Reviews (page 2 of 16)
I’m sure longtime fans claimed that this was the album where Dire Straits lost their touch and sold out, given that there is barely a trace left of the signature fingerstyle blues found in their early work. But for me, as an unbiased listener, this is their best album. The first half is packed with hits: the unhurried, slightly melancholic opening track; "Money for Nothing," featuring one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time; and "Walk of Life" with its upbeat synths. As for the sax part in "Your Latest Trick," I imagine saxophone dealers hate it just as much as guitar shops hate "Smoke on the Water". The songs lose a bit of momentum after that, though that’s largely due to the high quality of the opening tracks — even so, "Why Worry" remains a pleasant, meditative tune. Some listeners might be put off by the album’s sound, which can seem a bit flat — it was recorded digitally. However, if you listen to it on high-quality equipment and tweak the audio settings a little, that issue should disappear.
One of my absolute favorites is Brothers in Arms. So far away from me is also another one I really like. If it wasn't for these two songs the album would have been meh for me. Wish this had Romeo and Juliet or Sultans of swing.
This album was so much slower than the other one. Felt like a bit of a let down. Money for Nothing and Brothers in Arms made up for it, despite Brothers in Arms also being slow. But it was close.
My first all digital album. Big fan. Heard many times on many systems.
This gave me tranquil and happy and they are helluva muzicians.
I described Trio as pleasant. I think I have to use that description here, too. I don't think the pulse ever gets above 50 BPM on this whole record. And, oof, the lyrics on Money For Nothing haven't aged, if they ever were acceptable.
Yeah I mean it's just beautiful music, and there's a diversity to styles on this album.
Pretty, pretty, pretty......pretty good
I didn't know that I was such a fan haha. "So Far Away", "Money For Nothing", "Walk Of Life", and "One World" are all songs from my childhood.
Fabulous, can’t go wrong with Dire Straits
I like me some Dire Straits, I really do, but I don't think any album's energy level has ever dropped off as hard as this one's does! It opens with three total classics, takes a nosedive into over-saxed naptime with Your Latest Trick, and struggles to wake up again. Half the songs are very slow burns that grow pleasantly hypnotic, but I wish there was more variety in pacing. The album puts 90% of its beans into Walk of Life, which, along with Walking on Sunshine and Baby Elephant Walk, is one of the great upbeat walking-based songs.
When CDs had become the mainstream media for music and you went into any record store (remember those?) this album would be playing. Even going into equipment stores like Richer Sounds, this would be the default demonstrator CD. It got a bit boring after a while and was totally over-exposed considering the video to Money for Nothing seemed to be included on every music programme on TV as well. Listening again though I remember why most of it was – and still is - so good. However, it would lose nothing by cutting half of Why Worry out and deleting the next three tracks altogether really. I think the album sold mainly for the first half and I doubt that many who had the LP version played side 2 more than a few times. Side 1 is perfect though.
Im not sure this was the record I thought it was. I remember my Dad playing this a lot when I was younger yet I could not remember a single track outside of the hits. There is a reason for this... its really really dull.
Music For Care Homes. Once you get past the singles every track sounds like they're playing horizontally. So so low energy, the middle of the album sags like Knopfler's fat arse sat in a hammock, where I'm guessing he spent most of his time whilst recording this. It's unfortunate the best song on here has a sustained use of a pretty gross slur (and kinda crazy how the world was always just okay with it?), and even more unfortunate you could turn this album off 15 minutes in and miss ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
attention waned in the later part. but first three songs are bangers
Good record It is legendary. I liked it
A strong and enjoyable album! Classics in Money for Nothing and Walk of Life, and some quality synth and trumpet throughout.
4/5 I could say more but honestly it would turn out to be rebuttals and too many words with the wrong opinions already wasted by others hehe. It's definitely in the 1001 list.
The first three songs are excellent but it never reaches the same heights for the rest of the album. Shame because Money For Nothing has always been a big favourite of mine.
"Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life" are like cartoon versions of rock - bubblegum for the '80s. The band is guilty of dumbing down in search of a mass market much like Springsteen did with the Born in the USA album - the difference being that his talent just about survived the process whilst here it only highlights this band's shortcomings (not least Mark Knopfler's voice, never the most expressive of instruments).
Dull
2 legendary songs on an otherwise boring album...how do you rate that?
Another nostalgic one, didn't realize the album was over and continued playing Dire Straits music for another 30 mins.
Muss
eigentlich gmeint das isch öppe 3mal besser vo dem was ich ghört han
Never knew Sting sang on "Money For Nothing" before today. Great song with a great guitar riff, but the rest of the album is enjoyable too. Great drumming from Omar Hakim throughout the album. I have to shout out the Chapman Stick on "Why Worry" because that's just a cool instrument that you don't hear too often.
Such a classic album. I also love Mark Knoplfers guitar playing
I cant give an album a 5 when hes dropping slurs, even if he doesn't mean it...
boooooooring
Some good songs and some quite famous ones. Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, So Far Away.
boring
Money For Nothing and Walk Of Life are timeless bangers. Everything else sounds like the soundtrack of Silk Stalkings from the USA Network of my early teens.
gran album buenos palazos (bangers)
So Far Away and Money for Nothing are excellent openers that we really enjoyed, though the album loses momentum a little after this point.
Excelente
I knew the 3 or 4 hits on this album, but I had never listened to the whole stuff, though I always liked Dire Straits. Solid rock album, as you may expect from Dire Straits. ⭐⭐⭐ 7/10 [This review was edited on October the 22nd, 2026. I took off one star because on a second listen this album no longer seems that exciting to me. Also cut off some unnecessary track listing.]
Quintessential 80’s. They had a catchy sound but nothing really new or interesting. Overly simplistic lyrics.
Liked it loads better than their debut. Started strong but slowed down in the middle before picking back up in the last few tracks.
Has some songs I think are a shame have been so commercialised. There are definitely better direstraits albums. This one was a pass
This was the second album I ever bought (the first was Pet Shop Boys' Please)! I looooooved Money for Nothing when I was 12, and learned to love So Far Away, Walk of Life and Brothers in Arms. Honestly the whole album's good, but it's so soaked in childhood nostalgia it kind of makes me sad.
Kvalitetsalbum i världsklass. Detta borde verkligen alla lyssna igenom. Ingen partymusik, men passar i övrigt alltid.
Okay, in the main overall this isn’t a great record. It starts strong but then so many of the songs just drag on and aren’t too different. There’s only so much twang and crooning one can handle. But then it hits brothers in arms at the end and it brings me back to fondness about it after all.
So many classics on 1 album, lots of range between songs
Theres like two decent songs on this album
I didn't know all these songs were Dire Straights. Nice to get gaps in my music education Filled in a little. I can see why this one made the list. It seems iconic to me in a way, even though, or because it's so understated. Nice to hear 80s music that's not all synth pop. Even though this is very 80s in instrumentalisation and feel. Is this Bruce Cockburn, or was he just another similar voice? Definitely feels and kinda sounds like him. I like this one.
All I've been able to think about is the WOL project. https://youtube.com/@wolproject2952?si=D8dFpH3_wFKKmuXG There are some good songs here, but the best ones are essentially overplayed, and I didn't connect with many others.
