Brothers in Arms brought the atmospheric, jazz-rock inclinations of
Love Over Gold into a pop setting, resulting in a surprise international best-seller. Of course, the success of
Brothers in Arms was helped considerably by the clever computer-animated video for "Money for Nothing," a sardonic attack on MTV. But what kept the record selling was
Mark Knopfler's increased sense of pop songcraft -- "Money for Nothing" had an indelible guitar riff, "Walk of Life" is a catchy up-tempo boogie variation on "Sultans of Swing," and the melodies of the bluesy "So Far Away" and the down-tempo,
Everly Brothers-style "Why Worry" were wistful and lovely.
Dire Straits had never been so concise or pop-oriented, and it wore well on them. Though they couldn't maintain that consistency through the rest of the album -- only the jazzy "Your Latest Trick" and the flinty "Ride Across the River" make an impact --
Brothers in Arms remains one of their most focused and accomplished albums, and in its succinct pop sense, it's distinctive within their catalog. [In 2005 Mercury released a 20th anniversary limited edition version of
Brothers in Arms in the Hybrid/SACD format.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine