stripped-back roots rock sound. Their style felt like a deliberate callback to a simpler sound, compared to the bigger and louder styles that prevailed from the late 70s into the 80s. As for this particular album, Brothers in Arms became one of the first albums to break big in the CD market, recorded digitally at a time when artists were still using analog. Songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Mark Knopfler was striving to perfect his band's sound, and as such, embraced the new recording technology as a means towards that goal. Pairing that sentimentality with their throwback rock sound, it must have sounded like a slam dunk for them, right? Well, I'll admit, for as much as I generally enjoyed Brothers in Arms, there are a few problems that need to be addressed. The shorter-to-describe issue I have with this album is how torn the sound is between the aforementioned throwback sound the band had been known for, with the blare of synthesizers and electric keyboards from new member Guy Fletcher. This was noticeable on tracks like "Money for Nothing" and "The Man's Too Strong", where the juxtaposition of guitar riffs and booming synths made for an odd clash of tones that made this album feel dated. It's probably not the description that Mark Knopfler intended in his desire for perfection, but given that synthesizers were part of what was the "wave of the future" sound at the time, it seemed like an earnest attempt to merge both worlds that didn't quite stick the landing. The much larger issue I have with this album is the lack of cohesion throughout. We open on someone longing for their lover who is away from home ("So Far Away") before sharply changing perspective to two bigoted appliance deliverymen trash-talking the musicians they see on MTV ("Money for Nothing"). Then, we switch to the story about a young kid playing old rock & roll tunes down in the subway ("Walk of Life"), followed by a suite of love songs ("Your Latest Trick", "Why Worry?"). Finally, we close out the album on a series of anti-war musings that opt for a more cynical viewpoint ("Ride Across the River", "The Man's Too Strong", the title track). Oh, and in between the anti-war songs is a track about being in a more generalized bad mood ("One World"). There isn't much done to connect these songs thematically, outside of being basic observations made by Mark Knopfler. To Mark's credit, some of these tracks are genuinely good. I'm a sucker for the jaunty bounce of "Walk of Life" that lyrically draws from those old rock & roll tunes. It's got the sort of whimsy that elevates the story of the street performer. The opening "So Far Away" is a pleasant breeze in its swaying momentum and slide guitar licks that almost excuse how the phrase "you're so far away from me" is constantly repeated throughout the song. The anti-war songs all bring different styles and insights. "Ride Across the River" with the spare trumpets, percussion, and low-end keyboard invokes the vibe of the soldier wading through the jungle waters towards their inevitable next fight. "The Man's Too Strong" boasts country-style guitar playing as the narrator contemplates all the evils committed for their government, identified as "the man". The title track is a haunting closer with the keyboard swell in the background, reflecting on the then-ongoing Falklands War and how every soldier on both sides of the conflict could be viewed as the same. As for the songs I didn't like, the love songs didn't do much for me outside of the somewhat clever puns Mark made on "Your Latest Trick", and "Why Worry?" sounded very much in the style of the Everly Brothers. "One World" was such an odd track to place between the anti-war songs, which added to the overall dated feel with the swampy bass tone and delivery. That leaves "Money for Nothing", a song that has become one of Dire Straits' most well-known songs. Let me state that I understand the concept behind this song. According to Mark, he went to an appliance store in New York City, and one of the employees there was delivering boxes and made the comments heard in the song, as he and Mark were watching MTV on the wall of televisions in the store. This song is Mark taking those bigoted comments and putting them to song as apropos of the mindset of the blue-collar worker that would bemoan how the musician makes more money than they do for what they perceive as less work. That is the general conceit of the song, and I understand why Mark would write this. Here's the thing - this song doesn't offer much more than those remarks made. If it was meant to be satire, then the joke being "look at how sexist and racist these men are" isn't much of a punchline or meaningful critique. Furthermore, there was an opportunity here for Mark to put some actual insight into why these blue-collar workers think this way. What does it say about the economic disparity that the worker feels they aren't making as much of a living, or their social status isn't as great, compared to the musician? What value do we place in art that puts it above such menial labor? These are the questions I'm left to ask, because Mark didn't bother to ask them to begin with. I feel like there should have been more said in the song, especially since the song is eight minutes long and they brought in Sting to sing the refrain of "I want my MTV" in the style of The Police's "Don't Stand So Close to Me". Suffice it to say, this song could have been better. With all that said, I come back to the sentiment that I get why Brothers In Arms is on this list. Even if this album doesn't fully click for me, it has historical significance, and some songs do hold up. I wish that I liked it more, but them's the breaks.
There’s some great level of musical performance on this album. Super guitar and bass, decent variety with some proggy stuff, more quintessential rock and then some other funky stuff in between. Very dated in some of its lyrics and feel. Certainly wouldn’t pass any ‘woke’ test on ‘Money for Nothing’. Low 3.
Better than I expected. They sound like they are 30 years older than they are
I liked the first four songs Album tended to be interesting yet not enough to have me return to some tracks. Very atmospheric and experimental approaches, but barely anything to come back to (6/10, 3/5 on this scale)
Two absolutely killer songs, and the rest weren't bad. Tonally, I feel like the album jumped around a little more than I like. But all in all pretty strong. Would give it like a 3.7 stars if I could.
