I think I'm going to love this album.
I'm listening to the snippets on I-tunes right now. First thought out of the gate on Gabriel's Message was to completely agree with Dietmar about his voice. What the hell was he thinking there? I loved the original version, which supposedly was just a demo. Then I think, with just the snippets of the songs, it's like seeing the tiny corner of a painting and saying you don't like the painting as a whole. At least that's the way I look at it. I went to sting.com and there is a little video of Sting talking about the album with some more extended versions of some songs on the album and, yeah, I'm gonna love it.
I love all kinds of music and there are all kinds of albums and songs for all our moods. This one is definitely not for when you are in a rockin, headbanging mood. This is a cuddle up in front of the fire with a nice hot cocoa. This is for quiet, peaceful times. This is for soul soothing.
ANNNDDD, on the opposite side of the coin.... Seeing the direction Sting's last few solo albums have taken, indicates more and more to me that he just can't "get it up" musically anymore. He's lost his mojo for writing new music. If he keeps going at this rate and there are more haters of this album than lovers, then mayyyybe my wish (as well as E-L's) will come true and she and I can say "nani nani bo bo" to all you naysayers.
But for now? I'm happy to have something to look forward to this winter. Thanks, Sting.
ETA: Sorry, I didn't realize people had gone on for three pages about how much they hate it/love it and that someone already posted the clip I referred to above. =) Carry on.