I've been listening to Dire Straits since I was a kid, thanks to my dad. He would often play the self-titled album at home and on many drives to school. So, their sound is nostalgic to me, but only because of that album. This is actually the first time I've put on this album. I think it's interesting that the list showcases their first album and their final album from their "classic" (but really "only") era, if you don't count the '90s reformation. I continued the same family tradition and played this one for my son this morning, much to our enjoyment. I would say this one is more my style than their debut album, which shows how much taste can really shift between generations when it comes to the same band. Does dad rock get passed down? No idea. I wouldn't call myself a Dire Straits fanatic, but the themes make more sense the older I get. I would say, though, that Mark Knopfler was ON FIRE here, both stylistically and thematically. First, let's discuss the string of songs from "So Far Away," "Money for Nothing," "Walk of Life," and "Your Latest Trick." It's a masterful sequence of sorts, showcasing many different moods and musical styles, both modern and rootsy, all centered around reflection and contemplation. Knopfler is a gifted and unconventional guitarist, and his ability to meld his tremolo style with melody and noise is remarkable, especially on "Money for Nothing" (also co-written by Sting, had no idea). The often ironic yet tragic lyrics work beautifully with the songs, and his delivery is contemplative and truly mature compared to anything they had done before. The band is very tight and methodical, especially the inclusion of session drummer Omar Hakim on most tracks, he's really the unsung hero of the album. Overall, the group sounds truly timeless here. It's really only "One World" the title track, and, probably most of all, "Your Latest Trick" that evoke the '80s. The rest, however? Beautiful and poppy. What kind of '80s band was releasing something like the dreamy, experimental "Why Worry" on a major label? How about the bluesy, crunchy "The Man's Too Strong," eh? Lots of great highlights — "So Far Away" and "Walk of Life" are some of the greatest romantic pop-rock anthems of all time. Sometimes it's hard for me to give it a full score, as the '80s cheese dulls some of the impact of the songs, but I still think the guitar work is monumental, the band is a well-oiled machine, and the compositions are compelling. 4.5 stars for now, but I think I'll be listening to this quite a lot this year! And thus, the dad rock tradition continues.
Well damn. I went in thinking “3.” I’m coming out convinced it’s a 4. Way more to these boys than a first listen AND all the Weird Al parody videos I watched on MTV as a kid led me to believe. 4 Boolean: True
Music for balding men with erectile dysfunction. It's so badly dated. Mark Knopfler made way more interesting music after Dire Straits. This album is just silly. Making Movies is way better than this.
The OG Dire Strait Isn't the Strait of Hormuz Or Bab el-Mandab
7.5 / 10
Helt enkelt ett perfekt album. Både låtar med drag (som är helt klockrena musikaliskt) och mysiga, lugna kärlekslåtar. Det är som en genre-best of i ett album och de kan spela alla de nödvändiga genrerna
Enjoyed So Far Away. Money for Nothing has some electronic production that I like around the middle. Enjoyed Walk of Life as it went from kind of country to more fun. Liked the saxophone? used in Your Latest Trick. Really liked the careful free energy and production of Why Worry? Enjoyed Ride Across the River's kind of vibe. The Man's Too Strong - alright song. Loved the guitar intro on One World. My Brother in Arms - really enjoyed the chorus and drum work.
music is love
Very good album.
Probably a 3.5. Pretty good in the background of my walk!
“Purple Rain?” “No.” “Sign o' the Times?” “Definitely not.” “The 'Batman' soundtrack?” “Throw it.” “Dire Straits?” “Throw it.” Shawn of the Dead (2004)
Damn! This one comes hot out of the gate, “So Far Away”, “Money for Nothing” and “Walk of Life” sadly it kind of loses steam after that. The songs are good, some seem overly long, but they’re solid. I’d give it a four and a half it were an option.
best
thank god thi4s one is more chill, it's very yacht rocky so far. i thi4nk i recognize the song Money for Nothing. its' like 7 minutes. oh my GOD. walk of life. which i thought was called Do the walk on by.. and also that it was by bruce springsteen. so that's cool lmfao. i once again do not like slow songs. this was a long ass listen but it was ok. maybe 3 stars? i wouldnt go out of my way to listen again but i did save a song.
Actually quite disappointing. The intro to Money For Nothing is quite thrilling, and Walk Of Life is a perfectly pleasant little ditty, but otherwise it just felt empty. The clean production was a great showcase for CDs, but so many songs go on too long. Knopfler is a great guitarist, but so much just felt 'tasteful'. The kind of album someone puts on to show off their sound system, not to listen to. It was just so...lacking in anything interesting. Just about scrapes a 2.
Awesome guitars throughout. This is at least 4 stars just for Money for Nothing
Mark Knopfler is a great guitarist. Album first 3 songs big hits.
Why are the songs so unnecessarily long? It makes the album kind of a long slog to get through. Not really my vibe anyway, but fairly inoffensive dad rock.
Oooooooh yeah here we go. Gets an extra star for the guitar rift on Money for Nothing. Walk of Life is the easy second favorite on here
Two bangers off the bat and some moody jams after enjoyable!
畅销但比想象中的无聊
So, obviously a couple classics. Most of the rest was not that interesting. Last 3 songs were pretty good.
Leuk, goede muziek, afwisselend.
This is what I call five points.
A few revelatory numbers. I only knew the 5 singles, although last time I listened to them was perhaps 20 years ago (musical tastes shift, thanks god). I was surprised to find 4 of them still pretty good (your last trick is not among them, especially because that awful soft-porn-soundtrack sounding sax...). The remaining 4 songs are painfully unremarkable (aka boring). So, basically after track 3 (and a great start), one has to wait until the 9th and last to listen again to something interesting. And it's not a short wait given that two of these songs are 7-8 minutes long. Conclusion: 3 stars are already quite generous.
I know it was a product of the time, but I do hate how they use the f-slur in "Money for Nothing"
There's only one rating for this album.
I do enjoy this album. Brothers in arms and why worry are great. Obviously money for nothing is the killer song on it. Solid album
Not as great as I remember it being The hits are obviously major & Mark Knoppfler's bluesy guitar is always good Brothers In Arms the song is terrific Should be the first song on the album 3.5
Great artistry
Good guitar playing and cool 80s production. This album sounded expensive. I just kept thinking that Mark Knophler thinks he is very smart. I’m not sure if he is or not, but he definitely thinks he is.
ㄱㅊ음
Good
Wowza!
Never been a big Dire Straits guy, but this is a dynamite album. Love the singles for sure, but the rest is consistent in its quality. Groovy and rocking.
Turns out I've slept on this for my entire life.
do not care for at all. if only they stuck with the sound of their debut, that's an incredible album there! what a shame too because knopfler is one of the best guitarists of all time and he proves that on some of their earlier works, but you can't really tell it here as much. 3/5, deserves to be here i guess
not bad
Meeeh Músicas boas mas o todo é chato. Deve ser legal pra ouvir dirigindo à noite
We were doing so good until it changed into weather channel music.
Torn between 3 and a 4 but I’m going 3 because I find the lyrics and vocals quite corny and the synth and guitar tones pretty harsh at times. But Mark was definitely cooking with this one.
First half is awesome. While it does slow down later on, the guitar work is still phenomenal.
