From the Vault...

06/25/2000
#687

info
The Police
"Zenyatta Mondatta"


© A&M Records

Year of Release: 1980
Rating:

track listing
  • Don't Stand
    So Close To Me
  • Driven To Tears
  • When The World Is
    Running Down
    You Make The Best
    Of What's
  • Canary In A Coalmine
  • Voices Inside My Head
  • Bombs Away
  • De Do Do Do
    De Da Da Da
  • Behind My Camel
  • Man In A Suitcase
  • Shadows In The Rain
  • The Other Way
    Of Stopping

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    The Police Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #686
    Little Feat--Time Loves A Hero
    Next Review: #688
    Gary Moore--Wild Frontier
    The Police
    "Zenyatta Mondatta"



    As much as everyone says, when it comes to the question "What Police album is the best overall?" The answer, most likely would be Synchronicty. But in my opinion, The Police's first album and this week's choice, Zenyatta Mondatta are better than Synchronicty. Maybe its because most of the well-known songs on Synchronicty received heavy airplay on radio, and in some cases, overplayed. With that in mind, it's a great idea to look back at the previous releases before Synchronicity, and appreciate Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland's music as The Police in a better frame of mind.


    The well-known songs from Zenyatta Mondatta are "Don't Stand So Close To Me," and "De Do Do Do De Da Da Da." Both songs were heard regularly on the radio, and even to this day, both songs are as fresh and more enjoyable then the overplayed songs from Synchronicity. Other enjoyable tunes are "Driven To Tears" and "When The World Is Running Down You Make The Best Of What's Still Around." "Driven To Tears" may be the better of the two, yet both songs are enjoyable and never tiring.


    "Canary In A Coalmine" is one of those songs that was overlooked. It's a happy-go-lucky tune, and would of received heavy radio play, if it was given the chance. "Voices Inside In My Head" is mostly instrumental, and it's definitely funky and jazzy. (We could see where Sting would be focusing on jazz music later in his solo career with this one.) "Bombs Away" is another happy-go-lucky number, and, like "Canary In A Coalmine", this would of been another heavy radio airplay contender.


    In the mood for eerie, soundtrack music? The instrumental "Behind My Camel" sets the stage for soundtrack music for certain scenes in movies, such as for the opening credits and/or radio plays. Another happy-go-lucky number" song is "Man With A Suitcase." Like a lot of songs on this album, it gets your head a-boppin'. "Shadows In The Rain" is more on the upbeat reggae/jazz sides. The album's closing number, "The Other Side Of Stopping" is another instrumental, and also another contender for soundtrack/play music.


    Most of all the songs on Zenyatta Mondatta will get the repeated play on cd players and today's AOR radio stations. The Police were one of the best bands to represent the 1980s. As stated in their VH-1 Behind The Music biography, The Police were to pursue solo work after Synchronicity and (hopefully) get back together and record. To this day, fans of The Police are still waiting for an official Police reunion, where they will once again record and tour.


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    Previous Review: #686
    Little Feat--Time Loves A Hero
    Next Review: #688
    Gary Moore--Wild Frontier