Actually listening to these makes me realize that sting never seemed to know he was in a punk band. The band was fantastic punk until midway to the end or the sampled songs, and sting’s vocals didn’t really match what they were playing. If you told me it was bad religion (or any other later punk genisis band) backing up sting I would have believed you
Yesterday you were asking us about cheap beer, today it’s punkish tunes by the Police. What is this, “Uncle Vinny’s College Reminiscence Hour”? Well anyway, it’s working.
There’s an annoying tendency amongst not only professional but also amateur rock critics to put bands with a less polished sound above those whose works are more slickly-produced. Yes, I love the Clash and the Pistols and the Ramones. But are they better than the Police? Objectively, I say no. Are they worse? Of course not.
What the Police did in those early years was take the punk sensibilities and then bring their estimable musicianship and songwriting craft to the table. Bands like Black Flag and X were a lot rawer, and had a sense of danger to both them and the music they made – which the Police did not. But personally, I find myself listening to Sting & co. a lot more often than any of those groups. Bless 'em, I do dig the Ramones, but I can only hear their basic 3-chord compositions so many times before it’s like, “Okay, that’s enough of that for now.”
Love the Police. Always have, always will.
This might be the first time I’ve listened to one of these lists from start to finish w/ out skipping anything and I enjoyed it all.
Couldn’t pick a favorite from the list so chose “Don’t Care”.
Trying to force a band into a label or vice versa is pointless, IMO.
Especially a band like the Police who are a fairly unique blend of genres - I can’t think of anyone else who sounds like them (or vice versa).
Also, while I was incredibly disappointed when they broke up (and blamed/resented Sting & his solo dreck for it, deservedly or not), when I look back at their career now, I respect that they maintained their identity throughout their existence; their commercial success didn’t change their sound.
Even Synchronicity, with it’s pop, commercial, MTV popularity still sounds like the same band.
I contrast this with the band who, for me, filled the gap left by the Police when they broke up - R.E.M.
Their first few albums were unique, new & original, raw, garage-band folk-rock.
Once they became popular and commercially successful, they became a completely different entity - over-produced Pop drivel.
In that light, while still disappointing, maybe it’s a good thing the Police broke up when they did.
Oh, man. This one opens up a lot of my past. But first: until I read this post I thought the lyric in “Truth Hits Everybody” was “It will blow your head into a boy.” It never really made sense, but I don’t always expect lyrics to make sense.
I forgot all about Klark Kent! I probably have that on a cassette in a box somewhere. Didn’t he have to change the name to Klerk Kant at some point to make D.C.'s lawyers happy?
I had friends who were big Police fans. I thought of them as a decent post-punk new wave ska type band. They fit in with the attitude of what was going on.
I never thought of them as punk, nor did anyone I know. The Clash, maybe, although there was a lot of ska in them, too, but by '78 - '79 the Stiff Records kind of music, with some rough edges, but signs of talent and practice, was the main thing.
The horns rear their heads,
Uncouth though it may be, G.
Hardcore, The Police.
Also, I usually look forward to these Sunday polls. I like to sort through songs I’d otherwise never have sorted through. The playlists are nice too, especially on a phone.
Back in the day, Sting said mean things about his Police back catalog when he went solo. I mean, like in major dick head mode. And what was his solo career about? Lame soft pop jazz. So when I wanna say f-you to Stink, I play one of the Police’s early singles! Thanks for this list, it’s awesome. Especially Klark Kent.
I picked the one that says “Don’t Care.”
That’s the name of a song? Oh.
Damn it @RiotDemon you just stole my line!
Actually listening to these makes me realize that sting never seemed to know he was in a punk band. The band was fantastic punk until midway to the end or the sampled songs, and sting’s vocals didn’t really match what they were playing. If you told me it was bad religion (or any other later punk genisis band) backing up sting I would have believed you
“snooze button”
Tho I liked the Police ok as a pop/Rick band.
@f00l as in Rick Springfield ?
@ThatsHeadly
Closed my eyes and picked one…
Yesterday you were asking us about cheap beer, today it’s punkish tunes by the Police. What is this, “Uncle Vinny’s College Reminiscence Hour”? Well anyway, it’s working.
As much as I wanted to say “Next To You”, Klark Kent is bad-ass.
(I actually bought a goofy ska covers compilation because it had this cover here.)
There’s an annoying tendency amongst not only professional but also amateur rock critics to put bands with a less polished sound above those whose works are more slickly-produced. Yes, I love the Clash and the Pistols and the Ramones. But are they better than the Police? Objectively, I say no. Are they worse? Of course not.
What the Police did in those early years was take the punk sensibilities and then bring their estimable musicianship and songwriting craft to the table. Bands like Black Flag and X were a lot rawer, and had a sense of danger to both them and the music they made – which the Police did not. But personally, I find myself listening to Sting & co. a lot more often than any of those groups. Bless 'em, I do dig the Ramones, but I can only hear their basic 3-chord compositions so many times before it’s like, “Okay, that’s enough of that for now.”
Love the Police. Always have, always will.
This might be the first time I’ve listened to one of these lists from start to finish w/ out skipping anything and I enjoyed it all.
Couldn’t pick a favorite from the list so chose “Don’t Care”.
Trying to force a band into a label or vice versa is pointless, IMO.
Especially a band like the Police who are a fairly unique blend of genres - I can’t think of anyone else who sounds like them (or vice versa).
Also, while I was incredibly disappointed when they broke up (and blamed/resented Sting & his solo dreck for it, deservedly or not), when I look back at their career now, I respect that they maintained their identity throughout their existence; their commercial success didn’t change their sound.
Even Synchronicity, with it’s pop, commercial, MTV popularity still sounds like the same band.
I contrast this with the band who, for me, filled the gap left by the Police when they broke up - R.E.M.
Their first few albums were unique, new & original, raw, garage-band folk-rock.
Once they became popular and commercially successful, they became a completely different entity - over-produced Pop drivel.
In that light, while still disappointing, maybe it’s a good thing the Police broke up when they did.
None. Nope. No way.
Oh, man. This one opens up a lot of my past. But first: until I read this post I thought the lyric in “Truth Hits Everybody” was “It will blow your head into a boy.” It never really made sense, but I don’t always expect lyrics to make sense.
I forgot all about Klark Kent! I probably have that on a cassette in a box somewhere. Didn’t he have to change the name to Klerk Kant at some point to make D.C.'s lawyers happy?
I had friends who were big Police fans. I thought of them as a decent post-punk new wave ska type band. They fit in with the attitude of what was going on.
I never thought of them as punk, nor did anyone I know. The Clash, maybe, although there was a lot of ska in them, too, but by '78 - '79 the Stiff Records kind of music, with some rough edges, but signs of talent and practice, was the main thing.
It was a good time for music.
The horns rear their heads,
Uncouth though it may be, G.
Hardcore, The Police.
Also, I usually look forward to these Sunday polls. I like to sort through songs I’d otherwise never have sorted through. The playlists are nice too, especially on a phone.
Thanks Jason Toon!
Not to mention… I Can’t Stand Losing You (well they did, sorta) which should be played Ska as hell.
Back in the day, Sting said mean things about his Police back catalog when he went solo. I mean, like in major dick head mode. And what was his solo career about? Lame soft pop jazz. So when I wanna say f-you to Stink, I play one of the Police’s early singles! Thanks for this list, it’s awesome. Especially Klark Kent.