Reviews (page 8 of 16)
Rating (1-5): ✩✩✩✩✩ Will I be listening to this again: Hell yeah, I already knew this album ✩v✩ What do I like about it: I love blues and even if this has more of a folk/soul rock to it, there is some components that remind me of blues I also love the instrumentation of all the tracks I probably listened to this so many times because of my dad haha What I dislike about it: Nothin' Higlighted songs: Down to the Waterline, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, Wild West End
atmospheric and cool
Need to listen again
I went into this album thinking I would not know any of these songs. Boy was I wrong. I knew quite a few. "Sultans of Swing" is an absolute classic. The whole vibe of the album is surprisingly mellow yet sharp. A blues-rock sound. The guitar playing style is smooth, clean and laid-back. I really enjoyed this album from start to finish.
Knew more songs than I thought I would. Not a bad album.
Better than I expected. Guitar playing is second to none, but the vocals aren't it for me. Wild West End was a great surprise to me.
Already own this Vinyl because the Dire Straights are awesome. Interesting that in the Wikipedia, it described the "Sultans of Swing" song as having an "inescapable hook" and "Bob Dylan-like snarl in its vocal. Luckily it's not the case, cause Dylan sucks as a vocalist. Mark is a much better singer than Bob. Anyway, Sultans of Swing will make the 1001 playlist, and it gets a 4.3 star rating from me.
Solid album. This would be a good addition to my vinyl collection. Probably not one I'd pick out of my own volition to listen to very often, but I often listen to a randomly selected album from my collection, and I'd happily throw this one on if so selected. Sultans of Swing is a classic.
Good, really good. Didn’t know a British band could implement country and blues sound so well. Best songs: down to the waterline, six blade knife, sultans of swing, Wild West end.
very capable musicians making boring songs
blues
Almost kinda Dylan-esque, Sultans of Swing. But this album tends to meander more than I'd like it to. This album finds itself at the very end, but it meanders quite a bit. I might listen to it again. At the moment, it's a 3/5. Highlights: Lions Wild West End In the Gallery
Dire Straits is generally under appreciated.
Oh yeah...nice
Its an Ok album but that country vibe lind of lingered too much and just wasnt amazing. Great guitar playing and riffs thou
i liked this a lot. chill. will listen again. 🥇 Wild West End 🥈 Sultans Of Swing 🥉 Six Blade Knife
I’m thinking a 4, relaxed, good for background.
Really good album again, but wouldn't seek out much more than sultans, especially the live version
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.
Booooring
Heard ~5 times. Used to really like this one, realized john cale does it way better (in half the timeg. Sultans of swing is goated though. 7/10
Not appropriate for the month of June, however, juicy fingerstyle is the key to what makes this album great.
First time ever hearing this full thing. Production is CLEAN AS HELL. Every song was good but Sultans of Swing is the only one that’s memorable, maybe because I’ve heard it a 1000 times.
Litt usikker hva jeg syns. Midt på treet?
Vil egentlig gi 3,5 så da runder jeg ned
Nå snakker vi. Dire Straits er fett. I will die on that hill.
this album is so many family road trips growing up.
Loved this one
This album really cements Dire Straits place in rock and roll mythos. Mark Knopfler’s guitar work is inimitable and in a league of its own when it comes to style and sound. It gives you even more respect for him when you realize he’s also the singer! His vocals sometimes feel very Bob Dylan inspired, which works in the albums favor. The instrumentation feels very inspired by soft rock and blues rock bands like The Eagles and The Grateful Dead. John Illsley and Pick Withers lay down a solid rhythm section on every song, with Withers bringing in some very exotic sounding drum rhythms. David Knopfler is the cherry on top, backing up his brother on rhythm guitar. Songs like the Up tempo groove Down to The Waterline, the almighty guitar epic Sultans of Swing, and the smooth and laid back Lions, really show how tight the band members were and how they were all masters of their craft. There are some points where the songs can blend together, but I don’t think it damages the overall album experience.
It's ok but nothing impressed me.
Mark Knopfler rips.
It’s okay. I liked the mellow vibe of the album. It got better towards the end, after Sultans of Swing.
Who do I blame for this? 0 liked songs
If Walk of Life or Money for Nothing was on this album, it might be a bump to 2 or 3 stars. Somehow felt longer than the Masekela album
Great album from one of the greatest bands in its genre! Not their best in my opinion though.
loved!
more like dire straights! #happypride
Distinct sound
Yeah, sounds like Dire Straits. Great album, but not their best by a long shot. However, still excellent.
Such clean guitar. Even if some of the songs are longer than I’d prefer, it’s never really boring.
