Police Reunited!

The long estranged members of legendary New Wave band, The Police, are reuniting for a performance to kick off the 49th Grammy Awards on Feb. 11.

This has fueled rampant speculation that the group, broken up since 1984, will reunite for a full tour this summer. Lead singer Sting, who has long resisted any reunion, seems more open to it than at any time since the breakup.

"We started 30 years ago, so it would be nice to do something to celebrate,” Sting was quoted as saying. “We don’t quite know what, but we’re talking about it.”

Earlier this month, former Policemen Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland were guests at a Malibu birthday party for Sting’s better half, Trudie Styler. And on Thursday night at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Sting dedicated a lute version of “Message in a Bottle” to the pair of former comrades who happened to be seated in the auditorium.

Does That Make Me Crazy?

Recently someone posed a question about the song "Crazy" by Charles Barkley. Is this massive hit truly a great song or just an overhyped bandwagon that everyone seems to be jumping on?

It seems to me that MOST huge crossover hits are "over-rated". The axiom, "You cannot underestimate the taste of the general public" applies here.

For example, look at all the great Clash songs. But their biggest hit, by Top 40 standards, was the unspectacular "Rock The Casbah". How sad is that? The same could be said for many other artists.

Having said that, I'm glad to see the success of "Crazy". Compared to much of what is played in the mainstream, it's like a breath of fresh air. "Crazy" is catchy enough, not too irritating and every time it's played it takes the place of what could have been another lame Rap or vapid Britney Squeals type song. Plus, I gotta give Gnarls Barkley extra credit for their awesome cover of The Violent Femmes' "Gone Daddy Gone" on the same album.

Anytime a non Rap, NuMetal or lightweight Pop artist garners this kind of attention, it is a positive. If Gnarls continues to be successful, that's LESS music we have to hear by the latest in an unceasingly long line of wannabe gangstas threatening to "pop a cap in yo ass". And that's a very good thing.

Admittedly, the choice of quality Pop candidates has become so desolate, it's kind of like a political election where you throw your support behind the less of the nominated evils. Gnarls Barkley probably wouldn't have stood out amongst the great bands of the 80's. Oh how things have changed.

PS For what it's worth, Gnarls Barkley is up for several Grammy Awards including Record Of The Year for "Crazy", at The Grammys on Sunday, February 11th.

They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore...

SURE they do. You just have to know where to look.

The follwong are new songs that have successfully captured the retro eighties sound:

The Tourist- Idyllists
The Blinding- Babyshambles
Electric- The Inner Banks
Let's Go- The Presets
Boy from School- Hot Chip
The Vex- Black Tie Dynasty
I Like U- Black Tie Dynasty
Your Eyes Are Liars- Sound Team
With You- Stars of Track and Field
Forever Young- Youth Group
My Friends- Vespers
Theme from Funky Reverend- Placebo
Fathers and Sons (Luxuriamusic Remix)- Misty Roses
Day- Katatonia
Anything You Say (Unreleased Version)- Deas Vail
This Place Is Painted Red (Unreleased Version)- Deas Vail
Flathead- The Fratellis
The Girl's Attractive- Diamond Nights
Spider and the Fly- London After Midnight
Inamourada- London After Midnight
The Spanish Singer- Socratic
The Science of the Seasons- The Russian Futurists
Lost In Time- Stellastarr*
Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt- We Are Scientists
Painted By Numbers- The Sounds
Last Chance- The Sights
Number One Son- Camera Obscura
These Fangs- Say Hi to Your Mom
If Looks Could Kill- Camera Obscura
Portions for Foxes- Rilo Kiley
Six Months In a Leaky Boat- Ted Leo/Pharmacists
Little Dawn- Ted Leo/Pharmacists
A Night At Star Castle- Robbers on High Street
Le Disko (Radio Edit)- Shiny Toy Guns