Earth & Sky [Import]

Andy Summers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Randm
• ASIN: B0001ACKUM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,977 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Above the World

2. Now I'm Free

3. The Diva Station

4. Return

5. Earth & Sky

6. Parallels

7. Circus

8. Roseville

9. Red Stiletto

10. I Choose You

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An elegant musical portrait, November 21, 2003

By 

Manuel Mendoza (San Fernando, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earth & Sky (Audio CD)

Personally seeing the man do a show at the infamous Baked Potato in Studio City (near Universal Studios in L.A.), I can say that this album is typical Andy Summers. He's more content in finding rich harmonic structure than to astonish with impressively fast playing. This album is a treasure that most people will never notice. With a great cast of musicans, the album is a great showcase for everybody involved to be free and expressive. Every song provides the listener with a musical landscape that is descriptive yet easily understandable to the average man (non-musician).
He uses a wide array of rhythym and find that the trance-house music style of "Above The World" is a perfect example of what music should be, played by a musician rather than be made by a drum machine. I have no doubt in my mind that this is quite possibly his best release to date. Incredibly suave in all intention and explicitly unrestricted, this album is all about feeling. And quite frankly, this album feels good all the way through.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mostly mellow, but uninspired, jazz from a guitar master, January 12, 2005

By 

Nicole N. Pellegrini "sockii" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Earth + Sky (Audio CD)

There is no denying Andy Summer's virtuosity with the guitar, particularly when it comes to creating the atmospheric soundscapes and effects which became a trademark sound of his work with The Police in the 70s and 80s. His solo work since then has varied both in style and in quality, and "Earth + Sky" is a solid, but not outstanding, addition to his library of recordings.

The album starts out strong and energetic with "Above the World", which features some great drumwork by Vinnie Colaiuta. "Now I'm Free" has a delicate, tropical feel to it, followed by the rather sexy, slow groove of "Diva Station". The mellow vibe continues with "Return", but then finally kicks back up a notch with the title track, perhaps the strongest on the album. "Parallels" returns to the soft feel of earlier tracks and "Circus" finally gets a little funky. "Roseville" has some nice hooks to it, as does "Red Stiletto". The album ends on a very gentle note with the romantic "I Choose You."

The problem is few, if any, of these tracks really stick in the memory. It is all fairly easy to listen to, but perhaps a bit too easy. Although I have listened to this album numerous times, I have a hard time keeping any of the numbers apart in my head, and it only occasionally shows what Andy is really capable of as a player (indeed, when I saw him perform a number of these tracks live not long ago, they shone out with much more energy and vitality than comes across on the record.)

Overall I can only give the album a solid average rating. I'd instead recommend trying to catch Andy live if you want to really see and hear what he is capable of, as this album will primarily be of most interest only to his diehard fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A recent 'Gem' from one of the most underrated guitarists around, October 7, 2006

By 

Joseph Goria (L.A. CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Earth + Sky (Audio CD)

Andy Summers always performs with such passion, while being so graceful to the many fans he serve. He's quite simply one of the best guitarists I know. He's just magical, his play takes you to another place (not to some local beachfront but to a real paradise). I bought this album dirt-cheap right here from Amazon. I was very lucky - I met Andy last night for his book signing at Barnes & Noble at the Grove (Fairfax, L.A.) and told him how his solo work was just simply the best, and he really appreciated it. He signed this album and my copy of his new memoir "One Train Later". A very nice guy and one of my favorite artists from 'any' genre, jazz-fusion or rock. Just listen to this particular album - for me, it actually takes stress away while sitting on I-5. This album helps me relax in this part of our world we call L.A. (The cover shows the shadow of a hillside house looking down on L.A.) I Can't wait for the next album, as he told me it would be very soon!!! **UPDATE 02-21-2007 ...As with any project, Was it meant to be? I guess "The Police Tour 2007" will dice away any plans for a new solo album 'very soon' as Andy will be one busy guy this summer (I'm sure he won't mind, either =)) But, after the tour..Let's Hope. Peace - Joe 'Bear' G