Should I check out the police?

[page]

I've heard bassists and critics alike rave about this band. I have heard very little by them . I like the song Don't stand so close to me and Roxanne , I dislike Every Breath you Take. I dislike every Sting solo song. However I have two Copeland solo albums and his oysterhead stuff and I love em. If they have it, I'd rather hear darker, more experimental songs by the Police. Also if the guitar dude's solo stuff is good please suggest. Thanks .

[Chunk-O-Funk]

The police has some great tunes. The ones you mentioned was there more popular stuff, but they had a lot of great tunes that made it to the radio.

They sound nothing like Stings solo stuff especially if you get their early records. They were more like punk meets reggae, meets pop.

[AxtoOx]

Yes you should, but I'm scared to recomend a CD because just about everyone has some songs I love and some I don't. They tend to mix it up.
Invisible Sun may be their darkest song, I believe it's on Ghost in the Machine. You may just want to check out a best of CD. I saw them in 82 or 83, I forget, but they were incredible live.

[Jingle_W_Clark]

I hate to say this... but just grab their Best Of package... I forget the name, but I have a burnt copy of it.

The Police kick ass to be honest... especially the very early stuff .... but even that later stuff like "Murder By Numbers" and "Tea In The Sahara" was cool...

However, I agree... Sting solo sucks. He went from playing in a kick a** rocking trio to playing slow acoutic ballads with oboes and clarinets.... BOOOOO!!!!

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by Jingle_W_Clark

I hate to say this... but just grab their Best Of package... I forget the name, but I have a burnt copy of it.

Don't take this advice at all, I mean this dude Boos oboes and clarinets...

Seriously, the first 2 or 3 albums are MINDBLOWING, the fact that a trio knows exactly what space to fill. Stewart Copeland is one of my favorite drummers. Syncronicity is when Sting started moving to the softer side of Sears (Every breath you take)... but the early stuff... wow.

But seriously, a best of doesn't do them justice league.

[Yvon]

I love the police, great band.

Learn king of pain

you will learn a lot about bass playing just with that song!

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Don't take this advice at all, I mean this dude Boos oboes and clarinets...


But seriously, a best of doesn't do them justice league.

+1

You can't go wrong with their early stuff, they're all great. I have Reggatta de Blanc and Outlandos d'Amour

Each one of those two has a couple of the hit's that made it to the radio plus some other great tunes you will never hear if you get a "best of" cd.

[Jingle_W_Clark]

Matt Till---

I think a Best Of is a good idea if someone is JUST getting into the band..... it gives the listener a sample of ALL of their work throughout their career... then you move on to the other albums based on the songs you liked on the best of!

PS-

OBOES SUCKS!

[Red Wonder]

Regatta de Blanc, Ghost in the Machine, and Zenyatta Mondatta are MUST haves for any aspiring bassist.

[ii7-V7]

I think the answer to any, "Should I check out band/person X," question whould always be, Yes!

Even though there are several styles of music that I may not like. I will listen to them and see what musical ideas I can get from them.

Chad

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by Jingle_W_Clark

Matt Till---

I think a Best Of is a good idea if someone is JUST getting into the band..... it gives the listener a sample of ALL of their work throughout their career... then you move on to the other albums based on the songs you liked on the best of!

PS-

OBOES SUCKS!

I'll Oboe you!!
*shakes fist after stupid empty threat*

Actually, I find Best Ofs to be an all around bad time for a couple reasons. For one, it seperate's the artist's mindset during the album from the music you are listening to. ALSO, after buying a best of, when I look at the back of one of their other albums I say, "Huh, I already own two or three of these songs... why buy an album that only has four new songs to me?" So it discourages from buying more from the artists.

IMO, the best way to get into a band, ask fans of the band which is the best ALBUM, as our good friend Diamond Dallas Page has in this thread.

That said, I'm backing up Joshua's Ghost in the Machine suggestion.

[AxtoOx]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

I'll Oboe you!!
*shakes fist after stupid empty threat*

Actually, I find Best Ofs to be an all around bad time for a couple reasons. For one, it seperate's the artist's mindset during the album from the music you are listening to. ALSO, after buying a best of, when I look at the back of one of their other albums I say, "Huh, I already own two or three of these songs... why buy an album that only has four new songs to me?" So it discourages from buying more from the artists.

IMO, the best way to get into a band, ask fans of the band which is the best ALBUM, as our good friend Diamond Dallas Page has in this thread.

That said, I'm backing up Joshua's Ghost in the Machine suggestion.

Good point. In that case buy them all! One or two at a time.
When I saw them it was at th US festival. When they palyed Invisible Sun, the whole crowd was singing w/ them and swaying, put a chill down my spine. We're talking at least 250,000 people. Awesome, and again I think that's on Ghost in the Machine. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[phxlbrmpf]

Yes, by all means. Personally, I prefer their stuff to Stings solo recordings by a long shot. Stewart Copeland is one of my favourite drummers and Sting's bass lines and Andy's guitar playing simply ooze personality.

[tbone0813]

Buy the greatest hits album. I think it really covers everything from them. It's a great CD.

[Matt Till]

BAH!

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by page

I've heard bassists and critics alike rave about this band. I have heard very little by them . I like the song Don't stand so close to me and Roxanne , I dislike Every Breath you Take. I dislike every Sting solo song. However I have two Copeland solo albums and his oysterhead stuff and I love em. If they have it, I'd rather hear darker, more experimental songs by the Police. Also if the guitar dude's solo stuff is good please suggest. Thanks .

Sounds like you wouldn't like Police Music. Andy Summers' solo music is extraordinary. If you like guitar based modern jazz pick some of it up. He's my favorite jazz guitarrist.

[eric atkinson]

I am a police nut! My fav song has always been ms. gredenko (spelling?) But yeah i listen to them for copeland as well. And the stuff he does in that tune makes my nipples hard! The guitar solo in it is almost sick! I would have to say if i had one drummer of my dreams to jam with it would be him.

[page]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Sounds like you wouldn't like Police Music. Andy Summers' solo music is extraordinary. If you like guitar based modern jazz pick some of it up. He's my favorite jazz guitarrist.

I'll check out Summers, I really dig Copeland so I might dig him too. Im gonna pick up a police album anyway, give em a chance.If anything I can listen to it for the drums.

[eric atkinson]

Hey Phil can you tell me a good solo album to try of summers?

[JimK]

Originally Posted by page

Also if the guitar dude's solo stuff is good please suggest.

Andy Summers' Worlds Apart is a nice album...not real 'heavy', though. Victor Bailey, Tony Levin, Eliane Elias are some of the backing musicians.

Summers' The Last Dance Of Mr. X is more of a Rock trio doing Jazz Classics....worth checking out, IMO.
...as is Green Chimneys, Summers' homage to Monk.