Music 10K: 49. Synchronicity

Synchronicity by The Police
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What would the 80s have been without The Police? Well, the 80s definitely would have been missing something.

I can listen to this album and hear all the nuances and think "yeah, that's the 80s for sure", but these tracks are really likable. Starting with the high energy of "Synchronicity I" to the exoticism of "Walking in Your Footsteps," this band really did explore sounds and themes in a way that many bands still don't do today. The fact that they were mainstream really speaks to how different the musical landscape was back in the 80s than it is now. It seems the industry was a lot more open to different kinds of music. If The Police came out with this album today, it would definitely be a part of the indie scene rather than anywhere else.

I really like the atmospheric, yet jazzy, soul-influenced flavor of "O My God." Sting truly has a conservative way of singing, but at the same time, he's very expressive.

"Mother" is a very strange track, but if you have an overbearing mother, you can certainly relate. The insane, desperate raving of Andy Summers really hits a note. It's funny, but also a bit disturbing. "Miss Gradenko" is a short, light piece that seems to have come out of the studio in no time at all.

"Synchronicity II" is a typically 80s track that probably many 80s tracks following have tried to emulate. I just like the line "And every single meeting with his so-called superior is a humiliating kick in the crotch." It's hilariously unexpected.

Then alas, we come to an unforgettable classic. "Every Breath You Take" is a beautiful, timeless piece of music. Albeit, it is about an obsessive stalker. However, many people mistake it for a love song. This is an example of how the lyrics of a song can be strangely mismatched with the musical content. Nonetheless, it is an incredible piece recognizable across decades. It has been sampled numerous times by other artists. A song like this is rare in that its appeal still draws people today.

"King of Pain" is probably one of my favorite songs on this album. While it has a distinctly 80s sound with the use of synths, light drumming, and guitar solo interlude, it is a reflective and classically reticent Sting track. You can definitely hear on Sting albums that follow this same sort of theme on his later creations.

"Wrapped Around Your Finger" is a strong example of storytelling with folklore and mythological figures represented in the lyrics. It's a very mysterious song and one that I really like to sing along to. (Remember the room filled with candles anyone?)

"Tea in the Sahara" is another one of my favorites on this album. It's a very gentle, quiet, mysterious piece evoking lovely images of the desert. It's very different from the other tracks on the album because it is so subdued and Sting's voice alone seems to carry the song forward. Another example of wonderful storytelling. It sounds like something out of Sheherazade.

I think this is a great classic album out of an era that induces nostalgia from people who remember it. I like exploring music from all time periods so that I'm able to discover a rewarding catalog of music like this is.