Reviews (page 9 of 15)
-"Down to the Waterline" is a catchy, spooky tune -"Six Blade Knife" also has a bit of spookiness to it -"In The Gallery" almost has a funky vibe to it -"Sultans of Swing" is obviously the big hit from this album. It's good, but certainly not my favorite Dire Straits song, of which I only like a few anyway -The album is some very plain rock. Not my favorite rock genre, but perfectly fine. I think it is just barely holding onto 4 stars
What can you say about Dire Straits? I've always liked the idea that Mark Knopfler is "your favorite guitarists' favorite guitarist". He has such a smooth and effortless style that seems so easy and melodic until you start really paying attention to what he's doing. Love the album, not my favorite Dire Straits album, but a good one nonetheless.
Complete 180 from Brother in Arms. I hated that album, so I went into this one also expecting to hate it, but I am glad to be wrong. It has a lot of Lou Reed vibes and has a good flow throughout the album. Favorite song is probably wild west end.
I've heard Sultans of Swing before, but nothing else, so I was kind of interested when everything else on the record sounded like. This album was very solid. The guitar on here is enjoyable. Sometimes the things he does with his voice reminds me of Bob Dylan. I didn't like it enough to give it a 5, but it's still really good. My favourite songs were Sultans of Swings, Down to the Waterline, and Wild West End.
7,5/10
Good album! Really enjoyed the music.
Great guitar parts, definitely a standout of the late 70's.
This was sickly smooth. As though you could rightly credit cigarette tar, quaaludes, and the band's local escorts as co-producers of the album. The guy's gravely voice and that sliding, twanging guitar complement one another perfectly, the same way that mixing together just the right amounts of different kinds of garbage can end up with beautiful compost. I do think the singing is not extraordinary, and that he's trying to do a couple more things than he's really able to with those melodies. But I also recognize that isn't really the point. If it's good enough to suit the needs of all 3-7 occupants of a dimly lit, smoke filled mobile home bedroom, it's doing exactly what it's there to do. Highlights: In the Gallery, Down the Waterline, Sultans of Swing Lowlights: Wild West End, Water of Love
I don't know where dire straits sits in their cultural relevancy, but I liked this. Sultans of Swing is a classic.
Liked it. Best album for a while
Great guitar work on this bad boy!!
Some classic rock, easily listenable
It was really good very jazzy feel I liked it
Pretty accomplished for a first album. I'd forgotten how Dire Straits has that mix of rock and almost country, something to do with the whining guitar I suppose. Found myself singing along to some of the tracks and as I haven't listened to them in over a decade or more, that must count for something
first listen great sound
Happy memories of my dad playing this in the car as a kid. I assumed a lot of these songs were by the Police!
Thought dire straits was something else this is good
A great album from such an under appreciated band.
Knopfler's (the Mark one) signature finger-picking guitar is evident from the first track 'Down To The Waterline'. But what really shines here is the drumming of Pick Withers. Never a dull moment! A really strong debut with highs - the funky 'In The Gallery' and 'Sultans of Swing' - and lows - the lyrically weak 'Wild West End'.
Quite the debut album! Knopfler (the not David one of them) is a laid back frontman when it comes to vocals, but on the guitar he’s a living legend. His picking style out of this world! There’s a few almost misses, but overall there’s nothing truly bad to find here. I completely forgot how fun it is listening to Pick Withers. Especially his work on the hi-hat and ride is intriguing while he still manages to stay well in the background just sitting tight in the pocket.
This is a fine debut album from some very fine musicians. The sound is sooo smooth and natural, the guitar tone sweet and clean clean clean. But its the mature songwriting that really makes it a classic album one that sounds as fresh today as it did when it was released. One nit I could pick is the strange production choice of mixing Knopflers voice almost hard left channel and the guitar in the right channel, almost like a Rudy Van Gelder jazz mix. It softens the approach a bit on Sultans of Swing but it does strike me as a weird production choice. Favorite songs; Down to the Waterline, Water of Love, Sultans of Swing and Wild West End. 4.5 stars
Nice guitar
Level set: Sultans of Swing is in my top 5 songs of all time. The guitar work is unbelievable! Album as a whole is nicely impressive
Great Debut from Mark Knopfler and Co. Loved "Sultans Of Swing" when it came out and still do. "Down the Waterline" "Setting Me Up" and "Wild West End" all favourites. A good call for this list.
solid rock sound.
Excellent album pour le mood que j'ai depuis quelques semaines. De la guit, des boys qui racontent des anecdotes. Particulièrement aimer la chanson Sultan of Swing (qui est un classique) J'aime la guitar, le picking, la vibe aussi un peu pluvieuse (parfaite avec la température de ce beau 18 août 2022)
4.1 - really enjoyed this album. Great bluesy, guitar-led coolness. The Six Blade Knife>Southbound Again>Sultans of Swing run in the middle of the album is absolutely fantastic.
I always forget how much I enjoy Dire Straits. Ironically, Sultans of Swing was one of my least favorite songs on this album.
Loved the overall vibe of this. Sultans of Swing is one of my most played songs of all time. And yet, there were not enough stand out songs for me to give this five stars. I think I'll be able to rate some of the later albums higher, if they are on the list.