Pas le meilleur de DS mais bon tout de meme
It was fine, nothing stood out
If you only start this album and know their hits, you might think this is a relic of the 80s pop rock. Strong guitars, catchy lyrics, fun brass elements, but maybe not moving music forward. But then the album ends with the title track… And it’s a doozy. Meditative but not dragging, potent but not preachy, an anti-war ballad that wouldn’t have been out of place twenty years earlier. The album give Mark Knopfler and company the chance to explore rock in its blues elements. I wasn’t fully cognizant they were British. For some reason I thought they might’ve been from Alabama.
I like Dire Straits. I know it's completely uncool - embarrassing even - but I'm in my fifties now, so really, who cares? I find their sound weirdly warming and comforting. This is an incredibly 80s sounding record - I can almost taste and smell the era I grew up in while listing to it, and it's a nice, cosy, nostalgic feeling. I lost myself in it a bit, and I really enjoyed it. I had to skip Walk of Life because it's bloody awful, but the rest of it? Yeah, why not?
I still think Dire Straits must be the epitome of AOR, which is a sedentary and dull thing. It therefore feels like a confession that I own a copy of Brothers In Arms, bought when it was released so it's hard not to have a slightly nostalgic listen to this and there are some catchy moments, granted but it is still very pedestrian. Today I have given it an over-generous 3 ask me another time and it wouldn't fair so well.
It opens so strong. Dire Straits is definitely in the conversation of most underrated band. Sure the album falls off. And brace yourself for the 55 minutes over NINE songs... but this isn't new kids on the block.
The best I can say about this album is that it’s nice. Excellent orchestration and guitar work first half is fairly decent but the album gets a bit tiresome as it goes on. I never liked them song money for nothing.
Unfortunately whatever I feel about the music, there’s an agressive use of the word f’’got at the beginning, it’s quite jarring and really put me off.
***A good easy listening album
Having the second track of your elevator music album focus on complaining about “faggots” on mtv getting paid for doing nothing is the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black
Solid album, a few jazz flavours I am less keen on, but Knopfler’s playing is always outstanding.
Surprised me. Didn't realise how many great tunes are on this album and it's not my type of music in general. 4/5.
Bien.
Money for nothing has too many slurs in the lyrics and the album as a whole is just a snooze fest. Most oversold album of all time.
Mangler revidering
Great album. Very of its time, but still sounds great. Really not a bad track on it
Pretty good classic rock, some bangers and very recognizable songs. Favorites: Money for nothing, Walk of life, Brothers in arms
Dire Straits! Marc Knopfler Great! Old fashioned excellent light rock music with Blues and Jazz elements. That‘s music in my ears… and the lyrics… I like it. Thanks a lot for this Album
Favourite songs: - so far away - your latest trick - why worry? - the man’s too strong
The songwriting is a bit uneven, and some tracks are more compelling than others, but the guitar is always excellent.
Mark approached the recording of this album with the utmost seriousness. He tried to create an album with an ideal sound, and he succeeded. The album stays in your memory after listening, but not as a heavy burden that some albums can leave behind, but as a pleasant aftertaste.
Timeless masterpiece
Side 1: I am the chillest guy you've ever seen. I'm not worried. I have MTV. Side 2: War is absolute hell and has ruined me This was a hugely popular mid-80s album and it's not hard to see why. Few albums mixed new wave-y synths with classic rock and roll as well as this one. Knopfler's riffs are so smooth. Some lyrics have not aged well but there's no denying the music here. Standouts: Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, Ride Across the River, Brothers in Arms
Really great, maybe too slow for my liking but great playing and the more eclectic songs are the best.
Always a meh for me. Dire straits are technically great but lack the soul for me, feels a bit empty despite good riffs and song writing
I liked parts better than the whole.
A+
This was old people music when it came out. I'm old now, not old enough for this. Walk of Life is a good tune and they are talented musicians but I'm still not old enough for this.
Ik had hier initieel niet zoveel zin in, maar is wel écht een klassiekertje. Daarnaast ook nog een best leuk album tbh
Begint sterk, Money For Nothing is een banger en Walk Of Life is erg gezellig. Halverwege begon de plaat me te vervelen, duurt allemaal net wat te lang voor het mooie.
Capolavoro
Muy buen álbum, sólido y sería un álbum que tendría en mi colección, pero le falta algo para ser perfecto.
Muyyy buenoo. Las primeras tres canciones deben ser de los mejores arranques de discos que puede haber. Me pasó igual que era obvio que iba a bajar un poco después de eso, pero mejores quedé esperando que suba nuevamente en las últimas.
This is so cheesy. So so cheesy.
Very hit or miss but enjoyed about half, so a fair 3
Knopfler is class
I was actually disappointed.
aye I understand why dad's lose their minds when Walk of Life comes on at weddings
I think Brothers in Arms is one of those albums that works particularly well when you’re not looking for something demanding. It has a relaxed, spacious quality that makes it very easy to put on in the background and simply let it wash over you. I found it atmospheric and surprisingly good for decompressing. A lot of that comes from Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing. It’s restrained rather than flashy, with those clean, lingering notes that give the songs plenty of room to breathe. The production is also a big part of the experience: polished, spacious and distinctly 1980s, but without making the album feel overly busy. The obvious highlights are “So Far Away,” “Your Latest Trick,” “Why Worry,” and especially “Brothers in Arms.” The latter has an almost cinematic melancholy to it. It’s slow and reflective without becoming overwhelmingly sad. “Your Latest Trick,” meanwhile, has that late-night, slightly dreamy quality that makes it particularly effective as a stress-relief track. There are moments when the album’s polished production and relatively gentle pace can make it feel a little too smooth, and some of the songs don’t hit as strongly as the best ones. But I think that actually contributes to its usefulness as a relaxed listening experience. It doesn’t constantly demand your attention. What I particularly liked is that Brothers in Arms feels calm without being bland. There’s enough emotion, atmosphere and musicianship underneath the surface to reward actually listening, but you can also put it on after a long day and not have to work for the experience. Overall: a beautifully produced, atmospheric album with a mellow, reflective character. Not necessarily something I'd reach for when I want excitement or intensity, but for unwinding, driving at night, or simply clearing your head, it works remarkably well.
кайфовый, с хитами динамика в некоторых треках хорошая гитары как-будто меньше, но она есть и везде приятная переслушать под настроение можно, причем настроение у треков разное хорошо сделано 3.6
My mom's favourite band. After listening, my opinion of my mom has changed. This is a snoozefest
They went from being timeless to getting stuck in their time. Still rocks, though.
favs: money for nothing your latest trick why worry one world rating 2.2/5
Banger
Solid album. Love Walk of Life, and Money For Nothing is a classic, but, personally, I prefer Weird Al’s Beverly Hillbillies version. 4.5⭐️
The first 3 tracks had me doing the Vince McMahon escalating reactions meme......but then it kinda loses steam.
So many fantastic tunes.
Hits are good. Rest is meh
Has some hits. A little bit of everything.
This was mostly a blind spot for me. I recognized parts of "Money For Nothing" and "Walk of Life" but I would never have been able to tell you the band prior to this. That being said, this is mostly not my thing, it's kinda just fine? If 2.5 was an option I probably would have gone with that
良いね。ダイアストレイツをアルバム通しで聴くのは初めてで、sultans of swingを想定していたけれど、またそれとは違った雰囲気で、洗練されたロックという感じなのかなー。 ギターの音が独特でカッコいい。
Dad rock for dads.
easy listening nothing spectacular but fine in the background
Gosh, love Dire Straits but have always disliked this album, yep, one of the world’s best-selling albums of all time. Mainly because of Walk of Life, which I could always see being done by a bad busker. I also am of the opinion, often challenged, that although Money For Nothing is a sardonic message on capitalism, they must have known that the refrain I Want my MTV would have got them huge airplay, on MTV. Not having listened in years I went in with some trepidation only to remember that it is in fact an incredible album. From the The Man’s too strong to Brothers in Arms, each song is anthemic but Knopfler’s vocals are so quiet and gentle the impact is far greater than if he was screaming about the travesty of war.
