Plastic Automatic FF-Flamgypsy™ Guits.

Cant stand this pretencious jazzy / worldy mash. Saw the last Police gig ever, that was something, absolute heaven. Saw him later with his Jazz buddies (can't remember when) on the Loreley Open Air theatre above the Rhine, and his band was sooooo bored and clearly over qualified for Mr. Sting.

Gordon wrote: "Finding a world in the smallest of a grain of sand, with holy infinities in the palm of your hand." No, I'm sorry, thats not subtle. Thats full blown, 100%, "I'm smarter than you and you're an idiot if you don't realize it," Grade A, USDA choice, pretense. And damn sting for just about ruining flaminco guitar for me.

Gordon wrote: Gee, I just always assumed that people who don't share my musical taste are dumb, ugly and stinky. Oops, wait a minute, that isn't very subtle of me, is it? Be patient with me, I'm just an American....

Quite the Latin bent to this AM's playlist, not that there's anything WRONG with that. An 8.

Gordon wrote: Yes, that's it -- It's too subtle! LOL! Good one! LOL!

Sting's recent music is just too subtle for some people (and Americans don't do subtle!). I, however, love it - it's high quality, classy and original stuff! 8/10 for this one.

Zeke19 wrote: Don't forget Ted Nugent!!

tg3k wrote: Off the top of my head ... Paul Simon Bob Dylan David Byrne Richard Thompson Willie Nelson Van Morrison (although I don't love his later work) BB King Dr. John Emmylou Harris Springstein Clapton to name a few. Yes Sting has produced a vast body of music, and yes, Sting has attempted to branch out in vastly new directions, but the world music-lite crap he has been focusing on of late marks the nadir of his decline. Just because he's taken risks and branched out into new styles doesn't mean that the music is any good. For excellent examples of an artist branching into new territory successfully, please consider the above-referenced Mr. Simon's 'Graceland' or 'Rhythm of the Saints,' Dylan's 'Time out of Mind,' or David Byrne's 'Rei Momo.'

tg3k wrote: Peter Gabriel. (Though I basically agree with you.)

Add another one of us who agrees with Pyro. Sting has continued to grow musically. Even if you don't like the direction he's headed during this growth, I can't see how anyone would deny his musical talent (and that of his backing players). Although this particular song isn't one of my favorites, I've yet to figure out the general vitriol around here on RP for most of Sting's music. I challenge all of the anti-Stingers out there to come up with something remotely resembling the body of work this guy has put out over the past 20-25 years.

I love Sting! I think some folks are just being cynical. Just becaue he's had major commercial success doesn't mean he's not an innovative artist with integrity. I dig this tune -- it may be commercial pop, but it's complex and interesting, too.

Ok, I have to chime in here. I'm not hating this like most of the folks here, but it's not my favorite Sting by a long measure. I agree with Pyro and don't agree with Zeke19. Also, although I agree overall with hcaudill, the comment about "3-chord garage rock" is an unfair representation of his work with the Police, which was definitely more innovative than most other popular music during that time period. I think Sting is a huge talent, and so do many the world's finest session musicians who have played with him. BUT, IMHO his work since The Soul Cages has been somewhat disappointing, i.e. the last album of his I bought was Ten Sumoner's Tales and that CD didn't get very much rotation. His work just lacks something that it had on those first 3 excellent solo albums... a sense of urgency or importance? I not exactly sure but I hope he gets it back.

Anyone know who plays the flamenco guitar intro? Paco Lucia? Best part of the song. BTW, I saw Dream of Blue Turtles tour, and I have to say, the best part of it was Roxanne solo acoustic. Nothing he has done since the Cops even comes close. It is a classic case of More is Less.

Zeke19 wrote: Brilliant assessment! Nailed it!

Sting, talent-wise, ages like fine milk.

On the whole I really like Sting (though I'd concur with some others that his "best" stuff was on the Soul Cages). He's incredibly talented and is always moving in new directions. And in fact I very much like several songs on this album, i.e. Dead Man's Rope, Never Coming Home, Stolen Car, Inside. But MAN OH MAN does this particular song drive me up the wall. I wasn't surprised to hear the mainstream stations play it, but RP? The first song I've heard on here I've thought really was not worthy.

I can't speak for this CD, but I must say something about the musical abilities of Sting. As a classically trained musician, I have nothing but respect for his music. He uses very unusual time signatures, and seems to be able to go from a "jazz" sound to "pop" to "country" with seeming ease. Anyone who is a trained musician can appreciate the MAJOR CHOPS of the musicians playing behind him. The horns found on most of his recordings are the very horn section used to MAKE the Motown Sound. If that ain't chops, then nothing is. Frankly, I think most of the Police stuff was good, but appropriate for MOR (middle of the road) POP airplay. I'm inclined to think that without Sting, there would have been no Police hits. Just another opinion.

