Reviews (page 7 of 16)
This sounds so much better, more swingy and pure, than the corporate 80s pop of Brothers in Arms, the other Dire Straits album we’ve reviewed so far. Mark Knopfler’s guitar is so sweet here, especially on Sultans of Swing.
I’m not ready for this stage of fatherhood
Catching up with this one on a Monday morning has me starting the week with a nice, laid-back vibe. Knopfler is something else (3.5)
Not the coolest band for a lot of people but some class stuff. Knopfer is a machine, nearly late Dylanish in the singing, and phenomenal guitar playing. My da had a VHS of Old Grey Whistle Test, and it had a live Sultans Of Swing - watched it on loop trying to get near the guitar parts when I started playing, and he was really chuffed. My da that is, not sure how Knopfer felt to be honest
Great guitar
Knopfler can play the absolute shit out of a guitar. Sultans still bangs, and I discovered plenty of other bops on this album. Will defs listen to this again
I was bored, ultimately
There can be a fine line between laid-back and boring. I'm afraid this falls into boring territory for me.
Epically mature debut album
The moment the opening chords of “Down to the Waterline” kicked in, it felt like I was collapsing into a comforting embrace. Mark Knopfler is one of my favorite guitar players and Dire Straits played a big role in my formative years. This album brought me smiles and feels like warm honey.
In Big Daddy Dyl's top 5 albums of all time. After a slightly lethal combo of pet nat and hazy IPAs last night, the husky tones and velvet guitar is exactly what my brain needs right now. Fender Stratocaster - who knew
I'm biased in my review of Dire Straits as Brothers in Arms was one of the first albums I ever owned. Listening to their debut album now, they'd be on my blues rock Mount Rushmore. I love Mark Knopfler’s voice. The guitar playing is awesome. Every song is great, capped by "Sultans of Swing". This becomes my fifth 5/5.
One of the best debut albums of all-time. Dire Straits were fully formed as a band when they released their self-titled debut and if Making Movies didn't exist then this could be the band's best album. I'm a known Dire Straits fan, as I think their first four albums are all fantastic with Making Movies one of the best albums of all-time. There is not a bad song on here and I understand the band has detractors, but pub rock does not get much better than this. Four guys playing very simple rock music and the songwriting is excellent. I like all of the songs but my favorite tracks on here, in order, are: Sultans of Swing Down to the Waterline (the intro is perfect as a concert opener) Wild West End Water of Love Six Blade Knife (I've gotten "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac vibes on this one) Setting Me Up Lions Southbound Again In the Gallery
3,5/5
very good. this rating may well go up with time
1001 Albums Challenge (2/1001) 1. Down To The Waterline (5/5) 2. Water Of Love (4/5) 3. Setting Me Up (5/5) 4. Six Blade Knife (4/5) 5. Southbound Again (5/5) 6. Sultans Of Swing (5/5) 7. In The Gallery (5/5) 8. Wild West End (4/5) 9. Lions (5/5) Total (5/5)
Talent ✅ Bluesy ✅ Perfectionists ✅ Don’t care about trends ✅ Choose music over fame ✅ Still can’t like them ❌
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.
*1978. *Sulfans of Swing is the only big track. *Fave track - Wild West End *Love Dire Straits but none of the tracks here were memorable. RATING - 6.5/10
An album so good I couldn’t just listen once. I always forget how much more bluesy Dire Straights are than what you hear on the radio
Down to the waterline - liek the instruments, very chill (3/5) Water of love - makes me feel like im in a western, its okay (2/5) (least fav) Setting me up - its fun (3/5) Six blade knife - uuuuu really like the vibe and especially the way he sings the line after being torn apart (4/5) (2nd fav) Southbound again - its very chill, simple (3/5) Sultans of swing - love it, love the happy chill vibe (4,5/5) (fav) In the gallery - its okay but it doesnt fit the album that well i think, like the guitar a lot (2,5/5) Wild west end - like the vibe, feels nostalgic (3/5) Lions - very nice ending, really like it (4/5) (3rd fav) Overall a different sound to what i normally listen to, felt very simple sometimes but had some good songs (3/5)
Sultans of Swing is a great track. Like the atmosphere of the album and the general vibe although a little bit too much country for me.
Proper Dad rock. Mark Knopfler a genius with a guitar. Not their best album, but a great debut.
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
I always like Dire Straits more than I think I do. But it's not as good as Madvillainy.
Pretty solid rock, Money For Nothing is a classic. nothing more or less
Dire Straits es una de mis bandas favoritas, así que es imposible ser imparcial. El disco me encantó, conocí un par de canciones que me parecieron espectaculares, y por si fuera poco, aquí viene una de las canciones fundamentales de mi vida: Sultans of Swing. Hermoso.
Solid album, good songs. Down To The Waterline was nice and chill. Water Of Love was great. Six Blade Knife had some wonderful guitar work, as did Sultans Of Swing (the only song I've heard before). Wild West End was sweet. All in all, a fun time. Best song: Water Of Love
Свинг, по спокойному настроению, не особо оригинальные ходы, но приятная мелодия
Sultans of Swing is still excellent, the rest is more of the same but not quite as good
One banger, mostly clanger
Good atmosphere to this album. Didn't fully click with me but I could come around on it more with more listens. Last half was really solid. Sultans of Swing is always a classic
I do understand the influence this album has had on guitarists, but this record just didn’t do much for me. Last track was pretty unnecessary, the album could have ended with Wild West End. Opening track is strong, but I’ve always found Sultans of Swing to be just an OK song.
This album is full of guitar greats and has an atmosphere all of its own. I love it.
Kult! Liker!
Når de viber på låter som Down to the Waterline og Sultans of Swing, så er dette ganske nice: roots rock etter Floyd. Når de ikke gjør det (eks. Water of Love og Setting Me Up) er det vanskelig å ikke ty til av skip-knappen.
