Ten Summoner's Tales: Sting's Last Gasp Before The Cliff (Music Monday)

The final album before the wheels came off

"Ten Summoner's Tales" marks an important milestone in Sting's solo career - it's the last album before what I've come to call "The Cliff." You know what I mean: that point where an artist who once couldn't miss suddenly can't hit. From this album forward, we're looking at zero to one interesting cuts per album until well into the 21st century. Quite the fall for the guy who gave us five nearly perfect Police albums.

The album opens with "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You," which is undeniably the standout track. This is what should have been the lead single from The Police's 8th album - if only. The song has that perfect balance of pop sensibility and musical sophistication that made The Police so special. The chorus soars in that way only Sting can deliver, and the arrangement is rich without being overcooked. When he hits that chorus, you're reminded why this guy was once the biggest rock star on the planet.

Then there's "Fields of Gold," which Lite FM and Sting himself seem to think is a masterpiece. I've never quite gotten the appeal. It's pleasant enough, but it feels like Sting on autopilot - a little too satisfied with his own poetry. It's the musical equivalent of someone who won't stop telling you about their summer in Tuscany.

"Seven Days" is where things get more interesting. This one would have fit nicely in that suite from "The Soul Cages" (you know, that run from "All This Time" through "Jeremiah Blues" which I disussed last week). It's got that off-kilter 5/4 time signature that makes you feel slightly unsettled in the best way possible. Sting showing off his musical chops without beating you over the head with it.

"It's Probably Me" and "Shape of My Heart" are decent songs for this era of Sting, but when you stack them against his entire career? They fall firmly into the "nice but forgettable" category. They're the songs you don't skip when they come on, but you don't seek them out either.

"Nothing 'Bout Me" is a fun throwaway track - you can almost hear Sting writing it in five minutes flat. It feels below his talents, but it's catchy enough that I don't mind. It's like watching a chess grandmaster play tic-tac-toe - sure, it's beneath them, but they're still pretty good at it.

So here we are: one genuinely great song, some okay ones, and some "who cares" tracks. The ratio is already slipping from "The Soul Cages," and things are about to get much worse for Sting's solo output. Next week, I'll fly through the next bunch of releases - brace yourselves for an accelerating downward trajectory that would make even the most devoted Police fan weep.

Oh, and as for “Ten” Summoners Tales? Count the songs. This one goes to 11 in the orignal relase, and 12 in the expanded edition.

I've updated my "Good Parts of Sting Solo Albums" playlist with exactly one song from this one. The cliff approaches, friends.