Reviews (page 12 of 15)
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.
Ziemlich schlechtes Dire Straits Album… da gibts bessere
It had that plunk plunk sound I really associate with Dire Straits. It was okay. A couple of solid songs
I honestly don't really know how I feel about this album. All the tracks are decent enough, just maybe not my style. Sultans Of Swing was a good tune. I can understand if other people enjoy this music, but not for me. Good enough to deserve a 3
I just love the sound of the Sultans of Swing, In The Gallery is also really good. I recently listened to another Dire Straits album in the album challenge and discovered that I kind of like them. I think overall this is a 3 star album for me.
Pretty good but nothing that exciting to me.
The headline attraction is the instantly recognizable guitar tone and style. That glassy clear strat sound pops with compression and cuts through with a gentle bite, pairing a touch of country twang with a ton of JJ Cale phrasing. The feel is relaxed and warm, easy going good mood dad rock. I can't get over how great the recording/production is - it sounds amazing! Clean and bright and balanced with a solid low end, plenty of space, subtle dynamics - like an unfussy but equally meticulous Steely Dan. None of the other songs are nearly as memorable as Sultans, but they all know all the chords.
I thought I’d hate this but it was fine. Won’t be playing it again but well done for not being annoying!
Dire Straits - Dire Straits This album sounds minimalist with few things to offer in terms of soundscape. However, they did prefer doing quality over quantity, which it shows a lot on this album too. Conscise and brief, without being too overwhelming for the listener, although it can be underwhelming at times. It does have it's cool moments there though. Overall, this is good. 1.- Down To The Waterline = 8/10 2.- Water Of Love = 7/10 3.- Setting Me Up = 7/10 4.- Six Blade Knife = 6/10 5.- Southbound Again = 7/10 6.- Sultans Of Swing = 10/10 7.- In The Gallery = 9/10 8.- Wild West End = 8/10 9.- Lions = 7/10 FINAL SCORE: 7.6/10
Some good tracks scattered here and there, rhythmically not stale either despite the instrumentation not sounding too varied. Never heard of this band before, but am curious if there is another of their album on this list of 1001.
Yeah has echoes of the good stuff to come from this band but doesn’t quite have the songs.
It's ok
Pre-listening thoughts: ...and here's the other Dire Straits album! I feel like we've gotten a lot of albums recently that have been the other one of an artist we've already gotten who only has two on the list (Depeche Mode, Elton John, now this). I liked the other one okay, but there was the f slur song (tragedy cause it was a good song otherwise) and then the second half was boring as hell. So hoping this one is better (especially cause it has Sultans of Swing!). Post/during listening thoughts: guitar playing is sick as always. I never beg for a track to fade out except Down to the Waterline. Feel like it would've made it better (great track tho). Bro if I was like 45 and a man I would LOVE this. Hand me a six pack on a warm patio with a sunset and this listening experience would be complete. 6/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Down to the Waterline, Southbound Again, Sultans of Swing Least fav tracks: Six Blade Knife, In The Gallery
Not a bad debut
A chill vibe incorporating sounds largely abandoned in the 70s mainstream. A revival if you will. Mark Knopfler has interesting vocal moments on the album paired with punchy riffs and some fun solos. Setting out for good vibes, not to reinvent the wheel. However, I can see how the schtick got stale. At some point we must clap for the piano playing dog because he's good at playing the piano, not because he's a dog. Also, I must say it is funny hearing Brits play roots rock. What's a polar bear doing in Arlington, TX? Favorite Song(s): In the Gallery/Wild West End Rating: 6.8
Cool.
I hadn't heard any albums apart from Brothers in Arms before but it was decent. Down to the Waterline, Southbound Again, Sultans and Wild West End are great, getting a 3 because how can you beat this incredible lyric about being in Chinatown: 'duck inside the doorway, duck to eat'
Not as dated as I thought it might feel. Walk of life is still great. Main riff on Money for Nothing still kills. Don't love the sheen. Deserves the praise though.
A very solid debut album that displays an already congealed “Dire Straits” sound, highlighted by (of course) the tasteful and truly intrinsic guitar playing of Mark Knophler. While there are a few great tracks, namely the guitar expose (a descriptor for the whole record, really) Sultans of Swing, some of the material here isn’t on equal ground. The band goes in a few unique directions, not all of which land. Worth listening to, just not something I see myself coming back to a ton. 7/10
I like a strong guitar melody and this has it in spades. The guitar and vocals also compliment eachother, like you're listening to Knopfler and his guitar have sex or an argument (though it's definitely more jubilant than it is aggressive or angry)! Sultans of Swing is obviously a banger. "Down to the waterline" was good too. It's got a country-kinda-funk to it which is a fun genre. Ultimately though, I think that's all it has - good chemistry between a guitar and a lead singer. It lacks something for me to go back for more than just a couple songs.
I actually quite enjoyed this. Vibey.
My favourite track was "Wild West End". Other than that, I have nothing to say.
3.5
Was listening to Sultans of Swing when I was creating this lmao. Pretty alright album with some exceptional tracks. Later records like Making Movies and Brother in Arms are better, but this is still not bad. Fav Tracks: -Down to the Waterline -Sultans of Swing
point9.
