Brothers In Arms

2.5

Some nice stuff but dire straits do get a bit samey after a while. Always think they should do better.

Listened to it before. Varied.

Mmmm wasn't all too stirred by this. Nothing particularly bad (some lyrics aside), nothing particularly good. Straight 2.5/5

Honestly first three tracks was really digging this (other than all the slurs). Don't think I knew those songs were by Dire Straits and they all bang, loved the ethereal passages especially. I found that it settled into a holding pattern after that which I cant say I was too inspired by. But there's enough here in those first three to recommend. Fave track: Money for Nothing (other than the slurs)

I thought this would be a pleasant return to an album I played a fair bit as a teenager, but after the first track I remembered I actually don’t like Money For Nothing, and truly despise Walk Of Life. Things didn’t really improve from there I have to say, and am glad I had a chance to sit down with this album again so I could give another reassessment of it. I might have gone round thinking this was an album I liked! Good lord! Fave track: Brothers In Arms

Excellent

Geil, aus den 1001 Alben. „So Far Away“ natürlich direkt ein Hit. Und dann direkt „Money For Nothing“, legendär. Und dann „Walk of Life“, unfassbar. „Your Latest Trick“ ist dann ein bisschen so ein Downer. Hab ich noch nie bewusst angehört. Irgendwie doch ganz geil? Trotz der Trompete. Ja okay, „Why Worry?“ ist stinklangweilig. Das nächste Lied ist dann doch wieder ein bisschen spannender, wenn auch kein Hit wie die ersten drei. Auch wieder sehr langsam und lang.  Wird dann doch wieder besser, gegen Ende. Aber die Hits fehlen dann. Der vorletzte Song war auch okay, jetzt kommt „Brothers in Arms“, der gilt ja wieder als Klassiker, soweit ich weiß. Ja, schönes Riff nach dem Donner-Intro.

its a good one with iconic songs but not gonna be a favorite

Great vibes on this album, I felt a lot of sadness and longing. The guitars and vocals really bring it alive. Don't think these songs fit my tastes so likely won't be listening to any of these songs again.

i f/w this but nothing could have prepared me for the slurs on money for nothing LMAO THEY GOTTA BE EDITING THOSE OUT THESE DAYS

Nice album. I think I had heard it once before. Seems to be a little front heavy with So Far Away, Money for Nothing, and Walk of Life. Back half was a bit slow, but not bad. A little Springsteen, a little Bob Dylan, and a little...something else I can't remember now. The production is a bit dated for sure.

Better than I was expecting.

Good album but I hate that they use the "f" word for gay people.

It's pretty good prob 4/5

Buen disco. Bastantes canciones lentas.

Why worry y otros grandes éxitos.

It was quite good. Would listen again

Classic album

Oh ok I have heard Walk of Life before... but idk if that's good or bad... Overall it's ok but tainted by some slurs :\

A laid-back, bluesy, shuffle-y rock album. Fittingly unexciting but pleasant, with some interesting musical stuff. Best song: I mean I don’t want it to be Money for Nothing bc of the slurs. But I’m sorry, it’s Money for Nothing

Love the guitars. First half of the album is fire and the last song. Unfortunately there are a couple of mid songs towards the back so not a perfect album for me.

cool sound, not something i expect to listen to often but has piqued my interest in classic rock. the 80s vibe is definitely very apparent in the groovy nature, especially in money for nothing. 6.5 - 7/10

What starts out as a fun, rocking album slowly morphs into a surprisingly apt and honest criticism of war and human blood-lust. Brothers in Arms takes on multiple meanings here, from the camaraderie of compatriots, friends, and artists, to the more sinister brotherhood of mercenary guns for hire. I was surprised at the depth of some of the lyrics, as I usually felt the biggest draw of Dire Straits was the music, most especially the guitar playing from Mark Knopfler: at once delicate and lovely, but able to rock in a bluesy, evocative way. The mix of social commentary, without being preachy or too obvious, combined with the beautifully produced music took this album from a fun engaging listen to damn-near masterpiece to return to again and again. This would be a perfect album but for the forgettable One World, which felt trite in comparison to the later heavy hitters, and no fun compared to the earlier rocking tracks.

This was straight vibes

1. Lyrics: The lyrics of "Brothers In Arms" are marked by introspective guitar work and melancholic themes, providing a vivid portrayal of the emotional landscape, particularly during the Falklands War. The profound storytelling captivates listeners, inviting them to connect with the deep human experiences conveyed in the album 2. Music: The musical aspect of the album is a testament to Dire Straits' prowess. The main instrumental theme of the title track, "Brothers In Arms," is skillfully spread between speakers, showcasing a meticulous arrangement that enhances the overall listening experience. The remastered version is noted for its pleasing sound quality, elevating the impact of the original compositions 3. Production: The production of "Brothers In Arms" has been a subject of discussion. Some critics perceive a certain brittleness and hardness in the album's sound, attributes that were apparent even before knowledge of its digital production. However, others find a breath of fresh air in the album's digital nature, acknowledging the innovative techniques employed during its creation, such as bouncing and layering 4. Themes: The album delves into various themes, with tracks like "The Man's Too Strong" explicitly exploring military themes. Beyond this, "Brothers In Arms" touches on the broader horrors of war, the camaraderie formed among soldiers, and the deep human connections forged in challenging circumstances 5. Influence: "Brothers In Arms" not only stands as a musical masterpiece but also serves as a commentary on the music business. The album's statements on the industry have resonated with listeners and influenced subsequent generations of musicians, contributing to its enduring impact

Ça tue hein surtout your latest trick

4.5 stars. The opening 3 tracks are phenomenal, but then it feels like a letdown afterward. It's not terrible, but it doesn't live up to the start. Throughout the whole album, the recording/production quality is absolutely outstanding. Very clean and crisp and sounds like it's meant to be played loud on a high-end stereo system.

Only knew Sultans of Swing before listening to this album, but I was hooked on this different sound and the first track. Love how most every song has a mystery sound making me wonder what instrument could do that. Is that a pan flute? Is that a synth? No way an organ? IDK, but I'm here for all of it! Only 4 stars though, cause it is a little repetitive and flow isn't ideal with every song being around 5min.

Decent album, 80’s rock

I like the guitar, nuff said.

Overlooking Knopfler’s transcendent guitar and the sterling 80s production value (in my mind, 2nd only to Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly for acoustic quality), the jaded, fatigued ascerbia of this album makes it an essential classic. Money for Nothing gets (as it should) a bumper crop of love for accurately skewering 80s excess, but the rest of this pristine disc isn’t too far behind. It’s a desert island album for me.

Solid. Mainstream when I was in high school. An MTV favorite. This would have been ALTERNATIVE POP music. When ROCK and ALTERNATIVE and POP and PRINCE and MADONNA and RAP were each on their own island. Dire Straits managed to cross boundaries.

Really good. Not their best, but their most popular. 4 stars.

11/12/2023 Nunca creí que pudiera pasarla tan mal escuchando un álbum, principalmente cuando viene de una lista con el objetivo de compilar los 1001 albums que debes de escuchar antes de morir. Puedes morir sin escuchar esto, no hay pedo. Probablemente este álbum es el mejor ejemplo de los peores clichés por los que pasarían varias bandas en la década de los 80s cuando yo creo que este tipo de "rock" o rock an roll o lo que sea llegó a su fecha de caducidad. Esta bueno para tomar vino en un yate después de un largo dia de golf.... se que este señor es un guitarrista interesante y está banda tiene buena música y mejores albumes. El plan es elegir una canción de cada álbum que recomienden en una playlist y siendo honesto está es la primera prueba. Dios le da sus batallas más difíciles a sus mejores guerreros.

Solid album.

