Review Summary: "The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you."
Many times pop music is made to enhance moments - many of them temporary - to make the current times more enjoyable. It draws entire crowds together on single notes and capitalizes on simple beats at the surface. It's flocked to not because of what it is, but because of what it represents. The times and the people you're with are only enhanced by it. Outside of its desired environment, many pieces within pop can be discarded without a slight afterthought because they don't have the authenticity to back them up in the long run. However, The Police are still relevant today, not because of what they did at the time, but how they did it. It was more than pop music, but at its core that's exactly what it was. And it holds its gripping power even as it continues to drift further from the spotlight.
Everyone in the band was classically trained; it's not that this matters when it comes to the legitimacy of the music, but it's this fact that allows the band to create simple music that's so gripping. The playing is simple at its core, but the focus on grooves and tugging at your spirit while remaining catchy makes it transcendental of sorts. As the trio blends ska, punk, and reggae with pop, they create something fun for everyone and something deep for the individual. "Message In A Bottle", the well known single from this album, displays this approach well. The lyrics of being the lost one in a world of billions can be very relatable for someone really paying attention, but the music has enough bounce and life for others just to get lost in the music. Sting and company understood this divide and created the right formula for both sides to be immersed within their music.
Although the band (read: Sting) became increasingly political and socially aware with time, many of the songs focus on personal tension between individuals (love) and the battle with oneself. "Bring On The Night" is a great example of the latter as the song shifts from a dark overtone to one which is more upbeat as the protagonist is relieved of his fear of day. And while the guitar gives the music its overall attitude, it's the rhythm section which solidifies their base sound extremely well. The drumming isn't complicated, but it's tasteful; the influence of jazz is incredibly apparent here, keeping the playing clean and well thought out. It would seem that the production may be an issue because of the age of the album, but there's really no noticeable flaws with it - everything is clear and distinct. At this time in their career, The Police knew exactly what they were going for and what it took to please everyone. If people were to pick up their music now, they would realize this still holds true.