release date: Oct. 5, 1987
format: vinyl 2 lp (393912-1) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]
producer: Sting, Hugh Padgham, Bryan Loren, Neil Dorfsman
label: A&M Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "The Lazarus Heart" - 2. "Be Still My Beating Heart" - 3. "Englishman in New York" (4 / 5) - 4. "History Will Teach Us Nothing" - 6. "Fragile" - 8. "Straight to My Heart" - 10. "Sister Moon" - 11. "Little Wing"
2nd solo studio album by Sting is like his first two album releases a double vinyl album, although, the playing time at approx. 55 mins. really doesn't opt for the necessity of two discs. The album is a slight move away from the jazz tone on the debut towards a more traditional pop / rock styled album.
At first, I found it a lesser album with the lack of great compositions, but in a way I think it's a more successful release than his solo debut as it's more of a whole, and the lyrical side is clearly bettering his first. After a few years I then considered this his best solo release. Some tracks, however, tend to linger in the same mood and seem like built on more or less the same matrix, which makes it appear as having a long playing time. Still, this is a solid good album, and imho, it's his last really good album as a solo artist.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 4,5 / 5 stars ]