Knew and liked their hits from 80s MTV days, but never delved into beyond radio hits. Realized what a talent Mark Knopfler was catching some of his solo stuff in the 00s. Listening to new songs to me here left me wishing I’d explored their catalog more earlier. Songs new to me were varied between jazzy, light bluesy, always chillin, and had a Santana like slow jam vine to them.

I knew that album before, so it was a pleasure listening to this album again. I listened twice to it this weekend. And why? Because this album is a perfect example, why i am listening to music in general. Besides Mark Knöpfler there are the other members of the band which i indeed must respect, knowing Mark is the Roger of the group. After listening to this album a second time, i realised how f***ing cool this album can get when listening more often and carefully. So as i already knew really well money for nothing, walk of life and brothers in arms, which are for sure one of the greatest rock songs of all time, this time i discovered new songs for me as well, which i will f***cking listen to the rest of the year, or at least the rest of the month almost every day :). Which are: The Man's Too Strong!! So Far Away I think in December, my favorites in a particular order will be: 1) Money For Nothing (still my favorite. Because you must listen to the Knebworth, 1990 version) 2) Brothers In Arms 3) The Man's Too strong (probably displacing Walk Of Life to 4th) In this respect: I shoulda learned to play the guitar :( 5.0

Rating: ** 5 ** Notes: Really nice album, nice music, enjoyed it. Songs which stood out in no particular order (credits to Uncle Gue for the idea): "Why Worry" "Money For Nothing" "So Far Away" "Brothers in Arms" ------------------------------------------------------------- Rating Scale: 1- very bad 2- bad 3- neutral 4-good 5-very good additonaly -/+ sign if necessary

I WANT MY MTV I dearly love the band. One of the greatest of all time. I love rock, jazz and blues. And guess what, that’s what the album is about. The combination of those genres with the awesome lyrics is just wonderful! Very emotional album. Helped me through bad days and boosted my good days. I cannot give a top3! Every song is equally good in my opinion.

Großartiges Album! Jeder einzelne Song ist für sich hörenswert. Da ich das Album schon kannte, konnte ich mich nochmals besonders auf einige Songs konzentrieren. Dabei möchte ich "Your Latest Trick" hervorheben, der mir dieses Mal aufgrund des phantastischen Sax-Themas besonders gut gefallen hat. Mit dem Song "Brothers in Arms" verbinde ich viel, da es einer der lieblings Songs meines Onkels ist und das natürlich aus gutem Grund. Einer meiner Favoriten ist auch "So Far Away". "Why Worry?" hat mich schon öfters aufgeheitert und bleibt dadurch sicherlich unter meinen absoluten lieblings Songs. 9.6/10

Sounds great

I can see why it got engineering awards, the production is stellar on every track! The hits are close together, and the B sides are definitely B sides. That's not to say they're bad, I actually ended up liking Ride Across the River and The Man's Too Strong. Good night driving music, which was not what I expected from the same album as Money for Nothing. Not sure I'll grab this vinyl, but I'm glad I've heard the whole thing now!

-never heard of this album or band either! -so far away is a little boring for me personally -this isn’t bad rock it just isn’t my thing really -last couple of songs have been a bit boring to me ngl -no offense like the lyrics aren’t bad the guys voice is average but the songs are kinda BORING!!!!! -eh overall it was a fine album. the music wasn’t Bad but i didn’t really like it, so it’s getting a 2 for me

Tacky

Iconic, but there are a few songs that pale in comparison to the rest and so 4

Avoided this when I was 15, it isn't any better now - Sting is the best thing on the album. Very worrying how this sold so many CD players considering how miserable it is. Good closing track though

A little top heavy, but Money For Nothing and Walk of Life are solid hits regardless. The rest of the album carries itself very well and sent me on a nostalgic trip, I used to hear this album on road trips all the time as a kid and it was good to relive that

Take notes Korn! This is how you put a hard F slur in your song and get it on the radio. For real though this a damn good album. The hits are great and Brothers in Arms is an excellent closer.

MTV

This album is so tight, and felt so fresh when it was released. Not my favourite by them. But still holds up. Seemed to dominate the airwaves on release.

A few top songs elevate this.

I came into this (having not listened to the album for years) thinking that Hector and Joe were totally wrong about this being middle of the road dad rock, but came out of it much more on their side. It's a weird mix, there's a fair bit of dross, with a small handful of great songs in there. Brothers In Arms is great, Money for Nothing is too long but still a cracking song, and Your Latest Trick is a lovely, slower, jazzy number. But the rest? It's almost all schmaltzy down the line poprock (So Far Away, Walk of Life, Why Worry are the worst offenders), with the odd bit of overly long guitar noodling. 3/5, but only just.

The only songs I was familiar with before this were Money for Nothing and Walk of Life. The rest of this was much more mellow than I expected based on those two songs. Kind of in between experimental and classic rock stuff. Pretty mediocre. But you can’t hate on Money for Nothing.

Wow, guess I’ve not been paying attention and/or have only heads censored versions of the lyrics of Money for Nothing. Gross.

Doesn't disturb while working

Oh man I do not vibe with this sound at all. A word that popped in my head on the first song was "corny", and I think that describes this album well. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe a lot of this was meant to be tongue in cheek, but if that's the case at least give us some interesting song stucture. Like Money for Nothing has ABSOLITELY NO reason for being 8 minutes long. I love long jammy songs, but this song goes absolutely nowhere with the same repeating boring guitar riff front and center the whole time. We're also blessed with genius lyrics like "See the little faggot with the earring and the make-up? Yeah buddy, that's his own hair That little faggot got his own jet airplane That little faggot, he's a millionaire". I understand this song is from the perspective of some record exec, but its really just lazy writing man. There's also so many irritating sounds througout this album, the guitar tones are genuinely ear grating throughout. I actually looked this album up because in my mind it is remembered quite fondly culturally. I was rather surprised to find some quite scathing reviews on its initial release. I'm quotting one here because it sums up exactly how I felt better than I can really: "tritest would-be melodies in history, the last word in tranquilising chord changes, the most cloying lonesome playing and ultimate in transparently fake troubador sentiment ever to ooze out of a million-dollar recording studio". Just really not for me.

I have to say, I'm kinda having a phase with the 80's so the sound is exactly what I was kinda looking for. That being said, where's your "Fade out specialist"? Goddamn do they love to sit on one thing to end their songs. Someone tell em the song is over! I do feel that might be more unfortunate than the unfortunate choice of words that the era has excused. Oh well. Your latest trick has some really tasty harmonic movements on the keys, and I think that's where this album really shines - these chord changes should be studied! Theyre so effective and subtle, moving away from diatonic harmony whilst being very accessible. I'm a fan of the guitar sound! I'm wanting this guitar sound! As a John Mayer fan, I can hear the influence allll over. Guess I Just Feel like's outro and the outro to Why Worry are so similar! And Wild Blue is basically John Mayer pretending to be Mark Knopfler hahaha. I feel like I'm in a 80s movie set in Miami with light, low stakes espionage taking place. Gonna slick back my hair and smoke 600 cigarettes whenever i decide to listen again.

Eh this was a 2.5 for me. My parents used to love them wayyyy back and with the 80s cultural context this definitely has that sound and vibe. I liked the guitar tone and riffs but holy shit they beat you to death with that riff. So far away is probably the standout for me but that might be because I’ve heard that riff in a couple of remixes? Or like TikTok’s? Not sure The usage of “f*ggot” was oof, idk it just got hard for me to think/look past it. For the two songs after it basically I was zoned thinking about the cultural context and homophobia back then which left a bad taste in my mouth/bad ring in my ears? It gave me like country bluesy vibes and I did enjoy certain moments and maybe there’s a song or two I’d listen back to but I don’t know if it’s a “oh you know what I feel like spinning this afternoon? Dire straits!” lol that would be the day.