I've only heard "Money For Nothing" before and I guess it painted the wrong picture of what the Dire Straits sound like as a band. Money For Nothing appears to be an outlier cause all of their other songs kind of suck.
Money for nothing is notable. Brothers in arms was decent. Otherwise, was pretty neutral listening but not something I'd likely re-listen to.
Absolutely love Dire Straits, so happy this came up and loved listening to this album again
2/4
I really hate sultans of swing so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this but not bad! Didn't hate it lol
I think it faded with age but Mark Knopfler always seemed so arrogant and smug in the 80s. The big hit is quite a petty little caricature of working men. Other than that it's all a bit antiseptic and dull.
I really liked this. They have such a unique perspective on rock music with their sound and lyrics. They don't come up as often in classic rock conversation, but they should! This is such a cool sound and has such a high re-listen value. First half is definitely stronger than the second though. Top Songs: So Far Away, Money For Nothing, Walk of Life, Your Latest Trick, Why Worry
This album starts off incredibly strong, only to falter in the middle section before mustering up some signs of life as it closes out. If the middle was stronger, I'd give this an easy 4 stars, but it's just dragged down too much.
Couple great tunes and excellent production but not enough to push it over
Great
Liked this album when it came out. Like it still. Thought provoking lyrics - especially the ones laced with irony, lovely melodies, well engineered recording, and Knopfler’s guitar. Worth inclusion in 1001 albums to hear before you die
so good
Money for nothing intro was sick. Other than that pretty mid.
Have this album, love this album
Money for Nothing, wow that guitar intro hits hard. This is a classic album and definitely belongs on the list. No song is a like and every one fits a different vibe
Did not expect to enjoy this that much
Disco muy vendido en su época. Contiene algunas de las canciones más conocidas del grupo. Prefiero su primer disco, pero está bien si no le tienes manía a Mark Knopler.
4 very well known songs, the other 5 are a bit forgettable. Easy listening instumental rock. Brothers in arms being the best song.
If there's one realisation I've come to whilst undertaking this list, it's that no matter how hard I try to like them, these highly-rated pop rock albums are really not my thing. There's nothing on this that's overtly bad or unlistenable but the emotionless vocals and overly clean, polished production lead to the album as a whole feeling dull and, at risk of using buzzwords, corporate. The kind of album you tolerate while it's playing and then immediately forget everything you've just heard.
Yes there are the couple of hits I knew from when I was a kid. They are still good. The rest of these songs are just kind of odd. They drone on and on after the lyrics are done so the album might not be long but the songs are. The music isn’t overly good. I don’t think he is a great player. It just kind of sounds like every other dude who plays guitar. He’s not exceptional. He’s not a good songwriter boy but those hits were hitting back in the 80s.
Nice and chill.
I’ll always have a bit of a soft spot for this as Dad had it on CD. It wasn’t one we listened to much but it does have a cool and nostalgic sound overall. I had never paid attention to the lyrics before though, I had no idea that particular word was used, that is unfortunate indeed. It also gets a bit same-same sounding after a while. (3.5 stars)
This album is a banger. It has some of the strongest highs we’ve listened to so far. 2 of a bands best 3 songs being back to back as are Money for Nothing into Walk of Life is incredible. I expected the rest of the album to fall short - which granted it did but how do you top Everest twice. However, Your Latest Trick and was a welcome change of pace that did not disappoint lyrically, and Ride Across the River, The Mans Too Strong, and One World was a super strong pre-ending. Brothers in Arms I do believe ended up being the strongest of the slow songs to send us off in a sensational jam. Why Worry was I think a “fine” song for me. Not disappointing in any way, not standing out to me in any way, but was pleasant and didn’t take me out of the album. So Far Away was personally a let down as the album opener, an incredible groove with a knock by just being lame on the lyrics. But it almost gets some grace because I can pretend the album started with Money for Nothing. However on the relisten of those two songs my feelings have softened on everything except the lyrics of So Far Away so this shall be a 9/10 Favs Money For Nothing Walk of Life The Man’s Too Strong
A high 4. It was a great album but I set my expectations just a bit too high. I think to get a full 5 I will need to be caught off guard by the depth of an slbum
Love love love. The usual dire straits sound but with a bit of a twist. So Far Away is really the only one that I’m not crazy about. Money for Nothing is a classic and has such a good intro and silly. Your Latest Trick, ugh. A moment for the jazzy night club vibe. Mmmmm. Same ish feel with Ride Across the River. The last 3 songs close out the album so strongly, and there was little doubt in my mind that this would be getting a 5 from me. Such a great album and a good mix of vibes.
This album just didn't do it for me. I can recognize some truly inspired production and amazing guitar playing, but I get almost no emotional depth. Mark Knopfler's voice never rises beyond mezzo-forte and the album really struggles to get its lyrics across with such a middling performance. His voice sounds good and fits within the album, but just lacks any emotion I could get. Even a song about the futility and reality of war feels like something you could turn on at a barbeque and not turn a head, because no one feels the emotion the lyrics are ostensibly trying to convey. Many of the songs seemed to stretch, only to repeat a chorus or riff and get it stuck in your head. I know I'm not the biggest fan of blues-rock, but this album was really just boring to me. It fell into the background and never really got out. However, there are some moments where that boredom was broken. Specifically "Your Latest Trick" did take me on a good ride, and the incredible muted guitar meshed with the saxophone well. But then I come right back to the boredom in Why Worry. It just didn't move me at all.
