Brothers In Arms

“Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits is the first album I’ve gotten on here that I’ve already listened to all the way through. Let’s just say I was extremely happy to listen to this masterpiece of an album again (it’s one of the best albums of the 80s; you cannot argue with that). This album slaps; it’s genuinely banger after banger. Each song feels like a variation of a sunny day: for example, you have “So Far Away,” which gives you a pep in your step (apologies for the cringe), “Walk of Life,” where you just feel like jumping all around, or “Why Worry,” where you can smell the nonexistent red roses. I almost don’t believe that this album was made in the 80s; it feels like it with the guitar and such, but it’s not like those songs that sort of “define” the 80s, like Tears for Fears-esque stuff. It’s like that but better because Mark Knopfler is crazy talented. The fact that Mark Knopfler produced this album is incredible; he integrates the whole band and more into the record so seamlessly. There’s a little bit of everything on it, and even so, Mark can adapt his voice to whichever instruments are in the background, like in “Brothers in Arms.” Still, I noticed a few songs share similar characteristics: one of the most obvious ones is the buildup that really defines the album, like in “Money for Nothing,” “Walk of Life,” “Your Latest Trick…” I might as well list all of the songs, but you get the point—my favorite buildup is probably in “Your Latest Trick,” where you begin with the trumpet and keyboard, but then you hear the saxophone, which makes up the rest of the song and has that ascent-inducing sound. What’s more are the instrumentals at the end of most songs: they act as this sort of bridge or interlude from one song to the next, but they’re not pointless or just weird like some other artists' (cough, a good portion of Pink Floyd). God, I would love to hear this live with Mark and his sweatbands. Nothing I write here is going to do this album justice; I would need a whole book to describe how I feel about it. But long story short, this album is close to the definition of musicality, virtuosity, artistry, craftsmanship, whatever. Say what you want about Mark’s voice, but this album is a masterpiece. 5/5

A fantastic rock n roll album that happened to come along at the perfect time for MTV.

A masterpiece! On your scale, it should be a 10 or 20. Hadn't listened to it in a while and was glad to be reminded what a great album it is. My cat loved it, too.

I want my MTV

What an album, what a genius guitar sound. Brothers in Arms is a song for the ages, the rest is fun, depressing, thought provoking too.

yes love

A perfect album, back to front

Absolute Classic. There is nothing I can add to this review. A must-listen for everyone, simple as that.

Money for nothing… awesome riff 😎

A game changer at the time and led to an MTV revolution

I’ve listened to this album hundreds of times and always love it. Amazing sounds, rhythms, lyrics.

beat ICONIC pas mega mon style mais c'est still bon

absolute masterpiece, i would listen to this when i feel like the world is falling apart but im still looking for a reason to dance through it

This is the best album I’ve listened to yet on my 1001 albums journey. The homophobic slur on Money for Nothing was unfortunate on an otherwise perfect song. I understand the song is a third person narrative of a character who is meant to be unlikable, but still. The instrumentation on all the songs was incredible.

Didn't listen to all of it but pretty good from what I heard. I now have a newfound appreciation for this band

one of my all time favs

I listened to this album back in the day and havent listened to it aince. That is to say it is not an album I would pick fir heavy rotation on my turntable. But this is for sure a great album. Beautiful mix, strong players, an artful mix of rick/pop and jazz sensibilities. It is a melancholiuc rock pop jazz album overall. Though Money For Nothing is a bit out of the norm for the rest of the album in its rockier stance but is there a more iconic guitar riff/sound? Shits on Smells Like Teen Spirit, but similar effect of a guitar phrase and sound elevating a song to a hit. The sound of this alb is a delight that showcases the imsteumwnts and the talent olaying them so well. Drums are the standout for me. The weakest is Mark Knoflers vocals. Not bad, but as an instrument not as well tuned or as great a range as the others, but he’s known as a guitarist not a vocalist.

my scaling on this website has completely gone off… i didn’t consider this one a masterpiece but it has a great diversity and does sound good, but i really don’t want to give it a 5. yet, compared to all my other 4s this one is certainly better

One of my favourite bands and I’ve always enjoyed the album. A couple of so-so songs that would drag my mark to 4.5 but happy to round up to 5 for the memories I have from listening to this on a road trip when it first came out

did not like it

Classic

Awesome to this day. Amazing guitar playing. One of the best bands of all time.

Endlich mal wieder eine Platte, die (für mich) in die Topliste gehört. Sound, Gesang, Texte, Produktion, …, alles Spitzenklasse.

Mark knofler is just the goat

This was a welcome palette cleanser after that awful Kings of Leon album! I was aware of Money For Nothing but never really listened to it all that closely, but wow. That slow burn through the beginning is epic in scope, and that guitar work is off the charts. The homophobic slur certainly hasn't aged well and sadly prevents me from listening to it in public settings like school. But I've always been intrigued by Walk of Life and how a British band can have a song so clearly inspired by Cajun zydeco music. I was actually curious to see if there are any zydeco bands that cover this song. Do yourself a favor and look up Charles Mann (apparently the swamp king) and his cover of Walk of Life from 1989. You'll feel like you're at Mardi Gras! Fantastic album that serves as a master class in expressive guitar playing and songwriting.

