Reviews (page 14 of 15)
Not for me. Vaguely better than the eagles but not by much.
First song was good, the rest wasn't
Mark Knofler is obviously a world class guitarist and everything but this gotta be some of the most vanilla music to ever be this popular. Sultans of Swing is a certified classic tho, and the first track wasn’t too bad either.
Really did not care for it
Very dull
They definitely have a sound that i can't get behind.
It was fun to get some context on this one.
Boring. I only knew Sultans of Swing. I’m not a big fan of Mark Knopfler’s voice.
Mark knopfle’s sultry guitars are great but not necessarily interesting Like mid period Dylan with out the skill Sultans of swing is a great island in this sea of mediocrity
Meh
très similaire pendant tout l'album j'ai trouvé ça fade en fant
Aaaah me childhood
I can appreciate the musicianship, especially of Mark Knopfler, and enjoyed the two big hits (Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing) but just really not for me
Not my style, kinda sleepy tho
I thought I liked Dire Straits. But they are actually pretty annoying. We get it Mark, your good at guitar, but give it a rest. The noodling is relentless and way too high in the mix. The classics obviously stand the test of time, but the remaining over written, annoyingly sung and the honky Pink Floyd sound is too much.
Real style over substance on this album, they did way better in later albums. Sultans of swing iconic but it doesn't carry the whole album. Sublime playing from Knopfler though. Songs just generally don't hold up that well.
Forgettable but not terrible
das cover ist hübsch, soft, träumerisch. erinnert mich an die steins;gate ästhetik. ich sitz' gedanklich wieder im keller und bin gezwungen finns playlist zu hören. ich hab' das gefühl, dass mein hirn zu vercrackt ist, um diesen vibe, der zu dieser zeit prominent war, so richtig zu verstehen. damals war das ein teil der musik für die große masse und ich kann mir vorstellen, dass auch wenn die musik heute, die extrem beliebt ist, sich anders anhört, ich hier, so wie heute auch, etwas nicht finde, was zu mir spricht. das gewisse etwas, dieser funken, der mich wiederspiegeln kann. ich glaube, dass das bei diesen alben, die zu den einflussreichsten musikstücken unserer zeit zählen, häufig passieren wird. feeling fremd. rein musikalisch ist das album in sich schlüssig, aber liefert mir zu wenig diversität. ich höre das album während ich diesen text hier schreibe und hab' nicht immer mitbekommen, dass ein neuer song angefangen hat. das kann auch funktionieren, aber in diesem fall hat es für mich nicht funktioniert. sultans of swing kennt man natürlich, ist aber auch kein hit, den ich in eine playlist packen würde. gespeichert hab' ich mir keinen song. ich bin jetzt am ende des albums und denke mir, dass irgendwie nichts passiert ist. keine melodie, die mir im kopf geblieben ist, kein moment, der viel in mir ausgelöst hat, was okay ist, aber ich such' und brauch' das in musik.
It is easy listening but nothing notable for me. 2
To be honest, I did not really hear this one. I listened to it while working on a puzzle (like I have done with every other album), but it was completely in the background. I only noticed it was over when another band started. So, I can't say I liked or disliked. It was literally not on my mind. Standout: Sultans of Swing - only because I know it and it's the only song that I actually heard & noticed. 01-26-2026
Plenty unsophisticated
This seems like an album out of time. Released 10 years later then possibly a more favourable review could be offered. Yet alongside the costello, dury and others of that ilk this seems pedestrian and samey. The sultans of swing remains an excellent song an absolute career highlight.
MOR rock 'n' roll enthusiast music. If it were playing in a bar ca. 1971 or 2001, I wouldn't have noticed much difference. Solid performances but as bland as wonder bread.
Eh… pretty basic. Entertain me please!!!
*DS plays instrumentals* Thought to self: “Hey, this isn’t half bad! I thought this band SUCKKCKED” *Mark Knopfler - sings words with a sultry cowboy… uhhh… persona?* Thought to self: “Ohhhh THAAAATS why”
quintessential dad rock unfortunately very boring and forgettable outside of the 3 popular songs (which are good)
Good guitar playing, but the songs don’t move me. There’s not much emotion in them. I’ve always had the impression that Dire Straits made bluesy/country-ish music for businessmen, and this album did nothing to puncture that notion.
it's fine but I'm just so bored
This album is quite inoffensive and unforgettable. Although I enjoyed some of the songs and musical choices like the soulful addition of southbound again, I am not a fan of country /folk influenced rock. Didn’t realise sultans of swing was by Dire Straits so that was a nice surprise.
I get it objectively but not for me
I only liked one song it's not really my music grene so I hope I get more as I get back on the site
Most of this is exactly the kind of blues I can't stand, veering on country. There are flashes of brilliance, like Sultans of Swing, but overall not an album I want to listen to again.
