I have always been on and off about listening to The Police i got there box set years ago and only listened to have of it, and as of this week i have listened to the entire thing

I Used to only know The Police for there hits and when they where always on best of lists i was like i don't get it?

The last 2 years i have slowly begun to see there genius more and more, first off Stewart Copeland is one fine ass drummer omg man!, he is amazing Not noisy or loud. Tonal, he was trained by jazz musicians and he holds the sticks jazz style. He doesn't just beat the skin or try to sound louder then the amplified instrument. He mixes the punk and rock/jazz fussion perfectly

Sting is a great singer and lyrics, i actually really dig there punk work Sting seems a lot more angry in those works. There last album was a great swan song and it of course had huge hits including that certain song that beat out Michael Jackson for song of the year!

But in all aspects i adore this band now!~, anyone else a fan?

Just a few...

Welcome to the Dawn! (As Prince would say).

"first off Stewart Copeland is one fine ass drummer omg man!, he is amazing Not noisy or loud. Tonal, he was trained by jazz musicians and he holds the sticks jazz style. He doesn't just beat the skin or try to sound louder then the amplified instrument. He mixes the punk and rock/jazz fussion perfectly."

Great observation on Stewart!

I've always loved Sting's writing.

Two more of my favs:

[Edited 4/26/11 14:05pm]

purplethunder3121 said:

Two more of my favs:

[Edited 4/26/11 14:05pm]

Oh man ADORE murder by numbers!

The Police were great!

I still listen to them frm time to time, my favorite period is in 1979 when they're trying to break in America. There are some phenomenal live shows from that period that have made onto bootlegs, and those are probably the Police recordings I'd pick first if I felt like hearing them.

I've had the box set for about ten years. I rarely listen to it but when I do I often think "gee, this is pretty great, why don't I listen to this more often?" They were great musicians with great songs and they definitely had a unique energy to their music but there's just something about the Police that doesn't click with me.

It might have something to do with the fact that I am a huge fan of the Jam and maybe I'm still jealous that the Police broke into the American market in a way that the Jam never did.

their reunion tour was great

Sting was nice to agree to do it

and yeah, the box set is the way to go

Don't Stand So Close to Me and Murder By Numbers are my favorite.

I wore the hell out of Murder By Numbers in high school which was

the b side to Every Breath You Take.

I'm a huge fan of them! I think they are my most favorite band!

I listen to them a lot. I missed their reunion tour, still sad about that.

I only seen Sting last year, but the Police is better , than Sting solo. You can't really compare it, but I love Sting also on his own. But The police is really the band I love the most for all these bands.

Some of my favorite songs, Fall Out is one of them! It was their first single.

I Burn for You is also bit unknown but beautiful song, and of course Don't Stand So Close to Me, Message in a Bottle, Everything She Does Is Magic, Wrapped Around Your Finger, Hungry For You, lot of their album tracks I love, actually I love all their songs, there isn't really a bad song.. ok Mother is not my thing , hahaha.

My favorite Police album is Ghost in the Machine.

How do you post Youtube vids here?

top 5 albums;

1. Ghosts in the Machine

2. Outlandos D'Amour

3. Synchronicity (difficult name to spell, lol especially from a Dutch girl)

4. Reggatta de Blanc

5. Zenyatta Mondatta

[Edited 4/27/11 1:13am]

[Edited 4/27/11 1:17am]

xLiberiangirl said:

I'm a huge fan of them! I think they are my most favorite band!

I listen to them a lot. I missed their reunion tour, still sad about that.

I only seen Sting last year, but the Police is better , than Sting solo. You can't really compare it, but I love Sting also on his own. But The police is really the band I love the most for all these bands.

Some of my favorite songs, Fall Out is one of them! It was their first single.

I Burn for You is also bit unknown but beautiful song, and of course Don't Stand So Close to Me, Message in a Bottle, Everything She Does Is Magic, Wrapped Around Your Finger, Hungry For You, lot of their album tracks I love, actually I love all their songs, there isn't really a bad song.. ok Mother is not my thing , hahaha.

My favorite Police album is Ghost in the Machine.

How do you post Youtube vids here?

top 5 albums;

1. Ghosts in the Machine

2. Outlandos D'Amour

3. Synchronicity (difficult name to spell, lol especially from a Dutch girl)

4. Reggatta de Blanc

5. Zenyatta Mondatta

[Edited 4/27/11 1:13am]

[Edited 4/27/11 1:17am]

YOU GO CHICA!!!! good choices

i think Outlandos is my favorite Police album! but to sure cause i have the box set with all there songs, i love Sting when he was writing the more punk sounding songs he sounded a lot angrier on those.

xLiberiangirl said:

I only seen Sting last year, but the Police is better , than Sting solo. You can't really compare it, but I love Sting also on his own. But The police is really the band I love the most for all these bands.

