Dire Straits

nothing special about it. Sultans of swing was new at the time different from anything before it. However when every other tune afterwards sounds the same it gets a bit dull.

The Straits aren’t really my thing, but it’s a fairly chill album with some catchy tunes. Favourite track: Water of Love

Blue, country, and what wikipedia tells me is "roots rock". This feels like a slimmed-down version of the Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers" album; a reviewer apparently once called them minimalist and I agree.

хз, я бы такое не слушал, поставил 3 только потому что потом включил пошлую Молли

There’s a fine line between the worst music of this time (Steely Dan for example) and this. And if you look at the line real close, it says “weirdo guitarist a guitar guy can’t look away from”. I give Mark Knopfler’s guitar work a 5, but all of the production and lyrics and vocals and everything else a 1. So it goes.

Really like the instrumentation. Don’t love the style of singing all the time but his voice is smooth enough I don’t mind it as much as some others

Very well crafted, strongly influenced by J J Cale

For a debut album, this is pretty solid and it has Sultans of Swing. They know how to play the guitar but I’m not really thrilled by it, lots of the same and vocally there’s not a lot happening.

It was interesting, at least.

Just super solid. Didn’t really grab my attention but a good listen

It was good enough, just sounded like Dire Straits LOL.

Dire Straits is always good but I prefer Brothers In Arms over this album. The tracks seemed a bit samey and I wouldn't actively choose to listen to it. Rating: 3

Knopfler is clearly a very good guitarist but i cant really say anything particularly stood out. Sultans of swing is orite. But youre never gonna bang the album on are ya

A generous 3 Like I do like dire straits well the brothers in arms album anyway, but this album is just meh innit. The actual the playing is really good. However the songs are just not that interesting. There is a few good numbers but all in all pretty bland. Harmless safe dad rock...

Ok album. Saltans of Swing is one of my favourite songs, so everything else on this album pales in comparison. Brothers In Arms is a better album

Like dire straits. The guitar sound is very good Sultans of swing is a banger

Knopfler's voice works on most of these songs, but a few are just too sparse for his harsh voice to gel as well. This is a good album to listen to on vinyl though.

Slightly better than the last? Idk. I just read something the other day about Mark Knopfler being a terrible vocalist, and it’s something I’d never noticed or thought about, but this time I definitely noticed.

Pub rock 1970s

Best track: Sultans of Swing Overall: Not something I would listen to on rotation but a good "mellow" or "wind down" music

-i think "sultans of swing" is insanely overrated that's all i'll say about it. and this album feels like it's going to be very sultans of swingy. -i kinda dig "setting me up" -ah i'm warming up to them. "six blade knife" also good. -"southbound again" also good. fun lil tune. -"in the gallery" has a nice groove to it. -"lions" is a 5 minute song that feels like it goes on for 20 minutes. -all in all this exceeded expectations. i stand by what i said about "sultans of swing" tho. and i would add that it's ridiculous that it's a near 6 minute long song. i like this album a lot more than "brothers in arms" (which is another dire straits album with an insufferable overplayed single).

Only knew Sultans of Swing. Solid album.

Ich mag die instrumentals nicht (außer in Sultans of Swing). Die hohen Gitarrentöne sind irgendwie sehr penetrant und die drums klingen nicht voll genug für meinen Geschmack.. Würde das album gerne mehr mögen aber ich kann mich nicht dazu bringen.

Fun album from a group I was aware of but knew very little about. Nice guitar throughout. Mixed well.

3/5 Netter Vibe, aber für mich nix Herausragendes

This was fine; nothing about it really stood out to me other than ‘Sultans of Swing’.

Sultans of swing is their best song. The album itself is aight.

I had a jangly old time. I will probably not ever return to this album unless I am on a road trip with a handsome man who gives me adventurous cowboy vibes, I’m in the passenger seat and he hands me the aux (our hands brush briefly and I feel a jolt), I’m sipping gas station coffee and we have the windows down, it’s a beautiful day somewhere between Vegas and Flagstaff, clear skies, 76 degrees, I’m in denim shorts, no makeup, no worries. I turn on this album and he knows it from the first notes, knows every word.

Sultans of Swing is een blijft een top nummer, rest van het album is prima, niet geweldig.

Gitaar is cool, maar eronder verstopt is niet veel meer dan acceptabele soft rock.

I definitely had to look up to see if Bob Dylan was their vocalist. Some good background music. Knew their one hit from this from soundtracks or commercials or something. Didn't really hit for me, but sounds like it was of its time.

It was okay, just not anything I'd listen to regularly

love it

Clásico con algún temazo

Ребят машины нет а роуд трип песен слишком много. Могу отметить только sultans of swing

Mucho country, no es mi estilo pero es chulo.

Buen álbum de guitarra

Just makes me think of my dad. Outside of Sultans of Swing not a lot going on here, Knofler hasn’t really figured out how best to use his voice yet

Not my usual taste but it was definitely a very good album and actually was enjoyable to listen to.

seemed kinda mid but might need to relisten

post 70s punk era. ive been lonely too long and my hear feels pain - water of love

no lo pasé maluco escuchándolo pero tampoco quedé impresionada, es un buen álbum, muy chill, con un par de temas muy buenos

this album low key boring

Album was fine, sultans of swing carry the album

While I enjoyed this album, especially Sultans of Swing, it’s pretty underwhelming compared to other Dire Strait albums like Brothers in Arms… This is something I’d put on in the background. There aren’t any bad songs tho and Mark Knopfler still goated

Cool instrumentals but overall mediocre

Down To The Waterline-7.5/10 Water Of Love-5/10 Setting Me Up-5/10 Six Blade Knife- 4/10 Southbound Again-6.5/10 Sultans Of Swing-8/10 In The Gallery-6/10 Wild West End-7/10 Lions-5/10