If you charted my enjoyment level while listening to this album, the line would look like the number 7.
I really can't complain about this being my first album of the project - funnily enough, I just learned that it turns fourty this week! Good music for hanging up your laundry on a random sunny Sunday. It didn't grab my attention as much as I thought it would, though. Still, 'Why Worry' is the softness I need in my life.
6/10
Loads of great songs intercut with a lot some weird cheesy nonsense
Despite Knopfler being a gifted guitarist, I don't see this album as the masterpiece it is made out to be. The title track is well written and powerful, but the rest of the songs are of varying levels. I have a particular problem with Money for nothing, which uses the same homophobic slur 3 times. And it's not about context like it is with Fairytale of New York or American Idiot. Ultimately it was one of those albums which gained notoriety during the CD revolution, with those with expensive new CD players automatically going for this CD. So I don't rate it any higher than 3/5
Album started strong, but then faded into mediocrity
Great record and a good set of songs with cool lyrics. However, in my opinion, the most notable were the two singles "Money For Nothing" and "Walk Of Life" and that was it, the rest of the songs are very calm and a little bit atmospheric, I can note the vibe of the record but it doesn't go with the two singles. Would require to listen to it more times to get it fully.
This one has the goods. Money for Nothing is what I need. Seriously, give me your money. The first three songs are Yacht rock classics. Unfortunately, after that it was pretty bland. I think they put all the bangers at the beginning. I'll give this a 3.
What a strong string of first tracks. I definitely vividly remember seeing these guys "play the git-tar on the MTV" on that iconic "Money For Nothing" video when I was a little kid, so there's a lot of nostalgia here. The rest of the album was good, too. 3.5
great songs, some didnt strike a chord
also wasmer dere flügende gitarre chan zueschribe sind dases weiss wiemer es intro macht mehrmals bi dem album bini mit banger intros konfrontiert worde und han voller vorfreud min putzlumpe umegschwunge das hett aber leider dezuegführt das putzessig im ganze bad umegsprützt isch und mir denn is aug cho isch und ezt bini blind fuck you flügendi gitarre das du so gueti intros machsch aber denn isches emel doch so rocky cköntri mässig worde 3 essigsprützer ih mis aug vom dreckige lumpe
contrary to the normal 80s three minute songs - most are over six - totaling 9 tracks at nearly an hour long great guitar riffs groove smart use of keys a few big hits, other decent songs I hadn't heard before 3.5
-i do love me some Dire Straits they’ve made some of my favorite songs in existence.. I’ve heard two of their albums and was excited to hear this one knowing how hugely popular it was -definitely not bad! Money For Nothing is a 10/10 masterpiece. some of the songs were a little bit sluggish at parts, maybe I’d like it more with a second listen but I’ll give this a definitive 3.5 -Favorites are Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life, and Ride Across The River
Clearly important and had some substantial hits. And overall, it seems to be a good summary of where popular mid-80s rock music was, decidedly dad-rock. It was a decent listen but just not for me. I don’t really care for the Bob Dylan/Tom Petty imitation voice.
Alright, some great songs, 3.5
Some fantastic songs, but some forgettable stuff on the back half.
Blast from my youth as my parents listened to this ALOT. I do like the album but for me its not aged perfectly. There are some decent songs on the album and quality of sound is really good but its over engineered to me in parts. nostalgia wont elevate this any further for me.
Other than the hits, this album was a bit of a sleeper.
Ein paar echte klassiker, aber auch ein paar low points. Dad Rock auf hohem Niveau
I sang "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life" loud and proud. Then, the mood changed, and I was out of the mid-80s and unsure of the rest. It felt a bit all over the map. I was hearing Celtic vibes, Bluegrass, ... I did, however, add one more star to the score for the two songs mentioned above. Deserved!
Let's address the elephant in the room - mark knopfler is perhaps the true guitar hero of this era - not as flashy or loud or revolutionary as other candidates - but the man is as solid as they come. If you do want flash - the 10 minute live version of Sultans of Swing from Alchemy is all the proof you need of this man's singular brilliance (the band is also throwing straight heat). But I digress. This album. The culmination of an amazing 6 album run. It starts with the three hits - ubiquitous in their time - they sound especially good having been out of the limelight. Absence makes the heart grow for beer and all. They're also strait up great tunes. Then...you have an album filled with restraint as a guiding light. Pristinely recorded - I believe this is the first fully digital recording - not a note out of place. MKs brilliance bubbles up throughout until taking over on the final track landing somewhere between Jeff Beck and David Gilmore. The tone of that guitar feels of a moment the still resonates. 3.5 stars.
