The Cars - Greatest Hits (SHM-CD) - COMPACT DISCS

Dire Straits' arresting self-titled debut arrived in the midst of punk's reign but couldn't have been further removed from the era's slash-and-burn style. Recorded in West London in February 1978, the band's tasteful, jazz-inflected set embraces folk, blues, and pub rock while also tracing a direct line back to the beat-oriented sound of early rock n' roll. Country and roots accents further distinguish the British quartet's stripped-down music from any 1970s peers, as does the transparent production, which has remained revered among audiophiles the world over - and which has never been better in digital than on this meticulous hybrid SACD.Even if you've heard this album hundreds of times before, you've never experienced it with such lifelike sonics and premium richness. This collector's set immerses you within the smoky, laidback atmospherics of every song. This is how all discs should sound.Crucial to every arrangement, Mark Knopfler's winding guitar lines emerge with supreme transparency and multi-hued textural detail. His intricate playing comes across as if it's being transmitted via his 60s-era Fender Vibrolux amplifier placed right before you. The cleanliness, dimensions, and live feel are that good. Rhythms skate and swirl; percussive effects resonate with crispness and attack; the leading edges of notes naturally decay.Dire Straits' strong, well-edited batch of original material further enhances the overall enjoyment and makes the record one whose pleasures go far beyond the organic sonics. Just as Knopfler's narratives pour forth with poetic and surrealist texts, the musical settings - an intoxicating combination of easygoing shuffles, back-hall boogies, and pop-honed ballads - mirror the old-fashioned soulfulness inherent in the classic recordings of the late 50s and early 60s. The lyrics are equally captivating.Drawing from his time as a youth in Newcastle,

Making Movies marks a magnificent turning point in Dire Straits' career. Considered by many fans to be the group's most complete album, the 1980 set witnesses leader Mark Knopfler greatly expanding his songwriting palette and setting his storytelling amidst more complex, involving arrangements. Dire Straits also benefits from crucial contributions from Bruce Springsteen pianist Roy Bittan and the departure of rhythm guitarist David Knopfler. The songs spark with a melange of poetry, passion, and cohesion that engages the senses and begs to be experienced again and again.You know you're in the presence of sonic greatness as soon as the first few seconds of the opening 'Tunnel of Love' pass, as the introductory passage built on organ and piano - new additions to Dire Straits' palette - intertwine with the unmistakable coil-spring twang of Knopfler's guitar. The three-dimensional, full-bodied presentation of the latter instrument on this Mobile Fidelity SACD is alone worth the price of admission. Crisp, rich, and balanced, the sound brings Knopfler's Fender Vibrolux and Music Man HD130 amplifiers into your room. The romanticism of Bittan's piano, precision timekeeping of drummer Pick Withers, and steady roll of bassist John Illsley come across with similar potency, scale, and verve.Always more about the whole than the sum of their individual parts, Dire Straits demonstrate that while Knopfler is the lynchpin, this record is a true band effort. Bittan's role cannot be overstated. His melodicism poetically complements Knopfler's subtle staccato rhythms and more than makes up for the exit of David Knopfler. Expansive and cinematic, the aptly titled Making Movies puts a premium on interrelated subjects (love, relationships, heartbreak) and deep-seated emotions that play out in heartfelt lyrics, intense singing, and epic frameworks. Everything clicks.The album's power isn't l

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing in gatefold jacket. The 50th anniversary edition of the original studio album remastered by James Guthrie comes in a gatefold jacket with posters and stickers. Album Tracks 1. Speak to Me 2. Breathe (In the Air) 3. On the Run 4. Time 5. The Great Gig in the Sky 1. Money 2. Us and Them 3. Any Colour You Like 4. Brain Damage 5. Eclipse