Reggatta De Blanc

Nope

This album is pretty fun, though I like Synchronicity better than this, despite the fact that I wasn't terribly charitable in my review of that album. It's cool getting to see how reggae and other music brought to the British Isles by immigrants influenced the rock that was coming out of the punk scene. I always thought that the Police got into reggae later, but it seems like it was a part of their sound from early on. 3/5 This album is fun overall, but The Police have a way of putting songs that are a chore to listen to on their albums that I don't understand.

Allez, je respire un grand coup, je pose mon vinyle de Current 93 deux minutes, et je me plonge dans quelque chose de beaucoup plus… radiophonique. On s'attaque aujourd'hui à un monstre sacré. Pas le genre de monstre qui vit dans une grotte et fait du drone à 130 décibels comme mon cher Sunn O))), non, un monstre aux cheveux décolorés, au teint hâlé et aux refrains qui collent au cerveau comme un chewing-gum sous une semelle de Doc Martens. On parle de The Police et de leur deuxième opus, "Reggatta de Blanc". Alors, moi qui suis né en 1970, j'avais 9 ans quand ce truc est sorti. C’est l’âge parfait pour être matrixé par la radio, mais peut-être un peu jeune pour saisir l’ironie mordante du titre. "Reggatta de Blanc" ou "Reggae de Blancs". Au moins, ils annonçaient la couleur (ou l'absence de couleur, c'est selon). Pas de publicité mensongère ici. Sting, Copeland et Summers ne se prenaient pas pour des rastas de Kingston, mais ils avaient bien l'intention de piller le groove jamaïcain pour le revendre à la sauce new wave anglo-saxonne. Et le pire ? C'est qu'ils l'ont fait avec une maestria technique agaçante. C'est là tout le paradoxe de cet album, et c'est sans doute ce qui justifie mon 3/5. On est tiraillé, d'un côté, on a envie de détester Sting. C'est viscéral, ce côté instituteur suffisant qui cite Nabokov, cette voix haut perchée qui semble toujours dire "Regardez comme je chante bien", cette basse qui groove mais qui reste toujours très scolaire… Mais de l'autre, bordel, il y a Stewart Copeland. Et c'est là que je suis obligé de m'incliner. Si on enlève Copeland de l'équation, The Police devient un groupe de pop fadasse. Mais Copeland n'est pas un batteur, c'est une pieuvre sous amphétamines. Sur cet album, il est partout, tout le temps, avec une finesse et une nervosité qui sauvent littéralement les meubles. Replongeons-nous dans le contexte. 1979, c'est une année charnière. "Unknown Pleasures" de Joy Division sort la même année et le post-punk commence à dessiner des paysages gris et urbains, industriels et désespérés. Et à côté, tu as ces trois faux punks (parce que oui, soyons clairs, The Police n'a jamais été un groupe punk, c'était une stratégie marketing pour se faire signer) qui débarquent avec un son spatial, plein d'écho, de delay et de contre-temps. L'album s'ouvre sur "Message in a Bottle". Bon, que dire ? C'est un tube absolu. Même le plus cynique d'entre nous ne peut nier l'efficacité du riff de guitare d'Andy Summers. C'est chirurgical. Et c'est le problème avec cet album : il contient des sommets de la pop music qui sont devenus tellement omniprésents qu'on ne les écoute plus vraiment. On les subit dans les supermarchés, dans les taxis, dans les "Best Of" des radios nostalgiques. Mais réécoute la batterie sur ce morceau, juste la batterie. C'est d'une complexité folle pour un titre qui a vocation à passer sur les ondes entre une pub pour de la lessive et les infos. Ensuite, on a "Walking on the Moon". Là encore, c'est l'épure, c'est vaste, c'est vide, c'est la basse qui mène la danse. C'est sans doute le morceau qui justifie le mieux l'étiquette "Reggatta de Blanc". C'est du dub aseptisé, nettoyé au Kärcher, poli pour les oreilles occidentales qui trouvaient le vrai reggae un peu trop "fumé". C'est brillant, mais c'est froid. C'est une architecture de verre et d'acier, là où le reggae original est fait de bois et de terre. Alors pourquoi seulement 3/5 ? Pourquoi ne pas crier au génie ? Parce qu'une fois passés les tubes interplanétaires, l'album souffle le chaud et le froid. Il y a du remplissage, ne nous mentons pas. Des morceaux comme "Does Everyone Stare" ou "Contact" sentent un peu le fond de tiroir ou l'improvisation studio transformée en chanson faute de mieux. On sent que le groupe était pressé, qu'il fallait battre le fer tant qu'il était chaud après le succès de "Outlandos d'Amour". Et puis, il y a cette impression persistante, quand on a mes goûts musicaux… ben… The Police, c'est de la musique pour les gens qui n'aiment pas vraiment le rock. C'est le disque que je vendais par palettes quand je bossais chez mon disquaire indé à la fin des années 90, à des types en costard qui voulaient "un truc qui bouge un peu mais pas trop". C'est le rock acceptable, le rock qui ne fait pas peur aux parents. Cependant, il ne faut pas être injuste. Andy Summers est un architecte sonore sous-estimé. Alors que Sting tirait la couverture à lui avec son ego grandissant (ce qui finira par faire imploser le groupe, on connaît la suite), Summers tissait des toiles de guitares atmosphériques qui ont mine de rien influencé pas mal de monde dans le post-rock et la shoegaze. Écoute la plage titulaire, l'instrumental "Reggatta de Blanc". C'est là que le groupe est le plus intéressant, quand Sting ferme sa gueule (pardon pour le langage, mais c'est vrai) et laisse les instruments parler. C'est tribal, c'est urgent, c'est presque expérimental. On se dit "Ah, s'ils avaient creusé par là !". Mais non, il fallait refaire un refrain catchy pour remplir les stades. Il y a aussi ce côté "trop bien produit". Nigel Gray à la production a fait un boulot impeccable, trop peut-être. Tout est distinct, chaque coup de cymbale est cristallin. Ici, tout est en pleine lumière, sous les projecteurs, c'est de la musique de stade avant même d'être jouée dans un stade. Je me souviens d'une discussion avec un client, à l'époque où je traînais mes guêtres dans les rayons de disques. Il me soutenait que The Police était le groupe le plus important de la New Wave. J'ai failli l'étouffer avec un import de Bauhaus. The Police n'était pas la New Wave, ils étaient la version "Club Med" de la New Wave. Mais une version Club Med avec des musiciens virtuoses, ce qui rend la critique difficile. On ne peut pas dire que c'est nul, c'est objectivement très bon. Mais est-ce que ça nous prend aux tripes ? Est-ce que ça nous donne envie de regarder la pluie tomber par la fenêtre en remettant en question notre existence, comme le ferait un bon vieux "Disintegration" des Cure ? Non. Ça nous donne envie de porter des lunettes de soleil et de courir sur une plage. Et parfois, c'est tout ce dont on a besoin, j'imagine. D'où le 3/5, la moyenne, plus un point pour la technique irréprochable de Copeland. En résumé, "Reggatta de Blanc" est un album incontournable de l'histoire du rock, une pierre angulaire des années 80 qui arrivaient à grands pas. C'est l'album qui a transformé un groupe de faux punks en superstars mondiales. Mais pour nous, les enfants de l'ombre, les amateurs de dissonances et de lourdeur industrielle, il restera toujours ce disque "sympa" qu'on respecte pour sa technique mais qu'on sort rarement de sa pochette, sauf pour vérifier si "Walking on the Moon" a toujours cette basse aussi hypnotique (spoiler : oui, elle l'a).

Yes sir. I’m so stupid for never diving into the police. This energy is really impressive.

custom_rating: 7

-I enjoyed It's Alright For You the best -Message in a Bottle was pure nostalgia -Overall... It was okay.

Good music, that is.

It’s good, it’s The Cars, how could it not be? However, it doesn’t grab hold of me in any particular way.

Reggaerock for hvide, et par bangers, men også lidt skørt

27% banger

Really really good. Lot of depth. I see the influence on eg green day. Super different than other stuff around the same time, eg REM Radio Free Europe. Very very good drums. Great singing!

really enjoyed it, ill have to listen to more police

they'rrreeee great!!!

The two hits are good but the rest is not of interest to me. 3 stars or C-.

Meh.

As an album, fairly average outside the 2-3 hit songs, probably a ⭐⭐⭐ to be fair

I like a lot of The Police songs, but I'm about 75/25 don't like/like. The way the melodies often bounce up and down instead of flowing chromatically bugs me.

