Sting - 57th & 9th

Sting
57th & 9th
2016
Spotify

It seems like forever since we have been able to discuss Sting for his music rather than his sexual proclivities or Humanitarian work. However this record, His 12th solo studio album, has thrust him back into the rock star conversation. The album begins with a yell in "I Can't Stop Thinking About You" which recalls some of the best Police songs that we still can't get out of our heads today. There are no pan flutes or world music sing-a-longs on this album instead it is straight up rock and roll which Sting seemingly left in the past a long time ago. The songs on 57th & 9th however are not without their pretension. There is a fair bit of climate change discussion on "One Fine Day", some intense old englishy balladry on "Heading South on the Great Road North" and "50,000" is a tribute to Prince, but it is far less overt than Sting has been in the past. He seems to be writing more from the heart and less from the head on this album, which is a nice change of pace. "Petrol Head" is another throwback to the hay days of the Police and it is with those songs that He is really able to connect.

I've mentioned "Heading South on the Great North Road" before but it begs coming up again because of just how weird it is. Featuring just Sting and an acoustic guitar while he spins a yarn in almost old English couplets the song is really out of left field. It doesn't fit with the return to rock that is the rest of the record and never really connects with any real meaning. The same can be said for the Middle-East prayer inspired "Inshallah", where it feels more like Sting needs to comment on the Syrian refugee crisis, yet does not have something new to say. The bass on "Inshallah" however almost makes up for the pandering lyrics because it is so damn good. While much of the album feels like a nice journey through Sting's whole career it is the songs where He really embraces the best parts of the Police that really shine through. The rest however seems to be just OK and another example of just how varied Sting's cultural influences are. There is something for everyone who enjoys one aspect of Sting or another on this record, but as a cohesive work it never fully comes together.

7.4 out of 10