Reviews (page 9 of 14)
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.
"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
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
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
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....
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
nothing special about it. Sultans of swing was new at the time different from anything before it. However when every other tune afterwards sounds the same it gets a bit dull.
The Straits aren’t really my thing, but it’s a fairly chill album with some catchy tunes. Favourite track: Water of Love
Blue, country, and what wikipedia tells me is "roots rock". This feels like a slimmed-down version of the Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers" album; a reviewer apparently once called them minimalist and I agree.
хз, я бы такое не слушал, поставил 3 только потому что потом включил пошлую Молли
There’s a fine line between the worst music of this time (Steely Dan for example) and this. And if you look at the line real close, it says “weirdo guitarist a guitar guy can’t look away from”. I give Mark Knopfler’s guitar work a 5, but all of the production and lyrics and vocals and everything else a 1. So it goes.
Really like the instrumentation. Don’t love the style of singing all the time but his voice is smooth enough I don’t mind it as much as some others
Very well crafted, strongly influenced by J J Cale
For a debut album, this is pretty solid and it has Sultans of Swing. They know how to play the guitar but I’m not really thrilled by it, lots of the same and vocally there’s not a lot happening.
It was interesting, at least.
Just super solid. Didn’t really grab my attention but a good listen
It was good enough, just sounded like Dire Straits LOL.
Dire Straits is always good but I prefer Brothers In Arms over this album. The tracks seemed a bit samey and I wouldn't actively choose to listen to it. Rating: 3
Knopfler is clearly a very good guitarist but i cant really say anything particularly stood out. Sultans of swing is orite. But youre never gonna bang the album on are ya
A generous 3 Like I do like dire straits well the brothers in arms album anyway, but this album is just meh innit. The actual the playing is really good. However the songs are just not that interesting. There is a few good numbers but all in all pretty bland. Harmless safe dad rock...
Ok album. Saltans of Swing is one of my favourite songs, so everything else on this album pales in comparison. Brothers In Arms is a better album
Like dire straits. The guitar sound is very good Sultans of swing is a banger
Knopfler's voice works on most of these songs, but a few are just too sparse for his harsh voice to gel as well. This is a good album to listen to on vinyl though.
Slightly better than the last? Idk. I just read something the other day about Mark Knopfler being a terrible vocalist, and it’s something I’d never noticed or thought about, but this time I definitely noticed.
Pub rock 1970s
Best track: Sultans of Swing Overall: Not something I would listen to on rotation but a good "mellow" or "wind down" music
-i think "sultans of swing" is insanely overrated that's all i'll say about it. and this album feels like it's going to be very sultans of swingy. -i kinda dig "setting me up" -ah i'm warming up to them. "six blade knife" also good. -"southbound again" also good. fun lil tune. -"in the gallery" has a nice groove to it. -"lions" is a 5 minute song that feels like it goes on for 20 minutes. -all in all this exceeded expectations. i stand by what i said about "sultans of swing" tho. and i would add that it's ridiculous that it's a near 6 minute long song. i like this album a lot more than "brothers in arms" (which is another dire straits album with an insufferable overplayed single).
Only knew Sultans of Swing. Solid album.
Ich mag die instrumentals nicht (außer in Sultans of Swing). Die hohen Gitarrentöne sind irgendwie sehr penetrant und die drums klingen nicht voll genug für meinen Geschmack.. Würde das album gerne mehr mögen aber ich kann mich nicht dazu bringen.
Fun album from a group I was aware of but knew very little about. Nice guitar throughout. Mixed well.
3/5 Netter Vibe, aber für mich nix Herausragendes
This was fine; nothing about it really stood out to me other than ‘Sultans of Swing’.
Sultans of swing is their best song. The album itself is aight.
I had a jangly old time. I will probably not ever return to this album unless I am on a road trip with a handsome man who gives me adventurous cowboy vibes, I’m in the passenger seat and he hands me the aux (our hands brush briefly and I feel a jolt), I’m sipping gas station coffee and we have the windows down, it’s a beautiful day somewhere between Vegas and Flagstaff, clear skies, 76 degrees, I’m in denim shorts, no makeup, no worries. I turn on this album and he knows it from the first notes, knows every word.
Sultans of Swing is een blijft een top nummer, rest van het album is prima, niet geweldig.
