Reviews (page 10 of 14)
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
I didn't realize they were a blues/country fusion. And British? Huh. I mean I like it
Byrjar eg å bli gamal, for eg tykjer dette var heilt ok!
It was okay. Expected more. R thought it was just okay.
Already had this album. A nice easy listen. None of their big hits but all clearly their style.
Catching up with this one on a Monday morning has me starting the week with a nice, laid-back vibe. Knopfler is something else (3.5)
Great guitar
Knopfler can play the absolute shit out of a guitar. Sultans still bangs, and I discovered plenty of other bops on this album. Will defs listen to this again
*1978. *Sulfans of Swing is the only big track. *Fave track - Wild West End *Love Dire Straits but none of the tracks here were memorable. RATING - 6.5/10
Down to the waterline - liek the instruments, very chill (3/5) Water of love - makes me feel like im in a western, its okay (2/5) (least fav) Setting me up - its fun (3/5) Six blade knife - uuuuu really like the vibe and especially the way he sings the line after being torn apart (4/5) (2nd fav) Southbound again - its very chill, simple (3/5) Sultans of swing - love it, love the happy chill vibe (4,5/5) (fav) In the gallery - its okay but it doesnt fit the album that well i think, like the guitar a lot (2,5/5) Wild west end - like the vibe, feels nostalgic (3/5) Lions - very nice ending, really like it (4/5) (3rd fav) Overall a different sound to what i normally listen to, felt very simple sometimes but had some good songs (3/5)
Pretty solid rock, Money For Nothing is a classic. nothing more or less
Solid album, good songs. Down To The Waterline was nice and chill. Water Of Love was great. Six Blade Knife had some wonderful guitar work, as did Sultans Of Swing (the only song I've heard before). Wild West End was sweet. All in all, a fun time. Best song: Water Of Love
Свинг, по спокойному настроению, не особо оригинальные ходы, но приятная мелодия
One banger, mostly clanger
Good atmosphere to this album. Didn't fully click with me but I could come around on it more with more listens. Last half was really solid. Sultans of Swing is always a classic
I do understand the influence this album has had on guitarists, but this record just didn’t do much for me. Last track was pretty unnecessary, the album could have ended with Wild West End. Opening track is strong, but I’ve always found Sultans of Swing to be just an OK song.
Når de viber på låter som Down to the Waterline og Sultans of Swing, så er dette ganske nice: roots rock etter Floyd. Når de ikke gjør det (eks. Water of Love og Setting Me Up) er det vanskelig å ikke ty til av skip-knappen.
Good debut album but def like ‘Making Movies’ or ‘Brothers in Arms’ better
Close 4 for me. Probably around a 7/10. Very groovy album. I enjoyed the listen just fine overall, but there wasn’t any singular song I really latched onto that I felt was distinct from the rest. I really like the feel of the album, and it might just be one I revisit.
More like Sire Dtraits am I right?
I’ve been spending the evening with Dire Straits’ 1978 self-titled debut. Just a perfect album. What an arrival this was. Knopfler’s fingerpicking guitar, that unhurried groove, and songs that felt like they’d been around forever the moment you heard them. Of course “Sultans of Swing” was the breakout, but the whole record is loaded. “Water of Love” set the mood. “Six Blade Knife” had so much swagger it later found its way into From Dusk Till Dawn. And “Wild West End” is still one of the most romantic, street-level ballads in rock. It didn’t sound like punk, disco, or prog, yet somehow it cut right through all of them. A band fully formed from day one.
3 out of 5 Few good songs but slower.
Pretty food
Original release of Sultans of Swing
Ok
Fun Little Rock album, but nothing to write home about
Sultans of Swing is a timeless classic and it goes so hard. The rest of the album is pretty solid too but I didn’t love it like I thought I would
nice, relaxing album, a bit repetitive. 3
It's fine. Not super memorable.
