Jeez.. could everyone wait until this new album is actually released before declaring it as Sting's worst piece of work ever, or indeed best piece of work! Come on, give people a chance to actually listen to it!! Some of us have to wait until 2nd November and thats if I can even find it in the shops, ordering it online is a joke with the postal strikes happening right now! So it probably will be christmas by the time I hear the whole album! Seriously, how many people have sat down with the actual CD of If on a Winters Night and listened to it all the way through? (Apart from the ones given out by singus)! And if so where have you got it from?! :P

Sorry I needed a rant!

And of course I meant stingus not singus, oops!

In which country will it be released in November? The release in Germany was last friday.... so it's constantly running in my cd-player.

The thing is if you try to compare that album with the likes of Dream of the blue turtles, Nothing like the sun or even A police album, I guess it's understandable people find this album bs. Having said that, at least that means that Sting is a better composer than those people he hold in affection. And you know, maybe that's what he means. "Look guys, some of the greatest songs from John Dowland and Christmas aren't getting even close to what I've done" xD

He's a funny man afterall ^^

I was making noise about the pre-released reviews earlier and like you got frustrated.

I've listened to almost all of the songs but have not listened to it as a whole in a single sitting.... Computer speakers and all being half the reason. A DVD/CDR burner that has bitten the dust being the other.

First off the album is not bear grumping - pregnant or otherwise. I like the style of vocals he's using in the album as it fits the material laid out, but it is very much different on a whole from what we as fans are use to. And I feel that is the biggest complaint that exists regarding this project. That or people have stuck Sting into a box that includes the Police and expect only that type of sound.

I'm appreciative of the review by Project, and the song by song break downs so far done by Bahtology. I even respect and appreciate Karl's review stating that it sounded like grumping bear and an album he won't play again and has left it at that. Trini's reviews while not at refined as Bahtology have created frothing of the mouth among those that complain about this project. Trini's reviews have been "Trinicative" (a word I just tossed together) meaning to be informative but can rub people the wrong way at times. Not to be confused with reggadabladd meaning to repeat the same mantra time after time after time after time after... just keep repeating it.

But Glarbage and Lady Dolphin have a point in that we haven't all had a chance to listen to it and my final review won't occur until I've had that opportunity.

It is the responses and the replies and actions by certain member of Stingus.net that has driven me to more or less leave Stingus and live under the rock as it is. The constant childish fighting, some of which has been fun at the start but become stale like old rotted milk dipped into cheap tasteless chocolate chip cookies while eating Halloween candy from last year. It was all good at one time but now it makes one sick. It's somewhat like listening to Rush Limbaugh and then waiting for all the so called republican supporters that happen to be raciest in views to start bashing the one or two individuals that opposes that view. The example is extreme that is what this bickering eventually starts to feel like. Worst of all it serves no purpose in the end.

As for the album my first impression is that its good but not great. But that was my impression of "The Soul Cages" when it first came out. Its not going to be an album that I'm going to play with all my friends around, oh wait thats the case with my entire Sting collection. Same thing happened with "Songs of the Labyrinth". But then again I'm somewhat private and when I have something to say its usually short and is often done in humor.

It has taken me lots of effort on my behalf to even post the cartoons that I've submitted here. MY risk if you will. Not something that I feel all too comfortable doing as I'm leaving that safe spot I've enjoyed. "If on a winter's night" is both a risk and not a risk. It is a risk in the fact that many fans aren't going to react in a positive light instead longing for the days of the Police or the jazzier Sting solo works. But its also not a risk in the fact that it allows Sting to move on both as an individual and as an artist.

At least Sting in that one article stated that he's still has that rock band to dabble with and maybe once they do an album we will all have something to agree on....

Durham Cathedral's Sanctuary Knocker has a hole in it's head!

so as sheep pointed out, If On A Winter's Night was already released in Germany. it appears to be receiving very favorable reviews. and it's averaging four stars from Sting fans on the Amazon Deutschland site. this is very encouraging. most are praising Sting for his versatility and willingness to take risks. some, probably those who only casually keep up with news of Sting, pointed out that they were actually expecting a return to pop music, and yet they still labelled it a good album, giving it four stars.

i just have to share these two comments, which are from the tiny minority who feel negatively about the cd and only gave it one star:

"Sounds a bit like Celtic Christmas music. Boring!"
"A once great composer has changed."

do you guys also detect any resemblance to the mindset of Rolling Stone readers? perhaps they have subscriptions to Walzen Stein? :)

So how come Germany and the US get this album before the UK?!

To be honest, I probably won't run out and buy it the day its released, but still.. I feel left out! :P

Jep, glarbage, this is what I wanted to write as well but always forgot...
I have already read four album crititcs in German newspapers. And each one was all over positive. These good critics were totally unexpected for me, after all I read on the Internet.

The critics were very positive about the the choice of songs, the arrangements, the instruments, the recording, Stings voice, the Sting touch, his way of interpretation - making the songs his very own songs. Each critic pointed out, that Sting gave the album a special feeling, one journalist wrote that the album was good to relax and to meditate.
And the album was mainly declared as a "northern english album".
Neither as a christmas album nor as (like we always read in several forums...) another mideval SFTL the II. horror...

Absolutely true. In my opinion...:) At the moment I'm listening to the album for the 11th time and I still haven't got enough.

The positive comments on amazon.de were also totally unexpected.

Wow, look at that, positive reviews, who knows, this album might turn out to be a big winner for Sting! Bravo!

Sorry, off topic: Listenig to "lo how a rose e'er blooming" I've just recognized that the choir is one time singing in german ("und hat ein Blümlein bracht"). Nice idea Sting.

I actually got the album 5 days early from the record store I preorded it from. I don't think they knew when it came out. It's not his worst album, not even a bad album. I like this more than Sacred love and it is a quiet, classical album with a lot to offer.

Plaster I couldn't agree with you more. It is just the kind of album you can sit by the fire, with a glass of your favorite wine and reflect on the cold winter months to come. The low registar to his voice fits the mood and tone of this record. I have enjoyed it immensley.

Great pick up there, sheep, on the line sung in German by the choir. I had not noticed that at all until you pointed it out to us.

Lady Dolphin wrote, "To be honest, I probably won't run out and buy it the day its released, but still.. I feel left out! :P"

That is funny. And it is unfortunate that the release dates are so staggered. But if you don't feel the urgent necessity to rush out and be willing to join in on the constructive discussion for this cd, then you can't have the right to complain about feeling left out! :)

Yes that is true is baht! lol! Im just trying to have my cake and eat it aren't I? Or should that be soul cake? Uggh! :P

Its just Sting is British and we have to wait longer for his albums! But guess im just being picky! Anyway winter lasts way too long in this country so any delay in getting into those wintery vibes is probably a good thing, lol!