Alright, nothing too monumental to me honestly. Better than 'Brothers In Arms'. I bought that album on CD and listened to it, expecting each song to have the same energy as 'Money For Nothing' but half of them were boring. This album had some nice tunes on it, however. Sometimes the blues genre is done in a very pretentious way and it just sounds "wanky" as others have described it - mainly in relation to Eric Clapton which makes sense, that twat - but I found this album to be very enjoyable. Still a bit on the boring side but that's just on me. If there was more energy to some of the tracks then I would've maybe gave it another listen. Favourite tracks: Down To The Waterline, Southbound Again, In The Gallery 3/5

me gusto, es un género al cual no le había dado tanta atención, me ayudó bastante con el inglés porque se entienden fáciles las palabras, la primera canción del álbum me gusto bastante, las pausas y la intro épica

Chill vibes, had better but not the worst

The album is very laid-back and unhurried in its approach, like it's an insanely calm album. The sounds heard here tend to include rock, blues and country, with all those genres being mixed and matched at different times. There are some sick lead guitar parts, especially in the gem of a song that is "Sultans Of Swing" and a new discovery of "In The Gallery." Highlight Song/s: "Sultans Of Swing" and "In The Gallery"

Overall strong album . Didn’t stick with me on the first listen though,but still great straming and we always love classic post punk Fave : Sultans of Swing , In the Gallery Already heard / liked :Sultans of swing

Good vibes, a little slow and repetitive for me, intro was really cool Basslines are really cool

Jag är inte såld på dire straits. Önskar jag diggade det mer. Sultans of swing är förstås rätt bra. Men det blir aldrig stora känslor för mig. Överlag är skivan dessutom rätt meh.

Talented but not really for me

Good but is not my style

Los temas bastante parecido en cuanto a melodía, buenas letras, no sé si lo volvería a escuchar, pero Sultans of Swing nunca decepciona

Inoffensive

I listened to it twice and liked it enough, although it felt like every other song was just a less good version of Sultans.

Talented…but I don’t get it. Wild West End is a good track. Sultans of Swing obviously is the classic song but I’m kind of tiered of it. Meh, it’s okay not crazy about it.

la banda es una locura, tipo lo instrumental está muy piola pero el cantante no me interpela y por momentos lo noto muy monótono. sería 3.5/5 pero como no me deja queda 3.

Honestly, I like this substantially more than Brothers In Arms. I think the songs here are generally better, and that Dire Straits have a more interesting aesthetic. The guitars here are bright and nimble, and make me better understand the appeal of Mark Knopfler as a player. It feels like some of this brightness almost sounds lifted from funk too. And this feeling gives this a much better feel than Brothers In Arms. Where Brothers In Arms felt like a classic rock slog, Dire Straits finally makes me understand the term "Yacht Rock". Like yeah, if I was on a boat on a beautiful, hot day, wherein I'm cooled by the breeze rushing past me, this would probably, for a fleeting moment, be the best album ever. Down To The Waterline is a great song that exemplifies this album's tactful, bright, and precise sound. Sultans of Swing may be my favorite Dire Straits song though, it's just a fantastic song. But honestly, most of this album is good. I also really like Setting Me Up, In The Gallery, Wild West End, and Lions. Although, I will say that Dire Straits have the misfortune of operating chiefly in a genre I don't really like, *and the remaining songs largely don't do it for me that much. So I am capping this at a 3. but it's honestly a good listen.

Buen album pero no es el estilo que mas me gusta por eso no le di tantas estrellas.

Listening to this made me travel to the 50s in some way. Also I think guitars are so present in the hole album and it’s so good.

Heard some before; 3; Technically good and a little interesting, but doesn't excite me a whole lot. Guitar playing has lots of fun licks, but for whatever reason, didn't impress on me anything memorable. Maybe I need to give this a few more listens, but it's certainly not bad. Favorite Track: Setting Me Up

Sigh they were considered cool at the time but this is… well, it was part of the soundtrack to the trip to Italy in the 2CV, so I’ve got to give it some credit.

Solid þristur.

Sultans is obviously great, Down by the Waterline not far off in the same vein. The rest not so great.

It is fine. A bit soft rock for me but Sultans of Swing is a classic .

Good listen, liked the pace

6/10

Bet this was MASSIVE in the 80s. Still waiting for an 80s album that isn't extremely dated. Yawn. 3 stars - Holy stream count! - Reeks of dad rock - I mean this jams but it's pretty stupid - Slurs... great

I prefer this to Brothers in Arms. Mark Knopfler's style is ill suited for pop, IMO, and it's a much better for this more laid back, day-in- the-life mood. Give me Sultans of Swing over anything on the pop album.

I like Brothers In Arms better than this album, though Sultans is a classic. Overall album was middle of the road.

For a first album this is very good

didn't care for this as much as other Dire Straits album. maybe because it's their 1st & don't have their sound quite nailed down yet... still an overall nice listen, just wouldn't seek it out again

Very hard to rate. On the other hand songwriting is unremarkable as is the vocal performance, like he's not yet convinced he can do it. At the same time the guitar playing is pure gold, and then out of the blue comes one of the greatest songs of all time. As an album it's quite confusing.

There are a couple of cool songs on here. I will however never feel the need to purposely download, purchase or listen to this. I'm not going to turn it off but I'm most definitely not going to turn it on. Since I can't go with the 2.5 I feel this is since it evokes no feelings in me whatsoever I will go with 3 since there are some clearly gifted musicians here, 2 would imply its bad which it is not.

Make no mistake, this is the dadliest dad rock that ever did father. It's not soft rock or yacht rock or classic rock, it's dad rock. Guitar heavy, dry kit, Lou Reed ass vocals, kinda has that 70s groove all over it that screams dim orange shag interior. Funny that it is that way too, cuz dad rock seems like such 70s Americana to me. Little Feat or Lynyrd Skynyrd (eyuck) or early Steely Dan adjacent type sound. But here's a band from London formed and getting successful after most of this kinda music was already well established and maybe getting a little played out? Idk for sure I wasn't alive. Anyway, I like the lead guitar work. Plenty of chicken pickin and bluesy lines. I think the rest of the band is doing what they gotta do in the pocket. There are a few standout grooves on this album, I like Southbound Again the most. Change the bass pattern to like a Larry Graham thump thing and take out 4 on the floor and I'd say it starts up a little with the funk. Otherwise it's just 40 minutes of pretty steady grooves, nothing incredible. I'd normally pop this at a 2, but I think the guitar work brings it up a bit. Without Mark Knopfler playing I think that it'd be average so I guess 3.

fav track : Wild West End

Sultans of Swing is defined the standout track on this album. It’s an alright LP but not the best Dire Straits album. Sultans is a 5* track, but it’s on a 3* album.