Man, if I met the Devil and could sell my soul to play like anyone, it would be Mark Knopfler. Just amazing. The guitar playing on this gets five stars on it's own. It's not my favorite DS album. Not a huge fan of the songs (with exception of SoS). So overall it gets 4.
3.5/5 chill classic rock
Sultans of Swing is a classic, enjoyed most of the other songs
The popularity of the song, Sultans Of Swing from Dire Straits debut album, helped launch the very successful career of Dire Straits. The song remains a mainstay on radio (and my streaming algorithms) and sometimes the album gets overshadowed by the massive success of the single. The album charted high and sold crazily well, but how many people (at the time) listened to the whole record? I admit, I didn't it much love when it first came out, but over the years I've come to appreciate the whole album. Sure it has some filler, (what Dire Straits album doesn't have filler?) but over all it might be their most consistent record. The hugely popular, Brothers In Arms album may be the most accessible and commercially lauded album, but the debut highlighted the guitar wizardry and unique sound of Mark Knolfler and the band.
Really enjoyed expanding my knowledge of Dire Straits. The guitar work was great and my favorite song from the album was Down to the Waterline.
Great guitar, good listen
Dire Straits has such a cool, funky style! Great guitars, great vocals
TIL Dire Straits is from the 70s. Always thought they were 90s for some reason. Either way I really enjoyed this album. Sultans of Swing has always been a song I liked but the rest of the album had the same feel which I enjoyed.
I don’t feel cool enough to listen to this album. Sultans of Swing is incredible but I also enjoyed Down to the Waterline and Six Blade Knife. Very funky rock vibe that I think was ahead of it’s time.
With "Sultans" being one of my favorite songs, my hopes were very high. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up, but it was still good.
Good album, some songs sound a little too similar but Knopfler's guitar talent really shines. The obvious highlight is Sultans of Swing.
4/5 love the southern twang jazz fusion Standouts: Down the Waterline🔥 Setting me up 🔥 Six blade knife Southbound again Sultans of swing 🔥🔥
This is Dire Straits' debut album which was released in the fall of 1978 but took five months before "Sultans of Swing" and the album became big. The first thing I notice is the well-placed guitar lines and solos. There really isn't any excess, very economical. Also, each song has sort of a unique guitar approach; I really like the diversity of guitar sounds. You could put the music itself in the blues and/or country category. I hear elements of both. I also hear a lot of the guitar sounding like early to mid-70's Eric Clapton which is a good thing to me. Lyrically, the first half of the album is about some aspect of a relationship, in three cases, a woman doing him wrong. The second half songs are more stories or observations which was a good change. "Down to the Waterline" starts out "Dire Straits" with just great and well-placed rhythm and lead guitar parts. Nothing wasted. There are at least three songs with a heavy Eric Clapton influence, my favorite being "Southbound Again." And then you have "Sultans of Swing", another song with just a great guitar riff and solo; I also have always liked the drumming and who doesn't love a song about a rock band. Unbelievably, besides their very last album, this is only other album I haven't heard completely. And this is a very good album at that, really no missteps, and one I would put near the top of their catalogue.
Great to hear the whole album Some tunes sound very Bob dylan esc.
Catchy and cool, but the songs started to blur together as the album went on. Really enjoyable as background music though. 'Wild West End' and 'Sultans of Swing' were standout songs, however.
Solid, great musicianship
When I saw the cover I immediately grinned. It was a pleasure coming back to this debut album of Dire Straits. Incredibly relaxing 9 tunes, not to mention (cliche) Sultans of Swing - one of the best songs of all time. An old friend, worth every minute. Highlights: Water of Love, Wild West End
Knoppers fajnie na gitarce plumka, wolę jednak Brothers in Arms. Still jednak bardzo przyjemny album. Najlepsze Down To The Waterline i oczywiście Sultans Of Swing.
Nic do dodania, klasyczek. Jak wchodzi Sultans of Swing to każdy robi cat jam
This has got some of the best Dire Straits songs on it. They don't all kick ass, but the ones that do have some of my favorite guitar playing of all time.
I preferred Brothers In Arms but this is still great and has Sultans of Swing. Guitar playing is immaculate as always from Knopfler.
I forget how I found “Sultans of Swing”, but when I heard it, that turned Dire Straits into a band that I knew of to one I had to check out. There’s no topping their first album though, which is perfectly sexy and loaded with tight musicianship. I do have to knock some points off for the weaker tracks, but this is what AOR should sound like. A-
Muito bom.
o mark knopfler é um gênio. mas, dito isso, a sensação é que, nesse álbum, ele tentava se equilibrar em uma época em que o prog e o punk ditavam as regras. sem querer apelar e se refugiar no soft rock da época, mas, sim, de trabalhar o rock clássico, com um pé no pop e outro no country, o resultou final acabou sendo um álbum morno, que não conseguiu se firmar em nenhum dos caminhos que pensou em trilhar. Sultans of Swing é um destaque, o conjunto da obra é facilmente esquecível, mas, surpreendentemente, continua sendo um álbum gostoso de ouvir.