Da jeg gikk på ungdomsskolen føltes det litt som plikt å like Dire Straits fordi Mark Knopfler er rå på gitar. Debutalbumet er kanskje den Dire-skiva jeg har hørt minst på, og jeg har ikke noe god forklaring på det annet enn at Money For Nothing og Walk of Life ikke er på den. Gjenhøret nå får meg til å innse at Knopfern egentlig er en veldig fornøyelig gitarist. Og kanskje har alderen gjort meg mer mottakelig mot lavmælte låter i rolig tempo med antydning til blues licks? Får i alle fall lyst til å gi resten av diskografien en ny sjanse Annet enn den åpenbare hiten liker jeg også Wild West End og Six Blade Knife godt
АБАЖАЮ DIRE STRAITS И МАРКА КНОПФЛЕРА ОЧЕНЬ ШИКАРНЫЙ АЛЬБОМ, А SULTANS OF SWING - ОДНА ИЗ МОИХ САМЫХ ЛЮБИМЫХ ПЕСЕН EVER
Much more familiar with Brothers in Arms, so I'm excited! Haven't dug deep into Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler beyond the hits. Wow, this *sounds* superb. The mixing and production is next level. The lead guitar on Down To The Waterline is panned hard left and you can really hear the little nuances in his playing and the fingers on the strings. Everything feels very open and transparent - just sitting in the mix perfectly. This is just a great, great band jamming. Setting Me Up is basically a country song and there's a lot of Telecaster clack on this album. Six Blade Knife has the classic 70's heartbeat bassline. I am definitely seeing the lyrical coolness of Mark Knopfler on display here. Again, bass player here so I tend to really listen for it. Some of these songs are going for an almost upright-type sound, very plunky but always warm and just the perfect accompaniment. Lowkey and groovy. In The Gallery is a real hidden gem to me, it's very bluesy but not the searing lead tone like SRV, Kingfish, Marcus King. Much more laid back and all about really hearing the nuance of the guitar. He's a pretty percussive player and some of these slaps and fingerstyle are right at home in modern djent. Overall, really great sounding and I'm glad I got to dig into Dire Straits more!
Excellent
Good debut album but def like ‘Making Movies’ or ‘Brothers in Arms’ better
Close 4 for me. Probably around a 7/10. Very groovy album. I enjoyed the listen just fine overall, but there wasn’t any singular song I really latched onto that I felt was distinct from the rest. I really like the feel of the album, and it might just be one I revisit.
Good debt album. Wasn’t sure when it first came out. Saw them live in Clapham, found them a bit boring. Album has grown on me over the years. Now one of my favourites
Love it. Own it.
I love this album. I love Mark Knopfler. I love Dire Straits. That's all I can say
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.
More like Sire Dtraits am I right?
I’ve been spending the evening with Dire Straits’ 1978 self-titled debut. Just a perfect album. What an arrival this was. Knopfler’s fingerpicking guitar, that unhurried groove, and songs that felt like they’d been around forever the moment you heard them. Of course “Sultans of Swing” was the breakout, but the whole record is loaded. “Water of Love” set the mood. “Six Blade Knife” had so much swagger it later found its way into From Dusk Till Dawn. And “Wild West End” is still one of the most romantic, street-level ballads in rock. It didn’t sound like punk, disco, or prog, yet somehow it cut right through all of them. A band fully formed from day one.
3 out of 5 Few good songs but slower.
Pretty food
Original release of Sultans of Swing
Sultans of Swing is probably one of my all time favourite songs.
Marvel
This is full-on guitar album. Obviously what really stands out here is "Sultans of Swing" which is a masterpiece. Knopfler's intricate playing shines throughout the album. Kind of seems like he drew some inspirations from some country players here like Albert Lee. "Six Inch Blade" is another standout track. "Water of Love" is a cool track as well. Taken as a whole, I feel like some songs are a bit weak, but this is still a very enjoyable listen all in all. 4.0/5.0 - great debut effort by Dire Straits.
Good album, best song easily sultans tho
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?"
En kolossalt stark fyra! Men resten av plattan kan inte leva upp till Sultans of Swing.
Ok
The guitar riffs on this rock. Just a very COOL album.
Dire Straits is in a league of their own. Absolute slapper of an album. Get goosebumps listening to it. Not quite Brothers in Arms but still so so good.
overwhelmingly solid album! plucky guitars, i loved the drums, the whole energy of it was fantastic! i would play this album during a montage of a road trip with an old friend. we've grown apart over the years and maybe we wouldn't even have chosen to do this together but there was a shenanigan at the airport we ran into each other at and got half-forced to share a rental car. he's travelling for work, needs to meet with an Important Client to Close The Deal, otherwise his company might go under. i'm getting out of town in a hurry because i did some things i'm not too proud of Back Home and need to lay low for a while. nothing too bad, but enough to drive the plot of this excursion. i'm a good person. we pass the miles through the desert sometimes talking, sometimes just reconnecting through silence, a bond that will find itself stronger than ever by the time we get to That Small City in dusty new mexico where we finally part ways.
This was some solid, easy listening. Great album that I think I could listen to more in the future.
Good. Wyatt only listened to half and fell asleep
bluesy-rock really nice - 8/10
No opinion, really. First track sounds like a budget version of Sultans of Swing.
Learned English listening to those guys on tape
an amazing debut album. I had forgotten what a classic this was
Fun Little Rock album, but nothing to write home about
Sultans of Swing is a timeless classic and it goes so hard. The rest of the album is pretty solid too but I didn’t love it like I thought I would
Their debut album. Rock. For a debut album this is so slick. The band are super tight. Some great riffs and solos. Knopfler's blues guitar is so smooth. Sultans Of Swing is, of course, a classic track. A really good album especially for a debut.
nice, relaxing album, a bit repetitive. 3
It's fine. Not super memorable.
