Giovanni, You know, that's a pretty accurate response. Not everybody will be happy whatever the Police end up doing. I was very interested in your short little story about fellow Police-fans you knew when they did Zenyatta. I can't even imagine anybody not liking Zenyatta Mondatta. I see their side though, it certainly was nothing like the previous two albums. They were much more punkish, raucous in their sound and Zenyatta could definitely be considered more commercialized. I, like you, really have not heard a Police or Sting album I have not liked. Even Mercury Falling, which everyone is soooo quick to disparage. I think that I too would just be happy if they did some more recording of just about anything. Considering there's nothing i have never not liked by any of them(I even like Last Exit), I don't think there would be a problem. You have a great insight into their lives and I am envious that you are able to even talk to them on what seems like a pretty regular basis, let alone ask them, what sounds like just about anything you want to... I certainly hope to read one day, a post from you with some great news.... Thanks for the discussion. Steve Giovanni Pollastri <giovanni.pollastri@libero.it> wrote: We may go on forever to an endless debate about a new album and I do not absolutely pretend to make you change your minds, whatever wishes you have; we all have our respectable opinions, they are all right because they come from the heart, it's plain to see. We all love the band and we want the band to do what WE want, but it will be impossible to make each one of us happy, just because we have different musical tastes, and we've also grown up from the early days of the band. I like Sting solo career a lot, and Brand New Day is one of my favourite album, while many other Sting fans say it's one of the worst. I have my reasons, others have their own, nothing wrong with that. Criticism is always good, but I guess that if you are part of a band like The Police there are so many details you have to take care of, something that maybe in the past were not that important. I remember that when they decided to go for a commercial album (the label asked them to write the TOP CHART POSITION ALBUM (Zenyatta Mondatta), most of my friends were so unhappy about the new release that many of them gave up listening to the band; they wanted something like Outlandos D'amour or Reggatta De Blanc; many said the band was sold to a pure commercial act, they were not anymore The Police as they were up until a few months before. Even when Ghost In The Machine came out, and then Synchronicity, so many of my friends didn't follow them anymore, as the real sound of The Police wasn't there anymore. You see, even when the band was really alive in their early years, they couldn't make everybody happy. That's part of the game. I liked their evolution, the idea to change the producer was right, Miles was writing the story of The Police together with the band, and he took the decisions with Sting, Andy & Stewart, as well as Ian Copeland and Kim Turner. MILES isn't there anymore, and for me that's already one of the biggest detail to tell you that The Police will never do something like the old days; Miles, Kim Turner and Ian Copeland PLAYED an important role in the story of The Police; Kim worked on the sound of the band, HE gave the band some of the tricks to sound more powerful, he knew what to do with these three musicians; Ian, together with Miles, defined and interact with some of the biggest decisions (they choosed the studios and the change of the producer for example, Miles even decided the titles of the first three records). Giovanni ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Langele To: Mailing LIst Police Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:18 PM Subject: [Police] Fwd: Re: A few thoughts / the old style
Why is whether or not they have a "hit" the barometer of success? I couldn't care less how many people listen to it. I don't think it's a stretch to argue that most of the best new music these days doesn't top the charts, or even reach them. Who cares? What difference does it make?
I agree Chris, most of the stuff I listen to these days rarely makes it on the charts. However, most likely it matters to the boys. I agree with this line of thinking too, Colin. It might not matter to us or many others, but I think that if these guys don't have something "solid" and a sure success, they aren't going to risk releasing what might be considered a flop in regards to their previous success....
But at the same time, isn't it possible that these guys could reinvent themselves? I mean, there would have to be something remaining of the "old" Police in their writing style. Sting's writing and playing styles have changed of course, but he wouldn't be writing his solo stuff. Isn't it possible for him, as well as Andy and Stewart of course, to incorporate his(their) current influences and somehow come up with a newer sound that is still "Police-like"? As hard-headed and domineering as he is over Andy and Stewart, I would like to think that they would not just let him walk all over them, especially Stewart. I don't know. It's all just speculation anyways, and probably nothing will happen. They'll finish their tour and go about their seperate ways again.... And we'll all be left wondering...