This was decent. I don't have much else to say about it unfortunately.
Really enjoyed, cool sound.
Whenever these guys come on I always forget how good these tracks are. Straight classic rock. So good.
Creative guitar genius unleashes his songwriting
Good album sultans is a banger of course 3.5
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.
Sultans of swing album
This is #day302 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… "I want my MTV!" Oh, wait… not yet, right? Anyway, Dire Straits... a band from the classic rock radio station with a never-ending run of "Sultans of Swing," "Money for Nothing," and "Brothers in Arms." As for the debut, this is exactly the kind of record you go to when you want some signature guitar work, particularly from the late '70s. Perfect for a Saturday evening with a lager beer. A great debut to boot. P.S. This is a revisit review, since I promised myself to be more open-minded. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day303.
Love this one, easy 5
Yeah this was great and reminds me of ny mum so it gets 5
Hell yeah
This is a great debut from a hugely popular band. It's an album I used to own until a burglary relieved me of my copy. By then my tastes had moved on, but I still have a high regard for this album.
4/7
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was fine! It was fine.
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.
One of the best debut album. This first line up is the best with the drummer and the brother on rythme guitars. Check-out the rockpalast concert from 79, they are unstoppable
It’s how the dire straits became kind of sultans of their music style 😉I like this album but it’s no more that special to me, so only 3 stars
Even though I prefer Communiqué, I also really like Dire Straits’ first album. It’s hard to explain or justify, and I know they didn’t invent anything, but this band helped me at a young age, while I was growing up with Miles Davis only, not to fear guitar bands. It was a brilliant debut album, totally anachronistic in the middle of the punk wave. However, to me, both of those first albums feel very close to very good blues. They’re laid-back and still have enough variety and surprises to keep me interested, and of course, there’s a unique, soulful touch in the guitar playing. A simple track like Six blade knife still sounds like honey to me.
The Final Boss of Boomer Rock Albums. If The Rolling Stones were into ZZ Top they would sound like this.
This is the 126th album I’m rating. I listened to one song once and it wasn't that good so I don't have high expectations. Adding to my Playlist - Setting me Up, Southbound Again, Wild West End, and Lions. Not Adding to my Playlist - Down to the Waterline, Water of Love, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, and In the Gallery. All in all I liked 4/9 songs. Not as bad as I thought it would be but a lot of the songs were pretty forgettable.
kinda boring
This was a pleasant surprise. I've heard Sultans of Swing but I wouldn't have known who had performed it. The guitar playing on this album is great. I'm a sucker for good guitar work, and I enjoyed the guitars on pretty much every song on this album. The songs are simple and the arrangements are clean. Just excellent guitar playing. Very easy to listen to and enjoy.
I think there might be something wrong with me but I only really liked a song about a six blade or something and sultans of swing. I feel like so much music me just bores me on the first listen but I don’t know why. Still 3 stata
very vibes and bluesy and reminds me of my dad, aside from the classic sultans of swing, more of a bop my head and have a soundtrack to life going on behind, i do like wild west end too though this is the OG twinkly noodling though, nice tone on the geetars
Love the guitar. Very chilled
A well-crafted atmosphere - calm, uncluttered, with very clean and hypnotic guitar tones. That said, the album feels quite flat some songs and not particularly rich musically. The lyrics also don't stand out or feel especially interesting to me, but overall, it's decent.
Real Good
Ok
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".
PRETTY FAMILIAR ALREADY love a lot of songs from this album and im excited to listen so good for driving in the summer or sitting outside🩷🩷🩷9/10
There's nothing dire about this
This is fine! Country-bluesy rock. Some real originality here and there, but the album as a whole doesn't hit. I will listen to Sultans of Swing again.
Listened through 3 times and it got better each time
Another one I own a physical copy of. Worth a listen for Sultans of Swing alone, but this is a solid album through and through.
Always forget these dudes are British...more bluesy than I expected, but in a good way. 'Sultans of Swing' is an all-timer - didn't realize it came off their first album.
Six Blade Knife and Sultans of Swing are great tunes. Little bit strong on the country vibes at times, but this is still a solid album. Hard not to like the licks of Mark Knopfler - great talent. 7/10 (high 3)
I enjoyed this, some great tracks
It's a fine overall album. None of the songs really stood out as memorable, but it was a decent enough listening experience from start to finish. 3.25 / 5
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you’ll find yourself giving Dire Straits debut album 5 stars.” Favorite Track: Sultans of Swing
ooo ye
You can't have a more quintessential rock album than Dire Straits. Clean guitars, honest song writing, just amazing all the way through.
This was excellent, a lot more American Honky-Tonk than I was expecting but really enjoyed it.