I know Dire Straits' hits (including 'Sultan of Swings' from this album) but that's about it. A solid debut with some great guitar work. Favorites: Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing, Wild West End Would I listen to it again: Yes
3/5
I enjoyed the guitar. Sultans of Swing is always fun. Easy to listen to but doesn't super excited me. 3.5
Kind of a dud.. more like 2.5, rounded up
A few good Songs
Was okay, didn’t really move me but it was an easy listen.
Go guitar 🎸!
Great band name. I recognize the one song. Sort of vanilla.
There’s a sophistication and calmness about this album that are appealing. The rhythm section is relaxed and, along with Mark Knopfler’s skilled and colorful finger picking, brings textural flourishes. It sounds Grateful Dead adjacent in its rootsiness and Jerry Garcia-esque guitar playing. The last two songs kind of go soft for me, however. I’d give it 3.5/5 stars if I could.
wow. i’m so bloody bored, i wanted to like this, truly. mostly because romeo & juliet is such a great song, and sultan swing is quite good. the rest is meh, i was annoyed i had to finish listening on my way home, so not a really good sign. but it’s not bad - i just don’t care about it. ohhh ok, wild west end just came on and i love it - reminding me of why this is such a great project.
Standouts: Sultans of Swing Wild West End
I really liked the guitar, the Sultan of Swing and opening track were my favorite
First impressions, I love the soulful guitar riffs. Lingering, slow, spacious. Puts you in the groove. Growly singer's voice. Very expressive, especially in Six Blade Knife where his range goes up and down. Hypnotic rhythmic beaths and strums. I dig it. Rock'n'roll vibes.
Fav: Wild West End Least Fav: Down To The Waterline That first half bored me so much I fell asleep. The second half atleast proved it wasn’t as Dire as I expected it to be. Second half is actually chill instead of boring
Classic dad-rock. Not a bad album at all, Sultans of Swing the obvious highlight, just not really my cup of tea.
It's a nice album, but my personal preference would go out to Brothers in Arms rather than this. Aside from Sultans of Swing, all songs feel kind of the same, and after having finished the album I don't feel any different than before.
Pleasant, but the earth didn't move.
It's OK. Great tone and sound but it's only really got the one standout song on it
It's fine but fully carried by Sultans Of Swing, there's just nothing particularly memorable otherwise
Sultans drags it up but pretty iconic guitar playing, you know you’re listening to a Dire Straits song. Enjoyed it enough but won’t be going back to it much
Enjoyed its vibe. The opener and Sultans of Swing really stood out. The sound of the band is really distinctive and warm but some songs feel a little boring.
Down to the waterline a great opener. Southband again and sultans of swing are both great but beyond that extremely mid. Absolutely love the dire straits guitar tone
Ah, the instantly recognisable sound of Dire Straights. First track was great and obviously Sultans goes hard too. Not for me otherwise.
3.75
I mean, good, and a few hints toward what's to come with them, but not my favorite.
I would have expected "Brothers In Arms" to be on this list (and it probably is), but this was a surprise. OK album, if not somewhat unremarkable.
Perfectly fine
mussolini rock nem é tão péssimo assim
Not my thing, but the music was played beautifully. Hard to fault
The guy can play a guitar, that's for sure. Yacht rock. 3/5
This was much better than I expected. Sound is almost too clinical to my taste but surprise factor cover that. Otherwise there isn't much to say. Album rolled smoothly and than it ended, this as a positive thing.
First I was like Yeah! Then I was like Booooooring... Sultans of Swing saved something. That's all.
Down To The Waterline and Sultans Of Swing are absolutely fantastic tracks. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn't live up to the same heights as those two. It drags on a bit. There were the occasional cool parts like the ending of In The Gallery but not enough imo Slightly high 3 because I definitely wouldn't complain if this was put on
This album is to blues what the yacht rock is to jazz. I have warm feelings for Dire Straits because they're a favorite of my father's, but I can't say that the music really does it for me.
If I were to grade this one solely on the cover art...it's 2 stars. The music brings it up to 3, though. Good stuff. Not great stuff. But very good stuff. The opening track's guitar is a highlight for me. I think I still prefer Making Movies as being their best (both in terms of music and album art).
Fine but not worth adding to the library
Bonus points for Sultans of Swing but a 3 overall
say “thank you carrie brownstien” yes she is the reason i know who they are. i was not a huge fan of this album but i did enjoy sultants of swing and wild west end
Some classic songs on it but not anything crazy as a whole album to me
its pretty alright, some better than others
Down To The Waterline - Atmospheric intro. Playing is airy and crystal clear on the articulation. I liked that as an opener. Water Of Love - Western twang here. Again I really like how you can hear everything. "You know it's evil when you're living alone". Setting Me Up - Another twangy song. Solo is nice here. Six Blade Knife - I like the way the singer emotes on this one. Felt like an interstitial track. Southbound Again - Bouncy guitar rhythm. When a big strum comes in it's a pleasant break from the main rhythm. Could of used more of them. Sultans of Swing - Always liked this song growing up. Kinda crazy this band is British. They capture a vibe that feels uniquely American. This feels like a driving down the southwest album. In The Gallery - Not much to say about this one Wild West End - Full warm sound on this one, with a piano. Lions - Closes much how it ended This is a different take on rock music of the era. It's not a wall of whaling distortion, nor is it jam band noodling. It is a clean articulated sound that isn't trying to pull off any tricks. I'm not sure if I'll return to this band but I can respect it for being so understated.
nice twangy album, definitely see myself coming back to this if the mood is right
This album will always remind of when the grade 10 talent show when the teacher band played “sultans of swing”. Mr. Kulka could shred! In retrospect I shouldn’t have dared Matt Gies to yell, “SLAYER!” during the performance. What a couple of little shits we were.