Out of disrespect for Jayden Daniels, I'm giving this album 5 stars. Brothers in Arms is a flat-out fun time. It's the first time this project I've walked away with this big of a grin on my face. This is how I felt while listening [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLPAUHdyjRI]. Mark Knopfler is awesome. An immediately recognizable voice with an absolute technical mastery of his instrument, his playing just oozes coolness. Tastefully restrained but never ever timid, his guitar work is easily the highlight of this album. Dire Straits has such a recognizable and iconic sound, and listening to them is just so comforting. Intentional or not, I hear a lot of Carlos Santana in both the guitar playing and the production for some of these songs. The instrumentation is masterful: restrained drums and synth, with ample moments for sax, trumpet, and guitar to shine shine shine. 10/10 Song Notes: - That glassy guitar tone on So Far Away is textbook Dire Straits. God it's so good. - When I heard the "I want my MTV" lyric in Money for Nothing I felt like the pointing whistling Leo meme. It's the MTV jingle they use in all their videos!!! The riff is iconic, but more importantly for me, this song is the soundtrack for our ROTC fridge moving escapades, trying to make a little summer money; it's also indelibly tied to the mental image of Jamie taking a shooter of vodka he found in the bedframe of a dorm in South Quad. Good shit. - Your Latest Trick is buttery smooth and velvety rich. I'm getting echoes of Santana with the reverb'd out guitar and drums. The saxophone FUCKS. Talk about having motion. - Why Worry just oozes tenderness, and the guitar tone reminds me of the sound of the guitar in Purple Rain. The lyrics felt like a warm hug that I really needed. - Ride Across the River feels like another Santana track; the influence is a lot stronger here, and the trumpet/sax combo + punchy guitar solo + reverb'd out drums is textbook. - Man's Too Strong was a nice changeup, and that crunchy guitar is a good counterpoint to the silkier playing we've grown accustomed to by this point in the album. - The bass in One World is so indulgently poppy it just tickles my eardrums - Brothers in Arms really moved me. Between the gentle weeping of the guitar to kick you off and the mournful reflection from Mark Knopfler, I was transported to the aforementioned misty mountains during this song. Easily my favorite track on the album, which is saying a lot given how strong each song is individually. Favorites: - Money for Nothing - Walk of Life - Your Latest Trick - Brothers in Arms
I had such a good time listening to this one. I don’t think there was a bad track on this record. Favorite song notes: So Far Away From Me as the intro as a great choice. A little blues-rock to wet the appetite before wasting no time getting into two classics. Money For Nothing needs no explanation. You hear that iconic riff and away we go. I stand by the statement that if this track was 5 mins long rather than 8 mins it’d be a perfect no skip song, but 3 mins of repeating the same line is a strike against this record. Walk Of Life is an irresistibly chipper ballpark anthem. A song that could lift me up and make me smile even when I’m in the angriest of moods. Dire Straits had motion wel Your Latest Trick ughhh from now until the day I die I will be a sucker for the Sax. The transition from the happy carefree vibes of Walk of Life to the Jazzy slow dance mood of this song caught me completely off guard. I thought I was listing to Billy Joel for a hot second before the guitar re-centered me. I exposed myself during Walk of Life so this hit me right in the feels and had me so emotional. This was my favorite song in an album full of strong choices. Why Worry coming right after is a great 1-2 punch of slow burn tracks. Similar to a lullaby with its gentle touch and comforting sound washing away any worry or sadness I felt from Latest Trick. Ride Across the River feels like the album switched its focus and I felt like suiting up and joining George Washington as he crossed the Delaware. I love the Latin influence, feels very Santana-esque after listening to that LP just last week. The Man’s Too Strong confirms the focus is completely shifted to calling the travesty of war, crimes, evasion of justice by those in power, etc. Emphasized by the gritty riff after the lyrics “The Man’s Too Strong” Finishing the LP paring the funky groove of One World with Brother’s in Arms to finish things off. The former highlights the division of humanity, all these people living on one planet but isolated from each other’s reality. The title track feel like it’s written for soldiers who went off the fight in/died in war. (Turns out that’s exactly the point of the song). Weeping guitar lines paired with the harrowing keys from the organ/keyboard really leaves you in a dark solemn mood to finish off a great album. Final Thoughts and Rating: This album truly takes you through peaks and valleys. First part clearly focusing on the hits before ending on a much more serious note. Setting the mood for the second half of the record with Why Worry and Latest Trick was an excellent choice so bravo. Great mix of sound (Pop, Funk, Jazz, Latin) as well. Save for the first two tracks, I think each song is aptly timed as well. Even with Ride Across the River being almost 7 mins long Latin music is so enjoyable I didn’t mind just hearing them jam out for the last couple minutes. Rating: 9/10 (high 9 = 5 stars)
Good instrumentals
Contry music
A lot of super bluesy English 80s jamming songs. The first few tracks (Money for nothing, walk of life) are definitely the standouts, creative, fun, and proudly 80s (I waaaannnt my MTV). Basically everything else takes some patience, tracks that go well past the 6 minute mark with slow guitars and almost hushed vocals. Some of Knopfler's lyrics haven't aged the greatest though. Overall, solid album until track 4 rolls around.
Goated very good minimum was 6 high was approaching 9
Look, Mark Knopfler may not be the greatest vocalist in the world. But my goodness, is he an incredible musician. This album was a fantastic listen from beginning to end, and the guitar work throughout is just so good. Going into it, I already knew and loved the first three tracks, and I was wondering whether anything later on could really hold a candle to “Money for Nothing.” And somehow, the album absolutely delivered. What really impressed me was the variety. There are so many different sounds and styles working their way through this thing, and even when the tempo slows down, the music still feels full of soul and personality. It never feels like Dire Straits found one successful sound and just repeated it for the rest of the album. And I love albums like that. There are so many different facets to the music here that I was constantly interested in hearing where it would go next. Of course, Knopfler’s guitar is the star of the show. There are moments where you just have to sit there and appreciate how damn good he is. My only real criticism comes back to the vocals. Knopfler’s voice works for Dire Straits, but it’s definitely not the strongest part of the band, and I especially wish the final track had a more powerful vocal performance. If it did, I think this might have been basically perfect. But come on. I’m still giving it 5/5. This was great.
Pretty solid album with some really good songs. I’ve always liked Dire Straits, and this one definitely has its moments. As for people knocking stars off because of the homophobic slur in Money for Nothing, seriously? Read the backstory to the song. The song is narrated from the perspective of a blue-collar guy watching rock stars on TV, not necessarily Knopfler expressing his own views. Knopfler wrote the song after overhearing a worker in a New York appliance store complaining about MTV. The offensive language is part of that character and the satire.
What a snoozefest. Will never understand the hype behind Money for Nothing. After this album, I'm very confident that he's just a wannabe Bob Dylan. Walk of Life is a great song on here, but I genuinely thought I was listening to Bob Dylan during This Man's Too Strong.
I was aware of most of these but never listened to the whole thing before, his voice is SO GOOD in this one and the guitar and other instrumentals is of course otherworldly. walk of life is one of my favorite songs of all time. If you're reading this and liked this, I urge you to listen to Mark Knopfler's solo stuff.
Solid, good guitar though sharp on ears, definitely sound of the 80s
One of the greatest
Meh, för lungt och repetitivt. Kan vara trevlig bakgrundsmusik.
This is definitely radio ready and radio popular but I have it third even in the Dire Straits pantheon
Pink Floyd vibes but the song with the f word didn't age well. I already knew a couple songs on there - "why worry", "walk of life".
Really cool and reminded me of my grandpa ❤️
The singles are great, the rest a tad boring
My dad has always said, “Walk of Life is the most flaccid song a band has ever made.”
Your dad’s favorite rock music. Very solid work. Forgot how casually the f-slur is thrown around “Money for Nothing.”
Sounds like music you’d hear at a campaign rally in the mid-2000s
I enjoyed this quite a bit more than their self-titled debut. Mark manages to escape Daddy Dylan's shadow by fully embracing the neatness of 80s production. If you haven't done the two-step in your kitchen to "Walk of Life," are you even white? The blues shit can take a hike, but "Why Worry" and the title track are both ethereal and even beautiful. Mark's guitar-playing was born to duet with a synth.
Very mellow, kinda does what lou reed does in a more manageable and melodic fashion. I surprising bit of variety between some nice classic guitar riffs, jazzy swelling brass sections, and even some solid keyboard work
I don’t like this. Like at all. Minus discovering “I want my MTV”. I feel like I’m stuck in a twin peaks episode. Why are the songs so long.
Bland there is nothing really interesting but it is not bad but not good
So many great tracks, no weak ones.