Every song sounds like a variation of Sultans of Swing
Down to the Waterline: ok PERIOD what a stellar start to an album. It feels like driving down Ventura Highwaaayyyy Water of Love: mischievous opening, a cowboy’s opening scene, feels like the Wild Wild West Setting Me Up: ok this album is GROOVY and I need to start looking at lyrics because these guys are mumblin’ for real. It’s a vibe though. This is a precautious “f you! You can’t play me” anthem. The guitar lines feel very southern rock/blues, very chuck berry Six Blade Knife: Nothing special! A song for unhealthily attached yearners Southbound Again: This song reminds me of going from Boston to North Carolina during college 🥹 “Southbound again, don’t know if I’m going or leaving home”. Have I carved out a new space that feels like home with a new community and freedom or is home where I can be my most uninhibited natural self, the way I was raised. “Southbound again, last night I felt like crying” I’m leaving what I know and returning to what once was. I miss that person. Sultans of Swing: I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of this band but I’ve CERTAINLY heard this song! I would love to see this in a sped up fight scene in a western or anime turned live action movie. Sharp movements, sharp angles, you know the vibes In the Gallery: They’re reminding me of Steely Dan at this point Wild West End: ok OBSESSED with the mandolin and steel guitar! I love how the instrumentation mirrors what music for the “Wild West” sounds. Dreamy syncopated guitars, gruff voices, rough growling vocals Lions: These songs are too damn long, I’m sorry. Nothing they’re saying necessitates songs this long!! It’s not like the guitar solos are super impressive either???
inoffensive but unnoticable. didn't pick up that the album had ended until spotify autoplayed something i actually liked and i went to check the title lol 2/5
Some nice moments!
Eh it's okay
Formulaic British blues rock, but better than Clapton, since at least Knopfler sounds cool and nonchalant instead of whiny. I think 'Sultans of Swing' is a nice little self-aware admission that these guys are basically just a bar band. There are better Dire Straits albums, but here we are because the 1001 list tends to prefer debut albums. Probably a 2.5.
This seems like a harsh review... if we had half stars, this would be 2.5. This was fine, but nothing stuck with me. The songs kind of sounded the same. Do I give it a 3 because of vibes? It doesn't offend me, but it's not something I'd seek out. I respect it, but don't need it in my collection, y'know?
Am I the baddie? Everyone else seems to like this tedious white man faux-blues dadrock. Saved from one-star oblivion because I know that Brothers In Arms, their other album on here, stinks to high heaven. At least this one wasn't made for MTV.
Infinitely better than Brothers in Arms. Almost managed to listen to the whole thing...
Not my bag. Sounds like a bunch of old guys fiddling around in the basement flat their parents once lived in. Tired and drab. I mean, I get why people like this but for me it's almost as bad as the Travelling Wilburys, and that's bad. Ok, so Sultans of Swing passes but overplayed on radio stations to the point of real pain so no, not my bag.
I swear I listened to this, but now it's gone.
ett album där alla låtar låter som sultans of swing..
Didn’t need to hear Sultans of Swing 9 times in a row.
Relatively inoffensive but there’s something a little dull about most Dire Straits songs
++: Setting Me Up, Six Blade Knife, Lions +: Down to the Waterline, Southbound Again +-: Water of Love, In the Gallery, Wild West End -: Sultans of Swing 5,2/10
Not really my thing, just kinda washed over me
Sultans of Swing, great song but the rest can fuck off into the sun.
I've listened to it before and dont want to again. Walk of life is abit of a bop but can't remember if it's on this one. And it's annoying because it's about a guitar player but the keys are the main feature.
Not totally dire, but dull.
Een beetje saai.
I do enjoy select Dire Straits songs, but a whole album is too much for me.
- I was really looking forward to this because I love the Dire Straits greatest hits album I have, but I wasn’t really moved by the songs on here (no wonder they’re not on that album, lol). - Knopfler has a memorable voice, and he is amazing on the guitar - it sings - harmonizing and supporting his voice, but with a life of its own. I don’t love guitar solos usually, but I like how this is conversational and melodic. I love how the album starts with that nice guitar intro and beautiful tone. - I wanted to rate this high, but I just don’t remember the songs other than the hit & Wild West End. Also, lyrically, I can’t tell you what anything was about.
Really good background music, not that impressive if you stop and listen to the album as a whole
dun dun dun da da du du dun
eh.
Lovely instrumentation, but vocals a bit too gratingly-Dylan for me to regularly enjoy.
Each song very samey...
Not very special tbh
not my cup of tea. sounds like dad rock made in a garage.
Knopfler must know that he's not as cool as a real jazz or blues cat, but his living depends on the pursuit of that sort of hipness. Mix in a Dylanesque vocal style, and you get something that's not only boring but unoriginal. I don't need all musical ventures to be fully authentic, but when it's empty - when the bullshit isn't a form of ironic or satiric critique but coincides w/ a colorless + tedious smugness - I can't get down. B/c besides 'Southbound Again,' all the tracks are too long and the lyricism somehow manages to be both clunky and chic: 'You think I care about your reaction / You think I don't understand / All you wanted was a piece of the action / Now you talk about another man'; 'Greasy, greasy, greasy hair, easy smile.' The point?
2 stars I always kinda liked “Sultans of Swing.” I honestly had no idea that Dire Straits were as big as they reportedly were. I haven’t heard Brothers in Arms yet, but it better be better than this. It was technically fine but generally uninteresting dad noodling. I wouldn’t listen to it again.