Brothers in Arms the song pushed it from 4 to 5 stars. Easy to forget how good this is, understand why it was so big when it came out.

Nice one

Decent album man, I think it’s usually no what I would listen to but it was good. I think it started way better than it ended, I really enjoyed the first 3 tracks and the tempo it kept up and I thought it would go throughout the rest of the album but it got very slow. Don’t know if I get to rate it earlier but just in case i’m giving a 3/5. “Walk of Life” is definitely a banger and my favorite off the album. Started a playlist with that song as the first one banned after the project.

par dobrih

Great album. Loved it

Was ok

Strong start, then really tailed off

Hmmm I'm not sure about this album

way too many slow jams goddamnit. the fact this gets a three shows you the strength of good singles. Decent 3

From jazzy to rock to blues. The instrumentals are as good as the lyrics.

Probably should be a five, but I've the radio hits too many times. Mark Knopfler's guitar is fantastic!

5/10

It sounds very nice when played on a good stereo! Brings back memories to when this CD was used to test my dad’s home made speakers. Can see my self playing this again late at night before bedtime as it is very mellow.

Some really great parts, especially that guitar... But a bit boring at times and a little too much pan flutes/too easy listening

Super album! 8,5/10

It was fine. Sounded like a local band at a county musikfest.

oh man.... I don't think 'sultans of swing' is on this album but I have such a hard time listening to Dire Straits because I tried playing the aforementioned song at an open concert and totally fucking bombed. Like totally spaced and stopped playing the lead within 15 seconds, and the rest of the band made me stand there for over 4 minutes while they finished the song. Soooo embarrassing; the worst part is I had that shit down to a tee when I would practice at home.... :( but it's nice to get it out again. Regardless, the are an all time great classic and I still love listening to them when I can stomach through my haunted past. I remember the film UHF having a rendition of 'money for nothing' even though the part wasn't comical at all it was fun. 'Walk of life' always puts me in a mellow mood. I didn't really type much else during this listen, have listened to this album multiple times before, I definitely enjoy it.

Omar Hakim saves this for me. Don’t love it. Great guitar playing but it sounds too much like a bad Springsteen impression

I would probably give this album a 3.5 if I had the option. Enjoyable listen, but nothing life changing.

Heard before: yes Money For Nothing is a nasty little ditty that shows how hard satire is. Ostensibly, it’s a critique of celebrity, but there is not a single incisive line about stardom. They get women? They get money? They don’t work hard? Instead, the song ends up just insulting the intelligence of the poor jamokes who work all day. It’s the perfect 80s song - the rock star saying, “I got mine, ha ha, you don’t, fuck off!” Anyway, I like Dire Straits, but this is my least favorite of theirs. I guess it’s better than most of the rest of what was on the radio at the time. Oh well. Top tracks: Why Worry, Ride Across the River, So Far Away

A bit slow for me. The hits are great though

Such a great album!! How have I never heard of there name before us baffling to me. Brothers in arms is one of the most beautiful song I have ever heard.

Of course this album’s here. Great from start to finish. Easy five stars.

Heavy and MOR. What a terrible singer. But credit to the huge commercial success.

Dire Straits always.

sickest guitar rift for a song thats about selling microwaves!

Haven’t listened in years

- you're so far away from me - see the little WHAT with the earring and makeup - some catchy tunes, not really for me, but some songs grew on me - why worry? sounded like that one song from our times for a second there

2/5 not bad per say but it doesn't really tingle my balls. The second half is definitely better than the first. Slowish? so probably a morning listen. Okay listen but won't go back to it again. Fav song: Walk of Life

Solid album, hits on the A side and slower, just as good tunes on the flip.

Classic from my teenage years. Not as good as I remember.

5/10. I listened to this album while applying for some jobs early morning on 10/21/2023. It was perfect for doing this task since it really did not grab my attention at all. It does not hold up in my humble opinion. It's not terrible; there's a couple songs that I liked, but it feels very of its time. Will not bother relisting to the album as a whole, but liked a couple songs.

So Far away and One World are my favorites

Dotwo all-time classic songs, make an album, or 2 1/2, well that’s why I gave the rating.

Weird but not unpleasant.

Not bad or anything, but once it hits why worry? The rest of the album is interminable and I don't feel like I HAD to hear this album before I died.

this album is SO good. "money for nothing" is one of the greatest songs in the history of music. the lyrics, the slow intro, the guitar, the jam session, the music video, the EVERYTHING. and sting was involved! what more could anybody want? but this album didn't have "money for nothing" on a loop, so i'll consider the other elements, too. this album has so much: eighties new wave sound, sultry and smooth jazz (we're nearly in yacht rock territory), instrumental-opening songs. brothers in arms is incredibly easy to listen to, and to have on repeat. because "money for nothing" is a song with a heavy sound, the rest of the album could easily be passed over--but it shouldn't! the rest of the album may not pack the same punch as "money for nothing," but it's full of meaning and beauty! the title song's lyrics and soft tone are so striking. the sax within "your latest trick" is perfect! "walk of life" is so pleasant and so endearing.

Such a good album! "Money For Nothing" is definitely one of the main songs that this band is known for, but I would say don't go into this album expecting more of that. Don't get me wrong, that song deserves its accolades and is a real jam, but the rest of this album is much more low key, heavier on the jazz, and overall just has a chill vibe. I don't really have a lot to say about this album, but it was a great listen, and makes for easy, cloudy Monday morning listening. In my mind, this album is definitely among the greatest for jazz rock.

The best

Some nice guitar here and there. Not a huge fan of the vocals. 1.5/5

Two great songs on this album. 1st time listening all the way through and it's solid. Knopfler is an amazing guitar player!

yeah not bad

1st 3 songs are classics!

Mark Knopfler is a killer guitar player, I don't know how he's able to play some of those riffs. The first half of the album is great. Money For Nothing is an all time song. The back half kind of meanders along and doesn't command attention like the beginning.

C'est un groupe particulier, qui a un son bien à lui. Les guitares très présentes, des accents bluesés, mais paradoxalement très carré et répétitif. J'aime chanter leurs chansons populaires, car j'ai été élevée avec cet album, mais je ne sais pas si ç'aurait été le cas si je les avais entendues pour la première fois maintenant.

Album seems wayyyy too long (55 minutes) for a 9 track album. So far only enjoyed 2 out of the 9 songs: “So Far Away” and “Your Latest Trick”. Not my cup of tea Update: the title track isn’t that bad as well. Still just not my cup of tea 4/10

if you go into any second hand vinyl shop and ask the owner of what album they have the most copies layin around, they are nearly guaranteed to say "Brothers in Arms, mate! Every second guy brings one o' those in here." What does that mean? Well that it sold great (the main reason it's on here) but now people don't listen to it as much as they used to. The reason is fairly simple: Every song is either a slow jazz-inspired rock song or a very 80s pop-rock tune. And as we all now 80s production can get very cheesy and if you don't like the slower songs you won't like it. But is it bad? No it's really good, good production, great instrumentation and so on. It's just that apart from the singles there is not much to really get into because the rest is kind of boring. I mean I like long songs like In a Silent Way (Miles Davis) or Echoes (Pink Floyd) but the 8 minutes of Why Worry? are just not interesting just good enough if I want a retro-vibe for a study session wich is too bad because I don't study... I'm very sure that the edited vinyl versions are better still the album is great to perfect at points but others just drag it down. my favourites: So Far Away, Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, Your Latest Trick, Brothers in Arms least favourites: Why Worry?, One World rating: decent 7

Don’t like this album. Walk of life is a good song though

Idk man. I just don’t think they can make songs over 4 minutes entertaining enough to justify their length.

Boomer core Will I listen to again: 0%

Minimalism does not work with any of their overarching genres. Not their fault but synths were a bad idea. Couldn’t finish.

