Dire Straits - Dire Straits
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Artist: Dire StraitsBrand: DIRE STRAITS
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued
CD Release Date: 2000-09-19
Music Label: Warner Bros.
Soundtracks:
- Down To The Waterline
- Water Of Love
- Settin' Me Up
- Six Blade Knife
- Southbound Again
- Sultans Of Swing
- In The Gallery
- Wild West End
- Lions
Music reviews of Dire Straits
Music Review: This is where it all began for Dire Straits - Great Lyrics as Well
Rating: 4 Stars
Dire Straits is a band that would form in the late 1970s Throughout their career, Dire Straits, they would do things much differently than many of the other bands during the "British Invasion" that was taking place. In an era where Punk and New Wave were taking center stage, Dire Straits were doing things the old-fashioned way: a combination of Classic Rock, Blues, Folk, and even some Country. In latter years, Dire Straits would migrate toward more complex and progressive arrangements and somewhere along the way they would become pop stars. However, the early days of Dire Straits would demonstrate their roots around Classic Rock, Blues, Folk, and Country. Their debut album - the self-titled "Dire Straits" demonstrates a simpler, more-stripped down sound than what they would eventually become known for. In a lot of was, they were the anti-thesis of the stereotypical British Invasion band of the 1970s. This album would also demonstrate some clever songwriting - all by Mark Knopfler.
For the most part, Dire Straits is the brainchild of its lead guitarist and vocalist - Mark Knopfler. Throughout his career, Knopfler would assemble a group of musicians that would comprise Dire Straits. This self-titled album consisted of Mark Knopfler on vocals and lead guitars, his brother David - also on guitars, John Illsley (who would be the only constant throughout the life of Dire Straits besides Mark Knopfler) on bass, and Pick Withers on drums. On latter albums, Dire Straits would demonstrate more use of the keyboards (for example Roy Bittan would add a new dimension by playing keyboards on the "Making Movies" album), but for now Dire Straits would mostly focus around a guitar-oriented sound.
As for the lyrics, Mark Knopfler does some of his best songwriting on this collection. I like how he makes use of metaphors and storytelling.
Here is a track by track review of this collection:
"Down to the Waterline": This song demonstrates the Classic Rock influence. In a lot of ways, this being the first track on the first Dire Straits album would become a prototype of a good chunk of Dire Straits sound. That sound would consist of the classic guitar grooves Mark Knopfler and company would become known for. It would also be a blueprint for the unique vocals delivered by Mark Knopfler. Overall, while this is the first song it probably remains one of the band's best.
"Water of Love": The theme of "water" continues on to the second track. The guitar work on this one reminds me a bit of Lindsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac, but also has a Folk-Rock feel. Mark Knopfler does a good, yet simple job at using metaphors in this song. "High and dry on a long hot day.....I need a little water of love". The chorus is also very catchy on this song.
"Setting Me Up": On this song, the sound begins to move toward more of a Country type of sound. Country would be something that Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler would demonstrate throughout their careers. This song is as a-typical of a British Invasion song as you will hear, yet the band pulls it off flawlessly.
"Six Blade Knife": The opening guitars of this sound are terrific. You can almost "see" the Knopfler brothers plucking away on the strings of the guitar. While this isn't the strongest track, it still is a very good track because of how good the guitar work is. Mark Knopfler again uses metaphors - "Your six blade knife can do anything for you....one blade for breaking my heart; one blade for tearing me apart."
"Southbound Again": This song not only showed me the country sound, but it also showed me a Southern Rock influence. The guitar work and vocals gave me a feeling that this was an Allman Brothers Band song. Like "Six Blade Knife", it is going to be the guitar work that will be the ultimate strength of this track.
"Sultans of Swing": This would become a legendary song and put Dire Straits on the map. Along with 1985's "Money For Nothing", it is a signature song for the band. In this song, Mark Knopfler tells the story of a bunch of working class guys who want to play their own unique jazz sound in a London club. We are introduced to two of those guys - "Guitar George" and "Harry". While Knopfler does a great job with the lyrics, it will be the combination of the Knopfler brothers on guitar and Illsley on bass that will help supplement this terrific narrative.
"In the Gallery": While "Southbound Again" gave me a feeling for the Allman Brothers Band, this song virtually had me believing this was the Allmans. This song has the combination of Blues and Southern Rock that became an Allmans trademark. In this song we are introduced to another "Harry". Unlike the working-class "Harry" in "Sultans of Swing", this one is an artist who works in "Clay and Stone".
"Wild West End": While I wouldn't say this song has a "Cowboy" sound, it still has a very good sound. More guitar work where you can virtually "see" each individual string being played. This song has a nice chorus too.
"Lions": This song has a classic 70s rock sound. "Lions" are used as metaphors again. "Drunk old soldier he gives her a fight; he's a crazy lion howling for a fight". This song is slowly grew on me - I can see why fans really like it.
The liner notes contain all of the lyrics to it. This is the album where it all began for Dire Straits. You can hear how Dire Straits - and in particular Mark Knopfler would lay the foundation for the next 3 decades of music. While "Sultans of Swing" may be the best known song, there should plenty of other songs on this collection that will appeal. Highly recommended.
Description of Dire Straits
No Description AvailableNo Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: DIRE STRAITS
Title: DIRE STRAITS
Street Release Date: 09/19/2000
Genre: ROCK/POP
Classic Rock CDs
Music Genres
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