Dire Straits - On Every Street
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Free Music Notes for On Every Street
Free Music Review: This is a great Dire Straits album
Hit: 5 Stars
I never get tires of listening to this album. Mark Knopfler, who is known to be highly influenced by J.J. Cale, demonstrates his love for Cale's music in the track "When it Comes to you". Knopfler's effortless style of guitar playing gives him the unique sound that is so unmistakable when heard. Also, the last track on the album "How Long" is a nice addition of slide guitar work that should not be missed. I highly recommended this album if you are undecided on a Dire Straits CD. Free Music Review: The End Of A Glorious Journey
Hit: 4 Stars
The highest complement any band can hear is that it never really made a bad album. Dire Straits wins in this regard. All of this classic band's six studio albums had their own strengths, and rarely more than minor weaknesses. Such is the case of "On Every Street" - minor weaknesses might be described as the band getting a bit too focused on the low-key AC style, or veering a bit too far into bluegrass; but in the end, the music is, as usual, diverse and strong. "Calling Elvis" and "Heavy Fuel" are clever, made-for-FMrock-station tracks; "The Bug" is a fun rockabilly turn that was made into a country hit by Mary Chapin Carpenter; and the title track is, to me, the fitting epitaph to Dire Straits: a tale of a police detective, tirelessly tracking down a Jane Doe hit and run victim. Knopfler is, in a way, that tireless detective, and the average listener is the passive, unconcerned truck driver more concerned about his style than the fate of his victim. And the victim is like a musical holy grail, that elusive lost chord a guitarist searches for...the perfection in music that he feels he never could quite pin down. My own message to the band that is no more...rest well, my friends. It may never have been perfect, but it was always a pleasure to listen to you try to make it that way. And precious few have ever been closer.Free Music Review: Dire Straits Saves the Best for Last
Hit: 5 Stars
During the 1985 Live Aid concert, Dire Straits' live performances of "Money for Nothing" and "Sultans of Swing" would become one of the highlights of the Live Aid Concert. It was also the momentum from Live Aid that propelled "Money For Nothing" to #1 song status. It was the success of this song that would also launch 1985's "Brothers in Arms" to landmark status. 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. Dire Straits would take a six year layoff before releasing the follow-up to "Brothers in Arms". That follow-up would be "On Every Street" and it would prove to the last album of the band. While some people have been negative on this album, I think Dire Straits might have saved the best for last.
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. The only constant besides Knopfler has been Bassist John Illsley. Knopfler would succeed at bringing in high quality musicians to support the unique blend of music he would write. Knopfler is also widely considered one of music's legendary guitarists. In addition to an album that is well written from both and musical and lyrical standpoint, it is going to be the great performances by Dire Straits as a whole that is going to make this a very special album.
"Brothers in Arms" would be the band in which Dire Straits would emerge as pop stars. With "On Every Street", Dire Straits demonstrate their trademark sound - guitar work that has a good influence of Classic Rock, Blues, Folk, and Country. Country music has always been a staple of the Dire Straits sound and while Dire Straits isn't a Country band, they find a way to integrate it into their sound. On "On Every Street", Dire Straits shows a lot of the country style that was found way back on 1979's "Communiqu?". There also is a strong Blues presence on this collection.
One nice thing is the fact that "On Every Street" has been remastered and you really hear the difference. The music on this collection is going to reflect this quality - having an almost "three dimensional effect". Here is a synopsis of each track:
"Calling Elvis": This is a very underrated song by Dire Straits and I'm surprised that with their "pop status" that this wasn't a bigger hit. On this song, Dire Straits pay homage to Elvis Presley by writing a song about someone who believes Elvis is still alive. This song is the perfect mix of Country and Rock and clearly has modern flair to it.
"On Every Street": Another underrated song. The highlight of this song is going to be the use of the saxophone. You won't hear a Country music influence on this one. The keyboard work is going to be reminiscent of Dire Straits' work on "Making Movies". This song does a great job at "switching gears" as it features some great guitar work toward the second half.
"When it Comes to You": This song is going to have a big Country influence. The country-style acoustic sounding guitars are going to be the highlights of this track.
"Fade to Black": This song has a big Blues influence to it. While it might be a little slow-paced, Knopfler demonstrates how versatile a guitarist he is.
