CNN

Even with the likes of Who...

😁

I actually spent some time yesterday recording an entire Dire Straits set for a buddy of mine. I made sure to point out a few specific tracks he shouldn't miss. When it came to Brothers in Arms, I told him straight up: it’s easily one of the greatest songs ever written, period. Honestly, I feel the same way about the band as a whole.

Is anyone still following Mark Knopfler now that Dire Straits is gone? I mean, the guy still absolutely shreds, and honestly, I’m still out here hunting down every bit of his stuff I can find. He's basically the ultimate authority on the Isle of Man, I guess.

It’s honestly hilarious whenever my buddies ask me what I’ve been listening to lately, and I tell them Dire Straits, only to be met with those blank stares because nobody actually knows who they are—well, except for a tiny handful of us...
:down:

Jack Hill6 said:Is anyone still following Mark Knopfler now that Dire Straits is gone? Man, he still absolutely shreds in my book. I’m still out here hunting down every single thing he’s released whenever I can find it. Total legend on the Isle of Man...

I mean... you definitely stumble upon some gems, no doubt about it. But I wouldn't go so far as to say he's crushing it quite the same way. Honestly, none of his solo stuff really hits the same level as a classic Dire Straits album, even if a few individual tracks are killer...

Kenneth Martinez3 said:I'm talking about Dire Straits, and honestly, hardly anyone actually knows who they are anymore, except for a tiny handful of us... :down:

@ari pekka: I guess you might be right after all. AOR really has become 😁

Money for Nothing......
That legendary lyric

Jack Hill6 said:Is anyone still following Mark Knopfler now that Dire Straits has wrapped up? To me, his guitar work is just as incredible as ever, and I’m still out here hunting down every record I can get my hands on. He really is the ultimate authority when it comes to the Isle of Man style.

stormyviper11 makes a fair point, doesn't he? It's hard to deny that he isn't quite as much of a household name or as massive as he was back during the Dire Straits era. You could pick out his track "Roulette" (which had that great feature in the movie Desperado) or listen to his beautiful duet with Alison Krauss, "Running on Empty," but there's still so much more to his legacy, wouldn't you agree?

If you ask me, Hillbilly Blues is easily the best thing Knopfler's ever done in his solo career...

mainscream said:Have you seen "Singing Detective"? Honestly, it's probably the best thing ever put on TV, even if it was just a miniseries.

I wouldn't say that, but I bet it's great...

🤔 You really don't remember? 😲
It aired late at night, maybe fifteen years ago... I think the title was "Singing Detective".
I can't even tell if I sat through a full episode or what, but I know it wasn't half bad.

A little tip for you: think seborrheic dermatitis, a Philip Marlowe vibe, skin flaking off everywhere, getting yelled at by nurses, flashbacks—it’s basically a crime noir unfolding before your eyes...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090521/

Well, I think I might have lost a few brain cells over the years from all the drinking 😬 specifically the ones responsible for remembering the Singing Detective...

Here is a link for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAOq3TS6xis

Iliana Hajduković said:stormyviper11 makes a fair point. He just isn't hitting those same heights or grabbing the same crowds he used to back when he was with Dire Straits...

Say whatever you want, honestly, but I still think the guy absolutely crushes it to this day. Like, he moved on from Dire Straits and he's still got plenty of juice left—so much creativity and soul to keep building stuff. And as for him not being "popular" anymore🙄... Well, I mean, since when did popularity become the gold standard for how good something actually is?

Honestly, I couldn't care less about how popular someone is... But looking back at the whole Dire Straits catalog, I can only pick out a handful of tracks that aren't actually great or even decent. And with everything Knopfler's done since then, there are only a few songs that really hit the mark for me... 🙂 Not that I'm trying to tell anyone what to listen to... 😁 (though let's be real, arguing over taste is pretty much the only thing we ever do on this forum anyway)

Back when I used to listen to Dire Straits on constant repeat (God, that was 😬—probably over 15 years ago now), the B-side of the 'Brothers in Arms' album always left the biggest impression on me.

