Mercury Falling

Sting | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 1996)
• Original Release Date: March 12, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000005ILF
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,047 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Falling somewhere between the pop sensibilities of Ten Summoner's Tales and the searching ambition of The Soul Cages, Mercury Falling is one of Sting's tighter records, even if it fails to compel as much as his previous solo albums. Though he doesn't flaunt his jazz aspirations as he did in the mid-'80s, Mercury Falling feels more serious than The Dream of the Blue Turtles, primarily because of its reserved, high-class production and execution. Building from surprisingly simple, memorable melodies, Sting creates multi-layered, vaguely soul-influenced arrangements that carry all of the hallmarks of someone who has studied music, not lived it. Of course, there are many pleasures in the record -- for all of his pretensions, Sting remains an engaging melodicist, as well as a clever lyricist. There just happens to be a distinct lack of energy, stemming from the suffocating layers of synthesizers. Mercury Falling is a record of modest pleasures; it's just not an infectious, compulsive listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide * Artist: Sting * Format: CD * Year: 1996, 2001, 2004 * UPC: 4988005537829 * Item Number: MSI553782 * Release date: 12/03/2008 * Label: A&M * Genre: Rock * Style: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Album Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Soft Rock * Album Time: 48:08 * Album Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Enhanced CD-ROM * SPARS Code: DDD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album still touches me, January 24, 2000

By 

Nathan Albright (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercury Falling (Audio CD)

This was actually the first cd I bought of his, and it still gets play even in my busy dorm at college. This album begins and ends with "Mercury Falling," which I found to be quite intriguing.

Sometimes Sting stretches belief, as with songs like "I Hung My Head," which lives up to its name quite well, but this album is fantastic. "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets" almost makes me want to learn French so I can understand the lyrics. "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" is one of my favorite songs ever, and "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" and "You Still Touch Me" are outstanding as well, as is "The Hounds of Winter" and "I Was Brought To My Senses."

If you like mellow music to enjoy during a snowy day or a rainy day or you are feeling down, this album is great. Commiserate with me and all of the other sad and melancholy souls who seek solace in his well-crafted verses of heartache and sorrow. It's well worth it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Though it isn't a warm fuzzy, it's still great, September 7, 2000

By 

Rob Morrison (Hendersonville, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercury Falling (Audio CD)

Mercury Falling seems to receive a bad rap often times among critics, who can't seem to forgive Sting for venturing into the realm of (gasp!): melancholy themes. It's true. It's much more grey and dismal than his previous albums, and it's as if people can't stand the thought of introverted song material.

This album is easily compared to Both Sides, the 1993 release from Phil Collins. Though popular, this album did not receive the publicity and appeal that its predecessors did -- due to Collins' introverted and often sad music. However, if you talk to a die-hard Collins fan, he/she will tell you that it's his best, deepest work.

The same can be said for Mercury Falling. A common thread throughout the album is Sting's depression and problems with love. So what? So it's not all "happy happy prancing flowers." Sting's terrific songwriting talent is brought out wonderfully in these somber pieces, namely "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot," "Valparaiso," (which features violins)and "You Still Touch Me." The lyrics alone to the beautiful sailor song "Valparaiso" are enough to give the album a thumb's up. Sting, as usual, displays genre-hopping, most namely with the gospel-esque "Let Your Soul..." and the country-tinted "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying."

Sting's odd metering tastes are most noted in "I Was Brought To My Senses," which also showcases terrifically, practically unwritable rhythms. "I Hung My Head," is the album's "story song," and tells of a man sentenced to die for murder. Sting's strange, but catchy melody for the song -- one might call it simplistic and unfitting -- makes the song even more realistic due to the character's simple education and existence in what seems to be the old west. The song explores the non-existent motive of the murder, and, in general, a very dark side of human nature and its suppressed desires. Truly one of the album's standouts.

This album is simply incredible. The ending piece, "Lithium Sunset," is a fantastic plea for change and life, which features a great harmonica solo, in keeping with the odd instrumentalization of the album. Mercury Falling is simply great. It is a venture away from pop music and into ambient music from deep inside the human heart. I strongly recommend it. Or, I suppose you could go back to your comfortable, warm fuzzy pop music...but would you have explored anything if you did that?

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen to it twice - it grows on you, February 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mercury Falling (Audio CD)

I will admit that when I first bought this CD several years ago, I only enjoyed one or two of the songs - I was used to the old Police style, and Mercury Falling deviated from that.

A few years later, I was looking for something somewhat mellow to play as background music at a cocktail party, and put it in the CD player. Immediately, people started to comment "who is that?", "what a cool sound", "wow, I really like that".

I now listen to the CD when I'm relaxing after a hard day, or as background music when we're having a party or even cleaning/decorating the house.

I think it's a perfect mix - soothing and upbeat at the same time. If at first you don't like it, try, try again.