Super cool use of stereo. Sometimes the lead guitar was in the left and sometimes it was centred. Production feels deliberate. Knopfler voice is rad Top 3 songs 1. Sultans 2. Six blade knife 3. Wild West end

Inte deras bästa men helt ok

It's just alright.

Creole

i feel i didnt get the time to listen to this as actively as i should have, but from what i heard, i loved. very lovely

The final boss of clean tone riffs. I like dire straits a decent amount, but I'm not putting them on regularly. I really wanna put them a 4, but I think 3 feels better considering how little I think about anything other than the hits.

Oooh Dire Straits, the only song I know on this album is Sultans of Swing. By name anyway. Damn, that on has 1.7 Billion streams! meh, it was alright, it all sounds very similar. But Sultans of Swing sure is fire!! 3 stars.

I don’t like them as much as I thought I guess.

A band I know but never dug into their discography. First impression; a better Eagles. Super well produced album, sounds very clean. Vocals give it a very smokey quality. Filled with country western riffs and a California rock feel. Bass and drums provide great grooves and some songs with some serious boogie. This is a great debut album, most of it was very pleasant to my earholes, thought the end was kinda of a let down compared to the rest of the album.

Fun! I wish I was driving a convertible to the beach with this album playing. 7/10

Great guitar work. Classic dire straits sound

Lejos, mucho, del Punk. Ya la portada (una pintura de Chuck Loyola) indica que estamos ante un grupo diferente. Si hay algo reconocible en el rock es el sonido de la Stratocaster de Knopfler (y su sedosa voz). Ya desde la apertura de Down to the waterline hasta la eterna Sultans of Swing (inspirada en una banda así llamada) es un disco para disfrutar. Setting Me Up es un rockabilly, Six Blade Knife es un tema a redescubrir (la incluyó Robert Rodríguez en Desperado) Wild west end es otro de los mejores del lote. Este debut es esencial y luego siguió con Communiqué (1979), Making Movies (1980), Love Over Gold (1982), hasta llegar al momento de mayor gloria planetaria con Brothers in Arms (1985).

I really dug a couple of the songs on here, but the rest of it didn't really grab my attention. It was good, I've always been a Dire Straits fan... I just didn't find this album memorable.

La guitarra de Knopfler es patrimonio universal y eleva el nivel del disco. Algunas canciones ya las conocía, pero nunca está mal volver a ellas. De momento es el disco que más me ha gustado de los que llevo escuchado

No es mi tipo de música en realidad. Pero las guitarras de este disco son increibles, vibra de estar en el pastizal en una carne asada mientras te pega el sol de las 5 de la tarde en la cara

Sultan of swing is good. The sound is kind of similar, guess it's an iconic sound for dire straits.

Dire Straits passed me by in my youth, too MOR, but now I quiet like them, an age thing obviously 🤣 decent album this one

An enjoyable album but nothing to write home about.

great band SOLID ALBUM

Very road trip and errand montage coded. Not bad by any means but nothing extraordinary. Easy-going, groovy when it wants to be, and easy on the ears. 3.5/5 Favorites: Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery (for the classic Bob Marley vibes in the strings)

meh

groovy com umas musicas bem iconics no meio, mas algumas no comeco tava meio country que nao eh muito meu gosto

This was an okay album. It has a very laid back sound, which can lean too far into boring at times. If I wanted to be a bit more forthright about it, I would say this sounds like a worse Bob Dylan, so you should just listen to him instead. Overall, I wasn't that impressed, but it was an alright listen. Three stars. (Favorite track: Wild West End.)

Again, amazing album cover. Did not know they sang sultans of swing! Very laid back blues-rock. Imagining worn down wood, dive bars, cigarette swirls, mild depression

technically, this is great, but gosh sitting and listening to the whole thing is a little dull and repetitive. maybe also a shame because I knew the best songs on the album already, but I'm rounding UP to a three this time

When I was a kid my father had Brothers in Arms cassette in car stereos so I have a soft spot for Dire Straits. I must admit that I've never listened to the debut album (except for Sultans of Swing). For me the highlights are Down to the Waterline and Wild West End but if I'll ever feel the need to listen to Dire Straits, I'll choose Brothers in Arms. Crazy to think that Mark Knopfler was in his late twenties when he wrote these songs. He probably has been a middle aged white dude since birth.

This was pleasant enough, but forgettable

Who doesn't love Sultans of Swing? What else does this album offer? Down to the Waterline seemed of a same type with Sultans, that same guitar sound, tasty licks, tight drum fills and I dug it. I was surprised by the other tracks of the album encompassing a feeling of some other styles. I enjoyed the listen, probably won't throw it down for another spin.

Dire Straits (1978) is blues-rockers Dire Straits’ debut studio album. It’s not an album I’ve ever listened to before. Of course I knew ‘Sultans of Swing’, which sets a pretty high bar as a debut single, but nonetheless I didn’t have high hopes for the rest of the album. When I was a teenager Dire Straits represented everything I hated about music. Certainly at the height of their Brothers in Arms fame, if you told me you liked Dire Straits I would have known for sure that we were never going to be friends. And in typical teenage fashion my dislike wasn’t based on evidence, just vibes. Why would I waste time listening to such a boring band?! Having now given it the customary three listens, I realise I was being a bit harsh. Either that or I’ve got old, mellow and am embracing middle-of-the-road music. Although the songs can be a bit meandering, there’s a lot to like. Mark Knopfler’s vocals have the feel of Dylan in his Rolling Thunder Review / Desire era on several tracks, and the the album includes elements of folk and country rock along with the blues. The guitar playing is excellent, and although only Sultans of Swing really stands out I can see why people like this album. In the end though, it’s just a bit too clean and consistent for my liking. Side A: Down to the Waterline - 4/5; Water of Love - 3/5; Setting Me Up - 3/5; Six Blade Knife - 3/5 Southbound Again - 3/5 Side B: Sultans of Swing - 5/5; In the Gallery - 3/5; Wild West End - 3/5; Lions - 3/5

