Dire Straits
Communiqué


4.0
excellent

Review

by Antonius USER (39 Reviews)
June 7th, 2013 | 57 replies


Release Date: 1979 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Overshadowed by its predecessor, Communiqué never gained the attention it really deserves.

Throughout his career, Mark Knopfler has been phenomenal. Starting his career with his brother David they formed 'Dire Straits', a classic rock band with blues and jazz influences. Their success was imminent: their debut Dire Straits in 1978 peaked at no. 2 in US and no.5 domestically, producing the epic ''Sultans of Swing''. Sadly, this has become the only point of reference out of that masterful release.

Almost one year later, Dire Straits hit the stores again; this time with the album Communiqué . People have argued that this is a blatant record trying to imitate its predecessor without offering anything new to the band's sound. Indeed, Communiqué doesn't have such an explosive track as ''Sultans of Swing'' nor is based around fast tempos. What it aims is to portray is a number of characters and their individual stories and it achieves that perfectly.

It is obvious by the end of ''Once Upon a Time in the West'' that the main singer, songwriter and virtuoso guitarist has an ability to combine his expressive finger-tip play with some eloquent lyrics. From that moment and on, a number of characters come and go. Knopfler describes everything with such a detail in order to make the listener visualize the scene and he does it astonishingly good. This becomes evident with the silky tone of ''News'', a dramatic song about a guy constantly gambling with his life. At a point later on and with a rhythmic temper he will sing about the ''Single Handed Sailor'', while through the peaceful ''Portobello Belle'', Belladonna who thinks she's tough will be the main attraction in the blind singer's song.

Without drifting away from the thematic scenery, the duo ''Lady Writer'' and ''Angel of Mercy'' have more energy than the average song in the album. It is through this swiftness that they give a rather different flavor to the whole album, with the former being the regular point of reference. The smooth ''Where do you Think You're Going'' and the exotic ''Follow Me Home'' deviate from the overall picture as they are smooth, simple and probably tell Knopfler's personal stories.

Dire Straits do not want to impress with this album; they have done that already. This is more of an 'establishment in the scene' album that portrays a mature band possessing proficient musicianship skills, and being able to produce impeccable lyrical content. These are the facts that should surround a band of top credibility, and Dire Straits surely qualify for such status.



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user ratings (279)
3.6
great


Comments:Add a Comment 
JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
June 7th 2013


62449 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

YES, this got a review

Awesome album, well-written, good job :]

Antonius
June 7th 2013


393 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks Johnny! It was about time

KILL
June 7th 2013


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

hardly ever jam this as s/t is so much better but sweet

CK
June 7th 2013


6104 Comments


Brothers in Arms >

stagemaster
June 8th 2013


27 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

''These are the facts that should surround a band of top credibility, and Dire Straits surely qualify for such status.''



Damn right bro !!

manosg
Emeritus
June 8th 2013


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Mark Knopfler is one of the best emotional guitarists. Also great review Antonius, pos.



And yes, Brothers in Arms is better.

RadicalEd
June 8th 2013


9546 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

good review. Good album. Good band.



I wish Knopfler would still make awesome tunes. Not boring slow drivel.

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
June 8th 2013


62449 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

And yes, Brothers in Arms is better.



Slightly, Making Movies and Love Over Gold are better than both

Antonius
June 8th 2013


393 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks for the support guys! I personally appreciate all of his work with DS. But i never told this is better than brothers in arms. I just think it shouldn't be so over-looked

manosg
Emeritus
June 8th 2013


12710 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

No worries Antonius. Anyway, my favorite DS is Love Over Gold by a large margin.

Antonius
June 8th 2013


393 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This is one of the few rock bands that you dont hear a standard answer as to which album they like most. And you can understand how each feels because there is so much quality in each album. Excellent band

Sciroccu
June 8th 2013


977 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

lol, my fav from them

Sciroccu
June 8th 2013


977 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

double...

Antonius
June 8th 2013


393 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I think mine is the self-titled one and i guess its a matter of time that someone will say "Making movies" haha

Matthaios
June 8th 2013


180 Comments


Great review, your summary was spot on.

Antonius
June 8th 2013


393 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thanks mat!

ViperAces
June 8th 2013


12597 Comments


I love LoG, but it and bia are the only ones ive heard by ds, didnt like bia as much but it was great

Antonius
June 8th 2013


393 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

give the first 3 a listen. they deserve it man

RadicalEd
June 9th 2013


9546 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah I like all of them better than BiA tbh.

ViperAces
June 9th 2013


12597 Comments


i will.; love sultans



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