Tom Petty meets Pink Floyd. Not my fave.
This album sounds _so_ good. Mark Knopfler was really before his time in having instrument separation and high dynamic range on his records.
Probably better than the other Dire Straits album generated, but still not really my thing. “Sultans of Swing” is a bop, though. 3
I found this a bit boring. I like the production and instrumentation but it gets a bit repetitive for me without going anywhere particularly interesting. II also think all the tracks sound kind of the same without anything really distinct. 3/3.5
Always found Dire Straits a bit bland and this was no different. Easiest 3* I've ever given.
Accomplished, intelligent, a little soft, a little measured. Some terrific tunes on here, but some are just ok. These guys always fall a bit in the middle for me. Even their highlights are somehow lower than everybody else’s, but it’s always an enjoyable ride.
It's hard to not be impressed by the almost virtuoso level talents on the Guitar that Mark Knopfler has, but it's a slightly inconsistent album. Tracks like Sultans and Down by the Waterline are high points, a lot of what remains became a touch forgettable
Well, they definitely had a style and leaned heavily into it. It must be the way he plays his guitar, but nearly every song on this album sounds suspiciously similar to "Sultan of swings". I mean, it's not that I mind it, but it got a bit tiring as the album went on, to the point where the tracks started to blend together. Highlights: Sultans of Swing, Down to the waterline, Water of love 3.5 stars
nice enough
230/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Not exactly classic rock. Not exactly blues. Not exactly rock n roll when compared to the volume levels of their peers - past and present. They exist in a world that eminates from Mark Knopfler's guitar. Immediately recognizable and infinitely listenable. An album that sounds great in the background - that is meant as a straight up compliment not faint praise.
This felt kind of like listening to one really long version of "Sultans of Swing" and I'm not necessarily complaining about that. Decent enough soundtrack to Sunday evening cooking. Singer's voice sounds so much like Bob Dylan to me. 3.5
The call and response of vocals to guitar on dire straits makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside
an extremely Dire Straits sounding Dire Straits album. 2.5 rounded up for Sultans of Swing
Always like Dire Straits growing up. This album is really good. So incredibly chill. My main regret is waiting to do this while I was at work so I wasn't listening on my good headphones. I will definitely revisit this one.
A good classic rock album. Sultans of swing was a clear stand out but good all around. 3/5
3.5
Pretty good yacht rock album. It's a bit slow, but nice music. I like the hit song, Sultans of Swing. I don't have much to say about it, as usual. Decent album from a decent band. 3
got some classic songs on it but not something ill be returning to that much
Not as good as the other Dire Straits album. Only a couple of really good ones
7/10 Really unfortunate Love over Gold and Making Movies aren't on the list. This is not the best Dire Straits album. Other than the two highlights the songs are just still kinda bland. Amazing guitar playing of course. Highlights: Sultans of Swing Down to the Waterline
Coming into this album, the only song I’d heard was Sultans of Swing. Leaving this album, the only song I can remember is Sultans of Swing.
Never realized how much the lead singer sounds like Bob Dylan. Had no expectations for this one other than Sultans of Swing being a classic. Easy listening, mostly enjoyed except for when the singer did that growly thing. 2.8/5
The vocals were hard to listen to at the end. And even in the beginning, it just sounds really lazy and uninteresting. The rest of the band picked up some of the slack from the vocals and kept me listening and engaged. If there was a different singer on the album, I'd maybe give it a 5, but good vocals are so important to me, especially on a first listen, that this ends up falling in rating for me. The band really is quite good, though. Give me the vocal-less tracks of the album, and I'd probably give it a good couple of listens. Favorite Song(s): Sultans of Swing
Musica bastante clasica, me da aires a un buen disco para escuchar en un viaje de carretera.
I don't mind Dire Straits, but I've never listened to them on purpose.
Didn’t know I was going to enjoy that Sultans of swing is 10/10
Man everything is kinda perfect about this album, but it still just feels a little stale to me. But the grooves, guitar playing, tones of all the instruments and production is all flawless. It has a little JJ cale energy at times. I feel bad giving it a 3 because i liked it so much more than ZZ top, but it still just didnt really move or excite me
Sultans of Swing will always have a place in my heart. In the Gallery was my fave.
i didnt like the other dire straits album but maybe i was in a bad mood. we'll see down to the waterline-5 water of love- 5 setting me up- 4 six blade knife- 4 southbound again- 4 sultans of swing- 3 or 4 in the gallery- 5. its got a good groove west wild end- 3 or 4 lions- 4 its like they set out to make the most boring music
Kitarat *chef’s kiss* Tietty toi soundi on niin sliipattu ja tämän jälkeen niin matkittu, että nykykorvilla kuulostaa jo vähän vitsiltä. Mutta siis kuinka hyvät. Biisit ovat lopulta mulle vähän liian juustoisia. Toimivia kyllä, napakoita paketteja vaikka 3 minuutissa ei pysyttäisi.
