As far as covers go, it's new it's creative, and would still sound good if you'd never heard the dire straits. I dig it man.
Fun fact: Mark Knopfler, the lead guitarist from the Dire Straits is also a pretty incredible classic country musician. He's put out at least a couple albums playing with Chet Atkins, on account of their similar fingerpicking styles.
Ah man... What they've done to one of the single best guitar solos of all time is a really tragedy. Otherwise it's pretty good. I hear some influence from Don Henley's Boys of Summer in the overall sound.