Come on now... I'm a dad. What other rating was this gonna get.
Good listen, it reminds me of going to car shows with my parents when I was little. A lot of the song were familiar. I feel like this is a good road trip album.
Good music, dodgy comedy vocals
Bob Dylan fronting the War On Drugs doing a concert of Dire Straits covers challenge.
I'm pretty sure this is my dad's favourite album. It's fine
Loved this album. Guitar is incredible throughout
It’s got an unmistakable ‘Dad rock’ vibe, and the under-developed songwriting can give the tunes a bit of sameness. But the band is tight, the guitar playing awesome, and it washes over you in a pleasant, warm bath kind of way that can make for an enjoyable listen.
7/10 very relaxing vibe, would be more enjoyable on a summer night by the pool
Classic so good!
Nice southern rock flair from this old brit. Knoppler sure can play a mean guitar. But damn is the entire album lackluster. Dire Straits remains to me a few hit wonder.
Alright, but kind of boring for me. This seems kind of dated. I liked some songs, though.
Love his voice and the guitar phrasing
The Dire Straits' album scrapes 3. A few very strong tracks, and Mark Knofler is pretty handy on the Stratocaster.
Dire Straits are potentially the quintessential dad rock band, one that I haven’t engaged with until now, though like most people have had a lifetime of hearing Sultans of Swing on the radio - which is a bop to be fair. The band are able to create quite a groove. There is a relaxed quality to the guitars throughout this debut, it’s very vibes based, controlled, professional. The vocals remind me of Bob Dylan and have a strong personality to them. Would I personally like a bit more flavour? Yes. Though I appreciate the relaxed approach.
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
4/5 great guitar work
A really fun album. It sounds surprisingly modern for something released in 1978. Great rock-blues with a touch of country mixed in.
Fire
Sparked a reinvestigation of Dire Straits for me - this album has some wonderful tunes.
Really, really love the guitar. I’ve never really paid much attention to Dire Straits beyond the big hits, but damn, that guitar work.
This is a great album. I knew of Dire Straits, but didn’t realize Mark Knopfler was an absolute master of his craft. This album embodies my opinion that great music no matter the genre is that which makes you feel something.
Sultans of Swing
Blues rock at its finest! Mark Knopfler’s guitar work is unmistakable. Always loved Sultans of swing, but never heard most of this album before now. Some great tunes here
The only song I was familiar with was sultans of swing. Never liked this band too much.
Kinda boring. Nothing offensively bad about it though.
This album was carried by the guitar with everything else taking a back seat including the most underwhelming vocals. I probably wouldn't listen again but I hope they gave that guy a raise.
Listened to half. Not many thoughts
I really liked this one. I couldn’t even tell that it was on in the background. I would mix this into my work mix
3 stars
Excellent guitar to open, but I felt no other songs lived up to the brilliance of Sultan’s of swing. It felt like a little bit of filler for that one great song.
Some absolutely astounding compositions on there make up for the ordinariness of the rest 4.3
no matter how much classic rock radio wants me to like dire straits, i will never find them interesting. the instrumentation is good, the production sounds nice. the songs are so MOR. quite frankly, it's a bit boring of an album. there's one song on here worth listening to, and it's the song they overplay on the radio. not for me
Cool bluesy rock songs with finger picking. Pretty fire.
A lot to enjoy here, just not quite my cup of tea.
Decent album, sultans of swing does pick it up a bit 4/5
Turns out you can do a full album with sultan of swing
Listening to the same song 9 times in a row but that song is a banger
So excellent, never gets old.
Loved it and the complete mix of genres!
It's not brothers in arms but still a solid number. Low 5.
Legendaran album, bio bi grijeh dati manje od 4/5, 7/10
loop
Sultans of Swing was one of my dad’s favourite songs (of course it was!) and there’s some other good stuff here but a lot of it is quite flat as well
71. Pretty solid but the last 3 songs fall flat. Sultans is a crazy good track and so is the opener. Rest is solid to okay outside those last 3.
I love his sound. Very chill. A vibe.
Great stuff
Probably only popular because of Sultans of Swing. I enjoyed the southern rock guitar playing.
A few good highlights here but some pretty mediocre stuff
Great Australian group’s debut album. Easy to listen to
What you get when an ex schoolteacher and an ex social worker try and do Bob Dylan & The Shadows. Sound like every holiday turn I’ve ever heard. Punk wasn’t even cold at this point.
Wow wow wow. Did not expect to love this as much as I did. Haven’t delved deep lyrically, but the soundscape is absolutely wonderful. So dry, so isolated, but such fantastic grooves here and there. Love love love it.
