Synchronicity [Enhanced, Original recording remastered]

To hardcore Police fans of yesteryear, this album could have been construed as a disappointment. Who cares? The fact that this album was a monumental best seller that appealed to millions of people is a testament to its finely crafted pop tunes.

Sure, there are a couple of dogs on this album, namely the excrutiating Mother, the less than overwhelming Murder by Numbers, and the pointless Miss Gradenko. However, these tracks are more than made up for by the searing intensity of Synchronicity II, the brilliant Wrapped Around Your Finger, and galactico uber hit Every Breath You Take.

Here we have a three piece band at the very height of their song writing and musical powers - the perfect time to call it a day.

Bearing in mind that the band broke up a year or so after recording this album, its not difficult to think that this sounds almost like a sting solo album in places. It's certainly unlike anything The Police had recorded previously, much of the reggae influence is absent here(but not totally), and in its place a more straight ahead rock sound (check "Synchronicity II"). There isn't a single dud track on here, it's also probably their most diverse album to date as well. There is so much more on this to enjoy than "Every Breath You Take". Fave tracks include "Synchronicity I", "Mother", "Wrapped around your finger" and the brooding "Tea in the sahara". If you don't own any Police records, get this and "Regatta de Blanc" first.

When i first bought this album aged 13 on vinyl from woolworths in 1983, i was blown away by the difference of the song structure from the previous LP, Ghost in the Machine.
It opnes with one of the standout tracks Synchronicity 1, which is completely brilliant, catchy, compelling and driving.
The next track, Walking In Your Footsteps again shows an unusual stripped down sound which grabs the attention.
Then we are back on almost Zenyatta territory with O My God, which again is a great song, with that distinctive Andy Summers guitar twang.Messy ending though.
And next is the one that is love or hate; Mother.
This song is a Summers song in the mould of 'Friends' which was the b side to Don't Stand So Close To Me, and there you have it really; this one should have been a B-side to a single and allowed great songs that WERE b sides to singles off this album to actually make it onto Sychronicity itself, such as Someone To talk to, and the very dark and compelling Once Upon A Daydream, but there you go, these masterpieces we were denied, unless you buy the vinyl singles, or Message In A Box.
Miss Gradenko i love, because it has the quirky Stewart Copeland identity which there was not enough of on Police albums, and it harkd back to the Regatta album.
Sychronicity 11 i always disliked. I thought it was a bit pointless and just doesn't quite work as a song. Good lyrics though.
Every Breath You take, what can i (yawn) say? Everyone knows it, its a great song but been played to death, not their best though i don't think.
The songs that make up the rest of the album show The Police at their finest.
King Of Pain, Wrapped around Your Finger and Tea In the Sahara show a breathtaking musicanship, songwriting ability and diversity of song style which makes for an interesting listen. Tea in the Sahara is just amazingly brooding and atmospheric, made all the more so by Andy Summers echoplex guitarwork.
Then Murder by Numbers, a B side which was an extra track on the original cassete release, and again suffers froma messy ending, but is very bluesy, great guiar work and a nice drum riff.
What you get is a very diverse album that even today does not sound dated, and that is always the mark of a great album.
Buy!