Message in a bottle is good, but the tempo seems a bit off in comparison with modern music. Walking on the moon is good. ...I'm not high enough for "on any other day". 3.4/5

Another good one from them. As a whole, the album is a fine vibe and fairly consistent.

Kedvenc/Favourite: On Any Other Day Megvolt a flow, élvezhető volt így egyben, de valahogy mégsem fogott meg igazán. Kicsit össze is folyt, meg maguk a számok néha nem igazán mentek semerre nekem. Azért jó volt, de van szerintem jobb Police album. It had a flow, it was enjoyable, but somehow it just didn't really pull me in. It was a bit slurred, and the songs themselves didn't really go anywhere for me. It was good, but I think there are better Police albums.

Eh. It’s fine but the best part is percussion and I think I’m in the minority but Stings voice is a grind after a while. 1-2 songs ok, but after that it’s like nails on a chalkboard

Strong singles, drags a bit in last half.

This whole album made me want a pina colada by the beach, especially message in a bottle.

4.0/5.0: Great

enjoyed the first half way more than the second half, but overall it was a good album

So fun and jaunty. Definitely feel good music, carried by strong vocals.

A lot about this album is pretty cringe in 2025, let's be honest.

Fav tracks: message in a bottle, walking on the moon. Fine but a little repetitive for my taste

I had never listened to this album in full but I used to love the song "Bring on the Night," and I still do. I think that song is beautiful! Having this song next to the post-punk vibe of "It's Alright For You" shows the range of the Police. Overall, this album gives me family barbecue vibes -- why? I think maybe we listened to "Message in a Bottle" a lot as a family so it came on for July 4th get-togethers. This was solidified by the hypermasculinist "On Any Other Day," which felt like a song written by a little boy. Glad that Sting wasn't singing this one primarily because it made me feel like it wasn't actually a Police song. Anyway -- because of the strength of a few songs on this album, it gets a three! I don't feel the pull to listen to much of this album again besides "Bring on the Night" really.

Very 80s. For better and worse

Pleasantly surprised. Message in a bottle one of my all time favourite songs but rest of the album was interesting and varied. Really straddles the line but didn’t quite do enough for 4. 3.5/5

Didn’t like the songs I knew on this album and like the ones I didn’t know even less

message in a bottle is pretty cool

I can’t help to get offended when the cultural appropriation runs so deep that even the accent is faked. I’m not sure why The Police don’t get more shit for their blue-eyed reggae, but it has always rubbed me the wrong way. Sting’s adoption of a Rastafarian accent seals the deal for me. Yes, a few of the songs are catchy, but I can’t get over the fact that there are so many actual Jamaican reggae voices that don’t reach American ears because of thieves like these. 3.2/5

The 4 'hits' are all great. The Bed's... being a forgotten gem. In fact all the Sting songs are quality (maybe that's why his head exploded a few years down the road). Though could the same man who wrote 'Walked out this morning, don't believe what I saw 100 billion bottles washed up on the shore' have also really written 'Giant steps are what you take, I hope my leg don't break'?? Couple of duds, Deathwish and Any Other Day bring it back down to earth. Brilliant drumming, Stewart Copeland has always been one of my favourites. Hmmm 3 or 4?

3.5

not a great album, but some good hits

Pretty dull. Their best album must be a Best Of? Too much filler that doesn't say much. Some better highlights

Had me Walking On The Moon. On Any Other Day, The Bed’s Too Big Without You.

Too much reggae

Probably the polar opposite of the previous album good kid, m.A.A.d city, with easy to understand lyrics and funky instrumentals. Enjoyed the album and see myself relistening to some songs.

not a mind blowing concept album but a nice rock and reggae album that really anyone can pick up and enjoy. it's a nice album

never a big Police fan - apart from the singles, nothing here to make me one

the police are pretty good, not my fav but I liked the album.

This album was way more hit and miss than I remember. The hits are good enough to carry this to a 4 though; I never get tired of Stewart Copeland's drumming. 3.5/4

Weird album but good. I liked it and would listen again. 3.4/5

I thought I generally liked The Police. This gem convinced me otherwise. There are the singles that are pretty fun, but other songs I couldn't stand...**cough** "On Any Other Day" **cough**

No complaints, they're exactly what you expect, pretty listenable

I don’t mind the Police, but I’ve never really gotten into them either. I seem to like the more reggae/punk stuff, songs like “It’s Alright For You” and “Walking on the Moon” more than I do their more well known songs. Overall they’re good, but not something that I’m likely to circle back to, 3 stars.

I feel like 3 English lads who appropriate reggae and then proceed to do nothing good with it is bad enough. But for them to then overly influence Rush for almost all of the 80s, well, that’s criminal.

I’ve never been a huge fan of Sting’s voice but I enjoyed most of this album more than I expected. “Walking on the Moon” was a forgotten hit that I rather like. Stewart Copeland’s drumming is impressively tight.

Honestly hated it. Every element of every song felt disjointed. A band with only one good song and it’s not even on their best album 🤦‍♂️

riesco a pensare solo a figatta de blanc, lo siento

Already listened to this one, The Police is real 🔥🔥

The Police being The Police

Message In A Bottle should have had two minutes more of sending out an SOS

Message in a Bottle starts the album so strong that the rest of the album pales compared to it. The Police know how to do their thing, but by the second side I just want it to be over with. Also the band had to re-record a previously released B-side to fill up the album(the closer No Time This Time was B-side of So Lonely of the previous album). It is more interesting than UB40, has a better single, but other than the opener and closer I dont like much this album. Copeland does have some amazing drumming chops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu5zxlQOfyM

I listened to Reggatta de Blanc. My fine young son has turned out gay.

Reggatta de Blanc by The Police honestly, it’s one of the most underwhelming records I’ve ever had the misfortune to sit through. I’m not one to mince words, so strap in. To be fair, there are a couple of fleeting moments where the musicianship shows a hint of promise. The rhythm section has its occasional spark – the drum beats and bass lines sometimes manage to keep a steady groove that could work on paper. And the guitar work, while largely lost in the mix, does have a few decent licks that momentarily catch your ear. But let’s cut to the chase: there’s nothing appealing about this album whatsoever. For me, Sting needs to fucking stop with his overblown vocal style and pretentious accents. We get it, mate – you think you're so fucking amazing, but honestly, your delivery is nothing more than a tiresome, self-indulgent display that grates on the nerves. His vocals overshadow any semblance of genuine emotion or subtlety, turning what could be interesting songs into monotonous droning sessions. The production feels flat and uninspired, with a mix that does little to elevate the otherwise lacklustre arrangements. Every track drags on without any real dynamics or innovative twists, leaving me bored and increasingly frustrated as the album goes on. Instead of captivating me with its sound, it just comes off as a confused, muddled attempt at style that never finds a groove. Reggatta de Blanc is a massive letdown. Despite the bare minimum of instrumental competence, the album is utterly bog-standard and fails to move me in any way. Sting’s affected vocal antics and the overall lack of appeal make it a record I’d rather do without. I’m giving it a dismal 1.8/5 stars—hardly worth a listen, and a stark reminder that sometimes, hype just isn’t enough to cover up the underlying mediocrity.

This is "I'm already having a nice day" music. This is "I'm doing chores and need something fine in the background" music.

4/10 Post-Punk and Reggae sound fantastic in concept, and has succeeded before. The Police do everything in their power to convince me otherwise Sting please stop doing the accent challenge: impossible

The famous songs are catchy of course but the rest is pretty insufferable

It is all very well constructed music and there are a few really excellent songs, but overall it is just a tad too 'dad rock' for my tastes

I’ve known about The Police my entire life, and of course, their big hits are always on the radio. Beyond that, I just saw them as a classic rock band with some new wave elements and didn’t think much more of it. But after listening to Reggatta de Blanc, the first thing that stood out to me was the strong reggae influences throughout the album. I never picked up on that in the songs you hear on the radio. After doing some research and giving the album a few more listens, I have to admit I now see them in a whole new light and enjoy their music more than before. I also noticed some subtle punk influences in a few sections, but overall, this album is a very polished pop record that mixes 70s classic rock with reggae influences.

Sting should be arrested.

It was OK kinda dancey some fun beats but nothing great.

gasp

A solid album with a couple of familiar songs. Overall, I like The Police though they aren't super exciting.

