The MG Album Club - #11: Communiqué (Dire Straits)

[Unsomnambulist]

Dire Straits - Communiqué (1979)



A classic, with superb guitar work. It has a western feel, while being modern at the same time. This isn't an album I was familiar with way back when, having only discovered it in the last few years. I had only owned a copy of Brothers In Arms, previously.

Mark Knopfler is a hell of a guitar player and does the same trick that Zeeba mentioned (regarding David Gilmour) of leaving spaces between notes. Knopfler is as good as Gilmour at doing that.

I rate this album .

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Ooh good choice. Look forward to spinning it again

 

[axolotl]

I never have heard this one in its entirety. Looking forward to it.

As they shout when I enter my local sushi restaurant: "Good choice!"

 

[lpfreak1170]

Not one of theirs I pull out too often...nice one!

 

[Ojai Sam]

Spotify link:

 

[Ojai Sam]

flisten. As noted elsewhere, I wasn't really tuned in to current sounds during 1979. Even more embarrassing, I still haven't yet found time to work through Dire Straits' extensive catalog.

Apparently their second effort earned DS a lot of "sophomore jinx" carping. All these years later, it sounds pretty damn good to me. With the guitars mixed up and the vocals mixed down, there's no mystery where the group's priority was. Still, the songs deserve the effort required to catch the stream-of-consciousness lyrics.

on the Sam-O-Meter.

Great pick, Unsom!

Spoiler

or Rick, as the case may be :nunja:

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

A great pick. I really enjoy Dire Straits. I haven't listened to this in quite a while. I'm happy to be reminded to do so.

 

[Nickyboy]

Well, there has to one detractor. And that would be me today. I have never really enjoyed Dire Straits, although I do recognize and respect their talent. Knopfler's picking with his calloused thumb is a very distinctive hallmark of their sound. And while that works on the first track, "Once Upon a Time in the West", I find the rest of that album to be too "same-y" for me. "Lady Writer" has good energy, but the rest of the album puts me to sleep. Again, I appreciate it, but don't enjoy it. I give it 2.5 stars.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Well, there has to one detractor. And that would be me today. I have never really enjoyed Dire Straits, although I do recognize and respect their talent. Knopfler's picking with his calloused thumb is a very distinctive hallmark of their sound. And while that works on the first track, "Once Upon a Time in the West", I find the rest of that album to be too "same-y" for me. "Lady Writer" has good energy, but the rest of the album puts me to sleep. Again, I appreciate it, but don't enjoy it. I give it 2.5 stars.

Actually, this was kind of what I was hoping for.

I enjoy Knopfler's guitar work for about that same reason. It's understated, laid back. He should have gotten the "Slowhand" nickname, not Clapton. And you're right, there's not much variety on the album. Now I admit that Dire Straits is only good for listening when you're in a mellow mood. But since that's pretty much my general demeanor, it works for me. (I think that's why I lean towards blues music in general.)

As an aside, Knopfler's solo work after Dire Straits is a bit too tedious for me. In an interview he's said he's long finished with the Dire Straits style and just wants to play folk music. I'm disappointed, but it's not up to me to direct his career.

Anyway, since I'm a fan of that guitar style, I know that it colors my impression of Dire Straits' albums. I was looking for someone to be more objective, so I appreciate your comments.

Wait, I never did make my own comment on the album did I? I like it.

 

[Nickyboy]

Now I feel like I should check out Knopfler's post-Dire Straits work.

 

[axolotl]

My experience appears to mimic Nick's. [Oh, wait, I mean Bramthorpe of Illinois.]

I doubt that you could call my commentary objective. Although I respect Knopfler's playing, it's clearly not my style.

Pros: It was inoffensive. I could work while hearing / sometimes listening to it.

Cons: Once the album finished, I could not say that it was a song too long, but it was definitely not any songs too short.

I also give it , with a glimmer toward 2.75.

I may check out Knopfler's post-DS work, also. [Is it anything like John Gorka?]

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Now I feel like I should check out Knopfler's post-Dire Straits work.

He did a couple of albums with Emmylou Harris. I was really excited to be able to hear these two stars together. Until I listened to the album. And then it hit me. Yup, two stars... out of five.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Nice pick, Unsom. Dire Straits for me is a group I'm always surprised (given my musical tendencies) that I don't spin more.
Making Movies gets heavy plays and (except for "Les Boys") is a near-perfect album. Their debut for me is just a notch down - still play it a decent amount
Yet, why don't I break out their other albums that much (Brothers in Arms, their big hit and a fave of many, is a really good album but never grabbed me like the other two - perhaps still affected by over-exposure in the 80s)

But I really never break out Communique or Love Over Gold (and certainly not the far inferior On Every Street) though I've owned all of them at some time or another (I used to even have their live Alchemy on cassette back in the day).

But it's unfair for me to have stayed away from Communique this long - it's a strong album with several really good songs. Interestingly for me I enjoy practically every OTHER song with the songs in between kind of ordinary but still with that mellow Knoffler vibe. "Once Upon A Time in the West" is a great mellow opener and love song 3 ("Where Do You Think You're Going") and 5 ("Lady Writer" ) a lot too (even song 7 "Portobello Belle" is good).

Played it before my recent vacation and finishing up another listen now - for me Thanks, Unsom!