How do you post Youtube vids here?

[Edited 4/27/11 1:13am]

[Edited 4/27/11 1:17am]

There have certainly been enough conversations about The Police vs. Sting as a solo artists and I don't necessarily want to open that door again but I do think that when you compare the two it is very obvious that Andy and Stewart were not just Sting's backing band. There was a fantastic sound that the three of them had together that I do not believe Sting will ever be able to recapture on his own.

How to post youtube videos:

If you go to this link you will see that at the end of the url there is an = with this "fQ1sTL_TYUM" after it.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Q1sTL_TYUM

Each youtube video has a sequence of letters/numbers after it. If you copy it and inseert it into the middle of this:

[youtube] [/youtube]

you get the video.

Do not leave any spaces and it should be pretty easy to pick up. You may have to try a couple of times before you get the hang of it but it's fairly easy.

[Edited 4/27/11 3:05am]

This is my FAVORITE song, of their's....

rialb said:

xLiberiangirl said:

I only seen Sting last year, but the Police is better , than Sting solo. You can't really compare it, but I love Sting also on his own. But The police is really the band I love the most for all these bands.

How do you post Youtube vids here?

[Edited 4/27/11 1:13am]

[Edited 4/27/11 1:17am]

There have certainly been enough conversations about The Police vs. Sting as a solo artists and I don't necessarily want to open that door again but I do think that when you compare the two it is very obvious that Andy and Stewart were not just Sting's backing band. There was a fantastic sound that the three of them had together that I do not believe Sting will ever be able to recapture on his own.

How to post youtube videos:

If you go to this link you will see that at the end of the url there is an = with this "fQ1sTL_TYUM" after it.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Q1sTL_TYUM

Each youtube video has a sequence of letters/numbers after it. If you copy it and inseert it into the middle of this:

[youtube] [/youtube]

you get the video.

Do not leave any spaces and it should be pretty easy to pick up. You may have to try a couple of times before you get the hang of it but it's fairly easy.

[Edited 4/27/11 3:05am]

Thanks!! And yes, I agree with you. Most people when they think about the Police, they can only name Sting his name, and Andy and Stewart are bit forgotten. Shame, because together the made such amazing music. If Sting didn't have Andy, and Stewart, he wouldn't be anywhere. I also hate when people talk about Sting & The Police. I mean, hello!? Sting shouldn't be the most important figure of the band, because they all 3 important. They need each other! if Sting doesn't wanted to go solo, they would be still together. Because Andy and Stewart said that they didn't want to stop with the Police. But Sting wanted it.. so..

I like him, Sting his voice is perfect, and I love him. And I love his work, but It can't compare to the material from the Police. That was just brilliant music. I think if they didn't stop with the Police, they maybe will make bad albums, so maybe it was a good to stop. But it was also possible they made more great albums.

Now I can post , the songs Fall Out and I Burn for You, hehe.

Fall Out

I Burn For You

Hungry For You(from the Ghost In The Machine album)

About 6 years ago I began 2 listen The Police after a long time.

I also followed Sting's career and bought some best offs ( Sting& The Police)

but nowadays they are back in my top of fav bands.

I geuss when someone gets a bit older they go back 2 their past fav music

I bought Reggatta de blanc when I was about 11 years old, afterwards also Outlandos D'amour

(wich was a strange/more difficult album at that age).

The Reggatta album is probably my fav; the tittle songs is classic Police, Walking on the moon my first Police single, Message in a bottle, Does everyone stare is great, The bed's too big...my fav at that time. I love the singles of Outlandos but prefer their later work:

Synchronicity, Invisible sun, King of pain, Every little thing she does, Every breath...

After Zenyatta I lost my interrest 4 a while ( got in2 Hard-rock/Metal ) but like I said,

I never really forgot about them, or Sting.

The Police might be better than Sting solo but the song writing was always excellent, can't imagine

this kind of strong songs and melodies these days.

[Edited 4/27/11 9:34am]

xLiberiangirl said:

I also hate when people talk about Sting & The Police.

The record company started that with some compilations. The Puff Daddy remix of Roxanne was also labeled as Sting & The Police, and only Sting appears in the video for it. Technically, it could be called Sting & UTFO, since their Roxanne Roxanne is sampled on it. The lead singer is picked out with many groups. In some cases, many people don't realize there is a band and just think the performer is a solo singer (Blondie, Sade, Jamiroquai).

rialb said:

I've had the box set for about ten years. I rarely listen to it but when I do I often think "gee, this is pretty great, why don't I listen to this more often?" They were great musicians with great songs and they definitely had a unique energy to their music but there's just something about the Police that doesn't click with me.