"The Bug": Dire Straits demonstrates another Country/Folk track to it. This would be a track later covered by Mary Chapin-Carpenter. This is a catchy song and definitely one of the better Country-styled tracks by Dire Straits.
"You and Your Friend": This is another Blues track by Dire Straits. I think the remastering really helps here as you hear the three dimensional effect of the guitar work perfectly.
"Heavy Fuel": Awesome track. This is a harder Rock song. I've heard the guitar riffs compared to "Money For Nothing", but I couldn't disagree more as I think this guitar work stands on its own perfectly. In this Knopfler sings about life's vices. This song also demonstrates the sense of humor that Knopfler has.
"Iron Hand": This song completely blows me away. It is a great contrast to the fast pace and hard rocking sound of "Heavy Fuel". The highlight of this song is going to be a haunting sounding acoustic guitar. This might be the shortest track, but it definitely is the most powerful.
"Ticket to Heaven": This song also has a softer feel to it. This song has a Tropical and near Hawaiian sound to it. This is a track that grew on me and also benefited from the remastering.
"My Parties": This song has become a fan-favorite, but isn't probably known to the mainstream. It won't be the guitar that is the highlight on this track, but the combination of Knopfler's humorous lyrics with some terrific saxophone work that stands out.
"Planet of New Orleans": Very good track. It has a good mix of Blues with some terrific Classic Rock. There also is some good use of the saxophone. These elements truly create a "New Orleans" atmosphere for this track.
"How Long": In what is the last track of the last Dire Straits album, the band wraps up by going back to the a Country roots that have been a trademark of this band.
The liner notes contain all of the lyrics to it. Some of the credits are incomplete (instruments are not assigned to the musicians). In way, I feel this might be Dire Straits' strongest album as they hit on a lot of the facets that have been trademarks of their career -with some pretty good music too. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Mark Knopfler forever.
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the fourth time I have replaced this CD. I wore out the original cassette, then 1 CD someone took from me, and then another CD was broken in a move. This is my favorite of the Dire Straits music. Can't live without it.Free Music Review: Not just any Street
Hit: 5 Stars
Dire Straits' ON EVERY STREET is one of the most misunderstood albums in rock history. Viewed by some as a whimpering follow-up to their mega-successful hit BROTHERS IN ARMS, ON EVERY STREET came and went so quietly that few paid attention when Mark Knopler & Co. called it quits not long afterwards. All glory is fleeting, but a band this good deserved more respect...and so does their farewell tilt.
STREET is a brilliant and subtle album, as understated as fine glass of wine. Missing are the synthesizers, crashing drumbeats, and extended guitar solos which marked most 80s-era rock; missing also is the upbeat, almost manic attitude that characterized BROTHERS. This album is melancholy as a rainy day. It summons up images of cigarette smoke and sippin' whiskey, nursed in some divey blues bar two flights below the boulevard. Of nights spent alone and heartbroken, but not defeated. Of sensuality, cynicism and backhanded humor. In other words, its a different and discreet sound, one which makes no attempt to compete with the long shadow cast by BROTHERS. Instead of competing with themselves, the Straits simply tacked off in a new direction.
Nearly every song on the album is good, and a few are truly magnificent. "Calling Elvis" sets the tone, combining Knopler's trademark melancholy wit with his traditionally understated vocals. "On Every Street", "Fade to Black" and "You and Your Friend" are beautifully depressing, sung in a voice barely above a murmur, and the more compelling for it. "Planet of New Orleans" is as nakedly sensual as the city itself, and "Iron Hand" is brilliantly evocative.
Not everything is so downbeat. "Heavy Fuel", "The Bug" and "How Long", sung in a rock and pop-country vein, pick up the album's pulse nicely, and "Ticket to Heaven" and "My Parties" sheath scathing social commentary behind their complascent good cheer. On the whole, however, ON EVERY STREET is as mellow an album as you'll find outside of the Mazzy Star catelogue, and probably no song better sums up its tone than "When It Comes To You"...the lyric could have been directed at critics of the album who labeled it dull, boring and underachieving:
"You've been givin' me a bad time
Tell me, what did I do?
How come I always get a hard time, honey
When it comes to you?"