I'm not ashamed of saying I'm a Sting fan. It's probably the only truly current, super-mainstream artist I really like. I do enjoy some new songs from Madonna or Coldplay, but in the end, it's only something here and there. Not so with Sting. I listen to his entire albums for months, usually during the summer.

My Sting-fan history started in the late 80's. I was in Porto Alegre in 1989 for his "Nothing Like The Sun" concert at Olimpico stadium. Very memorable, although it did rain (I was out on the field). Later, in 1997, I caught "Mercury Falling" near Philadelphia. It was across the river in Camden, late on a bright summer afternoon.

Now Sting has released Sacred Love. Well, not exactly now... it's been out for over two months. Heck, I wouldn't even have known if Rubino hadn't given me the news. So, being as enthusiastic as I am, I went out and got the album.

I like it. The songs are classic Sting material, and he repeats some of the Middle Eastern instrumentation he seems so fond of, ala Mad About You (The Soul Cages, 1991). Here and there his content covers his political views, and every once in a while you get a feeling he's not sufficiently in-touch with what's happening in music in 2003. Send Your Love, for example, with its driving percussion and synth-toms, almost sounds ten years old.

But the songs are generally very good. And in the end, that’s why people buy Sting albums in the first place.

It’s a keeper. As always, beautiful vocal work. The programmed drums don't sound a bit dated, and Mary J. is featured on a song! The whole recording is very nice. And, yeah, the songs are pretty good.

I've reserved some special words regarding the Sacred Love web site: it sucks.

Once again, care of Bob Lefsetz, some food for thought (mpeg).