I understand Sting has a history of not getting along with drummers. Maybe that's why he uses drum machines. ;) He definitely used them in his demos during the Police days. They pale in comparison to Stew's playing.

I've heard the Japanese version of the album and I'm not that impressed. These songs are very derivative of his older stuff. Some older BND and MF stuff that I never liked anyway. I don't buy the whole "Sting is challenging himself and pushing the limits" BS anymore. That's old news. The extra songs on the Japanese version are crap IMHO. There are real moments of Sting greatness on Sacred Love however. I do enjoy Inside, Dead Man's Rope, Never Coming Home, This War and Sacred Love. I'm of the camp that feels he hasn't produced a spectacular album since TST. That said, we all hold this man in high esteem and we all have high expectations considering all the hit songs he's put out over the years. Even FIVE great songs on an album is four more than what most artists are capable of putting out.

So my conclusion is that he has lost his edge over the years, gotten lazy (witness a crap remix on the album) and doesn't have a hell of a lot to prove these days. He's happy and I'm happy for him... but I'm not convinced he "is the edge" that he claims to be. Like a lot of people on this list, I'm hoping he'll dazzle us with his live act... as long as he doesn't include the new Moon over Bourbon Street in the never changing set list.