Pretty fun album, I enjoyed it
That's good shit
This is my first time listening to this album in it's entirety. I recently heard Down to the Waterline on the radio, and I've heard Sultans of Swing plenty of times, but the rest (as far as I can recall) are new to me. Down to the Waterline is a great opener, sounds a bit like Sultans but still very much it's own thing. Water of Love isn't as good as DttW but still a solid tune. I believe Water of Love was released as a single in some places with DttW as the b-side - I'd have personally swapped these but I'm not a music exec so what do I really know? Setting me up is the first "meh" track here for me. It's a bit *too* "American Rock" for me, think it's in the chord changes. More indifferent to this than actively disliking it but I'm unlikely to return to this one much. Six Blade Knife is really not my cup of tea, it does absolutely nothing for me and I'm again unlikely to ever willingly put this on again. Southbound Again, howver, has drawn me back in just as I was starting to lose hope for this album. It's incredibly catchy, gives me Steely Dan vibes (100% complimentary). I really like the quiet-ish guitar (at least i think it's a guitar?) sound that's panned almost entirely to the right, and it's got a great bassline too. I'll definitely come back to this one in the future. What can one say about Sultans of Swing that hasn't already been said? I do like this song but it's hard to go a week without hearing it on the radio. It is however nice to hear it in the context of an album for once. Is this the best song on the album? Probably, but even if it is, it isn't by as wide a margin as some would have you believe. In the Gallery is another really good song, not massive on the vocals but it doesn't detract too much from it as a whole. Wild Wild West is a surprising one for me - I groaned when I heard the intro knowing that this was going to be a "slower" kind of song, which isn't my usual bag, but this was enjoyable enough. It's not my favourite by any means but does what it sets out to do. Lions is a decent enough closing track, but Straits fatigue is just about setting in by this point in the album. I think they made the right call not to add any more tracks as I think that would have tipped it over the edge for me. Again, not a bad song by any means but not one I'm likely to listen to often. Overall, I enjoyed this album a lot more than I anticipated. I foolishly assumed that this would be "Sultans of Swing + eight other songs" but other songs like Down to the Waterline and Southbound Again are almost on the same level, if not already there. The album does feel a bit repetitive towards the end, but thankfully just avoids overstaying it's welcome. I'm a big fan of most of the guitar work in particular on this record, but the rest of the band also pull their weight when needed. Tracks worth hearing: Down to the Waterline Water of Love Southbound Again Sultans of Swing In the Gallery My least favourite: probably Six Blade Knife Have rated this a 3/5, but if half stars were available, this would be a 3.5/5.
I listened to this album with Rylee, and we both really enjoyed it. The songwriting specifically really stuck out to me, which I appreciated. I think that sometimes, with bands similar to Dire Straits, the lyrics get lost in the music, but I felt like both aspects melded together beautifully here. This album was groooovy in a laid-back way. The guitar really led the way for most of the time, but it felt intentional, not lazy. I've listened through this album a few times now, and it's gotten better with each listen. I think this will most definitely be an album I'll revisit many times.
Listen, none of these songs are bad, but stacked on top of eachother they create a very boring album. As soon as I put this on, I thought “oh, I’m going to hear Sultans Of Swing today, aren’t I?” And I did, six tracks later. I guess that’s my point here; this album feels like nine iterations of the same idea in a hunt to find the best version. It’s a great idea, but 41 minutes has never felt so long and today was the closest I’ve ever come to falling asleep while mowing the lawn. Mark Knopfler’s guitar work borders on sounding like a lap steel from time to time and that only makes me wish for an actual lap steel guitar in the mix. That might have really launched this record into the cosmos for me. As is, im not sure I’m picking up what new and influential sound we’re getting here. And for what it’s worth, I’m not convinced “Sultans Of Swing” actually beats out “Wild West End” as the best version of the idea, but I think that ship has sailed.
Knopfler is so good. Sultans is one of the best guitar songs ever made, probably top 25. Such a tight band, everyone’s incredible and Knopfler is better than that. I love when he does melodic, memorable guitar. Everything he does serves the song, nothing is to show off unless it also makes the song better. That being said, this album is sort of boring. Other than sultans, nothing on here is incredible. I liked down to the waterline and six blade knife more than the others but it’s still a pretty boring endeavor. This’ll be a case of how high can an album with one of the best songs ever but nothing really else be rated, and I think in this case it’s a 4. The other two are boosting it from a three and I don’t think I could go below a 3 on this.
Has one of the best guitar songs of all time and then like 10 other mediocre songs. Guitar work on here is all so good and I wish I could play like him but I don't really want to listen to him. 3/5
Proper album and great tunes. Have to deduct a star for the talk-singing though.
Consistently listenable with a couple of actual bangers
A completely unique band that has gotten a lot of praise, but somehow has also gone unappreciated by the general public at large. Really fantastic stuff.
This is the only fancy "master quality" record I own. Love this album, especially because it sounds timeless unlike their later more famous records in the 80s. "Sultans of Swing" is an all time bop.
I've listened to this in the past. It's a good one but I'm curious how it'll feel on a relisten years later. It's good but I'm not likely to return to this but would never complain if it were on
To me, Dire Straits is an acquired taste but once you're hip to it, it tastes real good.
Good vibes
Classic
Not their best album but like the music
Awesome debut album. Classic blues rock with some country aspects mixed in. All from an English band (big surprise!). Sultans of Swing is the best song on here, but the whole album was a pleasure to listen to. 3.56 / 5 stars
Now that’s some funky cowboy blues rock. Not a genre I knew I needed before this.
Dad music.
Realne top album, super pesnicky, britska skupina ktora nie je posadnuta melancholickym britpopom, vela pesniciek som likol, pocuval som to v posilke. super vibes, surealne gitarove sola - hlavne prva skladba v albume.
La guitarra más bonita que he escuchado en un buen tiempo. Ojalá no me hubiera rendido en mi intento de aprender a tocar guitarra.
Sultans of Swings is the stand out song by far. Everything else was good, but most of it sounded the same. I don't think I would listen to this again.
Great guitar work! Technically flawless, but I didn't get immersed with the songs?
It's 1988, I'm 6 and in my dad's red bmw 1 series and dire straits is on. I remember liking the licks but not the vocals and surprisingly, 37 years later my opinion hasn't changed much. The guitar sound is top drawer and its impossible not to get pulled into the playing and tunes. But i still think his voice isnt great and is a real limiting factor.
Yacht Clubs around the world are swarming with the sound of this album
beach summer vibes biggest banger in the block
(4) i was really confused because i really enjoyed track 1 and then the entire genre changed (the album from yesterday started playing again) but i like this album!
Really good album, definitely gave me the sound that makes Dire Straits, Dire Straits. Personal favorites from the album were
Hell yeah
4.0 - Very Good
Already had sultans of swing favorited prior to listening. After listening to the whole album it’s definitely the best song on it. Vocals didn’t feel like there was a whole lot going on and the guitar was fantastic making it great background music
The sound is unique, the vocals quite fine, the writing good, but mostly it's the guitar, that brilliant freakin' guitar.