Having grown up with Dire Straits frequently playing in our home - thanks to my parents’ shared appreciation for them - I’ve always appreciated their distinct, polished sound. Yet, for whatever reason, it doesn’t quite resonate with me. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right frame of mind when listening, but the music feels somewhat anemic, and the vocal delivery grates on me slightly. I just couldn't get excited. Shame.
There are some good jams on this album but I was really disappointed that they didnt seem to develop their ideas much over the course of the album. It all felt very samey throughout and I unfortunately found myself bored and struggling to finish it.
Sultans of Swing is the notable one and kinda fun but the rest is like unseasoned chicken. Bland add B movie tier music (2.5/5)
I didn’t like it
Litt gammaldags musikk. Men overraskende lunt og behagelig.
This album almost had me in the first half… until it sank into beer-belly braai vibes in the second.
i listened to it, but don't remember listening to it
Knopfler is a really good guitarist and the guitar tone is sweet. But he doesn't seem to have any confidence in his singing voice here, and other than Sultans of Swing it just passes by without leaving an impression.
I’m not ready for this stage of fatherhood
There can be a fine line between laid-back and boring. I'm afraid this falls into boring territory for me.
It isn't that this album is bad, it's more that this isn't my type of music. I like their later efforts much better, or at least they fit my taste much better. On my scale, it would be a 2/5 which sounds relatively harsh, but oh well. It also reminded me that Money for Nothing existed which is a banger, but apparently theres a whole ass homophobic verse they cut out of the radio version, so I don't feel too bad about giving them a 2 actually.
Kind of disappointed, was sort of bored with this laid back pub blues, bit better at end. But nothing memorable other than "Sultans of Swing". 2.5
Not gonna lie, I was pretty disappointed with this one. “Sultans of Swing” is such a banger, and it set my expectations way too high. I figured the rest of the album would have that same magic, but it just didn’t click for me. The musicianship is solid and Mark Knopfler’s guitar work is always impressive, but the songs outside of the big hit felt flat and forgettable. They lack the same punch and swagger that made “Sultans of Swing” so timeless. I wanted to like it more, but in the end this album felt like a one-song wonder. Great single, underwhelming record.
With my limited experience, listening to this album is like, "What if there were an alternate reality where Dire Straits sang more than just Sultans of Swing?"
No opinion, really. First track sounds like a budget version of Sultans of Swing.
Bit slow for me but nice rhythm and beat.
Very heavy on the guitar noodling.
boring
No me gustó, muy country
Eh, it's fine.
This doesn't do much for me. I had (and loved) Brothers In Arms as a kid, but outside of the hits, I've never heard anything else. Sort of surprised by how southern rock this sounds, especially coming from a British band. This was mostly tolerable, but started to wear on me toward the end.
i didn't hate this but spotify started playing their next album after this on autoplay and it was so much better that i had to dock this a star, they started JAMMING on that one
I know I'm wrong, but this record sounds like a pub band, writing very forgettable songs, that just happen to have a good guitarist who plays really well and found some really nice tones. (I realise that it's probably because they influenced a style of pub rock band) The guitar comping is fantastic. That's not really enough to save the record for me.
This is the only Dire Straits album worth listening to (barely) and it's only because of two songs, Sultans of Swing and Down To The Waterline. The rest of the album is dull and ponderous, and plods along until it finally (thankfully) ends.
Sounds like the shittier bob Dylan 70s records. And this is their starting point. Meh.
Started strong, I was surprised how much I was enjoying it. Very quickly got bored and continued to be bored until Sultans of Swing, and even then apart from the main guitar line its pretty boring. And the song afterwards was offensively boring. Clearly not the target audience here, guys a good guitarist but good guitar playing ain't enough to make a good album. Boring/10
I was way more bored than I thought I’d be. The first track sounded like a demo version of sultans of swing. After that the songs were kinda sleepy. Sultans is a cool reminder of what you can do without a pick. Wild West End was neat.
not exactly my stuff
It was fine.
Not interested that much in it but it is nice 2 stars.
Guitars were the best part. The rest, not really for me - particularly the speak singing.
very capable musicians making boring songs
Its an Ok album but that country vibe lind of lingered too much and just wasnt amazing. Great guitar playing and riffs thou
This was solid. I understand why people would love it but it just didn't grab me
Det her pøllede pis var min fars favorit. Det siger mig intet. Sultains of swing var højdepunkt.
If this were 1001 guitar guys or 1001 singles I’d rate this higher. I love the guitar playing and Sultans is great but the rest of it is boring. It sounds so lifeless. I actually identify with the lowfi approach and even the lazy vocal style, but this record doesn’t put those elements together in a way that excites me.
