|
RATINGS: A = must own B = buy it C= average
D = yawn F = puke |
Sting – 25 Years Box Set
Universal Music
Rating: B
It is hard to believe that a quarter of a century
has passed since Sting left the Police.
While many still consider the Police to be
the definitive best the man ever created, Sting
longed to go solo and leave the pop punk of the
Police to the past. Instead, he
wanted to move forward with more complex music that
featured elements of rock, jazz and world music.
This definitive collection shows Sting’s
musical vision and how it has changed over the
course of 25 years.
The box set consists of three discs of music
containing 45 tracks personally curated by Sting,
himself. Also included is an
unreleased live performance DVD and a hardcover
book.
The box set does a good job of including all the
huge hits along with many tracks that were nothing
more than deep album cuts. Sting
has reached deep and put out a set that really does
represent his solo career. The
highlights include such classic tunes as “If You
Love Somebody Set Them Free,” “Fortress Around Your
Heart,” “Englishman in New York,” “We’ll Be
Together,” “The Soul Cages,” “If I Ever Lose My
Faith in You,” “Fields of Gold,” “When We Dance,”
“Desert Rose” and “Brand New Day.”
Live versions of “Bring on the Night” and
“Driven to Tears” are very welcome additions and
showcase the difference between how the Police saw
these songs and how Sting reworked them into his
own.
The live DVD recorded at
Irving
Plaza is very good and is heavy on Police
tunes, including “Message in a Bottle,” “Demolition
Man,” “Synchronicity II,” “Driven to Tears” and
“Roxanne.”
The good stuff on this collection is great; much of
the rest is, well, boring as only Sting can be.
Sure, the music is complex and the
arrangements are musically fantastic, but the songs
can tend to put one to sleep.
Best to buy the collection then put the great tunes
on your MP3 player and allow the sleepy stuff to
collect dust on the shelf.
By Jeb Wright
|