Outstanding. This was a joy to listen to from start to finish. Magnificent instrumentation, variation, and infectiousness. On top of the tracks themselves, the whole thing being mastered to perfection is what seals the deal. Every song, particular in the first half, manages to be so high-quality and engaging while being unmistakable for one another. The first album here I’ve loved this much with no prior knowledge of the artist or band. 2 listens Favorite Tracks: Walk of Life, Money for Nothing, Title Track, Your Latest Trick, So Far Away

Expectation: -> A quick sneak peak at the first couple songs and I see Money For Nothing. Call me stoked for this. After listening: -> Found myself down a rabbit hole seeking answers for multiple uses of a slur. I will never be comfortable with it regardless of a reasonable explanation and subsequent response. Those 15 seconds aside, this album is incredible. These musicians have quite an unexpected range. Did not expect smooth atmospheric slow rock tracks intermixed with their iconic radio hits. 5 Track ranking: Money Walk So Far Trick Brothers River World Worry Strong

This was excellent, I had only known the radio hits but the rest was really good

Good album by an all time great band. 5

I love this album. Mark Knopfler with a guitar in his hand is something else.

I'm not a guy who usually raves about solos or anything but some of the guitar solos on this are fucking incredible

Very strong set

(7/7) I've always thought Mark Knopfler was the best guitarist that people never really seem to talk about

Classic. Some of the best guitar playing. Nice array of different sounds and feels in the tracks, ending on the best one in my opinion in the title track.

Great

5/5 Favorite Songs: So Far Away Money For Nothing Walk of Life Brothers in Arms Your Latest Trick Ride Across The River One World

The title track is probably one of the best songs about the futility of war. Spare me the pearl clutching over the gay slur in "Money for Nothing" and get over yourself. The song is written from the POV of someone who would use that term. That character is likely MAGA and doesn't understand the effort it takes to make music. The music is so varied in this album. This album came out when I was 13. At first, I thought it was boring, but the more I listened to it, the more I grew to love it. Often you need repeated exposure to fully appreciate a work of art, which makes this project sometimes frustrating when I wonder if I spent enough time listening to a record. For funsies, tell your friends that "Money for Nothing" is a cover of a song called "Monet for Nothing" which is about art thieves.

This album is absolutely fantastic, with some beautiful tracks, other popish ones, some blues and, surely, a lot of fun. It's just perfect, every song is different, and still it's very coherent. And every song is great too. So, it's a delightful record. A very enjoyable one that also combines different sounds in a very beautiful way.

Brilliant.

Fantastic album! I've always quite liked Dire Straits and this album is quite a good representative of their style and abilities. Mark is a phenomenal guitarist! There is no doubt and I've heard some folks claim he's the greatest. Now, nobody gets to be The Greatest because there are so many styles, but if the question is "What guitarist has a style that is un-reproducible? I'd have to put Mark's name up for contention. Nobody has the fingerstyle and combination of styles and motifs that he has. He really is a magical creature. Now, for the singing. He doesn't have the best voice and his range is rather small. But he does bring a good bit of emotion to much of it, so it's hard to hate on. I mean, he's never annoying. Nothing grating or off-key. This album has, what... 5 singles that charted? I won't harp on the singles because a million people here have. But I want to point at "One World" because the bass is Killer! Quite different for Dire straits and I think it has pretty much the least typical Mark Knopfler, but most typical rock guitarist, guitar sounds than any other DS song. I very much like this entire album and most of the other Dire Straits albums too. I'd listen to this on almost any day. And while it doesn't quite give me goosebumps like the rare other 5's I give, I feel it deserves a 5 for consistency and quality of sound.

Sublimely beautiful album.

Favorite Song: Money for Nothing

Perfection in every detail, lovely mix of rock, blues and jazz.

Masterpiece? So good. These guys rule.

This is a long time favourite of mine. Great one to get started with!

Ah yes. One of the few albums my dad had on cassette for car journeys when I was growing up. Maybe the only one that was actually listenable, because the others were Dr Hook, Declan Nerney, and Charlie Landsborough. As such, we played it to death to avoid the other tripe, and had our favourites. My brother loved Walk Of Life. Everyone knew Money For Nothing. But I was always partial to Your Latest Trick - arguably the only song to ever feature a brass instrument which isn't made worse because of that instrument. Sure the saxophone makes the song sound like an 80s Porno, but it also makes me think of stating up late watching Midnight Caller, Detective Shows and movies, and neon American City nights. It's super evocative and absolutley nails a tone and sense of place and time. Similarly evocative and more powerful is the flawless title track. It's one of the first songs I wanted to learn when I got my first guitar. Knopfler is of course a guitar titan. I won't pretend that he's the best singer in the world, and I often wonder how much better these songs would be if they'd had a more traditional voice. But would they retain the same atmosphere? I've watched covers of these songs, and while the vocals are often impressive, there's still sonething magical missing. No matter. What with all the nostalgia wrapped up in thus album for me, the hits, the success, the acclaim, the guitar...it's an easy five.

5/5 Bangers and varied instrumentals, interesting and good vibes throughout.

It’s one of my favorite albums, but it isn’t exactly top of mind. I forgot how good this is from start to finish. The Man’s Too Strong and One World are among their finest.

nothing more needs to be said. 100/10 album.

Not my personal favorite of them, but what a record!

I knew i would really like this record when i finally sat down and listened to the whole thing and like it’s actually nearly perfect?!

Só pedrada!!! Album maravilhoso de verdade!

It feels like the laws of the universe would stop Mark and crew from being cool, and yet they just rock

Classic. Riffin', tuneful, good incorporation of 80s technology, some "Best ever" songs ("Brothers in Arms" and "Money for Nothing")

Really great album. Never trust anyone who doesn't love walk of life. Will say I definitely prefer their self titled album but this is also solid.

