The Soul Cages by Sting

[TOMANO]

Just revisited this album this morning on the way to work. Wow. Awesome interplay between all the musicians, great melodies and lyrics and Sting and Manu Katche' definitely lock in some very fluid grooves.

Great stuff.

TOMANO

[TOMANO]

Originally Posted by Joshua

A very good disc indeed. I remember buying it the first day it came out, and seeing the tour. Of course, I'm a bit of a Sting fan...

Sting dances on the precipice of Kenny G.-dom from a marketing standpoint, with the Starbuck's & Victoria Secret marketing, etc. BUT the fact that he is so incredibly talented sets him above it all.

I love so much of what he does, that he continues to be one of my favorite musicians through the past two decades. Songs like "Mad About You," "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You," "Invisible Sun," and others border on perfection in songwriting.

Long live Der Stingel!!!

TOMANO

[TOMANO]

In the world of drumming, Sting and Peter Gabriel are THE gigs to get. Sting always chose the cream of the crop in drummers to compliment his band. Early on it was Omar Hakim, then Vinnie Colaiuta, Manu Katche and these days it's Keith Carlock. Monsters All.

TOMANO

[musicman5string]

My favorite Sting album. "The Wild Wild Sea" gives me chills every time.

[pmaraziti]

His "Nothing like the sun" tour was the first concert I saw, I believe I was 12... with my sister...

As begineer bassist, I also like a lot his lines , sometime simple but very tasty, always deliver the message very clear.... I like a lot also his 7/8 songs, I think "St. Augustine in Hell" is a good example..

As far his playing, I was shocked watching him on his DVDs (I have almost all) and lately in his last tour, he uses his left hand thumb quite a lot for fretting. Also the right hand technique sees often the thumb very active...

I think his arrangements are great, and yes, in one of DVDs he admits he always surround himself with musicians that are way better than him and it's a lot ! Apart from mentioned drummers, he works/worked with Jason Rebello and David Sancious at piano/keyboard, Chris Botti at trumpet and his faithgul guitarist Dominic Miller is also great..

All in all I love his arrangements, I like his bassline a lot, he's a great musician, he masters the music industry (wasn't music an art ? ) clearly very well...

Well, Joshua you know you're not the only fan of him... : )

Paolo

[nysbob]

I really like that record.

I bought the first Police record when it came out. They were a terrific band - straightforward tunes performed really, really well.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by TOMANO

In the world of drumming, Sting and Peter Gabriel are THE gigs to get. Sting always chose the cream of the crop in drummers to compliment his band. Early on it was Omar Hakim, then Vinnie Colaiuta, Manu Katche and these days it's Keith Carlock. Monsters All.

TOMANO

+10000

[Scott in Dallas]

Great album.

[Auriaprottu]

Originally Posted by TOMANO

In the world of drumming, Sting and Peter Gabriel are THE gigs to get. Sting always chose the cream of the crop in drummers to compliment his band. Early on it was Omar Hakim, then Vinnie Colaiuta, Manu Katche and these days it's Keith Carlock. Monsters All.

TOMANO

Youre right -the Sting gig is a great one for drummers- but am I the only one who thinks Sting tried to send a message to Stewart Copeland thru "Seven Days" (on Ten Summoner's Tales)?

I'd bet my next check he told Vinnie to play as much like Stew as he could on that track, just to let him know he could be replaced. Not that I agree- so far, I like The Police waaaaay better than anything Sting's done since.

[smperry]

Soul Cages is a great album! Need to give it another listen sometime soon.

Saw Sting on the Soul Cages and Nothing Like the Sun tours. Would've loved to see the Police, but I was a bit young (and my parents a bit strict) for that to happen.

M

[Blackbird]

Originally Posted by Auriaprottu

Youre right -the Sting gig is a great one for drummers- but am I the only one who thinks Sting tried to send a message to Stewart Copeland thru "Seven Days" (on Ten Summoner's Tales)?

I think Sting's really cunning when it comes to slipping messages into his lyrics. I don't think it was an accident that his first single was called "If you love somebody, set them free" when he was trying to extricate himself from The Police.

By my count I have 6 1/2 Sting CDs (only the first part of Bring on The Night), plus a DVD. I guess I count as a fan.

[MixBass]

Island of souls is for me possibly "the" masterpiece post police song.
The way the pulse modulates in itself is masterful. Great melody and heartfelt lyrics.

[WJGreer]

Excellent CD. Like one other poster, "The Wild Wild Sea" really moves me every time I listen.

IIRC, he lost both his parents as he was beginning to write the music for this album. Clearly there is a lot of introspection toward them in these songs.

[MikeBass]

From what I understand, "Soul Cages" is ment to be listened to as a whole (as opposed to track by track).
Sorta like a concept album to a small degree.
It does tell a story.
If you have the chance to listen to it from front to back and peek at the lyrics while your at it, it will make all the more sense.

Another one that doesn't get a lot of talking about is Mercury Falling.
Whew!!
I'm not sure if he could release a bad album!!

And +100000000 on the drummers he gets.

[Big nebula]

In all the years of liking Sting and The Police I've yet to hear him do a bass solo.

[polo515]

Sting might be the most talented musician to come out of the 70's. Great singer, songwriter, performer and a solid groovemaster on bass. Live, he is fantastic. All that said, it's his lyrics that impress me the most, a thinking man's artist.

[musicman5string]

Originally Posted by Big nebula

In all the years of liking Sting and The Police I've yet to hear him do a bass solo.

I'm pretty sure you'd hear him do a kazoo solo before a bass solo. It's just not something he'd be remotely interested in doing.