Gitaar is cool, maar eronder verstopt is niet veel meer dan acceptabele soft rock.
I definitely had to look up to see if Bob Dylan was their vocalist. Some good background music. Knew their one hit from this from soundtracks or commercials or something. Didn't really hit for me, but sounds like it was of its time.
It was okay, just not anything I'd listen to regularly
love it
Clásico con algún temazo
Ребят машины нет а роуд трип песен слишком много. Могу отметить только sultans of swing
Mucho country, no es mi estilo pero es chulo.
Buen álbum de guitarra
Just makes me think of my dad. Outside of Sultans of Swing not a lot going on here, Knofler hasn’t really figured out how best to use his voice yet
Not my usual taste but it was definitely a very good album and actually was enjoyable to listen to.
seemed kinda mid but might need to relisten
post 70s punk era. ive been lonely too long and my hear feels pain - water of love
no lo pasé maluco escuchándolo pero tampoco quedé impresionada, es un buen álbum, muy chill, con un par de temas muy buenos
this album low key boring
Album was fine, sultans of swing carry the album
While I enjoyed this album, especially Sultans of Swing, it’s pretty underwhelming compared to other Dire Strait albums like Brothers in Arms… This is something I’d put on in the background. There aren’t any bad songs tho and Mark Knopfler still goated
Cool instrumentals but overall mediocre
Down To The Waterline-7.5/10 Water Of Love-5/10 Setting Me Up-5/10 Six Blade Knife- 4/10 Southbound Again-6.5/10 Sultans Of Swing-8/10 In The Gallery-6/10 Wild West End-7/10 Lions-5/10
Alright, nothing too monumental to me honestly. Better than 'Brothers In Arms'. I bought that album on CD and listened to it, expecting each song to have the same energy as 'Money For Nothing' but half of them were boring. This album had some nice tunes on it, however. Sometimes the blues genre is done in a very pretentious way and it just sounds "wanky" as others have described it - mainly in relation to Eric Clapton which makes sense, that twat - but I found this album to be very enjoyable. Still a bit on the boring side but that's just on me. If there was more energy to some of the tracks then I would've maybe gave it another listen. Favourite tracks: Down To The Waterline, Southbound Again, In The Gallery 3/5
me gusto, es un género al cual no le había dado tanta atención, me ayudó bastante con el inglés porque se entienden fáciles las palabras, la primera canción del álbum me gusto bastante, las pausas y la intro épica
Chill vibes, had better but not the worst
The album is very laid-back and unhurried in its approach, like it's an insanely calm album. The sounds heard here tend to include rock, blues and country, with all those genres being mixed and matched at different times. There are some sick lead guitar parts, especially in the gem of a song that is "Sultans Of Swing" and a new discovery of "In The Gallery." Highlight Song/s: "Sultans Of Swing" and "In The Gallery"
Overall strong album . Didn’t stick with me on the first listen though,but still great straming and we always love classic post punk Fave : Sultans of Swing , In the Gallery Already heard / liked :Sultans of swing
Good vibes, a little slow and repetitive for me, intro was really cool Basslines are really cool
Jag är inte såld på dire straits. Önskar jag diggade det mer. Sultans of swing är förstås rätt bra. Men det blir aldrig stora känslor för mig. Överlag är skivan dessutom rätt meh.
Talented but not really for me
Good but is not my style
Los temas bastante parecido en cuanto a melodía, buenas letras, no sé si lo volvería a escuchar, pero Sultans of Swing nunca decepciona
Inoffensive
I listened to it twice and liked it enough, although it felt like every other song was just a less good version of Sultans.
Talented…but I don’t get it. Wild West End is a good track. Sultans of Swing obviously is the classic song but I’m kind of tiered of it. Meh, it’s okay not crazy about it.
la banda es una locura, tipo lo instrumental está muy piola pero el cantante no me interpela y por momentos lo noto muy monótono. sería 3.5/5 pero como no me deja queda 3.