Markin soitto on notkeaa steppailua. Hänen musiikkinsa on modifioitua, mollivoittoista bluesia. Hänen levyllään on yksi ehkä vähän yliarvostettu klassikko. Ja levy on sen verran onnistunut, että sen kuuntelisi uudelleen.
Sometimes some smooth, laid back, guitar-driven rock that's incredibly cleanly recorded is just what the doctor ordered. In those cases, you could do a lot worse than this.
whatever…it was kinda fun i guess. i like the bass a LOT. it just didn’t really hold my interest but i certainly didn’t find it offensive. i would not be mad if someone put this on in a backyard BBQ setting. fav track: down to the waterline
me at the start of the other dire straits album: i don't want to listen to diuh stwaits. me at the end of this album (wearing dad jeans and a hawaiian-style tourist shirt and aviators): i think i'm stawting to like diuh stwaits...
Sultans of Swing carries the full weight of this 6/10 (Down to the Waterline a bit too). If those two tracks weren't there it would be like a 4/10 or 5/10.
3/5. This is a chill album with sweet guitar licks and relaxed vocals with some drawl and edge. These songs by themselves are not much to write home about and without the guitar highlight, this wouldn't really be an album of much. Fortunately, this a great album to drink or vibe to. Don't think it really belongs on the list but it was not a bad listen. Sultans is really what you need this album for, maybe a couple others that stand out, but not much else. Listen to it for the guitar. Best Song: Sultans of Swing, Down To The Waterline, Setting Me Up
top tier option in the "my dad" oeuvre
Dire Straits is my number one pick for bands I would like if they had a different singer or vocal style.
This album was slightly less sleepy than I thought it would be, which I appreciated. Mark Knopfler is a great guitarist of course, but this kinda felt like "Bob Dylan sings Grateful Dead," and not in a good way. Mark Knopfler is no Bob Dylan. Sultans of Swing is pretty undeniable tho
Artiste connu, que j'ai découvert avec 'Sultans of swing' que je trouve exceptionnel. J'apprécie aussi 'Down to the Waterline'. Par contre les autres morceaux de ce premier album ne sont pas au même niveau, même si les parties de guitare restent intéressantes. Je lui préfère nettement l'album 'Love Over Gold' qui pour moi est bien plus passionnant. =>3/5
I still don't see the charm of the band.
I liked Down by the Waterline and Sultans of Swing, but nothing else on the album really grabbed me. There was nothing I'd go out of my way to switch off, but nor was there much to make me want to listen again. Another band where I'd put on a best of, but not studio albums.
When this album came up my first thought was “oh yeah, why have I not listened to more Dire Straits? Sultans Of Swing is a great song!” Turns out I hate Knopfler’s vocals. Instrumentally this album is close to perfection for me, but there are literally only two songs (In The Gallery and the aforementioned Sultans Of Swing) where I feel like the vocals work and every other song they just really grate on me.
very chill and impressive guitar album. probably need to relisten eventually because i found that a lot of the songs got a bit same-y compositionally and i ended up listening pretty lazily towards the end. that being said all the songs are well composed - super interesting chord progressions on a ton of these songs. can't fault mark knopfler at all. broadly not my cup of tea because dire straits can border on a yacht rock sorta vibe sometimes but i'd be lying to say i dislike this album. 6/10
I can't figure out if this sounds like Bob Dylan, The Doors, or the Dead. All of the above all at once?
a complete album, with a definitive sound that carries throughout, with uniqueness I'm every song. this album sets the bar.
Down to the Waterline: Solid song to open the album. Perfect into to Knopfler's Guitar. 3/5 Water of Love: 2/5 Setting Me Up: 3/5 Six Blade Knife: It's a 3/5 Southbound Again: 3/5 Sultans of Swing: Classic. 5/5 In the Gallery: Funky-reggae fun! Mike Knopfler's Guitar. Gosh. 4/5 Wild West End: Sultans, but make it romantic. 5/5 Lions: 3/5
Not very interesting. Sultans of Swing is definitely the best song on this.
Dire Straits is the perfect blend of country and classic rock. I was particularly captivated by the smooth slide guitar lines, and the understated yet effective bass grooves. The guitarist truly takes center stage in this album, deepening my appreciation for the art of slide guitar.
This probably kills at bars.
Good band from the 90’s. Good songs. Enjoy their music.
Look, I'm not trying to take anything away from Knopfler here at all; he's one of the greats, and deserves all the praise he gets...but he's kind of a one-trick-pony on this one isn't he? He can play the honky tonk like anything, but you know, I DO give a damn about trumpet playing bands. Still, when a guitar solo is so recognizable, you can just hum it note for note, someone's doing something right.
Despite its relatively narrow sonic palette, the Dire Straits debut showcases enough intricate musicianship and effortless virtuosity to elicit, at the very least, sincere appreciation.
