Artist: STING
Album: BRAND NEW DAY (CD)

Release date: 1999
Media type: CD

There is a difference between being an inspired musician and an informed musician. Sting is the latter. As always, he surrounds himself with ultratalented artists: this time around Stevie Wonder, Branford Marsalis, James Taylor, guitarist Dominic Miller, and the prince of rai Cheb Mami, fill the roster. Brand New Day exhibits about as many musical styles as there are tracks, all encased in dense, meticulous production. The album begins promisingly. "A Thousand Years" pulses atop a lush, two-note foundation. "A Desert Rose" folds trilling Algerian pop into trip-hop. Melodic, late-night jazz ballads dominate the middle portion of the collection. But Sting's preoccupation with odd-numbered time signatures prevents the songs from grooving, while the choruses are yawns. "Fill Her Up" (no, not "Fill 'Er Up"), a country tune, represents Sting at his most self-indulgent. Listening to one of the wealthiest musicians in pop singing "Got no money to invest / Got no prospect / Or education / I was lucky to get the job at this gas station" requires a heroic suspension of disbelief. The song morphs into this gospel number where Sting and a supporting chorus chant "You gotta fill 'er up with Jesus! / You gotta fill her up with life!" Who knew unleaded could be so rousing?

TRACKLIST:

.
01  A Thousand Years  5:57  
02  Desert Rose Vocals [Additional], Lyrics By [Additional] – Cheb Mami  4:46  
03  Big Lie, Small World  5:05  
04  After The Rain Has Fallen  5:04  
05  Perfect Love…Gone Wrong Rap – Stй*  5:25  
06  Tomorrow We'll See  4:47  
07  Prelude To The End Of The Game  0:19  
08  Fill Her Up  5:37  
09  Ghost Story  5:29  
10  Brand New Day Harmonica – Stevie Wonder  6:20  
11  EPK (Video)  3:53