This is my first time listening to this album in it's entirety. I recently heard Down to the Waterline on the radio, and I've heard Sultans of Swing plenty of times, but the rest (as far as I can recall) are new to me. Down to the Waterline is a great opener, sounds a bit like Sultans but still very much it's own thing. Water of Love isn't as good as DttW but still a solid tune. I believe Water of Love was released as a single in some places with DttW as the b-side - I'd have personally swapped these but I'm not a music exec so what do I really know? Setting me up is the first "meh" track here for me. It's a bit *too* "American Rock" for me, think it's in the chord changes. More indifferent to this than actively disliking it but I'm unlikely to return to this one much. Six Blade Knife is really not my cup of tea, it does absolutely nothing for me and I'm again unlikely to ever willingly put this on again. Southbound Again, howver, has drawn me back in just as I was starting to lose hope for this album. It's incredibly catchy, gives me Steely Dan vibes (100% complimentary). I really like the quiet-ish guitar (at least i think it's a guitar?) sound that's panned almost entirely to the right, and it's got a great bassline too. I'll definitely come back to this one in the future. What can one say about Sultans of Swing that hasn't already been said? I do like this song but it's hard to go a week without hearing it on the radio. It is however nice to hear it in the context of an album for once. Is this the best song on the album? Probably, but even if it is, it isn't by as wide a margin as some would have you believe. In the Gallery is another really good song, not massive on the vocals but it doesn't detract too much from it as a whole. Wild Wild West is a surprising one for me - I groaned when I heard the intro knowing that this was going to be a "slower" kind of song, which isn't my usual bag, but this was enjoyable enough. It's not my favourite by any means but does what it sets out to do. Lions is a decent enough closing track, but Straits fatigue is just about setting in by this point in the album. I think they made the right call not to add any more tracks as I think that would have tipped it over the edge for me. Again, not a bad song by any means but not one I'm likely to listen to often. Overall, I enjoyed this album a lot more than I anticipated. I foolishly assumed that this would be "Sultans of Swing + eight other songs" but other songs like Down to the Waterline and Southbound Again are almost on the same level, if not already there. The album does feel a bit repetitive towards the end, but thankfully just avoids overstaying it's welcome. I'm a big fan of most of the guitar work in particular on this record, but the rest of the band also pull their weight when needed. Tracks worth hearing: Down to the Waterline Water of Love Southbound Again Sultans of Swing In the Gallery My least favourite: probably Six Blade Knife Have rated this a 3/5, but if half stars were available, this would be a 3.5/5.
Listen, none of these songs are bad, but stacked on top of eachother they create a very boring album. As soon as I put this on, I thought “oh, I’m going to hear Sultans Of Swing today, aren’t I?” And I did, six tracks later. I guess that’s my point here; this album feels like nine iterations of the same idea in a hunt to find the best version. It’s a great idea, but 41 minutes has never felt so long and today was the closest I’ve ever come to falling asleep while mowing the lawn. Mark Knopfler’s guitar work borders on sounding like a lap steel from time to time and that only makes me wish for an actual lap steel guitar in the mix. That might have really launched this record into the cosmos for me. As is, im not sure I’m picking up what new and influential sound we’re getting here. And for what it’s worth, I’m not convinced “Sultans Of Swing” actually beats out “Wild West End” as the best version of the idea, but I think that ship has sailed.
Has one of the best guitar songs of all time and then like 10 other mediocre songs. Guitar work on here is all so good and I wish I could play like him but I don't really want to listen to him. 3/5
I've listened to this in the past. It's a good one but I'm curious how it'll feel on a relisten years later. It's good but I'm not likely to return to this but would never complain if it were on
Dad music.
Sultans of Swings is the stand out song by far. Everything else was good, but most of it sounded the same. I don't think I would listen to this again.
Great guitar work! Technically flawless, but I didn't get immersed with the songs?
It's 1988, I'm 6 and in my dad's red bmw 1 series and dire straits is on. I remember liking the licks but not the vocals and surprisingly, 37 years later my opinion hasn't changed much. The guitar sound is top drawer and its impossible not to get pulled into the playing and tunes. But i still think his voice isnt great and is a real limiting factor.