Very dated, but some nice jammy soft rock songs! Very atmospheric too which is was nice. If not for the slur in Money for Nothing that song would be like a 5/5 classic

Wacky guys

Smoooooth.

Many good songs and a classic old rock album.

I grew up on this album!! That said there are only a couple true bops.

Really cool

This album has an interesting variety of sounds. I liked "Your Latest Trick." Ooh, so saxy!

Only classics. Sublime album, simple. Also reminds me of my childhood because my father loves this. Which is nice.

Pretty good

lit album, fun to play starfield while listening to

Wow. I know I've always hated Money for Nothing, but I didn't realise all of their songs were that terrible. I feel harsh giving this 1*, given the utter dross that have achieved my 1* rating, but it's really not far off. Lucky escape.

86/100

4.5

Inte riktigt min grej, trots att jag blev positivt överraskad av albumet. Många av låtarna var onödigt långa. Korkade texter och irriterande sångröst. 2,5 av 5.

Great opening first half of the album, second half was soft. Overall I did enjoy this, Mark is underrated as a front man.

Iconic album. These guys were the 80’s. Not all of their lyrics stand up to todays standards but we’re a bit sensitive these days. Great memories from this album.

i mean yeah it’s incredible but some of the songs have far too long instrumental sections. and those sections include sounds which are physically repulsive. yes im talking about ride across the river.

Pervasive album, feels a bit overhyped to me.

Exactly what I expected, fine - no better

Big hit with me. I enjoyed the hits and then the melancholy second half vibes. Brothers in Arms was a highlight. Mark Knoffler's guitar sounding incredible throughout. I find the faux-American troubadour thing he does a bit weird being he's from Newcastle but he's got the songs and the skills so he can do what he wants I suppose.

J'ai même pas encore écouté que je sais que ça va être une dinguerie Dire Straits c'est incroyable, j'adore la cover de l'album aussi J'ai écouté ça dans le bus en dormant dinguerie

Nice, fun mix of rock and blues. More electronica in background. A long time favorite. More soulful and folk influenced than I remembered

some outstanding atmospheric moments and guitar lines. this record is exhausting. too british.

Walk of Life CARRIES this thing. Everything else was either too long or felt too long.

Great!

7/10 - decent but just a more simplistic early springsteen record

One really stand out single in an album of a lot of meaningful yet non-replayable songs. 4.5/5

Banging beginning and end

Not my favorite- there’s one popular song in there. The thing I do like is the incorporation of the saxophone. Wouldn’t choose to listen to this.

The singles that we all know are good, classic pub rock. Brothers in arms is a beautiful haunting song. The rest is just filler. Wanted to like this more than I did.

First 3 songs are an absolute monster of a line up, with so far away, money for nothing, and walk of life. Middle of the album get a little "jam bandy" for my tastes with some extremely long run times. Clean, chill ending with brothers in arms is a great capstone.

Forgot the good songs that were on there

I love Dire Straits

A couple of old songs I remembered but overall I didn’t like it. Lead singers voice kinda makes all songs too similar. Wouldn’t buy it.

This is now one of my new fav albums— it really is a journey to listen to from beginning to end. Must listen!

cool

Oh liked this, not listened to the whole album before.

Pretty dire

Bit boring

Quite a mix but I enjoyed it. Not that dire afterall

A fun listen with some great guitar playing throughout. It slows down a little on the second half, more listens might make it more enjoyable, but the first half is back to back excellent tracks. Walk Of Life is one of the bounciest pop songs you'll ever hear, and Money For Nothing almost doesn't even need talking about. One of the best guitar riffs i've ever heard, and even though it's over 8 minutes long, if you told me it was only 3 minutes i would believe you, it goes by that fast.

Took me back to my youth. 3 hits right off top and then you get to Mark’s bluesier side and I like that.

Does this count as an easy listening album? The songs are so nonchalant and lazy-sounding I can imagine plodding down a country road early in the morning with no one around for miles and nothing to do. Props to them for getting the MTV bag during their heyday (2.5/5)

Tracks 1, 2 and 7 were highlights on this album, but did enjoy the whole vibe of the album and there didn't feel like a weak song.

Inte bra. Osköna låter förutom Money for Nothing som är lite halvskön ibland

This album is like that guy you meet who seems really cool at first but then you realize he’s just super agreeable and doesn’t actually bring anything new or interesting or controversial to the conversation. 5/10

yeah well

i listened to this twice while lying on the couch, exhausted from covid. it was kinda trippy, especially ride across the river's jazzy DK jungle beats. there's also a familiar sprinkling of synthesized 80s cheese over the top of the whole record, which was kind of comforting. the back half of the album definitely dragged on, but it was a good listen overall favorites: money for nothing, walk of life

Wonderful, wonderful record.

good, laid back

A waste of some great riffs, maybe a 3 star without the slur

Classic album

Very good album, insta added

Not sure i quite get it - seemed pretty run of the mill

First couple of songs were great; then it dropped off and became quite dull

Excellent debut with some of the finest guitar licks ever put on vinyl.

I have really fond memories of blasting this album while burning through the mtn roads of the adirondacks on my way to a cliff to climb. I can’t make an unbiased review. 5/5

Album was really only saved by the long instrumental sections of chill elevator music. Not something I'd look forward to listening to unless it's in the background

Saving grace of this one was the instrumentals other than that the lyrics were terrible and dated. And the album went on for way too long.

I had heard this many times as a child, but it has been many years since then. It still stands up, thoroughly enjoyable. I tohught I would find it boring but it was actually really good.

Great

3.4 - There’s some impressive guitar work on songs like “So Far Away.” I love the way Knopfler is able to bend the strings to coax some unusual sounds. But given this record’s status as a bonafide blockbuster I was expecting a whole lot more. I’ve never been a fan of “Money For Nothing”, and always found the music video ugly and crude. And I loathed “Walk of Life” even as a kid - to me it represents the terrifically lame “fun for the whole family” ethos. I will say, however, that the song has grown on me in recent years, perhaps as a result of me getting older (and lamer)? As for the rest, I was expecting it to rock harder, to burn a little hotter. But instead it just smolders. I don’t dislike it. But it certainly doesn’t grab my attention or justify its outsized influence on 1980s rock.

Solid rock album. Some top hits on here.

Didn't like some of the language on this. Ruined the vibe

Starts well but fades away a little towards the last few tracks

Tres bien. Still sounds good nearly 40 years on.

The thing that always stands out to me with Dire Straits is how casual they make greatness sound. And also how Mark Knopfler sounds like the coolest dude in the world every time he performs. Incredibly fun album with superior guitar work as per. (The self-titled album is better though) Favorite track: Money for Nothing

Really good start, then it might lose you a bit, but ends on a high note Money For Nothing and Brothers In Arms are usually the songs I listen to once in a while

Masterpiece.

Songs were too long and not upbeat enough for my taste. Although, I did learn where that song that's used in so many commercials comes from, so that's nice.

Some great tunes

Damn, I know so many songs from this album, yet I didn't know that band called Dire Straits even exist.

This was a pleasant surprise. I despise Money for Nothing, mainly due to the fact that when it was a hit it seemed to lurk around for years and was on constant radio/ TV rotation. I also knew Walk of Life and didn't particularly like it either. I figured that was about it for the tracks I knew, but I half remembered the title track maybe. Turns out I had heard almost every track on here at some point or another, often without even realising it was Dire Straits. On one hand this is awful AOR, sax-solos, 80s cheese, pop/rock, everything I disliked about the 1980s. However, it's done so well, the guitar is superb, the long tracks almost sound like prog rock in places. I came away having seen why this was such a big hit. There's always a reason for an album being popular enough to be one of the biggest selling records of all time. Often the reason is simply that it's a good album and I feel this is the case here. Not a 5-star album, and not even a strong 4-star one, but I'm giving it 4 stars anyway as I enjoyed it and, once I was past the hits, it was better than I had expected.