I've listened to this one before. I love it and I've watched countless videos of him playing Sultans of Swing on YouTube. Personal Rating: 9/10 Belongs on the list: Yes absolutely The whole album is great. Mark is an amazing guitarist. Definitely a good vibe.
Bit slow for me but nice rhythm and beat.
GREAT guitar
Very good
Alright rock
Dire Straits is a much underappreciated band because of their enormous success with Money for Nothing and Walk of Life. Many consider them to be one hit a wonder of sorts. This album is just one example of how good they truly.
Cool album, country-inspired guitar rock. What part of the Southern US are they from again? Wait. They’re English? Well now I’m just confused. Still cool though.
Guitar George who knows all the chords is an outlier adn shouldn't be counted.
Excellent debut album. Didn’t appreciate the style when I was young
Legendary guitar, great classic rock album.
To damn this with faint praise, I liked it more than Brothers in Arms. It's still not my jam, and Mark Knopfler's playing just isn't my thing. That's not to take away from his incredible talent, though, and there's a reason "Sultans of Swing" has 1.5 BILLION plays. I'm glad this is out there.
Definitely appreciate that Dire Straits is a one-of-a-kind band mixing a very specific kind of guitar virtuososity (and without distortion!) with thoughtful lyrics, songwriting, and an easy going almost yacht rock vibe, all with Dylan-esque vocals. I have a feeling Making Movies won't be on this list, but I think Romeo and Juliet stands as the best Dire Straits song. That said, it's a little repetitive for me and Dylan-esque is not really what I treasure in vocals.
7/10 Sultan of Swing needs the 4 stars 9-12-2025
Some tasty guitar on this album but a little too mellow overall for my taste.
My first album from this list was the other far popular Dire Straits album. I got that during one of my final days of spring semester, so how fitting that I get them again on the one of the first days back. My opinion on Brothers In Arms was that it had good songs but I didn't think I would return to a lot of it. That album had a more atmospheric 80s guitar driven sound which made for more hits. I thought it was alright; this record is different. I'm not saying I'm crazy for it cause I'm not, but this to me has more of what I like. It didn't hit me completely until Sultans Of Swing which I can't say I knew very well before but I'm glad I do now. It's a fantastic tune and as for the other tracks on this album, they all range from passable to very nice. I found the run between Sultans, In The Gallery and Wild West End to be the sweet spot. There's no 80s cliche or experimental approach here. All there is is some well-played guitar songs by a guitar band. Mark Knopfler, you got it, man. (7/10, 4/5 on this scale)
Sultans of Swing carries this album.
This is the Brittish response to Swamp Rock and Dire Straits is the Brittish Creedence Clearwater Revival. This album is a response to the mainstream rock at the time with a message loud and clear. "Let's get groovy". This album is great and Sultans of Swing is an ultra classic. Just a fantastic project and it's unbelievably polished for a debut.
It's tempting to say that this album is just jazz blues rock parts 1-9, but it's more "Mark Knopfler and his backing band". His playing is so distinct and so crisp, and that's really what makes this whole record. His singing is thankfully an afterthought, and the tight rhythm section and additional guitar playing serve as the stage of Knopfler's mastery of the instrument. You could handwave it away as him being a good rock and blues guitarist and nothing more but the playing in the faster songs (Sultans of Swing of course being the big one) is really on another planet. Nobody, especially at the time, was getting that tone and individual-note-level clarity out of the electric guitar in rock music. To this day, there is nobody I can think of that can play like him. If it wasn't so full of feeling I would say it's a machine because it's just that clean. Anyone else with these songs wouldn’t be that good of an album. I would even say the songs aren’t especially creative beyond “Down to the Waterline” and “Sultans of Swing”. I can’t get over the lead guitar though. It’s really something.
I was sure these guys were American. Easy classic rock. Nothing to write home about.
Sultans of swing
Very heavy on the guitar noodling.
Pretty chill radio music. I like it!
I really enjoyed this album. Instrumentals are top notch, and I love the blues that's infused throughout the album.
Good album, just a little samey, but with great highlights
boring
Always 10/10 with Dire Straits.
Masterpiece. Knopfler's virtuosic playing is just unbeatable. I don't understand how he does it. Add in the drums and bass, and well you've got something special. And this was their first album! Legendary.
Easy listening. Stand out is Sultans of Swing
Wonderful. The two big numbers are just incredible, as is "Water of Love". The rest is much weaker, but "Wild West End" is decent, and I really enjoy "Lions". Five stars because those top three tracks are just so incredible. We've had the masterfully understated "Down to the Waterline" and the beautiful, somewhat mournful "Water of Love" - and then we burst into "Sultans of Swing" with a bang. What an album. What a band. The intro to "In The Gallery" is such a tease, though. How Knopfler managed to
Solid soft-ish rock. Kinda dragged in the first half, but picked up nicely by the second.
This is excellent! A great and full of pleasure and joy experience. Those guys are fantastic, and this album is marvelous. I loved all the bass and guitar, so present and dominant in the record. The production is also great. I have had so much joy listening to this album. Great, great, great!
This album would be great from Sultans of Swing alone. The other songs hold their own, though none cross the line into favourites. Atmospheric, want to listen to on good headphones. Great guitars.
Great album… great guitar riffs… great story telling lyrics
Stylistically, I could notice some semblances of future rock being derived from here over multiple iterations. While the music wasn't exactly to my tastes, it was yet again quite a comfortable and non-offensive album with no clear winners or losers. As such, thjis will get a 3/5 as it's vote.
Blues, folk and country mixed with Bob Dylan vocals. Guitar is pretty sick. I was only familiar with Sultans of Swings before this. Stylistically not for me but it's a solid debut album. 3/5.
Mark Knofler's smooth guitar is among my favorite sounds, and this album gives the best of it. 4/5
This is exactly why I’m doing this project: to listen to stuff I should have been all along. Guitar, voice, lyrics. Got it ALL! This music makes me happy to be alive.
sultans of swing + down the waterline
awesome, sultans of swings 5/5
No me gustó, muy country
Sultans is one of those songs that can come on while you're driving, and by the end you don't remember a thing about the drive. It's a late-night song. A song of dreams. As an album, I'll take Love Over Gold but the high points on this one are pretty high.
Such dad rock. Sultans of Swing fucks though.
Solid, maybe not my style
One of the most confident devices ever released. Incredible. Smooth. Easy going. All of the hallmarks that would define this band. Wonderful album.