Yacht Clubs around the world are swarming with the sound of this album
Alright rock
To damn this with faint praise, I liked it more than Brothers in Arms. It's still not my jam, and Mark Knopfler's playing just isn't my thing. That's not to take away from his incredible talent, though, and there's a reason "Sultans of Swing" has 1.5 BILLION plays. I'm glad this is out there.
Definitely appreciate that Dire Straits is a one-of-a-kind band mixing a very specific kind of guitar virtuososity (and without distortion!) with thoughtful lyrics, songwriting, and an easy going almost yacht rock vibe, all with Dylan-esque vocals. I have a feeling Making Movies won't be on this list, but I think Romeo and Juliet stands as the best Dire Straits song. That said, it's a little repetitive for me and Dylan-esque is not really what I treasure in vocals.
Some tasty guitar on this album but a little too mellow overall for my taste.
I was sure these guys were American. Easy classic rock. Nothing to write home about.
Pretty chill radio music. I like it!
Good album, just a little samey, but with great highlights
Solid soft-ish rock. Kinda dragged in the first half, but picked up nicely by the second.
Stylistically, I could notice some semblances of future rock being derived from here over multiple iterations. While the music wasn't exactly to my tastes, it was yet again quite a comfortable and non-offensive album with no clear winners or losers. As such, thjis will get a 3/5 as it's vote.
Blues, folk and country mixed with Bob Dylan vocals. Guitar is pretty sick. I was only familiar with Sultans of Swings before this. Stylistically not for me but it's a solid debut album. 3/5.
Such dad rock. Sultans of Swing fucks though.
Solid, maybe not my style
It could just have been circumstantial but I actually got on a little better with this than their much heralded _Brothers in Arms_. A little bit bluesier and seemed to have a little more bite and a bit less polish. I’m still unlikely to return to it, it’s just not for me.
Enjoyable but not memorable
Enjoyed the first 6 tracks, culminating in sultans of swing which was by far the best track. Great guitar and tempo all the way through. Didn't really like his voice and it tailed off a bit in the last few songs. Almost an 8 but I'd say 7.5/10
omgg why did this gag me into liking them a bit? crazy......
Was an adequate listening experience
Cover 5
Dire Straits are a mystery to me. Every time I play one of their records, two things happen : 1) I think "woaw, this is actually much better than I remembered. They’re good !". 2) I put away the record and forget about it entirely for years. They somehow manage to make music that is at the same time well-crafted, pleasant to the ears, technically very good, and yet kind of bland and forgettable. That’s probably the reason they’re often considered "dad rock" (well, that and the fact that if you grew up in Europe in the 80s or 90s, there was a 99 % chance that your dad or uncle listened to them). This album is no exception. It’s an excellent debut album, it’s really good music, no doubt about that. But I can’t help but feel that they’re late to the party, making heartfelt, honest blues-rock 10 years after blues-rock was a thing. I have nothing but respect for them, but I can’t say they’ve ever blown my mind. For me it’s just nice background music. Down To The Waterline and Sultans of Swing are still great songs though.
Enjoyed that a lot more than I expected to. Just shy of four stars.
3,5/5
Sultans of Swing is very close to my heart. It’s particularly beloved by the friends I grew up with, and provided the soundtrack to many formative, drunken nights as an adolescent. That, I think, is where Dire Straits belong best. When concentrating my full attention on their music, it can be a little samey and simplistic (for me, anyway). But give me a cold brewski, a sunset garden and some old friends, and it provides the perfect ambience.
Think I’d somehow always seen Dire Straits as in cheesy romantic pop category but not the case and how could I think that with Knoffly pops?! And that classic ‘Sultans of Swing’. I was doing something else whilst I was listening to this album and that kinda fit the vibe. Smooth, steady and chill. Very pleasant and accomplished but didn’t blow my socks off (3.5)
Good song ≠ good album. Down to the Waterline (8/10) Water of Love (7/10) Setting Me Up (6/10) Six Blade Knife (6/10) Southbound Again (7/10) Sultans of Swing (10/10) In the Gallery (7/10) Wild West End (6/10) Lions (7/10) 7.1/10
Listened
Great!