Mid 80's genius.

good.

not my cup of tea but well made stuff

Side 1 pretty much sucks. It's got the famous bits, but other than Your Latest Trick they're all either rinky dinky kindergarten bullshit or dopey dad pop. The build-up in MFN is great, but the payoff is MASSIVELY overrated - specifically because of that second little phrase, with the squeaky palm mute that sucks all the air out of the moment. And then the rest of the song is garb. BUT That doesn't particularly matter because the Side 2 is one of the great underrated record sides in music history. It's atmospheric, it's kinda spooky, the lyrics are meaningful, the band sounds great. Stacking Ride Across the River and The Man's Too Strong like that should probably be illegal. If the first side had the same energy, this would be a true all-timer in my book. Pretty funny to me that the general discourse is the exact opposite, but hey.

Masterpiece. Only Walk Of Life I usually skip. IDK. I've heard it just too many times. Radio stations, MTV ... all over. And even now. If they (radio) play a song from Dire Straits, they play Walk Of Life. And there are so many other (better) songs from them ... But still ... 5 ... no doubt.

I am a big Dire Straits fan and I am torn on this album being in this book. Not because I don't think it deserves it, but because "Making Movies" is the Dire Straits best album and I don't know how it got left out. So I would trade "Making Movies" for this one in a heartbeat. I get this album sold more, but "Making Movies" was a brilliant work that encompasses a lot of what the Dire Straits could do. Regardless, this is a really good album, if not front-filled with the best songs. "Brothers in Arms" is one of the best songs Knopfler has ever written and even the non-hits are good songs. Considering how many albums this one sold, it has to be on the list, but there is nothing on here that gets elevated to a masterpiece song, of which "Making Movies" has two. One last thing...Knopfler should obviously not use the word "f-g" in a song, but (a) it was 1985 and (b) the song is not sung from the perspective of him, but the perspective of two working class guys who are bemoaning how easy being a rockstar is. So yes, they probably would have referred to an artist like Boy George in that way. Not excusing the use of the word, but there is more context needed.

A couple of monster hits that were played over and over on MTV in the early days. Enjoyed listening to to this album.

There are only a handful of albums in my life that have listened to straight through again and again and again. This is one of them. One of the best ever.

Classic - one of my favorites ever

Amazing.

This is fucking good. Money For Nothing, wow. what an entrance with that guitar. Solid solid amazing guitar work. But like, this album has the GOODS. "Your Latest Trick" alone, if that was the only good track on an album, I'd be trying to find ways to justify giving this a 4. That's an epic, epic sound. And so smooth. It really is an album that makes me feel good. There's something about this that keeps me grounded. Even just the instrumental tracks, those are so tasty and pleasant. Somehow these instrumentals introduce a tad of cheese with the 80s-ness, but it gets flipped around, turned upside down by the grooves and the rhythm section, which is really what pulls it into one thing. I will keep listening to this album. They just have a way with dynamics, where they keep you invested with so much surprise. 5/5

Not to score things based on Nostalgia, but this is truly one of those Albums that are all killer and no Filler. Dire Straits are just one of those classic bands that I know inside and out and this album is no exception every song on here is great. The Album Starts really strong with So Far Away and Money for nothing and ends on arguably the two greatest songs on the Album One World and Brother in Arms. Perfectly paced I could listen to this over and over again it's just one of those absolute classics the diversity on display is great, the instrumentation particularly is good throughout and most importantly it doesn't overstay it's welcome like a lot of albums on here. Doing yourself a disservice by missing out on this one.

This one is a certified classic, there is nothing more I can add except One World is probably my favourite song, ooohhh, what? Me? Being a contrarian whatever next? Dogs will bark? Cats will meow? DFS will have a sale?

Shifted millions but not their best. Still fantastic but falls just short of a five star for me.

Iconic: Dire Straits are just a purely classic rock band which play satisfying to listen to music. They are always a solid bet when talking about the most iconic rock bands of the 70s and if not ever. Overall this album had a couple of enjoyable classic but quite a lot has faded into obscurity, didn't mean I didn't groove along to it tho.

cool music

Not my cup of tea.

Mostly really good, will relisten to see if I can pick out some of the songs I zoned out for, the guitar riff coming in on money for nothing is great

Mark Knopfler is one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters of all time and this album is a great example of this Despite not being my favourite Dire Straits album (I think the debut and Love Over Gold have aged a bit better) I still agree that this is one of the best and most iconic albums of the 80s The effective buildup to the riff in Money For Nothing is still one of my favourite moments in music history Very clear and strong anti-war message on a couple of songs Ever since I first listened to this album, a lot of the B-side has grown on me a lot Favourite tracks: So Far Away, Money For Nothing, Your Latest Trick, Why Worry, The Man’s Too Strong, Brothers In Arms

Looks like they blew their load with the first trio then post nut clarity kicked in and they turned in a flaccid rest of the remainder of the album, hardly worthy of a best albums list and won't be coming back again.

I am firmly in the unique window of having been too young for Dire Straits. My parents were too old for them, I was 7 when Brothers in Arms came out, and then they kind of disappeared for years after that. It's not that I never visited other bands from that era, but you can't catch up to everything. I know the singles, of course. The main thing that surprised me is that other than those, this is a fairly plodding, introspective record. It feels like they trojan horsed their way into the MTV Generation with a couple of catchy videos and then saddled them with a bunch of sad bastard songs on the rest of the album.

Fantastic guitar, fantastic album

Top Album

The musicianship is enthralling but not quite my cup of tea so not sure I'll keep this on rotation.

if i could give thios 6 starts i would. one of the best albums of all time in my opinion

So far away is such a brilliantly subtle track.

i dont know if i would listen to it a lot butttt i think its so groovy??? so nice, 80s vibes! im soooo tired of listening your lastest trick on the radio PLEASE ok, it comes off strong but now its not as nice personally? i can feel a lot of influences from reggae and some latin american references that are cool, but again personally im not a big fan of the use. have some bangers but honestly...

как оказалось, некоторые даже знаю, но в целом скучно (не мой жанр)

Got to install microwave ovens Custom kitchen deliveries He's gotta move these refrigerators Got to move these colour TVs Loses 1 star from me for getting a bit sleepy in the back half.

Dire straits First song sounds like Tom Petty giving up. He’s a good guitar player I guess but his songwriting and performance is not interesting to me “Money for Nothing” hard to not hear the Weird Al lyrics in my head from UHF. Prefer the ”little clampett” version. “Walk of Life” good hook on the organ but the rest of the song is not good. Album is stacked with some of the best musicians of the 80’s - Omar hakim, brecker brothers, Michael manieri,Sting, Tony levin Hard to believe this was such a successful record. All of these songs are too long 2.5

Honestly a really well done record with interesting harmony and cool tones. But just a real drag to listen to

I did not care for this

Your latest trick is amazing Finished it: Liked almost everything minus some tracks, would listen to some again.

Mark Knopfler shouldn't be allowed to make full albums. Stick to single excellent songs, avoid all of the downright terrible filler.

Couple of shiners amidst one of the most boring albums.

My dad used to play "Money for Nothing" for us when we were kids - we loved it -and it's still a great song in my opinion. It is fun hearing Sting's voice on it, and I just found out he co-wrote it as well. Mark Knopfler's guitar playing is exceptional, though it sometimes takes backseat to some 80's production things that take away from their sound - namely the gate reverb on the drums, the syrupy saxophone, and some overbearing synthesizers. Some tracks drag out to long for me as well, and that's the feeling that I'm left with, is there was a bit too much of the low-key drawn out mood pieces. A few solid tracks largely save it, but as an album I won't be putting this on repeat.