Oh wow this guy can’t sing at all. Was going to say I liked money for nothing but then you know the lyrics of the song happened. Why do people like this
Again, I feel like I recognize the voice of this person singing but the name Dire Straits means nothing to me. I have a feeling I will like this album though. Its giving pop rock with its first song and I love me some pop rock. Wow, the words "I want my MTV" are a throwback for sure. OMG wow.... the f-slur is like a lot... yuck. i get it was a different time but still ew. Well, walk of life just came on and now i know why i recognize their voices... and i hate this song. I will try and listen objectively... i will say, i always thought he was saying do the walk on by. I guess its good to know its Walk of Life. lol but i still don't like it. Its just way overplayed. Gotta say, I love a trumpet. Realized several songs have gone by without me even noticing them. Well, this was my least favorite album so far... looking forward to whats next though.
Probably one of the greatest albums of the 80s with one of the strongest three song kick off of any album ever. I forgot how bad Meeting Across the River is... otherwise no notes on this album. Brothers in Arms is fucking killer closer.
Classic rock album, surprisingly chill for a larger part than expected
Listened previously. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Good - I prefer the earlier version of Dire Straits. This is still good and Knopfler is still incredible but it's just a tad too polished. The smoky, pub vibe of the first album is gone and the expansive progginess of Love Over Gold is also missing apart from touches on the wonderful Money For Nothing. The drum fill followed by the guitar riff in that track is probably one of the most iconic moments in rock music history and it is a genuine thrill every time I hear it. Walk Of Life is incredibly cheesy but I like it. The next few tracks are quite bland. I don't mind Why Worry but in general nothing else has the bite of the best work of the band. Ride Across The River is the closest thing to their early sound and is quite good.
Fine, Dad rock
Album #132: Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits Genre (W): Pop rock Singles: So Far Away, Money for Nothing, Walk of Life, Brothers in Arms, Your Latest Trick I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: I love this album! The songs on it are gorgeously crafted, such as “Brothers in Arms” and “Money for Nothing”. I also love Mark Knopfler’s playing and production skills shown on this album. Favorite tracks: So Far Away, Money for Nothing*, Walk of Life, Why Worry, Ride Across the River, One World, Brothers in Arms
Pretty enjoyable, not necessarily knocking my socks off. Money For Nothing stands out but broski was gasping to say the F slur as many times as possible, wasn't he?
What a beautiful album oh my lord. Exactly what I need to hear this morning and because of that, this really spoke to me. Those opening 3 songs are absolutely perfect and I actually was surprised to hear something familiar with Walk of Life. The Saxophone on Your Latest Trick is transcendent, incredible highlight there. These guys are just completely into this album and it carries over as a listener. I was completely enthralled by the upbeat sound of the first few tracks, but the lyrical content on display here hits so hard at this point in time. Second half of the record slows down and is just as gorgeous as the first half. Luscious instrumentals throughout and vocals that genuinely gave me goosebumps with how smooth yet blunt these ideas are presented throughout. Just a very thoughtful record in message wrapped in performances that feel warm and inviting even at this record's emotionally lowest points. Enjoyed my last Dire Straits album but this makes me really want to revist the previous with how breath taking this is.
Brilliant!
Cool album, bro.
7.5/10 - Good as hell but didn't hit the greats personally. Strong all the way through.
Goated album. The guitar work through out the album is just out of this world.
Te amo Dire Straits ♡ Mi fav, walk of life
Love the sound of this recording. The guitar tone is what sings through this album.
8/10. Un tremendo discazo la verdad, el cuál me alegré de conocer. Aunque no está al nivel de Dire Straits, sigue siendo una gran obra que tardé mucho en valorar. Principalmente no quería basarme únicamente en los dos hitazos que son Money For Nothing y Walk Of Life, que me sorprendieron al escucharlos porque desconocía que fueran de este disco, y por tanto tardé más. Pero más allá de esos dos temones, el disco es muy consistente y nada repetitivo, todas las canciones tienen algo que destacar y el conjunto del disco está muy bien realizado. Lo voy a escuchar muchas veces más.
okkkkkk starts out with nice light instrumentals feels kind of 2000s I like it track 1 'so far away' - I'm tired of being in love and being all alone When you're so far away from me I'm tired of making out on the telephone 'Cause you're so far away from me I love it wowza, its a great solid intro track, sets a great tone for the rest of the album track 2 'money for nothing' - intro vocals are super cool, kind of airy and like alien feeling, oh shitttt that electric guitar is sickkkkk, that beat wow im loving the music on this, 'See the little faggot with the earring and the make up' ????LOLLLLL lots of faggot in this song, I wonder what the Inspo is behind this, talking about modern inventions, deliveries microwave ovens colour tv?. the song is grooovyyyyy as hell tho, I rly loved this tbh track 3 'walk of life' - this sounds super familiar, upbeat sound feels like something id play when the sun is out and I wanted to dance, I like it, I think ive heard it before but not my favourite track 4 'your latest trick' - oooooo the sax in the beginning is gorgeous, and adding in the guitar wow this instrumental is fucking amazing like im levitatingggggggg, And most of the taxis, most of the whores Are only taking calls for cash, omg wow its smooth its groovy its lovely, the songwriting is simple but paints such a picture and feels so vivid and disrtinct and reminds me a bit of billy Joel this one is def amazing im really loving this album so far track 5 'why worry' - wow this song feels like the next morning after 'your latest trick' if that makes sense, But baby, 'I'll wipe away those bitter tears I'll chase away those restless fears' 'There should be laughter after pain, There should be sunshine after rain, These things have always been the same, So why worry now' the instrumentals at the end are fucking amazing, I could listen to this on loop track 6 'ride across the river' - 'Now I'm a soldier of fortune, I'm a dog of war, And we don't give a damn who the killing is for' wow thats a powerful lyric. again the music I rly telling a story, swampy guitar and drums, just super cool track 7 'the mans too strong' - nice strum pattern to open, feels more country vibes, those strong bursts of guitar feel almost like thunder and lightning its so sudden and has some crashing in the back, 'Well, I've tried to be meek, I have tried to be mild, But I spat like a woman, And I sulked like a child' track 8 'one world' - ok groovy opener, nice heavy beat, funky guitars, 'Can't get no sleeves for my records, Can't get no laces for my shoes, Can't get no fancy notes on my blue guitar' Im loving this already, 'There's no such thing as sanity, And that's the sanest fact' wowza I love this, and it feels strangely political, talking about the news, impure motives and yeah. the guitar is fkn sick track 9 'brother in arms' - heavier, slower, moodier sound to open. wow, soft and beautiful guitar, with such political lyricism, feels incredibly powerful, 'Through these fields of destruction, Baptisms of fire, I've witnessed your suffering, As the battle raged higher, And though they did hurt me so bad, In the fear and alarm, You did not desert me, My brothers in arms' oh wow the guitar is so soulful and deep it rly makes you feel something, its amazing, 'But it's written in the starlight, And every line in your palm, We're fools to make war, On our brothers in arms' this is just an incredibly beautiful song, I think its very powerful and id really like to know the exact context and inspiration for this song wow OVERALL : they're very big on their instrumental intros which I appreciate, it sets the tone for each track and makes each piece feel distinct, simple but powerful lyrics, often political, rly paints a picture but the music really drives the lyrics, its pretty beautiful, I think this is right up my alley honestly and this is an amazing album
Carai, que álbum bom. Já começa com três pedradas que eu nem atrelava ao nome Dire Straits. Esse é um exemplo de álbum que eu queria por aqui, me impressionou do início ao fim, muito bom. Não é perfeito, mas foi uma surpresa agradável.