I like this album. 3 stars
Okay this was wayyyy more rockabilly/funk than I would have guessed. I always thought of these guys as like classic rock meets a little swing but this whole album is like if someone fed Sultans of Swing into a Rockabilly AI and asked for a whole album. That's not to say it's bad but the rest of the album sort of emphasizes all those aspects of that track. As John Sterling would say, "Anyway...." Love Sultans of Swing and its legendary guitar work (and of course Money For Nothing and Romeo and Juliet) but to me this album was good but not great. I don't think I'm a big Dire Straits guy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
There are things about this that I really like. Clever lyrics, awesome guitar playing. Knopfler has a cool, somewhat Dylan-ish singing style. But I can’t really get into it because there’s an almost complete lack of emotion in this music. The whole album is at kind of a low simmer of ironic detachment.
Dire Straits are a guitar band, that's for sure. My second album by them and I'm still not the biggest fan of Knopfler's vocals, but his guitar work is definitely still a high point. 'Sultan's Of Swing' is obviously a highlight, though it doesn't blow me away. It sort of meanders a bit. The opening track is like 'Sultans Of Swing' but less good. 'Setting Me Up' has a cool country vibe with yet again some more good guitar work. This kind of mid-tempo rock is alright, but it just doesn't light a fire under me. It's fine to put on and chill out. Maybe notice a cool lick here and there. The guitar playing is smooth and slick. Maybe "emotionless music" is too harsh, but that's what it kind of feels like at times. It doesn't excite me. It's a low three and 'Brothers In Arms' was better.
The forged-passport Eagles play some more hooky, indistinguishable rock songs, Mark Knopfler's guitar-playing is probably sick or something, it's alright and it has a cool sound even if it gets boring at times Truly a staple of rock history as American as apple pie (circa 14th century England)
I never enjoyed the Straits like most, but could always appreciate their smooth and smoky style.
Great debut album
Voor luisteren: beh, gooide mijn listening notes per ongeluk weg. Iets met Heavy Fuel en Berlijn. Tijdens luisteren: tracklist opgezocht en Sultans of Swing staat wel op deze. Verder is ook dit best grappig, funky en bij vlagen melodisch best goed, maar grijpt het me niet echt.
Sultans of Swing is great. Everything else was fine but forgettable
I hadn't listen to their self titled album but knowing money for nothing, this made me excited. This record didn't hit quite as hard for me. It was largely enjoyable but in the context of the other music in this time period, it's just OK for me.
I’ve never really understood why Sultans of Swing was so popular. It’s fine, just never grabbed me. The rest of the album is similar. Dire Straits just always sounded kind of… hollow? Like they’re missing something, at least until Brothers in Arms
Favorites: Down to the Waterline, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing Of course, Sultans of Swing is a classic and is a landmark in blues rock as a whole. However, I didn't find much else to latch onto here. It's pretty chill, but I wouldn't consider it a favorite or anything.
This is a very strange debut album, sounding more like something that would appear late on in an artists career. It's not a bad album, and I'm going to give it three stars, because it was so finely polished and easy to listen to. I'm not going higher though, because it wasn't a great album.
Enjoyed this much more than I expected. Nice bluesy sort of album
**Dire Straits** often get reduced to a kind of shorthand for “dad rock”, but that label really undersells what made them great. They arrived at the height of punk and new wave were, but their stripped-down aesthetic perfectly fit with the pub rock movement and bands like **Brinsley Schwarz** and early **Elvis Costello**. The back-to-basics, anti-glam rock sound was respected by punks who saw it as an early rebellion against the "dinosaur rock" establishment. It's kind of strange of think **Dire Straits** sharing any philosophical space with the punk movement, but it's true. They were uncompromisingly unglamorous and their authenticity-first ethos was very punk in spirit. This album very much has a stripped down sound, but **Mark Knopfler's** guitar playing is truly distinctive in terms of its style and tone. His fingerpicking style is clean, lyrical, and expressive, and arguably totally unique in rock music. He’s as melodic as **David Gilmour** but as groove-oriented as **J.J. Cale**. Actually **Cale** is clearly a big influence on this album, particularly in terms of his laid-back groove, tight songwriting, and restrained guitar playing. I also get hints of **Bob Dylan** and **John Prine** in the rootsy minimalism. Perhaps a hint of **Bruce Springsteen** too. "Sultans of Swing" and "Down to the Waterline" reflect Cale’s minimalism and blues-based feel and anti-establishment by understatement vibe. You do get the sense that it's a quietly defiant album.