The rangeeeee

Excelente

Сара 5 Марко 5

I came to this album later in my life than I did a lot of rock music from this era, and I think I was less open to it that I should have been. There's so many bona-fide classics on here and the tracks you don't know are bloody good as well. Great album!

Expert level guitar play and each song has its own peaceful type of vibe.

Classic album with some bangers on it. Having trouble thinking of any downsides…

GREAT album. 9/10 would listen again.

If the dire straits have 0 fans that means I’m dead

Sooo good

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the peerless and uniquely talented Mark Knopfler.

Que álbum gostosinho de ouvir e não tenho descrição melhor. Não atoa foi seu título de primeiro a vender 1 milhão de cópias em CDs.

Wonderful guitars, Mark's voice is so pleasant, one of the albums I was raised on. Every track feels just right, brilliant through and through.

Amazing album. The quality of music in this album is very high, especially the guitar. I think the pace throughout is maybe a bit too diverse. Overall I would rate it a 9/10.

Solid classic, reaches right into your heart.

This was straight up beautiful and often subversive. You know those two brothers from the UK that wrote most of the GTA games? To me, this album presents itself in a similar way: “Money For Nothing”, along with lots of other material on this album, should be taken with a pinch of irony. Much like those GTA games, it’s art that holds up a mirror to the cultural excess of the it’s respective era. “So Far Away” makes it clear that these guys have an arrangement preference that lets these songs breathe for however long they need. I knew all about “Money For Nothing”, but never knew that “Walk Of Life” was a Dire Straits song. It sound VERY much like a loving imitation of what Bruce Springsteen was doing on “Born In The USA” a year prior. It’s hard to see how people find this to be hackish and mindlessly derivative. I think this song and the sound on this album seems both like a loving homage AND a tongue-in-cheek nod to American pop-rock if the mid 80’s and before. “Your Latest Trick” further burrows its nose in indulgent 80’s sounds. It’s composed with a lot of tact and played to perfection. Then “Why Worry” triples down on the waiting room ambience with this placid, mellow, contemplative marathon of a recording. Minutes 3-6 practically tucked me in and kissed me goodnight before a steady drumline gently woke me up and served me breakfast in bed. Not to be outdone, “Ride Across The River” flexes a different muscle entirely, with its vaporwave-fodder instrumental laid under a captivating story. A most subtle, charming war protest song. If you can leverage any criticism towards this album, it’s that it doesn’t lose a slight bit of its generational mojo in the last few songs. They aren’t bad at all, it’s just hard to live in the shadow of such graceful excellence. I’m a bit lost as to how this one wasn’t a seminal record when I was younger. Is it an American thing where a group like Guns N Roses was just more identifiable for me when listening to my parents’ classic rock radio all the time? Maybe it’s that the attractions of Brothers In Arms lay not in a bombastic presentation, but in a patient, delicate interpretation of rock in the mid 80’s. I listened to this twice just to be sure it’s a 5/5. I was a little scared that upon my second listen, I’d feel a sense of lackluster at the aforementioned back end of the album. That didn’t happen at all, u was happy to just ride the pleasant wave that is Brothers In Arms!

I love Dire Straits but this isn’t my favorite album

loveeeeeeee sultans of swing ofc

This is just one of the best 80's albums. There isn't a single song on this album that I don't like, plus it has iconic tracks like brothers in arms and money for nothing.

I was waiting for this one to show up on the list since I listened to Dire Straits at the beginning. Absolutely love this album. I was just waiting for it to pop up to rate it 5 stars

My vinyl copy has a little too much fireplace in the mix but this still sounds great. Easy 5. Sublime songs, unique guitar playing.

Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: Polished, atmospheric, and quietly heavy. Feels calm on the surface but carries a lot of weight underneath. Every track sounds like it’s been sitting with something for a while. Favorite Track: “Brothers in Arms.” Slow, restrained, and devastating without trying to be. That guitar just speaks.

Killer three song combo to kick it off, but definitely feels front loaded overall. That said, I enjoy the musical journey this album takes you on - starting with smooth synth and slide guitar, into screaming distortion against stings show choir soprano, and then back to light hearted organs and rock a billy guitar. And then the rest of the album kind of swings the pendulum around those handful of genres. I can hear the argument that the albums too long but not for me.

Yeah, pretty dang good rock album with a lot of range.

Awesome

Another day of not being able to pull each track apart, but I love these guys sound. They are doing some real interesting things with their guitar, but also their compositions with other instruments are just mesmerizing; "So Far Away" was intriguing, but "Your Latest Trick" really stopped me in my tracks; I loved it. Once again, my expectations were defied again by "Why Worry"; I notice across the tracks that a lot of the guitar chord/note choices sound like Pink Floyds, showing me both my instant love of this music and my bias. When you grow up with a band that brings you nothing but comfort each time you hear it play, anything that resembles that feeling of child-like safety is going to get a bump in likeability, for anyone. And again... just when I thought it couldn't switch it up any more, "Ride across the River" comes along with his mysterious dark beats, sax and xylophonic tones. Simply awesome. My rating just climbed with every track of this album. Like how I felt about The Cure's Disintegration, my gratitude to the journey swells again for showing this to me.

I've really gotten into this album in recent months. While not one of my all time favorites, it's pretty flawless. Why Worry was the song that I hadn't heard before that really stuck with me. 4.5/5.

Oh thank god for that. I was about to give up on this project so I needed this. Such an amazing album. There's no bad songs. Money for nothing is such a jam, walk of life loads of fun, and the haunting melancholy of the title track is such an amazing way to close the album!