Good, but not amazing. Mark Knopfler is a great guitarist, and he makes that evident throughout the album. "Sultans of Swing" is obviously incredible, and I really liked the first song too, but for the most part? Nothing mind blowing. Side note, I highly recommend the Alchemy Live version of "Sultans of Swing". One of my favorite live performances of any song
One of the best debut album ever
Best Boomer music out there. Love it. And I don't know how "Sultans of Swing" still is so good after listening to it about a million times. 4
That is some sexy guitar
I may be a little bias being for their neck of the woods but this album is full of great guitars and Sultans of Swing is an all time classic! Doesn’t do enough to be a 5 however.
Loved the guitar
I’ve herd of the name but nothing else… For an album labelled as pub rock down to the waterline seems too good if you know what I mean , the guitars are super cool,the vocals are nice and it’s not really got that annoying drunken repetitiveness that I would brand pub rock with. Water love is a nice contrast immediately showing the abilities of this band, it’s much slower but not slow enough to lose any energy. Apparently it was a single in the Netherlands and no where else so that’s cool. Then is setting me up a shorter song ( but not very short) it’s entertaining and a nice pop song but just not as good as the first two. It should’ve really been a single though. I wish six blade knife would have a bit where it explodes into a ball of energy and while it’s an okay song the instrumental bit is so repetitive. Now for the shortest track the end of side A, southbound again the guitar groove is so nice here the lyrics aren’t great and I’am not a huge fan of it’s place on the tracklist but it’s still nice. Side B starts with sultans of swing it’s a nice pop song, I recognise the guitar break but everything else completely new but like the rest of it I wouldn’t have called it pub rock. In the gallery takes on a nice funky sound, it’s the album’s longest song and is just really nice does drag a tad bit (not that I hate songs over 5 mins) but it’s just much harder to make those ones work really well. Then the penultimate song Wild West end, I must say I like that name it’s a nice acoustic song but not my favourite. Lions is a very fitting closer, fairly slow but not the slowest on the album there’s also some nice poppy backing vocals nice songs to end a nice album. Yeah it’s nice, I can’t give it top marks because with albums that have 10 or under songs, every song has to be good and while about 7/9 were there’s still some improvement to be made. I did like it though!
Didn’t get to listen to the whole album but it was classic rock and therefore very enjoyable. 4*
Enjoyable but underwhelming. Sultans is probably enough to make this a 4 though.
This was something different when it came out. Lots of blues and country influences with Knofler's guitar giving it so much colour. It still sounds good. Interestingly, their biggest album, Brothers in Arms, sounds way more dated.
Such as awesome sound. Always enjoy their music
Mark Knopfler, great guitarist. Dire Straits, great band.
Listened Before? N Wonderful record. Mellow but rocking at the same time. Lead guitar is an album-long face melter. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing
What a glorious start to the first track! Lovely beats. Relaxing and nice flow.
Favorite song: Wild West End.
Pure groove and soul. Sultans of swing will go down in the history as one of the greatest song ever written.
I liked this album more than I thought I would. I associate Dire Straits more with the "Money for Nothing" overplayed radio era, but this was a much more listenable and groovy album that, in addition to the big hits, was really well rounded-out in terms of sound and concept.
3.5 if I could
4.25
Also pretty good. come back to it
Good classic rock/blues. Some really nice guitar work. Sultans of Swing is a great song, too!
То да не то
Good sound and has a chill vibe. Enjoyed it.
It's so easy to forget there's more to some of these bigtime artists than the stuff you hear all the time - this is a great album.
Great stuff, Sultans of Swing is an all-time classic but I enjoyed the whole album.
Good album, easy listening.
Really nice album, some amazing songs
Oni su mi prvo sjecanje glazbe, cak i prije vesne pisarovic!!! Ali i da nema te nostalgije rekla bi da je album jako dobar. Knopfler jednostavno zna znanje. Tekstovi i ta njegova suptilna gitara su bas uf
Parapaam 🎸
I mean it's dire straights, it's legendary for a reason. Knopfler's guitar is amazing. Album is very good but some songs just don't completely vibe with me. 4/5
Smooth, soothing rock with hidden layers of groove underneath. When it gets to you, it can get to you and you become more impressed as the album rolls on. Good stuff, don't underestimate it. Favorites: Setting Me Up, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery, Wild West End.
Classic
Perfect album for a Saturday morning putzing around the kitchen. The whole album is kind of one song, but it's a good song!
Consistently good
Solid Album. Little slower but great vibes
Otro nombre que merece más reconocimiento y fama de la que tiene actualmente: Mark Knopfler
Prima achtergrond muziek
Dire Straits never had a bad album, and this is one of the best. Mark Knopfler is a god. About time there's some "classic rock" on this that I actually like. I'd love to give this a full score but there is a hint of reggae at times. 4/5.
Cool
Liked a lot
WE ARE THE SULTANS😈
Good, but not amazing. Mark Knopfler is a great guitarist, and he makes that evident throughout the album. "Sultans of Swing" is obviously incredible, and I really liked the first song too, but for the most part? Nothing mind blowing. Side note, I highly recommend the Alchemy Live version of "Sultans of Swing". One of my favorite live performances of any song.
It's not bad. I can never tell if I like the lead aibgers voice or not. I think I like it most of the time, then sometimes it just sounds super old and cheesey. But like, maybe this is what made the cheese? And can you fault it for that? I don't really think so, sultan of swing is a fucking banger for the ages. Overall, it's good.