Fantastic album. I got Brothers In Arms a few months ago and found that pretty good. I feel this is a step above that. Down to the Waterline and Sultans of Swing were a couple of my favourites.
It could just have been circumstantial but I actually got on a little better with this than their much heralded _Brothers in Arms_. A little bit bluesier and seemed to have a little more bite and a bit less polish. I’m still unlikely to return to it, it’s just not for me.
I really like the rhythm work on this, made me smile listening to it.
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.
Waterline - Mark Knopfler makes maximalism sound minimal. He’s playing a lot of notes, but within a limited range and percussively. He’s Clapton but with Dick Dale replacing the endless noodling with B E A T S. Water of Love - Agua theme. Is this from a plant’s POV? Folky ‘Dead vibes and chord progression. Mark isn’t the most cryptic lyricist. Setting - Funk 48. Honkytonkified F U ditty. Feels like a more dudely companion piece to 9 to 5. A Dolly duet on this would rip. SBK - Creepy serial killer love song with spare chill strums. Southbound - Barroom bounce with a great repeating riff that dances up and down the fretboard. A song that makes me grateful for Dire Straits by way of being thankful for The Minutemen. SOS - This song feels like the previous sounds on the record coalescing into a sudden revelation that is the Dire Straits. A stroll through a city of “competing” bands. A bemused scene expose with Harry and Guitar George and the bitter boys on the corner each having a say what music is. But MK and the Sultans — masters of chill - knows the secret: it’s never just “strictly rhythm”. Mark’s guitars pogo. Gallery - Goddamn, funk and folk make some beautiful babies. MK’s leaning, lyrically, into the character sketches and neighborhood reportage, and music is better for it. Mark’s guitar’s got more “soul” than a hundred Claptons. (I don’t hate EC; I just strongly object to him being called “blue eyed soul” bc that shit is white af.) WWE - Maybe it’s that it starts out with “Stepping Out” that made me think of Joe Jackson — or maybe it’s the prosaic poetry of the mundane found in the greasy corners of the city and the subdued reverence that sneaks in at the end as the blue collar WC Williams feels the revelatory sunshine on his face bouncing from concrete and glass. A love song to London’s West End with dirt under its fingernails. Lions - The most intriguing lyrics on the record. Another beat travelogue through Metropole but the flip of West End, focusing on the Fear. “She read about a swing to the right but she’s thinking of a stranger in the night” reads as far too relevant to me. I’m not sure who the Lions are or where they have gone — or why Mark misses them. Protectors? Kings of the City Jungle? An interesting song to allow to linger, as your outro. A really great record, especially the second half. MK’s percussive spare-where-it-matters guitar and beat poetry influenced and informed so many of the bands I love — Minutemen, Silver Jews, Unwound, even Fugazi just to name a few. His DNA is a crucial ingredient in the most savory indie rock ever made. Delicious, delicious DNA.
An absolute delightful record with Knopfler's exquisitely tasteful guitar playing that is impossible to ignore but yet never shoves itself down your throat. The spanky twang of songs like Setting Me Up, bouncy groove of Southbound Again, the undeniable geneious of Sultans Of Swing (I strongly recommend checking out the Live Aid version of this on Youtube). Just some of the most solid guitar pop rock there is.
One of the best, catchy as hell and plenty of repeatability. Fantastic first album for a band (and artist) who has given the music world so much
ну какие классные дядьки, я мощно кайфанула. если бы я была 50-тилетним папашей, я бы слушала вот такую музыку. но такое круто и в любом другом возрасте слушать в целом
Enjoyable but not memorable
i listened to this a long time ago and i thought it was so boring besides the first track and sultans, but this was a really good record, really solid for a debut as well, quality, found that each song was different and added to the album
Excelente álbum. Coincidentemente hace poco lo había escuchado, las guitarras y la voz de Mark Knopfler junto con la banda que lo acompaña generan un groove tremendo. Es interesante que la música que hacen ronda el estilo country, el rock & roll, el blues e incluso la canción pop, pero logran una fusión única y con un sonido muy identitario que toma lo mejor de cada estilo (el sonido prominente de la guitarra y la voz, la energía entre cool y agresiva, la improvisación y las melodías pegadizas). Disfruté del álbum de principio a fin, los solos de guitarra son especialmente buenos, Knopfler tiene un gusto excelente para el desarrollo de ideas melódicas ya que a pesar de ser claramente un virtuoso en el instrumento, impone la musicalidad por sobre el tecnicismo (además de tener un timbre sobresaliente por tocar con dedos en lugar de usar púa).
Enjoyed the first 6 tracks, culminating in sultans of swing which was by far the best track. Great guitar and tempo all the way through. Didn't really like his voice and it tailed off a bit in the last few songs. Almost an 8 but I'd say 7.5/10
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
omgg why did this gag me into liking them a bit? crazy......
Yeah alright, okay, yeah yeah, okay
Was an adequate listening experience
Yes
Cover 5
A popular album around the house when I was a kid. Very nostalgic. Sultans of Swing is worth the price of admission. Solid blues rock. 4/5 #147
Je pense que j’ai trouvé mon style de rock préféré : à la fois puissant et doux .
This whole thing is just an excuse for Mark Knopfler to noodle on his guitar and that's fine. Throwing the rhythm guitarist under the bus on 'Sultans of Swing' seems mean.
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.
Easy listening 70s bangers. Sultans of Swing still rocks in 2025, and In the Gallery is just OK, but overall a great album
An easy listen. Chill good rock album. One of the greatest BANGERS of all time and a couple great standout tracks. 7.8/10
Classic record from a classic group. Feels like an Americana record, but I was easily fooled. It's cool, chill, groovy and fun. The guitars are so sultry and smooth, instilling such a mood. Just a nice and easy record to listen to throughout. Listening to it from this project made me really appreciate what it represents.
Never heard this whole album before. Classic sound, great guitar work.