Bomba di album

Great album. Dire Straits is way underrated, and that's saying a lot since they are legends.

One of the best albums, one of the best songwriters and guitarists from the best decade. It’s a banger 4.6

I never noticed the word "faggot" in Money for Nothing prior to this listen. Walk of Life was so good and I didn't realize it was by Dire Straits. I also enjoyed Why Worry. Brothers In Arms was a heavy listen. There are a lot of great songs on this album.

Brothers in Arms es un despliegue de creatividad y pulcritud técnica. Lo que más destaca es la interpretación de Mark Knopfler; su guitarra en "So Far Away" posee una tonalidad nostálgica pero profundamente humana, demostrando que la perfección digital no tiene por qué ser fría. El álbum se beneficia enormemente de un cambio de ritmo muy bueno, moviéndose con fluidez entre la energía crítica de "Money for Nothing" y la sofisticación de "Your Latest Trick". Esta última pieza merece mención aparte por su atmósfera de jazz nocturno, que se percibe mucho más limpia y producida que otros géneros, elevando el estándar de lo que el rock puede alcanzar en términos de elegancia. La extensión de las canciones, lejos de ser excesiva, permite que la instrumentación respire y se desarrolle, reafirmando que la duración es un aliado de la expresión artística genuina. Es un disco cristalino, donde cada nota tiene su lugar y cada silencio suma a la narrativa sonora.

This album gets a 5 for the first three songs alone - and the last song is just a bow on the gift of this record.

This is SUCH an interesting album. Dire Straits undoubtedly in an identity crisis on this album. The first three songs are not their sound whatsoever, and was then completely selling out, but doing it so unbelievably well, one of the greatest back to back to back songs of any album in the history of rock. Then the rest of the album is true Dire Straits. Superbly crafted songs, just very boring.

Possibly the best album of the 80’s! Enough said.

Honestly one of the best I’ve listened to on this list so far. Love this album.

Top tier guitar among a flurry of hit tracks and other savory samplings from this band of goliath talent.

It's classic, ignore the morons and listen to the craftsmanship and skill.

What’s not to like about this album? It’s perfect in every way. Mark Knopfler is an amazing musician and this is an equally amazing album.

I WANT MY MTV

Excelente

Mark sabe cositas

nostalgic for me, one of my all time favs. My dad and I listened to this together all the time growing up

The ultimate Dad Rock album, chock full of sweet Knopfler guitar goodness. The production is 80s cold but with a dream-like quality that lifts the songs with a peculiar airiness that leaves a surprising amount of space. Money for Nothing has that crunchy super-riff, but is an outlier on the record, with so much of the rest in more familiar Dire Straits twangy chill.

Brothers in Arms is one of those slbums that feels like its always been part of my life. My dad loved those album and therefore it soundtracked many a car journey. It was also part of one of my GCSEs and is an album that I continue to listen to periodically. I know critics will point to Knopfler’s vocals being nasally, but they just work so well with their music. ‘So Far Away’ is s great opener and has a great groove to it…and that guitar just makes me smile. You cannot disike ‘money for nothing’ or ‘walk of life’ they are both timeless classics, even though Sting has gone firmly from singing about the future to the past (RIP MTV). Both these songs really show off Knopfler’s wondrous geetar playing, this guys not dumb. I do however still get confused about what needed installing with a microwave. I love the guitar intro to ‘why worry?’ and is s genuinely relaxing sound, suiting Knopfler’s vocal perfectly. ‘Ride across the river’ is a little too long and doesn’t reach the heights of the rest of the album, despite some obvious great guitar. ‘The man’s too strong’ quickly gets things back on strong though with more of a gunslinger country feel to it (see Notting Hillbillies) For me the title track of this has always been the star. Its dark brooding majesty is just sublime.

Amazing

Tätä levyä on tullut jo tuoreeltaan kuunneltua. Löytyy omasta hyllystä. Itseasiassa tämä on ensimmäinen CD minkä olen ikinä kuullut. Kävin sitä kuuntelemassa Helsingissä Kauppatorilla 1985 Philipsin markkinointibussissa. Hyvä levy, mitä tulee vieläkin kuunneltua silloin tällöin. Nimi biisi on suosikki raitani. Bändi keikka Helsingissä on eka keikka 1985 on ensimmäinen iso keikka minkä oon nähnyt.

el guitarrista se lleva todos los premios es un sólido 10/10. la canción walk ok life obvio increíble pero para mí no va con el resto del álbum

HEAT

Hell Yeah, Brother. This album is like the soundtrack of a bustling, busy city in the 90s

Amazing, as always. Brilliant singles on the first side, wonderful deep tracks on the second.

What a journey! My personal favorites are Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life and Ride Across The River

I'm sorry that you don't understand how characters work.

10/10

Was expecting to like but not as much as I did. I loved this album.

Otroligt att få alla dessa låtar på samma album ändå.

Från deras mest överskattade (men ändå väldigt bra) låt till ett av mina starkaste TV-ögonblick samt ett av rockvärldens absolut bästa intron OCH riff. Detta är ett mästerverk från början till slut.

Det här har verkligen några fenomenala låtar!

Oops! All bangers.

Mark Knopfler is the goat. I'll forever be trying to replicate his guitar style. Iconic stuff.

This is classic. Love it, and even heard some new songs I'd never heard before that I thought were great.