Sultans of swing
Chill. No other song quite hits the mark as 'Sultans of Swing' does but an entirely pleasant listening experience. 'Lions Den' is probably my personal favourite after and rounds of the end of the album nicely.
Only heard greatest hits before. Very much enjoyed, though struggling to put my finger on it!
Nice and relaxed, easy to listen to
Nice guitar riffs, but they are getting used to as the album goes.
Dire Straits - Self Titled Classic 80s sound. Decent listen, but was not life changing.
Good but not my style
Haven't heard this for a long time. Back then it was one of those albums that had a few good tracks but as a whole was a little boring. Was a favourite of my parents but didn't see the appeal. So it was good to get a new perspective of Dire Straits. I forgot how good the guitars was here, Mark Knopfler's solos were fantastic and the jamming just makes me want to be a part of it. The songs have a nice chilled vibes drenched in blues and rock. It's still not a favourite but have gained respect for it and will be saved for the mornings. Favourite tracks are Sultans of Swing and In The Gallery.
Very chill blues rock - gotta love 'Sultans of Swing'. And man, Knopfler can play!
Great Dad rock👴🤘. A more consistent album than Brothers in Arms and a total surprise.
Lovely stuff from start to finish, country and Americana tinged throughout with great guitar, bolstered by what I think is their best song - Sultans of Swing
Great music. Classic Dire Straits sound which is timeless. Very listenable.
Sultans of Swings. Plus others.
Solid album. Like the instrumentals and the melodies.
This album is mostly known for sultans of swing, and for good reason, but the album as a whole was pretty good. The chill guitars on each song were really nice and knopflers voice is relaxing. A nice chilled out rock album. Fav songs: sultans of swing, most of the other ones
What a solid debut album
I've always liked Dire Straits, I wish I had a chance to see them perform when they came out in the early 90s. Their first album is not my favorite, but it definitely has some great stuff here, and not just "Sultans Of Swing." Listening to this album made me go listen to their other stuff, which is really what an album wants you to do: make you hunger for more. I want to hear more of the guitar, but there's a lot of it talking in spurts, more soloing please. It's more apparent in my favorite album "Love Over Gold." Still, I'd give it a 3.6, which does round up to a 4. But it's a weak 4, at best.
I've always known that Mark Knopfler was a good guitarist from the radio songs but MAN is he good. The fact that he doesn't use a pick impresses me as well. There aren't a lot of famous guitarists that finger-pick everything. This is just a great blues/rock album from start to finish. Right from the beginning we hear his impressive style on Down to the Waterline. Water of Love has a good groove and some great dobro playing. The solo on Sultans of Swing is actually one of my favorite guitar solos too.
This is a pretty good album. Always enjoyed Sultans of Swing and hadn't really listened to these other tracks. There's a bit of "sameness" to a lot of tracks, but the band is great and Mark Knopfler's guitar playing and singing was excellent from the start. "Setting Me Up" really stood out for some excellent playing. Solid 4.
Obviously got a banger on in sultans of swing, otherwise a good album
Pretty good bluesy classic rock. 7-8/10
Brings up latent childhood memories. I think one or both of my parents liked Dire Straights, so I remember it being on in the background. Didn't love it but it had a soothing quality.
This album has established for me what "classic rock" truly is! (and, more informally, "dad rock"... which is what I will likely affectionally refer to it as in casual conversation). I instantly associated it with social outdoor activities, such as riding on a boat or hanging on a patio with family. I would comfortably play this out loud for them. I also cannot wait to "click" with a classic rock album so I can channel more power into my new Justin cowboy hat when I wear it in public while listening to my MP3 player. This specific album: seems heavy on story, which I need time to digest for any album, ever - and I cannot wait to bond with it further. I noticed elements/splashes of folk/country and prog rock in this album as well. Sultans of Swing onwards piqued my interest the most.
Muy buen disco
Really neat, and way more country than I expected! Great acoustic/electric blend and songwriting. Big fan of some of these tracks.
Just a fine album not a bad song on it. My favourite Dire Straits album. Guitar work is just gorgeous. Almost a 5 but not quite 4 🌟
Very weird to listen to an album with an absolute classic mid way through but have no idea who the artist was until that point.
I think Sultan of Swing's popularity has hidden the other high points of the album. Very nice, smooth rock.
Solid album overall I found the first half to be a little samey but track 5 onward is just consistent quality.
Just a really easy listen and everything comes together so well. The vocalist is incredibly soothing, and the instruments are vibing along. No wonder you hear these tracks in movies all the time.
About what I was expecting
8/10 bom mas pouco variado
A classic
Fantastic. A completely new guitar sound - Sultans of swing is absolutely the best single ever and the backdrop to my friday nights for a decade or so. Down to the waterline and Water of love are also still on my running playlist.
Didn't expect to enjoy this, good throughout - I'd always written off Dire Straits as a MOR 80s group but this is kinda interesting. Nice surprise!
Loved it
I really enjoyed this album. Mark Knolfler is a beast on guitar. All songs are enjoyable with Sultans a standout. If I could I would give this a 4.5. But a 4. This was the first time I have heard this album, will listen to it again…..and agin. It deserves to be in the 1001 list.
Really fun! I'd never heard them before.