Aaah, yer all a bunch of pretentious wanna-be music snobs who don't recognize quality when you see it. The Police were great, but frankly not nearly as inventive as Sting has been in the last decade without them. Just because he's moved beyond 3-chord garage rock doesn't make his output "smooth jazz". It's absurd to say that he's resting on his laurels when he continues to experiment with complex song structures and unusual time signatures. You're allowed not to like his personality, and you're even allowed not to like his music - but don't accuse him of slacking off. Sting = do no wrong.

i dunno - i don't really like any sting after soul cages (and only a few songs on that disc) but i kind of dig the "send your love into the future, send your love to some distant time" idea - kinda wacky

jberko wrote: Given the decline of his music, the past tense might already be appropriate.

ndanger666 wrote: ...agrees wholeheartedly...

Chunk wrote: With the likes of Kenny Kirkland and Branford Marsalis playing on the majority of Sting's solo recordings, I don't think you know what the hell you are talking about, musically. I agree that this latest CD is not Sting's best, but he continues to take his music in different directions. Not too many artists out there willing to take that chance regardless of the results.....

Wife Swapper!

Oh lord. More pretentious crap from Stink!

listening to this is stinging my ears

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Sorry Sting, this is pap.

This entire album is fantastic really, a must have for Police and Sting fans alike, as well as anyone who enjoyed this track, which is not my favorite, but still good

I don't care what y'all say, I like it. Any Sting is good Sting, the man is unbelievably talented.

philarktos wrote: i guess that you and i are the only ones here that like this song. i'm not understanding everyones' closed-minded hostility. ain't NOTHIN wrong with this song. well, maybe the disco drum effects were ill-advised. still, why does everyone here have such a bug up the ass about sting's new stuff? i think he's doin' just fine.

It's had lots of play on RP, and had lots of ratings (125+) which have given it the lowest rating of any song that I can recall (currently 4.3). On top of that, it's overproduced and soul-less. Time to for someone to yell "Next!"

When Sting retires, will he become known as Stung?

Go get tantric on the Mrs. and give up on music...please!

GV wrote: I'm not a big Sting fan, though I love Dream of the Blue Turtles, but would this song actually get airplay on commercial radio? If it has, then color me impressed. It doesn't strike me as something they would play, even if it is Sting.

iiiiiicky.

Sting? What is up with this? I could go to any fm dial in my neck of the woods and listen to this. Sting? Please. Stop.

The transition from Jobim to Sting honestly makes me cringe. Unlike Jobim, whose work in popularizing bossa nova served as a contribution to the world of music, recent Sting offerings do nothing more than serve as a lightning rod for criticism (as noted in 90% of the postings here alone). He's gone from great with the Police, to tolerable with a sprinkle of good in his first two solo albums, to John Tesh of late, and at least Tesh wrote that always inspiring NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament anthem"road to the final four" -Sting can't even point to that basic an accomplishment. There's just no place for him on playlists that feature such talented artists, there really isn't.

This song makes me wonder how great The Police would have been if someone else had been singing. Sting's solo career is pretty pathetic, musically.

"I can't stand it for another day....." When did Sting get castrated? Was it just before the Synchronicity tour? "Truth hurts everybody. Truth hurts everyone."

I really do not like radioparadise overplaying songs which are already overplayed in the local commercial radio stations already. And, even though I am not a great sting fan, I think he has made a lot more better songs than this one; it just plain sucks, IMO.

It sounds like sting has decided to stop making music and start trying to shove how "unfathomably" deep he is down the throats of people who at one time had nothing but respect for him. On the other hand, pretension has a unique ability to transfer itself from the "artist" to the fan, leading to such sentiments as "You don't like 's new stuff because you can't understand it." Suffice to say, Sting rapping about his "infinite levels of enlightenment" is not my idea of music.

Posted 20 years ago by Eul0gy    [ Reply ]

Back in the Paleolithic, when synthesizers were tuned rocks, Thag the Untasty invented tie-dye, bellbottoms, and the disco tweet. All three survive, but only the tweet flourishes, apparently deathless, reincarnated again and again by the likes of Sting. You can hear it in this song. If I could invent a filter for it, I'd die happy.

naaaaaaaah I'm not rushing out to get this disc. Maybe later... I'm not one to lump whole periods of a career into the dustbin. So far, I haven't been sorry to get anything by sting/police - always some worthwhile stuff, though an occasional yawn on Sting albums lately.

Ouch. Horrible. Less Sting, more Police please! Most of his ego-driven solo-stuff can't live up to the Police-days.

britrock wrote: I have to agree. Give me Roxanne please. Much better.

Yawn...... Anything by The Police is better than this.

Good lord, whatever happened to this guy...?

Platypus wrote: ditto :P

Me thinks Mr. Sting has been using a bit of the cactus...

It's growing on me.

redeyespy wrote: i dunno. this has a cheesy disco thing goin on, but the song itself is good. he's in the hands of the wrong producer! don't give up on sting. he's just on a road to a, hopefully, cool place tomorrow.

Did someone say "retirement"? Talk about trudging on way past one's peak! TEN SUMMONER'S TALES was, for me, the beginning of Sting's descent into mediocrity and below.