🛠️
Fantastic guitar work
Dire Straits is one of those bands I love but I only listen to the popular songs lol but this was a good album and it had sultans of swing so great song! It didn't blow me away though!
The dire straits come through with a plucky fun classic rock album. Favorite track: obviously sultans of swing 6/10
It's a 3 for me, but a solid 3
Loved this! Very refreshing, and I don't believe I had ever listed to the Dire Straits before.
Songs to play driving down a two lane road in the desert at night. Preferably in a convertible.
Great quality musicians but Dire Straits just doesn't excite me
Fantastic. Mark's guitar tone is immaculate.
I liked this one. Just wondering what happens after 1001 albums, does the app self destruct?
I'd only heard Sultans of Swing before. Great album, every song sounds the same in the best way. Funnily enough, most of my exposure to Mark Knopfler has been listening to Dylan's Slow Train Coming.
Enjoyable
I appreciate this more than I did before. Obviously some great guitar work from Knopfler and some grooves from the drummer. Favorite tracks were Setting Me Up, Six Blade Knife and In the Gallery. Some of these tracks are just kind of slow and chill, i.e. Water of Love…nothing wrong with that, just one of those things I have to be in the mood for. So I’m going middle of the road with a 3.
4.5 stars. Fantastic album.
too much flex
One of my favorite bands
Great debut album from a band who seemed to appear from nowhere fully formed sonically. Sultans is obviously the most well known but other tracks on the album are equally as good.
A bit mellow compared to Brother's in Arms, and doesn't exactly excite outside of a couple of songs…
Dire Straits remain a formative band for me, but revisiting albums that aren't Making Movies and Love Over Gold ... there's a level of "this is really quite average". Also, I've listened to Sultans of Swing about nine billion times, and to be honest I'm done with it.
Sultans Of Swing is on the debut album ???????
perfect album to listen to on holiday. fav songs : Sultans of Swing & Wild West End
Really enjoyable and good listening, but it wasn't a "classic" for me, not like "Brothers in Arms"
Ah, listen to that guitar sing and carry the top line melody. Ah, the bass is funky and smooth. Ah, the lyrics tell a story. So refreshing. Favorite songs: Down to the Waterline, Water of Love, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery.
These guys truly are the sultans.
Love Knopfler's guitar work...gets me every time.
I always thought Dire Straits was a late 60s or early 70s band. Their music doesn't feel like it should be popular around the emergence of hair metal. They are a solid band, but they just feel so old, even for the time. They honestly feel like an old version of Steely Dan. Sultans of Swing is still iconic, even though I always thought it was a Doors song. Best Songs: Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery Worst Songs: Setting Me Up, Wild West End,
Kohtuullisen taitava kitaristi
Very good listen. I really enjoyed the music, the guitar, the vocals were good too. Though i think the guitar melodies take the cake. Lyrics are great too! Very enjoyable experience, and great vibe.
Sultans of Swing is a classic, and the rest of the album is just as good.
Apparently I like Dire Straits. Great mellow listen front to back. sultans of Swing indeed.
Guitarras deliciosas al oído y un álbum impecable
Lots of memories. 1990, before graduation. The communist regime falls, free elections. Fresh air, love, and happiness. In my opinion, it is the most perfect Dire Straits album of all. *Water of Love* is one of my all-time favourites. Mark Knopfler is one of the kings of the guitar.
Outstanding debut, three iffy tracks, otherwise pure genius.
Great album. A couple of weaker trackers for me but the guitar is unreal. Replayed a few times!
Like the guitar playing a lot more than I like the songwriting.
Großartiges Album. Mark Knopflers Gitarrenspiel ist unvergleichlich. Eines der besten Debütalben! Die Platte läuft seit zig Jahren immer wieder.
Gefällt mir gut. Ich weiß auch Mark Knopfler zu schätzen. Aber mir persönlich zu "mellow". Sultans of Swing und Six Blade Knife sind super, aber ein ganzes Album ist mir zu viel.
I understand why it is a popular album, but the music just isn't my style.
I’ve already given Hidden Pleasures a 2 tonight.
I like the mellow vibe of this, and Sultans of Swing is a classic.
This was great! I listened to this on the subway home tonight. I was in a good mood and really enjoyed Mark Knopfler's voice. It is very soothing and precise, he doesn't need to raise his voice and he just has a great flow. Sultans of Swing is just so so good and I get the feeling the whole album is built around it. I wonder if bands sometimes get a real time feeling when they are recording a song that they have hit the nail on the head, I bet these guys were pretty happy with how Sultans of Swing was sounding haha.
