Review 1 of 1

Deleanu writes:

4of 5 Stars

The Police have plied us with this wonderful greatest hits album featuring a number of the best songs by Sting & Co., whose mastery in this particular pop fusion genre has been quite unparalleled. In fact, there is no wonder about this eclectic style, since all the three Police men, including Sting, had been members of several fusion bands before they formed the group that has launched them into stardom.
That is why EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE – THE CLASSICS is informed with just the right dose of diversity, inscrutability and loveliness, while such songs as ROXANNE, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, and especially the piece which gives its name to the present album have become iconic. Another song, EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC, is romantic to the hilt with the music coming to life in noteworthy tint. Then, there is CAN’T STAND LOSING YOU. When I first heard it during my teen years, I was simply taken aback.
The three musicians put in the picture with a certain inherent originality older musical leitmotifs without letting their fans even realize that they have been influenced by so many artists and styles. For instance, while SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD is alarmingly baleful in its blunt portrayal and subject matter, the brisk and rather silly DE DO DO DO, DE DA DA DA comes quite starkly alive when performed by Sting, a stimulating and refreshing vocalist on all counts.
This greatest hits disc is definitely concerned with more familiar Police fare. WALKING ON THE MOON and INVISIBLE SUN, modern pop fantasias, are reproduced in astonishing sound on this CD: indeed, they remain particular favourites for these overplayed works.
The music of the Police is typically sweltering and romantic in its character portrayals. It is full of distinctive magnetism and this is also due to Sting’s looks and charisma. However, the music made by the trio is time-resisting: truly, all the pieces on this disc are strong, bold performances arranged with loving care by the three members of the band, and played with unashamed gusto. What a wonderful compilation this is! It is indeed a superb reminder of the prolific career of Sting and his colleagues, a career that has given us so many wonderful tunes. DANIEL DELEANU

May 23, 2007 20:43:20