My dear mother infamously despites Dire Straits. Apparently, this antagonistic sentiment results from an old trauma of having this 'Best of Dire Straits' CD stuck in the casette tray of her parent's station wagon for many years. She hates them even more than she hates ACDC. So growing up me and my father had a secretive covenant: we'd put on some Knopfler while out in the ute, listening to the dulcet coontraband of one of the UK's most renowned guitarists beside the golden pastures of my youth. As such, the opening riff of Money For Nothing has forever been tattooed against my tabula rasa. This had the accidental effect of infusing Dire Straits with the kind of edgy, cool veneer that all those forbidden taboos of childhood inevitably attract. It wasn't until over a decade later, upon being hit with the usual wave of homesick nostalgia that will always come with the hiraeth at the last terminal of adolesence, that I re-treaded some muddy footprints in the bucolic memory of my salad days and therefore re-visited Dire Straits with somewhat fresh ears. All that to say that Dire Straits' self-titled debut isn't exactly an album that warranted that level of admiration. Strictly speaking, it's a pretty run-of-the-mill record. A fairly impressive inauguration for a band that would sweep the world when their hit Sultans of Swing began to find regular radio play. There's enough radio-friendly guitar work to grant this album its mainstream appeal, and it's easy to notice the unbashed shades of Dylan cast over the blues-y tones. These days, Dire Straits has been (rightly, in all honesty) relegated to the somewhat disparaging category of 'dad-rock staples' next to Canned Heat or Creedence. It's a bit of a bittersweet fate for a band that had once been a household name. I don't know. There's a lot to be savoured in the re-discovery of popular music's 'old news' pile. Unfortunately, you can be pretty confident that this isn't the album that'll get the Zoomers blowing the dust off grandpa's vintage record collection. There's just very little of exception here besides the silky-smooth guitar work. The album is meandering - a symptom, perhaps, of mostly being written to fill time for pub crowds and ballroom gigs in their early career. I have nothing but respect for a band of well-practiced musical workhorses and their tight performances (thinking early Beatles or Minutemen), but it sometimes makes it very hard to carve out what makes them particularly special. That said, credit where credit's due for Sultans of Swing, which continues to earn its venerated status within the rock singles canon. Fav tracks: Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, Lions

This list gave me two dire straits albums in 5 days with is a bit much. This one though is much better. A mysterious mellow sound that seems like it’s waiting to bust out of the box.

nothing too special or memorable; that 60s/70s sounds

This was pretty good album! Very country ish without being TOO country. I could enjoy this on a playlist but I don't think I'll be seeking them out. 6/10

After the assault on my ears from brothers in arms I swore I would never listen to that band again. So this pops up and I’m committed. To be fair I didn’t mind this, it’s an honest album and a more stripped down sound, I even give it a second play

This album is a lot of storytelling. Didn’t mind it at all, but it was hard to not think of The Blue Jean Committee from Documentary Now! Especially listening to Wild West End.

Not my favourite dire straits album thought tbh dont think I was in the right mindframe while listening

Smokey guitar riffs

A trip back to the heyday of MTV.

This was a decent album to listen to. I was more drawn in by the guitar play than anything else, but it had some really good songs.

Good classic album with some very high highs, but a good few lows. Not there best album in my eyes. But the Gallery and Sultans of swing are some really good songs

bom mas meio foda-se

It's nice! Rock with a lot of different infusions from different genres like funk and blues

Some good sounds are here, though only a few appeal to me. Not bad, but not to my liking.

Mesmeric guitar riffs and that unmistakably smooth tone—nobody plays like Knopfler. Add the gravelly, understated British vocal and it sounds like nothing before or since. The rest of the album drifts by pleasantly, effortlessly listenable, with Sultans of Swing the obvious standout.

Good album, especially for a debut. Brothers In Arms is peak Dire Straits to me and this album certainly contains the DNA of that masterpiece

Quite enjoyable trip down memory lane. It’s a little short on ideas, but not without charm

Extremely easy listening.

It's difficult to approach a Dire Straits album without all the headband bullshit that exists around them. As ever, it's me that's got the problem, not them. As a debut, this is very strong. The songwriting and musicianship is a million miles away from what was making headlines in the music press at the time. I kinda like that. In their own way, Dire Straits didn't give a shit, and just did their thing. I also like the very English approach to blues and singing with a Geordie accent. Forget the band name, enjoy the music.

Not their best album…

I liked this album more than I thought i would. Clearly, I need to give the Dire Straits more love.

Best Track - "Sultans Of Swing"

it was okay, but no memorable songs. it’s music that i would keep on in the background if people were over or if i was driving!

definitely kicker opening! the guitar is insane, love the twang on it.

Would be better without the lyrics

its alright not a common listen

Well, if you get one thing out of this record, it is clear that Mark Knoffler can play guitar like a motherfucker. This is the most obvious thing about this record. On both a macro level and micro level, the guitar work is notable for both its tone and the beauty of the playing. Mark’s vocals on the other hand are an acquired taste. Both because of the pitch and the vary narrow range, means that the music has to do the heavy lifting. And for the most part it does. Since everyone is likely familiar with Sultans of Swing, imagine a whole record filled with fairly similar music and a vocalist who has suck a narrow range, that the entire record becomes after a couple of songs background music because there is not enough variation to maintain listener interest. And that is what struck me. If I’d heard any of the tracks in the wild, I would likely say well that’s pleasant. Enjoyable. The thought of it being followed by another track from the record would make the first track less pleasant and less enjoyable. And that kind of sums up Dire Straits. Less pleasant and less enjoyable with repeated listening. Average at best. 3/5

totally fine, easy listening, 2.5

One of my top songs of 2025 was from this album, so I was rlly excited !! The guitar solos are SO GOOD. Not as much of a fan of their slower stuff. Fav song is ‘Sultans of Swing’.

