Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Down To The Waterline // Sultans of Swing // Wild West End //
Not my vibe but great album either way.
Mark Knopfler is a talented guitarist and has a good voice. Its like southern boogie mixed with smooth jazz… in a good way. Gets a bit repetitive and all the songs have pretty much the same vibe and rhythm and feel and… you get the point. But it’s a good vibe and I will probably remind myself to pull this album out every few years. Best in headphones while doing a mindless task. Probably a 3.5 for me but I will round up.
80/100. For me, this album is all about the riffs, and they’re immaculate. Clean, precise and instantly memorable, they carry the whole record with ease.
Les solos de guitare et la musicalité des titres sont énormes à tous de cet album avec un coup de cœur sur le titre lions. Assez rythmique, des sons qui mettent la pêche. L’image du groupe est plutôt punk. Premier album du groupe qui débute par l’immense succès de Sultans of Swing. Forte influence de Bob Dylan. Écouter cet album m’a fait beaucoup de bien.
I mean, imagine having this as your debut album.
3.5/3.6 I can appreciate its sound! Very impressive that this was their debut album. Not quite the kind of thing I love at the moment but I’m sure there will be a time I enjoy it much more. Lions was the stand out song for me, ended the album beautifully.
I enjoyed this. It's definitely 1970s easy rock that I do enjoy. The guitar melodies in particular were very nice. Nothing that greatly caught my attention but enjoyable.
Classic tracks
Like ittttt
Amazing, almost perfect
Classic for a reason
Good asf nice chill album to lay on ghe beach with or to smoke some weed to
Wish I could give half stars, would've given it a 3.5/5 but since I liked it more than the previous album I reviewed (Number of the Beast) I'll just give it 4 stars. I can't help but love the way the guitars sound, but the vocals don't really work for me. Overall, I like it, but don't love it.
Sultans of Swing is a great track. Like the atmosphere of the album and the general vibe although a little bit too much country for me.
'Down to the Waterline' is an outrageously accomplished first track on a debut album. Knopfler already feels as accomplished as an old master. A footstomping delight. The chicken-pickin style is incredible, and adds lift to most tracks. What may be standard sounding blues-based fayre, such as 'Southbound Again' is elevated by Knopfler's boogie. 'Sultans of Swing' doesn't overshadow the album which is testament to the general quality, but there's no denying it is the highlight. A touchstone of any proper Dad's rock playlist, the different fills Knopfler finds throughout are excellent. And I always like to imagine 'guitar George' is a Beatles reference. Brother in Arms would take them to the stadiums but this is a very excellent sweet spot.
Excellent album
4.8
Bow bow woooow
Sultans of Swing is the obvious standout track, but the rest of the record is pretty good too. Nothing super mind blowing in terms of songs, but the guitar playing and storytelling especially is what ends up shining the most.
Favorite track(s): Down to the Waterline, Six Blade Knife, Sultans of Swing, In the Gallery
i liked this so much i went on a dire straights binge after this. i was grooving with my hands in the air like a drugged up loser at a rave but i was vibing
Bluesy guitar opening... I hope it lasts was my first reaction. The album did not disappoint, though it leaned a wee bit country, to my ear holes.
Pleasantly surprised after having rated Brothers In Arms 2 stars for being boring. I'd listen to this again.
Por momentos me recordaba a the doors en algún sentido. Por momentos con estilo medio country, sonando un puntueo de guitarra acústica muy reconfortante con un buen reverb como en el tema water of love (a destacar). Parece un disco como para limpiar tu casa. Llevadero agradable. No destaco ningún punto mas allá del buen groove y las cuerdas que suenan bastante bien Sultans Of Swing temaso ultra conocido. Para pasearse en una ruta desierta levantando tierra en el charger de toretto
good I guess
Perfect summer album. Makes me excited for beach evenings, summer car rides and long walks. Overall vibe is 5 star but not I do not feel the need to listen to most of the songs immediately or an immediate re-listen of the album. (which i find i usually do with a new album that ends up being 5 star). However, this album will 100% be on the rotation from now on. Favourites: Sultan Swings, Down To the Waterline, Wild West End. 4.5/5.
Sehr schöner Klang 4.5/5
Excelente
Wasn't expecting much from this beyond it just being a middle of the road dad rock album but I really found myself getting it. I had a fun time with this album and would definitely listen again. 4.5
Favourite Songs: Setting Me Up Sultans Of Swing
Very enjoyable, will listen again
musica de la buena usos de guitarra espectaculares el HIT es un HITAZO
Sultans of swing heeeellll yeah rest kinda boring but very pleasant I really enjoy narrative music with silly storylines
Stripped down, sounds good.
Divorcee music, all through and through, and it's all mine (20 something)
Great re-visit, really enjoyed.
ive already listened to this album, really enjoyable classic piece, my fav song from this album is six blade knife
I did not know that Sultans of Swing is their song. I also did not know that is the name of the song. I guess there are just songs you know but have no idea who performs them or what is their name. Overall great album, especially for the debut!
Good and chill for Saturdays and roadtrips
Sultans of swing makes this an automatic 4
Really liked this one.
An amazing mix of nostalgia led by an amazing guitar.
Starts off with the only song I know by them which is a banger. Then is followed by a bunch of jam songs that are good but reach the same heights as the sultans of swing. 7/10
Very close to Brother in Arms. But as a debut album it's Impressive.
70’s Rock ⭐️Sultans of Swing
It has sultans of swing so it's a must listen on that track alone. Pretty listenanle
they should've called em pleasant straits
Masterclass of what a guitar driven album can be. Two amazing singles that stand out and the rest of the album holds its own.
I'm a sucker for someone just noodling away on a guitar all bluesy-like and this album has a lot of that. They sound really good for a debut, pretty impressive they're this put together for their first album. I do not believe that these dudes are British. No way man.
