On Mon, Sep 29, 2003 at 12:50:18PM -0400, Richard Ryder wrote:

To cheap to pay Vinnie? Replaced him with a machine?

Anne Robinson wrote:

...

Oh my gosh I hate this damn drum machine thing!!!! I wish I could understand why he chose it over the real thing. Does anyone have any informed data on this?

IMO two possibilities: 1. An earnest attempt at new directions. 2. Pure laziness. I don't think it's a cost issue, Sting (so it has seemed) has never been one to compromise his vision in any way. After all both Katchu and Colaiuta are credited on the record. But then why do I propose #2, well I don't really believe it. My cynicism makes me rationalize that what seems like a compromise must have a negative root. My guess is that the small steps taken in BND with a more commercially "normal" production (ie. the Desert Rose remix) and its success motivated Sting to try some more things out. And it's "normal" for him to merge styles and form. Hence the Jazz piano on top of the drum machine. Consider it an experiment. I for one think he's pretty bold for trying it out. But I hope he reaches the same conclusion that I have; it doesn't work that well. But, I have a question for you all. It seems to me that SL has a lot of tunes that do not end. They simply fade out. It is the one aspect of pop music that I hate, the predominance of the lack of a cadence. I don't know if Sting has more songs without a cadence on SL then on previous recordings, but it seems so to me. Has anybody else noticed this as well? Mark.