J'ai toujours eu une relation compliquée, pour ne pas dire schizophrène, avec Dire Straits. D'un côté, il y a mon moi "officiel", le disquaire indé élitiste qui a passé la fin des années 90 à prêcher la paroisse de Godflesh, Sonic Youth et John Zorn. Ce moi-là se doit, par principe, de rejeter ce groupe. Pourquoi ? Parce que c’est l’archétype du groupe de "guitar hero" pour darons, le début de l’ère où la branlette de manche est devenue un art majeur, propre et sans bavure. Et puis, il y a l'autre côté, celui qui a grandi avec la FM dans les oreilles. Celui qui, une fois les volets fermés et le volume baissé pour que les voisins ne l'entendent pas, kiffe vraiment. Mais alors vraiment. Bon, je ne suis pas un fan hardcore qui collectionne les bootlegs, mais me balancer un album de Dire Straits dans les oreilles une fois de temps en temps, c'est comme enfiler une vieille paire de charentaises : c'est moche, mais qu'est-ce qu'on est bien dedans. Pour comprendre le truc, il faut se remettre dans le contexte de 1978. J'avais 8 ans, mais avec le recul, je vois le tableau : le Punk est en train de s'étouffer dans son propre vomi, la New Wave commence à pointer ses synthés froids, et au milieu de ce bordel créatif, Mark Knopfler débarque avec sa Stratocaster rouge, un son clair à te niquer les rétines et une production clinique signée Muff Winwood. C’est l’anti-punk par excellence. C’est calme, c’est technique, ça joue aux doigts sans médiator. C’est insolent de facilité. Dès l’intro de "Down to the Waterline", je suis coincé. Il y a cette ambiance brumeuse, ces bruits de quai, cette basse qui ronronne... On est à Londres, il fait gris, c’est humide, mais c’est groovy. C’est là toute la dualité qui me bouffe : mon cerveau crie "C'est de la soupe pour boomers !", mais mon pied bat la mesure. Il y a une atmosphère indéniable, un truc cinématographique qui fonctionne à merveille. Et puis, il y a l'éléphant dans la pièce : "Sultans of Swing". J'ai bossé dix ans en radio, j'ai dû lancer ce titre des centaines de fois. Je devrais le haïr, je devrais avoir envie de casser la radio dès que j'entends les premières notes. Mais non, car c'est une putain de leçon. Knopfler raconte l’histoire de ce groupe de jazz miteux dans un pub vide avec une ironie mordante et une fluidité déconcertante. C’est Dylan qui aurait appris à jouer de la guitare, c’est le sommet de l’album. Mais voilà, c’est là tout le problème et c'est ici que pa note dégringole un peu. Si le sommet est haut, la plaine est parfois un peu plate. C'est mon côté "vieux con exigeant" qui reprend le dessus : tout n'est pas à la hauteur de ces deux pépites. L'album souffre de ce que j'appelle le "syndrome du Pub-Rock pépère". Des titres comme "Water of Love" ou "Wild West End", c’est sympa, ça s’écoute, c’est du J.J. Cale sous calmants, mais est-ce que ça te retourne les tripes ? Non. Ça t’endort gentiment. Il y a du remplissage. "In The Gallery" ou "Lions", par exemple, me laissent totalement de marbre. On sent que le groupe cherche encore un peu sa voie, qu'ils n'ont pas encore atteint la grandiloquence (parfois chiante, avouons-le) ou l'efficacité chirurgicale des albums suivants. C’est plus brut, plus sec, mais parfois un peu vain. Alors, au moment de noter, je suis tiraillé. Mon cœur nostalgique voudrait être plus généreux, mais ma rigueur intellectuelle me freine. Ce n'est pas un album parfait. Il y a des longueurs, des moments où la tension retombe trop bas. Ce n'est pas un album qui changent une vie ou qui redéfini un genre, c'est un album de confort. Donc, cet album s'en sort avec un gros 3 sur 5. C'est un 3 de "haut niveau", un 3 qui flirte avec le 4, mais qui se prend les pieds dans le tapis sur la longueur. Certains morceaux ne sont tout simplement pas à la hauteur de ce que le groupe proposera quelques années plus tard ("Brothers in Arms", par exemple, où là, la production touchera au sublime, même si c'est pour vendre des lecteurs CD). Au final, c'est un bon album que j'écoute en cachette, un plaisir coupable assumé, mais qui manque un peu de niaque et de constance pour mériter sa place au panthéon absolu de mes étagères.

Ok

Man, good guitar and such. I love Brothers in Arms, but this didn't quite have the same variety and engagement for me as that. Wild that Knopfler is British with his inflection.

3.5

kind of had a hard time collecting my thoughts on this one. best analogy i could come up with is when you’re watching a movie/tv show from the 70s and you see an actor that looks like a regular person: no perfect teeth, no big muscles, nothing in particular that would make you think they’re part of Hollywood. you see that and think “wow, i guess they were just letting anyone be in movies back then.” maybe this album has some sort of incredible cultural significance i’m missing, but ultimately it just sounds like mellow inoffensive adult contemporary music from the 80s (albeit released in 1978). the production is clean and the mix is great, but nothing else really stands out for me here. Dire Straits is the Coldplay of gen x

First impression it sounds like a very chill yet full of vibe type of album, mostly based on guitar and bass from what I am listening to.

I had never listened to Dire Straits before this, I maybe recognize Sultans of Swing. Technically the guitar and instruments are very funky and interesting. Vocals aren't my favourite, but I like it on Sultans of Swing, but I wasn't connecting to it overall. Maybe will try to get into it another time

Never given the whole album a listen. This was very chill with some impressive musicianship!

Pretty mid album.

One of the best guitar rock songs for guitarists in the 1st album “Sultans of swing “ worth the entire record.

Nice mellow sound - very pleasant listen - solid 7 out of 10

Honestly pretty enjoyable. Sultans of swing is a good highlight and I enjoyed the riffs. Still not one I’d say I absolutely return to but definitely enjoyable.