I knew Mark Knopfler was the guitarist for Dire Straits, but I genuinely had no idea that he was also the lead vocalist. I have to say that his guitar playing is a lot better than his singing. At times it reminded me of that Family guy episode when they meet Randy Newman and he sings everything he sees. Quite dreary and unenjoyable at times. The opener 'So Far Away' get us off to a pretty strong start. Next is 'Money For Nothing' and obviously the riff is iconic, but I really don't think it's good enough to carry it for eight and a half minutes. That's way too long for a track that's so unvaried, which is the story of this album. Any song that's 5 - 8 minutes (two-thirds of the album) definitely could have been cut in half. 'Walk Of Life' is next and is easily the biggest ear worm and my favourite track. 'Your Latest Trick' has some really nice jazzy trumpet and sax which you'll be humming to yourself, but again, it's longer than it needs to be. The second half of the album really steps up the little riffs, licks and guitar melodies. They're sprinkled into every track and they're really great when they do happen. 'Ride Across The River' sounds exactly like a quest through the jungle. 'One World' is a funky bass driven track with more guitar licks. This is probably the best three star album I've had so far. It's really good in places. Memorable, catchy and some really good instrumentation. Unfortunately the vocals and long runtime let it down. It 100% should have been cut by 15 minutes.
I'm baffled with this one. Very much. It used to be, at some point, one of my favorite albums in the world. I think i haven't heard it from beginning to end in 5 years. Dire Straits as a hole is a band I'm baffled by. With a heavy heart, (i think it's the toughest one to dicide yet). My childhood said I have to give it a 4, my self today- not more than two. So, it will be a 3
Ikd
Well-produced and well-performed, but too much boring songs on it for me to consider it very good, let alone a classic.
Noodles started doing soundtrack work and it led him to believe he could make cinema with his music and the result is a disappointment. The second half of the album is laden with narrative cliches and music that lacks the gritty power that marked the first 2 albums.
Decent vibes but probably won’t go back to
I have heard of Dire Straits, but this was all new to me. Enjoyable. I think I'd listen again, but no songs particularly stood out to me.
Thought it was pretty decent. A lot of slow almost jazz like songs in the middle and end of album. Walk of life was my favorite and money for nothing seemed overrated.
Not for me
Bra gitarr, bra top 3 låtar
The first CD in any Boomer's collection has an occasional underrated gem.
A very strong first half, just to be let down by a really lackluster second half. Favorite Track: "Money For Nothing".
This one was a bit of a journey. The first couple of songs rule, then it really dips in the middle, then pulls itself up a bit in the end. The Money for Nothing riff cutting through the synth and layered vocal intro is like a top 10 all time Rock Moment. Feels a bit wrong to round down here on account of how much of a guitar freak Knopfler is, but that’s life. I like Dire Straits, more than I like most classic rock. Maybe the next one will be better overall.
žinau, kad klasika, bet gal aš tiesiog nelabai jaučiu šitą stilių/žanrą. ir dainos labai ilgos. pasirodo žinojau daugiau negu Money for nothing, Walk of life kažkur buvau girdėjus. i want my MTV 2 minučių intro - fire
Não gostei muito do disco, achei as melodias muito parecidas e tive a sensação de estar ouvindo a mesma música por 40min. Destaco Your latest trick e The man's too strong, gostei bastante das linhas de guitarra dessas músicas
Before: I think I know like three Dire Straits songs and I don't enjoy any of them lmao Standout tracks: Money for Nothing Brothers in Arms Your Latest Trick Weakest tracks: Walk of Life During/after: Okay so the first track was fine. It wasn't horrible but sounded very much like background music. Money for Nothing is pretty good (despite the f-slurs circa 1985). It has some neat guitar effects and the "I want my MTV" thing. But holy shit WALK OF LIFE. There are few songs that make me want to rip my hair out to that degree (and Centerfold is one of them). It's not even *bad*, it's just annoying. That synth melody drives me crazy and the vocals make my eye twitch. Pain pain pain. Your Latest Trick has some beautiful horns, sax, and a really sexy jazz guitar. I sense some Latin influence in the background too. The vocals lend themselves surprisingly well to this style as well. They're quiet and mellow and jazzy in a way that seem to fit well with this track, but not as well with some of the other faster tracks. I really enjoyed this one (or did it just seem great when juxtaposed with Walk of Life? Hmmmm). Why Worry continues that slower vibe, but I wasn't as impressed with this one as I was with Your Latest Trick. It wasn't bad but just felt boring and uninteresting, while Latest Trick had cool and unexpected features. Same can be said for Ride Across the River (though it had a little bit more oomph than Why Worry, it was still boring). The final track, Brothers in Arms, was pretty good! It was a nice ending and had that same slow, quiet jazziness that the previous ones did. Some nice subtle synths in tandem with the jazz guitar is so *chefs kiss*. This record was a mixed bag. Walk of Life genuinely brought the score down for me, but some of the slower songs in the latter half of the album were pretty good. Not something I'd go back to again. Big "it's fine." 3/5.
Excellent album, lots of tasty playing from Knopfler and the band.
Pleasant and enjoyable
There's a give and take between iconic guitar-driven brilliance and pop bombast that doesn't really work for me, resulting in an uneven listening journey that occasionally soars but doesn't consistently maintain its altitude.