Well guys this is a great record & well worth a listen. First release by Dire Straits & they exploded onto the music scene in '78. Guitar work was always an outstanding feature of Dire Strait music & this record is a good example. These songs were a breath of fesh air at the time of release - a change from the New Wave/Punk music that was surging through the scene at the time. From memory some great tracks but I'd have to listen to it again ...... Sultans of Swing was, and still is, an absolute classic ..... I seem to recall In the Gallery & Water of Love were also great pieces of music. It's an 'essential listening' job this one. Some great Dire Straits music followed in later albums which included some other classics that have stood the test of time ...... Romeo & Juliet on the Making Music LP is one that comes to mind. I'll have another listen when I get a chance .....
I listen to half this record :) Living in the 70's is a banger. I will come back to this one for sure.
Walk Of Life aside, Dire Straits are guff.
I love this type of country music! Full of slide guitar and dust and sun and slow movement, not a pop production in sight. The spoken/sung vocals play exceptionally well with the guitar, sometimes I don't like how affected they are in songs like Six Blade Knife though, it feels forced. The life-like personality of the guitar riffs, fills, and backing more than makes up for any vocal transgressions. Faves: Water of Love, Setting Me Up, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery (purely for the guitar personality), Wild West End Love it. Not sure that I needed to hear it before I die.
I bought this LP in either 1982 or 1983, which is strange, because although I remember *really* liking Romeo and Juliet at that time, it's not on here, and I was never crazy about Sultans of Swing, which is the only other DS track I think I would have known. I can only think that my logical brain was at work, making a decision that Dire Straits were worthy of investigation, and so I might as well start at the beginning. Anyway, I became really fond of it, and, of course, because I bought it as a teenager, I still know literally every note. The other odd thing is that I did become fond of it, because this was, and still is, a bit of an anomaly in my record collection. I liked posers! Cool stuff! The Cure, etc etc. But like it I do. I like the fab guitar work, the unsophisticated lyrics, a suggestion of north-east misery in the melodies (despite fierce pride in their roots: it's only just occurred to me that much of this album is about what it's like to try to become successful, to have to travel to London, to deal with agents, etc, when you're from the north east of England). It's to their credit that they unapologetically expressed all of this via the sounds of U.S. country roads, which doesn't make any sense, but, hey, that's what they were into. Mark Knopfler couldn't pull off cool menace (Six Blade Knife) but he cannily observed all life around him and described it in some great songs. I do still (mainly) like Dire Straits; they're not cool, but they're good. There's more than enough here (and on Making Movies, which I hope we get) to show that they had soul in abundance. (Their nadir, for me, several years after this, was the unbearably stompy and cheery Walk of Life. We'll probably get Brothers in Arms as well, at which point I may have to be quite rude about that song.)
Mostly laid back guitar grooves from a pioneer of the instrument. 'Sultans Of Swing' is a classic, and the remainder is a bit more slow, though still proficient and exciting. Best Tracks: - Sultans Of Swing - Southbound Again - In The Gallery Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 7/10
Great album. Groove, feel, sound, it's all there in this dad-rock collection
Weird how every song kinda sounds like 'Sultans of Swing'. Not really enough there to hold my interest for the whole album, it just sort of blended into one long similar sounding thing on side 2.
4/10
Fantastic album. Mix is great along with solid vocals and instrumental. For their first album, Dire Straits really sets the tone of their music and it shines through. A fantastic listen and enjoyable experience.
Interesting intro. Okaish pub Rock.
loved it, more a 4.5
Not bad, probably wont listen to the whole thing again. There are some catchy songs that I may listen to again.
Nice
the most famous guitar solo, and other songs by dire straits, i didnt knew they were british, but yeah .. amazing, actualy scottish
6,88
Not a giant Dire Straits fan, but this pretty great and the high rez version is stellar sounding. And c’mon, Sultans of Swing.
Very good album. Quite a debut. Sultans of Swing sounds as good today it did (almost) 47 years ago. If Brothers in Arms is their masterpiece then this is a "4".
Quite an enjoyable piece.
Licht, bluesy, maar niet echt spannend. Zou het niet nog een keer opzetten.
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”.
7/10
A bouncy rock band from the late 70s. Has a lot of guitar prominence in its songs, where some of the lyrics are barely whispered almost as if to to make way for it. Most of the songs tell a story that are fun to visualize, if a bit nostalgic. The general guitar tune seems verging on what more modern country has settled on. Sultans of Swing is highly rated for a reason but still falls a little short for my personal liking.
Was looking forward to this but ended up feeling pretty meh
Not bad, nice sounds right off the bat.
A really great album. A singular sound in a sea of rock music.