The second half is perfection
In short: It's always such a pleasure and so mindful to listen to Knopfler's guitar play. Could do that all day long.
As good as I'd hoped it would be
I don't know what the musical term is for vocals - guitar flourish - vocals - repeat, but it tickles my brain in a fun way. Really good.
Nice combo of bluesy, proggy and country vibes, more than the sum of its parts. The fans are still obnoxious though.
Un 4 bien puesto. Completo.
I don't remember ever listening to this album before, but it reminds me of childhood. Summer BBQ, my dad and uncles playing basketball, my mom and aunts tanning, all us kids riding our big wheels in the street and this album playing out a car in the neighbor's driveway. Even though this album is not usually what I listen to, it captures a moment in time for me and Im glad I can hear it and appreciate it now. It's really good music and I will be adding this to my collection.
This is the 2nd Dire Straights album I've heard through doing this, the first being Brothers In Arms, and I enjoy this so much more. It's the same silky smooth skills and classic blues (small r) rock sensibilities, but far more warm blooded. Where I found B.I.A to be sparse and cool to the point of anemia this has far more air in the room, and is more enjoyable for it. Rather than the sense of peering at virtuosity beneath glass, this feels human. Sultans of Swing is an absolute all timer too. Something about that change into and out of the pre chorus that just hooks you in.
Songs I liked: Water of Love, Overall, I really liked the album. I had only listened to Sultans of Swing before, and the rest of the album was pretty good.
Really good bluesy rock album.
Some really interesting sounds on this one, the guitar tones are pretty unique and very clean. Not super special lyrics-wise, but it very impressive for a debut album. Best song was "Wild West End."
A really good listen. Just didn’t have that certain je ne sais quoi to make it to 5.
Oh yeah sultans of swing…great album
Great soft rock! Smooth as hell, and a great performance on the guitar. Sultans of Swing is a legendary song
Dire Straits is, for me, an American-sounding, smooth blues-rock album, quite different from the polished, synth-driven style of “Money for Nothing” seven years later. Mark Knopfler’s finger-picked guitar and the understated performances give it a calm, refined energy. I especially love Sultans of Swing — it feels like it really represents the character of the whole album.
This is one of those albums where I am not particularly fond of any song in particular but I just enjoyed every single track. There is just something so pleasant about this band and their vibe that I can't quite put my finger on. Wild West End quite literally stopped me in my tracks to the point where I had to look up what it was called. I don't know what else other than this is a very well made album that is the equivalent of a laidback evening with a nice cool drink in your hands.
Dire Straits were a band that began by bucking trends and, in doing so, eventually started setting them instead. in the UK in 1978, punk rock was ascendant, but the band's self-titled debut album set them far apart from that ruckus. like punk, this music sounds like an attempt to simplify, make things a little more direct; but you would never mistake Dire Straits for, say, the Clash, who formed around the same time. instead, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter Mark Knopfler spearheaded a sound which, in the late 70s, was indebted to the blues, jazz and country crossovers pioneered by acts of about a decade prior, including Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Band. so, imagine that 60s bluesy roots rock sound, but with that 70s precision and slickness in the production, playing and overall presentation. the way Knopfler tosses vocal phrases off his back is effortlessly cool, as is his guitar work, especially on the smash single, "Sultans of Swing". if I have to dock points, it's because a lot of the deeper cuts sound pretty damn similar to its biggest hit. I do really like "Down to the Waterline" and many other tracks here, but I'm interested to hear what Dire Straits did later on, once they started becoming more of a pop rock act and getting more sonically elaborate. strong 7/10.
"Dire Straits" has a the warm air of laid back grooves, created in particular by clean and cosy guitar lines. It is a refreshing break from many of the eras more explosive sounds into a more understated atmosphere, like the feel of a quiet evening.
thankfully there is sultans of swing. This 6/5 star classic pushes the album to an easy 4/5 instead of having to think deeply about the rating for this otherwise solid 7/10 album.
More enjoyable than the last one. I think there are multiple better songs on here than Sultans of Swing though.
Não é o melhor álbum deles para mim, mas é um álbum sólido
Muito sólido, especialmente para primeiro álbum
Cool album. Sultans of Swing is a classic, and the rest of the album has a vibe that evokes a mix of blues and some of the 70s country-rock of the Eagles. Not my favorite Dire Straits album, but still enjoyable.
A very nice 4/5 me gusto mas que Green River que es lo mas parecido que hemos escuchado. Un sonido fuerte, seguro, me encanto el bajo en casi todas las canciones. Creo que mi favorita fue Water of Love
Sober, technical, narrative and elegant, these are the words with which I would describe this project, an album that establishes its identity through clean guitars, contained rhythm and a nearly cinematic night feeling that creates a sound that has space, that breathes.
Sultans
I nice rock album. Enjoyed the listen.
I am conflicted. I like most of the songs in the album, however I just don't find the music very interesting or hearty for the soul. Still an awesome album.
I’m not a big Dire Straits guy, but this is pretty damn good
Sometimes dad rock really hits. 8/10
Classic dad rock with some excellent guitar!
7/10
Effortless cool. Some masterful guitar work and excellent tracks. Even if it were an album of duds (which it is not) bar Sultans of Swing that would warrant a listen.
"Water of Love" has some lovely high-pitched plucks. It also has a scattering of well known classics to be expected for Dire Straits. Its just a really well rounded paired down album without a maximalist production approach (better for it vs Brother in Arms) What's not to like. It's super chilled and easy listening and where you can really enjoy the guitar as a unique spectacle in its own right. Stayed with this album for some weeks before I was able to commit to the review and was not a chore. Great.