Et band jeg har hørt om men ikke på (unntatt Money for Nothing tror jeg) Og der var det enda en jeg hadde hørt ja... Walk of Life er jo gøy! De valgte riktig sang å avslutte med, hadde ikke hørt den før, men den var best på albumet!
point9.
Not as good as I remember. The 3-4 big hits then crap in the middle.
The hits are good, rest of the album is pretty boring by comparison tho
Very smooth, very nice. I can totally see people giving this higher but it’s just not my kinda music. May come back once in a blue moon but it’s not what I look for.
Didn't do a whole lot for me. Some good instrumentals throughout, but not enough to captivate me. A little repetitive as well, but not bad.
Walk of Life Money for Nothing So Far Away Brothers in Arms
This is definitely an album you should listen to before you die.
The guitar and bass rhythms are second to none on this album. So Far Away is the best track in my opinion
A bit all over the shop this. If only every song was as good as Money for Nothing.
its chill, i liked the vibes, wouldnt ever play it on my own but wouldnt be upset if someone else put it on. added "you latest trick" so my music due to copious sax. :fire:
These guys know how to groove. A cool kinda vibe in their rock, cool vocals
3.5/5
pretty easy-going album.
In an utterly predictable outcome, the heavy-handed 80s influence added absolutely nothing to the music and made most of the songs a complete drag. There are some interesting ideas and (of course) some fantastic guitar parts, even if they are sparsely populated throughout the album. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
what a disappointment. i went into this with high expectations only to be let down. great guitar work from mark knopfler can't save this album of boring b-sides. the only song on the album that i'd consider great is money for nothing which is about two minutes too long.
A couple of crackers but the rest is dull dad rock. CDs and MTV did them a great service here
Didn't hate this, a few decent singles across the album, a lot of placid guitary music.
Sometimes I’m unsure of what to make of these albums.. I’m missing some context maybe. But this is pretty good, went on a little long for me and songs like Walk of Life are pretty silly, if catchy. But yeah!! I dunno!
pretty chill and cool... ik luke loves these guys ... not exactly sure i get it
It was ok. I really like his voice but I’m not crazy about the music. It was kind of boring and I don’t really see myself listening to too many of these songs again. I don’t listen to them much but I do kind of feel like it was kind of progressive for them. There was a mix of like jazz and also rock with some nice guitar lines. Not very catchy which makes it kind of hard for me to listen to.
Enjoyed the music but struggled to connect with the lyrics. Solid album. Might be good for a road trip.
Built around a couple strong singles. A fun listen.
I liked the range of slow and more fun upbeat songs. Vocals weren’t standout
I quite like some of the songs on this album but absolutely despise Walk of Life, so it loses a star for that!
I was expecting an album of mostly songs like "Money For Nothing" which it turns out is a bit of an outlier on the album. I wouldn't say this album is all over the place, but it did have some surprises for me. Blues, pub-rock, some folk elements. A bit of it all. Singer kind of reminded me of Joe Strummer in his post-punk days. (word to the wise, when listening to and singing along with "Money For Nothing" you can drop the slur and use the word "Clampett" instead, like the Weird Al Satire "Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies.")
I liked it more than I expected. The guitars were good and it was fun. But it did sound a little dated.
I enjoyed this album, especially "Walk of Life", but there were also some songs that I didn't really like so I don't see myself listening to this one a whole lot.
Great music. Didn't realise there was a couple of f- bombs in money 4 nothing
Good strong album from Dire Straits- I’ve always liked Money for Nothing, Sting’s intro iconic, remember it was one of those classic videos of the 80’s. Dad rock? Perhaps, but Dad Rock I can tolerate..in small dowses.
6.5/10
This was such a formative album for me, but at this distance, it rather recedes. The album cuts just aren't that good, and the production sounds a bit thin - it all isn't as good as Love over Gold and Making Movies.
I liked it. Some cool stuff. Listened a couple times
Money for Nothing, One World and Walk of Life are some of my favourite songs ✅Brothers in Arms and Latest Trick definitely are songs on this album😐 😬 Album overall? 7.8 out of 10
Solidly enjoyable.
It's mostly okay.
Some absolute bangers. Lots of moody, muddy whatever. Overall good
Pretty great guitar work. Money is for Nothing is the highlight and then it dries up. At the end they do a pretty cool Pink Floyd tribute. It's almost a 4 but the best song says F------ a bunch which makes me feel gross.
For me the biggest appeal of dire straits has always been Mark Knopflers insane guitar work. Nobody sounds like him or gets the tone he does, and that’s honestly what’s lacking in this album. It’s there but it’s not front and center like it is in their earlier work. This is fundamentally an 80s pop rock album that really doesn’t get anywhere close to displaying the virtuosity of the band. “Money for Nothing” and the last track aside, there isn’t any of that crazy solo genius that Knopfler is so good at. Sure there are solos but they could be played by any competent guitarist. And some of them just go on and on and on. For whatever reason I never listened to this the whole way through until now and it’s really a disappointment. It’s still totally listenable but Dire Straits is better than this.