This is a 9 song, hour long album. A lot to unpack here. It's the Money for Nothing album. I didn't know Sting sang the I WANT MY MTV part. I also wasn't expecting the F slurs in the song. I don't recall that from the music video. Looks like the F slur created a lot of controversy even at the time. The entire point of the song is that it's from the POV of basically a laborer criticizing rock stars who are making "money for doing nothing and even get their chicks for free." The F slur is the laborer basically calling Knopfler that word and bitching about how rock stars don't work while they are moving refrigerators and color tv's at work. Impactful for sure, but this entire section of the song caught me off guard because i've heard this song a ton of time and somehow NEVER heard the actual original version with this part. It's hard to be too mad at this given the time period and given the nature of the song. The music video is legendary and one of the first music videos I can even remember outside of Thriller, Beat It.....and the Weird Al parodies, which he did parodied all 3 of these songs and his MV's are equally memorable. Funny that the band were so anti-MV and yet they made one of the most iconic MV's of all time, and one of the first to do it entirely with computers. The critical reception and retrospective reception of this album in the wiki are interesting. This album initially criticized for settling into an established successful rock sound for their album and not experimenting. Now they're celebrated for "staying true to themselves" and maintaining the classic rock sound. Course they had to sell 30 million albums for those critics to suddenly change how they feel about the album so they can appear to know wtf they're talking about. I also don't know wtf i'm talking about, but at least i'm not getting paid for it. Also the first CD to sell a million copies, which is cool. I mean again, it's a very musically solid album from Dire Straits and I can't find anything "wrong" with it (well, aside from the F slur but ok). I want to say the non-single tracks are meh, but they do a great job of capturing the ambiance and mood of the song. Across the River for example, feels like you're in a small little paddle boat crossing a river. Knopfler on the guitar is amazing through the entire album. Even the songs I don't *like*, I have to admit they did an excellent job on it. Shout out to all the people who caught the F slur but were too stupid to look at what the song was about and who was using it. Even using a 2026 "artistic vision", it is not unrealistic to create an uneducated character that freely uses the word.

truly on the best there is

Just a fantastic album. The first 3 songs are some of their best work. Mark Knopfler is a wizard on the guitar.

Knopfler is a beast, the album is great, "I have spoken!".

A must listen and no wonder it’s on the list

Obviously a five star album whether you like it or not.

GOAT

Fantastic album. Can listen on repeat.

I won't have anything bad said against Brothers in Arms. It's uncool as fuck, and that is the very reason why I love it so much. Back in '85 I was hopping back and forth between The Meteors and Brothers in Arms. I saw no conflict then, and I still continue to enjoy my genre bed hopping these days. It's just an uplifting, feel good rock 'n' roll album. Walk of Life in particular always has been bopping around the kitchen. The main subject matter gets a little grim, but it's never a BUMMER of an album. Outstanding. Now eat shit and die if you disagree. So there.

This is #day568 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… how about the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format? Brothers in Arms is an aural pleasure, especially if you listen to it on vintage gear, like I did this Friday night. I wasn't really familiar with the second half, though. Either way, it's a masterclass in mid-'80s pop-rock. I love the story behind the lyrics of "Money for Nothing." And then there's that sax in "Your Latest Trick" (I forgot how I like that melody), and, of course, the title track. They don't do it like that anymore. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day569.

One of my favorite albums, and certainly Dire Straits' best. Just banger after banger on this one. So Far Away, Money for Nothing and Walk of Life is a wonderful trio to start the album with, and then the rest of the album slaps too. Closes off with Brothers In Arms, one of the most beautiful songs ever created. I have reviewed this album before, and then I rated it a 8 / 10, but it has grown on me since then, so I'll give it a 9 / 10.

So 80s but so varied also

Love this Album. Mark is one of my favorite guitar players.

An absolute classic

5 but a more begrudging 5 than I thought. Real CD bloat and self indulgence in the third quarter of this one which almost brought down the whole thing.

A solid classic which should be in any record collection

Bastante bueno, no me imaginaba lo mucho que iba a disfrutarlo.

Never listened to this entire thing before but familiar with half of it. Hard to say anything bad about this one. Money for Nothing is a potent commentary on the woes of riches. It also has an important video for the development of CGI use. Walk of Life is a great song to follow MFN by talking about an average man's experiences day to day. Your latest trick is a new one to me but I loved the guitar here. The Man's Too Strong has such killer sounds its been a semi-recent find for me before this. Brother in arms is also a new one for me but is a great sonic conclusion to what came before while not wasting its inclusion just to end the album. Ive ended up talking myself from a 4 to a 5 with this review. Banger album.

LOOOVEEE money is for nothing, is the best one

Sublime production, a true classic.

It's an almost perfect album. Lyricism. Artistry. Stories. Riffs. I've heard it probably too much as a demo album in stereo shops and stuff and I almost downgraded it due to overfamiliarity but trying to take it at its own merit it's just a really, really good album.

Great album, loved the tunes, great talent, thx

The album that led the CD revolution. Every track is wonderful.

Liked this better than the last Dire Straits album, felt more complete.

Always easy listening … good disc

A real masterpiece. Beginning to end with a couple of all time tunes on there to boot.

un pinche perro discazo

Money for Nothing alone deserves a five stars for me but I also love some of the other songs on this album like Brothers in Arms and Your Latest Trick.

I have owned this for over 40 years. Still love it. Still trying to figure out how to get my money for nothin' and my chicks for free. 5.0

...