This might be the most 80s sounding thing in existence.

The favorite album of the old-timer that practically lives at the VFW.

Much more atmospheric than what I remembered. Less interesting too.

Not as good as their first, but still pretty nice. The guitar works and the emblematic vocals really does it for me!

Dire Straits have more efficient and great albums than this one, which let go the distinctive sounds of Mark Knopfler to an overproduced 80s thing. Still... It has nice songs on it and it's enjoyable! 3 stars for me.

Zalig album

Cheesy but not good cheesy

The very definition of "guilty pleasure". At least for me. Sonically, esthetically, *Brothers In Arms* is schmaltzy as fuck, with eighties production values so slick that it feels like the chrome of a vintage car as seen through the pages of a brand new glossy magazine. You can even whiff those production values through the artwork. You just need to replace "vintage car" with Mark Knopfler's 1937 14-fret National Style "O" Resonator guitar, and you literally get the picture. To be clear, old-school twist "Walk Of Life" and MOR cheesefest "Your Latest Trick" (complete with a long sax solo that make the track a perfect companion for extended rides on the highway) are only "dated" in the sense that they were always intended to be so. Such is the genius of Mark Knowfler, who knew enough music history to understand his most commercial impulses at the time would actually age well on an artistic viewpoint if he kept everything as clear and on point as he could. And the not-so-latest trick to accomplish such a feat was to balance catchiness and subtlety in ways that only someone like Knowfler could do. The best example of this is his iconic guitar riff on the timeless "Money For Nothing", but there's also the laidback opener "So Far Away From Me" to prove it. And since the songwriting and other guitar soloing is consistently good or interesting from start to finish, the whole album is a home run. The deeper cuts about the tragedy of war on the second side ("Ride Across The River", "The Man's Too Strong" and the melancholic title track closing the prodeedings) are especially poignant, and they add a cohesive thematic throughline that also brings a lot of resonance to the second part of this record. In comparison, "Why Worry" and "One World" are more like meat-and-potatoes numbers, each in their own genre, but they can't hurt the whole thing. Terms like "meat-and-potatoes", "derivative" and "commercial" can't really apply to this album anyway. If only because significant parts of it give enough winks to the audience about its own "plastic", pastiche aspects. In "Money For Nothing", Knowfler, along with Sting (!), does not merely aim jabs at consumerism, including the music business; the players also seem to make fun of themselves here, just as they make fun of MTV. MTV heard them alright, by the way: they went along with the joke, and turned the track into an instant hit through its heavy rotation on the music channel. All of this might be a little cynical for some, but it does add a cutural impact to this record that, very clearly, make it a 5/5 essential listen. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: a little more than 500, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: approximately a half so far (including this one). Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter. Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter

Life long Dire Straits fan so I already love this album. So many great songs on this. I just love Mark Knopfler's playing style and I've been lucky to see him live a few times.

Banger. Got it in the car in CeeDee format.

Superb, all killer no filler

Super

Outstanding...one of the best

Classic album. A lot of great songs and a few okay ones.

I like some DS but this screams lowest common denominator and 80s kitch. Pop pap rock which is is a bit lazy at times. Catchy but banal.

Some songs are self-indulgent but I do like the Titular track

Add a star for the Saxophone solo in Walk of Life, and for Why Worry

I grew up with this album. I love it. Mark Knopfler’s voice takes me to places I’m very happy being. The album cover art is so evocative. And of course the songs are just wonderful.

For a band called Dire Straits they sure say the word “Faggot” a lot.

C+ So Far Away - 2 Money for Nothing - 3 Walk of Life - 3 Your Latest Trick - 3 Why Worry - 3 Ride Across the River - 2 The Man’s Too Strong - 3 One World - 3 Brothers In Arms - 3 This was good. In the past, I would have given this a 2, but I'm lowering my standards for 3's because, they were way too high. This sounded good, it was a nice mellow ride. It didn't evoke much emotion, nor is there much I'll return to here, but all in all, it's a nice listen.

I remember going through a big Dire Straits period in high school. Lets see how its held up since then. So Far Away is about as boring as Dire Straits get IMO. Not a bad song necessarily, but its a boring ballady pop number that got a ton of radio play. About as sterilized as it can get. Album takes a slow left turn into Money for Nothing, which leads in with one of the slowest yet most iconic song intros in rock history. A minute of "I want my MTV" over some SOYCD style instrumental that gives way to a man playing drum loops like a madman in the distance, then the floor drops out into a very polished guitar riff + 80s quintessential bassline / synth solo. Man I used to love this song. Lyrics have not held up particularly well; more references to "faggot" than I remembered. Still a fine song I suppose, but the cheese factor is pretty goddamned high. Walk of Life is another silly 80's number. Its gotta swingy little cadence about it and is catchy as hell. Tuned out for the mid-section; kind of boring. Ride Across the River stands out as a slow slightly-dubby number and pan-flute. One of the jammier on the album no doubt. Kind of boring, but mood setting as well. All said, I would go 2/5 on this one. Walk of Life and Money for Nothing stand out, but otherwise I find this to be a pretty generic, processed 80s pop-rock album that doesn't command much focus.

I’ll try and be as brief as I can be; meh. Brother in Arms is one of the most boring records I’ve heard, not helped by the fact that I’m super tired right now. Heck I slept through this record so I don’t know if I’m even qualified to talk about this album. What I can say is that this is some very mellow soft rock and occasionally incredibly mellow hard rock. The tracks switch up sounds a bit but it’s like still kind of underwhelming. The only objectionably good track is the second one, which has good guitar tones and a better hook than most other songs. But, it has homophobic slurs for no god damn reason so screw this track. This album has nothing. Truly nothing. It’s a sort of vibey pop rock/soft rock album if you’re in the mood for that but other than, it’s a very solid 5/10.

Classic ! Great album! Easy 4*

Luckily it has three fantastic songs because some of the others were not as good as I remembered.

I’m excited for today’s album! I know that there are a few songs here that I love, but I’ve never heard the album in full before. My absolute favourite song by Dire Straits is Sultans Of Swing, but that track won’t be found here. Let’s listen and see if it’s as good as I hope! Songs I already knew: Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life Favourites: Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life, Brothers In Arms After the first four songs on this album, I was convinced that this would be a perfect 10/10 album for me. However, after this, the music just seems a little less interesting and catchy until the final song which is the titular track, where things come together again. This feels like an album where if I had the vinyl, side A would get a lot more playtime than side B. I don’t want it to sound like the rest of the album is bad, because it’s certainly not, but it is noticeable less amazing.

One of my favourite albums

This is not a bad album by any means, in fact, I think that it is Dire Straits' best-known work, but some tracks on the record are definitely better than others. It shows a good blend of country, pop, and rock, but other than that and the guitar instrumentation, I wasn't very intrigued by this album. The only song I think I will listen to again is "So Far Away", which was a good track to start the record off with.

I strait up love Dire Straits (pun intended). And this album is full of bangers.

Straight bangers

Bellissima 'Money for nothing' come anche 'Walf of life'

Much better than I remembered. Money for Nothing has not aged as well as the rest of the album but still a great riff and guitar part. Many subtle songs on this release. So Far Away is an understated groove. Ride Across the River is a moody masterpiece. Going with 5-stars for this one.

Loved this on the first listen, on the second listen I realized how long it is. I tagged on rap albums for being too lengthy, this gets the same treatment. No rock album needs multiple 8 min songs and 4-5 tracks over the 6 min mark. Money for Nothing deserves the run time, however. Walk of Life is pop gold. The Man’s Too Strong is a great lesson on how volume control can turn a good song into a great song. I think the overall album length and slight filler prevent it from getting the fifth star. Love Mark Knopfler though.