I am a bit of a Dire Straits fan, I used to listen to a ripped cd of their greatest hits in a walkman on the school bus in the early naughties (yeah I was that cool). This is a solid first offering from them, which showcases Knopfler's unique guitar picking style and contains one of the best rock tracks ever recorded in SOS. This is almost a pure American style rock-blues rip-off but somehow this British band manage to deliver it with an effortless cool. I often find their albums contain some filler tracks but in this case it just defaults to a skillfully delivered blues-rock and, although a bit formulaic, there are no absolute clangers. Enjoyed revisiting this one.
The opening is smooth, the water motive amazes me and I have to listen again. Down to the waterline, six blade knife and wild west end are good, but this album just makes the debate about the sultans of swing being one of the best of all time be a waste of time. Gonna listen again on walks and chill vibe
Wow, ansich ein sehr gutes Album // Ich mochte 5/9 Songs // 'Down to the Waterline' und 'Sultans of Swing' sind jetzt aktuell 2 meiner Lieblingssongs.
Tolles erstes Album! 2 top Hits. Super Gitarren Sound von Mark Knopfler.
I feel like this is one of those albums that everyone is just supposed to like. That's not a bad thing I guess, but it really would seem weird to me if someone actually didn't like this album. That's not to say I think its one of the best albums ever, it's totally not. I like it well enough but honestly wouldn't really play it much. Sultans of Swing is a beast of a song though, absolutely brilliant in every way. On the whole this album accomplishes what it sets out to very well. It's a super chill record, mostly kind of laid back, and really showcases Mark Knopfler all over the place. And that's a good thing. A little too country-ish for me in some places and not all of the record really grabs your attention. But solid nonetheless and I suppose a classic for good reason. 3.5/5 and rounding up for the near perfect Strat tone on every song.
Mark Knopfler is a worthy leader for Dire Straits, and his skills all come through on this debut. As a songwriter, his stream-of-consciousness lyrical approach is likable and intriguing; as a vocalist, he's laid-back and casual; as a guitarist, he's technical, sometimes subtle, sometimes flashy, and always cool. The rest of the band keeps up well with the world painted on "Dire Straits," keeping everything appropriately casual and crisp. A very good debut record.
Great album that I have never listened to start to finish but have heard majority of the songs many times when I went through a big dire straits phase about 3 years. I bet that version of me would have rated this even higher 😂
It’s a shame that the rest of the album isn’t on the level of sultans of swing, but I suppose that is an impossible request given how elite that song is
Favorite Track: Sultans of Swing
Sultans of swing the stand out song on this album.
Time to cleanse my ears after some proto-punk guitar distortions. Nice listening, sultans of swing is goated, other tracks are nice but hit the same highs for me. 4* Highlights: sultans of swing, southbound again
7.5/10, more my speed!
I'm not really into old music but i actually liked this one, and add few songs to my Playlist
4 Stars, pretty easy listen, only 1 banger.
Surprisingly enjoyable
nice to have on in the background, vibed with the whole album
liked it
I was familiar with Dire Straits going into this album- Sultans of Swing is a great song. I really enjoyed what this album offered- a distinct sound mixing a lot of genres and some big hitters as well. Overall- great album. Probably in the 4 to 4.5 range
An eloquent and melancholy set of story-songs, all carried along by Mark Knopfler's mournful vocals and exquisitely tasteful guitar. There's only one "hit" on this album, but there are also no weak spots.
4.5
I fw it
Album No. 0158 on my list. I was looking forward to this album! “Sultans of Swing” is obviously an iconic song and I had known quite a few other Dire Straits songs, but none other from this album for some reason. It’s a really good rock album! I’m not the biggest fan of the songwriting to be honest, both regarding the lyrics and the way the songs are structured. But: the sound of this album is great, and the way Mark Knopfler plays his guitar is even better. The way he structures his licks, the way he uses phrasing to make the instrument rather “behave” in a way similar to a singer, is just phenomenal. And despite my earlier criticism, there are some cool bits on this! I’ll add “Down To The Waterline”, the obvious “Sultans of Swing”, and “Wild West End” to my playlist. Good stuff, will listen to again. 4/5 stars!
As a guitar player myself, Mark Knopfler has always been someone I look up to. The glassy guitar sound treads confidently in both the worlds of blues and funk. The no pick policy definitely gives it much more character. Such a great sounding record overall. Songwriting also has a mystery to it. Enjoyable!
Good!
Very good, come back to this
I really like this album.. I think it can be only listen to it in it's entirety. I don't have a favorite song, all of them are completing each other 4/5
比较温柔
Excellent album I have not listened to in a long time. I had forgotten how good the guitar work and lyrics are on this album
Pretty chill ngl
This was a really good album with great vibes and soothing and calming vocals
More like straight fire. 4 stars.
Amazing album. Loved all of it. Heard Brothers in Arms before so knew what to expect a little. Great vocals all over this and lovely guitar solos sprinkled throughout. Will 100% be back to this one
4.0 (41:34, 9 tracks, debut, 1978), Blues Rock (British) I ended up liking this album far more than I thought and I’m sorta getting into the Blues after living in Chicago for 30 years. UK Blues. Hit single "Sultans of Swing", In the Gallery is a song about the fickle nature of art (only valuable after you die) (was a tribute to a real life artist Harry) and hit me hard with my previous album being Nick Drake who sold 6,000 albums in the United States in his whole life. Overall the album is an introspective nostalgic “stream of thought” memories Mark Knnopfler has of his childhood, young love, and moving to the “Wild West End” of London post-divorce to be part of the scene. A lot of songs about the scene. Setting me up is really a country song and was, as such, covered by a lot of country artists. Pretty much exactly what I’d expect – all tracks similar – considering they were nobodies (debut) its remarkably confident and solid. Their stage presence has always been shoegaze (I don’t give a fuck about a production just look at my shoes and play.) Album cover Light yellow thick framed painting from Chuck Loyola, stark room with a blurry figure – don’t love it. All tracks are written by Mark Knopfler. 1. "Down to the Waterline" 3:55 2. "Water of Love" 5:23 3. "Setting Me Up" 3:18 4. "Six Blade Knife" 4:10 5. "Southbound Again" 2:58 6. **"Sultans of Swing" 5:47 7. "In the Gallery" 6:16 8. "Wild West End" 4:42 9. "Lions" 5:05 Total length: 41:34
Favourite Track: Water of Love
The recording is so good. Everything is so articulate and clear, it makes me want to buy better speakers. The musicianship is excellent, and this is an example of "they just don't make records like they used to." But there were some pretty muddy records made at the time, too. Sadly, I'm not really a fan of Mark Knopfler's singing, and I'm indifferent about the writing. It's not bad, but it's not necessarily artful in my opinion. The best parts are when the band is just vamping and Knopfler plucks along.