Enjoyed the final track, that's about it.
so so good. loved it end to end. did a dire straights deep dive afterward.
I've heard "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life" so many times over the years which are of course standout singles on this album. My favorite track was the sax heavy "Your Latest Trick" which is actually the fifth single released and a song I'd never heard. Hard to believe that almost the entire first half of this album is made up of all the singles! This album has that feeling of being a grower if like me you're only familiar with a couple of tracks, not a bad thing though will have to revisit it again.
Some all timers in here but balanced out with chaff.
Tyvärr gjorde det här albumet inte så mycket för mig… Synd att allt inte är lika bra som introt på Money For Nothing!
Good
Kinda interesting in how it shifts from the MTV-friendly songs at the start to a more atmospheric feel
nice
I have no technical knowledge of music world, yet the guitar was played beautifully, some songs are okay but some are very good.
Classic album with two really recognisable hits - a lot of filler otherwise though I think
This sounds like a record for middle-aged dads who still think they're cool.
Great album, Money For Nothing is the highlight of the album and possibly the whole band. Why Worry is a close second for highlight of the album.
7.5/10
It made for a nice listen, but i didn't feel there were any particularly memorable parts for me
Classic
Wasn’t expecting this vibe at all but it was really good. I think the only real standout song being money for nothing and that being a different vibe brings this to a 4
Un disco clásico del rock bueno que me gusta, lleno de más clásicos inmortales como 'Money for Nothing' (vaya entrada épica, dime que no) o, para mi, 'Walk For Life'. Quedaban dos miembros originales de la banda, pero en este caso la sangre fresca y recién llegada les hizo sonar de lujo. Con los tiempos locos en los que vivimos hoy, quizás tendríamos que emitir o reproducir más la propia 'Brothers In Arms' para que las cosas se calmasen un poco
MICROWAVE OVEN
God bless the Bradford gimp (not port)
good tunes, they have other really good albums so not rating this as high
Holy banger I loved it. So many songs that I recognize but hadn’t heard in a while/didn’t know who they were by. But yea Dire Straits know how to make good music that’s for sure
Wow. This album really snuck up on me. Honestly I knew the name Dire Straits, but I really only knew sultans of swing and money for nothing and assumed they were a pretty one-dimensional band. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. This album is so dynamic. Beautiful saxophone on your latest trick, punchy rock guitar on money for nothing, and some of the best simple toned guitar on Brother in arms. At the most, there was one skip on the whole album. I’m so happy that this project put me onto this album.
F slur? This novel blend of Americana and 80s new wave packs a punch in every song. Marks guitar speaks with many voices through the album to tell interesting stories. No skips whatsoever.
A fantastic album with really great genre crossing. Mark is a guitar genius. I was hoping for more doodo doo. Doot dot doo (doo do)
I like Money For Nothing, and knew a few of the others but it's just at ok level.
Greatest album!
Huh - had no idea that I knew "Walk of Life". Any album with a Michael Brecker guest appearance gets a bit better in my mind. Not my favorite album but not unpleasant. I think this gets to 3 stars for familiarity and the Brecker Bros cameo.
Banger of an album! Doverse, building atmosphere, great playing
Great album. Title track is one of my favourites of all time
Dropping the f-slur in Money for Nothing was a jump scare and also unnecessary
dadrock
Nobody does it quite like Dire Straits. Knopfler's guitar work is unparalleled, but the rest of the band comes out swinging, and the keys on Walk Of Life is still one of my favourite musical moments.
3.5
This album starts off with too much of an 80s pop rock vibe that I don't love. It's new for the band, and it works well enough on Money for Nothing because that track is almost satirizing itself. The second half of the album is fantastic though. The guitar work and tight composition was moving. They don't have to be trendy. Staying rooted pays off. Money For Nothing Walk Of Life Brothers In Arms
Vet inte om man kan ge albumet med Money for nothing och Walk of life mindre än en femma. Det är första albumet jag ratear så vi får se hur min metod utvecklas men jag känner att de andra låtarna på albumet inte är så viktiga för mig så det blir en fyra just nu.
All time classic mofo
Nem a legkedvencebb Dire Straits albumom, de egynek ok, az biztos.
(9.4) Amazing record.
Own this album, listened through once. Starts off nice with so far away. Not the best writing but the guitar is really good. Followed by an all timer in money for nothing. Legendary intro. Awesome guitar riff. So catchy. Everything abt this song is so Good. And then followed by walk of life which is not as much of a classic but almost as good of a song. All the same great elements. Better vocals on this one. Really nice horn to open your latest trick. Should’ve been more of the guitar with it that was really cool. This one is much more poppy. Really nice production all around. Another slow poppy song with why worry. Nice guitar but not necessarily impressive. Good writing on this one. The musical solo is really good. Again I can only describe it as nice. Just an awesome outro. All 4 mins of it. Again really really cool production on ride across. It’s similar but also so different from the rest of the songs. Great guitar again. Back to heavy rock on the mans too strong. Cool banjo (i think?). Very strong chorus musically which fits. One world is much more similar to the songs at the beginning. Just a really good pop/rock tune. Good writing. Awesome guitar solo. Cool intro to brother in arms. Really nice build up. Another song where the guitar is pretty subtle but it’s so good. Sick keyboard solo too. Another really good song and great way to close out the album. It was so good. A staple of the 80s, a time where there were so many good rock albums. No obvious skip songs. Felt faster than 55 mins. 4.4/5 stars.
Side one stronger than 2, aside from closing/title track.
Often applauded for their minimalism, there isn't enough doing on in any of their songs bar Money for Nothing. That is the only reasonable song on the Album.
Didn't realize I knew the song "Money for Nothing"
So… I can’t listen to Money for Nothing without seeing the Weird Al parody video that was, of course, endlessly played on MTV when I was in junior high. (Cause, you know, I WANT MY MTV.) And that’s the thing. This phase of Dire Straits seems a parody of their former selves. I just can’t hear/see it any other way. When I WAS in Junior High, this was ONLY to be ridiculed in the harshest terms. Smooth jazz saxophone? Weird Al didn’t lambast enough. But now, an older, wiser me actually appreciates the technical mastery of these musicians à la Steely Dan. The horns, and of course Mark Knopfler’s guitar work are all masterful. But still… 3 Boolean: True.
not for me
One word: dated. That doesn't necessarily mean bad, but everything about this screams 80s. I don't think the production has aged the best. The drums sound thin and synthetic and the guitars are clearly engineered to sound as accessible as possible. In general it is a pretty safe sounding album. Funnily enough I think the hits are not all that. Money For Nothing has a super cool intro but the song doesn't really build much on it and Walk of Life is one of the blandest songs here with that really cheesy synth lead. Not that I really love the rest of the album either, it's all very soft and ultimately forgettable. Doesn't help that all the songs are stretched out beyond what they need to be. The last song is easily my favorite, a heart-felt ballad that is held together by these awesome cinematic guitar passages. I don't think this album is awful, but most of it just doesn't move me much and feels like pastiche.