Iets trager dan ik had verwacht, maar het gitaarspel is feilloos, en 'Sultans of Swing' blijft een topplaat
“Down the Waterline” is awesome… and almost a carbon copy of “Sultan’s of Swing.” I’ve always loved “Sultan’s of Swing” and the MTV song and the synthier hit but otherwise never listened to dire straits in depth. This album was surprising, very Texas Roadhouse Rick/country with a dire straits twist. I always imagined dire straits to be more of a Prague Rock band, but this is Almost what I’d imagine ZZ Top should sound like. These guys are great musicians and okay lyricists, that’s the only thing holding this album back. Really enjoyed this album, all the songs were good but not great, B+.
Dire Straits has never been more than Sultans of Swing for me, was a great listen to hear the full album, pretty surprised with how much I enjoyed it
I didn't really have that strong of thoughts on the album. It was pretty good but not one of my favorites. Sultans of Swing is great and definetely my favorite song on the album but there were some other good ones too Favorite Songs: Water of Love, Southbound Again, Sultans of Swing, Lions Least Favorite Song: Six Blade Knife Strong 7/10
swingin all weekend. Love the Dire Straits sound. Not quite a 5-star album but after the first 6 tracks I was feeling tempted
Mark Knopfler is on the list of guitar gods. Rather hear him play than sing, but his voice is integral to the Dire Straits sound
Such an statement in the year of punk!! XD
Muy personal. Inconfundible voz, bajo y ritmos.
“Dire Straits” by Dire Straits (1978) I’m not sure why I missed this growing up. Eclectic blues and jazz rock, with a little reggae thrown in. Definitely for listening to in the evening when alone, with an adult beverage, on a good home hi fi setup. I hear Dylanesque composition and arranging, without aping, laid down in ever-changing grooves, and tremendous dynamic sensitivity. Lyrically, it’s a collection of referential and thought-provoking word pictures, effectively giving voice to the musical settings. But they lack movement and resolution, so a serious listener might be disappointed—if lyrics were the focus of this work. But they’re not. The most striking thing on this album is the lead guitar lines played by Mark Knopfler—silky and spare, with inventive fills and exquisite slides and bends. He knows how to pull the listener in on the quiet parts. His solo work on “Sultans of Swing” and “In the Gallery” is superlative. Great percussion by Pick Withers, who is never monotonous, always seeming to find color appropriate to the mood. Lead vocals are gravelly and lacking power, but I was almost relieved that they didn’t provide a high-quality distraction from the two guitars, bass, and drums. These guys produce a lot of music with only four instruments and minimal dubbing. And the person who mixed this album is a genius. A nice listen. Rock doesn’t have to be hard to be good. And this is very good. 4/5
Daora o album, tem a sultans of swing. Todas as músicas tem o jeitão direstreit, mas é gostoso pra deixar de fundo, tocando suave.
Mark Knopfler is a very talented guitarist, but the song writing on this album leaves something to be desired. Despite that, Sultans of Swing is a special song.
Enjoyed this very much
good one, many hits in there
great classic rock
So chill
Love me some Dire Straits.
Love the dire straits. Great guitar playing, but sultans of swing is really the only great song
Felt like a unique indie album
Have always loved Sultans of Swing, but never really listened to a lot of DS. Love the guitar work here, it's really great and relaxing to listen to.
Classicly good. Some of the best guitar solos ever!
Está muy cabrón. Es to lo que pue decir. Por un par de rolitas que desentonan no lo pongo en 5.
Smooooth
So great to hear more of Dire Straits, after only really ever listening to Brothers in Arms, or Sultans of Swing. I think this album is better as a whole, even though BiA has some more hits. Highlights: -Down to the Waterline -Setting Me Up -Sultans of Swing -Wild West End
A whole album worth of sultans of swing
Dire Straits is a great band. Mark is a great song writer and player.
Great album. Really really enjoyed it. Just what I expected a dire straits album to sound like. // 4.5
I definitely need to get more into Dire Staits. Only readily summoned touchstones are Sultans of Swing and of course the much later Money for Nothing, that video icon of my pre-cable existence when my only access to music videos was Friday Night Videos.
no lo había escuchado completo y está muy bueno, me gusta ese rock de gangsters de los 70´s
La guitarra de Mark Knopfler hace que el disco valga la pena. Dire Straits tiene su muy marcado sello y de pronto todo el disco suena igual, así que me gusta más la experiencia de escuchar las canciones por separado que el disco completo de jalón.
Well this was one of the many albums I had recorded on a cassette tape. I like the Dire Straits a lot. Loved to listen to this full album again.
Not as good as some of their later albums but still love that sound that's unique to mark knofler
Not bad. Chill, roadtrip rock vibes.
Endlich mal wieder Musik. Sehr gute 4 Sterne.
Tan tan tan taaan
Very unique dire straits sound. Solid album.
Really accomplished for a debut album. Great skill and style on show but no stand out tracks for me other than sultans of swing
Laid back, excellent guitar, nice vocals and lyrics. A greatly composed album. Very enjoyable listen, 7/8. Like Sultans of Swing a lot.
Sultans of Swing is obviously the most notable song on the album and is a classic known to many. This debut album is an impressive showcase of blues rock mastery.
