•
Rating: The CD player doesn't work. Damn. I'm forced to search through my teenage tapes for something good to listen to. So I find myself with "Mercury Falling" by Sting, one of the least known and least sold albums by the former Police singer, but not for this any less beautiful. On the contrary.
It starts with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta's roll that opens 'Hounds Of Winter', a monstrous opening track with sensational chord changes and a clean and perfect work by the musicians, all accompanied by Sting's convincing voice. The next track, 'I Hung My Head', proves to be aggressive and perfect like the previous one, accompanied by a nice guitar riff by the excellent Dominic Miller; in the finale, there's an explosion of brass and keyboards. Everything perfect.
With the third track (which we can comfortably define as gospel), the surprises begin, the guitars here are accompanied by warm voices that warm the heart, and everything is played to perfection, with Sting really at ease in this piece. 'I Was Brought To My Senses' can be divided in two; the first part starts slowly (voice plus acoustic guitar) and then radically changes tempo, transforming into a sunny and positive song, perhaps one of the best tracks on the album. The clarinet solo is thrilling. 'You Still Touch Me' once again features brass, which nonetheless do not suffocate the song; another positive song full of positive energy.
The sixth track is an interesting summer song full of freedom, but it certainly has nothing innovative, a classic "Sting" piece. 'All Four Seasons' is very cheerful, and once again the brass perfectly integrates with Sting's sound, making it more pleasant and enjoyable. The eighth track is another very interesting piece where the drums hit hard yet always with elegance and class, and the result is always enjoyable. The ninth song is a real surprise: it's called 'La Belle Dame Sans Regret', it's a bossanova and it’s thrilling. Just listen to the initial burst of drums to understand that this track is vying to be the best of the album. Sting sings in French, and it seems that he has spoken French all his life because the English accent is practically absent. A piece as unexpected as it is beautiful.
'Valparaiso' is an even Celtic piece (it recalls the atmosphere of Braveheart), and it's another track that will certainly be remembered for its intensity and pathos. The album closes with 'Lithium Sunset' where we find a bittersweet atmosphere, accompanied by the notes of an accordion. In short, the album closes in a soft manner.
There are some new features here that make the CD appetizing, but I recommend it only to those who love Sting.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Hounds of Winter (05:27)
Mercury falling
I rise from my bed
Collect my thoughts together
I have to hold my head
It seems that she's gone
And somehow I am pinned by
The Hounds of Winter
Howling in the wind
I walk through the day
My coat around my ears
I look for my companion
I have to dry my tears
It seems that she's gone
Leaving me too soon
I'm as dark as December
I'm as cold as the Man in the Moon
I still see her face
As beautiful as day
It's easy to remember
Remember my love that way
All I hear is that lonesome sound
The Hounds of Winter
They follow me down
I can't make up the fire
The way that she could
I spend all my days
In the search for dry wood
Board all the windows and close the front door
I can't believe she won't be here anymore
I still see her face
As beautiful as day
It's easy to remember
Remember my love that way
All I hear is that lonesome sound
The Hounds of Winter
They follow me down
A season for joy
A season for sorrow
Where she's gone
I will surely, surely follow
She brightened my day
She warmed the coldest night
The Hounds of Winter
They got me in their sights
I still see her face
As beautiful as day
It's easy to remember
Remember my love that way
All I hear is that lonesome, lonesome sound
The Hounds of Winter
They harry me down
02 I Hung My Head (04:41)
early one morning
with time to kill
i borrowed Jeb's rifle
and sat on the hill
i saw a lone rider
crossing the plain
i drew a bead on him
to practice my aim
my brother's rifle
went off in my hand
the shot rang out
across the land
the horse he kept running
the rider was dead
i hung my head
i hung my head
i set off running
to wake from the dream
my brother's rifle
went into the stream
i kept on running
into the salt lands
and that's where they found me
my head in my hands
the sheriff he asked me
why had i run
then it came to me
just what i dad done
and all for no reason
just one piece of lead
i hung my head
i hung my head
here in the courthouse
the whole town is there
i see the judge
high up in his chair
"explain to the courtroom
what went through your mind
and we'll ask the jury
what verdict they find"
i said "i felt the power
of death over life
i orphaned his children
i widowed his wife
i beg their forgiveness
i wish i was dead'
i hung my head
i hung my head
early one morning
with time to kill
i see the gallows
up on the hill
and out in the distance
a trick of the brain
i see a lone rider
crossing the plain
he's come to fetch me
to see what they done
we'll ride together
til kingdom come
i pray for God's mercy
for soon i'll be dead
i hung my head
i hung my head
05 You Still Touch Me (03:46)
Another night finds me alone
In my dreams
You still touch me
Your picture by my telephone
In that smile
You still thrill me
Now if I sleep
I sleep here alone
In my bed tonight
You still haunt me
And if I'm falling
I'm falling like a stone
In my nightmares
You still hold me
And after all that we've been through
Now I'm wondering
If you still blame me
If only half of this was true
That you believe of me
You still shame me
Dark rain will fall until I see your face
I close my eyes
I seem to hear the raindrops saying
You won't come back
You still touch me
And when I'm sick at heart and low
In my prayers
You still heal me
When I'm so sure, so sure this isn't so
In my complacency
You still shake me
I wonder if you feel the same way as I do
And you'd come back
You still touch me
Another night finds me alone
In my bed tonight
You still haunt me
You still hold me
You still touch me
You still touch me
You still touch me
Another night
Another night
Another night
Another finds me alone
07 All Four Seasons (04:28)
With her smile as sweet as a warm wind in summer
She's got me flying like a bird in a bright June sky
And then just when she thinks that I've got her number
Brings me down to the ground with her wintry eye
That's my baby
She can be all four seasons in one day
And when the nighttime comes with no interference
To our warm summer love with all its charms
Just like a thoroughbred horse she can turn on a sixpence
And I find that I'm back in Mistress Winter's arms
That's my baby
She can be all four seasons in one day
How will I know?