This is fine classic rock. I was hoping for Money for Nothing so I could call Dom some choice words.
Really diverse album! Super talented.
Great guitar, really corny throughout. Over produced.
The album peaks early with Money for Nothing and Walk of Life. Seems to drop off after that.
Lotta filla
This hasn't aged well, and it has some obvious filler. "Love Over Gold" is the one you need to hear.
fine
goes up and down for me but most of it is solid
Lots of odd vibe switches but I think the opening to Money for Nothing is arguably one of the coolest in all of rock - probably 3.5
This is a good album. I kinda turned my nose up at it at the time of release as it was overplayed everywhere. I'm a big DS fan and these are all good songs but it's not their best record. I can't bring myself to give it 4 stars but it's a solid 3.5
The zeitgeist is a funny beast sometimes. It can capture the absolute pinnacle of one's popularity and it can be either one or two things: it can be understandable or it can be perplexing. With Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms, it can be both. On what would be their penultimate album, Mark Knopfler and co. ride their wave as expertly as they could muster in a transformed landscape where you would need your TV to become noticed. While probably not their best album, it is very much the most famous and for good reason. Favorites: Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, Your Latest Trick, Ride Across the River, Brothers in Arms.
Boring radio music
faggot?! it was not bad otherwise
⭐⭐⭐ 6/10 I've got this album from my dad's vinyl collection. Listened to it a few times, I remember the first time listening to it thinking I had my vinyl player set up too slow for this record. I checked the vinyl, however to my surprise it was set up to the right speed. Money for Nothing and Walk of Life are impeccable songs. However the other songs on the album, though beautiful, are just too much soft slow rock for me.
Could make a really good action-comedy movie trailer with the first half of this album
I thought it fell off really hard in the back half.
3.5, it slaps but? if every song was like Brothers In Arms i would've loved it more
Good beginning and end but the middle was boring.
dad music
Pretty chill
Only vaguely familiar with dire straits coming in. Didn’t even realize they were British. Boy, this comes out of the gate sounding like a greatest hits album. What a start. The rest of the album is fine. Hard to say if this is a 3 or a 4 for me.
"So far away" is a good song, but is far out shadowed by the song after it. "Money for nothing" is a great, great song. Influential, and has a good message. It still holds up today, I feel. "Walk of life" is also a good song, and a good toned down one. "Your latest trick" has a great saxophone. But overall forgettable. "Why worry" isn't my style, it's too slow for me. But is a very clean song. I like the melody, as well. "Ride across the river" Far more gritty. A take on war and the pointlessness of it. I agree, but again the song simply isn't my taste. "The man's too strong" Again, not my taste. Too slow. "One world" Great, I like the far more upbeat and rock style. "Brothers in arms" Hate it.
Good album though nothing much stuck with me except money for nothing. Other songs are good but go on too long
Favourites: Money For Nothing, The Man's Too Strong, One World, Brothers In Arms (10/1001, 8th Aug. '25, 2229h.)
When it was fun it was fun, when it wasn’t it was boring if you know what i mean
Boring but well played
Has some bangers and some fillers. Pretty much all I gotta say, when it hits, IT HITS but then you got some songs that are just fine or not really worth the listen. Listen to this album like 3 times and all i can say is I enjoyed it but really wanted to love it. 3/5
Sounding so dated
so far away: überzeugt mich nicht ganz. Ich finde den Song sowohl bezüglich Harmonien als auch Rhythmen und Lyrics invariabel. Die Singstimme gefällt mir nicht, er klingt mir zu unangestrengt. money for nothing: love it! Sting im Hintergrund mit seinem I want my MTV und mit der zweiten Stimme der Vokals<3 Ich liebe die Steigerung vom Song, am Anfang sehr ruhig, flächig, fast minimalistisch (im Sinne der klassischen Stilrichtung) und vokal nur Sting mit I want my MTV. Dann geht‘s los: Das sechsminütige in-den-Dreck-Ziehen vom Fernsehprogramm finde ich nicht nur hilarious, sondern gut, catchy, und durch die Zweistimmigkeit verglichen mit anderen Songs im Album trotz der Wiederholungen interessant. walk of life: gefällt mir, ist recht catchy. Der Song wäre mir wahrscheinlich zu viel Country, wenn ich ihn nicht schon kennen würde. your latest trick: gefällt mir sehr. Am Anfang die ruhigen jazzy chords. Und dann hittet das Schlagzeug und dieselben Harmonien nehmen Tempo auf und werden auch rhythmisch sehr catchy. Mir gefallen in diesem Song insbesondere das Saxophon, die e-Gitarre und der Bass. Die Singstimme überzeugt mich trotz allem noch nicht. why worry: Ich finde, der Song fällt gegenüber den anderen stark ab. Ist zwar eine schöne Abwechslung, einen ruhigen Song im Album zu haben, mir ist er allerdings zu kitschig und ich finde ihn flau. ride across the river: unspectacularly unmeaning that man‘s too strong: zu sehr Country für meinen Geschmack. one world: gefällt mir ganz gut, nicht sehr innovativ, aber recht rockig und stört nicht;) brothers in arms: finde ich ganz schön. ist aber auch relativ repetitiv. Fazit: Das Album überzeugt mich nicht. Generell rhythmisch und harmonisch eher eintönige Songs und der Leadsänger singt falsch, unangestrengt oder angestrengt. Drei Songs stechen heraus und gefallen mir besser, bringen das Album für mich aber nicht von einer Drei auf eine Vier.