An album that defined a new sound for rock music. Mellow, artful guitars with complex framework within the full band. Sultans of Swing comes late into the album after the band already states their style and unique mix of rock, blues, jazz, and country. Mix all of this with Knopfler's vocals that reflect the gritty tones of Dylan and you have a recipe for a great record. Stand-outs: Down to the Waterline, Sultans of Swing
A perfect album for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Really solid blues rock. Best track: Wild West End
I liked the cool guitar sounds. Easygoing sound, yet somewhat melancholy.
Lovely guitar work throughout, and the production is grounded and real, but the songs lack hooks in spots and are somewhat samey
хороший простой рок с красивой гитарой есть хит, есть еще пара песен которые зашли в целом для меня средненько хотелось бы динамики или вокала поярче просто ознакомился с классикой
Vaca come back
Clearly a classic band, on a classic album, with a classic hit (Sultans of Swing). They're popular, they're skilled, they're well regarded. I'm not sure if it is a failing on their part or mine, but the connection has never been solid between us.
Ça sonne bien. Quelques classiques mais trop lent.
it's not brothers in arms ... but waterline and sultans are such classics ... i remember this being a regular spin when i was a little kid, it came out when i was 6 or 7 ... def a little more twang to this than i remember ...
Hørbart, men gubbete.
Before Brothers in Arms, I think "Sultans of Swing" was the only Dire Straits song I knew — and I loved that. I remember reading the Douglas Adams quote about the distinctiveness of Mark Knopfler's guitar and paying attention to his playing after that: "Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schechter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like the angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink." (from So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish) I even bought and really enjoyed The Notting Hillbillies' album. I think I'll listen to that next. "Feel Like Going Home" is just beautiful.
Catchy funky tunes. Unusually cool guitar riffs.
Nice rhythm, a bit slow for my liking
ok
too country oriented to deserve more
A guitarra de Knopfler é a protagonista do início ao fim. Quem gosta do estilo, não tem como desgostar das músicas, do disco como um todo. É o meu caso. Mas há outros melhores da banda, então, na comparação, este fica um pouco atrás.
They are all good tracks, but the noodling does get old
3.5 decent album , got some good moments. “Wild West End” was the stand out moment
All the great guitar and drums in the world doesn't make good songs. This is a long way away from Brothers In Arms, yet it started so well. Two good opening tracks plus Brothers In Arms, then the rest is an assortment of embarrassing dad rock and...stuff that is just okay.
Classic i gues
Pleasant enough, maybe slightly boring, don't think I'd put on by choice but wouldn't object to someone else putting it on
JL : 3, Down To The Waterline
I spent so much years liking Sultans of swing so much without even really acknowledging who played it that for sure I had never listened to the full album. And well, it's definitely not a surprise that's good.
Fine, chill, very skilled but not very interesting
Wouldn’t know they were British - easy listening lol
Nothing remarkable. The voice sounds like Pink Floyd. May be good as a background music, but isn't worth it to hear actively. After finishing the album I can't remember any melody or words. Although the sound is boring, all songs form a whole, consistent album. The only situation, I can imagine liking this album, is sipping a cold whiskey, while watching a sunset on a terrace
Sultans of swing is an all timer, the skipping melodic guitar playing almost a perfect foil to Mark Knopflers Geordie dylanisms. Nothing else on the album is anywhere as good but its atmospheric and knopflers guitar playing is subtle and gorgeous throughout.
Good, but I felt like it never really quite got to where it could have gone. A bit low energy and lifeless.
Far from Dire Straits best album, but I love the rhythmic, bluesy sound that most of their tracks have. Sultans of Swing is one of my all time favorite Dire Straits songs so this album automatically gets bonus points. A really good listen, despite having a number of leaser known songs on it.
Such a great groove. A definitive sound with great instrumentals and vivid lyrics. Enjoyable all the way through.
Chill rock. Mark Knopfler's guitar really shines, beautiful tone and great playing. Very enjoyable album start to finish.
good vibes
Album legal, mas nada muito além disso. Músicas parecidas. A guitarra é o que dá um brilho no album. Bom, mas não escutaria outras vezes. 6/10.
fav songs: water of love sultans of swing blues-y, polished, repetitive 50/100
Sultans is obvi the highlight. The rest I found alright. At least rumor is we have at least one more Dire Straits album with hopefully some of their other great songs I like.
I really need to be in the right mood for a full Dire Straits album. They're good, but you have to know that you're not going to get a lot of energy out of them.
Blues; easy listening, consistent tracks
I grew up in an era of being scared of dire straits because of how dad rock it was. Maybe its because im a dad now, but this was decent. Sultans is still an absolute masterpiece
70’s
Classic 80’s
Sultans is one of the greatest tracks of all time. Unfortunately there's not a lot else here that can reach anywhere near those heights.
muy bueno. me gusta los instrumentos
Plutôt cool mais j’y reviendrai jamais. Je ressors aucun son finalement (à part sultan of swings) 6/10
album
Sultans of Swing has come up so many times in various "guess the song" type games that I have played over recent months and every time I have thought it sounded familiar but could never guess it. Hopefully that changes now. My only real experience of Dire Straits prior to this was knowing Romeo and Juliet (but specifically the Killers and Lisa Mitchell cover versions) and also that song isn't on this album. I loved the opening of Down to the Waterline (also Sultans of Swing) but apart from that didn't care much for the rest. but it wasn't bad! I also listened to this quite late at night while marking (probably not the intended way to do so)
I got nothing to say. Good guitar playing. Lifeless vocals that don’t match some of the energy.