Honestly, I like this substantially more than Brothers In Arms. I think the songs here are generally better, and that Dire Straits have a more interesting aesthetic. The guitars here are bright and nimble, and make me better understand the appeal of Mark Knopfler as a player. It feels like some of this brightness almost sounds lifted from funk too. And this feeling gives this a much better feel than Brothers In Arms. Where Brothers In Arms felt like a classic rock slog, Dire Straits finally makes me understand the term "Yacht Rock". Like yeah, if I was on a boat on a beautiful, hot day, wherein I'm cooled by the breeze rushing past me, this would probably, for a fleeting moment, be the best album ever. Down To The Waterline is a great song that exemplifies this album's tactful, bright, and precise sound. Sultans of Swing may be my favorite Dire Straits song though, it's just a fantastic song. But honestly, most of this album is good. I also really like Setting Me Up, In The Gallery, Wild West End, and Lions. Although, I will say that Dire Straits have the misfortune of operating chiefly in a genre I don't really like, *and the remaining songs largely don't do it for me that much. So I am capping this at a 3. but it's honestly a good listen.
Buen album pero no es el estilo que mas me gusta por eso no le di tantas estrellas.
Listening to this made me travel to the 50s in some way. Also I think guitars are so present in the hole album and it’s so good.
Heard some before; 3; Technically good and a little interesting, but doesn't excite me a whole lot. Guitar playing has lots of fun licks, but for whatever reason, didn't impress on me anything memorable. Maybe I need to give this a few more listens, but it's certainly not bad. Favorite Track: Setting Me Up
Sigh they were considered cool at the time but this is… well, it was part of the soundtrack to the trip to Italy in the 2CV, so I’ve got to give it some credit.
Solid þristur.
Sultans is obviously great, Down by the Waterline not far off in the same vein. The rest not so great.
It is fine. A bit soft rock for me but Sultans of Swing is a classic .
Good listen, liked the pace
6/10
Bet this was MASSIVE in the 80s. Still waiting for an 80s album that isn't extremely dated. Yawn. 3 stars - Holy stream count! - Reeks of dad rock - I mean this jams but it's pretty stupid - Slurs... great
I prefer this to Brothers in Arms. Mark Knopfler's style is ill suited for pop, IMO, and it's a much better for this more laid back, day-in- the-life mood. Give me Sultans of Swing over anything on the pop album.
I like Brothers In Arms better than this album, though Sultans is a classic. Overall album was middle of the road.
For a first album this is very good
didn't care for this as much as other Dire Straits album. maybe because it's their 1st & don't have their sound quite nailed down yet... still an overall nice listen, just wouldn't seek it out again
Very hard to rate. On the other hand songwriting is unremarkable as is the vocal performance, like he's not yet convinced he can do it. At the same time the guitar playing is pure gold, and then out of the blue comes one of the greatest songs of all time. As an album it's quite confusing.
There are a couple of cool songs on here. I will however never feel the need to purposely download, purchase or listen to this. I'm not going to turn it off but I'm most definitely not going to turn it on. Since I can't go with the 2.5 I feel this is since it evokes no feelings in me whatsoever I will go with 3 since there are some clearly gifted musicians here, 2 would imply its bad which it is not.
Make no mistake, this is the dadliest dad rock that ever did father. It's not soft rock or yacht rock or classic rock, it's dad rock. Guitar heavy, dry kit, Lou Reed ass vocals, kinda has that 70s groove all over it that screams dim orange shag interior. Funny that it is that way too, cuz dad rock seems like such 70s Americana to me. Little Feat or Lynyrd Skynyrd (eyuck) or early Steely Dan adjacent type sound. But here's a band from London formed and getting successful after most of this kinda music was already well established and maybe getting a little played out? Idk for sure I wasn't alive. Anyway, I like the lead guitar work. Plenty of chicken pickin and bluesy lines. I think the rest of the band is doing what they gotta do in the pocket. There are a few standout grooves on this album, I like Southbound Again the most. Change the bass pattern to like a Larry Graham thump thing and take out 4 on the floor and I'd say it starts up a little with the funk. Otherwise it's just 40 minutes of pretty steady grooves, nothing incredible. I'd normally pop this at a 2, but I think the guitar work brings it up a bit. Without Mark Knopfler playing I think that it'd be average so I guess 3.
fav track : Wild West End
Sultans of Swing is defined the standout track on this album. It’s an alright LP but not the best Dire Straits album. Sultans is a 5* track, but it’s on a 3* album.
Super cool use of stereo. Sometimes the lead guitar was in the left and sometimes it was centred. Production feels deliberate. Knopfler voice is rad Top 3 songs 1. Sultans 2. Six blade knife 3. Wild West end
Inte deras bästa men helt ok
It's just alright.
