Again I’ve only included original studio albums.
- Dire Straits
- Communique
- Making Movies
- Love Over Gold
- Brothers in Arms
- On Every Street
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voters
Have cast my vote satisfied that my choice won’t win. This is a simple divide though. If you came to them via the first album then you’re absolutely voting for that. Guessing few came via the second so after that you’re voting for your gateway album. Let battle commence.
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‘Live at the BBC’
G
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I bought that first album pretty much when it came out, and loved it. That was when they were a simple guitar band and before they became purveyors of pretentious crap, making records with silly sound effects that give audiophiles wet dreams, as a substitute for decent songs.
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No comment 
.
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Pretentious?
Chaps otherwise thanks for contributing, I could respond further about the lyrical and musical excellence of Love Over Gold, but we’ve got the proverbial spoiler in town.
(@Richard.Dane). Richard, would you mind closing the thread please. Thanks.
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I like a lot the first and Communique. The only ones that are still in my room.
Lindsay, don’t close the thread. You should know Nigel by now. Just ignore him, like many people do.
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I know but honestly.
Personally my favourite was the first album, although I do have a thing for Love Over Gold as it reminds me of a particular time and place.
It’s a shame to close the thread - any such poll will always invite plenty of opinion, not all of it that will be positive - but as you are the OP I shall of course do as you request. Are you sure?
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Richard, of course, let it run, variety of opinion is fine, in fact to be welcomed, and on that I’ll leave it there, thank you.
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Yes, it’s a great record but I restricted the poll to the original studio albums.
Pretentious, really ?
I agree that after Brother in Arms they weren’t very inspired, a bit like Pink Floyd after the wall. But pretentious ?
The Cure , specially the singer, were much more pretentious, if we can compare.
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It’s hardly spoiling anything. The whole point of a thread such as this is to invite opinions. If they are not wanted, why start the thread? Maybe you should specify that only positive comments are required. Anyone who followed the band’s development surely must agree that they went through a seismic shift. Some feel it’s a positive shift, others less so, and it has to be fine to express that, otherwise it becomes rather like a totalitarian state.
I thought there was some great stuff on On Every Street, the title track, Fade to Black and Planet of New Orleans is superb even if a tribute to Steely Dan!
First album superb, but despite Industrial Disease LOG gets my nod. BIA, from Ride Across The River onwards superb and what a title track.
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Er, I don’t think so. Portentous maybe, pretentious no.
Question of tastes…
I don’t like for instance Making movies. Love over gold, when young. Today not.
I tried several times to listen to Dire Straits after the B in A album. Never was involved.
The first album is something to me.
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Nigel, I think it’s correct to say they evolved rather than went through a seismic shift! Pretentious? No, there were a couple of absurd moments - Les Boys, Industrial Disease, My Parties - which I tend to skip, and of course like many their material will vary but News, Skataway, Romeo, Telegraph Rd, Love Over Gold, On Every Street, You and Your Friend, Planet Of New Orleans, that’s superb stuff.
“audiophile wet dream” I think you’re mistaking obviously well recorded and produced music for audiophile!
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JX review, 2004, on the Cure, in an « Epic party « :
« They add complex melodies just to show how pretentious they are.”
I don’t have a favourite. I do however like the ‘Local Hero’ soundtrack which brings back many happy memories of seeing the film on the big screen and being ‘young’ 
Back in the day ‘Love Over Gold’ was often used for hifi demos as I’m sure many will have experienced. One of the album reviews made it to ‘Pseuds Corner’ in Private Eye at the time.
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