Half-asleep dudes grooving along firmly inside of their comfort zones. Laid back, chilled-out, well done, boring.
Certifiably dad rock but exquisitely smooth.
Very impressive debut album! Probably top 10 debut albums. I just loved the vibe, and feels like a sweet road trip playlist.
A very distinctive sound that’s Mark Knopfler’s great guitar work with the stand out track Sultans of Swing
Just very dull! I’m sure it must have been popular at the time but it hasn’t really aged very well.
Easy to right them off as Dad rock, but despite not exactly setting the pulse racing it is a pleasant enough listen.
Oh, so this is what Dire Straits sounded like before they evolved into the godawful Brothers in Arms, which we’ve already suffered on this list and which I was force fed as a child. Given this, I’m somewhat struggling to admit that this wasn’t awful at all. Knopfler does have a pretty distinctive, jolly and easy on the ear blues style. His vocals are pretty weak, but they’re admirably rationed sparingly here. Waterline and Sultans the clear highlights as they speed things up a bit, but you do wish as a rule it just got out of 2nd/3rd gear a bit. [Grits teeth] I’d be fine listening to this again.
Is this country music? I’ll say yes with a twist of Americana. Decent to listen to but nothing flies in my face as incredibly interesting.
Amazing. Bangers from start to finish
Incredible guitar work but semi-forgettable songwriting
I respect the unique guitar sound and technique here, but I don't love it.
I grew up loving Dire Straits as my mom would always play their tapes in the car. “Brothers in Arms” is my preferred album, but this one is as solid as it gets. Wish I could do 3.5 stars.
The guitar work (and production/mixing on said guitar work) is fantastic. This album sounds great--everything is crisp, clear, and mixed exactly how it should be. Fine toothed comb type of engineering work. I'm not super taken with the songs themselves (except for "Sultans of Swing", obviously, a timeless banger), but I appreciate this as a kind of exemplar of rock craftsmanship.
First listen. In the beginning I thought it was sounding great. Kind of a sit back and chill or cruise type of vibe. But as it continued, it felt unexciting, average. Sultans of Swing is excellent. Mark Knopfler is an excellent guitarist but horrible singer. His voice gets a bit monotonous. Dylan does it better.
Killer guitar, vocal, lyrics and production some really great tracks
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
Not bad just a bit bland
Is it relaxing or just boring?
Amazing album, glad I got to revisit it since it's been a while since I've listened. Wish I knew how to describe their style but it's great either way.
Love Dire Straits. Their debut is not their best but still great.
Road trip music
Couple big hits, supported by a steady easy groove and great sound for all the rest. On the line, but +1 for solid debut album. 4
Knop slays, cool to hear their start
The opening chords of "Down To The Waterline" showcase the unmistakable blues pub rock sound that has characterized Dire Straits for decades. Mark Knopfler's unique fingerstyle technique, combined with his smooth yet occasionally rough baritone vocals, mesh beautifully with the band's harmonization, tight rhythms, and powerful percussion. This album features a rich blend of musical styles, including folk, country, reggae, jazz, and particularly blues rock, reminiscent of J.J. Cale. This eclectic mix creates a distinct sound that stands in contrast to the punk and disco movements that were gaining popularity at the time. The production quality of this album is remarkable; the recording is clear, the sound is rich, and the songs are organized in a cohesive arrangement. Notable tracks include the opening number "Down To The Waterline," the enduring hit "Sultans of Swing," as well as "Water of Love" and "Wild West End." This album remains fresh and enjoyable, without feeling outdated. It is truly a great listen.
My Dad loved Dire Straits so I have a special place in my heart for them. I particularly remember listening to Sultans of Swing.
Sultans of Swing is very good. I can see myself liking the rest of the album more over time too. 3.5 Stars.
Surprised that I enjoyed this, given the singularly dismal offering Dire Straits previously had in my listening history. I would wager it's due to the blues rock and country grounding of this release. I don't know why they got rid of it a few years later. Shit slaps.
A far better album than brothers in arms. But personally I find Dire straights a bit of an English Eagles (not musically) they please nearly everyone in their style.
Smooth, usually don’t like this type of music, but dire straits is an exception
meh
Kinda forgettable for me, but decent
Solid and unique
Redefined guitar and songwriting
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.
The very definition of a 3 for me. Shocking to see how popular they are on Spotify in terms of listens. Sure, "Sultans of Swing" is a fine song, 1.4 billion listens? Is it that good?
Great album. Some songs I wasn’t as familiar with but I really enjoyed it.
Much better than the last one. Real music by real musicians.
wall to wall bangers per usual from the Dire Straits
never listened to this all the way through. much better all around than i expected. very very relistenable
найс, претензий нет.
