Search - Sting :: Sacred Love

What can we compare this album with?

11/10/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I do like the SACD mix which I find quite intelligent, expanding the already multi-layered sounds quite unusually at times. Try as I might to find another reasonable point of reference, Sting really only compares to himself - which is enormous praise for anyone these days. That said, expectations are high and you can't help noticing that there is a huge difference to the integrity, simplicity and sheer force that some of his most original work with The Police and the early solo stuff had in spades. Who cares about SACD mixes where these hoped-for essentials are lacking? I can only guess that this truly gifted musician must be listening to people telling him how wonderful he is and that at some point he must have started to believe them (well, that's kinda hard to resist). Why follow your own path if retracing your steps by producing more of what you've already done is so much easier? Originality will of course go by the wayside and the result may seem sophisticated on the surface, but will lack substance and feel a bit careless underneath. On this album, great musicians end up collaborating on nothing truly exciting or new - that is, if you take the time to compare it to some of Sting's earlier work, in relation to which I'd like to rate it 2 Stars. A bloody shame, really."

"A Sacred Gem"

Distant Voyageur | Io | 12/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought Sting's newest album "Sacred Love" on October 2nd of this year and while it took time to grow on me, it ultimately grew to become another great album from Sting. While not on the greatness of his last album "Brand New Day" which is one of his greatest albums ever, "Sacred Love" is a winning follow-up to a masterpiece that was hard to follow but this CD succeeds in doing that which brings more to mind. Upon reading the appallingly negative reviews right and left on this product, I feel compelled to return to this page and defend this new CD from Sting. This is one of 2003's best albums and Sting has lost none of his edge and this CD proves just that. Based on reading the notes, this is a very personal album for him. Like a couple of other reviewers said: STOP COMPARING TO THE PAST!! Sheesh! With this album, Sting is definitely looking to the future and not looking back so just shush! "Inside" begins this set with a menacing odd intro with some slight Eastern Indian sitars before becoming a mix of blues, hip-hop beats, acoustic jazz, and electro-pop music to create a marvelous track that is vintage Sting alright. This is really a fabulous track and a great opener. It really needs listening to know how it sounds but it is a great track. The first single entitled "Send Your Love" was a wise choice for the first single. At first hearing the opening I thought "Oh no not another annoying poseur Latin track!" but thankfully, it was not to be and it becomes a very upbeat worldly song with some Asian color to it against the electronic dance element. If you loved "Desert Rose" you might enjoy this song too. This is a really amazing song and is destined to become another classic. I felt myself soaring listening to this song. It really has some very good lyrics of sending one's love into some distant times. This version is better than the remix version at the end of this album. The remix is good but I prefer the more unconventional beats and haunting exotic ambience over DJ-Oriented remixes. That's all. The video is really good as well.Enough about that song, let's go on to the next track, another magnificent song. "Whenever I Say Your Name" is a fabulous duet with R&B/Hip-Hop veteran singer Mary J. Blige. I haven't listened to Blige's music enough to really consider myself a fan but on this duet with Sting, she is just absolutely fabulous and this track is one of the best duets I've heard in a long time. "Dead Man's Rope" is another excellent song with some exotic acoustic guitars and vintage Sting styles reminiscent of what he did during his "Ten Sumner's Tales" era. "Never Coming Home" is my favorite song on this album alongside "Send Your Love" being a very high energy fast paced number with a very dramatic atmosphere and a haunting sound to it to go along with the fast rhythm. To me, this is one of Sting's best songs in a very long time. "Stolen Car" is another excellent song with a jazzier sound. "Let's Forget About the Future" is another good song similar in sound to "A Thousand Years" but less ambient and more of a bluesier sound with some funk elements. I could do without some of the barking towards the ending but otherwise, this is a very good song and I have to agree in some ways, I'd rather forget about what the future holds. Just for a small laugh. "This War" may be a bit deceiving in it's bleak title as it's actually a very upbeat rocking song with some bluesy organs and a very live sound to it. While this song is good, it's not a whole lot to write home about. Still, this song is far from being filler. "The Book of My Life" is a very interesting song in Sting's part. The song starts with haunting exotic Middle Eastern violins and haunting Eastern Indian sitars. It becomes a passionate and beautiful pop classic with a deep and haunting sound that is classic Sting. This is a really beautiful song and one of the richest and most intriguing songs on this album. The title track starts with some haunting ambience and some worldly beats but ultimately becomes a very blues/rock hybrid song with a very positive vibe and very upbeat atmosphere and is a lot fun to listen to. The CD closes with a remixed version of the first single "Send Your Love". This remix has a very DJ oriented dance beat and is definitely one for the dance floor. While this remix is very enjoyable on it's own, it comes close to crossing the border of being generic and forgettable. Still it's a good remix of the song but the original version is much better and I actually find the original to be more danceable."