Amazon.co.uk Review
A strain of deep ennui pervades this, the sixth (and, to date, final) studio album from one of the most wildly successful bands of the 1980s. This time, though, it's the sound of an older, rather less inspired songwriter: from the amiable R&B of "Calling Elvis", to the modest countrified picking of "How Long",
Mark Knopfler seems to have left his rock inclinations far behind--allowing himself only a token indulgence, on the lumbering, "Heavy Fuel". It's not a complete waste of time: his guitar work, while untethered to anything especially interesting, remains evocative; and the best track here--the sexually-belligerent, richly atmospheric "You And Your Friend"--recalls the dark view of human relations (and the splendid dobro lead work) he featured on "Private Investigations". But for the most part, this is the sound of a man losing interest in his own life.
--Andrew McGuire
CD Description
In the six-year hiatus between BROTHERS IN ARMS and ON EVERY STREET, Mark Knopfler immersed himself in soundtrack work and occasional collaborations with other artists. Knopfler was always hugely influenced by country music, and his passion for this genre was predictably inflamed by winning a pair of 1990 Grammys for his work with Chet Atkins on NECK & NECK. This led to the Scottish guitarist reuniting Dire Straits for what would be the group's final studio album.
With his trademark twangy guitar in tow, Knopfler indulges his loveof the American South with odes to Memphis (the chugging "Calling Elvis") and Louisiana (a moody "Planet Of New Orleans"). Throughout STREET, Dire Straits does an impressive job trying on various styles, including infectious rockabilly ("The Bug"), lush countrypolitan ("Ticket To Heaven"), and Appalachian-flavoured folk ("Iron Hand"). Elsewhere, Knopfler does his best Dylan vocal on the film-noir blues of "Fade To Black" and has fun playing a boor obsessed with material possessions (the lite-jazz-flavoured "My Parties").