Knopfler is an extraordinary guitar player but a negligent vocalist. Iommi, Page, and Van Halen never understood why they needed a lead singer - but they all accepted it. Great guitar players can be excellent frontmen - Billy Gibbons, Dan Auerbach and even Hendrix come to mind. But they have to CARE about the singing, and even more importantly, the harmonic and melodic structures of their songs. That’s what’s missing here. Knopfler’s voice is what a sneer sounds like. He affects this Dylanesque indifference or even disdain for melody and intonation. But even more, like so many lead guitar players, he doesn’t seem to care about theme and melodic/harmonic structure. So we’re left with this rambling unfocused mess. Until Sultans of Swing. Somehow that track is absolutely incredible. And the vibe is decent. But if I want a dose of stripped-down bluesy bar band, I’m reaching for early ZZ Top every time.
The Final Boss of Boomer Rock Albums. If The Rolling Stones were into ZZ Top they would sound like this.
kinda boring
I'm quite disappointed. This album feels like a demo album that hasn't been refined yet, and still includes one of the most overrated songs I've ever heard. Favorite Track: "Southbound Again".
Alright, but kind of boring for me. This seems kind of dated. I liked some songs, though.
This was way too mellow for a Friday morning. This style of music doesn't grab me at all. I like some of Dire Straits' later work, but I don't see ever coming back to this one. Standout track: Sultans of Swing
The only song I was familiar with was sultans of swing. Never liked this band too much.
🛠️
too much flex
I understand why it is a popular album, but the music just isn't my style.
I’ve already given Hidden Pleasures a 2 tonight.
Walk Of Life aside, Dire Straits are guff.
The only song I know from this is sultans of swing. I’ve never listed to a dire straits. The only thing I can say so far is it sounds like Dire Straights. I’m starting to think I don’t like Mark Knopfler’s voice. Musically this is pretty good, but something is just “off”. I don’t hate this album but it’s not for me. So “wild west end is a great song”.
Half-asleep dudes grooving along firmly inside of their comfort zones. Laid back, chilled-out, well done, boring.
Just very dull! I’m sure it must have been popular at the time but it hasn’t really aged very well.
I respect the unique guitar sound and technique here, but I don't love it.
Meh
Never got the appeal of Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler. I get the guitar playing is impressive and all, but most of the songs are just pretty unmemorable to me. Key tracks: Sultans of Swing Six Blade Knife
Down To The Waterline - alright but kind of just a less good Sultans of Swing. Excellent final chord though. Water Of Love - first few bars reminded me of America from West Side Story. Rest is boring unfortunately. Setting Me Up - veers too much into country for me. Six Blade Knife - fairly dull. Southbound Again - same. Sultans of Swing - absolutely excellent as we know; highlight being the insane guitar at the end. In The Gallery - great groove to this one. Wild West End - not great but love "pink toenails and hands all dirty with money". Lions - dull.
Never been a fan of Dire Straits and this is dull as dishwater for the most part. Sultans of Swing is still a classic though.
Chill dad rock.
not for me, but it was kind of cool album cover is great btw
Sounds annoying.
Ok
This album feels like an EP, but with a bunch of undercooked filler to make a full album. Which isn’t to say everything in the non-filler is good. They just sound finished. Bad track sequencing, too. The track sequencing is completely flipped from where it should be. Everything from Southbound Again to the end should have been side A, and the rest of it on side B. Except keep Sultans Of Swing as the side B opener. 2 stars, and that's only because Sultans Of Swing is a well-done tune that I've come to appreciate when I'm not hearing it 5 times a day on classic-rock radio.
Wasn’t as impressed with this one as I am with their Brothers in Arms album so this was a little disappointing. Maybe a little more upbeat by comparison in a way I didn’t like.
Highlights of this album were definitely Sultans of Swing and Down to the Waterline.
better than bob dylan , but only a little bit. 2
2.5 really, with the weight of those stars entirely carried by Sultans of Swing
Boring, sent me to sleep and not in a good way.
Competent, jammy, doesn't do too much for me! All the stereo sound stuff going on here is great. The songs just don't really stick for me outside of the hits (Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing). Really feels like this should be up my alley but there's not that oomph for me to latch onto.
I love Money for Nothing, but TBH I found this album a little boring.
It's fine. Had fun moments, but overall felt like an impression of the blues.
boring, I don't remember a thing.
Classic of 'dad rock music's
Nah. 2 out of 5.
Painfully generic, riffs are ok, but the vocals are dreadful.
Sultans of swing and down to the waterline both great songs. Rest of album ok and easy listening, but won’t ever likely put album on again
Ok. Propped up by Sultans Of Swing. Just not my thing really.
He’s a north east lad like me so gets a 2
Um bom disco de AOR, não que isso signifique muita coisa. Fica um bocado repetitivo em um ponto, mas o Mark knopfler realmente lança uns licks que gostei. Sultans of Swing só tá curtida pq no contexto do disco ela acaba realmente brilhando mais.
This sounds like what you'd expect the first Dire Straits album to sound like bob, sure does bill, glad we had this conversation bob, me too bill.
Never listened to a Dire Straits album before. After hearing this, I'm not sure I need to listen to another one. Got bored pretty much immediately, too many slow tempo songs that kinda do the same thing from start to finish.
