Customer Reviews

If On A Winter's Night [Amazon.com Exclusive CD/DVD Deluxe Edition]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fresh from his reunion with the Police and his album covering the hits of Elizabethan composer John Dowland, Sting now offers "If on a Winter's Night." This is not some Christmas album with yet another cover of "Sleigh Ride" or "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." While there are some Christmas songs, these are not the usual Yuletide fare as Sting offers up an odd look at the relationship of Joseph and Mary in the "Cherry Tree Carol." Long time Sting listeners will recognize new versions of "Gabriel's Message" and "The Hounds of Winter." There are a number of traditional English songs here and Sting is accompanied by a company of excellent musicians. There are other influences as well. The charming "You Only Cross My Mind in Winter" is based on a piece by Bach while "Cold Song" is based on a poem by John Dryden. Needless to say, this is not an album for everyone. Some of the songs are as dark as a winter's night and Sting sounds mournful and melancholy (even by his standards). It's a wonderful concept and very few artists could pull it off. Critics of Sting will call it pretentious and there may be some truth to that. The bottom line remains that Sting is one of the most versatile rock/pop artists of the last few decades having taken on rock, world, jazz, classical, Spanish and Portuguese songs, and, now, traditional English folk songs. This is a fine album for a night by the fire with a glass of brandy or a mug of hot mulled cider but, again, it is not for everyone. Fans of Sting's Dowland album will probably like it but if you prefer his stints with the Police or even his more popular solo stuff, you may find "If on a Winter's Night" a bit too cold for your liking.

The first A Very Special Christmas CD (1989) included Sting's very stark modern take on Gabriel's Message, an old Basque folk carol. It was an odd fit amongst the usual buoyant Christmas cheer presented by the other artists on that disc, yet reflective of Sting's artistic canon. It's no surprise then that "If On A Winter's Night" follows that same easthetic; it's not overtly Christmasy, or to paraphrase Lucy Van Pelt from A Charlie Brown Christmas [Blu-ray] it's not Santa Claus and ho-ho-ho and mistletoe. If anything "If On A Winter's Night" could be more appropriately titled "Songs for the Season" as in songs for and about the winter season. In that respect it's more like George Winston's December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition in that it contains songs that are more evocative of the winter season than songs that are more obviously Christmas songs. And as with his earlier foray into Christmas music, Sting delves back into traditional folk carols that likely will be unfamiliar to many listeners. Fans of folk music however will recognize many of the songs here such as "Cherry Tree Carol" and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" among others, and there are reworkings of classic pieces as well as two new compositions by Sting ("Lullaby for an Anxious Child" and "The Hounds of Winter"). Sting reprises a reworked version of "Gabriel's Message" that is warmer and more approachable and which is reflective of the musical underpinning as well. Many casual fans and listeners may be tentative about purchasing "If On A Winter's Night" fearing it will be musically similar in it's stark minimalism, but fear not, as it is very lush and intricately arranged, yet not syrupy or treacley as some seasonal records can be. Longtime guitarist and accompanist Dominic Miller joins as do an array of traditionalist musicians on fiddle, pipes, melodian, and harp. They are at times joined by an array of guest musicians such as trumpeter Chris Botti and the Webb Sisters on vocals. The result is warm and charming, evoking the spirit of the season of another era, much like Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay's 1987 Christmas.

The overall mood of "If On A Winter's Night" is evocative of the season without being so obviously Christmas related. This is what you want to hear when you are burned out from hearing Christmas music and want something a bit less obvious. This wouldn't be out of place at low-key seasonal gatherings or for those who want something more refined and more restrained for the season. If you like hearing sleigh bells jingle, precocious children singing about their two front teeth, barking dogs, or Grandma's tragic encounter with Santa then this probably isn't for you. Some listeners may feel it is all a bit too cold, too detached, and too calculated for their liking, and those certainly can be valid criticisms. For some Sting's concept here may seem a bit too cold-blooded and calculated rather than a gathering of people who want to revel in the music of the season. Few artists possess the talent to pull off such a restrained yet charming set of music arranged around the theme of the winter season. And unlike most Christmas music you could enjoy this well before and well AFTER Christmas Day.

If you have the chance, watch the video before you listen to the album. You will be enchanted and this will help you appreciate the musical talent that went into the making of this magical collection of songs. Enjoy!

PERFORMANCE - C+
RECORDING - B-
I did two things causing me to need to refine my review.

WATCH THE DVD BEFORE LISTENING TO THE CD; DO NOT EXPECT A DVD-AUDIO recording of the CD tracks.

First of all, I watched the DVD. While it did not "radically affect" my appreciation of the music, it did provide some vital context. This is NOT a DVD audio of the soundtrack, which is terribly disappointing. It only has one cut on the DVD which is the track I like least on the CD, BUT it does give one some understanding what Sting and his accompanyists were trying to do with their performances and choice. Then, my wife and I sat and listened to the CD on my audiophile-quality stereo system. We decided the problems with Sting's performance seem to be related to his trying to hold notes too long and getting a pitch-quaiver in them. From the DVD, we discerned the tracks are a mix of overdubs and ensemble recordings, but the recording did a very poor job in my opinion of giving one a good solid sound stage. All of the music pretty much seems to come from center-right.

The choice of materials is eclectic, but wonderfully appropriate to the season. The choice of musicians also appears to be first-rate. Some of the arrangements and all of the recording was questionable in my mind, BUT we have a reliably quiet Deutche Grammaphon recording.

I really wanted to like this CD a lot, but at the end of 3 listenings plus watching the DVD twice, it was just an "okay" CD. In addition to DVD audio of the cuts, Sting should have provided a cut-by-cut narrative explaining why he chose the particular songs and why they were arranged the way they were.