It might have something to do with the fact that I am a huge fan of the Jam and maybe I'm still jealous that the Police broke into the American market in a way that the Jam never did.

wow, dude no offense but the Police were waaaaaaaaaay better

I downloaded the "Hits" album of the Jam and beyond the usual suspects (Going Underground, That's Entertainment, Town Called Malice) the rest of the songs left me cold...

the Police were basically the best british band since the Bowie/Roxy Music days and they could be considered as the quintessential new wave band; they updated the 1977-78 sound into something bigger/better, a pop supernova that was new wave but also FM pop, rock, funk, reagge and jazz. AMAZING.

People, forget your Jam, Elvis Costello, Television, The Clash, or even Blondie and embrace the best band of the whole 77-83 era: THE POLICE

[Edited 4/27/11 9:50am]

Can't Stand Losing You & Message In A Bottle are my Police favs!

JoeTyler said:

rialb said:

I've had the box set for about ten years. I rarely listen to it but when I do I often think "gee, this is pretty great, why don't I listen to this more often?" They were great musicians with great songs and they definitely had a unique energy to their music but there's just something about the Police that doesn't click with me.

It might have something to do with the fact that I am a huge fan of the Jam and maybe I'm still jealous that the Police broke into the American market in a way that the Jam never did.

wow, dude no offense but the Police were waaaaaaaaaay better

I downloaded the "Hits" album of the Jam and beyond the usual suspects (Going Underground, That's Entertainment, Town Called Malice) the rest of the songs left me cold...

the Police were basically the best british band since the Bowie/Roxy Music days and they could be considered as the quintessential new wave band; they updated the 1977-78 sound into something bigger/better, a pop supernova that was new wave but also FM pop, rock, funk, reagge and jazz. AMAZING.

People, forget your Jam, Elvis Costello, Television, The Clash, or even Blondie and embrace the best band of the whole 77-83 era: THE POLICE

[Edited 4/27/11 9:50am]

I'll grant you that as musicians the Police were better than the Jam but I'll take Paul Weller's songs over Sting's every time. On their first two albums (In the City and This Is the Modern World) the Jam were a fairly typical punk band but by the time of All Mod Cons they had developed their own sound. With that album, along with Setting Sons and Sound Affects, they pretty much laid down the blueprint fot Britpop roughly 15 years before Suede and Blur started having success with a similar sound. Their last album (The Gift) was a bit disappointing but that middle period (1978-1980) is some of my favourite music of any genre. If you haven't heard them I would urge you to give one of their albums from this time a listen. I also think that Weller was the best lyricist of his generation. I don't usually pay much attention to lyrics but I quite like most of his stuff. Plus you have to give the Jam the edge when it came to b-sides and non-lp a-sides. They had quite a few great songs that never made it to the albums. Of course I realise that I am in a tiny minority here but the music the Jam made means much, much more to me than anything that the Police ever did.

I also feel like I need to mention a couple of fantastic groups circa 1977-1983 that you skipped. For me the Damned and XTC are far greater and more interesting than the Police. I like the Damned because of their humour, many groups of that era were a little too serious. XTC's albums (starting with Drums and Wires) were packed with great songs that were a bit different than what their contemporaries were doing.

I've got the Police box set in my hands as I type this and I'll be giving it a listen with fresh ears but I don't think I will ever connect with them the way that I have with other bands from that era.

...

I'm a huge Police Fan!!!!

...

My music fandom was first dedicated to the Police. They were the best band around when they broke up. Until PR and ATWIAD came along, I obsessed over all of their albums. And they resonate with me now, though for different reasons. Together they were a creative (though volatile) force.

Has anyone listened to any of Sting's solo stuff?

Gunsnhalen said:

Has anyone listened to any of Sting's solo stuff?

Yeah. I've heard all his albums, and his music is completely different from what the Police did. Sting makes more music to ''chill'' most songs are bit slow, and bit jazzy. I think the Police better, but Sting has did also great things, but it's actually also just a matter of taste. If you want to get into Sting, you should start with his debut album ''The Dream of the Blue Turtles'' or ''Nothing Like The Sun'' these are the best ones of him, I think.

I think the Police also made couple of great B-side songs-some unrelease songs that only have been released on the Police box.

rialb said:

JoeTyler said:

wow, dude no offense but the Police were waaaaaaaaaay better

I downloaded the "Hits" album of the Jam and beyond the usual suspects (Going Underground, That's Entertainment, Town Called Malice) the rest of the songs left me cold...

the Police were basically the best british band since the Bowie/Roxy Music days and they could be considered as the quintessential new wave band; they updated the 1977-78 sound into something bigger/better, a pop supernova that was new wave but also FM pop, rock, funk, reagge and jazz. AMAZING.