Good dependable Dad Rock
I think I like the debut album better than “brothers in arms”. Doesn’t have as high of highs but is a lot more consistent, I like the funkier grooves on this one
4.3 Random Thoughts - Down by the waterline is my 2nd favorite Dire Straits song. Would be cool to hear a a McCartney- Knopfler collaboration, I think Paul could come up with some tasty bass lines in these songs.
Fun
Listen to in west Texas with Victoria while she was talking about how the mountains looked like piles of cocoa powder and the yuccas looked like muppets. It’s ok. Not exactly my speed, but great smooth guitars licks and complementary drums. Probably nice for a dinner party or something your mom wants to do on a Sunday.
groovy, moody, could see myself listening to this on a hot summer day somehow giving my road trip vibes
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.
3.5/5 enjoyed the guitar and smooth vibes of this album.
listen to that Strat...
👍 Love re-listening to music I forgot about! Been many years, so great to dance down memory lane with Dire Straits!
Chill dad rock.
Круто, очень круто. Риффы Марка Нопфлера просто шедевральны, но для меня как то кисло слишком, я, к несчастью, больше фанатею по чему-то альтернативному, 4/5 (sultans of swing шедевр на все времена, несогласен-саси)
pretty fire sultans of speeding is gas
not for me, but it was kind of cool album cover is great btw
I’d consider it a classic just for sultans of swing.
Chilled listening, will certainly return.
Probably 3. Down on the waterline a good track on second listen
No es mi estilo, pero por la nostalgia de mi viejo, va un 3.
Some surprising gems relistening to this lo these many years. The songs work better as individual releases--an entire album seems to blur them. Knopfler is a guitar genius/master best appreciated in small doses.
No one can deny their skill or technique. Those guitars come through great. I was more of a fan of the Making Movies album which was part of the family collection. This one kind of passed us by.Perfect kitchen music though. Batch cooking never sounded so easy.
Another high school staple. I am familiar with most of their catalog, and this is a sparkling debut and introduction to Knopfler's signature (and remarkable) guitar style and play. The record gets a little sleepy... don't want to say filler, but it's not 100% packed with killer A material. I much prefer Love Over Gold and Making Movies to the two albums on the 1001 list. Of course, this includes the in-a-league-of-its-own "Sultans of Swing," which is notable in that I (and dare I say millions of people) can sing Knopfler's guitar soloing from memory. That's a feat, particularly as there's a lot of it. The easy highlight of the album. "Water of Love," "Down By The Waterline," "Setting Me Up" are other tunes I love, but as the second half plays, things get a bit forgettable. So, really solid album with a monster classic hit and introduction to a music icon.
My first time hearing this. God, that dude can play the guitar. What a treat he is to listen to. So melodic and tasty. The compositions are rather slight, however (save for Sultans), but overall, this was a cozy and chill experience. Personally, I would have chosen Making Movies for this list instead.
Forgot how much I love Dire Straits!
Favorite tracks were Southbound Again and Wild West End. Good music quality, seems to focus on the skill of the guitarist. Vocals were cool, if a bit grungey from time to time. A lot of these songs sound like movie soundtracks or road trip songs. I generally liked them, but they're not very singable for me which is a downside.
funky
Sounds annoying.
This is a tough one. Sultans of Swing is a massive hit. I really liked In the Gallery. No bad songs really. 4 stars.
Gran debut. Muy buen disco.
Too slow really, Sultans of Swing. atries this album hard.
About halfway through I was at a 3, but the last couple of songs really pointed out the intricate arrangements on the album. I kind of wish the songs were a touch better, but Sultans of Swing is soooo good, it kind of makes up for it. I think it's a 3.5 for me, but bumping up for the care taken!
15/03/25 preface this journey by stating: i'm a really bad music reviewer, so no explanation, just my verdict (plus i have really bad music taste) -- TIER SORTING high: down to the waterline six blade knife sultans of swing wild west end lions mid: setting me up southbound again in the gallery low: water of love -- favorite track: lions least favourite track: water of love -- RATING: 6/10 objectively good, nothing really wowed me. i would casually listen to this record again (the only exception being water of love), but definitely not a permanent fixture in my life. possible potential for some songs to grow on me with future listens.
Sultans of swing, indeed
i like it. it's not something that i would usually pick on my own but i really enjoyed the use of instruments and just the overall sound of the album.