"Need" to hear before I die? Probably not. But nice, none the less. Lovely guitar. Might be more impressive in context.
I didn't realize how much they sounded like late 70s Dylan.
Not my favourite but a few songs stood out to me!!
70% of the album sounds like the first song and the other 30% sound like Sultan of Swing
Mi sono piaciute molto "down to the waterline" "sultans of swing" (ovviamente) e "wild west end". Una boccata d'aria fresca nel 78 invaso dalla furia del Punk Rock, caratterizzato da distorsione, rabbia e accordi grezzi, i Dire Straits portano l'esatto opposto con un sound pulito, rilassato e arrangiamenti jazz-blues minimali e una tecnica chitarristica sopraffina.
Dad rock you can listen to, if you'd like.
I don't know that we needed 2 dire straights albums on this list
I like Dire Straits quite a bit (Brothers in Arms was the second cassette I ever bought), but listening to them always give me a weird sense of unsatisfaction. (Not dissatisfaction.) Is it the minor keys? The stuck-in-a-semiromantic-place lyrics? Nostalgia for my grade school years? All of the above? Sultans is good, and Wild West End and Lions are unexpected treats. But now I'm sad and I don't know why.
Oops! All sultans of swing.
pretty good
Pretty chill but this feels like an early 70s album when it was actually late 70s
I am a huge fan of Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing and Dire Straits at their best is a great band. This is not Dire Straits at their best. “Sultans of Swing” and “Down to the Waterline” are, of course, stand outs that rival anything in their catalogue but generally these songs tend to be meandering while Knopfler finds his footing aw a songwriter.
It was definitely enjoyable.
Enjoyed Down to the Waterline and Sultans of Swing (obviously). Feels jam-band-y which I don't super like.
Good solid album that I enjoyed
water of love
Decent
Better than Brothers in Arms
A really nice pre-stardom album (or the one that led to stardom). This was as good as Dire Straits ever were.
Good
me gustóooo
Something something Sultans of Swing. Mark Knopfler much wow. Dad rock and such.
guitar 5/5 everything else. ehh
Kuuntele muutama kerta uudestaan. Potentiaalia parempaan arvosanaan. Syysmusaa
Today I learn that Sultans of Swing is made by Dire Straits ! Pretty cool ngl. Overall an album that gets into it after a few tracks, and ends well. I get why the fam likes this band
Incredible Guitar, but slightly dated and repetitive. Sultan of Swing the clear Single and a great song.
This makle me wanna blast it on a ridiculously expensive stereo with an imaginary glass of whiskey in an earnes lounge chair. But I listened to it on my AirPods while vacuuming.
banger fucking intro it's giving window seat on a bus crossing dry deserts good vibes intrumentals great, vocal parts not always my thing 6/10
Possibly 3.5
I like how smoothly the guitar and the voice blend. It has good songs but it sounds like the type of music that would be in the background of a movie scene where a cowboy is strolling down the road on his horse in the middle of the desert. still good tho. pretty valid. there's no song that made me go wow. they're all at the same level of enjoyment.
Sultans of Swing is one of those songs that I've heard my parents play hundreds of times, so the second it came on I knew the entire song. The rest of this album is whatever fine, I didn't really notice much else good or bad.
mark knofler said that "its sultans of swing time" and swinged all over the place. and only that song impressed me. 3/5
Grandpa likes it, It’s nice American traveling on your Harley cross country country easy going album
Good
While Knopfler and company are perhaps the definitive example of guitar-driven Dad rock, they're very very good at it. The interaction with the vocals and the guitar tone creates a distinctive sound that really couldn't be anyone else. There's a certain amount of similarity between all the tracks, though "Down To The Waterline," and "Six Blade Knife" aren't far behind.
The paragon of Boomer divorced dad rock (complimentary).
The only song off this album I was already familiar with was Sultans of Swing (which is undoubtedly awesome), so I had high expectations to which this album fell short. It started out strong with Down to the Waterline, but afterwards I gradually lost interest. I wish I liked it more, but I think, besides those two songs, this album has little replay value for me
Have
There’s some really good songs in here, where you can really appreciate how smooth everything sounds. Then there’s some really bland songs in here where you forget what you’re listening to. Likes: Down to the Waterline; Sultans of Swing; Wild West End; Lions
A taste of great songs to come
No. 411/1001 Down To The Waterline 4/5 Water Of Love 3/5 Setting Me Up 3/5 Six Blade Knife 4/5 Southbound Again 3/5 Sultans Of Swing 4/5 In The Gallery 3/5 Wild West End 4/5 Lions 3/5 Average: 3,44 Great guitars.
Hell yeah
overall, i found the vibe to be fun but nothing amazing. i know Sultans of Swing is supposed to be the most famous song on the album but i don't get the hype? like sure i would listen to it if it's playing and have fun and the solo guitar sequence is genuinely cool. but it's nothing special or new enough for me to go back to it again. also just say "sooltaans" it's not that hard.
album #73 i know that i like some of dire straits' stuff, but this album is not one of them. i adore their instrumentation, but the singing on this album just does not do it for me. i also think their other albums are more influential/required listening than this one. ꩜ average track rating: 2.5/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): down to the waterline ꩜ least favourite track(s): water of love ꩜ album rating: ★★⯪☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,016 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 35 ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 14 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 59
I listened to 4 out of the 9 songs in the album and for my personal taste I am not digging it unfortunately but it’s a good band with good instrumental.
