Dire Straits - Communique
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Free Music Notes for Communique
Free Music Review: Great follow up!
Hit: 5 Stars
Excellent second album from the most underrated musican ever! Mark K. is
just the man. He can switch from a beautiful ballad to a catchy rocker
without effort. Ranks right up there with Clapton, etc.
Free Music Review: Communique
Hit: 5 Stars
Regarding Communique.....
I had just discovered Mark Knopfler at a late age (78) and wanted to hear his earlier works......his music just goes on and on.,........mj wilson
Free Music Review: Dire Straits Showcases a Country-like Feel to their Sound
Hit: 4 Stars
Dire Straits is a band that would form in the late 1970s. Throughout their career, Dire Straits, they would do things much differently than many of the other bands during the "British Invasion" that was taking place. In an era where Punk and New Wave were taking center stage, Dire Straits were doing things the old-fashioned way: a combination of Classic Rock, Blues, Folk, and even some Country. In latter years, Dire Straits would migrate toward more complex and progressive arrangements and somewhere along the way they would become pop stars. However, the early days of Dire Straits would demonstrate their roots around Classic Rock, Blues, Folk, and Country. This was demonstrated on their self-titled "Dire Straits" which showed a simpler, more-stripped down sound than what they would eventually become known for. The follow-up album, "Communique" would continue this sound but focus much more around a County and Folk sound. Some consider "Communique" the weak point of the Dire Straits catalog, but I think there is plenty of good music on this album.
For the most part, Dire Straits is the brainchild of its lead guitarist and vocalist - Mark Knopfler. Throughout his career, Knopfler would assemble a group of musicians that would comprise Dire Straits. Like on their debut album, "Communique" consisted of Mark Knopfler on vocals and lead guitars, his brother David - also on guitars, John Illsley (who would be the only constant throughout the life of Dire Straits besides Mark Knopfler) on bass, and Pick Withers on drums. On latter albums, Dire Straits would demonstrate more use of the keyboards (for example Roy Bittan would add a new dimension by playing keyboards on the "Making Movies" album), but as on the self-titled "Dire Straits" album, "Communique" would continue to focus around a guitar-oriented sound. "Communique" is not a hard-Rocking collection and will have more of a soft feel, yet this still is a very good collection.
As for the lyrics, Mark Knopfler does some of his best songwriting on this collection. I like how he makes use of metaphors and storytelling.
Here is a track by track review of this collection:
"Once Upon a Time in the West" This song demonstrates two themes on this album....the "Once Upon a Time" demonstrates the storytelling capabilities while "West" demonstrates the Country-Western feel. The guitar work is going to be the signature of this song - highlighted by the "twanging" sound that is heard throughout this collection.
"News": Similar feel to this song as "Once Upon a Time in the West". This song combines storytelling with the Country-Western feel of the guitar. I particularly liked the instrumental ending to this song - which is highlighted by some haunting drums by Pick Withers.
"Where Do You Think You're Going?": This is one of the stronger songs of the collection. Instead of sung as a story, this one is song from Mark Knopfler's point of view. The guitar strings sound three dimensional as they provide another Country-like feel. The ending of the song has a great guitar jam.
"Communique": This song starts with a strong Country-like feel to it. This song took a few listens for me to get into, but after a few listens, it definitely is worthy of a title track. I particularly like how the vocals "slow down" right at the end of each chorus with "Communique".
"Lady Writer": This song picks up the tempo and is one of the earliest of examples of Dire Straits pulling off a faster tempo song. The result is the album's strongest track and one that stands up with the best of Dire Straits' tracks. Still the Country-like guitar feel is prevalent throughout this track. There are some also nice background vocals on this track.
"Angel of Mercy": Here is another track that highlights the Country-Western like guitars by Dire Straits. Here is another track that took a few listens before I got into it. Once again, this song is highlighted by some good background vocals by the band.
"Portobello Belle": Same story here....more guitar-laden instrumentals with a Country like feel to the melody. This song also has a storytelling feel, but this time from Knopfler's point of view. The chorus is subtle, but very effective. This is one song where Dire Straits highlights the use of keyboards.
"Single Handed Sailor": This song maintains the Country feel to it, however this song is going to contain some outstanding guitar riffs. The end result will not only be a very catchy melody, but a very good song. I particularly liked the instrumental about 2/3 into the track that will wind things up. The song also follows a storytelling pattern. I've heard many call this one of Dire Straits' most underrated songs - I couldn't agree more.
"Follow Me Home": This song opens with the sounds of ocean waves. These waves segue into some very gentle guitar sounds (with the Country-like "twang" that is found on so many of these tracks). The vocals don't start until about just a little under two minutes into this track. I actually found this the collection's weakest track, but it still isn't a bad track.
The liner notes contain all of the lyrics to it. Overall, this album demonstrates the songwriting, vocal, and guitar talents of Mark Knopfler. It also demonstrates the musicianship for the rest of the band. This album does a nice job in expanding on the foundation that was established on the self-titled "Dire Straits" album. On this album, you can understand why it wasn't so unusual for Mark Knopfler to record with EmmyLou Harris. .Yes, Dire Straits have recorded stronger albums, but this album still does a very good job at holding their own. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: second shot
Hit: 4 Stars
In a world with so many opinions, one is allowed, I would think, to change one's own occasionally. I had reviewed this album previously, and not all that favourably. That was several months ago. Since then, I have been reeducated.
I will say, straight out, that Dire Straits was the finest rock band ever in existence. Please don't send any nastygrams; this is a personal opinion, backed up, I might add, by a multitude of people as slavishly devoted as myself. That said, I was initially - and for quite a long time - a tad disappointed in COMMUNIQUE. It had the appearance of being produced in a bit of a hurry, to ride along on the wave of the first eponymous album. I have since that time taken each song on its own merits.