Very good point Steve, NO ONE plays drums like Stewart can, and with Andy's trademark guitar sound, whatever Sting writes would be filtered through these guys like it used to. It wouldn't be another Sting album with Andy and Stewart as guests Giovanni, you hit the nail on the head wen you say that I would like to hear the old Police style again... Nothing would make me happier I tell you!! I have a few bootlegs from the reunion tour, but mostly I have bootlegs from shows they did in the 70s and 80s. I can't help it!! I love the energy and the long vamps where Sting just adlibs the lyrics, like Can't Stand Losing/Regatta de Blanc... One of my favorite song combos they did then and now live. I loved hearing that on this tour!! But, I know what you mean. I don't expect to hear the old sound; it just isn't going to happen. But, at the same time, I just don't think that it will be totally lost if they record anything new. They are not the same musicians anymore, they have all grown tremendously, but I think that when they all get together, they cant help but play like "the Police".... I know you of anybody has the most reliable runours/gossip, and if they were going to record something, you would have said so long go. I don't expect anything to happen, but of course I wish it to. Mario, thanks for the positive response to my thoughts... However, I did share some of those "other" thoughts too. I just sorta re-thought it all, cause I too, as I just stated, would love to have a Police album like the old days. And if they wouldn't write one like that, I didn't think I would want one either. But, of course I'd love to hear new material one way or the other. I always loved hearing a new Sting album, cause it was always interesting to see where his style was going next. I might not necessarily have liked it as much as the previous, but for me, it was still Sting and his music and absolutely no reason for me to hate it. Same if the Police were to record new stuff. I might not like it the same as before, cause it won't be the same old sound, but it will be a Police album and it may just take me some time to get used to it, but more than likely would end up loving it..... Giovanni Pollastri <giovanni.pollastri@libero.it> wrote: From: "Giovanni Pollastri" <giovanni.pollastri@libero.it> To: "Mailing LIst Police" <police@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:50:25 +0100 Subject: Re: [Police] A few thoughts / the old style >But at the same time, isn't it possible that these guys could reinvent themselves? I mean, >there would have to be something remaining of the "old" Police in their writing style. Steve, I can understand that you like many others may like something like the old Police style, but they are 30 years older now, they are different people, they have different needs, they have complete different lives from those times, there are complete different discography rules, different managers, different tastes.... people change, and I'm afraid their style could be different...maybe better, maybe not... When Stewart, before the reunion was announced, told me that they could work on new stuff mixing all their different musical experiences (Taranta, Jazz, Reggae, Electronic, Fusion, Brazilian, ecc....) I was thinking that they were coming back as they found the right formula to release something definitely new and interesting under the name THE POLICE; they did not, for different reasons, but I am sure they thought a lot about it, they talked a lot, they even tryed to work on those new songs for what I know, but everything was killed from the beginning. Giovanni Sting's writing and playing styles have changed of course, but he wouldn't be writing his solo stuff. Isn't it possible for him, as well as Andy and Stewart of course, to incorporate his(their) current influences and somehow come up with a newer sound that is still "Police-like"? As hard-headed and domineering as he is over Andy and Stewart, I would like to think that they would not just let him walk all over them, especially Stewart. I don't know. It's all just speculation anyways, and probably nothing will happen. They'll finish their tour and go about their seperate ways again.... And we'll all be left wondering... foxie <forfoxie@yahoo.com> wrote: Hey! Great posts by Chris and, of course, G. Thx guys! Those hardcore fans are truly caught between the rock and the hard place aren't we? When the tour was announced...and I first heard scuttlebutt that a new record was being planned, I was VERY excited. But as the months have passed, the more I thought about it...the more I think that I do NOT want it to happen. And the reason is this...I don't believe that Sting can go back to writing songs in the Police style. And I am not talking about early-Police material...I am talking about "Ghost" and SYNCHRONICITYesque material. I believe not only is he disinterested in doing it...but that he couldn't do it if he tried...because he has been away from writing in that vein for so long. Think of it...what benefit would Stewart give to "A Thousand Years"? What could Andy do with "Desert Rose"? And that is not an attack on Sting's solo material. I love it...well, up to MERCURY FALLING anyway. (And BRAND NEW DAY has "loving" moments on it for me as well.) But...BRAND NEW DAY and SACRED LOVE...THAT is the material that Sting is writing at present...do you think that those tunes are Police material, Police "worthy". I don't. As I mentioned before...I look at this reunion as as way for Sting to go on hiatus...to recharge the songwriter battery within him. And when the fruits of that hiatus bloom, nothing like "Driven To Tears" of "Secret Journey" is coming out. Truth Hits Everybody, Truth Hits Everyone, Rich ----- Original Message ---- From: Giovanni Pollastri To: casimar@yahoo.com; police@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 5:56:27 AM Subject: Re: [Police] A few thoughts / Even the bad nights on this tour were magic to me
Even the bad nights on this tour were magic to me.
I see your point Christopher, but we don't have to consider ouselves as the main element to take care of; WE are a minority, we hardcore fans see things in a different way than the rest of the world, the usual radio listener, the usual magazine reader, etc.. etc.. Dont'get me wrong when I say I don't believe in a new album; I am a great fan and I'd love to see a new album that would sound as great as the previous five albums, but if they won't release it, I'm afraid they have nothing in their hands that could top that sound and image. Nothing wrong with that; at least they haven't ruined their fame like too many other bands have done keeping working together for years and years releasing records that get out of catalogues in three years! If they have to release a new record they have to 'shock the world', not only the fans. Giovanni ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Simar" To: Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 9:55 PM Subject: Re: [Police] A few thoughts
I was trying not to get in on this one, lol, but I just wanted to agree with Giovanni. I wouldn't want a "crap" Police album. But I don't think it's likely.
Even the bad nights on this tour were magic to me. I have filled my hard drive with mp3s of them despite the repetitiveness of the set, the lack of obvious experimentation, etc. The Police, playing ANYTHING, are magic. I would love to hear a new song or two.
'Solo Sting,' however, has made an increasingly high percentage of things that I can't really get behind, starting in the late 1990s and falling from there. I enjoy his later studio albums at first, then rarely re-listen. I don't always catch him on tour. The lute album and the 9/11 live album, I can't listen to.
I just feel like Sting should do something with The Police, or just retire. His "legacy" is important, too, right? And if he can't come up with material that Andy could do something with (Andy can do ANYTHING, is my opinion) then, well, he probably can't come up with good enough material to release under anyone's name, even his own solo name. That's just my two cents. I fear my hero has peaked. And I was hoping The Police would revive his old vitality.
I don't think I'm in this for nostalgia, at least not entirely.. I am in it for whatever "it" is that only those three guys can do, even just noodling around. I'd rather hear The Police play than hear session musicians hired by Sting, be that on old or new material. I respect his right to do that, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. (But I hope I do.)
Christopher
--- Giovanni Pollastri wrote:
What if they will do a crap album?
----- Original Message ----- From: Mario To: police@mailman.xmission.com Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 4:43 AM Subject: Re: [Police] A few thoughts
bottom line they should do an new album just to surprise everyone and go through with the challenge
this solo stuff is just crap for now
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