One of the best guitarists of all time
Great debut, crisp guitars and good production, really enjoyable
Ótimo disco! Dire Straits chega com tudo nesse álbum! Tangzu Wan'er 2.
Album calme mais sympathique
Très cool, des pistes assez iconiques
Really like this album, but not the best imo with dire straits. Love the dynamic range, letting the instruments breathe and you can hear all the details clearly. 4/5
I knew Sultans of Swing when it came out, catchy but wasn't my type of thing. Pleasantly surprised and kinda impressed by this album: the lead guitar technique and lines are exquisite. (As for the rest of band, they play together neatly, but I find the chord structures, drumming and bass playing to be so-so...) I don't mind the singing but not a fan, I can see the Dylan comparison - lyrics didn't jump out, nothing about the singing attracted me to pay attention to them ... Was interested to learn that in 1978 Dire Straits toured as opening band for Talking Heads?! Anyway, it's good craft, I'll call it Good, 7/10.
Groovy, chilled, mellow - I liked it! Only recognised one song ‘sultans of swing’, good start!
Smooth, easy, classic guitar
Such a roadtrip album loved it
very good album
I've got a soft spot for the earlier part of Dire Straits career, so loved listening to this album.
Geordie Americana
4/5. not exactly the kinda music i'd listen to over and over but still, but pretty nice. sounds like the kinda stuff my dad would pirate and burn on CDs to play on the car. in fact i'm 100% certain he had Sultans of Swing.
chill. classic. groovy. rockish.
I hadn't heard their debut album in full before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've always liked Dire Straits: engaging tunes and lyrics, low-key yet charismatic, meandering without being too jammy, and a seamless mix of rock/blues/country. - Heard before? A few songs, but not the whole thing. - Will I listen again? Definitely. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Absolutely. Notable songs: Down to the waterline and, of course, Sultans of Swing.
Straight-up blues rock with one of the most distinctive guitar players and vocalists ever. Sultans of Swing is a classic, with not one but two iconic finger-picked guitar solos and multiple smart fill riffs; a showcase for and prime example of Knopfler's skill with the instrument. The rest of the tracks are more of the same and no filler.
Great album, Dire Straits knows how to jam!
Having Middle Eastern parents means I don't have that same experience western folk have where their parents put them onto their favorite bands from back in their heyday (though obviously I got my fair dose of Arabic music, and I love that). Dire Straits is the exception to that. One night, my dad put on 'Sultans of Swing' in the car, saying he used to listen to this band in university, and just like that, I fell in love with that song. It really is one of the greatest songs ever, a tale of a band coming together, against all odds, over this spacious, lick-heavy, and dexterous guitar line. 'Water of Love' was another song he played that night, which had this really fat groove that clearly drew from the world of blues rock, and it had such a winning chorus. And the rest of this album is pretty great too. If I could choose one word to describe it, it would be "light". Every instrument here moves with such little clunk and weight, there's a lot of dexterity in the playing, like I mentioned before, but it's subtle; it never feels like it's getting too fast or aggressive - the band is always in control. I know I use this word a lot, but there really is a slickness to a lot of the playing here, especially on songs like 'Setting Me Up' and 'Six Blade Knife'. And it does all this without ever sounding "Soft Rock"; it's a great balance. Chill-as-hell album, like a lazy Sunday afternoon on a hot summer day, and the AC is blasting. Not the situation I'm in now, given it's February, but soon hopefully.
This ain't no trumpet playin' band! This guy does things with his guitar that I like. A lot!
Great album
Never a bad offering here. Great album
I mean…
LOVE THEM hm; six blade knife 🤩🤩🤩
This album is asking you to lean in and listen. From the first moments on, barely audible, forcing one to crank the volume or miss out. I nearly did. These guys play a tight quartet. There isn't a wasted note or moment. The story telling is fantastic. Sultans of Swing
Meh, this is the kind of music an old dude will tell you is "REAL" music after surreptitiously doing air guitar to Sultans of Swing. It's a decent album but I'll probably never return to it except for the hits.
Classic
The album sounds like Sultans of Swing for 42 minutes. And it’s great. Other than the obvious, I really loved Down to the Waterline and Wild West End.
A platform for an excellent guitarist, with a great band, diversity of music, and great lytics
rien à dire je quiffe
Nice blues, easy to listen to
Brilliant musicianship
It has the Sultans of Swing so obviously it just can’t be a bad album. This is a GREAT debut album I really enjoyed it
boy music thats all I have to say
Doesn’t get much better than Mark Knopfler on guitar
3.5
A really fine debut, always has been kne of my faves. It is a bit of a one sided album, side one is incredible with "Down To The Waterline", Water of Love", and "Six Blade Knife", the other two are great little rockers, as opposed to the usual Straits cool vibe. Side 2 Bookends really well with the undeniable classic "Sultans of Swing" and the smooth "Lions" but the two in the middle kinda sag a bit, especially "In The Gallery" (9.6) ★★★★½
The guitar work is extremely great, some of the songs are borderline boring, but it mostly works. 4 stars
Not my favorite Dire Straits album, but still some good stuff here, including "Down to the Waterline", "Wild West End", and the classic "Sultans of Swing". 4 stars.