5/5

I love Dire Straits and this is their most popular, and arguably best, album. Their off-kilter pub rock isn’t for everyone though, and the handful of records between their eponymous debut and Brothers In Arms are middling and inconsistent. But here they’re at the height of their inventiveness and creativity in both song writing and recording. Their is no fat to be trimmed. The experimental songs are fully formed, and the hits are distinct and undeniable. Their allegiance to a specific Americana-tinged sound often masks their wry artistic nature. For me, their appeal has always been the fact that their approach to music blends a seemingly vapid veneer with deeply critical, unironic lyrics with a dedication to — and expert execution of — specific music traditions. This album is blatantly satirical, and that sensibility was further amplified by the album’s reception in popular culture: despite the songs critique, one that questions the evolving role of musicianship and popularity in the age of visual media, it became a massive hit on MTV with its charmingly-dated computer animation powered music video. Many musicians who became popular before music absorbed the added visual medium that MTV ushered in were hesitant and critical about this development, and their concerns weren’t unfounded. Despite those anxieties, Dire Straits takes control of the wheel and cruises over that divide, and Brothers In Arms has aged very well — a forward-thinking and thought provoking, expertly crafted, commercially successful album. The runtime of roughly half the songs on this record are over five minutes long, a testament to their willingness to be more expansive in artistic direction while not sacrificing a commitment to writing catchy hooks and riffs that can be enjoyed at face value, unconcerned about the churning waters just below the placid surface.

A masterpiece in rock music with purpose.

Still love this album after so many years. Great songs and amazing and innovative guitar sounds. Some of the songs are a bit long but still enjoyed them all.

★★★★★,

wonderful

Not their best but still excellent.

Sehr gutes Album, mit den altbekannten Bangern. Die weniger bekannten Songs finde ich hatten auch n tollen Sound und Texte. Hier gibt es nicht wirklich was zum Meckern

Banger

An excellent classic rock album with guitar virtuoso Mark Knopfler at his best. Starts out with 3 solid tracks and finishes with the greatest comrades in arms sobg ever.

I prefer more guitar picking by Mark knopfler than this album has but it's still an iconic album. Every song is a banger.

Loving it

5 h Solid and chok full of impeccably produced hits

that is some tasty guitar goddamn. i like

So many good songs, nice to have an album I like again

I thought about giving it only 4 bc it is personally a bit slower than what I would usually listen to but honestly even if it is not youe cup of tea you can hear that this is art. The guitars? The synth? Juicy is what it is. I knew half of the songs anyway but never knew they where all by the Straits let alone all on the same album that's nuts to me. Such a chill album sounds like a dream ngl I will definitely listen to it again as a whole thing in the future.

Honestly so damn good! Really didn't expect to like this so much. I feel like Walk of Life was embedded into my subconscious and only revealed when relistened without expecting anything. Adoreddddd the guitar solos. Beaut

Just a flat out ridiculous album, zero skips within, Sure "Money For Nothing" and "Walk Of Life" are way overplayed in your lifetime, but the whole flow of the album is seriously fucking good. Mark Knopfler is on fire with his guitar playing, the drums and bass are tight and even the 80s sax player gets his chance to shine with a godly tier riff on the jazzy noir "Your Latest Trick" and the vibes on "Ride Across The River" feels like an island band despite the song being about mercenaries and private wars, a theme that gets bookended in the titular "Brothers In Arms" about the futility of war, and capped by an emotional solo for the ages. This is arguably the moment Dire Straits went from "great British band" to "global phenomenon." It was one of the first albums made famous by MTV videos and directed at the CD market, recording digitally to capture every nuance of Mark Knopfler’s fingerpicking.

One of the best albums ever created!

Engraçado que era uma álbum que eu queria ouvir, e foi o primeiro a sair pra mim. Já conhecia a maioria das músicas mas nem sabia que era desse álbum ou banda. Gostei da experiência, muito bom ouvir com calma sem querer passar as faixas ou me entediar e mudar de álbum. As primeiras músicas são mais animadas e depois ficam mais introspectivas.

Very good album. But songs seem too different

Something interesting I just read about this album is that it was one of the first to be digitally recorded and helped kick off CD culture with its high sales. Back in the early ’90s, when I first started collecting tapes, the Money for Nothing album was in my top 10. That song was actually one of the tracks that helped shape my early taste in music. I also just learned that Money for Nothing was actually a greatest hits compilation, and this was the album that song originally came from. Either way, Brothers in Arms is a solid album from beginning to end. Most of the songs feel familiar, and the album has such a smooth, consistent flow that makes it very cohesive.

Now this is what I’m talking about!! I just love that damn guitar. Usually I don’t like songs that are super long but with this, I don’t mind it at all. Vibes are immaculate.

loved the change in types of songs

I really loved this album! every track was diffrent and unique which made the album interesting and not boring. I will definitly be listening again. my favorites were so far away, why worry, and walk of life.

Stone cold classic!

Another album I have listened a lot to. So many classic songs on one album! I remember I prefered the songs on side A over side B when growing up, but I can honestly say that this album has no weak songs for me now. The album has a very clear sound, it makes you think that nothing is accidental but calculated. Still, I like it this way, though I know others think it is too much «pop rock». For me it’s a really strong album which I like a lot.

I obviously remembered the hits. The rest of the album is delightful, but maybe not radio worthy.

10 MUITO BOM

Beautiful album

10 - EXCELLENT

okay i've listened to this album so much alr in my life. one of the best album's ever made, gonna enjoy listening to this. money for nothing intro is so fucking good holy shit. why worry is gotta be one of the best songs on this album, along with your latest trick. oh and not to forget the title track brothers in arms. All in all 10/10 album, no notes

I remember one time I was playing this huge playlist I have for my dad, and Money For Nothing came on while we were in the car. And he got really quiet and absolutely cranked the volume, and the riff came in and it was transcendent.