# The Enduring Legacy of *Reggatta de Blanc*: A Comprehensive Analysis of The Police's Sophomore Masterpiece The Police’s 1979 sophomore album *Reggatta de Blanc* stands as a pivotal work that solidified the band’s transition from punk-infused newcomers to genre-defying innovators. Released just a year after their debut *Outlandos d’Amour*, the album refined their signature fusion of reggae, rock, and new wave while introducing atmospheric depth and tighter musicianship. Chart-topping singles like “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon” propelled the band to international fame, but the record’s lesser-known tracks reveal a trio grappling with creative growth under commercial pressures. This review dissects the album’s lyrical nuances, musical experimentation, production ethos, thematic undercurrents, and lasting influence, ultimately arguing that *Reggatta de Blanc* remains both a product of its time and a timeless blueprint for genre synthesis. --- ## Musical Composition: Bridging Punk Energy and Reggae Grooves The Police’s musical evolution reaches its first zenith on *Reggatta de Blanc*, where Stewart Copeland’s frenetic drumming, Andy Summers’ textured guitar work, and Sting’s melodic basslines coalesce into a taut yet expansive sound. The opening track, “Message in a Bottle,” exemplifies this synthesis. Summers’ shimmering arpeggios intertwine with Copeland’s machine-gun snare fills, creating a paradoxical sense of urgency and isolation that mirrors Sting’s lyrical themes of alienation[4][5]. The song’s coda—a repeated “Sending out an SOS”—transforms into a hypnotic mantra through layered guitar overdubs and vocal harmonies, showcasing the band’s studio ingenuity despite their limited £6,000–£9,000 budget[2][5]. Reggae influences permeate the album, most overtly in “The Bed’s Too Big Without You,” where Sting’s syncopated bassline and Summers’ offbeat chords pay homage to Jamaican rocksteady. However, the band avoids mere imitation by injecting punk aggression, particularly in Copeland’s explosive fills during the bridge[1][4]. Similarly, the title track “Reggatta de Blanc” leans into instrumental experimentation, blending reggae’s rhythmic bounce with psychedelic guitar washes and free-form vocalizations (“Eeyo, eeyo, eeyo-yo”). This track, alongside the brooding semi-instrumental “Deathwish,” highlights the trio’s improvisational chemistry, with Summers later recalling that these jams emerged spontaneously during studio sessions[1][2]. Not all experiments succeed. Copeland’s “On Any Other Day” leans heavily on music-hall piano and slapstick lyrics about suburban malaise, its jaunty tone clashing with the album’s darker undercurrents. While the track showcases Copeland’s irreverent humor, its cabaret-style delivery feels incongruous alongside Sting’s introspective songwriting[1][5]. Conversely, “Bring on the Night” repurposes a discarded composition from Sting’s pre-Police band Last Exit, transforming its grim origins into a reggae-rock anthem buoyed by Summers’ staccato chord stabs and Copeland’s tom-tom flourishes[2][5]. --- ## Lyrical Themes: Isolation, Alienation, and Fleeting Connection Sting’s lyrics on *Reggatta de Blanc* oscillate between poetic vulnerability and cringe-worthy contrivance. The iconic “Walking on the Moon” pairs a haunting bassline with lyrics that juxtapose cosmic wonder (“Giant steps are what you take”) with mundane anxiety (“I hope my legs don’t break”). While the verses’ literal imagery has drawn criticism[1], the chorus’s minimalist repetition of “Walking on the moon” evokes the existential loneliness of space travel, a metaphor for emotional detachment[4][5]. This thematic thread continues in “Message in a Bottle,” where Sting’s castaway narrator shifts from despair (“A hundred billion castaways”) to cautious optimism (“I’ll send an SOS to the world”), mirroring the band’s own journey from club-circuit obscurity to stardom[5]. Interpersonal estrangement surfaces in “The Bed’s Too Big Without You,” a breakup ballad steeped in reverb-drenched melancholy. Sting’s doubled vocals during the chorus (“It’s the big bed, baby / That’s driving me mad”) amplify the song’s claustrophobic intimacy, though the track’s reggae beat prevents it from descending into maudlin territory[1][5]. Less effective are Copeland’s lyrical contributions: “Does Everyone Stare” marries a collegiate piano riff to observational humor about social awkwardness, but lines like “My fine young son has turned out gay” reflect outdated stereotypes that undermine the song’s playful intent[5]. The album’s most perplexing moment arrives with “Contact,” a Copeland-penned ode to casual sex that pairs a driving rhythm with cringe-inducing couplets (“I like the jeans you’re wearing / I like the way you fill them”). While arguably intentional in its crassness, the track clashes with Sting’s more nuanced explorations of human connection[5]. --- ## Production and Atmosphere: Lo-Fi Ingenuity and Cohesive Mood Recorded in just four weeks at Surrey Sound Studios with producer Nigel Gray, *Reggatta de Blanc* benefits from the band’s insistence on creative control over lavish production. The sparse arrangements—often featuring nothing beyond guitar, bass, drums, and occasional synth pads—create a claustrophobic yet immersive atmosphere. Gray’s decision to record Sting’s vocals with heavy plate reverb on “Walking on the Moon” lends the track an otherworldly quality, while Copeland’s drum sound—dry and punchy, with minimal compression—preserves the raw energy of their live performances[2][4]. This minimalist approach occasionally backfires. “It’s Alright for You” suffers from muddy guitar tones and a compressed dynamic range, with Sting’s vocal buried beneath Copeland’s overzealous snare work[5]. Conversely, the instrumental “Reggatta de Blanc” thrives on its live-in-the-studio spontaneity, capturing the band’s telepathic interplay as they shift from dub-inspired verses to frenzied punk choruses[1][2]. The album’s sequencing enhances its thematic coherence. Side A’s opening trio—“Message in a Bottle,” “Reggatta de Blanc,” and “It’s Alright for You”—builds momentum through contrasting textures, while Side B’s melancholic stretch (“Bring on the Night,” “Deathwish,” “Walking on the Moon”) deepens the album’s introspective mood. This deliberate flow marked a significant progression from the scattershot feel of *Outlandos d’Amour*, reflecting the band’s growing confidence in album-length storytelling[1][4]. --- ## Themes and Influence: Blueprint for 1980s Genre Fusion *Reggatta de Blanc*’s fusion of punk, reggae, and pop foreshadowed the genre-blurring ethos of 1980s new wave. Tracks like “Message in a Bottle” demonstrated that reggae rhythms could anchor chart-topping rock songs, a formula later adopted by bands ranging from The Clash (“Rock the Casbah”) to UB40[3][5]. The album’s atmospheric tendencies—particularly Summers’ use of chorus and delay effects—also influenced post-punk acts like Echo & the Bunnymen and The Cure, who similarly prioritized mood over technical virtuosity[3]. The Police’s minimalist trio format became a template for 1980s acts seeking commercial viability without sacrificing artistic credibility. Bands like Rush and Primus drew inspiration from Copeland’s polyrhythmic drumming and Sting’s melodic basslines, while the album’s emphasis on studio experimentation over live tracking presaged the home-recording revolution of the digital age[3][5]. --- ## Critical Analysis: Strengths and Limitations **Pros:** - **Genre Innovation:** The album’s seamless blending of reggae, punk, and pop set a new standard for cross-cultural rock music, expanding the genre’s possibilities beyond three-chord aggression. - **Cohesive Atmosphere:** Unlike their debut, *Reggatta de Blanc* sustains a unified mood through careful sequencing and textural consistency, particularly on Side B’s haunting second half. - **Musical Chemistry:** Copeland, Summers, and Sting perform with telepathic precision, whether locked into reggae grooves (“The Bed’s Too Big Without You”) or unleashing punk ferocity (“It’s Alright for You”). **Cons:** - **Lyrical Missteps:** Sting’s occasional reliance on clumsy metaphors (“Walking on the Moon”) and Copeland’s dated humor (“On Any Other Day”) undermine the album’s emotional resonance. - **Filler Tracks:** Instrumentals like “Deathwish” and throwaways like “Contact” lack the melodic sophistication of the album’s singles, suggesting a rushed creative process. - **Uneven Production:** While generally strong, the mix falters on rock-oriented tracks, with Summers’ guitar often drowned out by Copeland’s drums. --- ## Conclusion: A Foundation for Global Domination *Reggatta de Blanc* remains a testament to The Police’s ability to transform stylistic restlessness into coherent artistry. Despite its flaws—the half-baked instrumentals, the lyrical misfires—the album captures a band refining their identity under mounting commercial expectations. Tracks like “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon” endure as blueprints for intelligent pop craftsmanship, while deeper cuts foreshadow the jazz-inflected explorations of later albums like *Synchronicity*. For all its contradictions, *Reggatta de Blanc* solidified The Police’s place in rock history, proving that genre boundaries could be dissolved without sacrificing emotional depth or musical rigor.

Meh

A near perfect album. I only didn't care much for the title track which I find interesting."On any other Day" is maybe the most interesting song by The Police...