Fun album
Down to the Waterline Sultans of Swing
i enjoyed this more than i thought i would. i had a slight prejudice against dire straits for no particular reason, so i didn’t have very high expectations for this, but ended up quite getting into it. it’s an easy listen - works as nice background music, complementing knopfler’s voice. if i could, i would give this a 3.5, but will have to round down for the sake of this website.
No strong feelings on this one.
this album was basically just sultans of swing (pretty good) and a bunch of filler. i liked a couple of the other tracks but all in all, this was ok and nowhere near as enjoyable as brothers in arms was. favorites: down to the waterline, sultans of swing, wild west end
3/5
Dire Straits is an album that doesn't do anything super special but is still a really solid album. The southern sound gave it somewhat of a country rock sort of vibe going on and that i did actually like the sound of despite not being the biggest fan of country music. The vocals were solid and the songs flowed pretty smoothly. Part of me does feel a little disappointed with Sultans Of Swing because i kind of wanted it to have more swing elements due to it's name though it was still a pretty decent song. The only thing i can really say would be reiterating what i said at the start of the review. Its not an incredibly special album but it does it's job very well. Best Song: Down to the Waterline Worst Song: Lions
Sultans of Swing is a great song but the rest is not at that level, so 3 stars or C+ is my rating.
Algo que me llama la atención de Dire Straits es la manera en que la guitarra camina con la voz. Es una cuestión obvia, y no tanto, pero en pocos discos escuché una amalgama tan armoniosa. Riffs sedosos, suaves, como estar acariciando un paño de billar, esa atmosfera. Un espiral blusero, caminos sinuosos, percusiones engatuzantes. Otra escucha de la que conozco poquisimo y nada de la historia previa de la banda. Suena a como si los músicos de Bob Dylan se hayan cansado de él y se juntaron a zapar y OH descubrimiento, Mark Knopfler. Si este disco le sirvió a Cerati para copiar la línea de bajo Six Blade Knife y hacer Ciudad de la furía, es un buen disco. Puntos altos: Southbound Again,
Ummm. Making Movies and Love over Gold are way better..poor choice....Knopflers guitar licks are gorgeous but the songs are a bit half baked.
A good album with a few awesome tracks which were already in my library. There are some great guitar solos on it as well.
Good
Sultans of Swing is a fave Really surprising how american bluesy this entire album is - definitely one for late night chilling.
Lot of licks
Later half got better. Beach vibes almost
Well they are certainly consistent and have their style and flair! It just may not be for me. However, there is no denying that Sultans of Swing just makes me wanna groove.
went into this expecting to hate it and... i surprisingly don't? don't get me wrong, i still think a good amount of this album is a bit generic, but i don't really think i could muster up any vitriol for it. it's definitely one of those albums that're carried by the first track on either side, but it's very well crafted and played rock music. i never found myself zoning out or rolling my eyes at an "ooh baby do i love ya" lyric. it's nothing to write home about, but i mean that as positively as possible. it's like finding a quarter on the street and putting it in your pocket -- all you can really say is "neat" and move on. i'd come back for the singles and most of the B-side for sure. and man, can Knopfler play.
I dug this! Like a 3.5 for me
I like a bit of Dire Straits every now and again. Unfortunately, my favourite DS track is not on this album. The songs are good, "Sultans of Swing" is a nice single. Dire Straits would be awful without Knopfler's guitar solos. That's what I think of this album. 3 stars for "Self Titled".
I liked the opener ("Down To The Waterline") and "Sultans of Swing" is a great song, but the rest was pretty forgettable. I liked it well enough, and none of the songs are bad, but they also aren't memorable
The classic rock station I listened to growing up would play "Sultans of Swing" every fifth song, like clockwork. A typical afternoon in my young adulthood would sound like this: the Georgia Satellites; the Marshall Tucker Band; Blackfoot; ZZ Top; "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits; the Charlie Daniels Band; the Doobie Brothers; Creedence; Atlanta Rhythm Section; "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits; 38 Special; the Allman Brothers Band; Molly Hatchet; Lynyrd Skynyrd; "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits, etc. Maybe a "Money for Nothing" thrown in once a day for variety. Because of this, I fucking hate that song. I don't know if it is good or bad, I only know I hate it. But I kind of like Dire Straits. They have a laidback jazzy blues sound that is pretty cool. None of the songs on this record really stand out, but they are all pretty good. It isn't Dire Straits's fault that Rock 101 played "Sultans of Swing" to death and so I try not to hold it against them. But they are never going to be one of my favorite bands, despite them being totally decent.
Dug it for the guitar. Not much else
Listened to this while playing Return to Dark Tower solo. I lost. Soooo...I kept hearing people refer to the Sultans of Swing, and I honestly was expecting this to be a swing/big band album...lol. Kind of disappointed that it wasnt. This was ok...
I quite like Dire Straits, purely for nostalgia. But I’m not sure I like this record. I know Mark’s vocals aren’t for everyone, and they don’t normally bother me but something about this just fell flat for me. Hoping Making Movies comes up on the list at some point so I can rate them higher
Gets compared to Dylan. Knopfler's voice way outshines him. Good album.