Those three dangerous words: I have this. Both in my digital library and my surviving brain memory, as the tape was stuck in my parents’ car for a billion years when I was around 10. ‘Money for Nothing’ is a song I’ve been fascinated with since I heard it, probably when it came out. The exciting opening climaxing Sting, which even then I knew was some sort of joke, was the first fixation, the song-long guitar solo the enduring one. A majestic experimental musician of my acquaintance labelled the guitar sound “brown tone” which, while not complimentary, fits. As a teen in Newcastle, Mark Knopfler worked as an intern at the Newcastle Evening Chronicle where this notoriously grumpy old man also worked. The grumpy old man was modernist poet Basil Bunting, at that time neglected and impoverished, probably finished in his own mind, though his revival with his masterpiece “Briggflatts” was only two years away. Knopfler recently made a song about him and their shared time in the office, and the lyrics appeal strongly to my sentiments. The music, not so much. Not enough brown tone. Still: ‘Bury all joy/ Put the poems in sacks/ And bury me here with the hacks.’ Which is to say, I like Knopfler. And you should read ‘Briggflatts’, and listen to Bunting read it (there’re videos on YouTube). ‘Your Latest Trick’ is the most MOR object that I will ever cherish. Sociologists favourite it, as it is the accepted marker of the cresting of MOR sax. MOR: making good MOR is incredibly hard. Have you ever tried drawing a long, straight line freehand? ‘Why Worry?’ is trite AF, but the descending little synth motif still puts eerie on me, especially with accompanying Knopfnoodling. Musicologists favourite this one as the high water mark of cheesy synth, after which the instrument moved on to the Channel 5 soft porn industry and never looked back. Knopfler is basically Clapton if Clapton wasn’t a… but let’s not embed a list in a list. ‘Ride Across A River’ hahahah did you write this after watching ‘Crocodile Dundee’? Oh shit, that sax… That’s what happens: the songs start off sounding like the cheesiest ‘80s makeout crap, and then they do something that spoils it all by infesting my brain via strange bait. Was that an eBow I heard there? See, ‘The Man’s Too Strong’, fingerpick strum yawn fingerpick strum yawn, hey why is my pulse slightly elevated? “BAM BWAMM, bong BAHBONG!” ‘One World’ is maybe the only plain herb track on this. Still listen to it on all playthroughs, as I need respite from the constant weird ambushes. Closing with the title song reeks of pretensions that bubble through an ambitious album: experimental, daring MOR, the latest synths, the latest digital, and songs that confidentially skip and straddle genre, all tied together by that voice, one of the boldest celebrations of regional identity that went platinum. What about that second side, mostly about war? And what about the fact that there are no sides because this was the record that sold CDs as the forever format? Before they started rotting and people noticed the mastering was shit. Returning as an adult to ‘MFN’ and the war songs, I I like the stories, and the hint of fatalistic Nordic saga in them. Knopfler’s mocked vocal dourness has an ancient and mighty North East English lineage. When I started, I found it hard to bring myself to listen to this, and had to listen to ‘Bang Your Head’ by Gravediggaz to fortify myself after hearing the intro to ‘Walk of Life’. I’m not going to write about ‘Walk of Life’. O God, not another 3! Only joking: fuck you, FOUR! Take that, melts!

The sound of summer '85 in my dad's new Renault 25 (the car that actually spoke to you, kinda like KITT!). Really used to love this - those cool animated guys in the Money For Nothing video, the hilarious sports accidents in the Walk of Life video, the video for the title track that was like the A-ha one but not really, and the generally agreeable other songs that played while I waited for the ones I liked to come back on. What a great summer! Discovered shortly afterwards this was actually Terrible Corporate Boring Wallpaper Music, realized I should hate it, and never listened to it again. Today, I still skew towards the latter but appreciate the craft, at least. Money For Nothing really sucks though, fucking Sting

I'm physically incapable of giving Mark Knopfler any less than 4 stars.

Шедеврально!

Falls off after the first three songs but a lot of classics on here and the occasional horn section on some tracks is very cool. Knopfler’s guitarwork is magnificent and his voice fits the music very well but still leaves a liiiiiittle to be desired for me. Ending the album on a somber note is a pretty neat choice and reading the lyrics for Brother In Arms made me a lil sad haha fav tracks: So Far Away, Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life, Brothers In Arms

Other than the saxophone on "Your Latest Trick" not aging very well (way too 80's schmaltz), these tracks are all incredibly performed and produced. Trivia: this album was released in the cassette era, but just as CDs and digital audio was just coming of age. This album was touted as "you must own the CD version".

66 of 1001 Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms Favorite Track : Walk of Life Rating : 4.5/ 5 Very good album. 3 big hits that stand out but everything else is pleasing to the ear, as well. Close to a 5, but not quite. Couldn't argue with anyone who thinks it is. Holds up well.

Liked some of the tracks and thought the guitar work on this album was great, while there was a ton of lush instrumentation. But a lot of the songs to me feel like they just go way longer than they should, and I think the album is too heavy on ballad type songs which do sorta sound similar. The second half of the record has this problem for me. I did really enjoy the first half of the album though.

Starts off very strong, but loses some of its steam in the middle of the album (why on earth is Why Worry 8 and a half minutes?) In the end it did win me back again with the last tracks.

This album wasn't for me. I like a lot of stuff that's going on here, but I feel like the pacing and mood of each song kind of leaves it as a mess. Walk of life is so poppy, and working in retail completely ruined any sort of impact that song could have for me. Money for nothing is the best song, and yes he uses a slur, but it's to tell a story. It makes sense for what he's talking about. The biggest takeaway from this album is how immaculate the production and mixing is. It is flawless. Just wasn't for me. Score: 65 Art: 40

My 2nd Dire Straits album - Starts off pretty hype then slows down halfway. I think you need to like sax and smooth rock to get through to the end. Money For Nothing was my favorite song (just realized he sings the F slur multiple times), and I hear Walk of Life everyday at work and I'm not tired of it. 3.5

Started very strong, got sort of lost and worldly towards the end but then finds itself again with final track, excellent music for the most part

All I know of these guys is Sultans of Swing. Such an amazing solo in that. Oh! Money for Nothing just came on. I've heard this one a bunch. Never knew who it was. Oh WTF, Walk of Life is them too? The sound on those 2 songs are def 80s. So different from Sultans of Swing even though that was in 78, and this album is 85. Oh man this sax on Your Latest Trick is so 80s! Actually really enjoying Why Worry too. Nice guitar picking and sounds like some thunder. The Man's Too Strong sounds cool. Kinda country kinda blues kinda rock. Great album!

I heard great things about this band, so I was excited, but i felt let down. I liked money for nothing, but the other songs just didn’t hit. They were long and I found myself bored. I don’t know if I’m just not smart enough to find the genius in these songs, but it’s definitely a 2/5

Kinda cool. I liked the vibe.

On first listen, I was put off by the adult contemporary smooth jazz saxophone. The stand out single "Money for Nothing" sounds nothing like the rest of the album and contains uncomfortable homophobic slurs (apparently the lyrics are all based on quotes from someone who was mocking MTV and rockstars. That explains the use of the slur but it's no less uncomfortable to listen to). The rest of the album felt all over the place. On listening again, it grew on me. There's a lot that's impressive about the album and how eclectic it is. I've enjoyed parts of it more than I expected to. I'd be tempted to give it 4 stars but I doubt it's one I'd return to often.

Classic album, and although it's not necessarily groundbreaking in any way, it still gets a fair bit of praise in my book. Intro to Money For Nothing is like something off a Pink Floyd track. Guitar tone is pretty sick, what even is that? Walk Of Life is still a bit of a mood booster, but not very interesting (Your Latest Trick much more so, compositionally). Based on plays, One World seems somewhat underrated to me, was pretty good. Title track is fantastic: Knopfler makes his guitar sing and has great lead tone. Loving the vibe overall. 4/5.