high 3! i liked this i had a lot of fun, didn’t love the f slur, gonna be real
A good example of 'Dad rock' covering a wide span of genres and soundscapes. Knopfler's playing is subtly brilliant. Some flack towards the end though. Easy to listen to but wouldn't rush back. Best Tracks: - Money For Nothing - Walk Of Life - Brothers In Arms Worst Tracks: - One World Rating: 6.5/10
3.5
not a fan, but the singles are fine.
3+
3 good songs that's it
I mean it's alright. I wouldn't say it's a complete letdown anyways, it IS a product of it's time for certain however.
3.5
Fav song: Why Worry? Great guitar work and fantastic tones on this one. Some of the songs go on a little bit too long and are a little bit dated with their choices of instruments/production styles. But either way, great writing and performances all round. Money For Nothing's random out of pocket homophobic slurs really took me off-guard though, and I get that it's written from the point of view of an ignorant scumbag but it still surprised me!
Not the best Dire Straits album, but still good. Very clean. Some of the slow songs on the second side are less enjoyable
Good stuff, kinda forgot I was listening to it a few times, however. I liked the opening and closing tracks the most, and Walk Of Life because that’s a great song. 3.5 out of 5.
This was pretty cool, good energy, but got a little samey for me in the latter half. 3 stars.
This is a very good album. This is my review. The highs are so high.
money for nothing through your latest trick is fun and deserves praise but overall not an album I'd revisit too often. I was impressed and surprised how they somehow were able to fit in proj rock, pop, folk, and almost bluesy tones into one album
Loses steam after Walk of Life
3.5★. Really good. Will revisit.
This was one of thise albums I was hoping or sure I was going to LOVE because the songs I was already familiar with I really like. But unfortunately the songs I was not familiar with didn't measure up to the radio singles. Some songs even reminded me of cheesey late 80s transition music from a show based in FLA on USA Network.
Pretty good album. Not something I'd listen to too often but I might play it in the car from time to time. Walk of Life slaps.
This was really uneven. A couple great songs, but more blah than wow. 3.
It was fine. I think I would have enjoyed this album much more if there were no keyboards. I find keyboards kills most music for me. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
oh, dear old mark knopfler. some pretty damned "rockers" seems to run around popular band's fandoms (like coldplay) making chaos using "money for nothing" as a boring phrase to ridicule their commercialisation, but that's horrible and non-respectable. and its all because they are famous and rich, and those guys tries to prove that they have awesome music taste by rejecting popular and mainstream stuff. all a bunch of shit. also, the album sounds ok. "money for nothing" actually sounds good and has a awesome riff, but mark didnt write a clear melody line, making it bit boring. 3/5
Killer single, rather filler album
Most of these songs go on too long - the LP version might actually be superior from that perspective, honestly - but there are some undeniably gems here. I wouldn't say it's as good as the British apparently think it is, but it's a real solid rocker.
Alright, I've got to admit, I was wrong. I have a pretty large bias against Dire Straits, probably because they just seem the ultimate band for middle-aged, middle-class men living dull lives and whose greatest hobby it is to say "they don't make 'em like they used to anymore". But you know what - this one's actually pretty good. I'm sorry for ever doubting you, mr. Knopfler. You're not just a gifted guitarist making the most milquetoast rock music on earth; you've proven here that you're actually capable of crafting songs which are not only accessible to everyone ever, but also pretty good. And even if that music may not be exactly to my tastes, it is still a feat to be respected.
Album divertido, bien producido, me gustaron la mayoria de canciones y las que no todavia le parece que suenan bien, solo no me encantaron. Total del Album: 74
Ei Straitsien paras levy. Money for Nothing on toki hyvä raita, mutta muuten jää hieman tasapaksuksi.
Seems like something Dad would like
Major nostalgia value on this one, but that only goes so far... I was reminded about Walk of Life and added it to my guilty pleasures playlist. Fun listen, but not great.
Ok
Of its time production-wise, but has a couple of catchy hooks on the songs and solid musicianship. Highlights: "So Far Away" (sets a mood, though I'm a bit surprised it's the opener), "Walk of Life" (synth riff and woo hoos are memorable), "Why Worry" (mellow ballad with a long guitar intro), "The Man's Too Strong" (strummy midtempo folk influenced tune) Notable: "Your Latest Trick" (features that mid 80s staple the sexy sax), "Ride Across the River" (sounds like solo Sting...more sexy sax)
Had heard some of the bigger songs before. Overall good for an 80s album
This was OK. I genuinely don't understand how this is a top selling album of all time...unless everyone liked the first 3 songs enough to get the CD. The vibe is so laid back and self-assured...it makes complete sense this is his 5th album. Zero percent surprised this was recorded in Montserrat...this is exactly the kind of album you record when you're already successful, in the middle of the 80s, on a Caribbean island. Back half of the album definitely drags. I'd happily listen to a greatest hits Dire Straits album because he's got 10 good songs...there just aren't a ton on this album
Only recently started listening to Dire Straits. A friend shared a video of a performance from 1979 and it’s pretty sick. Simple arrangements with Mark Knopfler grooving/shredding and stealing the show. This album feels over produced to me and a little disjointed. Money for Nothing is a great song, 10/10 and I liked the first few tracks a lot. Feels like karma, bashing the White Stripes for being too bare bones, immediately getting hit with this.
