[.ca] Reggatta De Blanc

The Police start drivin':
After released "Outlandos d'Amour", their first album, in 1978, British semi-punk band The Police moved on to "Reggatta de Blanc". The band's second album is almost completely absent of the punk music that fueled "Outlandos"; instead, it is a collection of rock/reggae fusions. The album begins with one of the band's absolute greatest, "Message in a Bottle", and then moves on to the average title track. Then there's a fast-paced piece, "It's Alright for You", followed by one of my personal favorites and in my opinion one of the band's best, "Bring on the Night". Next up is a cool song, "Deathwish", and after that, a Police masterpiece: "Walking on the Moon". (By the way, the album is worth buying if not for the rest of the terrific songs, just for "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon") The next song is ... eh ... odd: "On Any Other Day" (headed by Stewart Copeland). Then there's a love song, "The Bed's Too Big Without You", followed by the cool "Contact" and another one of the Police's little recognized best, "Does Everyone Stare". And finally, the album closes with "No Time This Time", another very fast-paced track that starts out like something from "Batman". A great way to become introduced to The Police, and a very large improvement over "Outlandos d'Amour". - THOMAS BENTON is walking on the moon.

Standing the test of time:
I recall seeing the Police when they toured in support of this album. I was an enthralled teenager. Years later after developing an interest in Verdi/Mozart/Puccini Opera, Rock-a-Billy, BeBopJazz, Nu-Metal, Reggae among others, I am pleased to say I can still put this album on, crank the volume and be arrested by the Police. I must comment that the second cut, the title cut, is not average as some have said. It is in fact pop genius; short and to the point ... e.o... e.o...e.a.o. If you like this album try listening to Bedouin Soundclash (Sounding a Mosaic) and Mana (Unplugged).

The BEST:
This was the very first band I had seen in concert as a teenager. And this was the very first album I had gotten by these three Dudes. Call me a throwback, I don't care... but music back in 1978 through 1980 was so cool. It was a great time to be a teenager. Disco was on the radio, but Punk and New Wave were on the verge of taking over. Combat Boots and Leather Jackets were becoming the rage... and the music was to follow. This album is one of their finest. However, there is also their 4-CD compilation titled "Message in a Box"... and if you want it all, get that one. Trust me ... =o)

Rescue me before I fall into despair-o!:
The Police continue their mixture of punk and reggae in their second release, Regatta de Blanc, or White Reggae. Someone I doubt that it had anything to do with boat races, the other regatta, as the title track is an instrumental exercise punctuated by a rollicking bassline, and various vocalizations Sting and Co., before Andy Summer's guitar joins in the assault. Many songs deal with the angst of alienation and loneliness in an increasingly personalized and post-industrial world, but few match the power, catchy rhythms, and sheer writing skills of "Message In A Bottle." The concept of a castaway sending a message in a bottle in hopes that a passing ship will receive it. But when one hears "Seems I'm not alone at being alone/A hundred billion castaways/Looking for a home," things are mixed, because it's good to know we're not the only one, but in the end, the prospects of being rescued have been greatly reduced. More of a punk sound on the verses of "It's Alright For You." The verses consist of two to three syllable lines sung rapid-fire like Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues," but the one thing that pops up some of the verses is the paean to indifference, "Stand by/Don't cry/Watching while the world die." Back to reggae on the escapism of "Bring On The Night," a title Sting would use for his documentary/concert movie. A hybrid punk-skiffle sound surrounds the brooding "Deathwish," where a nothing-to-lose attitude to an unrewarding life eventually leads to "The day I take a bend too fast/.../I'll be wiped right off the slate/Don't wait up 'cause I'll be late." The wooly wishing and daydreaming in "Walking On The Moon" has a nice reggae-influenced chorus. I would only have thought Weird Al would've come up with a symphony of domestic disasters and harmless surprises that throw people off guard, but Sting too tackles the same in a wry but humorous manner. In "On Any Other Day," the chorus goes "My wife has burned the scrambled eggs/The dog just bit my leg/My teenage daughter ran away/My fine young son has turned out gay." Things go from totally silly, "Cut off my fingers in the/Door of my car/How could I do it?" to the more heartbreaking "My wife is proud to tell me/Of her love affairs/How could she do this to me?" More of a reggae flavour here in a song of being deserted, where a bed is objectified as the connection in the former relationship. Clever title, "The Bed's Too Big Without You," better than any generic sort of "I Miss You" or "Can't Live Without You" titles. The angst of the main character is told in lines such as "I can't sleep with your memory" or "I get thru day but late at night/Made love to my pillow but it didn't feel right." "Have we got contact" asks Sting in the uptempo "Contact"? Getting a note from a certain someone on the possibility of some intimate contact leads to a line, "I'd come on over but I haven't got a raincoat," which could mean being without a mac in the pouring rain, or someone prophylatically-challenged. The overwhelming insecurities one is inundated with on a date is aptly covered in "Does Everyone Stare." The concept that it's image and presentation that matter, the worry of not messing up and looking a right 'nana, and trying not to be awkward, something dealt with humorously: "I never noticed the size of my feet/Until I kicked you in the shins/Will you ever forgive me" And I'd probably be one of those who'd let the phone ring twice and then decide, "Not home." The dizzying tempo of "No Time This Time" is a reflection of the mad rat-race of the post-industrial world, and yes, I agree with the refrain: "If I could/I'd slow the whole world down/I'd bring it to it's knees/I'd stop it spinning round." Come on people, let's slow down! A good followup to Outlandos D'Amour, reflecting punk's dissatisfaction with the post-industrial world, with the usual clever and sophisticated songwriting and wry observations on life.

Great album!!!:
If you like reggae, pop, rock or The Police/Sting, buy this album. Message In a Bottle is a great track, as well as the title track and Walking on The Moon. Some tracks are forgettable, such as the final one, No Time This Time. The Police's fusion of many musical genres creates feel-good and danceable music. Some complaints are that many of their album covers look the same, and aren't original, and the remastered version doesn't contain a booklet inside the album with art and stuff. No complaints about most of the music, though.

• Message in a Bottle
• Reggatta de Blanc
• It's Alright for You
• Bring on the Night
• Deathwish
• Walking on the Moon
• On Any Other Day
• Bed's Too Big Without You
• Contact
• Does Everyone Stare
• No Time This Time