Dit is echt een klassieker! Geweldig album, geweldige melodie, geweldige zang. Zowel up-tempo als gevoelige nummers. Allemaal gewoonweg geweldig!!

yeah it's my 10th album in this project) Brothers in Arms is another quiet soft rock album in this challenge. yeah, it has catchy songs but i am not a big fan of soft rock (and soft music). in sum, album is good and pleasant to listen to. i don't know what else to say... added songs: 3 fav track: one world 8/10

Solid. The first 3 kinda kick the ass of the rest I think, but still solid.

Perfection. Four all time classics to open and close the album, and the songs in between are pretty darn good too. I love Mark Knopfler, and will always remind the world that he is (technically) Scottish!

This is my second Dire Straits review, and this is my favourite Dire Straits album. I have listened to it many times before, and am looking forward to listening again. This is the 29th best selling album of all time. The album was so long, that in order to make it fit on an LP, the band had to trim some of the songs down a bit. The CD version of this record has the full versions of all the songs, as it was intended to be. Some of the songs can tend to wander a bit, but Mark Knopfler's crisp, flawless guitar playing makes it tolerable. Apparently Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) was consulted about how to get the guitar sounds featured in Money for Nothing. This album was recorded on an island in the Caribbean, called Montserrat. While the band were there, they heard that Sting was also there on a wind surfing vacation. Mark Knopfler extends an invitation to Sting to join them for supper one night. After supper, Mark shows Sting what they had been working on, which was Money for Nothing. Sting loved the song, so Mark asks him if he thinks he could add anything to it. That night, they go into the studio, and Sting lays down the intro lyrics: "I Want My MTV", and the rest is history. Overall, a phenomenal album today, and an easy 5. Favourite songs: Money For Nothing, Walk of Life, So Far Away, Brothers in Arms, One World, Your Latest Trick, The Man's Too Strong, Ride Across the River, Why Worry? Least favourite songs: None. The whole album is gold! 5/5

Excellent album, almost a 5 for me

soft sound with groovy guitar. digging it

Mästerverk. så bra!

famosa walk of life ci sta non il mio genere e non riascolterei

Listened Before? N This was good. Not what I expected... a bit more prog-y and some very long songs on here but I found it enjoyable from beginning to end. I really liked the full album version of Money for Nothing. I had no idea it was trimmed so much for the radio. Would recommend this one! Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Money for Nothing

Mikä ekaa biisiä vaivaa?? Ja muutenkin onpas aika erikoinen levy, ekaa biisiä lukuunottamatta en osaa päättää, laahaako liikaa. Ymmärrän, miten voi olla vaikuttava kuuntelukokemus.

Tiedät, mistä biiseistä pidän (oikeina hetkinä). Mutta en halua, että Mark Knopfler välittää minulle omia "fiiliksiään". En luota niihin, en luota tyyppiin, enkä jaksa kuunnella kuuden minuutin maalailua.

4/10

Rare that an album has this many skips. The whole thing sounds cheap, like a band of middle aged dads that would play your local watering hole during Sunday happy hour in exchange for a few free beers. I give em 1. 🍺

Lol whoops I kinda liked it

Synth-rock with country influences. I really enjoyed the sound of this album, and the balance of grit and polish. The saxophone on Your Latest Trick was a treat! It’s difficult to ignore the use of a homophobic slur on the otherwise catchy Money for Nothing, though. While sung from the perspective of a character and not necessarily the artist/band, it is jarring and seems ill-intentioned. Also unnecessary in the songwriting.

Why worry y otros grandes éxitos.

Nice

What can I say? The title track is perfection.

- Some nice chill 80s vibes - Doesn't do a ton for me but I respect it - Some nice variety of sounds

- Wow talk about a loaded album - 2 classic/soft rock bangers - some snoozers in the middle, especially with the song lengths

Classic album, bought it at electric fetus in Minneapolis and left it at the airport in Chicago.

I can't tell you how prevalent this album was in 1985 and early 1986. "Money For Nothing" was EVERYWHERE. You could not escape that song. It was like Dire Straits had not done anything else ("Sultans of Swing?"). It's weird how I tend to like the album BEFORE the hit album of some of these bands. "Love Over Gold" is a tremendous album, and such a different album than this. Lot of great atmospheric and instrumental stuff on it. "Industrial Disease" and "Twisting By The Pool" were really the first two songs by DS I ever really knew, Then came this juggernaut "Money For Nothing." Let's talk about the elephant in the room and the slur used on the song. Knopfler was role playing for this song, and many other performers have done the same in their songs. But in today's world, the song would still not have been made this way today. Same as "The Wall." I don't want to wave it away and just say "times were different", they were. But that kind of acting in songs without realizing the repercussions was just not thought through. I think one of the things about the album to me is how so many of the songs actually have a Springsteen feel. You know, without the gravitas, the songs don't have that cathartic feel. There was a thing called the Walk of Life Project where the song made so many movies better. It is such a "feel good" song, you can't help liking it. I still enjoy it. I don't think there's any song I find overly weak here. The guitar work is smooth on all of the songs, you even have Tony Levin on a track (always a bonus). I wish Marek Knopfler was a better singer. He does not have a wide vocal range, but his guitar kinda makes up for that. I teeter back and forth on this album. I like it a lot, but it's not my favorite of theirs. It has a lot of great songs, and just about all of them are easily listenable. I think "One World" is a bit of a filler, and honestly "Money For Nothing" does go on a little long. I can see why there were single edits to it. I guess the big thing is that I don't keep coming back to the album. It doesn't have relistenability to me. It's a strong 4, but it just doesn't cross over to be a classic for me.

I love Money For Nothing - one of the greatest guitar licks of all time. A buddy of mine got this album off his older brother when we were kids and made copies for us and I listened to it a fair bit. At least, maybe the first three songs, So Far Away From Me and Walk of Life being the other two. Because those three are killer; the former being a little bluesier and the latter being a little poppier than Money for Nothing (pure rock). After that the album drags a bit. Your Latest Trick has a great sax solo to open it, and Why Worry has a decent blues(ish) final few minutes. But both go on too long, as does the album. 54 minutes but it probably could've been 40. I always found Ride Across the River interesting; not as good as the first three but still cool and a better capturing of that sultry blues feel than the rest of songs 4-9. And the title track is decent - again going for that bluesy feel. Overall, the album is good, but could be so much more.

Actually enjoyed it and recognized a lot of songs- from the band “sultan of swing”. 3.5 stars

Very dull, considerably worse than self-titled.

Aside from the hits, a lot of dated 80's filler.

This is my first time really listening to Dire Straits. Really good, growing on me. Excellent guitar riffs. Often simple construction but the different pieces fit together in a very satisfying way. It initially struck me as generic and a bit cliche. But the songwriting is great, music is great. I wonder if it has a “very 80s sound” because it [helped] define that sound. I’m interested to see how the album lasts over time.

Excellent!

Beautiful production and great playing. Carefully controlled, tuneful rock record.

Dire Straits are the biggest dad rock band going. This is the album that offers them sweet release on the drive home from work. After all those listens I'm sure it sounds world class. I get the popularity but don't back it. After money for nothing (nb: who knew they'd say faggots that much) and walk of life there's a lot of slow proggy rock, bit of lounge jazz, some ballad-y stuff and a bunch of tacky add ons in the tracks themselves. Ride across the river stood up, then I was pretty bored again. 3.5

Can't find many faults with this album. Walk of Life is a jolly good tune, and Why Worry was a nice slow ballad thing with some weird synth moments. Other tunes all had something to them. Money for Nothing steals the show, even if it is 8 minutes long. That riff can inspire a generation to play the GEE-TAR. Not sure it needed the word "faggot" four times in back to back sentences though, but it was 1985.