Recently, we were looking back over previous Good Vibes album reviews and realised that it had been a little while since we picked something that had been released pre-1990. Now, you can hardly blame us for getting sucked into the wonderful world of 90s and 00s nostalgia, but life is all about balance, so this month we decided to dive a little deeper into the archives...
We’ve gone for an album that is not only beloved by millions of Dads across the world, it’s also one of the top-selling albums of the 80s, being the first album to sell one million CD copies (remember them?). It’s also the home of the first ever music video played on MTV in Europe (remember that?). Today friends, we’re looking at the all-time rock classic, Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits.
First up, a little history lesson. Lead guitarist and vocalist Mark Knopfler formed the band in London back in 1977 (a mere 6 years after the first Penta had opened its doors!) and quickly achieved success and proved his guitar chops with breakout single Sultans Of Swing. As the 70s crossed into the 80s they released a slew of albums that cemented the band as one of the UK’s top acts. By the mid 80s, they had the resources and backing to be able to fly to the Caribbean to record, as well as to utilise cutting-edge technology and recording equipment.
The outcome would be an album primed and ready to define and usher in a new era of digital music (CDs rather than vinyl). One problem though... the press didn’t like it. With reviews ranging from mixed to outright scathing, the initial reception was lukewarm at best. However, that didn’t stop the public from throwing their support behind it. The album went straight to number one in the UK and several other countries, and as time progressed and the years passed by, Brothers in Arms continued to sell more and more and more copies. Unsurprisingly, retrospective reviews were much more aligned with the album’s immense popularity.
But what makes it so special exactly? A good starting point to answer that question is with the second and third tracks of the record. ‘Money for Nothing’ is quite simply put, one of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time. Even if you don’t know it, you’ve heard it before. With surreal, tongue-in-cheek lyrics that detail a conversation between two working-class men watching music videos and commenting on them, it just works. Frankly, there’s no way a song about moving “microwave ovens” should be this good.
Following directly afterwards, ‘Walk of Life’ is also one of the band’s biggest hits. Driven by an instantly recognisable synth hook, it’s the kind of track that would evoke feelings of nostalgia, even if you’ve never heard it before (spoiler alert: you’ve probably heard this one before too). Whilst it sounds like it’s from the 80s, it also manages to sound timeless as well.
These two tracks are unquestionably high points of Brothers in Arms, but that’s not to say that the rest of it is lacking. Other tracks like ‘Your Latest Trick’ and the title track are also great examples of both Knopfler’s guitar work and his songwriting. This album brings together technically proficient music, and intelligent, vivid lyrics and packages it in an accessible pop rock album. This album may be turning 40 years old, but it’s still damn good.
Brothers in Arms was released 17 May 1985.
Still credits: “Dire Straits - Live Wembley 1985“ uploaded to YouTube by Archives World Music