Ocean and water symbolism throughout. Overall very fun, just not my type.
“Romeo and Juliet” is a song that I adore but nothing else from Dire Straits has made it remotely close; fine dad rock!
Very good
Not my favorite dire straits album
Nothing mind blowing, but I did enjoy it.
pretty good road trip vibes
OHHHH SULTANS OF SWING HELL YEAH. The album is mostly understated, and I appreciate that. It's a mood. But also, I was a litttttle bored by it.
3+ Stars (9/15)
Very chill album. Didn't do much for me.
Decent record.
Repetitive
Had only ever listened to one other album by DS so knew I was in for a rollercoaster ride through the genres of music. This was no exception. I kinda liked it. I’ll listen to this again and maybe some other albums.
Knew more songs than I thought I would. Not a bad album.
Better than I expected. Guitar playing is second to none, but the vocals aren't it for me. Wild West End was a great surprise to me.
Almost kinda Dylan-esque, Sultans of Swing. But this album tends to meander more than I'd like it to. This album finds itself at the very end, but it meanders quite a bit. I might listen to it again. At the moment, it's a 3/5. Highlights: Lions Wild West End In the Gallery
i liked this a lot. chill. will listen again. 🥇 Wild West End 🥈 Sultans Of Swing 🥉 Six Blade Knife
Really good album again, but wouldn't seek out much more than sultans, especially the live version
Booooring
Heard ~5 times. Used to really like this one, realized john cale does it way better (in half the timeg. Sultans of swing is goated though. 7/10
First time ever hearing this full thing. Production is CLEAN AS HELL. Every song was good but Sultans of Swing is the only one that’s memorable, maybe because I’ve heard it a 1000 times.
Litt usikker hva jeg syns. Midt på treet?
Vil egentlig gi 3,5 så da runder jeg ned
It's ok but nothing impressed me.
Mark Knopfler rips.
more like dire straights! #happypride
This was decent. I don't have much else to say about it unfortunately.
Whenever these guys come on I always forget how good these tracks are. Straight classic rock. So good.
Sultans of swing album
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was fine! It was fine.
It’s how the dire straits became kind of sultans of their music style 😉I like this album but it’s no more that special to me, so only 3 stars
I think there might be something wrong with me but I only really liked a song about a six blade or something and sultans of swing. I feel like so much music me just bores me on the first listen but I don’t know why. Still 3 stata
Love the guitar. Very chilled
A well-crafted atmosphere - calm, uncluttered, with very clean and hypnotic guitar tones. That said, the album feels quite flat some songs and not particularly rich musically. The lyrics also don't stand out or feel especially interesting to me, but overall, it's decent.
Ok
This is fine! Country-bluesy rock. Some real originality here and there, but the album as a whole doesn't hit. I will listen to Sultans of Swing again.
Six Blade Knife and Sultans of Swing are great tunes. Little bit strong on the country vibes at times, but this is still a solid album. Hard not to like the licks of Mark Knopfler - great talent. 7/10 (high 3)
It's a fine overall album. None of the songs really stood out as memorable, but it was a decent enough listening experience from start to finish. 3.25 / 5
Good music, dodgy comedy vocals
I'm pretty sure this is my dad's favourite album. It's fine
Nice southern rock flair from this old brit. Knoppler sure can play a mean guitar. But damn is the entire album lackluster. Dire Straits remains to me a few hit wonder.
The Dire Straits' album scrapes 3. A few very strong tracks, and Mark Knofler is pretty handy on the Stratocaster.
Dire Straits are potentially the quintessential dad rock band, one that I haven’t engaged with until now, though like most people have had a lifetime of hearing Sultans of Swing on the radio - which is a bop to be fair. The band are able to create quite a groove. There is a relaxed quality to the guitars throughout this debut, it’s very vibes based, controlled, professional. The vocals remind me of Bob Dylan and have a strong personality to them. Would I personally like a bit more flavour? Yes. Though I appreciate the relaxed approach.
Really, really love the guitar. I’ve never really paid much attention to Dire Straits beyond the big hits, but damn, that guitar work.
Kinda boring. Nothing offensively bad about it though.
This album was carried by the guitar with everything else taking a back seat including the most underwhelming vocals. I probably wouldn't listen again but I hope they gave that guy a raise.
Listened to half. Not many thoughts
3 stars
Excellent guitar to open, but I felt no other songs lived up to the brilliance of Sultan’s of swing. It felt like a little bit of filler for that one great song.
no matter how much classic rock radio wants me to like dire straits, i will never find them interesting. the instrumentation is good, the production sounds nice. the songs are so MOR. quite frankly, it's a bit boring of an album. there's one song on here worth listening to, and it's the song they overplay on the radio. not for me
A lot to enjoy here, just not quite my cup of tea.
Turns out you can do a full album with sultan of swing
Sultans of Swing was one of my dad’s favourite songs (of course it was!) and there’s some other good stuff here but a lot of it is quite flat as well
71. Pretty solid but the last 3 songs fall flat. Sultans is a crazy good track and so is the opener. Rest is solid to okay outside those last 3.
Probably only popular because of Sultans of Swing. I enjoyed the southern rock guitar playing.
A few good highlights here but some pretty mediocre stuff
Great Australian group’s debut album. Easy to listen to
Dire Straits is one of those bands I love but I only listen to the popular songs lol but this was a good album and it had sultans of swing so great song! It didn't blow me away though!
The dire straits come through with a plucky fun classic rock album. Favorite track: obviously sultans of swing 6/10
It's a 3 for me, but a solid 3
Songs to play driving down a two lane road in the desert at night. Preferably in a convertible.
Great quality musicians but Dire Straits just doesn't excite me
I appreciate this more than I did before. Obviously some great guitar work from Knopfler and some grooves from the drummer. Favorite tracks were Setting Me Up, Six Blade Knife and In the Gallery. Some of these tracks are just kind of slow and chill, i.e. Water of Love…nothing wrong with that, just one of those things I have to be in the mood for. So I’m going middle of the road with a 3.
A bit mellow compared to Brother's in Arms, and doesn't exactly excite outside of a couple of songs…
Dire Straits remain a formative band for me, but revisiting albums that aren't Making Movies and Love Over Gold ... there's a level of "this is really quite average". Also, I've listened to Sultans of Swing about nine billion times, and to be honest I'm done with it.
Like the guitar playing a lot more than I like the songwriting.
Gefällt mir gut. Ich weiß auch Mark Knopfler zu schätzen. Aber mir persönlich zu "mellow". Sultans of Swing und Six Blade Knife sind super, aber ein ganzes Album ist mir zu viel.
I like the mellow vibe of this, and Sultans of Swing is a classic.
Mostly laid back guitar grooves from a pioneer of the instrument. 'Sultans Of Swing' is a classic, and the remainder is a bit more slow, though still proficient and exciting. Best Tracks: - Sultans Of Swing - Southbound Again - In The Gallery Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 7/10
Weird how every song kinda sounds like 'Sultans of Swing'. Not really enough there to hold my interest for the whole album, it just sort of blended into one long similar sounding thing on side 2.
Interesting intro. Okaish pub Rock.
Not bad, probably wont listen to the whole thing again. There are some catchy songs that I may listen to again.
Quite an enjoyable piece.
Licht, bluesy, maar niet echt spannend. Zou het niet nog een keer opzetten.
7/10
Was looking forward to this but ended up feeling pretty meh
Not bad, nice sounds right off the bat.
Certifiably dad rock but exquisitely smooth.
A very distinctive sound that’s Mark Knopfler’s great guitar work with the stand out track Sultans of Swing
Easy to right them off as Dad rock, but despite not exactly setting the pulse racing it is a pleasant enough listen.