Better than expected but still not great

Interesting reggae-ish sound. Couple good songs but didn’t really feel it gelled as an album.

generally, i like the police, but i mostly max out at a like. they have some terrific songs but often i find that their albums get marred down by their pretension. their highs are high, their lows are... boring and eye-rolling. this album is no exception. the two smash hits off of this, 'message in a bottle,' and 'walking on the moon,' are great. most of the album tracks are fine. good even. but did we need stewart copeland's off-kilter, off-tune singing on this one? did we? eh. anyways. it's a solid enough album. there's nothing here that is even close to horrendous, but it's not my favorite police album and it ends up firmly in the 'good, not great' camp for me.

Sting's Bass lines were the best part of the album to me. Several very good songs, but On Any Other Day didn't fit and took me out of it. I'd prefer to give it a 3.5 but it's closer to a 4 than a 3 for me

Pretty much every song on here is a clinic in propulsive rhythm. As with the other 4 Police albums, a total masterpiece.

It didn't really like any of the tracks I didn't already know.

Nice trip down memory lane..this is the 1st album I can remember liking due to my older brothers *then* good taste in music. Still holds up pretty well.

Ah, The Police. Who doesn’t like a “best of” collection from this band? Unfortunately, whenever I’ve listened to their studio albums I’m consistently of the opinion that they are not much cop. If you’ll excuse the weak pun. This album draws a line in the sand on their rawer, more 70’s influenced sound with its post-punk, ska-infused leanings, and is decidedly less polished than Zenyatta Mondatta (first album I ever bought) which audibly leapt into the next decade, yet proved equally as flawed and inconsistent. I desperately wanted to love this album after not listening to it in years, but as ever felt let down at the end of an police album.

I am a victim of the popularity of The Police's overly common hit singles. You can't escape them and I would be fine never hearing Roxanne, or Every Breath you Take again. As such I was kind of turned off from exploring the deeper catalogue. Pure over saturation. This album is great and I am glad I gave it a go! and Copeland lights up every track.

Bättre än REM, men fortfarande inget som fastnar. Funkar att ha i bakgrunden

This is an okay album, but nothing hits quite like “Message in a Bottle” and they give it you right off the top. The rest has its moments, but never reaches the same level, making it a decent but unremarkable listen.

I feel like I'm supposed to like the Police...but I don't really think I do. I don't get pumped up by their frantic movement. It's not something that I ever find myself wanting to put on, and in fact, most of the time, would rather turn it off.

Didn't think this would be so rough but I had to skip a few songs halfway through. Genuine moments of greatness (message in a bottle, the little chorus riff of walking on the moon) but everything else is all over the place, songs get repetitive internally, and just in general not my bag 3 but close to a 2

Uh...I'm not entirely sure what to think about this. Some songs were pretty good, some were objectively....not as good.... Message in a Bottle is good, but it doesn't feel a lot like the rest of the album. And the last few tracks felt so disjointed from the rest of the album. Individually the songs were fine. Collectively they were an odd choice.

I'm a bit unimpressed. Maybe I need repetition?

I will give this one a 3.5. Message in a bottle is by far the best song on here. I’ll definitely listen to more of the police.

great

4 sterne

Seems a little top heavy, as are albums with breakout major hits. But deep tracks still solid.

amazing album in all respects

I met Andy Summers once. He was very nice. Polite. A quiet man. It's understandable why he is bullied into the background of so many of these songs, constrained to tight, tasteful chiming so that Sting can gulder and Copeland flail more freely. What charm there is here is down to Summers: the ringing 9ths of Message in a Bottle; the dub chording of Walking on the Moon. But every one of the handful of guitar solos is more staid than any bar of Stewart Copeland's drumplaying. All feel and no thought. It is anyone's guess what those fills have to do with the songs in which they're played. But I understand why Copeland doesn't want to listen to Sting too closely: those vowels. It is surprising though that the battle between the biggest ego and the freest spirit can produce such a banal, bad record as this one. It's Alright for You is awful. On Any Other Day is embarrassing. Does Everyone Stare is dumb. The Bed's Too Big Without You thinks it has a chorus. But imagine Contact performed by Gary Numan! Someone with a bit of style! 1.5 Well I hated this. I might have felt the second half of the record was comically bad if I had listened to it first but as it is I had long since run out of good humour by the time On Any Other Day started up. Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon, when I encounter them on local radio sandwiched between Kajagoogoo and Ed Sheeran, sound almost profound. Here, in the cold, 5 minute long light of day, both those songs are dishwater dull. There are no songs here at all. This is essentially practice room grooves and Sting making ‘reggae noises’. If there is anything truly memorable here it is only the numbing shock of contemplating that the ‘The Bed’s Too Big Without You’ was a single from a million-selling album and that ‘It’s Alright For You’ is on any album at all. 1.5/5

meh. never been a big Police fan

Kann man immer hören

Good shit bro. Old school cool.

Whimsical and pretty

solid 3

Pretty freaking nice

Some great songs, but a lot of fillers too.

Played this to death back in the day still have vinyl Stand out tracks are Message in a Bottle Bring on the Night Beds to Big Without You Sting definitely the better songwriter

I sort of want to like this more than I actually do. It's in one ear and out the other for me. A bit MoR.

This is exactly what I imagine the 80s sounded like

Couple good songs

Uneven and very basic songwriting but I give them an A for effort - The Police always bring a lot of energy.

Got a little obsessed with the riff in Bring On The Night. Is Sting man or instrument?

Overall liked this and all the classics I know from it, but didn’t feel very cohesive (which maybe was intentional). Giving it a 3!

Reggae music aireeeee

The truest 3. Wouldn’t kick it out of bed; not mind blowing.

EEEEOOOOOEEEAAAYYYYOOOO

I really enjoyed this album. Of course, I am familiar the hits/singles, but they bring much of the same character throughout the whole record along with a vibe that is distinctly theirs. I still don't quite know what to make of them. Clearly, they are all very talented, and Sting's vocal range and playfulness kept me interested throughout.

Have this on vinyl but was happy to listen again.

Exemplary musicianship. I had a great time listening to Stewart Copeland's drumming. I enjoy how tight and yet rough around the edges this album is. It feels real. Created by some seriously good musicians who clearly love pushing the boundaries of what they want to do.

I can repeat exactly what I wrote for the first Police album this made me listen to: Nope. This annoyed me either because of that strange sound or those cringy lyrics or that weird quality of sting‘s voice. Mostly all three.

If this project has shown me one thing, it's that The Police majorly annoy me. I always assumed I'd probably sort of like them if I were to look into their catalog. Thanks for opening my eyes, 1001 Albums!

I think my first exposure to The Police was watching my uncle's band do a cover of Message in a Bottle. That main riff caught my ear, and I've loved the song ever since. This is a fun album and pretty critical for reggae/rock fusion. Great stuff.

Good

Track opening and closing the album are really great. Some of my favourites for a long time. The rest of the album had a great vibe but not as re listenable as the singles.

Message in a Bottle is one of my all-time favourite songs (just to get that out of the way). I didn't know the album as a whole. I've decided it's a bit like early U2: loads of energy, fast songs and interesting guitars, but you can tell that there's a serious, ponderous brain at work somewhere in the background. The result is good, although I prefer early U2, who seemed to have a clearer direction, and hit me more in the feels, as they say nowadays. This is fresh and fun, though, with its interesting mix of pop, punk and African influences. There are one or two overly-experimental moments which probably are best forgotten (plonky piano on Does Everyone Stare being a case in point) and the last track is a bit of a mess, but overall I liked it. (MIAB is still the best thing on it by miles, though, imo)

Very good album

Nice album! Not as cliché as expected.

mid

One of the better albums in rock.

It's the Police. They're fine. Sometimes veering into silly reggae stuff. But mostly just an easy background rhythm. I do appreciate how each track has a pretty different vibe.

Overall: 9/10 I got into The Police a few years ago solely because my mom hates them lol I'm glad I got into then though cause they're now one of my favourite bands. This album has so many classic songs and it shows off just how talented every member is. Sting is a songwriting genius, Stewart Copeland is the greatest hi-hat drummer on the planet and Andy Summers is so underrated. Also, I really love On Any Other Day despite it's problematic lyrics (it was the 70s so I'll give them a pass) Fav Song: On Any Other Day Least Fav Song: Reggatta de Blanc

Reggae is fine, rock is fine, reggae-rock is not fine.