Damn fine Straits! Includes classics such as Sultans Of Swing, other cool deep cuts such as Sultans Of Swing and of course their legendary early big hit Sultans Of Swing. 4 Sultans Of Swing out of 5.
Rv/g
Liked it a lot. Great tunes.
Such cool and relaxed music but funky I loved it
Pas si mal sauf la chanson maudite
The bri'ish Dan
We quite enjoyed this. Sultans of swing is a jam. Good to have on in the car.
This is almost a 5-star just because of Sultans of Swing. Yes, it carries the album that hard.
Dire Straits are the classic rock band I really gel with and have been for all my life. Potentially a nostalgia thing but god Knopfler’s guitar is just a joy on every track
Потому что я РУССКИЙ!
У меня один вопрос: почему такая группа не на слуху, как остальные легенды рок-музыки 80-х? За 25 лет своей жизни я узнала о них впервые и рада открыть их для себя. Одноимённый дебютный альбом группы Dire Straits порадовал гитарными соло, ударными, меланхоличным звучанием и блюз-роком. Первая песня, открывающая альбом Down to the Waterline, поднимает высокую планку, начавшись с великолепной гитары, с каждой секундой дающей больше энергии. Sultans of Swing не зря самая популярная песня из альбома. Живое выступление заслуживает обязательного внимания. Первой песней, которая захватила меня, была Water of Love, очаровавшая с первых барабанов, звучащих словно дождь. Вся композиция окутала своей атмосферой мистики и спокойствия. Также выделяются треки Lion, Six Blade Knife. Весь альбом хорош, но, послушав другие работы группы, ставлю 4/5⭐️
super chill
Not too shabby!
A great debut album. I had forgotten about the country and folk influences.
Ok I guess
Njegov glas mi je ful vsec pa kitaraaaa! Ze od prej mi je ful vsec, na Zojo me spomni
enjoyed this one a lot!!! when google told me they were british i was shook idk that just doesn’t feel right, i was certain it was american with the twang and the vocals. knowing now it kinda feels like american cosplay. tbh i have no special thoughts, but did particularly like the long instrumentals and solos, and the stripped back vibe. faves: down to the waterline six blade knife southbound again
I think it’s pretty good! Dire Straights belongs to a category of bands that I haven’t bothered distinguishing from Steely Dan in my head. Whatever!
Real good listening. Didn't speak to me enough to add songs to my library, but it's one of those albums I'd put on when I don't wanna be djing while making dinner. Really niiiiiice guitar solos. Brother gimme one of your softest riffs.
Second favorite Dire Straits album. I love Mark Knopflers lyrics and twiddling on the guitar. Such a fun album to listen to, very relaxing and they have their own unique sound. Shame people only know about 2 of their songs most of the time.
I am so embarrassed to admit this but for the longest time I thought it was bob dylan singing on sultans of swing. Oof. Anyways, there’s some great guitar playing on this.
Sultans of swing is crazy good Whole albums flows nicely 4
I'D BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ALBUM. I had already listened to Dire Straits Brother In Arms in December, but I really wanted to hear it! I had 3 out of 9 songs in my playlist and very high expectations. Honestly, it’s a tough call which one is better, both are great. And yes, this is perfection, I don’t believe it’s a debut album. Water of love is such a beautiful ballad, I'm shocked. Southbound Again and In The Gallery are less enjoyable for me. Everything else is phenomenal. The guitar riffs on this album are so smooth and so unique, especially combined with the vocals. I love it so much. And the album cover is fantastic. But I can’t give a perfect score, unfortunately. 4/5 —————————————— Liked songs: — Down To The Waterline — Water Of Love — Setting Me Up — Six Blade Knife — Sultans Of Swing — Wild West End
A 2 star review said it was like Bob Dylan jamming out. That's the coolest thing ever. Sultans of swing was stuck in my head after listening
Hell yeah brother
SLAY SLAY SLAY da ora inizio a indossare jeans duri da uomo a vita bassa e cinturoni da gay cowboy anni 80! VIBING SO MUCH WITH THIS ALBUM. mi son piaciute quasi tutte e amo come sono messe e culmine
tracks 1, 2, 8, 9 made something to me like WOW this is Music
I really like the dire straits, also this album. But in all honesty I feel like it is missing something.
Groovy guitars. I feel like to truly appreciate this you need to be driving a convertible on Route 66. Enjoyed it more with a few listens, much groovier and less cheesy than Brothers in Arms
I loveeeeeeed the guitar in this album
I loveeeeed the guitar
Best album before going back to work! Trying to stay off reels while getting ready in the morning this was helpful. Loved Wild West end and setting me up.
Good album, I like Dire Straits. Great guitar riffs.
Quintessential chill dad rock, 'Dire Straits' album is a relistenable, bluesy, head bopping time. It doesn't go too hard for you to snap your spine headbanging. Top tracks: "Wild West End," "Down to the Waterline," "In the Gallery," "Sultans of Swing"
this shit rocks. Knopfler's guitar is one of the most unique and incredible sounding pieces of musical machinery ever created. If this album had Brothers in Arms, it would be a 5 but it's a great 4.
--Down the Waterline...great guitar --Water of Love...a lazy river jam. it's sweet --Setting Me Up...there's kind of a Lennon/Plastic Ono Band feel to this. groovy --Six Blade Knife...grimy and cool --Southbound Again...funky fun. the guitars throughout this album is just so tight --Sultans of Swing...classic --In the Gallery...guitars are great once again but we got a solid bass groove going here --Wild West End...nice 'n' breezy --Lions...they're veering into easy listening territory with sort of a Latin feel. not sure I love it but it's an interesting change of pace
Sultans of swing is obviously great. The rest of the album is the same, and holds up really well.
