Search - Sting :: Dream of the Blue Turtles

Great Solo Debut But Too Bad About the Sloppy MLPS Release!

Frederick Baptist | Singapore | 11/27/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Amazon hasn't given us much detail with the product description here but assuming it is the recently released mini-lp replica sleeve (mlps) version then this review pertains to that version. I remember when this was first released that I wasn't too enamored with it having been a great Police fan and their unique at the time brand of new wave/punk/rock style but I suppose it was inevitable as even in the last album you could hear inklings of Sting dabbling with the jazzy sounds that would later inundate his solo albums in tracks such as "Murder By Numbers" and to a certain extent on "Wrapped Around Your Finger" for example.



Once I was able to "forgive" him from breaking up the Police though, I realised that this was a very good album in its own right and certain characteristic elements of his songwriting with the Police still remained such as his socially-conscious lyrics as well as the sparse, airy arrangements in which the absence of sound also contributes as much to the total package as the parts with the sound just like in some Eastern art where parts of the canvas are deliberately left blank. I found I liked every track with "Fortress Around Your Heart", "Consider Me Gone", "Love In the Seventh Wave" and "Children's Crusade" as my personal favourites. I've always felt that "Fortress Around Your Heart" should have been on the last Police album and "Murder By Numbers" should have been on this album and that would have been perfect for me with regards making both albums just a little bit better.



This mlps version though is a big disappointment as it is poorly assembled out of thin poor quality cardboard that looks like it will come apart soon when the glue gets old; it even looks like a kindergarten kid could assemble it which is sad given the amount of mullah they expect you to part with for this. The SHM-CD effect slightly improves the sound quality over the previous Enhanced CD jewel case version although I'm not sure if the much higher price justifies this. Also included are a hard cardboard square replica of the original vinyl centre circle a glossy foldout with all the lyrics in Japanese and another insert with all the lyrics in English.



Overall, nothing to fault on the great content and sound quality although the mlps design itself is a massive disappointment for fans and especially collectors of the format."