Dire Straits Appreciation Thread

[morgos]

Great band. I was 11 years old the first time I heard Sultans of Swing, and it just about brought me to tears. His guitar work is amazing.

Originally Posted by Mirrorball95

'Dire Straits' (first album, bought this but feel the rest of the album fails to live up to 'Sultans Of Swing'.)

I'm surprised to hear this, because their self titled was always my favorite. Sultans of swing is a great track that's for sure, but the truth is I love nearly every song on that album. (the exception being water of love) The others I've heard are: Communique, (very good, I like this a lot) and Brothers in Arms. (I really didn't care for this at all) I should check out more of their stuff. I also never really liked Knopfler's solo works all that much.

[snagglepuss]

Their first album is my favorite. I love the song Southbound Again.

[Guybrush]

I've been listening to Making Movies a lot since the last time I posted here. It's a great album and, although I'm sure it's a clichè opinion as they are the "hits", the two first songs are just so damn good. "Tunnel of Love" and "Romeo and Juliet", brilliant stuff!

Finally removed "(With The Glorious Exception Of 'Brothers In Arms')" from the thread title by the way. Suck on that, Mirrorball!

[SGR]

I think Telegraph Road is their best tune. And Love Over Gold is probably their best album.

[bob_32_116]

My personal ranking of Dire Straits albums:

1. Love Over Gold
2. Dire Straits
3. On Every Street
4. Making Movies
5. Brothers In Arms
6. Communique

I only own the first two, but they all have quality stuff, and my ranking of the other for is not set in stone.

Making Movies suffers from the fact that the second half does not come anywhere near living up to the excellent first half, and it finishes with the awful "Les Boys". "Expresso Love" rocks well enough, but sounds a bit like Dires Straits by numbers in its similarity to some of their other songs.

"Brothers In Arms" was so ridiculously overplayed here that I find it hard to judge it fairly. "So Far Away" is a rahter dull-sounding song that was improved tremendously by the treatment they gave it live when I saw them on the tour. I never need to hear "Money For Nothing" again.

"Communique" is not as bad as my ranking might suggest, but sounds a bit like a poor cousion of the debut album. It is redeemed by the two closing tracks, which seem a bit like a two-part song.

"Love Over Gold" is one of the few albums that I give a perfect score. Only five songs, but every one a winner.

[TheBig3]

I've never understood why Mark Knoffler wasn't more highly praised for his playing.

One of the music Youtube channels did a thing where they were playing the solo from Stairway to Heaven as other guitarists might have, and what they played, and the requests in the comments section didn't include Knoffler at all. To me, his style is unique, interesting and completely unmatched.

[bob_32_116]

Originally Posted by TheBig3

I've never understood why Mark Knoffler wasn't more highly praised for his playing.

One of the music Youtube channels did a thing where they were playing the solo from Stairway to Heaven as other guitarists might have, and what they played, and the requests in the comments section didn't include Knoffler at all. To me, his style is unique, interesting and completely unmatched.

I don't know what circles you move in, but I have always heard him praised for his playing. It's one of the defining characteristics of Dire Straits.

[TheBig3]

I move in circles that do not discuss guitar players.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

I think Telegraph Road is their best tune. And Love Over Gold is probably their best album.

Church

Originally Posted by bob_32_116

My personal ranking of Dire Straits albums:

1. Love Over Gold
2. Dire Straits
3. On Every Street
4. Making Movies
5. Brothers In Arms
6. Communique

I only own the first two, but they all have quality stuff, and my ranking of the other for is not set in stone.

Making Movies suffers from the fact that the second half does not come anywhere near living up to the excellent first half, and it finishes with the awful "Les Boys". "Expresso Love" rocks well enough, but sounds a bit like Dires Straits by numbers in its similarity to some of their other songs.

"Brothers In Arms" was so ridiculously overplayed here that I find it hard to judge it fairly. "So Far Away" is a rahter dull-sounding song that was improved tremendously by the treatment they gave it live when I saw them on the tour. I never need to hear "Money For Nothing" again.

"Communique" is not as bad as my ranking might suggest, but sounds a bit like a poor cousion of the debut album. It is redeemed by the two closing tracks, which seem a bit like a two-part song.

"Love Over Gold" is one of the few albums that I give a perfect score. Only five songs, but every one a winner.

Cathedral

Originally Posted by TheBig3

I've never understood why Mark Knoffler wasn't more highly praised for his playing.

One of the music Youtube channels did a thing where they were playing the solo from Stairway to Heaven as other guitarists might have, and what they played, and the requests in the comments section didn't include Knoffler at all. To me, his style is unique, interesting and completely unmatched.

Originally Posted by bob_32_116

I don't know what circles you move in, but I have always heard him praised for his playing. It's one of the defining characteristics of Dire Straits.

Originally Posted by TheBig3

I move in circles that do not discuss guitar players.

Then why are you asking the question??

Edit: Sorry the multiple quotes got a bit confused there and I'm too tired to go sorting them out.

[TheBig3]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Then why are you asking the question??

I read a lot of music discussions, criticism, etc. I didn't realize my personal friend group needed to be heavily into classic rock.