Masterpiece, might have an f-slur in it though, I need to check the lyrics

Beautiful

Great album.

Un de leurs meilleurs albums, la guitare de Marc Knopfler reconnaissable entre toutes, vibe chill, plein de tubes énormes banger

A great from our brothers in arms...

"Money For Nothing" is up there for one of the most misunderstood songs of all time. Chill out, everyone, he's literally parroting the steak face in an appliances store for the dialogue in the song.

Never a big game of Dire Straits but album just hit me….guitar playing got me. Live songs!!

Truly the epitome of dadrock, which I say both derisively and lovingly. Nevertheless its undeniably an album dense with hits, Walk of life, so far away, money for nothing and brothers in arms on one album is crazy. Ultimately a 5 even with some of the weaker tracks.

un des meilleurs albums ever

2nd album is an album I own. Could be their greatest hits album. Banger after banger.

classic. Mark Knopfler is one of the greatest guitarists and musicians of my generation.

Love this album, classic

Amazing guitar and seemingly effortless rock. Dire Straights just got a new fan. Tracks to Track: Walk of Life, Your Latest Trick, Why Worry

One of my favorite albums of all time. Dragged out the vinyl to listen to this one.

Álbum histórico que a parte de contener gran parte de las canciones que ya me gustaban de Dire Straits, me ha descubierto la canción "The Man's Too Strong".

5!!!!

This is exactly why I started this project to hear bands that I know the name and heard other people mention as top bands but parents never listened to them so it wasn't part of my childhood. Amazing album

Absolute banger

“Sal, I was here! It’s a joke!”

10/10

Excellent.

Best álbum n of all time

OG epicness !!

So Far Away is great All the singles are great. Everything is good. Some of lyrics haven't aged the best. But everything is really good. I got it and I get it Its a classic

Waaay better than Bjork.

Magical album. Mark knopfler is an absolute genius and this album is some of his best

5/5 Couldn't be any other way, so, why worry?

Really good

some tracks are perhaps too long but this kinda ruled

Wonderful

I want my MTV

Hell yeah!

Gorgeous with driving guitar and soulful voice

legendary

Twój stary type of album ale ma cos w sobie, miło było

20 year old Tyler scoffed at this album (while singing the praises of other dire straits albums (still valid!!)). 20 year old Tyler was a fool.

The two greatest moments of the 1980s were Ronald Reagan dragging his nuts across Gorby's face shouting tear down this wall and the second minute of Money for Nothing where they build into the greatest riff in rock history.

No fillers! Pure nostalgia.

Plenty of bangers on here

I know it's not on this album but I think Sultans of Swing is one of the most underrated, if not THE most underrated, song of all time

Dadiest album ever?

Takes me back

Beautifully produced. Excellent lyrics and writing. Really enjoy the smooth jazz-rock along with Knopfler’s brilliant work on the guitar. Just a pleasure to listen to front to back.

Episches Album

mega kool

Since I listen to this album over and over again, writing a review today is really easy for me. Brothers in Arms is truly a great album. 5/5

Riiiiight up my alley. Adored this.

classic

Definitely one of those, oh, that song! albums. The singing (and calling it singing is being somewhat generous) is fairly flat tonally, but I still dug it, which is very unusual for my tastes. It just works with the electric keys and bluegrassy guitar. The second half really slows the tempo but is no less fab. An odd collection of songs, but most are great in their own right even if they don't fit together entirely coherently. This one really surprised me in a good way. Listened to: at 5MW. Favorite tracks: Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, Why Worry, Brothers in Arms

This record reinforces that this band is more than catchy synth tunes and deep blues guitar. They put together some really good pop songs and they created a bunch of soundscapes and amazing jazz fusion songs to go with it.

This one has a few pop chart hits, the most famous being I want my MTV. 5/5

Excellent album

Really good songs. A bit on the mellow side, but a very good album nonetheless

One of the few vinyls my parents owned. Not even a rainy chaotic morning bother me because I was listening to this.

One of the best albums of its time, amazing song writing and variety throughout. Best 3 are money for nothing (didn't know the original was 9 mins long), walk of life and that saxophone in your latest trick

Classic!

The band! The hits!

Favs: So far away Money for nothing Walk of life The man's too strong

Un clásico aunque no es mi preferido de Dire Straits. Entiendo el exitazo dado el giro más comercial y enfocado al gran público que dieron, lo cual no le resta calidad. Todos los singles se han oído hasta la saciedad, de manera que alguno de ellos he acabado por aborrecer (“Walk Of Life”), así que pongo como preferida una maravilla que se llama “Ride Across The River”, que es la que más me recuerda a álbums y canciones anteriores (“Once Upon A Time In The West”). Definitivamente es un álbum histórico, pero que su éxito no opaque todo lo que venía antes.

10/10

Money for Nothing is why I bought my first CD player. And it's why I had to replace a set of speakers in my first car. And again in my second car.

This was incredible. Super interesting album and every song is good. Favourite Song: Walk of Life Honourable Mentions: Money for Nothing, Your Latest Think, Brothers In Arms

Dire straits, great album, easy 5/5

Stone cold classic couple of less awesome tracks but oh man the highs are so high. The production quality is astounding and really pushed the CD sales it felt like everyone owned this at the time.

Rock out the first half, and then mellow out the second. Goes from Rock Legend to Storyteller, and it's acceptable all the same.

Effortlessly cool guitar work. Songs that sound great and meaningful now, even after 40 years.