Right at the top of my list of all-time favourites - and it is difficult, really, to separate Mark Knopfler's solo work from the Dire Straits years - is Once Upon A Time In The West. I have read that this song is the result of an all-nighter fueled by booze and a bad late-night B-movie he found himself in front of; whatever engendered it, I lower the car windows, turn up the volume, and play it for the countryside on my latenight travels. The beat, the minor key, the growly rough voice; everything at once makes this a great song, and I never get tired of it; I have a 40-minute ride to work, and there have been nights when that song is ALL I play the whole trip.
"News", a song that sounds suspiciously autobiographical, addresses the issue of boys and their toys and the women who have to worry about what they do with them; I go back and forth with this one, and have to be in the right frame of mind for it. At the right moment, it really hits a chord. "Where Do You Think You're Going" is another one of my favourites, a song full of heartache and bruised ego; listening to it, I've never been able to understand how anyone could walk away from someone who could write those lines. Whatever. One woman's loss..."Lady Writer" is a snappy little piece made to boogie to. "Portobello Belle", which is the rare DS tune I've never been all that fond of, slows the pace of the album down, taking the listener on a sleepy stroll through a seaside town and observance of its denizens. "Angel Of Mercy" is slyly naughty and full of anticipatory hormones; forget Barry White, all you need is this song and a bottle of wine to manufacture the right mood. The title song, "Communique", is not a bad song, but one I tend to lose in the shuffle; it has a different sort of beat, and as with many of Mark Knopfler's songs, lyrics that inspire investigation. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to think that much about the words.
The last two songs are the best two album enders I can think of in my entire vast collection of music. "Single-Handed Sailor" and "Follow Me Home" are probably linked because they flow together so well, the first a jazzy, cool piece that makes you sway along with it, evocative of dark piers and salt breezes and seaport romances, leading into a deceptively slow invitation (demand?) for further romantic exploration with "Follow Me Home". One of my friends waxes positively poetic about this song, and it's not surprising; there are all sorts of visions that come to mind here, and different aspects of it come back to me at odd moments - the sound of small brass bells, surf shussing onto a beach, crickets, a sleepy guitar, a quietly hungry voice.
This album is the closest in timbre to the first album Dire Straits produced, but shows some evolution from it, a bit more innovative than the first album with different pacing and tones. After really listening to every song on this album, I have revised my previous review. This was the introduction to Dire Straits for a lot of people; nearly 30 years along, I know quite a few of them, and they are still avid fans. If you like Dire Straits, this is an important link in the chain, and a must for the music library of the real fan.
Free Music Review: not too great I'm afraid
Hit: 4 Stars
Update- March 18, 2011-
Alright, perhaps I was being a little *too* harsh initially. A good portion of Communique has grown on me, and in some cases, has grown on me significantly.
For some reason I didn't originally notice the downbeat and depressing quality of a song like "News", nor did I notice the catchy vocal melody of "One-Handed Sailor, and, despite sounding like a ripoff of "Water of Love", the chorus in "Angel of Mercy" is quite spectacular as well (though the verse melody in this particular track is probably better- best one on the entire album, in fact).
Even the title song has improved in my eyes and that's *definitely* a huge surprise because I hated it at first. The only real weak point is the closer- "Follow Me Home". It just fails to make any kind of impression on me whatsoever, plus the guitar playing is really weak here as well. Without a doubt though, the very best song is the opener "Once Upon a Time in the West". It's so good it should have been featured on the bands debut album instead. It certainly *sounds* like it should have been included there, anyway. Oh, and hating a song like "Lady Writer" is basically impossible. The rhythm of this track reminds me of "Down to the Waterline" a little bit, and the guitar solo near the end is fantastic.
Another aspect of the album that I somehow originally overlooked is the guitar playing. It's really good when the band makes the decision to jam out in a few of the songs. Unfortunately it never happens enough, which is disappointing. This is why I recommend the debut over this- the guitar playing on THAT album is matched with some astonishing songwriting. However, I'll admit my original review was an exaggeration and that Communique isn't as bas as I originally believed. Sometimes original impressions change, and this is a golden example. It's a good album.
Here's my original review submitted four months ago. I'll keep it here just for the heck of it.
After having the pleasure of hearing the absolutely wonderful debut album, Dire Straits fails to make the follow-up *anywhere* in the same league. Now the bands slower-paced, typically boring and musically devoid and uninteresting style of guitar rock has firmly taken hold with the release of Communique.
It didn't take long, did it?
The band had the opportunity to release exactly ONE glorious album before eventually settling into a routine of what sounds to me like pretty dull adult contemporary soft rock without any of the admirable qualities of their debut.
The debut album is NOT at all like this album thankfully.
However for those who love driving home on a rainy night and for those who prefer the atmosphere such a driving experience provides will *definitely* be able to appreciate an album like Communique on a level I'm not familiar with. The album does feel like it's intended for people who appreciate quiet, moody soft rock music in all its glory.
However I'm someone who likes to hear quality songwriting and beautiful vocals, and this album fails to impress me like the debut album does. I recommend skipping it unless you absolutely MUST find out what the bands second album is like, and simply think I'm exaggerating about its mediocrity. I'm not.
I have to warn you though- besides the opening track, it's much different and worse in comparison to the first album. It's just so gosh darn boring. There, I had to say "boring" even though I promised myself I'd never resort to using that word because it's just so easy to throw around a word like that whenever Dire Straits is mentioned.
PLEASE go with Dire Strait's debut instead and you'll thank me.