INITIAL LISTENING:
Okay, I have not watched the DVD yet, and there is always a chance it will radically affect my review. I saw Sting on a talk show last week to promote this, and I was immediately hooked. I haven't always loved, but I've always respected, Sting's musical choices, and at his best he has a unique voice with incrdible musicality, and that's what I was expecting here. Much of Sting's solo career has been experimentation with new and old musical directions.

On the opening 3-4 cuts, if you played those for me blind, for most or all of the numbers I would have had trouble recognizing Sting's voice. There's a hoarseness and an affectation (as another reviewer said)I find particularly annoying. The song choices are also strange ones -- I get the celebration of the dark of the season bit. The most annoying songs sound as though Sting is trying to emmulate some kind of medieval chanson style, and it really obscures his normally excellent voice.

As far as the instrumentation, my understanding is this album was recording in Sting's home in England . . . and it sounds like it was recorded in someone's kitchen . . . not in my opinion a good thing. I understand Sting was going for "intimacy", and I guess he achieved that but at a price. Some of Sting's voice sounds like he is singing in the shower -- just riffing and having fun (perhaps), but not trying to deliver a concert caliber performance.

There are at least a couple of fine songs on the album -- "Cherry Tree Carol" and "Lullaby for an Anxious Child".

My two sons and I are listening to this on a very dreary day in the Seattle area and I am amazed by the last reviewer because he clearly didn't LISTEN to the music. I personally have never bought any of Stings music before today but say this album on the Today Show and wanted to know more. This is such a peaceful collection of music and warms the spirit. It is a rare thing for me to find music that both my 8 and 9 year old boys request the purchase of after listening to the previews of. What a beautiful album that can bridge the gap between generations.

This is a bold move by Sting. Most fans were expecting a strong return to pop-rock after the recent Police reunion. It seems Sting is not yet interested on challenging The Police tour so he settled for an academic release. The music is outstanding but Sting sometimes is the weak link in the songs. His voice works most of the time but some tunes are monatomic as he sings in a low tone. However, the album is very well made, a good selection of tunes, an incredible band and great arrangements. All this, of course, under the academic music POV.

I have been a fan of the Police and Sting for ages. The only part of Sting's career I have avoided are his last couple solo records. Until now. This album is almost like a good movie to me instead of a collection of songs. It really does reflect the mystery, enchantment, sadness and also hope of the winter season. This not a cd for the car stereo, but rather a night time candle light or fireside cd while the cold winds blow outside. And although I have listened to the album once, I am actually saving repeated listens of this disc to do just that. This is a nice work of art. The Book format of the cd/dvd case is great, with well written words and nice photographs.
***I highly recommend purchasing the version of this album that includes a DVD showing the recording process as well as wonderful commentary by Sting himself.It really sets the mood and explains the context of this album.***

and 1/2 stars. Sting has been leading up to this CD for some time now with songs like Lullaby for an Anxious Child, The Hounds of Winter, Gabriels Message and even January Stars (Japanese import bonus track from Ten Summoners Tales. The CD Mercury Falling and subsequent b-sides from that time period seem to be where some of the idea and tone may have originated. This is a beautiful CD with Stings voice directly up front. The musicianship is amazing and there are several references to Christmas. I didn't find the CD depressing in the least.

Well, I like listening to archaic songs from Sting. But... He should take into account, that human beings are not bears that hibernate... There's only ONE "vivace" song in the album... And to take a humorous look at the matter, it is a song of beggars! (Soul Cake) The remaining 15 songs are all like lullabies, which you shall listen to, before going to bed for sleep... So, are we bears that hibernate in winter time? Don't we have any vivid pastimes in front of a fireplace? I think, Sting should think more, before deciding on the repertoire of an album...

`...more than 'magical stories' or Sting, for that matter.' (Bless the snow-induced reverence!) K. Scot Sparks

Its surely beneficial to periodically reconsider an artist's relative vision/output, however 'pre-conscious' the very best of the same may be. Well beyond the obsessive marketing or 'philosophizing,' one may periodically find surprises as magical as they are real. The great artist's more fantastical senses of self - and the lesser work that flows from these - can indeed encourage comparisons to the docu-spoofery world of, say, Spinal Tap, in their druidic phase. But the critical sensibility forged mainly through disappointment at the relentless dance of big business and self-worship will tend to miss the best artistic moments -when/where they emerge.
This Christmas, there are yet 'Goods' to celebrate; the Sting 'Winter' record is one. The pop genius here channels the spirited English winter, complete with the far-reaching glow of its great Mass. Filtered partly by the forest's and the heart's darker aspect, this light further meanders in the form of wonder, toward something as forgotten as it is compelling: the sound of reverential longing. The quiet, snow-dampened path that is breathed and wandered here suggests a haunting that, in a sense, is itself haunted. This realistic light entails shadow but its engaged darks gradually flicker. Among the snows and grogs - in the very humblest of pleas and in personal visions that threaten to transfigure into caring identification - tacit Nativities arise. Wonder's acute interpretation resonates texts, harmonies, scenes, characters, and tambres so as to free them from numbing quaintness or mere Romantic magic. Though my reading may cross the intentionalism of his own market-strategic characterizations, the Renaissance [police]man and his merry gentle-persons seem to have engaged something of the season's core - its peculiarly real and loving magic. The album's uncanny discernment - of melody, sentiment, lyric, classical quotation, voice-leading, orchestration, performer, ensemble, performance, and engineering constitutes a uniquely beautiful allegory, at very least. It often sounds like the wise, giving and receiving Good gifts. Hark, is that Gabriel's harmon-muted horn on the first cut? And who on earth is this least of brothers, wrapped in swaddling shreds and pleading for a 'soul cake'?!