Saved Prior: Sultans of Swing Off Rip: Setting Me Up, In The Gallery Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Sounds like a good acoustic bar band but is terribly overrated. Don't even like Sultans of Swing that much
Quite monotonous, bored my brain out for half an hour. No moment really stuck with me. That might change if I ever give it a few more listens but I have better things to do with my time than that.
This album is kinda boring to me :( 2/5
Når den kommer til slutningen - Sultans of Swing og derefter - begynder der at være lidt personlighed over den, men indtil da keder jeg mig gevaldigt. Dire Straits er helt sikkert gode musikere men de er ikke for mig
trækker en del op at det lyder fantastisk, trækker en del ned at jeg kedede mig ret meget
While sultan of swing is a great song the other on this album didn't speak to me att all. They were mostly ok but nothing I will listen to again I think.
Kind of the same noodley guitar that you expect from Dire Straits. I don't really think Dire Straits is for me.
This one lives in its own world, picking from many genres, which is interesting. Although, it faded into the background for me, not resonating in the moment. I can appreciate it, but I'm not going back.
Tähän on ehtinyt jo kyllästyä aika pahasti. 2/5
Apart from S of S and some nifty guitar from MK this is a bit dull
Whatever
I liked one of the songs
Doesn't have Brothers in Arms or Romeo & Juliet. 2 Knopflers.
papo reto? detesto dire straits
bom pra quem gosta (não é meu caso) as guitarrinha mais pau mole do mundo. dad rock até demais.
I remember that I listened to this album but I don’t remember anything about it. I feel like this is almost like you took every band from the 70s and distilled it into this, unremarkable grooves and riffs with one song that hits harder.
meh
Decent
I am my dad in the 1980s. I liked it
Very bland. All the positive opinions seem to praise its simplicity, but to me it's boring.
It was OK, very bluey not my thing really
simply could not muster interest in this as they just meandered through the album. could i write poetry to this? b
It all sounds the same
not really my genere but sultans of swing is a classic.
Impressive for a debut album. This sounds like the music a band would make on their third or fourth. Cool sound, and an easy listen. But that's kind of where it ends. I didn't really feel much substance or emotion or anything else. I liked the songs more than some of my other 2-star album ratings, but I can't envision myself ever coming back to this.
Oli kyllä niin pliisu että
Sultans of swing. The rest is boring. They can definitely play. They're just not that good at writing memorable songs.
Appropriately, I was on hold to a call centre for most of the time I was "listening" to this album. I barely noticed it.
For those who love Sultans of Swing... here's 40 minutes of the same.
Some interesting songs but also some boring ones. Not sure I’d listen again. Highlights: Setting Me Up Southbound Again
This album answers the question “what if Lou Reed started a somewhat dull blues-rock group that was the house band at one of those ice houses that all the local dads with Harleys go to?” Nothing special.
Probably a 2.5 but this felt like the white noise of this genre
meh
Listened to it multiple times and it doesn't quite cut it for me. At times it draws me into its atmosphere but then very quickly pulls me out with how drab the sounds are. Plus some of the songs go on for longer than I want, making it drag on.
Shows it’s age.
I do appreciate the guitar. And I like Mark Knopfler's laid-back vibe. But I just find this album a teeny bit boring. Sorry, Sam :(
They sound better here than on Brothers In Arms, more understated. I know he's a good guitarist and I quite like his voice but I find it all really dull. Not emotional, energetic or original. Sorry 😞
Beyond Sultans of Swing, there are surprisingly few hooks. The songs on this album are basically platforms for Knopfler’s guitar noodling. Dull listening.
Liked it better than the dire straights album I previously got, but for some reason I just don't vibe with them much
Sultans of Swing is great, but the rest of the songs sound sort of same-y.
Sorry it was boring
такой деревенский рок, даже не дослушал и уснул на песне третьей
kinda hoped this would be better, didn't seem to really get going
I spent this whole album being unsure how I felt about it. I could definitely tell it wasn't bad but it just felt a bit cliché at times like there was something just slightly off about it that I couldn't put my finger on. I do really like Sultans of Swing though, that song is great. The rest was fine for background noise but it left me feeling kind of empty.
Offensively mediocre.
Extremely disappointed only Sultans of Swing was a good track
I guess if you liked this bluesy rock, then the songs are interesting, but felt like to me that they were all so similar.
Diarrhea Streaks
a couple good songs, mostly whatever.
Found this a chore to get through Mid compared to brothers in arms. Sultans of swing and Wild West end were ok I guess and I wasn’t sure whether to give it a 2 or a 3 but decided in the end it’s a 2
lowkey boring but some songs saved it from a 1
Couldn't get over the vocals sounding like Otto the bus driver from The Simpsons. Awful.
Love Dire Straits but this is no where near their best album, apart from Sultans Of Swing it's a bit of a snoozefest
Booooooring
I don't know what I *thought* Dire Straits were, but it wasn't this, and I don't like it. I can't say it's bad, but it's tedious and boring. Sultans of Swing has something to it, that was the only good song on the album. It's definitely blues-influenced rock, and the lead singer sounds like a dime store bob Dylan without the interesting bits.
Kinda boring. It's like edgy dentist office music.