This is a good album of some laid-back guitar rock that I enjoyed listening to. I have to admit that other than Sultans of Swing (and Money for Nothing and Walk of Life not on this album) I could not name another Dire Straits song. Good album that is worth a listen.
Good rock, so good. Sultans of swing is a balm for my soul
Absolutely groovy and a fun time. Sultans of Swing is such a classic.
Groovy and consistent, very likeable
Lovely debut
Some strong tracks but not quite consistent enough for a 5.
Love sultans of swing and the general vibe of the rest of the album. Better than brothers in arms in my opinion. Hard to find a least favourite song because they are all a good base level which I like. Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song - sultans of swing Least fav - in the gallery
peak
Loved it, killer first track
My kneejerk reaction for this album was to give it a 5, however ive revisited this over the past week and feel the middle of the album drops off in favour of a stronger third act, nothing wrong with that i just feel theres a missed opportunity to capitalise on such a strong opening (maybe one of the all time track 1, side 1s). Unexpecteded brilliance of Water of Love, Wild West End and Lions was incredibly refreshing. Mark Knopfler's mastery of fingerstyle guitar is as prevelent in the early Dire Straits as it is in their later and more eatablished albums.
Debut album that sets the tone of the band being great musicians. I'd been on a Mark Knopfler kick a few years ago, when he was one of the one Masters of Guitar cartoon characters I couldn't answer. There were 3 or 4 songs other than "Sultans of Swing" that I really liked. Generational talents & banger.
First song hooks you in and I immediately thought i will like this album. Other songs a bit too American rock/country like for my taste.
I had heard the name Dire Straits before (and not just because of JoJo) but wouldn’t have been able to place any of their music. This feels like the late 70s/early 80s version of a vibey rock album, and I dig it. Some of it is a little slow for me but particularly the second half of the album has good energy
I listened to this album on Spotify before visiting this website for the first time. I didn't even know this album was in the list of 1001 albums! It's also pretty strange how it was the first one to be chosen. Am I being watched?
Favorite: Setting Me Up Least Favorite: Six Blade Knife Overall Rating 8/10 I thoroughly enjoyed this one, I don't know what else to say lol
A great soundtrack for my walk to work
Interesting album with some lovely tracks.
Wow, so the Dire Straits are/were actually good!
The apotheosis of pun rock, with brilliant songs and playing by a tight band. DS was never better.
Overall rating: 9/10 (more my music taste) Favourite tracks: Sultans Of Swing (classic), Six Blade Knife, Southbound Again, Wild West End
Can't believe that I haven't really given this a listen. Dire Straits is one of those bands with a few huge hits, and therefore my dad played them a lot in the car while I was growing up. Trips to visit my grandparents were mainly the greatest hits Dire Straits, Huey Lewis, and other late 70s and 80s stuff. This album is better than expected. Would have loved to see them live back in the day.
Better than I expected. I think this is a debut album and it's solid and polished for one. Granted they are classic rock royalty at this point. What shocked me was the bass line was more forward, some rock buries it. Solid album. I enjoyed it..
Álbum clássico.
Dire Straits are great and Mark Knopfler is a Sultan of Strings. His work on guitar goes from simple plucking to complex tickling requiring great skill. This debut album doesn't have a bad track but the last three fade off a bit. Of course SOS ranks among highest for the band but I really like "Six Blade Knife" and hadn't remembered it. More to come from these brother in arms...3.87 stars.
Man, Dire Straights storm right out of the gates with their first album and specifically with opening track Down To The Water Line. It sets the table perfectly with the slow build opening and introduces you to Mark Knopfler's top notch guitar and vocals. The rest of the album goes down so smoothly as you get through Water of Love, Six Blade Knife and Sultans. The deep cuts keep the engine rolling and exemplify all the best aspects of what the band brings to the table. Mark Knopfler is recognized as one of the greats and this first album shows his unique style that exemplifies his mastery. The way he gently interludes his vocals with guitar lines really help pull you into the lyrics and almost provide a second voice to the band. Something about the way he leans into the depth and rasp of his voice gives it so much gravity. While Knopfler is the star here, the rest of the band shouldn't go overlooked. The bass lines and drum fills stand out at times and really bring the whole thing together. I've always loved what Dire Straights brings to the table and as a result this album has always been held in high regard. I think a lot of people slept on this album over the years, but it held nearly a permanent spot on my high school bedroom wall vinyl display among some of other much more known classics. Was really glad to revisit this album and it held up even better than I expected. 3.90
4
Enjoyed it - kind of laid back & kind of bluesy
Starts pretty strong, the last few songs after Sultans Of Swing are a little more mellow
- fuck yee faijarokin kuninkaat - jumankauta että tän tahtiin on chillailtu ja polteltu tupekkia back in the day
Solid album
Classic fantastic album. Would purchase
only word that comes to mind is groovy. the vibe is kinda immaculate not gonna lie
Never listened. The songs seemed familiar without ever hearing them before. Sultans of Swing is obviously the only one familiar on the album. Nice and chill tracks.
This hit very nicely on a Friday morning. These guys really play well together. All the songs were good; ‘Sultans of Swing’ is the obvious standout, but the opener ‘Down to the Waterline’ had a nice groove and was also a favorite. Didn’t love it quite enough to garner a perfect 5, but it’s a solid 4/5 easily.
Beautiful, meloncholy and playful. Excellent musicianship. This is an album I’d like to listen to again, on stereo. My daughter will hate me tomorrow!
