In Dire Need of Dire Straits

A trickle over the strings. A tickle in my ears. Rock and roll has entered the daily rotation and Dire Straits stands at the forefront of the obsession. In this little rock era I’ve been in for the past month or so, bands like Pink Floyd, Styx, Foreigner, and Led Zeppelin have taken over my aux. But the one that has had a consistent chokehold over my Spotify playlist has been Dire Straits.

It all started, like most everyone else, with “Sultans of Swing.” As the first single featured on their debut album, Dire Straits, this song introduced me to the grizzly vocals and jazzy melodies of the Knopfler brothers, John Illsley, and Pick Withers. The enchanting guitar riff sets the tone for a song all about a seemingly quiet band with a vibrant sound. Basically, it is really hard to hear this song and decide you aren’t absolutely in love with it. This little sub-six minute masterpiece probably changed the trajectory of all of my playlists for a few months after its discovery.

However, I am not here to continue talking about sultans or debut albums, I am here to talk about Dire Strait’s second studio album Communiqué. Released on June 5, 1979, our favorite little British rock band reached the #1 album spot in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Sweden.

An introductory riff as magnificent as “Sultans of Swing,” the first song, “Once Upon a Time in the West,” demonstrates the immediately desirable, soft bluesy sound of Dire Straits. The tranquil beat in the background even sounds similar to Bob Marley and The Wailers tropical reggae tunes. I feel rooted in the peaks and valleys of Colorado while also being somewhat transported to the sandy shores of the Bahamas. It sounds overwhelming, but honestly the riffs kind of elevate you out of your body anyway. How poetic and awesome.

Another one of my favorite songs, and also the rest of the world’s favorite, is “Lady Writer.” I have a confession to make. After first discovering “Sultans of Swing,” I felt Dire Strait’s potential and had a feeling I’d like more of their music. But I honestly really struggled and/or was looking in the wrong places (aka Spotify’s 5 popular songs). Luckily, my dear roommate played this little beauty on the speaker, and suddenly I was hooked back onto Dire Straits.

And I know you never read a book.

Yes, Mark Knopfler sent women back fifty years with this misogynistic comment, but come on, he sings it so beautifully.

The last song I’ll mention tonight is so-surprisingly one of the least popular on the album, but it has such a fun sound and message, and that is “Single-Handed Sailor.” All about wind gusts and sailing around the world, this song practically places me on a boat and ships me off to the middle of the ocean. I could lay on the deck and bob along to the little riffs for hours. Some part of it excites my ears like Christpher Cross’ “Ride Like the Wind.” Yet, it is jazzier and really embodies that Dire Straits vibe so much more.

To wrap this whole thing up, I pressed play at the top of the album and just let it play for our dinner ambiance last night. No complaints from my tablemates. We talked of stupid gossip and college politics, what coffee pods we needed to buy and the economy. Comminiqué was perfect for this atmosphere, but it really is just perfect for anyone looking for some classic and majestic rock. Thank you, my dear Dire Straits, for this album.

P.S. If you’re looking for any more rock inspiration, I’ve attached this little playlist I’ve been adding to below:

Rock N’ Roll