I preferred it to Brothers In Arms, which tended to drag on a bit. This was a bit repetitive but it did its thing pretty well. If you removed Sultans of Swing, it probably wouldn’t have made much of an impact…

It’s a little bit insipid, and can see why it would appeal to the masses. The band is tight, bass and drums let Knopfler do his thing, but I’d like it to go somewhere else than that safe bluesy pocket where it’s just riff after riff. It’s a consistent album to be sure, but one comment I’ve seen that says it’s an hour of ‘sultans of swing’ sums it up well though.

p417. 1978. 3 stars. Generic Geordie US influenced rock. Mark Knopfler has sharp lyrics, can knock out a tune and is a fine guitarist - but it's also slick and soulless. No wonder Dire Straits incurred the wrath of the punks at the time. This isn't essential listening, but some of their later albums are.

A chill album, what I would call a summer album. Six blade knife would probably be my favorite.

I’m a fan of the Dire Straits but this album never really did anything for me. It’s pretty one-note.

God I wish I could figure out how to replicate Mark Knopfler's guitar tone. Also, "Sultans of Swing" is an absolutely perfect song. But the rest of the album is solid, not great. I'm a Brothers in Arms guy anyway.

First track sounds like the musical child of Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, and the Allman Brothers Band. I dig the guitar on the first track. Wild West End sounds a lot like one of their other songs. I wanted so bad for this to be a 5 that I’ve never heard before. Then a 4. But I don’t know. There’s only like 2 or 3 here that I really like. Is that enough for a 4?

I kind of dig the grooves and clean sound. Knew their hits but never listened to this album before.

I know Sultans of Swing, but I didn't really expect the rest of the album to sound like this based on that. I thought it would be more expansive with long instrumentals, but at least the first half is closer to a standard pop record. Didn't make much of an impression on me really. I found more depth in the second half, a definite improvement.

Nothing wrong with Mark Knopfler picking on the guitar

Enjoyable album, but I expected more umph.

Sultans of Swing is a great song, but the rest is kinda meh.

wow what an introduction, not the kind of song I would follow up with that intro tho, love how the instruments sound on this record, wish I could say the same for the vocals

-sounds very familiar, meshes with the genre of music of its time, wish it had something that makes it stand out -leaning a little too country for my liking but a few songs save it - all the songs sound the same too, cant really tell when the next song plays -sexy guitaring -favourites: down to the waterline, WILD WEST END, sultan swing too ig

Coworker music but the coworker's a chill dude

I don’t hate it. In fact there are some bits I really like, but the overall effect is underwhelming. And that’s it 🤷‍♀️

good for the café

Technically fine, but not for me

Pendlar mellan 3 och 4 för mig. Några låtar är grooviga och sultans of swing älskar man ju för att den är så kul på guitar hero. Mycket är dock väldigt medelmåtta. Stark 3a kanske? Pappa tycker att det är karakteristisk musik för dire straits. Man känner igen det. Neutralt betyg 3.

70s Jazz Rock- I enjoyed it.

I felt mixed about this album. I love Sultans of Swing but I wasn’t feeling the other songs. On the other hand I ended up listening to the whole album three or four times so I guess I didn’t hate it. 3.5 Stars

Wasn’t overly familiar with this group. Besides Sultan. I liked it though. I have a feeling if I listened to it a lot it would grow on me quite a bit.

All these albums are fine. Not my taste.

Most of the songs on this album felt as average as can be

3/5 nice nice

God guitar og dejlig groovy. 7/10

guitar goes crazy dont love the guys voice but for the 70s feels very on brand water of love feels horse. just horse i think my mum would absolutely eat this up but its a no for me

A little too country but i like the mix of country rock. (01/03/26)

6/10

Effortlessly grooves through the first third before petering out. But just when you start to drift, Sultans of Swing begins.

Even their debut boogies with hints of jazz and country. Nice slow, smoky low atmosphere for their debut which included the Sultans of Swing, a lament to good ol' pb rock. Was fun to hear this again

Classic 70s rock sound, I like it but I'm not really into 70s rock. Gonna shelve this for when I'm feeling nostalgic which is probably gonna be never lol. Favorite song: Sultans of Swing Least Favorite Song: In The Gallery

I’ll always love Sultans of Swing but the rest of the album is pretty forgettable

Liked this album. Some good tunes on it and there's no doubt that Knopfler is a great guitarist. Sultans of swing is an all time classic. They get better from here too.

Dad rock at its best. Good riffs. Probably would grow on me a bit if I listened more. Great production. 70’s clean and open. Would sound great on a good set of speakers.

8/10

Me ha gustado bastante

1) i liked it! i think the only thing i didn't particularly enjoy was the quiet & slow beginning 8/10 2) not my favorite.. i hardly paid any attention to it 5/10 3) not bad! reminded me of being @ a tx roadhouse! 6.5/10 4) gave me gorillaz vibes 8/10 5) i LOVED the guitar in this one! 8.5/10 6) not bad @ all, i really liked the vibes of this one 8/10 7) wanted to like it, but wasn't my fave 5/10 8) cute song! 7/10 9) last song & a nice one to end on! 6/10

i love six blade knife

cafe vibes, fav were lions and down to the waterlines.

The voice is the only thing that gives this a 3/5.

not something i would listen to every day but its okay 6/10

Den enda låten som står ut för mig är Sultans of Swing som är jättebra. Resten är meh...

Boring

A decent listen, but the whole album kind of blends together. It blends into other music from Dire Straifa and from the era too.

3/5

Ya know what! There are worse ways to spend 41 minutes.

FIRST TRACK IS EATINGGGGG. It sounds like annd album you’d hear in the beginning an 80s horror movie where the group of friends are driving to the beach 😭 the first track has to be my favoriteeeee from the entire album. I had high hopes cause I thought the whole album was gonna be like that(it wasn’t). this album wasn’t bad though?? I def enjoyed it more than Kid A though. it’s a really chill album and the type I would play at a barbecue or just while im driving. I think it’s perfect for the times where I wanna listen to music but not get hyped. I felt like I should’ve been smoking a cigarette while listening…

Sounded like pretty standard dad rock to me. Nice to listen to, but aside from Sultans of Swing, nothing particularly stood out to me.