Oh, so this is what Dire Straits sounded like before they evolved into the godawful Brothers in Arms, which we’ve already suffered on this list and which I was force fed as a child. Given this, I’m somewhat struggling to admit that this wasn’t awful at all. Knopfler does have a pretty distinctive, jolly and easy on the ear blues style. His vocals are pretty weak, but they’re admirably rationed sparingly here. Waterline and Sultans the clear highlights as they speed things up a bit, but you do wish as a rule it just got out of 2nd/3rd gear a bit. [Grits teeth] I’d be fine listening to this again.
Is this country music? I’ll say yes with a twist of Americana. Decent to listen to but nothing flies in my face as incredibly interesting.
I grew up loving Dire Straits as my mom would always play their tapes in the car. “Brothers in Arms” is my preferred album, but this one is as solid as it gets. Wish I could do 3.5 stars.
The guitar work (and production/mixing on said guitar work) is fantastic. This album sounds great--everything is crisp, clear, and mixed exactly how it should be. Fine toothed comb type of engineering work. I'm not super taken with the songs themselves (except for "Sultans of Swing", obviously, a timeless banger), but I appreciate this as a kind of exemplar of rock craftsmanship.
First listen. In the beginning I thought it was sounding great. Kind of a sit back and chill or cruise type of vibe. But as it continued, it felt unexciting, average. Sultans of Swing is excellent. Mark Knopfler is an excellent guitarist but horrible singer. His voice gets a bit monotonous. Dylan does it better.
Killer guitar, vocal, lyrics and production some really great tracks
Not bad just a bit bland
Is it relaxing or just boring?
meh
Kinda forgettable for me, but decent
The very definition of a 3 for me. Shocking to see how popular they are on Spotify in terms of listens. Sure, "Sultans of Swing" is a fine song, 1.4 billion listens? Is it that good?
I think I like the debut album better than “brothers in arms”. Doesn’t have as high of highs but is a lot more consistent, I like the funkier grooves on this one
Fun
groovy, moody, could see myself listening to this on a hot summer day somehow giving my road trip vibes
listen to that Strat...
I’d consider it a classic just for sultans of swing.
Probably 3. Down on the waterline a good track on second listen
No es mi estilo, pero por la nostalgia de mi viejo, va un 3.
Some surprising gems relistening to this lo these many years. The songs work better as individual releases--an entire album seems to blur them. Knopfler is a guitar genius/master best appreciated in small doses.
No one can deny their skill or technique. Those guitars come through great. I was more of a fan of the Making Movies album which was part of the family collection. This one kind of passed us by.Perfect kitchen music though. Batch cooking never sounded so easy.
My first time hearing this. God, that dude can play the guitar. What a treat he is to listen to. So melodic and tasty. The compositions are rather slight, however (save for Sultans), but overall, this was a cozy and chill experience. Personally, I would have chosen Making Movies for this list instead.
Too slow really, Sultans of Swing. atries this album hard.
15/03/25 preface this journey by stating: i'm a really bad music reviewer, so no explanation, just my verdict (plus i have really bad music taste) -- TIER SORTING high: down to the waterline six blade knife sultans of swing wild west end lions mid: setting me up southbound again in the gallery low: water of love -- favorite track: lions least favourite track: water of love -- RATING: 6/10 objectively good, nothing really wowed me. i would casually listen to this record again (the only exception being water of love), but definitely not a permanent fixture in my life. possible potential for some songs to grow on me with future listens.
Dire Straits s/t album is fine. I understand why dads like them. They seem like they should get more play on classic rock radio. Hardly essential, but listenable.
Decent, definitely Dire Straits.
6/10
Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Hell yeah, brother! I miss Sultans Of Swing. I miss Sultans Of Swing. I miss Sultans Of Swing.
too old for me i dont like it
Without Sultans this would be pretty average.
Wow, liked this a lot more than I thought I would! Paused in the middle to play the AD video on YouTube about the Harbon House Inn, and the two went together remarkably well. Will definitely put it on again if I ever get the chance to go.