Police

Synchronicity

Very likely The Police's greatest effort

Review Score:

(10/10)
In 1984, at the peak of their career, The Police decided to call it quits (although the group did not officially disband until 1986). The grand finale to their musical career is this album, "Synchronicity". And what a fine finish it is!

The album begins with "Synchronicity I", a relatively fast-paced piece led by keyboard. Then it picks up with "Walking In Your Footsteps", a simple and calm song. Next is "O My God", which sounds a little more like a traditional Police composition, followed by the more than slightly bizarre "Mother", with lead vocals by Andy Stewart. Stewart Copeland leads "Miss Gradenko", a kind-hearted song, and then we're on to "Synchronicity II". "Synchronicity II" is - in my opinion - one of the best Police songs, and it's definitely quite a bit better than the already fine "Synchronicity I". There's catchy guitar and vocal work, accompanied by Copeland's familiar percussion work. It's the seventh track when the album begins to get truly remarkable.

I'm talking about "Every Breath You Take", arguably the best composition of The Police's career and definitely the most popular. The highlight of the song is Sting's bass guitar work; the song was later re-worked for P. "Copycat" Diddy's "I'll Be Missing You". Following this great track is "King Of Pain", another excellent song which is among my favorites. The next two songs are somewhat similar, in that they're both calm and with a mystical aura. The first is another one of my favorite songs, the flawlessly done "Wrapped Around Your Finger". The second is "Tea in the Sahara", which originally beautifully sealed off The Police's musical career with its mysterious-sounding lyrics - the song brings to my head an image of the sahara desert, probably unsurprisingly.

For the CD release of the album, "Murder by Numbers" was added - which, don't get me wrong, is a fine song, but using it as a closing for the album destroys the mood that was set by "Tea in the Sahara".

"Synchronicity" is one of the best CDs of the eighties. I'd say that it's very likely The Police's greatest effort. No Police collection is complete without it.

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