If it's 1978, you're a new band and you wanna make your impact on the artistic scene, you just have to begin your first record with a punk song. The Police were actually never a punk band, although for some reason some people I know do call this a 'punk' album. Just because it begins with 'Next To You', which is the closest the band ever came to punk, but it's still not quite punk - maybe Copeland bashes away like mad and Sting does his best to rave like an angry young punker (which he certainly isn't as good at as he is at sounding like a relaxed young reggae worshipper), but the actual guitar melody, not to count the cute catchy refrain, are anything but punk.
Which doesn't mean the song is bad! One of the few bands in existence that considered it a dishonor to do 'filler' tracks, the Police make their first album tight and so consistent it hurts.
[George Starostin]
If it's 1978, you're a new band and you wanna make your impact on the artistic scene, you just have to begin your first record with a punk song. The Police were actually never a punk band, although for some reason some people I know do call this a 'punk' album. Just because it begins with 'Next To You', which is the closest the band ever came to punk, but it's still not quite punk - maybe Copeland bashes away like mad and Sting does his best to rave like an angry young punker (which he certainly isn't as good at as he is at sounding like a relaxed young reggae worshipper), but the actual guitar melody, not to count the cute catchy refrain, are anything but punk. Which doesn't mean the song is bad! One of the few bands in existence that considered it a dishonor to do 'filler' tracks, the Police make their first album tight and so consistent it hurts. [George Starostin]