REVIEW: The Police - The Police (2 CD Set)

In case you didn't hear this review in the FREE podcast...

Released in 2007, this set is the perfect companion piece to their 30th anniversary reunion. Bringing together 28 chart-topping hits and fan favorite album tracks across 2 cds, 'The Police' is a nearly stellar overview of their all-too-brief career. Yes, I said "nearly". Although a remake of an earlier hit, the exclusion of 'Don't Stand So Close To Me '86' is a glaring omission as this was their final studio recording.

The collection begins in 1977 with "Fall Out", the Copeland penned and produced first single and runs through their five studio albums, ending with 8 of the 11 tracks from 1983's 'Synchronicity'. 'Synchronicity' is arguably their most successful record, but the Police took a break in 1984 which became permanent (for 22 years anyway) the following year. Tracking their progression from punky new wave band (with a hint of Reggae) to mature pop hit makers, 'The Police' doesn't miss a beat.

There have been other compilations before; from 'Every Breath You Take: The Singles' to 'The Very Best Of Sting & the Police' - even a boxed set featuring every recording they did. This collection exists in a weird gray area, being neither as comprehensive as said boxed set (remember, they only released 5 albums) nor as strictly radio-friendly as the various singles collections. Since casual fans could find all of the big radio hits on a single disc and die hard fans would not go broke acquiring their entire discography, this anthology seems a bit redundant, obviously being released simply to capitalize on the band's recent media exposure.

The packaging of this set leaves something to be desired and is the only true letdown here. An "elegance through simplicity" approach has been employed here; the black slipcase's front cover adorned with a black and white close up of the trio and the words "The Police" covering a yellow digipack - the back cover simply housing the track listing. This works fine until you get to the pamphlet or poster or whatever it is they try to pass off as a booklet. This six panel folded one-sheet contains a pair of "then and now" photos, a short essay by Chris Salewicz (with no mention of who he is or why he's qualified to write an essay about the Police and have it included here) and some brief track details. Flip it over to reveal a vintage 1979 concert poster reproduction. Boring.

The essay is fine, but something bigger seems in order here; maybe band interviews regarding the reunion or quotes from other artists about how they were inspired by the Police. Given that this is the compilation that is supposed to introduce a new generation to the Police and reaffirm older fans as to why we should be excited about their triumphant return, it just seems like there should be... more.

That having been said, music-wise there's not a single dud in this create of fireworks which has been carefully carted out and dusted off to ring in the much celebrated and perhaps long overdue return of the Police.