Creole
i feel i didnt get the time to listen to this as actively as i should have, but from what i heard, i loved. very lovely
The final boss of clean tone riffs. I like dire straits a decent amount, but I'm not putting them on regularly. I really wanna put them a 4, but I think 3 feels better considering how little I think about anything other than the hits.
Oooh Dire Straits, the only song I know on this album is Sultans of Swing. By name anyway. Damn, that on has 1.7 Billion streams! meh, it was alright, it all sounds very similar. But Sultans of Swing sure is fire!! 3 stars.
I don’t like them as much as I thought I guess.
A band I know but never dug into their discography. First impression; a better Eagles. Super well produced album, sounds very clean. Vocals give it a very smokey quality. Filled with country western riffs and a California rock feel. Bass and drums provide great grooves and some songs with some serious boogie. This is a great debut album, most of it was very pleasant to my earholes, thought the end was kinda of a let down compared to the rest of the album.
Fun! I wish I was driving a convertible to the beach with this album playing. 7/10
Great guitar work. Classic dire straits sound
Lejos, mucho, del Punk. Ya la portada (una pintura de Chuck Loyola) indica que estamos ante un grupo diferente. Si hay algo reconocible en el rock es el sonido de la Stratocaster de Knopfler (y su sedosa voz). Ya desde la apertura de Down to the waterline hasta la eterna Sultans of Swing (inspirada en una banda así llamada) es un disco para disfrutar. Setting Me Up es un rockabilly, Six Blade Knife es un tema a redescubrir (la incluyó Robert Rodríguez en Desperado) Wild west end es otro de los mejores del lote. Este debut es esencial y luego siguió con Communiqué (1979), Making Movies (1980), Love Over Gold (1982), hasta llegar al momento de mayor gloria planetaria con Brothers in Arms (1985).
I really dug a couple of the songs on here, but the rest of it didn't really grab my attention. It was good, I've always been a Dire Straits fan... I just didn't find this album memorable.
La guitarra de Knopfler es patrimonio universal y eleva el nivel del disco. Algunas canciones ya las conocía, pero nunca está mal volver a ellas. De momento es el disco que más me ha gustado de los que llevo escuchado
No es mi tipo de música en realidad. Pero las guitarras de este disco son increibles, vibra de estar en el pastizal en una carne asada mientras te pega el sol de las 5 de la tarde en la cara
Sultan of swing is good. The sound is kind of similar, guess it's an iconic sound for dire straits.
Dire Straits passed me by in my youth, too MOR, but now I quiet like them, an age thing obviously 🤣 decent album this one
An enjoyable album but nothing to write home about.
great band SOLID ALBUM
Very road trip and errand montage coded. Not bad by any means but nothing extraordinary. Easy-going, groovy when it wants to be, and easy on the ears. 3.5/5 Favorites: Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery (for the classic Bob Marley vibes in the strings)
meh
groovy com umas musicas bem iconics no meio, mas algumas no comeco tava meio country que nao eh muito meu gosto
This was an okay album. It has a very laid back sound, which can lean too far into boring at times. If I wanted to be a bit more forthright about it, I would say this sounds like a worse Bob Dylan, so you should just listen to him instead. Overall, I wasn't that impressed, but it was an alright listen. Three stars. (Favorite track: Wild West End.)
Again, amazing album cover. Did not know they sang sultans of swing! Very laid back blues-rock. Imagining worn down wood, dive bars, cigarette swirls, mild depression
technically, this is great, but gosh sitting and listening to the whole thing is a little dull and repetitive. maybe also a shame because I knew the best songs on the album already, but I'm rounding UP to a three this time
When I was a kid my father had Brothers in Arms cassette in car stereos so I have a soft spot for Dire Straits. I must admit that I've never listened to the debut album (except for Sultans of Swing). For me the highlights are Down to the Waterline and Wild West End but if I'll ever feel the need to listen to Dire Straits, I'll choose Brothers in Arms. Crazy to think that Mark Knopfler was in his late twenties when he wrote these songs. He probably has been a middle aged white dude since birth.
This was pleasant enough, but forgettable
Who doesn't love Sultans of Swing? What else does this album offer? Down to the Waterline seemed of a same type with Sultans, that same guitar sound, tasty licks, tight drum fills and I dug it. I was surprised by the other tracks of the album encompassing a feeling of some other styles. I enjoyed the listen, probably won't throw it down for another spin.