My initial impression was that Reggatta De Blanc kinda sucks... but then, on the second listen I was under an impression it's better than I thought. But then, it's still not something I can imagine myself listening to daily. Could it be a 4? Maybe. Maybe it'd need more time. Obviously, Message In A Bottle carries this album hard. Kinda funny how from what I've heard from The Police I was mostly impressed, but then their albums fall short of the overall impression. Not too hard.

mid 3/5

Was not my favorite, had some good tracks but I didn’t really find much click with me here. Singer was good and unique, and the instrumentation was fun but it was not the best in my opinion. Best tracks for me are: Bring On The Night, Does Everyone Stare, and On Any Other Day.

A couple of good songs

I really enjoyed this album. Of course, I am familiar the hits/singles, but they bring much of the same character throughout the whole record along with a vibe that is distinctly theirs. I still don't quite know what to make of them. Clearly, they are all very talented, and Sting's vocal range and playfulness kept me interested throughout.

I have wondered why the Police don’t inspire me, especially as I so love late 70s post punk and (some) new wave. I think for me the dividing line usually comes down to lyrics… in the case of the Police the lyrics aren’t bad, just not at all provocative. It’s very…vanilla. Very… reggatta de blanc. No hate. I can appreciate that others love ‘em, just something missing for me here.

This album is a good argument for playlists over albums. A handful of really good songs including bring on the night, which is a fave from this band. But the bad songs aren’t just skippable, they’re skip-inducing. It’s fine to die without listening to this whole record.

Hell yeah, the police slap. Stewie copes on the drums is a gawd

More reggie then expected

best

This was alright

This was more enjoyable than I thought! Favs: Message in a bottle Walking on the moon The bed’s too big without you

Very fun, I enjoyed - 3.5/5 Standout tracks: - Message In A Bottle 5/5: This song transports me back to August 2007 which is lovely, also one of the best songs ever written. - Contact 4/5: The last part is especially good.

Other than Message in a Bottle, pretty gash!

Ännu ett riktigt bra album! Stewart Copeland är så jävla bra. Ibland tycker jag mixen känns lite "tunn" och jag är faktiskt inte något stort fan av sting som sångare. Det till trots så är låtarna tillräckligt bra för att bära helhetsupplevelsen. Landar på någonstans mellan 3-4, får bli en 4a.

Älskar detta rakt igenom. Kreativt, hits, deep cuts, knäppt, catchigt

3a, otroligt ojämnt album. En del bangers, men också en hel del tråkiga låtar.

Feels slightly odd to suggest that this kind of reggae influenced post punk and new wave (made by white guys) is what I prefer to straight reggae (most likely made by black guys), but the variety on this album is what sets it apart from the admittedly very small amount of traditional reggae that I've listened to. A major gripe that I've had with the genre was the sameness of the songs, but this album does not have that problem at all. And Stewart Copeland is one hell of a drummer. To be honest this album would be getting a positive review just on the strength of Message in a Bottle alone, but there's still more here to enjoy. 4 stars. Pretty iconic album cover as well.

Message in a bottle is one of the greatest opening tracks of any album. The rest of the album is also good, but none of the songs come close to Message in a bottle.

Awful cod-reggae, the worst kind of preening, pretentious crap marketed as soulful and edgy but in reality thin, weak and irritating.

Message In A Bottle, the ska influence in the vocals are strong, borderline problematic in 2025 lol. They can really write a pre chorus! “I hope that someone gets my” building up like that really gets you riled up. When the title is sung it’s almost underwhelming, but it works because then all the energy comes back in for the verses. All the instrumentation is so tight, especially in the repetition at the end. The solo guitar licks are tasteful and nicely placed in the production. Reggatta De Blanc, title track, immediately the drums are incredible, soooo tight so fast. The “lyrics” all the way through are just vocalisations, well interesting. Not what i was expecting at all. The harmony used on them is great. This is a celebration song. It’s Alright For You, this is a rock-pop tune. Everyone in the band are locked in from the get go. It explodes into the song. Lyricism is nothing ground breaking but its chorus is fucking catchy. It’s like spoken poetry for majority. Bring On The Night, the tension with the guitar is so fun. The lyrics make it quite sad, but then the ska rhythm contradicts that. So from what he’s saying, “couldn’t stand another hour of daylight” makes you worry for him but the groove makes it sound like he’s ready to party so “bring on the night”. There’s some more tension made by the guitar about half way through. I like it. Deathwish, this is about being a reckless driver. They’re a male band in there 20s gotta write what you know i guess lol. Again as always with The police, the bass is beautiful, drums are tight and guitar adds to it all but doesn’t run the show. I appreciate their talent for sure. Walking On The Moon, i’m seeing this as a song about wanted life to work out for you even if your taking risks. You got to have a lot of courage to follow the arts, “some may say i’m wishing my days away”. I think they did the right thing, if that’s even what this is about, could be missing it by miles. Love the outro, they do them very well too, make them memorable. On Any Other Day, what an opening. “you want something corny you got it” looool they delivered. I’m assuming this is a response to people saying they steal from genres that aren’t theirs??! i’m truly guessing and not looking it up. So they wrote lyrically, a cookie cutter pop tune. The only difference you can tell is that the instruments are played at an extremely high technical level. I like it. The Beds To Big, the jamaican twang of his singing in this one is getting to me a little. slightly cringe. You can use the rhythm and instrumentation of a genre of course, inspired by is fine but copying the inflections of an accent is a bit far for my pc ass in 2025. These boys can really play ska tho, clearly came natural/they worked v hard. Concept is regretful love song and it’s good. Contact, this is quite fun, short and sweet. Love the melody rhythm, it’s interesting. Quite talky this one. We are back to some punk rock genre. Sting can play the damn bass for real , shock lol. Does Everyone Stare, this is a musical jazz number??? This feels like a swing to the right but there’s still the syncopation they love present. Key changes happening makes this demand your attention, and the harmony, and the drum fills. I enjoy this one I love that they just tried something different ish. No Time This Time. Oh it’s time to mosh. It’s so fucking fast. Great way to end the album. “I’d slow the whole word down….i’d stop it spinning round”. Everyone still feels there’s no time for anything 45 years later. A timeless statement of a song, vocals are great, big harmonies in a decent and fast pace chatter. Brilliant guitar solo, very impressive bass work, drums are phenomenal, that fill at 2:50mins damn! The police did a big one with this. Look I know The Police cos of my dad first and foremost, so i have always had a soft spot for them cos he loves em. Now I know sting hasn’t been the most loved celeb over the years but him, Stewart Copeland and Andy summers could write and play the fuck out of their ska/punk/pop songs. And i’m happy for them and I like this album.

Love this album, it's my favorite Police long play.

The Police was one of those groups who gained greater success when MTV started. This album had two tunes played a lot on radio, and the rest of the album (which I haven’t heard till now) seems very representative of their music.

I'm ashamed to admit that knowing Sting is in the Police is one of those things I think I've learned at least 5 times. They're just too firmly embedded as an "pre-me-listening-to-music" band, and inexorably linked with Genesis in my mind (because of an isomorphic "wait, really?" fact with Phil Collins, and, apparently, Peter Gabriel). I wonder if there are any solo artists who make it big and then go on to be a band, or if it's only the other way around. Anyway, I know 'Message in Bottle' already, which is a mid-level bop. I also like 'Walking on the Moon' because it sounds very similar to the other Police songs I know (and it is reggae-y). 'Contact' too. Lowlight: 'No Time This Time' (frenetic! not in a fun way!)

hell yah

3 maybe 4

The Police are a singles band. There i said it.

Непонятное говно , вроде бы нормальная музыка но я не смогла дослушать до конца , прям некомфортно почему то , какие то червяки .

Not the biggest Police fan, but I am a fan of Sting. Pretty good album.

One of my favorite bands. Not my favorite of theirs, but still great IMO

I'll send an SOS to the world! I can confidently say this is an album that truly belongs here.

whiteys can play

It's an OK album, with some decently good songs. I'm not sure it lives up to the hype, though. Favorite song: "Walking On The Moon"

Some great singles and performances, but there's a lot of halfway house tracks that just facilitate a cool riff to be turned into a full track without anything more to them.

It's white people singing reggae, and it sounds exactly like white people singing reggae. Starts off with the classic Message In A Bottle, but then the rest of the album is just dull and empty. Also very repetitive. Someone needs to send an SOS for this album. Best song: Message In A Bottle

Funny British man (Sting) singing reggae Amazing drumming from Stewart Copeland Very full sound from a trio Andy Summers' great guitar tone Sting's beautiful voice

Pretty solid. Gotta love the sound, even if it is a bit one-note. More classics for a good reason.

good, cool, was interesting

The singles are good, the rest of the songs are just mid.

This is such a great album. The deceptively simple-sounding beats from Stewart Copeland are just outrageously incredible. Never have I been able to master any Police song on my kit. The beautifully subdued solos from Summers on guitar combined with the lyrics from Sting that read like the ravings of an escapee from a mental asylum. What is not to love?

