Ghost in the machine

[hollo]

When i listen to this album it feels like it is the weakest of all five albums and the extra instrumentation feels cluttered.
Is this album deemed as a success, what are peoples' opinions on this album. Was it commercially a failure in comparison to synchronicity.

[Wait and See]

I guess I kind of agree, because there are really only four songs on the album I like-- Spirits, Every Little Thing, Omegaman and Darkness. I think those are four of their best songs, though. Everything in between those kind of runs together to me. I actually think Synchronicity is the album that has held up the least well over time, though.

[hollo]

spirits in the material world is a great song.
I like , spirits, too much information, darkess, secret journey

Omegaman is diabolical.
one world is boring.

sitting on the fence over hungry for you. Starts off well enough like.

[Wait and See]

[quote="hollo"]Omegaman is diabolical.[/quote]

Diabolical? It actually has kind of a positive message, pretty similar to message in a bottle-- everybody's got problems, so I ought to quit worrying about mine. That is unless I've totally misunderstood the lyrics.

[hollo]

Awful song. One of the police's worst.

[blueseattle]

Invisible Sun is a gorgeous song.

[Marshmallow Jones 1]

couldnt disagree more hollo. my favorite album, not a bad track on it. 'one world' features some of stewart's best studio drumming, and most amazing about that is that it was done in one take, according to the man himself.


October 1982, Modern Drummer

RF: You mentioned One World (Not Three) in another interview as being your best playing. Why is that?
SC: Well, that's the most recent. It was done in one take; we sussed the chords out and there's basically just two things that go back and forth, back and forth. Sting sort of shouted some lyrics and we just banged away at it and got it the first time. Usually we learn the chords, go in and play it and then come back and listen to it and go and play it again. That's usually the take and if it's not that one, it's the next take or sometimes three takes, but that's when it starts to go downhill. This one was the first take. We talked about the chords and I went to the drums, which are in a different building, and the guitar was in the recording room and Sting was in the mixing room. We each went to our posts and played it and that's what is on the record.

[Vince Flamacue]

Not my favorite Police album overall, but it will always mean alot to me. It was the first record I ever bought with my own money and I wore it out trying to play drums to it, especially on One World. Stew puts on a clinic in that song.

[Wait and See]

[quote="hollo"]Awful song. One of the police's worst.[/quote]

I originally skimmed over it and didn't like it, until I actually listened to it. I like the lyrics, and the guitar break/outro is cool-- "iiiii'm soooooo tiiiired....."

[blueseattle]

I just think the album has such an awesome ambience to it.

[BongoBoy]

I think it is a very good album.

Yes, it has a lot going on (I prefer the simpler instumentation)

...but what I personally like is the calypso/reggae vibe. The steel drum sounds in "Magic"...obviously "One World", with it's awesome reggae groove.

I like most of the songs on it.

but I do prefer the three piece sound of the first three albums, but the songs are almost always good and the drums are awesome.

I like Omegaman, it's different.
Demolition man is great.

I know the horn overdubs might rub some the wrong way but I like it.

...but I really don't have much negative to say about The Police. I might not love the recording style of the last two albums...but the SONGS are always great, to me anyway.

actually Synchronicity is where I am more on the fence, but again the songs rock. (I assume "Mother" is like comic relief.)

it's to each his/her own I guess.
Cheers.

[edgyspice]

[quote="Marshmallow Jones 1"]couldnt disagree more hollo. my favorite album, not a bad track on it. 'one world' features some of stewart's best studio drumming, and most amazing about that is that it was done in one take, according to the man himself.
[/quote]

Word, word, WORD! Great album, the one I listen to most often, and the drumming on "One World" is unbelievable. I also think that the guitar solo on "Omegaman" is one of the greatest ever.

[nathanarizona]

Before we get to the music: One of the best album covers and album titles in rock history. First 3 songs and last 4 songs are 7 of the best the Police have to offer. Like most on this forum I can do without the horns, etc. on this album but still...there are some great tracks here. Even the middle 4 tracks have some great stuff going on. Crank up Demolition Man and listen to Andy's guitar on the fade out - great stuff. Like everyone else I dig Stew's drums on One World. I hope they play some of this stuff on the current tour in their stripped down form. The songs are great but yeah, probably a little too much "production" on this record for most.

Oh yeah, and compared to Synchronicity just about everything was a "commercial failure" since it sold over 8 million copies in the U.S. alone. I think Ghost did around triple platinum in the U.S.

[Three over Four]

[quote]First 3 songs and last 4 songs are 7 of the best the Police have to offer.[/quote]

Couldn't agree more, though I also really dig Demolition Man a LOT and the energy of Rehumanize Yourself....oh hell, I love the whole album!

[quote]Oh yeah, and compared to Synchronicity just about everything was a "commercial failure" since it sold over 8 million copies in the U.S. alone. I think Ghost did around triple platinum in the U.S.[/quote]

I've always hated the concept of 'commercial' success or failure. Not that I like them or anything, but Hootie and the Blowfish sold 14 million copies of their debut album. Anything less than that on their 2nd album would've been seen as a 'failure' because by industry standards you're always supposed to go up in sales from album to album. I guess in that sense, the Police never had ANY album that was a failure.

[wrenhour]

Anyone who doesn't think this is an incredible album is nuts. Synchronicity is probably the weakest of them all. Come one people. Are you really police fans?