I know this is Mark Knopfler's band, and I respect the solo albums he later recorded as mellow guitar musings, but this is a little too much nothing much at all for me. I know they went on to achieve greatness so I'll give 2 stars.
Ha this album was not what I was expecting. I know the big Dire Straits hits for sure, but haven't really gotten in to the albums much. Outside of the well known songs, this album just sounds a lot like... Dylan... to me. Which I was not expecting. It was fine for sure, nothing to get too crazy about though.
water of love
This album couldn't keep my attention, just not my style.
Это второй альбом этой группы в списке для меня, и честно сказать, я чувствую, что дебют сильнее, чем голубенький с гитарой. Как минимум из-за главного хита группы (абсолютно заслуженно, я считаю). Но всё равно: очень хорошо сыгранные, очень хорошо записанные, и всё же скучные песни. Лучшая песня - Sultans of Swing.
Found it very boring. Couldn’t tell one song from another. Mumble mumbles for a lead singer.
The songs just seemed to wander and never really go anywhere.
i thought it was good and would be fun to listen to on occasion or in the right setting but i don’t think it’s something i would listen to on repeat. i think i only really enjoyed two of the songs on the album
The vibe is high-skill muzak for me.
Not bad but kind of a snoozer until Sultans woke me up. Then back to decent but somewhat insignificant. I’m a little surprised since I really like Brothers In Arms
Not really for me
too repetitive
Old school rock. Not bad.
Enough with the britRock, damn.
Favourite Song: Lions A simple and solid album. Feels very samey and repetitive at time, but as a cool vibe to it that blends well.
I didn't get much out of this one. Pretty boring
Ok, not really my thing
This reminds me of listening to the album in the 90s. Still love Sultans of Swing. Mark Knopfler is a genius on guitar. I like Down to the Waterline too but prefer the songs in a mix of other songs, rather than listening to the full album.
Hmm ok
1- is this country 0-0, not bad i like the guitar 2- beginning gave me zoom flashbacks ngl, im skipping through this i dont think i like it but the chorus is good 3- this one is my fav so far but still not quite there idk, i love the guitar in these 4- nvm this is better than 3 5- yeha i dont like this 6- IMMEDIATE BANGER, first song on here thats going to my liked 7- very chill probably between 1 and 6, idk why but it feels longer than it is 8- yeah no 9- this would go extremely hard if i was a christian cowboy, which im convinced is the target audience yeah i think country is just not my fav
Boring bluesy rock.
I like a number of their well known songs like Sultans of Swing. But I don’t really need to listen to a whole album, at once, ever, at all.
Never heard them before, didn't know what to expect. Somehow I find the music to be nice and chill, but then when the vocals kick in, it's sooo boring. The cover matches how it sounds.
Genre: Rock Instruments: 4/5 great guitar Modern Translation: 3/5 Dance Potential: 1/5 Listening Location: desk at work Favourite Song: Sultans of Swing Made me feel: Chill. Easy listening, not much diversity in the album.
fine i guess
Not my kind of music. Only really enjoyed two songs. Could have on in background while working but that’s about it
Ok. One or two good songs but overall a bit boring / forgettable.
Dire Straits has to be the most boring rock band of all time.
dump this. make some room for a Squeeze album.
average, fairly boring, but ok enough 2.5/5
Could not be more dad music if it tried. I think it's boring as batshit but honestly I'll probably age into it as I get more jaded. Fave track: Down to the Waterline
Sultan of Swing was the only good song, the rest were boring.
This starts so well with Down to the Waterfront, and obviously Sultans is great. My hopes were dashed by the pretend gruffness and country vibes. Don't like country. Seems like a wasted opportunity as those two fast, clean gritty songs are belters.
Ein Klassiker und solide handgemachte Musik. Mich haben die Dire Straits noch nie vom Hocker gehauen. Viele Songs klingen ähnlich und dudeln so vor sich hin. Das Album hat aber sicher der Verkauf von Stratocaster-Gitarrren angekurbelt.
Meh.
It's not bad, but I'm slightly annoyed by how overrated it is.
Rock for people who prefer classical music.
Very lovely album. Good vibes. Nothing super special in my opinion Best song:sultans of swing Rating: 5/10
okay i admit it, wild west end is quite nice if we can only harness the power of this thing they call "fretless bass" then surely we will be unstoppable
This album had much more interesting guitar work than I usually associate with Dire Straits, but I still find their sound very flat overall.
I did not get the hype
Could make an argument for this as a clear influence on the likes of Kurt Vile and War on Drugs. Could also make the case for this as a huge rip off of Bob Dylan. Sultan of Swing isn’t that cool of a song, but there are some decent to great tracks that showcase some excellent guitar work overlayed with Knopfler’s monotone Dylan drawl. Really enjoyed In the Gallery and Wild West End.
Next 5 songs played by my Spotify Algorithm: Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man Paul McCartney -Hearted of the Country The Doors - Cars Hiss by My Window Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Breakdown The Animals -Brother Bill (The Last Clean Shirt)
I like the guitar fills and solos, but otherwise this album doesnt do it for me too much. Little boring.
Do you know “Sultans of Swing”? Then you’ve heard every song on this album.