Pretty much exactly what I expected from a Dire Straits album. Some decent bluesy rock but nothing that particularly stood out other than the legendary Sultans of Swing
4/5 better than expected Down to the Waterline Water of Love Sultans of Swing First 2/3 better than last 1/3
At the tome this cane out I was into punk and reggae so this would have been a never listen to band. This is actually not a bad debut album, bit pub rock
solid
I always feel like I don’t like Dire Straits and maybe I’m not huge on any of their other albums, but I do think their debut album is quite good. “Sultans of Swing” might be an overplayed classic rock staple, but man is it a banger. Before they started to get a little synthy, Mark Knopfler owned the guitar solo, and there’s quite a few good ones on the album in addition to the epic “Sultans of Swing”.
I like sultans of swing, and the rest of this has a very similar sound. It's just about what I expected.
I am in a bit of a quandary about this one. At first it seems inoffensive. And I don't mean "inoffensive" in the way that Travis is inoffensive, that is: teeth-gnashingly, mind-meltingly boring and bland. No, I mean... it's fine. It's okay. I don't mind it. I don't hate it. I don't love it. It's just there. But the quandary is this: It's clearly slightly lame dad-rock, but the guitar playing is really really good. So I might secretly have a bit more of a dabble with Dire Straits. But don't tell anyone. It would ruin my jazz-metal-weridness street cred.
Top quality MOR…
They don't give a damn about any trumpet playin' band It ain't what they call "Dad" Rock and Roll
The first two were 5/5, then they kinda lost me. The last couple were really good as well
It was ok
Solids listen. Enjoyed this quite a bit. Of course, Sultans of Swing is a all-time jam. "He don't care about any trumpet playin band". The rest of it washed over me nicely but didn't pull my attention. I'll play it again but nothing jumps out to me as a classic album.
A pretty groovy classic album by Dire Straits. It has some amazing songs (Sultans of Swing, Down to the Waterline) but for me the other songs don't do THAT much. None of them are bad, but none are good enough to stand out to me. Very dad rock Fav songs: - Down to the Waterline - Sultans of Swing
Solid.
Not bad! Can't wait for their next one to pop up. 3/5
Amazing guitarwork.
Starts groovy and the guitars are really nice throughout. Reminds me of Khruangbin at times! Just all blended together a bit in my listen - but a very decent listen!
Pretty ho hum, but I liked it. It's a funky album that had some really enjoyable parts. No real bad songs, just nothing spectacular
A little too country on this album
Eh. Soft 3.
Enjoyable, good guitar. 3.5
Solid album. Sultans of Swing is a classic.
Dylan sounding vocals, and some cool guitar work but I honestly had a hard time getting into this one. I felt like it was lacking in energy and passion. I honestly was not familiar with Dire Straits at all. This may be embarrassing but I was thinking they were a country group? Ended up being some classic dad rock. Wasn't bad at all but I just felt like it was lacking a spark.
Probably because I was young
Kinda boring ngl
Solid
I find most of this album very very boring. Most of the tracks do nothing for me, and I think for that it should be at 1 or 2 stars. That said, Sultans of Swing is one of my favorite songs of all time, and it'd be ridiculous for me to not give the album it belongs to a decent score. Congrats self titled, you're being hard carried.
The beginning of a legend.
This is an album I would have loved to be placed in the historical time because I have to think it was pretty revolutionary and impactful at the time. Today when I hear it I think, yeah this is Dire Straits, they are mellow, cool and I like it. But coming out in the late 70s in England this was probably super revolutionary. Overall a good album and I would listen again.
Not bad. Kinda groovy. Sultans of Swing is a great song. The rest are just okayish. Sometime a little too much blues for me. I did not know that these guys are British.
I like the vibe of this album. It’s smooth and funky and kinda sexy. It didn’t wow me, but I enjoyed it.
Po pire po pire.
The main hit on this album is Sultans of Swing, but the rest of the songs are cool too. I'll consider this a high 3/5.
Correcto
didnt really care about it all too much. this is a singles album to me cause i only really enjoyed the singles from it. side a i didnt really care about besides down to the waterline, but side b was a pretty decent run to me. im not built for dad rock. 3 personal favs: down to the waterline, wild west end
It was a really relaxing album, and love sultans of swing. But it's not as good as brothers In Arms
Nice album, will dig into Dire Straits more but overall the album didn't blow me away.
There's a reason why Sultans of Swing is the most listened song in the album a total banger. Down the Waterline is a strong opener too, with those two exceptions it's a forgettable album for me
Bit of a mixed bag but already great work from Mark Knopfler. In Wild West End I could hear where the future direction evolved from and, as a guitarist myself, who cannot love Sultans.
Felt a bit uninspired, the tempo, the lyrics. I did like the melodies in most songs. Made for a different generation.
I wish I could rate 5 stars for one song alone but alas, that’s not how this works. I’d happily listen to dire straits all day long. It’s great rock n roll and reminds me of my childhood in a good way.
Sultans of Swing, 1978
Really enjoyed, but unlikely to go back to it. Would be great on vinyl.
good chill twangy vibes
Interesting and some good listens
Dad rock. Easy enough listen. Sone nice production
It’s OK it was a very popular realm and sultans of swing is a great song but the album sounds like too much of the same thing. Very little color instrumentally two drums format with no harmonies or other instruments. It’s tedious after a while.