Dire Straits are a mystery to me. Every time I play one of their records, two things happen : 1) I think "woaw, this is actually much better than I remembered. They’re good !". 2) I put away the record and forget about it entirely for years. They somehow manage to make music that is at the same time well-crafted, pleasant to the ears, technically very good, and yet kind of bland and forgettable. That’s probably the reason they’re often considered "dad rock" (well, that and the fact that if you grew up in Europe in the 80s or 90s, there was a 99 % chance that your dad or uncle listened to them). This album is no exception. It’s an excellent debut album, it’s really good music, no doubt about that. But I can’t help but feel that they’re late to the party, making heartfelt, honest blues-rock 10 years after blues-rock was a thing. I have nothing but respect for them, but I can’t say they’ve ever blown my mind. For me it’s just nice background music. Down To The Waterline and Sultans of Swing are still great songs though.
Another review described this album as "A whole album of Sultans of Swing." I love Sultans of Swing, and I love this album. Mark Knopfler has such a distinctive sound. I love it.
Excellent album with several memorable songs.
A bit sameish at times, but I'll always happily listen to Mark Knopfler play guitar.
Favorite: Down to the Waterline second favorite: Six Blade Knife
This album poses the question: what if Eric Clapton’s 70s solo career was actually interesting in any way?
I really like Knopfler's guitar playing.
Tight production and musicality makes this an easy full-through listen, though some songs drag too long
Enjoyed that a lot more than I expected to. Just shy of four stars.
3,5/5
Sultans of Swing is very close to my heart. It’s particularly beloved by the friends I grew up with, and provided the soundtrack to many formative, drunken nights as an adolescent. That, I think, is where Dire Straits belong best. When concentrating my full attention on their music, it can be a little samey and simplistic (for me, anyway). But give me a cold brewski, a sunset garden and some old friends, and it provides the perfect ambience.
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.
4 sterne
smooth, awesome, fun to listen to
Well well well, isn’t this just the peak of Boomer energy - full on dad jeans, a cold one, and the glory days of no seat belts - whats the worst that can happen? Ugh, this music - that’s what can happen.
My dad and his wife live in a Jimmy Buffet-themed retirement community in Florida called Margaritaville. Dire Straights sounds like the band playing in the poolside bar/lounge in Maragaritaville every Thursday at happy hour. There is not enough reefer or beer on planet Earth to convince me that this record isn't boring as hell. Nope.
Think I’d somehow always seen Dire Straits as in cheesy romantic pop category but not the case and how could I think that with Knoffly pops?! And that classic ‘Sultans of Swing’. I was doing something else whilst I was listening to this album and that kinda fit the vibe. Smooth, steady and chill. Very pleasant and accomplished but didn’t blow my socks off (3.5)
Good album. No surprises. Jangly white boy bluesy soft rock. Sultans of Swing is only standout on album.
Legendary
It isn't often that a debut album unleashes upon the world a remarkably unique talent like Mark Knopfler, but aren't we lucky that this one did. His distinctive guitar playing style anchors some great songs here and while "Sultans of Swing" is the popular choice, "Wild West End" and others are equally (or more) worthy. This is a really solid release and while I may prefer Making Movies, that only reflects the artistic growth and shouldn't detract from just how good this album is.
Decent listen and a distinct vibe.
Top! Al vind ik brothers in arms nog beter.
I got to admit I wasn’t expecting Dire Strait’s debut album to be as chill as it was. It kind of lacked in variety as compared to their later efforts (Brothers In Arms), but it certainly made up for it with the Knopfler’s guitar playing. Seriously, this has to be some of the coolest guitar work put on an album. Normally, my main problem with 70’s rock was the over reliance of the solos, but here they were justified. It’s not perfect, but it makes for a chill vibe. And it’s got Sultans of Swing, so there’s that. Favorite track: Sultans of Swing Other hits: Down to the Waterline, Setting Me Up, Six Blade Knife, In The Gallery, Wild West End
Sounds like the shittier bob Dylan 70s records. And this is their starting point. Meh.
This was an amazing new album with a new sound from down under
top album
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
Good song ≠ good album. Down to the Waterline (8/10) Water of Love (7/10) Setting Me Up (6/10) Six Blade Knife (6/10) Southbound Again (7/10) Sultans of Swing (10/10) In the Gallery (7/10) Wild West End (6/10) Lions (7/10) 7.1/10
Listened
Ladies and gentleman we have another 5 star! How have I not listened to this full album before? One of the best guitar albums I've ever heard.
Great!
Very good album! I especially liked the titular song.
I like this album. 3 stars
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.
Okay this was wayyyy more rockabilly/funk than I would have guessed. I always thought of these guys as like classic rock meets a little swing but this whole album is like if someone fed Sultans of Swing into a Rockabilly AI and asked for a whole album. That's not to say it's bad but the rest of the album sort of emphasizes all those aspects of that track. As John Sterling would say, "Anyway...." Love Sultans of Swing and its legendary guitar work (and of course Money For Nothing and Romeo and Juliet) but to me this album was good but not great. I don't think I'm a big Dire Straits guy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Never not ready to put these guys on. ✅✅ Down to the Waterline ✅✅✅✅ Sultans of Swing ✅✅✅ Wild West End
Into this
There are things about this that I really like. Clever lyrics, awesome guitar playing. Knopfler has a cool, somewhat Dylan-ish singing style. But I can’t really get into it because there’s an almost complete lack of emotion in this music. The whole album is at kind of a low simmer of ironic detachment.
“walking in the wild west end, walking with your wild best friend” beautiful stuff
Great album
Dire Straits are a guitar band, that's for sure. My second album by them and I'm still not the biggest fan of Knopfler's vocals, but his guitar work is definitely still a high point. 'Sultan's Of Swing' is obviously a highlight, though it doesn't blow me away. It sort of meanders a bit. The opening track is like 'Sultans Of Swing' but less good. 'Setting Me Up' has a cool country vibe with yet again some more good guitar work. This kind of mid-tempo rock is alright, but it just doesn't light a fire under me. It's fine to put on and chill out. Maybe notice a cool lick here and there. The guitar playing is smooth and slick. Maybe "emotionless music" is too harsh, but that's what it kind of feels like at times. It doesn't excite me. It's a low three and 'Brothers In Arms' was better.
Before listening to this album, all I knew from it was sultans of swing. It’s such a well crafted album, and a stand out to me is water of love.
So smooth and cool. Beautiful but got a little tired of some vocals. 9/10
A good album to throw at zombies. Thought they were really cool sounding like Dylan.
