I know that people may not agree that this is Stings best album. He does have other good albums with some very good tracks that I love, but none are wholistically good. The Soul Cages is. Track after track it fits together though the songs vary in style, of course. All songs sound good. This is not a piecemeal album by any means. It is one of those rare albums in which every song sounds good.
A classic departure from POlice work but just as powerful. Insightful and peaceful musically and lyrically.. It seems to be less popular than other works he has done, but it is the type of record that takes you by surprise like a "Mercury Falling", and can listen to repeatedly.
A lot of Sting's music steers away from the quality of Fields of Gold (a popular hit), and leans towards an adult style of music that muses over philosophical and metaphysical issues. Soul Cages does not echo Sting's Police days, neither does it reflect the popular tunes that we hear on the radio. This is an album that leans towards Sting's jazz preferences and as such is suitable for the discerning adult listener.