2.55. Not great but listenable
This is a fun album overall, and Sultans of Swing is an all-timer. On the other hand, I don't really get what puts it on this list. There was so much more interesting stuff happening in 1978 than Dire Straits 3/5
Nice, but nothing special. 3*
It’s ok
Down to the Waterline- in the words of Eva, this is a bop. The mix of the guitars and percussion makes the song have a funky little beat. This is a good open to the album. Water of Love- the slow essence of the song and the layered singing adds an unfamiliar tone to the song. There's not much more to say about the song. It's mediocre. Setting Me Up- the layering of the guitars adds a funky vibe to the song. It is somewhere inbetween a bop and being mediocre. The singing does nothing for me, the instruments are what carries the song. Six Blade Knife- this is a slower song that doesn't rely too heavily on the instruments. Unfortunately, that leaves us to rely on the vocals, which adds whispers and groans to the song. This is a mediocre song. Southbound Again- the funky guitar adds a nice vibe to the song. This would probably go in Eva's book as a bop, though, a lower sided bop. Sultans of Swing- an iconic song, it reminds me of riding down the highway. Although objectively, this is the best song off the album, it is not my favorite. This is not me saying the song isn't good, though. It is. In the Gallery- this is once again a mediocre song. Not even the instruments can carry this one. However, it's not bad. It's just not good. It carries on for too long. Wild West End- the acoustic guitar and the slow vibe adds a calming effect to the song. It's a cute sounding song. This track has the best lyrics of the entire album. It isn't a bop and it isn't mediocre. It has its own category from the rest of the songs off the album because it's not like the other songs. Lions- this calm song is once again neither a bop nor mediocre. It's just plain good. The song is brought justice by the vocals. It isn't like the other songs off the album. It is most similar to Wild West End. Overall- the use of the funky sounding guitar is what carries this album. It adds a vibe that reminds me of the sound of the 70s. Although the vocals are different, they feel revolutionary and unique. This album was overall pretty good. It's not exactly my taste, but I can agree that this is objectively good. 3/5.
Nice easy rock record. Great guitar playing. Really liked the last song I think I’ll go back to that one. But it’s an easy record to stop paying attention to.
Okay album.
The album babbles along, it's not bad, but if you don't own it, there's nothing missing from your record cabinet.
5/13/24. Cool album, thought it would be heavier for some reason, but really good songs. Need to listen again but enjoyed my first time through.
Fine. Sultans Of Swing is a great song. With my current biases/baggage/etc the album feels kind of tired and very much an artifact of its time. Although trying to put myself in the context of being a music listener in 1978, this album probably sounded fresh and cool to some listeners that weren’t in to the punk stuff happening at that time.
Pretty meh. I like some Dire Straits fine, like Brothers In Arms, but they’ve never done much for me. This is fine, but I can only take so much of the verse chorus guitar noodling formula.
Sultans of Swing is a five star song. The rest? Pretty meh.
It's good.
Not really dire but its strait
Einar var einmitt að spila þessa plötu um daginn og segja hvað hann væri í miklu Dire Straits stuði, ég hafði ekki kynnst þeim áður enda listar pabbi minn ekki á pabbarokk. Öll lögin minntu mig á einhverja aðra tónlist sem ég hefði heldur viljað hlusta á
Best song: sultan of swing Vibes: studio tapedeck folk country rock
would be 2 if not for sultans of swing
Nice enough listening but didn’t really grab me too much. Maybe needed to give it a closer listen.
I expected more out of this. Slightly disappointed
2.5 stars It’s about as classic rock as classic rock gets. Sultins of Swing is good.
Slow dad rock. Not a bad thing but just didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.
Down to the Waterline 3.4 Water of Love 3.3 Setting Me Up 3 Six Blade Knife 3.2 Southbound Again 3.3 Sultans of Swing 3.8 In the Gallery 3.5 Wild West End 3.4 Lions 3.3 Score: 3.355555556
I am 39 with two kids. Time to finally sit back and enjoy some mark knopfler guitar licks.
Sultans of Swing is fantastic. The record isn't necessarily forgettable but I couldn't say what else is on it after listening to it several times.
Perfect for an afternoon ride with my honey
Interesting. Almost a combo of rock and country. I liked it quite a lot.
Sultans of swing is great but it feels kinda like a single with extra bits rather than an album
it was fine, good guitar
really wish they had a bit more grit
2.5.
Interesting to see how early this album was released given its sound.
Decent
Great guitars and vibe all around but as you progress the album starts to feel quite repetitive
Need to listen again sometime in the future for better analysis.
I liked it. I didn’t realize they were so jam-y
Good sounds
You won't regret it if you put this album on. Won't pat yourself on the back either mind you. It's just a bit of a meh album overall.
Somewhat enjoyable, it's alright. But yeah, that's about it, middle of the pack.
Good album great bass lines
Is it my mood the last 2 days? Nothing sounds great. I understand that this is good, right? But I still feel meh.
First time ever listening to this and it's remarkable that Sultans of Swing was sequenced so deep in the mix. Solid. 3.5
Previously rated: Brothers In Arms (4/5) ************************** It's got Sultans of Swing and uh...Six Blade Knife. The rest wasn't bad, just not memorable.
Doesn't do it for me.
