Broken Music by Sting

The album Synchronicity came out in 1983 when I was in junior high and just getting into music. I was immediately hooked by the lyrical density and blending of rock, reggae, and jazz, and quickly became a fan of The Police.

Sting's first two solo albums -- The Dream of the Blue Turtles and ...Nothing Like the Sun -- came out when I was in high school. To this day, I remember listening to songs like "Message in a Bottle", "King of Pain", "Don't Stand So Close to Me", and "Russians" over and over. With Sting's solo albums, I remember reading the liner notes and how impressed I was with Sting's simple yet expressive writing, and the narrative behind the songs. As I'm sure it was for other cerebral teenage boys, to me, Sting was the epitome of cool, literate and brooding, yet debonair and adored by women everywhere.

Broken Music is Sting's memoir and recounts his life up to the formation and early successes with The Police. It's a well-crafted and revealing glimpse into the formation of Sting as an artist and tells of his upbringing, family, first loves, and passion for music. Perhaps some fans might be disappointed that the memoir ends just when Sting's fame and success began, but, for my part, I loved the focus and appreciated learning about Sting before he was a star.

Recommended for fans of The Police and those who appreciate a good memoir.

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