Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms (CD)

All Music Guide

Brothers in Arms brought the atmospheric, jazzrock inclinations of Love Over Gold into a pop setting, resulting in a surprise international bestseller. Of course, the success of Brothers in Arms was helped considerably by the clever computeranimated video for "Money for Nothing," a sardonic attack on MTV. But what kept the record selling was Mark Knopfler's increased sense of pop songcraft "Money for Nothing" had an indelible guitar riff, "Walk of Life" is a catchy uptempo boogie variation on "Sultans of Swing," and the melodies of the bluesy "So Far Away" and the downtempo, Everly Brothersstyle "Why Worry" were wistful and lovely. Dire Straits had never been so concise or poporiented, and it wore well on them. Though they couldn't maintain that consistency through the rest of the album only the jazzy "Your Latest Trick" and the flinty "Ride Across the River" make an impact Brothers in Arms remains one of their most focused and accomplished albums, and in its succinct pop sense, it'...s distinctive within their catalog. [In 2005 Mercury released a 20th anniversary limited edition version of Brothers in Arms in the Hybrid/SACD format.] - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read more Less