Do Dire Straits Count as Prog? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Thanks to all those who have replied - Wikipedia does classify Love over Gold as prog, but, after listening to some of their other stuff, I don't think they really ever went further into the genre. Mark Knopfler is a great guitarist though.

richardh wrote:

No , just a terribly overrated band with annoying vocals (like U2 and many other eighties bands) .

Yeah, I could probably go with this....

My dislike of DS may be marginally less than yours. but alongside U2 they do represent an 1980's, I'd rather forget; the 'cool' kids at school, strutting around in Rattle & Hum, or Brothers in Arms tee shirts, like they'd just discovered the guitar. They needed reminding that two years before they were listening to A-Ha and Go West (both of which I'd also rather listen to than U2 & DS

)

Dire Straights, U2, INXS et al = Rock music for people who don't like rock music.

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

SteveG wrote:

^ You were bored to death by Making Movies?

even the album sleeve is boring as hell Sleepy

And Solid Puke is a total repellent à la Walk Of Life

jamesbaldwin wrote:

The B side of their albums are usually less beatiful than side A.

Not so with BIA Wink

I actually like the first two DS albums better than the others. Oh well, I suppose we're all different Smile

.

I'll have a Dire Straits Top 7 Songs poll coming up soon, which was inspired by this thread.

No

Drew Fisher
https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/

The Love Over Gold album does perhaps (and "Telegraph Road" in particular). Apart from that, not really. I really like them nonetheless.

Catcher10 wrote:

Nah....there is no progressive rock music in their albums.

There is no "prog" music in their albums. I think they have their "progressive" moments, but wouldn't consider them overall as progressive rock, nor should they have an entry on PA. Though maybe we need a database for bands that many prog fans enjoy that are not prog or qualify for prog-related. "If you like prog, you might like these bands/artists."

SteveG wrote:

No, DS are not prog but it's easy to see why prog fans would like a sophisticated album like Love Over Gold or Making Movies. Good stuff.

If DS had made three stupendous albums ala Love Over Gold, I'd say that they could have a shot at PA, but otherwise no.

While I still love their debut Clap

, their next two albums bore me to death. Sleepy

And TBH, at first, I almost didn't pay attention to LOG because all you heard was Industrial Disease (musically the weakest on that album) over the radio, and at the time, I was diving into 60's psych and 70's JR/F and soon afterwards 60's jazz. But that was one hell of an album. Star

; but, I could've easily missed it altogether.

I was expecting very much out of their next release , which turned out to be awful Twisting EP, which was a complete turn off. I wasn't impressed at BIA either at first, because if I didn't mind MFN, I hated the other hits out of it, and by that time, I was almost completely out of the "rock thing". Then I heard at a GF's place the second side of the BIA album, and I found it rather nice (much more in the LOG mood) with strong stuff

One of DS' facet is the roots thing, and this is a gigantic turn off for me, with tracks like Walk Of Life and stuff like that. Very irritating, to the point that if it comes on the radio, I will switch stations.

BTW, I never really warmed to Alchemy Live, though most people rave about it.

No. Their music was originally based in pub and club blues, but they were certainly a damned fine band.

Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org

Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time!