Funky

Enjoyable, but nothing was better than the Sultans of swing.

Pretty good, nice guitar sounds, a couple recognizable songs

ganz süß aber irgendwie nicht so viel los, gut als hintergrundmusik aber nicht aktiv

Good guitar licks -- bout all I got out of it

Pedestrian but I love the playing

Dire Straits are fine. They’re fine! They’re a Jimmy Buffett version of Steely Dan. Nah, that’s terrible. But they play guitar really well great and some of their songs are a fun hang if Knopfler doesn’t sing too much. They’re a solid middle infielder with good ranging defense who hits a lot of singles and doubles. Might platoon him with the new kid at second base.

It was fine

Decent lyrics and themes. Musically, incredibly annoying.

it was a little too slow for me, nevertheless was still great tbh

Funky. 3/5 not really my vibe but i enjoyed.

not really my style but i very enjoy the bluegrass guitar sounds. they stick out in the best way possible

Fresh when it came out. Solid, mature songs and guitar playing by Knopfler.

First half of the album I found extremely boring. The second half (post Sultans of Swing) was such a great vibe. Maybe I was expecting more, but would love to have this on vinyl to throw on the background.

Ok, če bi prvi komad ("Down to the Waterline") slišala nekje randomly, bi prou rekla, 'A so to Dire Straits? Ker zveni isto k "Sultans of Swing". '. Ker prvi komad je fakin isti. Drugi ma dejansko mal drug vajb, ful chill, očitno smo prišli do vode ("Water of Love"). Fletn komad. Ok, "Setting Me Up" picka up mal the speed, mal mi ma celo country vajb (ni sam v moji glav, wiki mi pritrjuje). Hud kitarski zaključek. Fak, v "Six Blade Knife" se mi tud zdi, k da že slišim "Sultans of Swing". In kak komad kasneje, evo jih: "Sultans of Swing". Če ta komad nism miljonkrat slišala - in to je bil verjetno edini komad od tega banda, do dons. "In The Gallery" je for some reason 7 minut dolg. Na tej točki že mal zgubljam zanimanje, ker se mi blendajo skp komadi. (Lol, na hitr sm šla pogledat reviewe ostalih in: 'Sultans of swing but 1hr long')

This was fine.

Good stuff. Solid, mellow rock

Sweet riffs, boring-ish music Best Song: Sultans of Swing Rating: 6/10 Stars: 3

I was not a big fan years ago but there music is easily recognizable and I enjoyed this album.

Good stuff.

"Sultans of swing" er rosinen i pølsa på et ganske kjedelig album.

Kinda snoozy, one hit

Calm and chill. In May have heard sultans of swing before, or at least the term; but that's the only song I remember

I enjoyed this as much as I always do but if it wasn’t for the 1001 challenge, I might not have heard this again. I just don’t go in search of a Dire Straits hit. I guess I just don’t get excited by them.

It’s ok but is it this good? It does feel good might change my mind if I come back again.

sultans of swing is the obvious stand out on this album, but it was a fine listen. i enjoyed it, but i don't think it really blew me away. it was nice to listen to, but thats about it.

Standout Tracks: Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery Score: C+

Great Songs: Sultans of Swing Good Songs: Down to the Waterline, Setting Me Up, Southbound Again, Wild West End, Lions Mid Songs: Water of Love, Six Blade Knife, In The Gallery, Bad Songs:

6.5/10 Sultan of Swing is a classic. Nice background music for work

I found the album overall a bit boring, but there were some highlights, such as “Wild West End” and “Southbound Again”. I’d just like a little more variety.

I liked it

I love the opener and of course “Sultans Of Swing” but the rest of the album while good does not live up to that

Sultans of swing

Pretty impressive for a debut album. Sultans of Swing is an all time classic.

There were some hits and misses on this record for me. It was decent. Favourite Track(s): Down To The Waterline, In The Gallery Least Favourite Track(s): Water of Love, Wild West End

A band very much inherited from my father, and this and a couple of other albums were literally handed down to me on vinyl by him. Apart from Sultans of Swing nothing hits here, but I know its well thought of by fans as more of a band album rather than Knopfler in all but name. There is certainly a good feel and flow to some of the songs, but it's not what I want in 2025 in all honesty.

It’s a throw on and do a bunch of stuff type of album.

Honestly I was already sure what I was rating this when it popped up. I find Dire Straits to be kind of meh.

I like classic rock. Love Mark Knopfler's voice on this, along with the catchy tunes of each song. One of the best debuts in Classic Rock, along with Boston. 3 stars.

It's way better than brother in arms Will I listen to again: 50%

So, I love listening to Mark Knopfler play guitar. His finger picking style produces very soft, delicate, and intricate riffs and melodies, and is a style I like to try an emulate (poorly) in my own playing However I am not a fan of Dire Straits and the overall ensemble. I do like the way the guitar melodies plays off of the vocal lines, but the vocals is the thing i mainly dislike about them. So it’s kinda 5/5 for Knopfler's guitar, and then -2 for Dire Straits.

I can respect Dire Straits for having their own sound. Well written, produced and performed. Just not a style I've ever gotten in to. Wouldn't mind if someone had this on in the background, but wouldn't request it either.

See my previous review on Dire Straits.

Not too bad. Garage-dad rock?

I've not really listened to Dire Straits before but this album felt pretty decent. I can see why they're such a staple for so many. It wouldn't be my usual go to but I can appreciate a decent album.

I have been listening to 6 Blade Knife on repeat. Love the guitar!

Echt in Ordnung, aber alle Songs außer Sultans of Swing fließen zusammen. Selbst dieser Song wird auf Dauer etwas anstrengend. Solide 2 1/2.

More country than I was expecting, then more blues. Not too bad.

A good but minor album. It’s interesting to listen to because of the band that Dire Straits would grow into.

For the first three months Sultans of Swing got played on the radio I thought it was a Bob Dylan song. I was a wee teen and did not know any better.