Not my type but that doesn't mean its bad. It was a nice experience classic rock album, some records may remind u of blues.
Its like on repeat. Nothing more interesting the Sultans of Swing which is one of the best songs oat but pretty uninteresting to me honestly the rest i mean
A band created in a lab to play music for white suburban dads. And they do it very well! Dire Straits would evolve, gently, and create more interesting music, but they come out of the gates with their mission statement, embodied in the best track, Sultans of Swing. A bar band on steroids with an incredibly accomplished but painfully conservative lead guitarist, one who could play anything but mainly just plays an incredibly refined blend of Clapton, Atkins and Burton. The influences are not hidden: country, blues rock, a hint of jazz. The songs are eminently listenable. The absolute best music played in your dentist’s waiting room. Overall, it's a pleasant listen, but Dire Straits, for a band as successful as they were worldwide, offer nothing new or unique. For me, that's not something you MUST hear, but it's fine
3.5/5
3,6
Amazing guitar work, didn't blow be away otherwise but it was a great listen
Not great, not terrible, plenty of Mark Knopfler noodles if you like that sort of thing....
Guest Review: My Dad “Solid album that clearly shows the foundations and early influence of some the bigger hits to come”
You instantly know the Dire Straits by the guitar, and then by Knopfler’s vocals. They seem already fully formed on this debut, which features some great songs. The opener of “Down to the Waterline” is terrific. But there are some less memorable songs here too.
I enjoyed it. Great gutar and percussion
Dire Straits was my mom's favourite band when she was my age. Not really sure why... this album is pretty boring
Chill album z jedna dwiema 8 ale un general 7
starting to appreciate why soph starts so many of these with "okay. sure." Mark Knopfler is one of those guitarists that gets overshadowed by a lot of his "guitar God" contemporaries. Is he the first """"REstrAined"""" guitarist of the ""clAssic RawK eRa?"" Some great riffs and phrases here. I hear Acetone twang here in this, even though DS is going for more of a rockabilly than country thing. Aw what the hell this is p good. His phrasing and dynamics are timeless. Sultans of Swing is obviously a monsta. The rest of these songs are cool too i guess.
i don't know which one of you gonna be annoying about it but i am in fear. also. during pride month big dawg???? dads rock: down to the waterline, six blade knife, sultans of swing, lions fine: southbound again, in the gallery (straddling line between this and) dad slop: water of love, setting me up (should've let john fogerty write it), wild west end (would be fine. but those fucking lyrics. i'm struggling.) requisite "they're good songwriters" comment. requisite "sultans of swing is a good song" comment. requisite "good enough English singers to turn off the fake fucking accent" comment. 2.9-3.8. i'm getting Tired of jerking off true brexit geezers.
Very mellow album. I only knew one song from it.
7/10 - great as background music! i wouldn't listen to it in my free time though.
Sure, you know. They’re doing their thing. It’s like if Clapton’s weird shuffly soft-blues music was actually kind of good.
Music for nothin? Chicks for free?
The musical equivalent of a late-night drive through empty streets with the windows down. It's a smooth, sultry ride that never loses its cool. Effortless, sophisticated, and a touch melancholic. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Down to the Waterline - Six Blade Knife - Sultans of Swing
Wouldn’t have ever thought to pick this up. I was pleasantly surprised, not the type of rock I’d listen to but I’ll be playing this again I think.
Steady guitar riffs lead the talk-singing raspy voice which delivers on this album.
la verdad un lindo disco para escuchar. de fondo suena muy bien, me gustoo
Not bad at all. Prefer brothers in arms though.
gut, aber außerordentlich langweilig
I always thought Sultans of Swing was a Bob Dylan song. They have a very twangy guitar without being "country." Mark Knopfler wrote the music for The Princess Bride. He gets a pass from me 3
Not a game changer but respect due
Didn't realize these guys were so bouncy. Less dad rock than I imagined. I liked the second half of the album better
303/1089 some chill beachy rock? i’m in so far. overall it was a pleasant album. not groundbreaking but nice. Wild West End was the definite stand out to me 54/100
Vibe, przyjemny do słuchania, ma swój klimat, ale też niczym się nie wyróżnił specjalnie, wiec daje trójeczkę
I like the guitar, and "Sultans of Swing" is a classic, but otherwise I wasn't a huge fan.
Not really my type of music, but it’s groovy and that I enjoy
dire straits
#7 Sultans of Swing is the obvious highlight, but it really carries the rest of the album; hardly anything else here is memorable. It isn't bad, it just feels way too reserved. I guess I expected more... At least Sultans will always be a banger.
Listened through the whole thing. Enjoyed it as a bg noise since there are not many standout moments for me. Added two songs total. I feel like it would be great as a shopping mall type music
I always thought Dire Straits was a country band for some reason...
Музыка неплохая. но солист часто поёт невпопад с музыкой
Thought I'd enjoy this less than I eventually did