I’m honestly just relieved to find out I'm not the only one who finds those high-register keyboard sounds in some of their faster tracks a bit grating.

And, I guess I'm just curious... does anyone else feel like 'Ride Across The River' is... I don't know, something truly special?

Justin Morgan96 said:Man, I am so relieved I’m not the only one who can't stand those high-pitched keyboard sounds they threw into some of those faster tracks.

And I gotta know... is it just me, or is 'Ride Across The River' actually... something else entirely? Like, special...

Hey there.
Ride Across The River (and honestly, The Man's Too Strong too) is an absolute masterpiece, easily top-tier Dire Straits, yet somehow totally overlooked... It’s right up there with stuff like Lions or Single-handed Sailor...

Then there's my personal favorite—something that was never officially out there (well, maybe it popped up in one of those endless reissues by now)—What's The Matter with you, Baby?

As for that keyboard stuff... look, the sound in Private Investigations is legendary, probably one of the best ever. But that specific sound you're talking about? The one from Industrial Disease and Walk of Life? In my book, that's hands down the most grating thing in the history of pop music...

Her Latest Trick 👍

ole_man said:Say whatever you want, but that guy still absolutely blows me away. He kept moving forward even without Dire Straits; he clearly still has plenty of creative fuel left in the tank and enough material to keep building something meaningful. And honestly, who cares if he isn't exactly a household name anymore? Does popularity even matter when the craft remains this sharp?🙄Since when did popularity become the ultimate metric for quality?

I find myself in complete agreement. One can only assume that those who most aggressively criticize solo Knopfler are precisely the individuals who have never bothered to sit down and actually listen to his solo albums. Is it not a curious phenomenon how often the loudest critics lack even a fundamental understanding of the subject they seek to dismantle?
While I certainly maintain a deep affection for Dire Straits, one can't help but observe that solo Knopfler possesses a far greater depth of substance. Is it not true that his individual work offers a richer texture?
The first two albums by Dire Straits are essentially carbon copies of one another. The music itself leans heavily into minimalism, yet through those infectious rhythms, Mark Knopfler's masterful guitar work, and that smooth vocal delivery, these records manage to sound remarkably fresh and modern even today. Does anyone else find it striking how they maintain such relevance?
I haven’t quite immersed myself in the *Making Movies* or *Love Over Gold* albums just yet, though I must admit my affinity for *Brothers in Arms* remains unmatched. Is it any wonder? That title track alone belongs in the pantheon of the top ten greatest songs ever recorded. There is something about those synth textures paired with the guitar arrangements that truly gives one chills. Beyond that, one cannot overlook the brilliance of "Why Worry," "Walk of Life," "Ride Across The River," or "The Man's Too Strong." Even "Far Away and Money for Nothing" stand as exceptionally fine pieces of work. One has to wonder, can music even get better than this?
Regarding the *On Every Street* album, I wouldn't call it bad, per se, but it feels somewhat aimless—as if they were simply fumbling around in the dark, desperately trying to recapture the magic of *Brothers in Arms*. Is it merely an attempt to replicate a previous success? One wonders.

Now, when we discuss solo Knopfler, we are entering an entirely different realm of artistry. One cannot simply lump his solo work in with his previous endeavors; it requires a more nuanced appreciation. If I were to offer a recommendation, I would point you directly toward the Golden Heart album. As for my own personal inclinations—though I realize taste is a subjective and often fickle thing—I find myself repeatedly drawn back to Sailing to Philadelphia and The Ragpicker's Dream. They possess a quality that remains unmatched.
Unfortunately, Shangri-La has become quite diluted—a bloodless and rather tedious version of Knopfler. While the new album featuring Emilio Harris shows a slight improvement, it still lacks those standout tracks that truly give an album its backbone. Is there any substance left to be found?
While one might argue that Mark Knopfler is perhaps beginning to lose his creative edge, I find myself compelled to suggest otherwise. In my estimation, those three solo albums I previously mentioned possess far more stylistic variation and genuine inventive spirit than the vast majority of the Dire Straits discography. Is it not possible that true innovation often flourishes once an artist steps away from the constraints of a band?