Good, but not their best. Still beats many to the table.
Good not great
Enjoyable but unremarkable
80s dad rock that doesn't suffer from overplay like some of its contemporaries. A little boring but not bad.
Money for Nothing gets this an automatic 3 stars but beyond that, it's a bit boring. Knopfler's guitar work is obviously great but the songs themselves aren't that interesting on the whole. It's all a bit limp.
This is way more cheesy 80s jazz than I signed up for. I mean there was a complete night and day difference between the first three songs and everything else. At first I was like, "I can dig this," but the second that godforsaken fourth song started playing I was wondering what I was doing with my life. The fifth and sixth songs were even worse. It got a little better by the time 'Brothers in Arms' came around. 45 minutes later.
Classic Dire Straits
Starts strong but meanders in the middle. Enjoyable but I would not return often I believe.
The hits are good, the rest of the album is samey.
- I'm at a place in my life where I hear a band or an artist from the 80's say "f*ggot" and I hear the vine boom sound affect go off in my head right after. - "Walk This Line" might be one of my least favorite songs ever. I'm sure Dire Straits secured generational wealth with how overplayed the song is. 1001 troll recommendations. - first impression overall: Back loaded album.
It was hard to ignore this album when it first came out, especially as my dad loved it and he was one for playing things regularly. Today was the first time I've listened to it without my dad in the room. It could have been an emotional moment except for, in these modern civilised times, the use of the word 'faggot' in 'Money for Nothing' I'd forgotten about that. On the whole it's a quality album and deserves all the praise it has had over the years.
I understand why people like this album, but it faded into the background a bit too much at times for me.
I heard the first three songs too often in the 80s, so I'm bored of them. However, the rest of the album reminds me of the smooth, jazzy vibe of Dire Straits and how I love them. I'll need to make a playlist, but this album isn't exceptional. 3.5/5
Not a huge fan of these, but I shall give it a chance. Having given it a fair listen it really doesn't do much for me. I can understand to an extent the popularity of this album. Mark Knopfler is a good guitarist and they had a couple of music videos that got a lot of rotation on MTV back in the day. Having said that, it's still not my cup of tea. It's got a very 80's sound that hasn't really aged well.
Ok-ish.
Pretty classic.
Great background music. Lyrics and vocals are Nob-Dylan like. Honestly this album would be a 4/5 if they just never sang. 3.5
I honestly thought Dire Straits were American-based until right now. Listened to them a bit throughout childhood and never paid any mind to the fact that they weren't American. Not to be considered a slight to the group, as this is one of the most American sounding records I've heard (save for Bruce Springsteen). "Walk of Life" is one of my favorite rock songs, and it's not even one that many would think was recorded in the 80's with how the guitars sound. The synth probably gives it away though. "Money For Nothing" is obviously iconic in its own right, mainly for reasons related to the music video medium. The song itself didn't particularly age well though, which kind of caught me by surprise. The rest of the album, particularly side B, jumps around different musical moods a bit. More atmospheric and melancholic than I was expecting at points. A decent album overall, probably carried a bit by the singles.
Ok. Didn’t really flow for me and a lot of the songs felt overlong.
Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by Dire Straits, originally released in 1985. This may be the most dad-rock album ever. I enjoyed their record "Sultans of Swing", but this is just too smooth for me. The singles are smash hits, particularly "Money For Nothing". I believe this was one of the first CDs to release. That probably inflated sales a bit. It might've also been one of the first albums to be fully digitally-recorded. And man, does that show. It has not aged well. Sounds firmly like 1985. Knopfler is a beast on this album tho. Fantastic guitar work. If I was a dad in the 80s I probably would love this.
Classic
This is a tough one. Hugely popular, extremely influential. But it has not aged well, both because of the slurs in Money For Nothing and the sound in general. If feels very of its time rather than timeless
I really liked Walk of Life and Why Worry, but otherwise was OK and didn’t do too much for me.
according to wikipedia, the vinyl version has “trimmed the fat” from the version on the CD… same amount of songs, but some were edited for length. and many of the songs needed to be as they were meandering and redundant. case in point: on “money for nothing” if you listen to the CD version, sting rambles on and on about wanting his MTV for over a MINUTE AND A HALF before the iconic riff kicks in. having said all of that, the musicianship is top notch and the band creates a lush and diverse atmosphere of sound that is impossible to ignore. all in all, a fun listen. but trust me, stick with the vinyl version. highlights: “so far away” “walk of life”
This started HOT and then fizzled pretty quickly.