I like Sting. Always have. However.....this is very cheesy. Sort of what you'd get if they asked him to write a theme song for a James Bond movie...I guess everybody has their off days.

phineas wrote: Ha! I agree.

nolands wrote:

you know, I liked it at first. I still like it. Sort of. But it lacks something...oh yeah. Balls. Seriously - Sting's getting a little light. Maybe if we're lucky we can catch him on tour with Yawnni. How indeed, Andy and Stew. How indeed?

It's ok. But he should change his name back to Gordon if he's gonna make stuff like this.

Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers... How could you let this happen?!!!

Has anyone else noticed (or rather, does anyone else care) that Vinnie Calaiuta is billed as "Vincete Calaiuta" on this album? Bear with me, I checked it online and the disk is in the car so I haven't checked there yet, but maybe they're all getting old. Maybe Rod Stewart can open on this tour. Yo, Vinnie!!

Makes me want to go out and buy a Jaguar...oh, I mean an Oldsmobile.

Can someone go nudge that horn blower? I think he's stuck in a loop.

mrselfdestruct wrote: Jock finds himself in dire trouble. His business has gone bust and he's in serious financial problems. He's so desperate that he decides to ask God for help. "God, please help me. Ah've lost ma wee store and if Ah dinna get some money, Ah'm going to lose my hoose too. Please let me win the lottery!" Lottery night! Someone else wins... Jock prays again. "God, please let me win the lottery! Ah've lost my wee store, ma hoose and Ah'm going to lose ma car as weel!" Lottery night again! Still no luck... Jock prays again. " Ah've lost ma business, ma hoose and ma car. Ma bairns are starving. Ah dinna often ask Ye for help and Ah have always been a good servant to Ye. PLEASE just let me win the lottery this one time so Ah can get back on ma feet!" Suddenly there is a blinding flash as the heavens open and the voice of God Himself thunders: "Jock at least meet Me half way and buy a ticket!"

This song is another reason the Police should reunite. Sting has lost it.

The lyrics I can appreciate, the music is ...a little busy. :roll:

This is really bad coming from Sting, sounds like one bad song being attacked by another bad song.....yuck.....and I normally like his music.

On the one hand it is Sting. On the other, this has a pretty cool sound.

Johray63 wrote: Personally I'm ready to cut Sting a great deal of slack, as a mature family man, Tantric Practitioner and environmental and human rights advocate. Like it or not, pop mega stars take the position of demigods in contemporary cosmology, and it has seemed to me that Sting has had extraordinary good taste in choosing just what sort of minor diety he will creatively manifest. Songs like "Love is the Seventh Wave" and "Sacred Love" may strike some as "wussy" but Sting is in the happy position of not having to give a damn, as long as he and his musicians are having fun and there are those who enjoy what they put out. Which I do.

It's not good, but at least he's trying harder than most aging rockers of his generation (Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Van Morrison, etc.) Has anyone else noticed that the end of a rock star's greatness/creativity usually coincides with the first time they start using female gospel singers for backing vocals? It's sort of the musical equivalent of "Jumping the Shark."

sar5w wrote: Too much success and becoming blasé because of it? I remember an interview with Sting in which he accused his (once) idol Rod Stewart of that. Obviously it's inevitable. I also think that he needs too be creative and original and doesn't want to fall back on what he once did, in an easy way. Which is great, but unfortunately it doesn't work out all of the time and especially not when you're into business that long. Same thing with someone like David Bowie for instance.

sndsgd wrote: Has been released already! THe whole CD is really cool...

illini1384 wrote: That's the exact disk that made my respect disappear, too! Come on, Sting, win me back, damn it!!!

He's done better

what happened to sting? He got old and forgot how to rock. this sucks

I don't know. I guess I expect more from him. He has sooo much talent.

sounds like an Easy Listening Omelette: a base of Lite Jazz, a heaping mound of Muzak, teaspoon of dried out World Music, and a sprinkle of "Pure Moods"-esque Meatless Electronica. i'll pass.

Nice can't wait for the release of the cd!

I actually like this beter then his usual recent stuff. The Police was suburb. Hopefully Sting will realize that also someday..

I seriously didn't know which comment to reply to, so I wrote my own deal...I also used to be in the "Sting=do no wrong" category. But now--as one of my fellow-faithful listeners said, since mercury falling--he's kind of (and it pains me to say) FALLEN into the smooth jazz category. Respectable, but for a different audience so I feel lost, alienated, and saddened that my favorite artist... I just don't buy the CDs anymore. bummer. At least I still have all my pre-"falling" stuff and my Police boxed set. It will just have to do. Got bless and have a fun time in the sunset, Sting. Rescue a rainforest for me, will ya'?

New Sting, huh... well, it's less annoying than his more recent stuff...

how did sting change from a musician who was part of a great band that put out great rock songs to the master of wus rock?

Found it kind of annoying at first, but it's grown on me.