8/10. This seems like a great album to listen to while trimming your toenails. No, I didn't trim my toenails while listening to this album, it's just a thought. It doesn't have to do with the music...actually, never mind, just listen to the music. If you don't like it, then just go out looking for Sting's SOS to the world, and listen to your Beatles. I'll be here, vibing to the Police. :)

3 stars

Despite the presence of a couple songs that are among the best in their catalogue, this has a fascinating unevenness to it where you can almost hear the band struggling with, but ultimately, finding their way through, their sophomore slump. It was really the only time in their career, brief though it was, that they came in not sure what to record, but they became a better band for it.

Man, when they tried to get weird here, the just sound bad. But there's some strong stuff on here. Overall, I think the Police work best on a greatest hits album.

One of my favorites by them

when it was good it was gooood but when it was meh it was mehhh 2.5 stars

Fast paced, I knew the hits before. Bit distracted when listening but love the singles.

i like how the drum rhyme with that extraordinary guitar riff

Rock, 1979 -> 4

few hits but the rest similar sounding

The Police have a sound that is unmistakeably, authentically them. Sting's voice & rhythmic splashes of bass, Andy Summer's slinky reverberated guitar, all brought together by some really clever drumming patterns thanks to Stewart Copeland. Really enjoyed this album, even though only 3 songs truly stood out. It started off as though an album built for stadium/ live show, with the way Sting's vocals sit almost at the back of your ears like they would in a large room full of people. But it constantly changes, as did tempo, and occasionally the tone with some lyrics being a lot harsher and in your face. I like that a lot, because although the album was taking you on this journey, evolving as the songs went on, at no point did I not know who the band was. They were always, without a doubt in my mind, The Police. You can't mistake it. I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would.

Better than expected...

A few quality songs on this- Message in a Bottle and The Bed's Too Big being two of them - but overall too much chaff to warrant above a three.

fun! also kind of sucked!

Actually pretty fire. Really liked it actually!

The singles are the highlights, of course, but the rest of the album is surprisingly playful.

Very happy to have been generated this one. The Police were a blindspot for me; had heard of them of course but never really dove in. LOVE IT.

Staat natuurlijk 'gewoon' in de kast hier, maar ben nog nooit verder gekomen dan een 'Message in the Bottle', een 'Walking on the Moon' en een sporadische 'Bring on the Night'. En ik heb daarmee niks gemist. The Police is hier al te ver verwijderd van z'n punky roots om de lak aan creativiteit te compenseren met aanstekelijke energie, wat een overwegend saai album oplevert. 5,5/10 Highlights: Message in the Bottle Walking on the Moon

Hans was altijd wel fan van the Police en volgens mij hadden wij thuis een verzamelcd-tje. De tunes van dit trio zit dus altijd wel diep in mijn geheugen gegrift, maar dan niet in een chronologische volgorde wat betreft discografie. The Police liet natuurlijk het punky geluid snel achter zit om hits voor het grote publiek te schrijven. Desalniettemin is Regatta de Blanc een plaat uit Engeland uit 1979. Dan heb je een streepje voor. 7/10 Highlights Walking on the moon On Any Other Day (verrassing)

Yah.

Хороший крепкий альбом, понравился только открывающий трэк

oh fantastic

Message In A Bottle and Walking On The Moon are real hits!

This is one of those albums I know by heart and I know exactly which songs are brilliant without even looking at the playlist. Message in a Bottle Bring on the Night Bed’s Too Big Without You They all play so well on this album. So many great bass lines and guitar riffs and Copeland's drumming...outstanding!

An old favourite of mine, even if there are a couple of tracks that could have been left off (On Any Other Day). But with Walking on the Moon and Message in a Bottle - definately 5

Banger

The Police. Название звучит слегка угрожающе. Всё, что я знал об этой группе ранее, что это панки новой волны из Великобритании. Но вот я включаю их второй альбом «Reggatta de Blanc» и сразу же получаю два сюрприза: во-первых, это вообще не панк. Во-вторых, солистом группы оказывается Стинг. Да-да, тот самый сэр Гордон Самнер, который позже будет петь про розу в пустыне, как будто это дзен-медитация. Начало альбома — три трека, которые звучат так, будто кто-то взял одну длинную песню и просто порезал её на куски. Пришлось даже пару раз свериться с плейлистом, чтобы понять, это другая уже композиция началась или всё ещё та же самая. И только ближе к середине начинаешь понимать, что The Police — это не про хаос, это про контроль. Их музыка — это танец на грани между жёстким роком и расслабленным… рэгги. Да-да, рэгги. Этот альбом настолько пропитан ямайскими ритмами, что в какой-то момент я почти услышал голос Боба Марли. Представьте себе: панки в отпуске, в гавайской рубашке, с коктейлями в руках. Вот и весь Reggatta de Blanc. Главные жемчужины альбома — «Walking on the Moon» и «The Bed’s Too Big Without You». В них чувствуется, что The Police нашли свою формулу: гипнотический бас, синкопированные ритмы и голос Стинга, который звучит, как ангел, застрявший в телефонной будке. В итоге Reggatta de Blanc — это настоящий коктейль из контрастов: рок и рэгги, серьёзность и лёгкость, революция и релаксация. Возможно, он не станет вашим любимым альбомом, но точно заставит задуматься, как далеко можно зайти, если смешать несмешиваемое.

A great Police album. It starts off great with Message In A Bottle, and ends it with No Time This Time, both solid songs. The album's title track is so, so good, even for being an instrumental. In between are a great example of what The Police were doing, bringing radio-friendly reggae to the world. Even the album's title, translates loosely to White Reggae, or maybe that IS the translation. That's what their early sound was, white boy reggae. Not that it's cultural appropriation or whatever people call it these days, it's more of a tribute to a great genre of music and bringing it to the masses in an approachable way. I don't blame them for playing music they like, and made it radio-friendly. This was happening a lot in late 70's Britain. The Specials, Madness, etc.. were all making similar music. The Police just softened up the ska and reggae sound and sold a lot of records. This album was followed up by Zenyatta Mondatta which is nowhere as good as this one. Their pièce de résistance would come a few years later with Synchronicity, which is on this list too and it truly is an album you must hear before you die. Is this album worthy of a must listen before you die title? Yeah....kinda. Must hear tracks: Message In A Bottle Reggatta De Blanc Deathwish Walking On The Moon 4/5

+5 stars for Message In A Bottle. What a great fucking song. -1 star for On Any Other Day. What a stupid fucking song.

норм

En edelleenkään ole brittiladreggaen suurin fani, mut onneks tässä on aika vähän sitä, Message in A Bottlessa sitä on just sopivasti mausteena. Olisin voinu tykätä tästä enemmän, jos oisin elänyt kasarilla. Meininki on nimittäin aika hyvä, rouhea. Ja alan lämmetä lauluäänen kimeydelle.

Hitti. Sitä seuraa pitkä B-puoli.

Good album

[7/10] Did not know that the police were a white boy reggae band but there it is in the album title

Har hört sen innan men vet inte. tycker alltid police har saknat något förutom vissa hits och på denna skiva är det den solklara låten ”Walking On The Moon”. Hursom är det lätt härligt å höra, avslappnande och måste ge dem att de är rätt speciella, ett eget ljud, Den vita reggaen

Quem diria que The Police seria um upbeatzinho. Esse álbum bem reggae é bem legal. Além de Message in a Bottle e Walking on the Moon eu gostei de Does Everyone Stare e Reggatta de Blanc

a voz do sting me irrita em algumas músicas.... no mais, um rockzinho bem leve de se ouvir e "the bed's too big without you" tem umas bassline incrivel

An absolute classic

Personally I don't think the album is bad. Just not something I'd listen to consistently, just not really my style. Message in a Bottle is a definitive classic, of course.

borrring

Great album, not only based on Message, but also with such admirable compositions as Regatta, The bed's, Deathwish and of course Bring On The Night. Almost a five. For saying the truth a 4.2

Truly awful. I do like some Police songs, but this album is incredibly weak and makes them sound mediocre. - Jamie

Good album, surprising favorite it’s alright for you

C'était cool :emoji pouce:

The only Police I respect are Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers. Reggatta De Blanc was always my favorite Police album, primarily due to "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon", but also how the album feels like it's meant to be listened to at night. I don't know how else to describe it. The fusion of reggae, post-punk, and occasionally samba(?) make for an entertaining listen, but ultimately the mood can't carry the whole release. The entire second half of the record tends to drag

Phenomenal composition and brilliant virtuosic playing. This was one of my most favorite albums from childhood, a special project for me to find on vinyl later in life (which I did 🙂). Stewart Copland is literally a God in my eyes and Sting ain't half bad either. Because this album is rich and ripe with new wave influence and rock and punk rock flair interwoven. Every instrument is needed to get the sound they have and the production value is so very high. Regatta de Blanc is a top tier 5 star album.

