"He has done that through the musicians he has collaborated with."

"Andy Summers' quirky chords and Stewart Copeland's staccato shots drove Police"

Which was brilliant. 'Nuff said.

"Branford Marsalis, Vinnie Colaiuta and Dominic Miller defined the solo Sting sound"

Which resulted in adventurous arrangements, organic, spontaneous development of the material (both new and old), and gave me some of the most exciting, challenging, and FUN music I've ever heard.

"and Kipper, on keyboard and programming duties, is key to the new sound."

Which completely sucks. Nothing like having the life sucked out of a song by having real musicians replaced by stiff, boring loops, oppressive overproduction, and half-hearted attempts at R&B and dance layered with irritating synth noodling. Embarrassing...like your dad trying to be cool. I long for the Broken Music tour - hopefully it'll be a return to the form that got me hooked in the first place.

Look, no Kipper! Hooray!

Please, someone get rid of Kipper from now to eternity!!!
Tanks

Please, someone get rid of Kipper from now to eternity!!!
Thanks

I agree...but I think Kipper will stay around for albums simply because he's a "yes-man" and that's what Sting wants at this point in his career. He doesn't want to be challenged...if that were the case, he'd still be in the Police.

The difference is, he's lost his edge...he's always been single minded, but when you collaborate (boss around) with turds like Kipper instead of real musicians like Branford, Omar Hakim, Kenny, etc, you get the bland, faceless crap that was most of Sacred Love.

Sting wants to focus on playing his stuff with a small rock ensemble? You've done that: it was called the Police.

Hmm...I'd like to hear your comments after the start of the Broken Music tour in April. BTW there will be no Kipper on that tour. Satisfied?

I miss the days of Branford and co. If we could toss Dominic in with Branford (I don't do pop no mo), find Omar Hakim if Vinnie isn't available. I guess what I'm saying for the jillionth time is that Kipper may be a great guy but what he brings to the music table may be ok in the studio and he could be a great cheerleader during the tour but they don't need that.

Better sound systems and more motivated musicians and no kippy de loops

Satisfied? No, not really. To me, the Broken Music tour is a major slap in the face to Stewart and Andy...Sting realizes that those guys want to play Police music so badly that they'll appear with Incubus (ugh), and then he schedules a small ensemble rock tour...it's an absolute disgrace in my eyes. I live 40 minutes from Champaign, one of the tour stops, and my friends can't believe I'm not going.

Moving to a small ensemble after DOTBT and NLTS was one thing...that made sense after having larger bands. Now it's like...you've done that once. It's almost an insult to the Dom-David-Vinnie band! I mean come on: Shane Fontayne and Josh Freese...are you joking? One is a Springsteen reject from when he was too good for the E-Street band, and the other is a Crazy Axl era G&R cast-off.

Maybe I'm just too grumpy, but it seems that Sting's mis-steps are more obvious and more irritating to me now. I've on board with the guy since 1981, but I disapprove of his current and recent career moves, creatively and professionally.

When they were introduced to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a couple of years ago they didn't really look to happy to be there. Andy's guitar problems during Roxane, Sting well being Sting, and Stewart and the injured snare drum thing. Especially Sting (maybe thats my memory acting up)

And a lot of the past would suddenly return to the surface if they got back together.

I just can't see them getting back together again, and it is not just because of Sting and the well I've done that issue.

I just want a Sting album where he isn't aiming at the younger audience. And the music sounds intellegent. Not that Sacred Love is stupid but its weaker than many of the prior albums.... yet I still play it....

Gonefishing, you're definitely right about The Police at the RRHOF...Stewart and Andy were excited, but Sting looked miserable throughout the whole thing, as if it were a waste of his precious time.

I just find it a shame that they haven't taken the opportunity to get back together, when so many bands never have the chance due to members dropping dead or destroying themselves...the Police all still look good, they can all still play...it's a pity to me. Do it now while all us people that grew up listening to that music are in our prime, not in wheelchairs!

I don't actually believe they'll get back together either...I mentioned in a previous post that I thought the best time would have been post BND, when Sting's stock was never higher...he'd have nothing to prove. Now that Sacred Love has been a relative failure, he would never do it - it would look like a desperation move.

>>the Police all still look good, they can all still play...it's a pity to me

I find this to be an amusing statement. The Police all still look good...is that of any importance to anybody? If so, then I just find that silly.
As far as their playing, Sting is still decent at what he does.
Andy just put the best disc of his career (Earth + Sky).
Stewart still cannot keep a steady tempo and hasn't yet evolved enough to realize that performing for the song is slightly more important than gaining recognition for hot shot chops.