Mark Knopfler is underrated and this is a great debut and precursor to ‘Making Movies’
Great guitar playing and song writing. Sultans of Swing was the only real prior knowledge going into the project. Made me want to be driving in the west.
I listened to this album first thing in the morning which i think was a good thing to do! Its instrumentals are relaxing but funky which i really enjoyed. There wasn’t anything necessarily special about this album but all the songs were overall good! I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to play this album but if it came on i wouldn’t be mad. 7.5/10
Prefer later albums
Such a specific sound. Great guitar playing and sultans of swing rips every time. I think most of these songs are pretty one dimensional and repetitive, even though they all sound good. Sultans is the exception, that's just a great song. Six Blade Knife another one that stands out.
Dire straits is one of those bands that doesn’t sound like anything special if it’s just on in the background. The songs are pretty standard, his voice is ok, there’s what sounds like a lot of noodling on the guitar. But if you can listen really closely to that noodling, it’s fucking incredible. The ability to sit at the same instrument that probably 50 million people can play, playing in the same scales and patterns, and yet still be able to produce something unique just through style and technique fascinates me. What does knopfler have that the 50 million others don’t? Something undefinable Wild West end is my fav on this album. My three year old was having a tantrum in the backseat and this happened to be on, and when the guitar came in he stopped and said ‘dance daddy?’ And calmed down and started dancing. There’s hope for him yet
Quite a vibe! I like Romeo and Juliet by them and this is quite the same, very cinematic and laid back, almost sleazy. I liked Water of Love a lot.
Sultans is obviously a classic, but I enjoyed some tracks sprinkled in between. His voice is sultry and smooth.
Sultans of Swing is handily one of the best songs of all time.
Great guitar, great songs, what else can be said.
That was certainly Dire Straits. It was so bland/easy- listening, that I didn't notice I was listening to the next Dire Straits album...
Familiar with Sultans of Swing and a couple others from the band, but enjoyed their sound throughout the album.
Can’t complain about some blues-driven rock, and I’ll always appreciate one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time on Sultans of Swing. Made for some great driving music on a cold and rainy day.
Super clean and crisp recording! Exactly what you need so you can hear all of those precises guitar licks. An easily enjoyable album, and "Sultans Of Swing" is an amazing song.
Mark Knolfler’s guitar work is elegant and engaging. “Sultans of Swing” is indeed the best example, including the masterful solo, so there’s no deep cut to offer in its place. That said, the album as a whole is not in my sweet spot. And I’m unsure how to categorize it: Is it rock and roll but without the bite, or soft rock with teeth? It seems to be an elusive mix of lighter rock, country, folk, and a dash of blues, hey maybe even jazz? But the key word is “lighter.” Stated more positively, it’s smooth. I’m rounding a 3.5 up to 4 because I could see spending more time here…
Dire Straits commands your attention. The hooks are subtle, but the dramatic mood of the songs and the storytelling just draws you in. I am not sure what makes them so compelling, but they are. A very strong entry and long before the days of playing the guitar on the MTV.
Liked it. It was nostalgic and a nice sound.
sultan of the swing goes so hard Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: yeah 3.6
Mark knopfler has one tone but it’s a good tone
The riffs are so smoooth
Enjoyable listen at work, I think I'm a fan of blues rock.
Fantastic album, super debut for a phenomenal band
Love it. The guitar and voice are so distinctive.
Cool guitar 🎸
A pretty fantastic debut album with a a clear sound, clean production and good vibes all round
Vibes: 4/5 Instruments: 4/5 Production: 4/5 Emotional Value: 3/5 Storytelling: 4/5 Album Cover: +0 Stand Outs: Water of Love, Sultans of Swing Overall Rating: 3.8
Fuck Clapton, Knopfler is God. Sure some of the songs here aren’t particularly memorable but holy shit between “Down to the Waterline”, “Sultans of Swing” and “Wild West End” the mood is perfect for the masters of sad dad rock. The guitar is so silky smooth, the riffs chug along, and while there’s some filler it’s never a bad listen. I’m fully Dire Straits pilled.
Pretty strong from start to finish with two incredible tracks "Sultans of Swing" and "Down to the Waterline". The guitar work is superlative - such a clean crisp sound that gets my head bobbing.
Knopfler announces himself w the very first notes and the whole band demonstrates their incredible musicianship from the get-go. Kick ass album.
I could listen to Mark Knopfler play all day. Dude has such a unique, cool style. The songs themselves are generally pretty decent, but even the otherwise meh songs are made interesting by his guitar work. 4/5
Very fun chill music. 4/5
I very much enjoyed this debut album from Dire Straits! I feel like before this I really only knew ‘Sultans of Swing’ by them so it was nice to listen to an entire album and dig into other songs by them. I really dug their blues and rock sound and I would definitely listen to this album again in the future!
A few months ago, I gave that Brothers In Arms a 5-star rating based largely on personal nostalgia and bias, yet here I am listening to their debut all the way through for the first time. It's actually surprisingly fresh, feels lighter, breezier and less self-indulgent than Brothers... a bit bluesy but also somehow more optimistic and innocent. I could definitely find myself adding this to the collection when I find the chance.
Unfortunately most of the songs sound the same, but fortunately they are very good. I was going to give it a 3 and then Wild West End bumped it to a 4
I'm not the biggest Dire Straits fan, but Mark Knopfler is a god, simple as that! Unique sound, incredible technique. Great album, pretty key for guitarists and musicians alike.
nada, gracias papa por poner este cd en el auto. 10/11/2025 4.5/5
Dire Straits’ debut album is a brilliant introduction to one of the most distinctive sounds in rock. I’ve always loved Mark Knopfler’s guitar tone, that clean, effortless picking is instantly recognisable and Sultans of Swing has been one of my most played songs over the last 20 years. While I personally prefer Brothers in Arms and Making Movies, this album has a stripped-back charm that really highlights Knopfler’s vocals, storytelling, and signature guitar work. It’s understated but full of class. Favourite track: Sultans of Swing – a fantastic song that never gets old. Least favourite track: Every song here is worth a listen. Album artwork: A simple but stylish cover very “Dire Straits” in its understated way.