Good
The forged-passport Eagles play some more hooky, indistinguishable rock songs, Mark Knopfler's guitar-playing is probably sick or something, it's alright and it has a cool sound even if it gets boring at times Truly a staple of rock history as American as apple pie (circa 14th century England)
I never enjoyed the Straits like most, but could always appreciate their smooth and smoky style.
Great debut album
Great debut, not their best effort but a stand out for the 1970s
Know it well
Generally really like all Dire Straits tracks I'm familliar with (which is only a small part of the total). The tracks on this album I was not familiar with are pretty good as well.
Voor luisteren: beh, gooide mijn listening notes per ongeluk weg. Iets met Heavy Fuel en Berlijn. Tijdens luisteren: tracklist opgezocht en Sultans of Swing staat wel op deze. Verder is ook dit best grappig, funky en bij vlagen melodisch best goed, maar grijpt het me niet echt.
not exactly my stuff
It was fine.
Oh hell yes. Love Dire Straits. This should be good. Already have a couple saved from this album.
Sultans of Swing is great. Everything else was fine but forgettable
I've heard 'Sultans of Swing' on the radio a million times but never bothered to look up more of Dire Straits' music. Such a unique guitar character - I really enjoyed this one!
Dire Straits have been a staple in my ears since childhood, via my dad (although I think I have heard more Mark Knopfler solo stuff). That said, until now I have never listed to a Dire Straits album start-to-finish. It was as good as expected, with the cooler-than-cool vibe lasting throughout the entire album. My expectations were fairly high, and they were met!
They’re talented musicians, especially the guitar player. But I can’t stand the half country half groovy rock vibe
Not interested that much in it but it is nice 2 stars.
So much better than expected.
Pretty sure I recorded this on cassette one Sunday night when WLAV FM (the rocker) played the album in its entirety without interruptions.
I would enjoy this way more if I wasn’t slaving away doing homework and full of stress but still an amazing album through and through
Je n' ai pas eu le temps de l'écouter mais je le connaissais déjà. Très bon album
I hadn't listen to their self titled album but knowing money for nothing, this made me excited. This record didn't hit quite as hard for me. It was largely enjoyable but in the context of the other music in this time period, it's just OK for me.
Mark Knopfler is my all time favorite singer and anything he has done is an automatic 5/5. Sultans of Swing is an iconic song. That guitar at the beginning will always be blasted at full volume.
Another absolutely killer debut album. Dire Straits is one of those bands that I’ve never actively seeked out, but always end up adding their music to my playlist when they pop up. This is consistently good from start to finish, but the only song that truly blows me away is “Sultans of Swing”, which of course I had heard a ton of times already before. Don’t get me wrong though, this album still absolutely kicks ass, and the singer/guitarist is so unique that I could probably recognize any Dire Straits song as soon as it starts, which is extremely impressive. 1 more Dire Straits album to go, very curious to see how they evolved over time, so I’ll for sure remember this album until then.
I've had a few albums recently where the mixing was quite atrocious. My first foray into the dire straights and I find myself marvelling at how expertly balanced the sound is. I was only familiar with "Sultans of Swing" before, but "Wild West End" is worth the album listen alone. Again, I cant overstate how crisp, clean, and deep this album sounds.
Sultans of Swing Six Blade Knife Down By the Waterline
This remains one of my all time favorite bands. This album contains amazing songs such as sultan of swing, six-blade knive and water of love. No bad songs on the album for me. Love to play this on vinyl.
I’ve never really understood why Sultans of Swing was so popular. It’s fine, just never grabbed me. The rest of the album is similar. Dire Straits just always sounded kind of… hollow? Like they’re missing something, at least until Brothers in Arms
Favorites: Down to the Waterline, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing Of course, Sultans of Swing is a classic and is a landmark in blues rock as a whole. However, I didn't find much else to latch onto here. It's pretty chill, but I wouldn't consider it a favorite or anything.
This is alright, though I can't see it being something I'd be itching to come straight back to. Accentuated by some playful little bass lines and some uplifting jangling leads, there is also a sense of melancholy hanging over it via the themes conveyed throughout. However, much like with a couple of other albums I've listened to so far, this is perhaps a tad rudimentary to leave a significant impression on me. Possibly also not helped by a feeling of blues fatigue washing over me. [upgraded to 4⭐ on a subsequent revisit]
Very enjoyable. The vocals are like Bob Dylan but more radio friendly and mainstream but regardless this was good. sultans of swing is a generational banger.
I understand that Dire Straits was a popular band, but I feel like I never hear anyone talk about Mark Knopfler as the amazing guitarist he is. Using finger picking on an electric guitar allows him to do a lot of subtle things like varying the volume of each note when he arpeggiates a chord and it's just a pleasure to listen to him play. This album didn't really miss at all. I listened to it twice and enjoyed it the whole time. Favorite tracks: Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing
Pretty sure "Sultans of Swing" played every day on SWLA 92.9 The Lake. Overall, I enjoyed the album though there were a few moments where the singer's inflection reminded me too much of Bob Dylan.
loved it, very well produced and arranged, like most of the songs, only problem is they all kind of sound more or less the same and i'd like a bit more of a mix up
Mark Knopfler with that guitar is a god. Insane talent. What a debut album by a great band.
one of the best albums of all time... every song a banger... total class.. five stars...
This is a very strange debut album, sounding more like something that would appear late on in an artists career. It's not a bad album, and I'm going to give it three stars, because it was so finely polished and easy to listen to. I'm not going higher though, because it wasn't a great album.
Decent album, I only remember listening to Sultan's of Swing prior to the whole album. Pretty consistent, solid songs that feel much more recent than 1978.
Enjoyed this much more than I expected. Nice bluesy sort of album
Dit was een stuk leuker dan ik dacht. Waarschijnlijk word ik oud. Ik ben in mijn jeugd doodgegooid met Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler. Met dank aan mijn vader. Daarna deed ik het af als ouwelullenmuziek, maar ik dit is een plaat die je eigenlijk van begin tot eind op kunt zetten om je dag mee te beginnen. Lekker rustig wakker worden.
