Sting If On a Winter’s Night...

I'm a huge fan of The Police - but not so much a fan of all the solo efforts of The Police's members. The last Sting record I really loved was "Mercury Falling". "Brand New Day" had 3 or 4 good songs. "Sacred Love" didn't have a single good song, just about 15 seconds in "This War" which were up to old standards of songwriting and performance.

Still - every time a new Sting album is released I want it to be great. I want to love the music again and to see him on tour with good songs. But it seems he's completely lost it... No good new songs for about 10 years now !!

After the lute album and The Police's tour he should have been able to come up with a few decent songs, but it seems he doesn't have it in him anymore. So here's another record with traditionals or some of his own old songs. But it still could have been good if you do it right. Only it isn't.

The main problem is that Sting's voice and this kind of music just don't fit together. His singing on the new album sounds pretentious and just wrong. There are very few moments (like in "The Burning Babe") when I recognize old greatness in his voice (not in the song, it's still rubbish). And the occasional moment when he does some harmonies with himself... But for most of the songs Sting sounds as if he had been ill during the recording sessions.

"Soul Cake" is my favourite on the album - if you can call it that. Because the song is barely OK. The rest is so boring I'm forced to fast forward on every try to listen to the songs. He even ruins "The Hounds Of Winter" and "Gabriel's Message".

I'm sorry, I really am.

I agree that the album is generally terrible. His voice sounds like Rory Bremmner doing an impersonation of David Bellamy singing, and you just dread when the pretty musical entro ends and Sting starts singing. Its like he has decided to go to an operatic singing teacher, and he is trying to sound like he has a trained Baritone voice, but it is toe curlingly embarassing. If I were Trudy, I would buy all pressed CD's quick, and bury them in the ground!

I loved Sting I - The Police. I loved Sting II -- Sting. Sting III is this sometimes brilliant but mostly boring and mediocre singer of songs that no one wants to hear. Hey Sting -- these songs went out of style in the 80s. The 1580s.

Please make some relevant music again. At least relevant to more than the dozen people who will buy this Cd.

I'm definitely not an authority on Sting but I enjoy traditional folk and I really like this album.
I think it just caught me on the right day but it is great winter music that makes me want to be around a bonfire with a mandolin or lute while drinking hot cider.

I agree with all the comments except seans... The album is terrible with the exception of a couple of songs where Sting doesn't try and sing below his vocal capabilities... Its a shame as I was really looking forward to the new album...

I have to say I enjoyed this too. I didn't like the lute album which had a good idea but bad singing. But the vocal performance is better here. The songs fit together and the album has a neat concept. I'm still not convinced he's the right vocalist for this sort of thing, but they manage to create a mood on this album which is what makes it good.

I've only heard the album twice and therefore may change my opinion after several more attempts, but this is by some way the worst offering from Sting, ever!
Sting has a wonderfully natural tone of voice, but forcing it to sing in the these very low tones is clearly out of his range and comes across as very forced.
While I understand his point of view for recording this album, it offers nothing for 99% of his fans, and seems, at least to me, to be the work of a mega-rich musician who can do exactly what he pleases regardless of the impact to CD sales or the needs of his fan base. Please go back to what you do so very well!

Oh Sting, what have you done? What have you done??

I agree wholeheartedly with the comments on the previous entries. The only thing that could have saved this album would have been an excellent vocal performance but sadly, (and I love Stings "real" voice) his delivery is shockingly bad and out of place. The only thing that could have made this project worse would have been a guest appearance by the wobbly vibrato of Josh Groban. Get back to what you are good at Sting! I do love and admire your music and your phenomenal talents.

Listen with good ears is all I can suggest as what we have here is a superb collection of songs. It would be easy for Sting to keep churning out the same style and sound everyone has been accustomed to hearing for years. He has produced something that although has it's roots in the past is actually fresh and original sounding and brilliantly performed. Top class, gorgeous stuff.

To be honest, Sting leaves me cold. I hate the Police and their cod raggae nonsense and his pretentiousness throughout his solo career. However, I love this and think it will be perfect for the winter months and Christmas. Very good. Happy Christmas all!

hey, what the *&#k Sting? more crappy music from days of damsels and harps??? have you lost your friggin' mind??? some of your solo albums after the Police were decent, not good, just decent. But this crap you're churning out in the last two albums has only one fan. YOU!
give it up dude - there's nothing cool about a 57 year old has-been's musical wanderings at the expense of my ears. Better to release this sheeeet under Gordie Sumner!

I must be listening to a different record from most of the commentators as I hear nothing but top-notch music and singing. The musicians are pristine in their abilities and Sting's voice has taken on a timbre at this stage in his career that reflects the sombre warmth of the material. Sorry gang, but this is a winter/Xmas album to keep and enjoy.

I was really looking forward to this c.d. I had heard Soul Cake and was impressed. Unfortunately the rest of the c.d. is music to commit suicide by. Come on Sting. You've let us down again.