Like 70s Dylan with trite lyrics. So still quite good. 3.5/5
Debut album of Dire Straits. I pretty much know them for Money For Nothing because of the iconic MTV music video. This album is famous for the Sultans of Swing song, which has 1.6 billion listens on Spotify. I personally don't get it. While listening to the album, the song came and went and it didn't seem like anything special. I listened to it again and still didn't notice anything special....so I dunno. I think Down to the Waterline is the better song. Honestly the guitar playing on the album is excellent and incredibly polished. Hard to believe this is a debut album since it sounds so experienced. It's a good album.
#759. It's always interesting to me when you see somebody do something so well that it seems easy enough that I could do it. 4/5: great
While “Sultans…” is the clear hit, the rest of the album consists of accessible blues that are very easy to listen to.
The radio releases are great and the rest are pretty good.
I would give it a 5 just for Sultans, but the rest of the songs are like a 3, so the album gets a 4.
British Bob Dylan goes hard, especially for their first album
*Solid album- loved the guitars *Didn't realize Dire Straits started out sounding like this and less like Money for Nothing
All that guitar playing tickles my brain. Play this in the background while cooking dinner.
70s albums seriously have the best mixing and mastering. Love the dynamic guitar work and punchy rhythm section. 4/5
Music for cruising into the sunset on a motorcycle. I was into it.
Love a good guitar album. And this absolutely is it. Raw, which is to be expected for a debuting Dire Straits, whilst not my absolute go-to band for this type of music, I absolutely appreciate them. 4/5
A solid album. Mark Knopfler’s guitar work is exceptional. It’s probably just me, but there’s a fine line between really enjoyable blues rock and less enjoyable C&W. This mostly stayed the right side of the line for my palate, but occasionally strayed over. Nudges it down from a 5.
Sultans of Swing is probably one of my absolute favorite songs, and it has a hard time not eclipsing the rest. But there are some other pretty good things here, solid 4.
Not their best, but great guitars and Sultans is all-time.
Pretty fun album to listen to - that guitar riff is on almost every song but its great every time. Pretty much met my expectations
Pretty good guitar stuff. Sultans of swing best track
Classic.
4/5
Really good bunch of trad rock, blues, roots, country from some great musicians.
I enjoyed this so much. The production is fantastic and consistent throughout, and they're so in tune with each other's playing; it's smooth and seamless. 40 minutes flew by. Chilled me right out. Sultans of Swing is an all-timer and the only song I knew prior, so it's my playlist pick. I like 'em all though.
Das selbstbetitelte Debütalbum der britischen Band Dire Straits ist ein stilles Meisterwerk, das mit seiner unaufdringlichen Eleganz und musikalischen Präzision überzeugt. Mark Knopflers unverwechselbarer Fingerpicking-Stil und seine lakonische Stimme verleihen Songs wie „Sultans of Swing“ eine zeitlose Coolness, die bis heute nachhallt.
Very good
Great guitarist
Classic cool riff album. Clearly know who you are listening to when you put this on.
Down to the Waterline would be my top choice if I was pole dancing in front of a group of Dads. This is my first time listening to Dire Straits, but I had certainly heard OF them. I wasn't expecting this blend of melancholia, country, groove, punk and Bob Dylan-esque vocals. I've been missing out. I'm curious to check out the rest of their discography since they really hit their popularity after this.
Been listening to this immaculate album for a lot of years. Band is so tight, all the songs are little gems with one spectacular Sultans of Swing stand out for all time gem right in the middle, and Mark Knopfler's guitar I could listen to forever. And yet - I think it's his growly voice that gets real boring every time I listen. I love all the parts, I don't love the album so much. 4 for the parts.
This is a great album! Dire Straits have such a unique sound as far as rock bands go. You can hear elements of folk and jazz music in the mix, which is very cool. The guitar weaves through the songs in a really mesmerizing way. I have loved Sultans of Swing for many years. There are some epic live versions of the song with amazing extended guitar solos. Another standout song for me is Wild West End. 8.5/10.
This was a phenomenal album front to back IMO. I think it definitely has some standout songs, that outshine the rest. Down to the Waterline (The opening bit was super dope, where it dropped into the groove outta left field!), and Sultans Swing. Plus you add in the fact that its their debut album.. Not many debut albums on this list so far that have been as spicy as this one here.
I do enjoy Dire Straits, specifically Mark Knopfler and his badass guitar. Great musicians, with swagger and mood, and some good grooves. This album is mostly new to me, I know their Greatest Hits and their latter albums more intimately. There are some real classics on this album with "Down The The Waterline" (125M listens), "Six Blade Knife" (115M), "Sultans Of Swing" (their definitive song, at 1.5B listens) & "Water Of Love" (70M). It's just a consistent album, with no filler, solid tracks and it's where it all started for a Rock Hall Of Fame band. "Wild West End" was a real gem I didn't know. Man makes his guitar sing! This one stands up well and still gets airplay for the hits, but the overall listen counts, with no song under 22M, is super impressive. Longevity, popularity and influence, check. 4 stars
I like this one way more than Brothers in Arms. It's more groovy and the composition is very good.
I am convinced this band is deeply dehydrated, or made up of mermaids. The first two songs have “water” in the name…“Southbound Again” talks about the River Tyne…even “Sultans of Swing” talks about being “south of the river”. Heck, the band and the album is named Dire STRAITS! Like Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, someone needs to give these guys a cup of water.
Loved this more than Brothers in Arms. Has more pep in it's step.