The Soul Cages - Sting (CD 1991)

The Soul Cages is a complex and engaging concept album. Sting wrote the songs as part of the grieving process after the death of his father. However, it is not merely therapy. The album is an intricate work of art of the highest order. Not only is Sting a poet and a great vocalist, he is a musician of the highest caliber. I would go so far as to say that he is one of the greatest artist to work in the field of music in the last hundred years. He is in a league occupied by a mere handful of artists such as Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and U2. If you think that sounds like a lofty claim, spend some serious time with The Soul Cages.

One of the many great things about this album is the sound quality. I first listened to this album in the dark with my father - it was quite an experience. The instruments jump out at you from all corners of the room.

The album begins with some haunting pipes (Northumbrian I believe) as Sting sings a mournful song about a Newcastle shipbuilder who dies in an industrial accident. It's really a folk song. The themes of death and father/son relationships are immediately delved into.

All This Time follows, the best-known song on the album, with an upbeat tempo and some great lyrics about religion - "Father if Jesus exists then how come he never lived here?"

Even though The Soul Cages is essentially a theme/concept album, it has quite a variety of musical styles. The title track is a straight up rock song with a killer riff, and elsewhere there is jazz, folk and touches of classical.

Mad About You is perhaps Sting's greatest song. In it he retells the story of David and Bathsheba to a gorgeous, catchy pop tune.

The closing song, When Angels Fall, is a peaceful, soothing piece that ends with Sting whispering "goodnight." A fitting farewell to his father.