A great post punk album with many strong tracks. Knopfler's vocal style suits the sound quite well, and "Money for Nothing" is iconic for a reason. The other songs are all bangers, too.

So much more variety than I expected. The middle section is stunning, such a lovely 80s sound. The title track is one of the most important songs to me from the last few years, and one of the best things I've ever heard.

An excellent album by an artist with an unforgettable style.

Iconic. 5/5

Excellent album from beginning to end.

First side is a total banger. Side two is a slow burn.

A summer classic. Buddy introduced it to me and blasted it in his jeep all Summer.

One of the absolute best Dire Straits albums

имба.

This album is an ultimate classic with flawless production and melodies that easily earn its place as one of the best albums of all time.

This album is great to start. Seriously good. It’s aged a little with the production but is still so damn good. The back half drops away into some strange territory but I still really loved this album.

Marvelously recorded, with a place for every instrument. Mark Knopfler, as always, performs at the highest level. As a veteran 20 years removed from their service, Brothers in Arms speaks so very loudly to me. The relief of it all being over and having "won," the intense familial connection felt between fellow soldiers, and the reflection on the absolute futility of it all left me in tears this morning. This is a favorite album of mine. Though not every song is worthy of a five star rating, some so far exceed five stars, they absolutely pull any extra weight not picked up by slightly weaker tracks. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ And just a note to those folks who are (justifiably) upset with the use of a slur in Money for Nothing: I urge you to go back and listen to the lyrics. The song is from a 3rd person perspective and is criticizing the type of person who thinks and talks that way. I think this context is important

iconic

Wasn't expecting anything special, but it was just amazing

I have been waiting very patiently for this album and it didn’t disappoint! Funny story I learned recently: my late father loved Dire Straits. I was born a year after “Money For Nothing” was released after which my dad started calling women “chicks.” Apparently he once called me — his infant daughter — a chick, prompting my mom to yell at him.

Excellent album. The band’s best work, in my opinion.

Great album. Guitar magic on hits and blues instrumentals. Plus the sax comes out for some cool jazz.

Great album, has the iconic song of the MTV era. Not surprisingly, excellent guitar!

A classic for a reason. Great guitar work

Absolutely fantastic album here. Just knocks it out of the park. So many hits on this one. And the non radio hits are incredible as well. Love this album. Also Brothers in Arms (the song) is used expertly in THE BEST episode of the show The West Wing. Just had to bring that up.

Great album, phenomenal guitar

A true classic

BANGER! 5/5

volón de cabeza, donde estaba este disco cuando aprendí a escuchar música. Disco redondísimo, 10 de 10

Great album, but no time to explain. I need to move these refrigerators.

Hot take: Mark Knopfler is the Bob Dylan for right wing conservatives. While his lyrics are not necessarily conservative leaning, although possibly in a classical sense or a Kennedy Democrat, the sound scape and content attracts a certain audience.

all time great

Хорошая группа, один точно хит и заглавный трек очень душевный

Classic rock. Great guitar riffs. Good writing.

Disco fantástico de uma banda fantástica!

I forgot how much I like Dire Straits!! this album is super diverse, but really enjoyable and easy to listen to. super surprised this is a five-star from me. I'd listen to it again and again

Already had on vinyles

Great sound. Opening riff to Money for Nothing is bonkers

Classic

A great, great, great album. Emblematic of a time in the 80’s. Great singles as well. I actually prefer “On Every Street”, the successor but know I’m the minority there.

10 out of 10. 100 out of 100. 5 full stars out of 5. I have no words, I just know this is what music and putting out albums and being an artist is, or was, mean to be. "There's so many different worlds, so many different suns, and we have just one world, but we live in different ones." Surprise tracks: Why worry?

I’m blown away. This album has the best three opening songs of any album ever made (or tied with other artists) and then it turns into a lighter fare but it still hits so hard emotionally. Truly fantastic!

4.5 stars. This is a classic and has some great songs. Knopfler is an incredible player. Was nice to revisit this album in full, haven't listened in a few years.

Amazing

Love Dire Straits except for one song, Walk of Life, which is on this album. Giving it five stars because of the title track and in case it’s the only Dire Straits in here, but Alchemy is better!

Great tracks and money for nothing is an all time classic (not to mention the video).

I have loved this album for sooo long. Why Worry on repeat got me through a tough time

Classic easy listening rock

Dit is natuurlijk een klassieker. Luistert lekker weg, trekt je aandacht terug en ik zing bijna alles van voor naar achter mee!

I always forget how much I love Dire Straits .. anyway, nearly perfect album I think, and even if not Money for Nothing is so good it deserves 5 stars anyway

Great album. First 3 songs are all perfection, followed by a solid list of songs with a great range of energy. Some of the most tasteful and impressive guitar playing of all time

Knopfler is a genuis. In the words of Douglas Adams: "Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schechter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like the angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink" Also a Geordie legend. Haway the lads.

Masterful album, incredible musicianship by everyone involved. Mark Knopfler's guitar and vox, especially the main riff on "Money for Nothing", are so effortlessly cool.

There's one song in here that uses trumpet. I wish i knew the name I'd play that one more. Im gonna learn to play money for nothing guitar riff as my like 6 month goal. Idk if that's reasonable.

Is this album held up by "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life?" Absolutely, but those songs are so good I have to give it 5 stars

The sound of beer drinking in the late summer nights with the dudes in the youth! The best albums of one of the greatest bands!

I don't even have to listen to this again. This is a "5". Money for nothin' and chicks for free!

Phenomenal album, from a great band

Classic

Echt een geweldig album. Elk nummer is een banger