Sounds like old guys trying to be cool. Not my scene.
should be 2.5 stars. not bad but not a favourite for me
Sultans of swing great song to do cocaine too everything else is meh
The tempo, instrumentation, and song structure altogether don’t do much for me, even though I think the execution was good. The twang couldn’t sustain my attention or interest for the entire duration, but the last couple tracks were my favorite. I liked the songs that autoplayed afterwards more. The depth I’ve gotten into this type of music is evident by the fact they reminded me of the Grateful Dead. 4/10
Reminded me a lot about Tom Petty. But not very remarkable and I got way too much work done without noticing the music.
It was fine, but it didn't do much for me. If this doesn't qualify as yacht rock, I don't know what does.
Sultans of swing is a classic but rest of the album was slow and tiring
Beetje ouwelullenmuziek. Paar prima nummers en leuk deuntje voor op de achtergrond maar niet meer
tracks: down to the waterline sultans of swing lions this album is a bit of a stinker, surprising anyone let them go on to make 5 more.
Eh, not my cup of tea.
some highs and lows. Most of it went on and on and didn't go anywhere. Sleepy for me but some would say it was soulful.
I'm kinda shocked this was such a big hit. I couldn't really grab on to anything - found it tepid and nothingy
Really thought I’d like this album but it’s really just fine.
This is not terrible, but just go to the source and put Django Reinhardt on the list. 2 imposters out of 5 🥸🥸
It does´t move me. Something does not resonate well to me. I´d rather pick up JJ Cale.
4/10
Well I mean, it was alright. Mark Knopfler has a 'distinctive' singing voice, but, a bit like Pink Floyd, of you pretend the guitar is the lead vocal, suddenly it sounds much better. A great length for an album and the start is very atmospheric. Overall, forgettable.
2.5
ehhhh
didn’t hate it but boring af
A bit dull sometimes. Could have done a lot more with the drums, and the vocals aren’t that interesting. Guitar work has the most character by far. It’s never unpleasant, but I could zone out or fall asleep to it.
This some white people shit. Not my bag. Sultans is Hella lame. Water of love ok
Pleasant enough.
Emerging from an unlikely place in the music industry in 1978, Mark Knopfler's warm yet brittle Stratocaster tone and softly spoken vocals linger on the corner of the map in this debut album. "Dire Straits" feels untraceable to its era, completely out of step with disco, punk or new-wave. Instead, it's an understated torch-bearer for all the folk/rock/blues singer-songwriters of the world. This is certainly a commendable mission statement, and on a technical level it's undoubtedly well executed. There's no need for me to wax lyrical about Knopfler's signature guitar tone, his distinctive way of playing fingerstyle. While there's a lot to love in his mastery of the instrument, "Dire Straits" ultimately comes across as a bit of a shallow exercise. The main issue here is that for most of the runtime, Knopfler's guitar work is desperately propping up the material, rather than accentuating its power or complementing any inherent brilliance. The guitar playing is the only consistent factor here, apt comparisons being Pink Floyd's "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" or anything Clapton played on after about 1972. There's nothing very exciting going on in the song structures (alternating weary ballads with choppy blues tracks) and the lyrics are mostly melancholic, world weary ruminations of love lost, with a couple of more narrative-heavy tracks which fare better ("Sultans of Swing", "In the Gallery"). In this album, love is an adolescent memory by the waterside, love is water in a dry desert, love is the act of being set up and put down, love is the cut of a six-blade knife. Sometimes the lyrics sell these ideas (particularly the evocative opening "Down by the Waterside") but mostly they're reduced to throwaway generalities or really flimsy analogies ("you take away my mind like you take away the top of a tin"). Knopfler certainly doesn't seem to earn the "Dylanesque" label here, which is often lazily slapped on his music and lyrics. The primary exception to all this, of course, is "Sultans of Swing", which does all the legwork and stands on its own as a great song. Vivid storytelling, an instantly memorable melody and a tight structure place it miles above the rest of the material here: if the same standard had been held up throughout, "Dire Straits" would be at least twice the album it is. "Wild West End" also deserves some praise for its lush, wistful chorus: a nice balance between technique and soul. Dire Straits would go on to release another five albums in their career, peaking commercially with "Brothers In Arms" (the only other album of theirs I've heard). While "Brothers In Arms" is flawed and fell slightly more under the trappings of its day, it's still a mostly enjoyable, catchy and emotive listen. By contrast, "Dire Straits" lacks most of its charms or hooks, and winds up feeling as beige and empty as the image on its cover.
one good song
When I think of Dire Straits, I think of the MTV era. Was hoping some of the songs I liked back in the days, were on this album, but So far away and Roller girl are not and here we are.... I did like some songs. Sultan of Swing was a big MTV song and ok. When Down by the Waterline played, thought the guitar chords were similar to Sultan of Swing, but then again, a lot of this album sounded similar. Not a lot of energy. Is is Blues? Maybe even countryish? Liked In the Gallery, good vibe. Also liked Wild West End. I don't know. Wasn't terrible. Wasn't great. Not sure if I would seek out this album, but it was OK to listen to a couple times over last 2 days. I'll go right down the middle a give a 2.5. Will show as a 2 due to overall lack of energy. 2.5
This just passed me by. Nothing stood out, nothing made me think ‘wow this is good’, or ‘this is terrible’. Just a total ‘meh’ album, I really can’t understand how it made the list. It’s obviously not a bad album and there’s some decent little guitar bits but I cant tell you which songs contained them as it was just one big bland song to me
Peak dad rock. It goes nowhere, tries and fails to be cool, and in the end leaves me feeling disappointed.
