Sting

Who would have guessed that Sting’s most exciting album in years would be a set of orchestral remakes? Symphonicities rocks hard from the outset, with a wallop of cellos and violins replacing the staccato guitars of the early Police song ”˜Next to You.’ The most inspired moments are the whimsical ones: the harp-and-flute intro to ”˜Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,’ the lush treatment of ”˜Roxanne,” and an ”˜Englishman in New York’ that’s more playful than the original. Sting has shown he’s a rocker who knows how to scale up.

Key Tracks: ”˜Next to You,’ ’Englishman in New York’