This is #day141 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... somebody, call The Police! Now, Sting is a musician I get to associate with my childhood and early teenage years, like, his work on Brand New Day ("Desert Rose" still gives me goosebumps) and Sacred Love (I remember watching "Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing)" on TV and hearing "Send Your Love" on the radio). There was also, of course, Leon and "Shape of My Heart." I even remember a mash-up of Every Breath You Take by P. Diddy (just checked, it was called "I'll Be Missing You"), which wasn't exactly the ideal introduction to The Police, but I think I also recall Message in a Bottle from somewhere. I only hope it was the original version! Why do I remember so much? Or, rather, why do I link so many memories to music? I’ve come to appreciate The Police relatively late, probably in my '20s, but I do love them. Not sure if Sting's presence influences that, but when I listen to their music, it just feels like home. Songs like Walking on the Moon with its atmospheric groove, and "Bed's Too Big Without You" with its mix of reggae and post-punk influence have a timeless quality. That said, I guess I'll always prefer Synchronicity, the band's swansong and peak in terms of musical exploration and lyrical depth, or its more experimental predecessor "Ghost in the Machine." The Police had a knack for mixing pop, rock, and reggae in a way that feels fresh decades later. As for this album, it still holds its own with classic hits and some lesser-known gems, which is why it earns a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day142.

I'm a rastafarian, Targaryen I got some dragons and they're Very scary and Been here and there and then I've Been everywhere again rastafarian, Targa Call me Daenerys Targaryen When you wanna reach me And if you feel the love Then you can call me Khaleesi Got so many names i'm Queen of the Andals Queen of the Meereen Yeah! You can kiss m' sandals

“White Reggae” is crazy 😭😭

This album from The Police packs a punch, especially considering it's just three dudes making a consistent wall of sound on several tracks! Stewart Copeland's drumming is tight as hell, and the whole rhythm section really brings it throughout the record. But let's be real - the album's got its issues. A bunch of tracks feel like they're not quite done cookin and give the impression they threw in some demos to fill space. On the album's length, it kills the momentum created by the most solid tracks. "Message in a Bottle", for instance, is a great song which pass the test of time. That intro riff? Still catchy as ever, even after all these years. Only issue? It opens the album and from there on you have this feeling of sliding down with no song catching up to the level of this intro. Overall, it's a mixed bag. A great song, some really good but also too many fillers to ignore.

Ik heb dus best wel een zwak voor Sting. Vooral zn solowerk vind ik echt geweldig, het werk met The Police ken ik niet zo goed. Tuurlijk ken ik Message in a bottle, en ik vind dat absoluut een fijn nummer, maar ik merk dat ik bijvoorbeeld Bring On The Night niet zo goed trek, het klinkt alsof Sting het nummer ook niet helemaal red ofzo? Sowieso is het wel een beetje wennen deze soort van reggae. Walking on the moon is ook echt een fijn nummer, maar het kwaliteits verschil tussen de hits en de rest is gigantisch. Ik heb ook een beetje het idee dat de niet hits gewoon ook slordiger zijn als muziek? Nee, buiten de hits vind ik dit gewoon echt geen goed album. Het is slordig en rommelig en klinkt gewoon totaal niet als wat ik verwacht van Sting. FAVO: Message in a bottle, Walking on the moon

It's like the music of this older Police album has a thinner sound, but the songs are still good.

This was a fun listen.

Good energy on the lesser known songs. I like the well known songs too

As with all there albums there’s the hits and then there’s the filler. The filler on this one is a bit poor but the hits are top notch so difficult to really rate this one!

the choices are baffling

The Police will always be a fun band with fun songs. This album opens very strongly with "Message In A Bottle" (one of the band's best imo) and then afterwards "Bring On The Night" is pretty good too I guess. Yea it's mostly nothing that exciting but an easy listen nonetheless. Favorite track: Message In A Bottle

it was decent definitely not my style of music tho

I'm not a huge Police fan, but this is probably my favorite record of theirs. The ska influence comes out a bit more on this one, which I dig.

Another tour de force for a power house of the 80s

That's jaunty!

Their best was still to come

3 - just another one song police album

To gode sange

Closer to a 5 than a 3.

I have always enjoyed the singles - had not listened to the album previously and not sure what to make of it after 3 listens. It sounds like they are having fun - but I think of Sting as being so po faced and serious that it does not quite ring true for me. A disappointing 3.

Nice. I quite enjoyed this one! I only knew 2 songs - Message In A Bottle (banging tune) and Walking On The Moon. But the rest of the album was catchy and upbeat 4 ⭐️

This album was really good. I might start exploring The Police now to be honest. I vibed with most of the songs they were great. I really loved Bring On The Night, Walking On The Moon, and On Any Other Day to name a few. No Time This Time was a great way to end the album. Overall I really enjoyed nearly every track on the album and it has no skips for the most part.

overrated

The two or three good tracks on here are so good that I find myself genuinely angry about how crap the rest of it is

Message in a bottle still bangs after all these years. What a way to start an album! the 2 big hits stand this album up on their own. the Jamaican influence is evident. Probably a 3.5, but I have given it a 4 because of the 2 standout tracks

2- Stars (4/15)

This is such an average album. I have never understood the hype with Sting or the Police. There are a handful of good songs on this like message in a bottle and walking on the moon and some hidden gems I had never heard of like no time this time and the bed is too big without you. The rest of the album is very meh though. Favourite song: Message in a bottle Least favourite: Reggatta de blanc Album artwork: Iconic cover

Not a fan of The Police

Ah... finally... an album I don't have to set aside half my day to get through... There are some enjoyable nuggets in here (mostly the songs written by Sting), but there are an equal number of tracks that feel kinda throwaway to me...

Until now I really only knew their big hits and I was neutral at best with those. Overall, I enjoyed this album though. More than I thought I was going to. This is a high 3 for me, but I’m giving it a 4 for exceeding my expectations.

Sending out an SOS... Second half of the album is somewhat dull

Message In a Bottle and Walking On The Moon are two strong songs however, I am dissapointed by all other songs on the album

This album is an easy 5/5 thinking of it on its time. But of course sound wise maybe it loses half star compared to Synchronicity which is an easy 5/5 from all perspectives. Music wise, this is just genius. All instruments sound so much fun to listen or to play! The voice and armonies on point, and the music very touching. Also impressive the amount of influences from different styles. 4,5/5

Well Sting is always welcome to my ears. I first saw him in Monty Python’s Secret Policeman’s Other Ball and I was stunned by his voice and ethereal beauty. Message in A Bottle is iconic. 4/5 (saving 5/5 for Barbra or Neil or Sarah or Glenn)

Play that funky music, white boy

Ég fíla Police eða öllu heldur hvað þeir eru að gera. Reggae-rokk. Mér finnst það takast mjög vel oftast nær. Ég fíla báða tónlistarstílana. Mér finnst lögin skemmtileg. Samt næ ég engri tengingu og þetta endar sem miðjumoð hjá mér þrátt fyrir að öll hráefnin séu frábær og mér að skapi. Undarlegt.

Definitely a really good album. Will be adding a few songs to the playlist.

Bollocks

Another Police album that drags and does enough crap stuff that I won't be listening again. Clearly a band to listen to the Greatest Hits album by and ignore everything else.

As good as the first one. Best drum sound ever.

The Police and Sting's songs are my guilty pleasure. I don't know why but something is always very interesting about those. Also, as a guitarist myself, the guitar work in this band was always extremely fun and intricate. I almost broke a joint (or at least that's how it felt) while trying to play Message In A Bottle. Anyway, great record!

This is such a great album. The Police were a great band and Sting is an absolutely brilliant artist. Absolutely 5/5 for me.