Really really enjoyed most of it. I only knew sultans of swing before. Still my fav but the rest was also interesting. Great guitar.

3.2 2x

Some good, some meh. 3

The performances were solid and consistent, and the album overall had a really cool sound. I’m just not sure it was for me or something I’m going to seek out in the future.

Not bad, but they had the Sultans of Swing as their one hit wonder.

Adequate blues rock elevated by fantastic guitar work and solid production. Vocals are the weak point. Kind of getting a Motorik/krautrock vibe from the drums at points, which surprised me, but it gives the songs a sense of momentum. Kinda thought i would hate this, but I found it pleasant enough to sit through. Wouldn't necessarily seek it out again, but I wouldn't change the station if it came on

хорошая гитара, но весь этот хонки тонк не для меня. султанов я так и не научилась определять)

Nice album.

Not bad. I'm always a bit taken by surprise when an album has a very distinct sound that makes all songs blend together a bit.

they are the sultans of swing, but I like this album considerably less than brothers in arms

The Dire Straits are most known for The Sultans of Swing and their incredible blues guitar, both featured in this album. The vocals don’t pop on most tracks, but the guitar never ceases. If you’re listening for soulful lyrics speaking to your core, this ain’t it. But if you’re looking for a crash course in how to play a guitar like the devil himself, this is the album for you.

Dire Straits is one of those bands that I’ve always been able to appreciate as very talented and accomplished musicians, especially Mark Knopfler. Their songs, specifically the ones on this album, all sound great and out of time, especially for the year it was released. Still, it kinda floats above me as a listener. I can reach out and touch it, but can’t pull it close. That detachment keeps me from fully immersing myself.

Favourite track: Sultans of Swing

Hyvä levy, pitää ehkä kuunnella uudestaankin. 3/5.

This is when I really wish we could do halves. 3.5 with a bullet. This isn’t typical the kind of music that grabs me, just sounds clinical in a way, a little soulless. But as a life long shitty guitar player, I just so respect what Knoffler can do. The guy’s playing is unique and incredible. I’m not going to deny DS a good review. I enjoyed the record.

Needs more cheese

I didn’t actively dislike this enough to give it a 2 so here we are

Good classic rock. Quite a few familiar songs like Sultans of Swing.

Technically a good album, but too well behaved and middle of the road for my taste.

While “Sultans of Swing” is the obvious standout, I did enjoy the rest of the album and the overall sound.

eh

I wasn't as familiar than I thought with this album but love some steel guitar.

I love finger-style guitar and he's great at it, but the rest of the music didn't meet the same standard. Sultans of Swing is still a bop, but the best song by far.

I enjoyed listening to it, and Sultans of Swing is a banger, a lot of the rest of the songs are pretty skippable.

This album flew by. I vibed the entire listen, but the only song that really stands out is Sultans of Swing.

It's a groovy, bluesy album, much grittier than the super polished production style I associate with their later work. I liked the guitar work and Knopfler has rich vocal style. The back half drags a bit as the band runs out of new things to say but it's a solid listen all the way through. Probably more like a 3.5. the cover is nice but a bit disconnected for the album for me, that gets a 2/5.

This album really just washes over me (ha). Not bad, but nothing too interesting in particular

Solid playing, solid songwriting, but this album didn't do all that much to really stand out to me from other blues-inspired 70s rock.

Sultans of Swing is good. The rest… I probably didn’t really need to hear. Some cool guitar jams. Those were unfortunately the only times I thought the album did anything noteworthy. It’s like music for dads but not even the kind of music for dads that I really love.

- I never really thought about it before, but Dire Straits (if you made the drums half-tempo, made the vocals more dreamy instead of gritty, and altered the guitar distortion a bit) sounds a lot like Pink Floyd - "In the Gallery" was a clear favorite, and it almost has a reggae feel to it - like that album from the Cardigans also on this list, it seems like the big hit from this album completely overshadowed the other tracks, but they're all fine in their own right and I would listen to them again — maybe on a road trip or otherwise long car ride. still, "Sultans of Swing" is the clear masterpiece

It's fine. I don't think I'd put in on intentionally, but I wouldn't be upset to hear it. Brothers in Arms must be elsewhere in this 1001.

Some deep grooves on this record. I've never quite put time into getting to know Dire Straits other than the big hits. It sounds like hanging out with an incredibly talented band of middle-aged white guys on the back porch of a pricey downtown condo during the waning days of summer.

Fine Dire Straights album. Sultans of swing 8 times! 5.0

I’ve always been a little put off by Dire Straights, they’re a little too groovy and smooth and noodly guitar solo for me, and “Sultans of Swing” has always felt deeply corny to me. But actually I enjoyed listening to this whole album and the lead singer’s voice is pretty fucking sexy. I just don’t like rock guitar solos!

Amazing guitar playing and I like the softer approach to pub rock, a little insipid though.

Dire Straits feel like a rock and roll revivalist act. Desperately trying to keep the old time sound alive in the '80s, where synth and music videos have taken over. And yet, when I listen to them it makes me think of "cool". Cool in that smooth nonchalant way. Most likely, it's coming from Knopler's vocals, seemingly unbothered or strained. Their blend of jazz, blues, and country is grooving. However, as I'm listening, I keep thinking, "this must be a tough song to play". Playing complex songs, seemingly effortless, is pretty cool to me.

Very middle of the road. This wasn’t bad, but I can’t imagine ever listening to it again.

I liked this album more than expected, but I could go my entire life without hearing Sultans of Swing again.

Not memorable

For a band called dire straits I did not expect half the songs to be swingy-rock-jazz. Neat.

Not my favourite dire straits album but still good

Classic album. Dire Straits is one of those bands who epitomize the kind of rock sound born in the 70s but with a forward looking trajectory that would keep them relevant well into the 80s.

Huh, for some reason I always assumed these fellas were American

Fave listen so far

Chill

Dire Straits är riktigt bra, men tror de blir ännu bättre senare.

Sultans of Swing e väl nice men inte så spännande i övrigt?

Not dire.

Dire Straits

3.5