People, forget your Jam, Elvis Costello, Television, The Clash, or even Blondie and embrace the best band of the whole 77-83 era: THE POLICE

[Edited 4/27/11 9:50am]

I'll grant you that as musicians the Police were better than the Jam but I'll take Paul Weller's songs over Sting's every time. On their first two albums (In the City and This Is the Modern World) the Jam were a fairly typical punk band but by the time of All Mod Cons they had developed their own sound. With that album, along with Setting Sons and Sound Affects, they pretty much laid down the blueprint fot Britpop roughly 15 years before Suede and Blur started having success with a similar sound. Their last album (The Gift) was a bit disappointing but that middle period (1978-1980) is some of my favourite music of any genre. If you haven't heard them I would urge you to give one of their albums from this time a listen.

Oh that's absolutely true, 90's Britpop was heavily influenced by the late 70's brit bands and the bands of the 60's invasion. I admit that Modern Life is Rubbish, for example, could have been released by the Jam as a comeback or something...

Oh, and I will heard those Jam albums (78-80), I only fear that they might sound somewhat juvenile, you know, lyrics about the youth and bla bla blah, something that I don't care for since I was 22 lol...

Gunsnhalen said:

Has anyone listened to any of Sting's solo stuff?

none of his solo albums is truly strong so I can't recommend them. Some of his solo songs are just plain boring and too preachy/arrogant. But his Hits albums is solid.

JoeTyler said:

rialb said:

I'll grant you that as musicians the Police were better than the Jam but I'll take Paul Weller's songs over Sting's every time. On their first two albums (In the City and This Is the Modern World) the Jam were a fairly typical punk band but by the time of All Mod Cons they had developed their own sound. With that album, along with Setting Sons and Sound Affects, they pretty much laid down the blueprint fot Britpop roughly 15 years before Suede and Blur started having success with a similar sound. Their last album (The Gift) was a bit disappointing but that middle period (1978-1980) is some of my favourite music of any genre. If you haven't heard them I would urge you to give one of their albums from this time a listen.

Oh that's absolutely true, 90's Britpop was heavily influenced by the late 70's brit bands and the bands of the 60's invasion. I admit that Modern Life is Rubbish, for example, could have been released by the Jam as a comeback or something...

Oh, and I will heard those Jam albums (78-80), I only fear that they might sound somewhat juvenile, you know, lyrics about the youth and bla bla blah, something that I don't care for since I was 22 lol...

Hmm, you could go either way on the lyrics. If you like Ray Davies' and Damon Albarn's lyrics I think you'll like these albums. I think you can draw a pretty straight line from the Kinks to the Jam to Blur. The lyrics on the first two albums are more in line with what you are desribing above, I think Weller made a pretty big improvement on the third album (All Mod Cons).

I don't understand how someone who is a big fan of Aerosmith and Van Halen, such as yourself, can be turned off by "juvenile" lyrics.

Anyway, I'd better try to get this thread back on track. I can see your point about the Police being the "quintessential new wave band" and also how "they updated the 1977-78 sound into something bigger/better, a pop supernova that was new wave but also FM pop, rock, funk, reagge and jazz. AMAZING." They don't necessarily fit into a lineage in the way that the Jam do and they certainly created a very unique sound. I'm just starting in on the box set and the first few songs ("Fallout," "Nothing Achieving" and "Dead End Job") sound much more "punk" than the stuff that follows. It would have been interesting if they had recorded a whole album of music like this. I don't necessarily think that it would have been a classic and it probably would have been their "worst" album but it might have had a naive charm to it. I guess they were a little too old and too good as players to stick with that sound for an extended period of time.

JoeTyler said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Has anyone listened to any of Sting's solo stuff?

none of his solo albums is truly strong so I can't recommend them. Some of his solo songs are just plain boring and too preachy/arrogant. But his Hits albums is solid.

What about his debut, "Dream Of The Blue Turtles" and "Nothing Like The Sun"? Those were truly solid....Nothing preachy about them.

shorttrini said:

JoeTyler said:

none of his solo albums is truly strong so I can't recommend them. Some of his solo songs are just plain boring and too preachy/arrogant. But his Hits albums is solid.

What about his debut, "Dream Of The Blue Turtles" and "Nothing Like The Sun"? Those were truly solid....Nothing preachy about them.

Yes, this is what I recommend too , see my reply couple of posts back.

These albums are his best.

rialb said:

JoeTyler said:

Oh that's absolutely true, 90's Britpop was heavily influenced by the late 70's brit bands and the bands of the 60's invasion. I admit that Modern Life is Rubbish, for example, could have been released by the Jam as a comeback or something...

Oh, and I will heard those Jam albums (78-80), I only fear that they might sound somewhat juvenile, you know, lyrics about the youth and bla bla blah, something that I don't care for since I was 22 lol...

I don't understand how someone who is a big fan of Aerosmith and Van Halen, such as yourself, can be turned off by "juvenile" lyrics.

ha! many Aerosmith/VanHalen lyrics are about pussy and booze, and hey, that's fine by me. I still expect to drink good rum and to a good pus*y when I'm 64...as McCartney would say...