Dire Straits (1978) is blues-rockers Dire Straits’ debut studio album. It’s not an album I’ve ever listened to before. Of course I knew ‘Sultans of Swing’, which sets a pretty high bar as a debut single, but nonetheless I didn’t have high hopes for the rest of the album. When I was a teenager Dire Straits represented everything I hated about music. Certainly at the height of their Brothers in Arms fame, if you told me you liked Dire Straits I would have known for sure that we were never going to be friends. And in typical teenage fashion my dislike wasn’t based on evidence, just vibes. Why would I waste time listening to such a boring band?! Having now given it the customary three listens, I realise I was being a bit harsh. Either that or I’ve got old, mellow and am embracing middle-of-the-road music. Although the songs can be a bit meandering, there’s a lot to like. Mark Knopfler’s vocals have the feel of Dylan in his Rolling Thunder Review / Desire era on several tracks, and the the album includes elements of folk and country rock along with the blues. The guitar playing is excellent, and although only Sultans of Swing really stands out I can see why people like this album. In the end though, it’s just a bit too clean and consistent for my liking. Side A: Down to the Waterline - 4/5; Water of Love - 3/5; Setting Me Up - 3/5; Six Blade Knife - 3/5 Southbound Again - 3/5 Side B: Sultans of Swing - 5/5; In the Gallery - 3/5; Wild West End - 3/5; Lions - 3/5
My dear mother infamously despites Dire Straits. Apparently, this antagonistic sentiment results from an old trauma of having this 'Best of Dire Straits' CD stuck in the casette tray of her parent's station wagon for many years. She hates them even more than she hates ACDC. So growing up me and my father had a secretive covenant: we'd put on some Knopfler while out in the ute, listening to the dulcet coontraband of one of the UK's most renowned guitarists beside the golden pastures of my youth. As such, the opening riff of Money For Nothing has forever been tattooed against my tabula rasa. This had the accidental effect of infusing Dire Straits with the kind of edgy, cool veneer that all those forbidden taboos of childhood inevitably attract. It wasn't until over a decade later, upon being hit with the usual wave of homesick nostalgia that will always come with the hiraeth at the last terminal of adolesence, that I re-treaded some muddy footprints in the bucolic memory of my salad days and therefore re-visited Dire Straits with somewhat fresh ears. All that to say that Dire Straits' self-titled debut isn't exactly an album that warranted that level of admiration. Strictly speaking, it's a pretty run-of-the-mill record. A fairly impressive inauguration for a band that would sweep the world when their hit Sultans of Swing began to find regular radio play. There's enough radio-friendly guitar work to grant this album its mainstream appeal, and it's easy to notice the unbashed shades of Dylan cast over the blues-y tones. These days, Dire Straits has been (rightly, in all honesty) relegated to the somewhat disparaging category of 'dad-rock staples' next to Canned Heat or Creedence. It's a bit of a bittersweet fate for a band that had once been a household name. I don't know. There's a lot to be savoured in the re-discovery of popular music's 'old news' pile. Unfortunately, you can be pretty confident that this isn't the album that'll get the Zoomers blowing the dust off grandpa's vintage record collection. There's just very little of exception here besides the silky-smooth guitar work. The album is meandering - a symptom, perhaps, of mostly being written to fill time for pub crowds and ballroom gigs in their early career. I have nothing but respect for a band of well-practiced musical workhorses and their tight performances (thinking early Beatles or Minutemen), but it sometimes makes it very hard to carve out what makes them particularly special. That said, credit where credit's due for Sultans of Swing, which continues to earn its venerated status within the rock singles canon. Fav tracks: Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, Lions
This list gave me two dire straits albums in 5 days with is a bit much. This one though is much better. A mysterious mellow sound that seems like it’s waiting to bust out of the box.
nothing too special or memorable; that 60s/70s sounds
This was pretty good album! Very country ish without being TOO country. I could enjoy this on a playlist but I don't think I'll be seeking them out. 6/10
After the assault on my ears from brothers in arms I swore I would never listen to that band again. So this pops up and I’m committed. To be fair I didn’t mind this, it’s an honest album and a more stripped down sound, I even give it a second play