I don’t normally just cut and paste another reviewer’s comment but this little gem from Remaster Bob on Amazon just can’t be bettered and is certainly true.
“I hate to be negative but I am compelled by the thought that I can help someone avoid wasting their money they way I just did.
Firstly, this was on sale in my favourite shop right there in the middle of the rock/pop section and the Sting selection. Nothing to warn anyone that this has nothing of a rock-pop nature inside. In fact it has an appealing if chilly scene on the cover, and no warning labels. ["Contains music of an ancient and unsavoury nature"]. I should have spotted the Deutsche Grammophon logo on the back cover…but I didn’t. Deutsche Grammophon is a prestigious classical music label, although how they ended up involved with this drivel is a mystery.
The biggest warning was out of sight, in the CD’s booklet: a photograph of the new Sting complete with polo-necked sweater, a ridiculous beard (“Ahoy There Cap’n Ahab!”) and a packet of dried lentils peeking out of his hip pocket.
But my biggest mistake was listening to the first UK reviewer here, who put this collection of dirge and Sting’s much under-rated album “The Soul Cages” into the same sentence. Why did you say that? They have utterly nothing in common. You fooled me there, mate.
So, it turns out that this is garbage. A dreadful attempt at something, not sure what…raising awareness of ancient singing techniques? (I don’t believe you). How to sing with a pomegranate jammed in your jaw? (You didn’t manage it). Certainly there’s some fine musicians involved in support, but I’d love to hear what they thought of Sting’s attempted vocals. Take the money and run, I suspect.
Finally, whatever this may have to do with winter songs and lyrics it certainly didn’t evoke anything ‘wintry’ for me, and there was no whiff of any Christmas atmosphere (unless this represents Christmas time in a horrendous medieval monastery). All this made me think of was Room 101.
I won’t be telling any friends that I bought this. In fact I’m so embarrassed I didn’t even try and get an exchange at the store. Into the bin, first such fate for many years, and my conscience is salved because this warning may save your cash from the same fate. Needless to say, the one star is because they won’t let me give it no stars. Let us know if you ever find the plot again, Sting.”
I haven’t heard this one and going by the review I am hardly likely to go looking for it. It just seems such a shame that an artist as talented as this could stoop to such depths. I loved The Police, tracks such as Roxanne and Don’t Stand So Close, Invisible Sun, all great music. Even some of Sting’s solo stuff, in particular An Englishman In New York, etc, all wonderful wonderful music.
So what’s gone wrong? An attempt to cash in on Christmas sales no doubt, but surely he has now alienated those fans who got him where he is in the first place. Oh for the days when musicians just made music because they liked it!