Most of you who hate this I would guess are under 30 and have a very hard time melding any life experience with this music. The Police, an incredible band, died along time ago, let it go. As an artist, Sting has gone into areas that thank goodness, go beyond pop culture and trends. He is aging very gracefully, not stuck in the 80's becoming a parody of himself (not like a lot of aging metal bands).

I like sting, but this album is a turkey in time for christmas. I'm not under 30 or hung up on the Police, I just think that Sting is trying hard to pull this off but failing miserably. I think that the atmosphere and concept of the album are good. The musical arrangements are on the whole good with a diverse range of ethnic/folk instruments which set the tone well. Sorry to say, but the vocal has a cringe factor of 10 making a mokery of any musical credibility the album might otherwise have.

I'm with Kevin. To say that this album is terrible is to judge it against the unrealistic standard of the past which is invoked by the writers who hated the album. Because Sting is a musician of considerable talent and ability, one must judge the music, arrangements, song selections and performances by his standard. Not the commenters. So you didn't like it...so what? I don't like some stuff too, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. The album is not intended for the pop culture audience, rather I think for people who, with more open minds and tastes, enjoy the creative (emphasized) talents of a skilled musician, arranger and song writer. It is also a seasonal album, one written for Christmas and Winter (the solstice perhaps). If you can't enjoy this album for what it is, then that is truly your loss. It is a fine piece of collaboration and work, one that I will enjoy each Winter/Christmas season from now forward.

What a refreshing album. Much respect to Sting for researching and exploring these songs, and letting us hear what they might sound like made with his hands, instruments, and voices. Yes, artists are allowed to sing/play out of their range made so popular by whatever radio station or record company has crammed it down our throats. In fact, whatever they create is not up to you. Sting might be a "mega-rich musician who can do exactly what he pleases regardless of the impact to CD sales or the needs of his fan base", but if you've been paying attention at all, Sting would be that same guy, even if still a teacher, and playing little gigs in little pubs on the weekends, going where ever his heart took him musically.

I know that anyone who knows Sting knows that he will not do something that isn't honest to him...for better or for worse. I admire Sting for WHY he does, not just for what he does. At this point in my relationship with Sting and his music (decades old) I feel I should give all his music a fair crack at it. I would recommend listening to "If on.." in a dark, cold room under candlelight. Not only is it as close to the actual environment in which it was recorded, but also the scene in which it was originally written. Context and scenery is everything.

This is a rather non-American album, and speaking as a practicing Celtic musician, it's no wonder mainstream Americans have such a tough time with it; this music is not for the mainstream. That being said, I can sort of imagine Sting trying to fight off the pretentiousness with a set of songs that have substance beneath them. I believe this is also why he's using his voice differently. Hopefully we're witnessing the rebirth of a gifted but (seemingly) self-absorbed composer. Talking to yourself in front of millions of people is no way to go through life, son.

Personally, I've disliked everything of his since the Blue Turtles album. On my own, I never would have spent a dime on this CD, but I received it as a gift, and I'm shocked: I love this record.

Congratulations to Sting for breaking free into a new world of "Not-I". I can only hope he continues.

I am a Canadian who just turned 60 and live in the Maritimes (the eastern provinces of Canada). The first half of the album actually brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps it was the scotch. This is not to say the rest of the album was not as good, but that music struck a chord within me. This is now early January for me and the recent emotions of Christmas were echoed in the music.

It has been suggested that the album is not for prime time, not for big stage presentations, and I agree with that, but man oh man would I like to hear the ensemble in a small town concert hall in East Coast Canada where by the way, if you are listening, Gaelic traditions are very current.

This album is creative. I agree that Sting's voice is an acquired taste in this new genre, but the musicianship and repertoire choices reflect a sensitivity and awareness, a re-interpretation of classic themes and motifs that deserve consideration. The recent BBc Tv documentary will attract greater attention to the album and this attention is merited.

I find this album refreshing and appreciate the new arrangements of centuries old tunes. Perhaps it's more of an atmosphere setter that you want playing in the background while curling up with a book, with the snow piling up outside. It's quite unintrusive in that regard. I'm not a fan of all the songs but I feel this expanded my horizons.

I have never been a fan of sting, but I just happened to hear part of this album by chance, and, being a folk/celtic music fan, needed to get it. It seems to me there are many people on this board that are being hyper-critical, and I kind of feel sorry for you. You should enjoy the fact that the artist is not marching to anyones beat, that is the definition of freedom that he's sharing with you. exactly what do you expect from the guy? a bunch of bubble-gum pop all the time? lol I feel very sorry for you

Sting thinks he can pull of anything musical which he tries. Well this is proof that he can't. Given this as a gift. While I do appreciate his stretching as an artist. This has stretched my eardrums to the point of breaking. He can't sing in this vocal range, in fact it sounds nothing like him really. Reform the remaining members of the blue turtles band if you are going to work on solo material that is worthwhile, otherwise get back with Andy and Stewart asap!