This album has 'Money For Nothing' on it, so the floor was set at a 4; the album ended up exceeding that floor. I thought this was fantastic, both technically (the guitar playing was really up there) and arrangement-wise (effortlessly blending rock, jazz, and folk into a myriad of great songs, ranging from up-tempo hard rock tunes, to beautiful ballads and extended instrumental sections). After quite a long stretch of average and below listens, this was a breath of fresh air. Dire Straits take the elevator to the penthouse suite, this album will be my twenty-second 5/5
It's some beautiful rock music and some of the smoothest guitar work I've ever heard.
Like catnip to babyboomers. Heard this album so often that every song is ingrained into my memory. Half nostalgia, half just enjoyable but generic music. There's some excellent playing on here, I especially like Money for Nothing and The man's too strong. Mark Knopfler knew how to write good songs and just stacked the entire album with them. Doesn't really get boring, even if it's somewhat generic 80's Rock at the end of the day.
What stood out to me about listening to this album this go-around is how stoner-rock it is. It’s not always reviewed favorably by critics compared to earlier Straits records, and maybe that’s part of it. But outside the well known singles it’s a rather chill, spacey record. Like, the eight and a half minute Why Worry must have driven the record company crazy… but it’s awesome. Ride Across The River sounds like Mark Knopfler made a guest appearance on a hidden Remain in Light track. One World and the title track sound closer to late period Pink Floyd than Sultans of Swing. It’s so much weirder than you expect from an album that’s sold countless records. A stone(r) cold classic.
неее
If memory serves me right, this was one of the first records to popularize the CD format (Wikipedia tells me it was the first one to sell a million+ copies). I have memories of listening to this when I was younger as well, though some songs stuck with me more than others. The first four songs are as good a four-song run as I can remember any album starting on. The four that follow can't quite match the interesting things -- 80s MTV homage/parody, 50s rock appreciation, jazzy blues, and whatever "heartland" rock is per Wikipedia's assessment of So Far Away -- that they do. A couple that are overlong, a couple with ideas that aren't fully baked. But, boy, Brothers in Arms is an all-time classic weeper. Track by track (out of five stars) So Far Away: 5/5 Money for Nothing: 4/5 Walk of Life: 5/5 Your Latest Trick: 5/5 Why Worry: 3/5 Ride Across the River: 3/5 The Man's Too Strong: 3.5./5 One World: 3.5/5 Brothers in Arm: 5/5
There are four absolutely terrific tracks here, iconic Dire Straits tunes you very possibly know by heart if you were alive for any part of the 1980s. And then there are five tracks that seem like overly long filler. Even though the math doesn't quite work out, the great tracks here are so good that it leads to a (slightly) above average album.
A nice and diverse album. They sound like Bob Dylan at Times, Springsteen at others - but they do it well.
Heel goed
Resulta que cuando los viejos dan tanto por culo con un disco, A VECES tienen razón. Es muy ambiental, es muy chulo, tiene Walk on Life, se siente un verano en un resort decadente que no se si era la idea pero a mi me vale.
A hangout album
Angsty jazz
Dober
One of the best side-1's, in my opinion.
Money for nothing is 7 stars. Brothers in arms is 5 stars. The rest is fine!
One of my favorite albums
This was just okay. Nothing too intriguing about it
I look forward to getting their first album. I'm glad that they made bank with this but it is a tough listen.
It's a long fall from Dire Straits and Tunnel of Love, but despite being overplayed and overpraised this is still pretty good.
Despite Mark Knopfler's guitar playing, this doesn't have anything going for it beyond Walk of Life and Money for Nothing.
Unbelievable how dull this is, given the hugeness of the hits. Like listening to a dripping faucet.
Pretty funky album. Money for Nothing was my favorite. 5.9/10
Boy did MTV loved this album. Despite the fact they, and many of their artists archetypes, were being made fun of. It’s an ok album with some nostalgic tunes.
Bastante melodioso la voz del cantante, es bastante única resalta bastante en armonía con la guitarra
As with prior Dire Straits albums this is pretty boring. Just middle of the road, soft rock.
Goes great with boat
It’s not the best Dire Straits album. Its first half is a bit stronger than the second. I’m out of criticisms now. Everything great about the band is here and it contains some of their best material. It’s on this list for good reason.
de más a menos, a la mitad me dio paja
So many great songs on this album. Mark Knopfler at his best. An easy 5 star.
Only knowing the excellent "Money For Nothing" beforehand, I wasn't expecting this to be so relaxing and laid-back. Mark Knopfler is a guitar virtuoso, but does not showboat with ripping solos like many of his contemporaries. His style is a crucial part on why this album works. His playing combined with the synths, adds so much texture to the music and I can see how Knopfler he got involved with creating film scores. Front-loaded with big singles, the album is still enjoyable to unwind to throughout the entirety of the runtime due to the silky-smooth soulful atmosphere that it creates. It's always great when the generator churns out a massive record that I have not listened to before. This brand of yuppie soft-rock isn't my usual jam, but its impossible to deny that they do the style remarkably well.
legal gostei
“Money for Nothing” might be enough, by itself, to get me to four stars. But we get “So Far Away” and “Walk of Life,” too. So good.
All I thought when I looked at the title was the BANGER DAgames songs by the same name
Could do without the lyricism on here, but musically and sonically, it's kinda bulletproof.
not my favorite. more texture or songwriting that interests me even slightly more would go a long way i feel
I love this album, such a classic with some absolutely banging tunes, fond memories of listening with close friends on car trips. This album has some absolute classics such as brothers in arms, walk of life, and of course, money for nothing, owner of one of the best riffs and guitar tones of all time. Top pick: Your latest trick, was my favourite song for a solid 6 months, never gets old. This one is an easy 9/10 from me
Funny to have a super reverbed synthed out pop album with a picture of a steel guitar on the cover. That's kinda the whole thing - is this a poppy blues album or a high brow pop album? Does that just mean it's nothing? A couple classics - Money for Nothing and Walk of Life both great - and I think probably high quality throughout? His lyrics have a funny thing where I can't tell if he's smart or just kinda cranky.
gitaar en money for nothing en walk of life 👍
Surprisingly high use of the term f*gg*t, what did the Dire Straits mean by this? Money for Nothing and Walk of Life are both on this album? Damn, so many bangers. This is the type of album that I imagine a stereotypical 80's human, sitting in a classic 80's finished midwestern basement den, smoking 80's weed and drinking 80's beer, would listen to in the most nostalgic way. Embodies the era fully, and is just fuckin groovy. First time thru the whole album, but I was impressed by how many songs I was actually already familiar with. A testament to this album imo. The other thing that makes this album a clear beast to me is the fact that my recommendation algorithm keeps feeding me banger after banger which are topically related to this. If it was bad, my recs would be shit. or something like that.
I didn't enjoy my first Dire Straits album, but this one was filled with hits. Pretty impressive.
Decent enough - the main hits - So Far Away, Money for Nothing and Walk of Life enjoyable, but a bit naff some of the album tracks stronger and title track the best - hard to decide between 3 and 4
Good classic album, not something I would listen to regularly but wouldn’t be mad if I heard it in a public setting
Great album, and the first on this list so far that I actually own on vinyl. For my money, there is no better song to show off how good your stereo sounds than Money for Nothing. The B side of this album loses me a bit, otherwise this would be a 5 star review.
Great album by a great band.