 6. Sting, Nothing Like
the Sun (1987)
This was one of the first CDs I bought when I
got my first CD player. That stereo's long gone but the disc is still a favorite.
Sting is one of those artists who writes intelligent (even literary!) lyrics and
sets them to such great tunes that you don't even see the layers of meaning until you've
listened to the songs over and over. And that means that there's always something
new to hear.
This CD is a collection of thoughtful songs,
reflections on politics and personal emotion. I think of it as Sting's exploration
of human connection, through songs like "Be Still My Beating Heart," "We'll
Be Together," and "Straight to my Heart." And the CD has its share of
beautiful, transcendent moments, too: "Fragile," "The Secret
Marriage," and "Sister Moon" (my favorite). Like The Dream of the
Blue Turtles (1985), Sting's first solo album, the jazz influences in his music are
evident here, and the saxophone of Branford Marsalis features prominently. The best
part of all is that although this album covers ground from romantic to painful, not once
does it drop into the schmaltz that characterizes some of Sting's later music.
Definitely one for the ages. |