There were some really iconic guitars in this album. But it also had some really boring trumpet songs. Liked the iconic parts, but for me it didn't hold together as an album.
The first three songs are pretty good. And then it dies.
Not bad.
I thought it was okay. I didn’t hate anything, and some parts I thought were nice. I liked it more than I didn’t, so 3/5
The hits are obviously great, but there’s just too many mellow tracks for me. I can’t deny Mark Knopfler’s incredible guitar playing though.
Hmm - There are three good songs in the beginning of the album and then the rest is just not very interesting. One World is okay though and the title track is actually pretty great also
I know So Far Way, Walk of Life and Money for Nothing of course. That's a pretty iconic song, and I remember the video and Weird Al parody. I really dislike Walk of Life though. Money for Nothing is great Your Latest Trick is really sappy and most of Why Worry was too. Why Worry was really boring until the last few minutes and it's a pretty chill vibe for this morning. Around the 6 min mark though. Ride Across the River is pretty cool, I like the guitar in that song and the guitar in One World. Overall a 3 probably but Money for Nothing holds this album up. I keep thinking I'm listening to Steely Dan, which I did enjoy listening to when one of their albums came up. I was hoping this album had Sultans of Swing, which is a really great song, but no.
Money for Nothing is still a classic. It's a bit of an outlier, though, in that it's the most energetic song on the album. The whole thing is competent, but most of the album is pretty boring. Mark Knopfler is a great guitarist and he does some interesting stuff, but it's not enough to make me want to listen to this album again. Musicianship: 5, interest: 1.5. Overall: 3 stars.
This was a really, really big album when it came out but in retrospect after the third tune it falls off a steep cliff. Also, the production is peak 80s and not in a good way - fake reverb on the drums, shitty keyboard tones, etc. But ultimately have to respect Money For Nothing and you have to respect Knopfler's guitar. You have to!
Radio-friendly Unit Shifter
Starts really strong but falls off. Mostly filler by the end. Only just a three.
ah, so they're a singles band
I'm honestly not enjoying this album that much 3/5?
3.5 a few great songs and and a couple that went on too long
Very pleasant pub rock
Feel like I’m supposed to like Dire Straits, great guitar playing, great sound and production. Alas, their music doesn’t hit with me. Plus I heard Money for Nothing ad nauseam in the mid-80’s. Hard to give it 2 stars due to my fast being a bit different.
The first word that comes to mind for this album is “moody”. I’m not sure exactly what the mood is but Dire Straits sets it very effectively. I think the opening track and “Money For Nothing” are actually the weakest parts of this album. “Walk of Life” feels a bit out of place here — it is jauntier and more playful than any of the other 51 minutes of the album — but it’s such a great track I don’t mind. The middle of the album is the strongest part for me. The horns on “Your Latest Trick” sizzle and simmer, followed by the sprawling “Why Worry” with its meditations on the ups and downs of life are, to my ears, the sonic and emotional heart of this album. The title track is a very nice ending. While some tracks on this album are a 8.5 or 9 out of 10, it unfortunately is a bit less than the sum of its parts for me. 7.5/10
This started so well, but then turned into something different that was not great.
This was quite a nice album. I was only familiar with a few songs by Dire Straits, and it turns out they were all from this album.
Fun listen, but not a great composition
3/5. This is a great sounding album, each instrument feels like it is at the forefront without overcrowding others. However, I think this album is a little overrated. There are songs on here that have recognizable and repeating motifs but I think they do not do the song good and make them seem more pretentious. The piano lick in Why Worry and the saxophone in Your Latest Trick are good examples on this. Sure they are unique but very quickly they become annoying. Most of the other songs are not great. There are some bangers on here and they save the album a little but definitely not one I would recommend. Best Song: Money For Nothing, Brothers In Arms, The Man's Too Strong
wait a second this is actually kinda good…i remember listening to this album a couple years ago cos i put the title track on a playlist i made about the terror lol and i was thoroughly unimpressed by the whole outfit but now i’m thinking it’s alright…i think it’s maybe because the 80s schmaltz element (inescapable) has a distinctly springsteenian dimension (see: “walk of life,” which sounds like it could have easily been a bruce song) and is therefore more bearable to me. money for nothing is a good song but i do wish he didn’t say the F word in it. EVEN THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT. i guess the takeaway here is #notall80smusic fav tracks: why worry; the man’s too strong [which i added to my kendall roy fanmix]; one world
i liked it but i don't really have any strong feelings about it. i love the song sultans of swing and was hoping something would give it a run for its money but none of these were as good :(
Meme music
some absolute bangers in the beginning but the slow tracks were too long and i got bored
Dire Straits always sounds like they're goofing around but in a really smart way. Super talented. Unique sound.
The popular songs are really good, but the album as a whole felt unbalanced.
Pretty good. The hits were solid, I liked the longer, instrumental songs mixed in. I may go back occasionally for the vibes, but just o.k. overall. 3/5