Tolles Album mit vielen Klassikern. Hab ich mir gerne angehört

Hab mich sehr gefreut, weil ich großer Fan von Message in a Bottle bin. Der Rest des Albums konnte leider nicht mit dem restlichen Album mithalten. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Message in a Bottle

“Message In A Bottle” is an absolutely perfect song and deserves all the awards. The perfect amount of feverish British Post-Punk, sweaty 3-4 piece band singles, tight, tight instrumentals. With the intriguing, confusing lead lyrics told through Sting’s boyish, strangely-accented singing. All the elements of a hit. So tight. Sounds bigger than the entire rest of the album, combined. Band’s going for broke. Aaaaand… the rest of the album. An absolutely hilarious second single in “Walking on the Moon,” funny reggae-influenced, rock-tinged record. Is this right around the release of Catch A Fire? Sounds so related to that record’s polished rock-ready reggae. They can’t swing it like the Jamaicans, but hey… the album literally translates to “white reggae,” right? I read that the band hardly had any songs ready for the recording session, and… it sounds like it. Plenty of duds. Fun to hear a good band play it out! But a lot of dead air. If “It’s Alright For You” was the lasting legacy of The Police, they’d never get a second album. And that’s The Police! A sometimes frustrating, uneven band. Rare that they get an album that behaves itself all the way though. (I think Synchronicity is about as close as they get?) But… absolutely one of a kind band, not a perfect album of any stretch, but worth anyone’s time. 3/5

Good album.

Always happy to see The Police pop up. I only knew “Message in a Bottle” but I enjoyed the rest as well.

Message in a bottle starts off the album amazingly but then nothing reaches it’s quality, walking on the moon comes close but not quite. But side one is genuinely great (just realised walking on the moon is side two but it should’ve closed side one), then it’s quite bad honestly it feels like reverse synchronicity 4/5 cuz of strong side 1 though

Another classic!

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would... Nice

TE AMO STING goooddddd

Can Message in a Bottle carry this whole album? No. Even the album track doesnt stack up, this whole album mystifies me, I cant see why its so beloved. Man I am glad Sting got away from this. Although calling your album White Reggae is pretty funny.

The hits are all great. The reagge tone to a lot of the album is very enjoyable. I dig it!

A bit of a bore compared to Outlandos d'Amour (which fucking RULES) but there are some truly great songs here. I really liked The Bed's Too Big Without You, Bring On The Night, Walking On The Moon, No Time This Time and of course Message In The Bottle. The rest I could do without. A four for the half of the album that's very good and a two for the other half that is a complete bore.

Some of the songs on this album are great, others feel half baked. They are great musicians but their sound isn't really my cup of tea. I tend to like the songs that lean more towards the post punk sound, rather than the ones that lean into reggae, but that's just my opinion, and I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me.

Perhaps I was a little unfair giving Synchronicity a one star rating earlier. Tempted to score this higher than I would otherwise to compensate, but I can't do it; there's just something about Sting's voice that annoys me.

Long time ago.... Still nice to hear.

meh

Loved it! Iconic songs I didn't quit know. Definitely a favorited album

I like later Police better but this is good

Message in a bottle is a great song, but they never recreated that energy on the rest of the album for me. With each passing song, I disliked this album more.

I don’t think I can overstate how much I love this album. Stewart Copeland’s drumming alone is enough to get this album 5 stars. It’s just so unique and, at the time, there was really nothing like it in popular music. The high hats in “Walking On The Moon” are just unreal. Andy Summers’ reggae influenced guitar licks are both skillful, effortless, and beautiful. His more new wave style playing hits all the right spots in my brain. It’s never overcomplicated, but it’s always impressive. Sting himself deserves more credit for his basslines, songs like the title track are just dripping with the kind of funk you really shouldn’t get from a British white boy in the late 70’s. I already mentioned the reggae and new wave tones this record hits on, but there’s so much more than that too. It’s an early punk record as much as it is a rock n roll record. It has so much depth and so many layers that one really has to listen to it start to finish, multiple times. I could easily go through and do a song by song review of this one, pointing out every little detail that tickles the listening part of my brain, but it would truly be too long to post here. I’m really glad that I got to listen to this record today, as it seems this album has the power to make any day good. This album deserves far more stars than I’m allowed to give it.

This is a neat album that does well to showcase The Police’s unique synthesis of genres. The good songs are great - “Message in a Bottle”, “Bring On the Night”, “Deathwish” - but there are also a handful of songs that feel like filler or just plain duds. “It’s Alright For You” is definitely my least favorite song on the album, whereas I’m not sure what to make of “On Any Other Day”, “Contact”, and “Does Everyone Stare”. This is probably the most perplexing album for me yet. My initial impression is a solid 6.5 or 7 out of 10. I feel like if I come back to this album at a later date, which I’m happy to do, that rating would change. I’m just not sure if it would be up or down.

Judging just based on the music, it’s perfectly mediocre. Favorite song: The Bed’s Too Big Without You Least favorite song: On Any Other Day

a difficult listen. apparently not a white reggae fan highlights: N/A

мне не понравился альбом, зацепила только первая песня, которая, к слову, очень часто семплилась в репе

starts off pretty strong, ends off pretty strong, weird reggae in the middle

Timeless

Great stuff boys.

3.5/5

Good album, but not as good as the other ones by the band. In fact, this is my personal least favorite Police album, but it does have some bangers like Message in a Bottle, Walking on the Moon, and No Time This Time (underrated track)

Uno de los icónicos álbumes de esta gran banda que Sting encarna tan acertadamente. Su música es innegable mente adictiva y de allí su gran exito. El bajo y la percusión dominantes hacen que el cuerpo se mueva solo. De cinco estrellas los premio con cuatro, bien puestos.

The Police did sold great stuff and this album is the best showcase for that. It also showed what Sting was able to pull off years later.

#70 Not much.

Did not expect the reggae sound

Do people really like the whole album or just a few songs? I suppose I can appreciate the innovation but that's about it. They sure sang about some weird stuff.

Sting sucks!!

A big player. My wife has all the lyrics down pat, and when I fired this up on the hi-fi, hips were in full sway. That alone gets them 4 stars.

Leaving aside the question of cultural appropriation (at least they were honest in the album titling), this was a high-performing band, perhaps even overachieving. They seemed to have a plan and executed with very few missteps. "Message" and "Walking on the Moon" and "Bed's Too Big" are all excellent and the rest is solid-plus. In retrospect, it seems utterly unsurprising that they would seen be the best band in the world for a brief shining moment in time.

Every song has its own vibe? Some are punky, some are reggae -like...but in a not-well-connected way. I didn't like the white washed reggae. Confused would be my word of choice for this album. Positive side: it was not boring.

Nothing exciting

alright, fun sound.

It irks me that Stewart Copeland's incredible drumming talent was wasted on The Police. There's a good song here and there but most of it is typical Sting-led trash.

6.5/10 Favourite tracks: Walking on the Moon, Bring on the Night

Yeah this was not for me. I just don’t care for the reggae style sound

Some great singles and some ok other songs

Great playing by all the musicians, though.

The Police’s second studio album marks a pretty significant leap forward from their debut, showcasing the band refining their distinctive blend of reggae, punk, and new wave into something truly flavourful. From the opening moments of “Message in a Bottle,” there’s a sense that the band has tapped into something deeper, both musically and emotionally. What stands out most across the album is the unique “flavour” of the sound — a spicy, sun-soaked fusion that feels equal parts Caribbean and British post-punk. It’s this unmistakable sonic identity that makes the record so appealing, even when its edges are a bit rough. The title track, “Reggatta de Blanc,” is a highlight not just for its hypnotic instrumental repetition but for how it distills the band’s chemistry into pure vibe. Sting’s melodic basslines and distinctive vocal phrasing dance around Andy Summers’ sharp, delay-drenched guitar, all while Stewart Copeland’s drumming anchors the rhythm with an agile looseness. The interplay here isn’t just tight, it’s flavourful in a way that invites the listener to sink into the sound, like swaying in humid air with nothing to do but move. There’s also a deeper emotional pull to some of the songwriting that wasn’t as pronounced on “Outlandos d’Amour”. “Bring on the Night” and “Walking on the Moon” both stretch out into moodier territory, and their more spacious arrangements make room for atmosphere to bloom. It’s not just about catchy hooks - although there are plenty - it’s about the texture, the feel. You can practically taste the reverb and delay, and the way Sting leans into his vocals gives the whole thing an edge that’s sultry rather than aggressive. That said, the album isn’t perfect. There are moments when the songwriting feels secondary to the sonic experimentation, and a couple of tracks blur together without leaving a strong impression. Still, even at its less memorable points, “Reggatta de Blanc” retains that essential “flavour”; that sense of something new, exciting, and slightly exotic. In the end, this album earns a 4 star rating from me. Not just for its hits but for its sense of place and identity. It’s an album that sounds like no one else - even The Police themselves would evolve into something slicker and more polished in later years. But here, in this sweet spot of experimentation and raw talent, they crafted something genuinely special. The flavour lingers long after the music stops. 4/5

Not a big Police fan, but this was not bad. I liked a lot of the lyrics and feel of the album. Would be a 3.5, but going 3 as it still doesn't really grab me.