**Dire Straits** often get reduced to a kind of shorthand for “dad rock”, but that label really undersells what made them great. They arrived at the height of punk and new wave were, but their stripped-down aesthetic perfectly fit with the pub rock movement and bands like **Brinsley Schwarz** and early **Elvis Costello**. The back-to-basics, anti-glam rock sound was respected by punks who saw it as an early rebellion against the "dinosaur rock" establishment. It's kind of strange of think **Dire Straits** sharing any philosophical space with the punk movement, but it's true. They were uncompromisingly unglamorous and their authenticity-first ethos was very punk in spirit. This album very much has a stripped down sound, but **Mark Knopfler's** guitar playing is truly distinctive in terms of its style and tone. His fingerpicking style is clean, lyrical, and expressive, and arguably totally unique in rock music. He’s as melodic as **David Gilmour** but as groove-oriented as **J.J. Cale**. Actually **Cale** is clearly a big influence on this album, particularly in terms of his laid-back groove, tight songwriting, and restrained guitar playing. I also get hints of **Bob Dylan** and **John Prine** in the rootsy minimalism. Perhaps a hint of **Bruce Springsteen** too. "Sultans of Swing" and "Down to the Waterline" reflect Cale’s minimalism and blues-based feel and anti-establishment by understatement vibe. You do get the sense that it's a quietly defiant album.
very good!
Ocean and water symbolism throughout. Overall very fun, just not my type.
Sultans of swing is that good, it’s worth 4 stars on its own.
Whoever mixed this album deserves a Grammy. Beautiful job. The guitars are clean and bright, and Mark Knopfler's gravelly vocals provide a great counterpoint to the rest of the band. The musicians are world class, and the songwriting, while seemingly straightforward, shows a lot of technical grace without getting in its own way. I really enjoyed this one!
Pretty good. I like the guitar and the instruments, go well together, and with the lyrics. Nice, chill songs to listen in summer, on the beach, or on a road trip. The songs are a bit similar though. 4 stars.
Cool
“Romeo and Juliet” is a song that I adore but nothing else from Dire Straits has made it remotely close; fine dad rock!
Standout Songs: Setting Me Up Southbound Again Sultans Of Swing In The Gallery Lions Very pleasant blues rock album, I did quite enjoy it
Very good
Leagues better than Brothers in Arms. Not sorry whatsoever.
One of my favorite albums ever since it was released in 1978. The very first listen was amazing. Down To The Waterline is the intro song that leads to an exhilarating journey. Mark Knoffler’s voice is recognizable ever since. Great guitar and melodies throughout. Dire Straits is always 5 stars to me ever since this first album.
Reminds me of the music Mom used to listen to when I was a kid. <3
Not my favorite dire straits album
I’ve never listened to anything but their singles. I remember reading about how awesome of a guitar player mark knopfler was in guitar world a long time ago. I didn’t care. Now I’m blown away. The way he hits the strings. And can control the tone he wants. Amazing.
Honestly not my favourite Dire Straits record, but the fact that this is their debut record is truly mindblowing to me. I can talk for hours about Mark Knopflers guitar proficiency and his incredibly unique playing and songwriting style, but that feels a bit like beating a very talented dead horse. This album was as influential is it is delightful. The kind of music you can happily jam along to while drinking beers in a garage as equally as taking a dip in the private hot tub outside your luxury villa. While “Brothers in Arms” may be a far better album as far as my tastes go, this one is still absolutely stellar.
I wanted to like this album from the first notes of the opening track, such is the persuasive power of Mark Knopfler's characteristic guitar style. I love that this album starts off in a quiet and understated way. While the guitar in particular seems to arrive to this debut album with a fully formed idea of how it wants to be in Dire Straits, I got the feeling, especially from the first half of the album, that the rest of the band wasn't so sure. It felt a bit like different musical ideas were being tried on. "Down to the Waterline" and "Southbound Again" felt like a foray into Bob Dylan's lane, for example, whereas I can hear Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown" in "Water of Love", and "Setting Me Up" sounds like any routine in-house bluesy band. However, once the album rolled over to "Sultans of Swing", I realized the vocals still had the same Dylanesque sound, but the effect was totally different. Is it because I already know this song and it's a quintessential Dire Straits song? Maybe. Probably. But it shifted my viewpoint. In any case, I liked the second half of the album a lot more. All of the last four tracks are great. While I don't love everything about this album, the strength of Knopfler's guitar playing and a few standout songs make this an album I'd happily listen to again.
enjoyed it!! loved it really
This review is heavily influenced by nostalgia from a very long road trip that involved a limited number of cassettes. This album being one of the best options. I listened to this album MANY times that trip and I don’t think I’ve listened to it since. Great album and memories. Water if love was always my fav on this album.
Nothing mind blowing, but I did enjoy it.
pretty good road trip vibes
OHHHH SULTANS OF SWING HELL YEAH. The album is mostly understated, and I appreciate that. It's a mood. But also, I was a litttttle bored by it.
Such a great debut album. I used to listen to it all the time, glad to hear it again.
sounds just like them - nice stuff
3+ Stars (9/15)
such an easy listen
Very chill album. Didn't do much for me.
I don’t know Mark Knopfler can be over praised. His unique guitar style paired with a voice that floats through the songs, giving feel that pairs perfectly with the fingerpicked stings. Sultans of Swing may be the calling card of this album, but Water of Love should also be in your rotation.
Guitars were the best part. The rest, not really for me - particularly the speak singing.
Surprisingly awesome album
that riffs, that perfect classical rock. for one song alone this album would deserve 5 stars
Dire Straits rules. Listen to that playing! Bangers!
THIS ONE SLAPS SO BAD. I LOVE DIRE STRAITS. When I was 17 I was working as a waitress during the summer and one german guest would always listen to fortunate son on the restaurant patio. HATED IT. We asked him if he could play something else like Dire Straits and he said they were shit. Well FUCK YOU GERMAN DUDE.
um rockzinho de pai, tem bastante influencia de bob dylan e neil Young mas o mark knopfler é um guitarrista que sabe se curtir, achei divertido.
4.5 stars. Impressive debut album with clean production and good hooks and very listenable blues rock. Standout is "Sultans of Swing".
Decent record.
Is “Sultans of Swing” enough to get this album to four stars? Maybe? But just barely. In reality, the album is probably not quite worth four stars. But it’s close enough to round up.
Repetitive
Had only ever listened to one other album by DS so knew I was in for a rollercoaster ride through the genres of music. This was no exception. I kinda liked it. I’ll listen to this again and maybe some other albums.
So much feeling in that guitar
groovy af. i like it
chill