How can I tell?
Which side of the bed she takes when the day begins
She can be kind
She can be cruel
She's got me guessing like a game show fool
She can change her mind like she changes her sweaters
From one minute to the next it's hard to tell
She blows hot and cold just like stormy weather
She's my gift from the Lord or a fiend from hell
That's my baby
She can be all four seasons in one day
Watching the weatherman's been no good at all
Winter, spring, summer, I'm bound for a fall
No long term predictions for my baby
She can be all four seasons in one day
How will I know?
How can I tell?
Which side of the bed she takes when the day begins
She can be kind
She can be cruel
She's got me guessing like a game show fool
If it's a sunny day I take my umbrella
Just in case the raindrops start to fall
You could say that I'm just a cautious fellow
I don't want to be caught in a sudden squall
That's my baby
She can be all four seasons in one day
That's my baby
She can be all four seasons in one day
08 Twenty Five to Midnight (04:08)
Train I ride don't be slow
If your whistle can blow
Fifteen miles down the track
Tell them I'm coming back
Counting poles counting sheep
Don't be slow I won't weep
If your wheels on the line
Were to put me on time
Just a year to the day
Since I went upon my way
To seek my fortune and fame
Be a star, change my name
And that's it more or less
Til this midnight express
I know I can't be late
Cause she said she won't wait
She'll just go marry jack
So there's no turning back
And it's 25 to midnight and fifteen miles of track
Band I had got a break
Just one chance we had to take
Told my girl I'd be back
Left her with my friend jack
New york city for a spell
Things didn't turn out so well
Every dive that we played
We were lucky we got paid
Mr train driver please
If your speed you increase
Every cent I have now
Will be yours this I vow
And that's it more or less
Til this midnight express
I know I can't be late
Cause she said she won't wait
She'll just go marry jack
So there's no turning back
And it's 25 to midnight and fifteen miles of track
We called ourselves the latino lovers
Hawaiian shirts and top forty covers
I didn't think I could sink this low
When drugs and booze ate all my dough
This isn't how it was meant to be
There's no such thing as a meal that's free
If I was ever to get out alive
I have to get home on time
Train I ride don't be slow
If your whistle can blow
Fifteen miles down the track
Tell them I'm coming back
And that's it more or less
Til this midnight express
I know I can't be late
Cause she said she won't wait
She'll just go marry jack
So there's no turning back
And it's 25 to midnight and fifteen miles of track
And it's 25 to midnight and fifteen miles of track
09 La Belle Dame Sans Regrets (05:16)
Dansons tu dis
Et moi, je suis
Mes pas sont gauches
Mes pieds tu fauches
Je crains les sots
Je cherche en vain les mots
Pour m'expliquer ta vie, alors
Tu ments, ma Soeur
Tu brises mon coeur
Je pense, tu sais
Erreurs, jamais
J'ecoute, tu parles
Je ne comprends pas bien
La belle dame sans regrets
La belle dame sans regrets
Je pleure, tu ris
Je chante, tu cries
Tu semes les graines
D'un mauvais chéne
Mon ble s'envole
Tu en a ras le bol
J'attends, toujours
Mes cris sont sourds
Tu ments, ma Soeur
Tu brises mon coeur
Je pense, tu sais
Erreurs, jamais
J'ecoute, tu parles
Je ne comprends pas bien
La belle dame sans regrets
La belle dame sans regrets
10 Valparaiso (05:24)
Chase the dog star
Over the sea
Home where my true love is waiting for me
Rope the south wind
Canvas the stars
Harness the moonlight
So she can safely go
Round the Cape Horn to
Valparaiso
Red the port light
Starboard the green
How will she know of the devils I've seen
Cross in the sky
Star of the sea
Under the moonlight
There she can safely go
Round the Cape Horn to
Valparaiso
And every road I walked
Would take me down to the sea
With every broken promise in my sack
And every love would always send
The ship of my heart
Over the rolling sea
If I should die
And water's my grave
She'll never know if I'm damned or I'm saved
See the ghost fly
Over the sea
Under the moonlight
There she can safely go
Round the Cape Horn to
Valparaiso
11 Lithium Sunset (02:39)
Fill my eyes
O Lithium Sunset
and take this lonesome burden
of worry from my mind
Take this heartache
of obsidian darkness
and fold my darkness
into your yellow light
I've been scattered I've been shattered
I've been knocked out of the race
but I'll get better
I feel your light upon my face
Heal my soul
O Lithium Sunset
and I'll ride the turning world
into another night
See Mercury falling...
Loading comments slowly