What an MOR double with Simply Red yesterday. The thing I almost always think about Dire Straits, with a few very notable exceptions (Brothers in Arms, Romeo and Juliet and Sultans of Swing for instance), is that it's all a bit soulless. Technically good, but doesn't really move you very much. Still nice to have on in the background and I'm still grateful for that two days on from the Guantanamo experience.
- Mainly know Dire Straits as the band that produced "Sultans of Swing." Apparently almost all of their music sounds almost exactly like that one track. - A super cool guitar riff starts the album. And the persistently syncopated rhythms are fun. But everything really does feel like the diet version of "Sultans of Swing."
peak dad core
Me gustó!!
Decent easy listening, ‘Sultans of Swing’ their biggest hit with over a billion plays on Spotify. 3.5/5
cool and funky. sultans of swing is always amazing but there's a few others that stuck with me.
Good album. “Sultans” is definitely the strong point. Wished it had a few more standout songs. 3/5 Might listen again
Inoffensive cruisin' rock, has one all time banger, like 2.75
Not bad. A lot more country/blues influence than expected. 7/10
This was fine enough. Didn’t love it or hate it. 2.5 rounded up to 3.
This was kind of a big deal debut from my early 20’s, anchored by Sultans of Swing. The rest of the album is decent enough but their Brothers in Arms is a much better album and Making Movies is somewhat better than this debut.
Chill sultans vibe
It’s the lick that started an enduring career. Knopfler is a true innovator and a singular player—you absolutely know him when you hear him. I played the grooves of my “Sultans of Swing” 45. It’s still one of the great rock singles of the ‘70s.
I liked the guitar so much but the voices were rough on some songs and tbh none of the lyrics stuck out at all. Easy listening.
Really didn't love Brothers in Arms and did not expect to see another Dire Straits album on here. Here's to hoping... Opens with some dusty guitar noodling that conjurs images of a southwestern adobe town at dusk. Launches without warning into a driven song that could be a sonic sibling to Sultans of Swing (which is buried in the track list). No knock, the guitar noodling rips here and tickles a certain something in me. Water of Love is pretty forgettable, but Setting Me Up has a fun jump about it. Six Blade Knife pulls out the slow, confident, and cool vibe that Dire Straits are known for -- similar to Money for Nothing. Lead by a sluggish bass throb and punchy drum with some noodly guitar support. Nothing too flashy, but it is fine. I can see this as a perfect soundtrack to drinking a Bud heavy and sitting at some country dive bar. No denying that Sultans of Swing is a jam. The production is very tight throughout this album and it really shines on this track. Like the spaciousness on the outro track Lions. Otherwise, I'd say I had a lot more fun with this album than their last. It felt a bit more raw and less prone to the cheesy influences of the 80s. The production is a bit overpolished for my taste, but that's hardly a huge problem. The sounds they generate are generally nice even if they verge into somewhat boring territory a few times. 3 / 5
A lot of water and directions in these song titles. Kinda boring to start off. Sultans of Swing was a standout, again showing why hits are hits.
Only knew one song by dire straits before this album and it wasn’t on it. It was fine. Probably wouldn’t relisten all the way through.
3,5
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background While I appreciate the musicianship involved, I just don't hear any passion and it gets a bit dull. Perfectly listenable, I'm just never going to choose to play this on my own.
Before yesterday, Dire Straits was a band I knew for only two songs: "Money For Nothing" and "Walk Of Life", which I'd been exposed to via Weird Al and ROCK BAND respectively. I really love both of those songs (a number of lyrics on the former aside), but I never really felt the need to dive deeper into their catalog beyond that. Sure, I think I listened to BROTHERS IN ARMS once a few years ago, but I know it was only once and I can't recall anything about it. So here we have the band's first album from a few years earlier, and... It's not really as complex. I mean, of course; there's no organs or synths, and there's no female backing singers and no song runs seven minutes. One runs six, sure, but still. It's just a whole lot rootsier and less pop. And I like it; it's good guitar music without all the extra frills. I mean, you hear all of those riffs Knopfler's playing on "Sultans Of Swing"? Goodness me. That being said, I did find it a little easy to have my attention swayed from it. Maybe it has more to do with things about me unrelated to the album, but it's still a fact that not a whole lot on the first album 100% pulled me in except for "Sultans Of Swing" and maybe "Wild West End". It's not entirely fair to compare this album to "Money For Nothing" and "Walk Of Life", since that's comparing two days to songs that've been in my life for years, but they got the pop hooks, y'know? And hooks, I gotta admit, are what keep me locked in a lot of the time. Good guitar playing can only do so much before I start to phase out. I'm happy I've heard this album, of course, and I wouldn't put it past me to give it another listen—and maybe BROTHERS IN ARMS, too—but I'd gone this long without doing it, so...
Enjoyable but starts to all sound the same towards the middle of the album.
Listened to the whole thing. Voice reminds me of Bob Dylan. Some good guitar playing, pretty restrained tho, would have liked if the band dug in a little harder and pushed the songs to more unexpected places.
boring and stupid
Smoky, sad pub music.
Perfect background music for taking a personal day from work on a random Tuesday and spending it day drinking alone with a good book at a mostly empty pub.
Chill, easy listening…a little dull