Este álbum libera al padre boomer que llevo dentro. Llámame normie, pero me flipa. Muy fácil de escuchar y, al mismo tiempo, excelente en lo técnico. Y una densidad enorme de temas clásicos. Poco que objetar, un álbum que no ofende a nadie y perfecto para poner de fondo.
i've yet to hear this in full, only know sultans of swing off of here Down to the Waterline - 5/5 Water of Love - 4/5 Setting Me Up - 4/5 Six Blade Knife - 4/5 Southbound Again - 4/5 Sultans of Swing - 5/5 In the Gallery - 4/5 Wild West End - 4/5 Lions - 5/5 Total score: 4.3/5 i can't lie, first track hooked me almost instantly. the guitar riffs, the silky smooth bass... i've clearly been sleeping on dire straits
Immer noch gut, immer noch großartig. ☺️
Great album. Favourite tracks are Six Blade Knife and In The Gallery 4/5
fhuhh de hibátlan ez tejóég
Dire Straits s/t album is fine. I understand why dads like them. They seem like they should get more play on classic rock radio. Hardly essential, but listenable.
Decent, definitely Dire Straits.
For no reason I can explain, I've always felt guilty about liking Dire Straits. Maybe something I liked as a kid and that shouldn't have been carried into adulthood? Anyway. Funny to be reminded how country they were (Setting Me Up especially). Otherwise, solid album, and weirdly timeless. Permission to self to not feel guilty granted.
Ja shit, ik vond het vorige Dire Straits album echt verrassend leuk. En eigenlijk begint deze precies hetzelfde, met een soort jazzy, bluesy gitaar waar ik gewoon echt heel lekker op ga. Ben ik dan toch een oude witte man aan het worden? Eerlijk, de gitaar en bass solos op dit album funken gewoon heel hard. Sultans of Swing is ook gewoon een klassieker, best wel bizar dat dit hun debuut album was, ze klinken al zo gepolijst. Nadeel van hun 'sound' is wel een beetje dat het ietwat verwaterd in het midden van het album, nummers 3 tm 5 is vrij matig en snel te vergeten. Het album komt dan aan bij Sultans of Swing, wat natuurlijk een absolute knaller is, maar daarna kakt het toch ook weer een beetje in. Ik irriteer me geen moment aan dit album en zou het prima vinden het nog eens te luisteren, maar buiten de FAVO nummers, kabbelt het toch voornamelijk voort zonder dat het echt mn aandacht pakt. Toch denk ik aan 4 sterren, puur omdat het echt wel lekker weg luistert en precies lang genoeg is. FAVO: Down to the waterline, Water of love, Sultans of Swing
Soothing album, has those 90's city vibes
6/10
Good.
Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Is it time for Sultans Of Swing yet? Hell yeah, brother! I miss Sultans Of Swing. I miss Sultans Of Swing. I miss Sultans Of Swing.
Luv me dire straits, never listened to this album though. I now have a few new favourites, also liked how country it sounded on some tracks
I thought they did boring songs 😭 surprisingly it was better than I thought. A lot better. I really enjoyed many of the songs, they were fun and inviting. Gave me summer vibes. I also likes the fact the artists let the instrumentals kind of 'speak' for them, the record really shone the most when the band were just going to town (I.e Setting Me Up), even the moodier grounded songs had this very cool cadence to it. I also liked that the vocals were funky and fun, really emphasises the lyrics with the instrumentals. I felt the meat of the record was probably the best part from Setting Me Up to In The Gallery :) Loved cohesion, loved the way it moves and feels. I think this might be a 5. Faves: Down To The Waterline Water of Love Setting Me Up Six Blade Knife Southbound Again In The Gallery
I already knew Sultans of Swing was one of the greatest songs of all time but I'd never listened to this album before. It's pretty damn great. Nobody makes a guitar sing like Mark Knopfler. It always sounds like he's singing a duet with it rather than just playing it. It almost feels like one long song, which I'd usually complain about, but that guitar gets into your soul and I love it. However, it does mean there aren't any other stand out songs for me so I wouldn't be able to give it a 5.
was so tempted to give a 5 just for sultans of swing buuut it's just not quite there a very very strong 4 tho 🙂↕️
too old for me i dont like it
I have always enjoyed Dire Straits, and Mark Knopfler certainly has one of the most distinctive guitar sounds ever. I really enjoyed this album then - and now.
Killer debut — “Sultans of Swing” written after playing a nearly empty pub, an outlier guitar style right when punk was exploding, recorded on the cheap but somehow sounding like a massively produced peak-career album.
Without Sultans this would be pretty average.
Ok
Wow, liked this a lot more than I thought I would! Paused in the middle to play the AD video on YouTube about the Harbon House Inn, and the two went together remarkably well. Will definitely put it on again if I ever get the chance to go.
Ziemlich schlechtes Dire Straits Album… da gibts bessere
Simply amazing, an all time classic