So lame. Other than sultans of swing
Very average album with outstanding "Sultans of Swing". Other songs weren't remarkable or interesting at all. 10 songs on the record feel like trying ten times to roll 12 on 2k6, hitting it once and getting low results every other time. Pretty dissapointed, although once again, Sultans is one of the best song ever, the album not so much.
I had only heard the song Sultans of Swing from this album. I like that song and liked the others on the album. Bluesy with a bit of country/western mixed in. This album is different from the more mainstream and pop-ish album that I remember well, Brothers in Arms, in the early 1980s. . Would I listen to this album again? Probably not, but I did not mind listening to it today.
notes - debut album by blues rock dire straits - features hit single sultans of swing - guitarist mark knopfler’s signature style is all over this - gotta say, none of the songs on here other than sultans of swing really stood out to me in any way - the whole album sounds kinda unfinished - get really tired of the gravelly voice mark puts on for some songs fav - sultans of swing - theres a reason this was their big hit least fav - six blade knife or wild west end - gravelly voice on these 2/5 - only really enjoyed one song the rest were meh
Mumble clapton
Not that good, just not my taste.
Dude Mark Knopfler somehow makes guitar songs into elevator music. Why is this so damned boring. A lack of personality hurts this one tremendously.
Kind of a snooze.
I know nothing about this band. I'm interested to know what the vibe is. I think my impression based on the name only was that they're a country artist but they're not and they're British lol. it's fine so far, nothing is jumping out at me as special. it's been pretty average idk. southbound again is groovy. it's not bad just a little bland.
Not yet enough of a stereotypical dad to really get into this
easy listening, not offensive but pretty boring
kinda boring, not much to note but pretty listenable. not too bad.
Not a fan
I think it’s too “easy-listening” for me. It ends up coming across as pretty bland but with a few exceptions. 4/10
Well, this falls into the category of yeah I can see what they're doing, but I'm not going to suddenly like Dire Straits after all these years. Aside from sultans of swing I'm not really feeling anything. I got really really bored towards the end.
Come for Sultans of Swing stay for...a bunch of songs that are not as good as Sultans of Swing
I listened to this. I don't remember anything about it at all. It was very unmemorable and I basically tuned the whole thing out.
The guitar instrumentals are super interesting and there’s some pretty cool picking/syncopation going on. Rest of the instrumentals are pretty basic and it’s all lead by the guitar. I don’t love the Dylan-esque vocals but that’s a personal preference.
2.5
Sultans of Swing est tellement meilleur que tout le reste que c'en est presque gênant. Le reste est plus ou moins chiant. La pochette est cool. Prefs: Down to the Waterline, SULTANS OF SWING Moins pref: Six Blade Knife
Wow. How mediocre was this. Really can’t believe the hype around these guys. Dirge after dirge. Save yourself the hassle.
Can't remember a thing about this album. It played and then it was over. Must not have been too good or too awful.
1/27/2021 Today's Album: "Dire Straits" by Dire Straits - This album is perfectly alright. I think this style is incredibly played out for me, with the same old classic rock tone and similar instrumentation, but the guitar work at times is really nice and I do vibe with most of the tracks on here. Setting Me Up is the first real surprise on these tracks, coming in at track 3, but it's still just a good solo surrounded by some generic grove and vocals. Southbound Again brings the energy up and is pretty bouncy and playful. I think its a half decent track, and it is quickly followed by an amazing track, bring Sultans of Swing. It is a great song and so far is the only reason to give this one a chance. They just feel like a really typical jam band and I don't know what exactly it is about these songs, but they are just really not hitting the right spot with me. Yeah the rest of this album just doesn't pay off and is the same stuff. I think it's a good album to put on in the background during dinner or something, but it really just doesn't scratch any itch for me. Score: 4/10 Meh Highlights: Setting Me Up, Sultans of Swing
It was inoffensive but dull. I can't remember any of the songs after listening apart from Sultans of Swing, which probably tells you something about this album. It reminded me of being a kid and going on holiday with Dire Straits on the cassette player in the car. I would not choose to listen to this album again but if I had to it would not be the end of the world.
Just not for my taste
It was better than I anticipated, but has a very similar sound across all songs. Decent overall record but probably not something I would listen to again. 2.5/5
I was intrigued by this album. As far as the big classic rock bands go this is one that I hadn't heard much of. I wasn't missing much. I found it pretty boring, a bit meandering. I would say I don't get it but I like some bands that are fairly similar. Sultans of Swing is pretty cool though. Not my bag, baby
Not for me
Saaaiiii!