"we are fools to make war on our brothers in arms" (Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits)

Member Name: Going To California

Product:	Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits
Date:	27/07/00 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mark Knopfler at his best, the Brothers In Arms song is the best Dire Straits song ever. Money For Nothing

Disadvantages: none

If you are going to buy just one Dire Straits album (which is not a compilation but an original) then I would have to recommend Brothers In Arms. This album is perhaps the most famous of Dire Strait's studio albums, and features two of their biggest and best songs ever. My family used to have a copy of this album signed by Mark Knopfler...but it was stolen, to this day I debate over what was worth more; Mark's signature or the classic album.

Money For Nothing is the song that everybody knows, with it's unmistakable guitar introduction and the "I want my MTV" maxim that made the song so famous in the 1980s. Money For Nothing is perhaps often noted as being Mark Knopfler's standout track, but i would suggest otherwise...and this album features some of the other great Dire Straits compositions.

The albums eponymous Brothers In Arms song is perhaps the best song on the album, and is definitely one of their best songs of all time. Again it is unmistakable from the very first note on Knopfler's guitar and the whispered lyrics that serve to make you think perhaps more than any other song on the album does. It is a good sign off for the album, as Brothers In Arms is one of the greatest songs ever and is definitely one of the best and most beautiful Dire Straits songs (revealing a different side to the Sultans of Swing-esque music).

So Far Away is another great song, as is Walk of Life (both of which can be found on the Sultans of Swing compilation). Your Latest Trick is a well known part of the wide Dire Straits catalogue, and is another highlight of the album. Why Worry, Ride Across the River, The Man's Too Strong, and One World offer some incentive to buy the album despite owning compilations, as they are not available on other format.

Brothers In Arms is one of the albums of its generation that can rightly be called a 'classic', a tag-on used far too much nowadays. Mark Knopfler is in
inspired form, and the song Brothers In Arms is worthy enough of the money you pay for the whole album. As I said previously, if you only buy one Dire Straits studio album make it this one...a masterpiece from a truly wonderful songwriter.

1. So Far Away (5:12)
2. Money for Nothing (8:26)
3. Walk of Life (4:13)
4. Your Latest Trick (6:34)
5. Why Worry (8:31)
6. Ride Across the River (6:58)
7. The Man's Too Strong (4:40)
8. One World (3:41)
9. Brothers in Arms (6:59)

Summary: