I must admit:   I feel that at this point, perhaps an Andy/Stewart instrumental album might even produce better results than a Police album? Hmmm... let me think about that here:

 

Stewart and Andy seem to still be going on creatively. Can I say that for Sting?  hmmm.... Yes, in a way I can. However, I'm not sure it's the kind of creativity that really moves me as much as it used to.... or does it?  For the unbelievers, I ask that you at least consider that Sting just doesn't have the right atmosphere or backing in which to plant his lyrics.  That was why I hated Sacred Love.  The SONGS were neat, the lyrics seemed pretty good, actually, but the techno-crud just slaughtered my emotional connection to it.

 

So, with all the music and interesting beats and styles available for FREE over the internet now, I really feel as though the Police could fire back up in a HUGE way!  For instance, I listened to a turkish dance tune on Chicago Public Radio the other night, and was blown away at how out there it was, while stll retaining a danceable style. There's a song called Vittrad by Garmarna that's played only with traditionally ancient Celtic instruments, and it builds passionately to an almost heavy metal-like frenzy of ululations and clashing sounds. Tinariwen with their middle-eastern pop combined with Creedence Clearwater guitars. Persian, Cambodian, African, Celtic, psychedelic folk-rock techno, Neo Funk, Mongolian throat singing...  come on guys!   Creative, out-there, wild music is an IN thing!  It hypnotizes people now more than ever! Big Label Music is OUT, the time for embracing Different, Thoughtful, and Engaging music is here, right where The Police BELONG, and it gets out to bazillions of people with the touch of a button! Oh, and those people are willing to pay for a good experience, too. Funny how that works, where it's not necessary to squeeze fans for every last penny.

 

I call BULL***T (please pardon my words, I am quite fired up here) on the notion that The Police couldn't come up with something creative enough to do. There are 20 times more styles of music available to the average person now than 25 years ago!  For three talented musicians to not have ideas about weaving wild styles together to create something passionate and new?  I don't believe that for a second.  Either all three of them have been living in a musical hole with no access to recorded music for the last 20 years, or there's something else at work.  It could be ego, who knows?  Maybe they're just getting old? I'd hate to think that, though.

 

Just imagine Stew on an exotic percussion set, ala Wrapped Around [Live] with a few new bits thrown in, maybe a few string players to back him up. Now imagine Andy with an electric sitar, a couple guitars, and a synth and effects pedals. Now blend in some Sting, opening up the bottom end with a sparse bass, piano, and poetic, pretentious, awesome lyrics. He CAN still write those, or so I've heard :-)

 

Come ON!  There are musicians with one tenth of the talent that these boys have who are creating spacey, groovy, catchy tunes, who are making it onthe indie scene RIGHT NOW. The Police could be the ones to introduce the general audience to these new ideas, just like they did 30 years ago.

 

I cannot and DO NOT believe that it is not simply a matter of the boys sitting down with a bunch of instruments, a basket of ideas collected over not one but THREE entire musical careers, with some time on their hands, and a willingness to go wherever the madness takes them in order to crank up a haunting, beautiful, passionate new album.  I also reference the Miles/Coltrane/Herbie idea that some thoughtful poster put here:  With so many ideas under their belt, they ought to be able to churn out great ideas better than they ever have.

 

I do apologize for anyone I may have offended, but after considering some of what has been said over the last couple months, I think I just suddenly let out my feelings. 

 

They may be big rock stars, but I wish someone would sit them down and tell them to get their stupid spoiled emotional ***t straight and start doing what they keep talking about, how they want to challenge themselves, and do it for the fans, and all that stuff.  Either that, or just pack their gear up and go back to their corners of the world. COME ON, BOYS! We're getting a little tired of this!

 

If they were smart, they would embrace the current technology and open ears of the public. They could be hailed right alongside Nine Inch Nails/Trent Reznor as bringers of a new era in music. They have the talent, they have the ability, they have the power and clout. They could shrug off a label more easily than any band and bring LEGIONS of music fans to attention by doing it. All they'd have to do is reach out and strum a guitar or hit a drum.

 

Again, my sincere apologies for such an emotional response.

Sorry to bust in, please carry on, as this has been a most enlightening discussion so far.
My only regret here is that these words will never be viewed by the ones it's really directed at.

 

David[MiaS]