Sooner or later it happens to every band, however talented or well intentioned: caught with an album due and little or nothing to say. This time it's happened to the Police. Apparently they've been so busy touring out-of-the-way markets (such as India) and coming to grips with the pressures of their sudden worldwide success that their songwriting has suffered. [Zenyatta Mondatta] is padded, thinly produced, and rushed sounding….

Only the British and American singles from this album (Don't Stand So Close and De Do Do Do, respectively) have the sensuous instrumental interplay, melodic grace, and lyrical smarts we have come to expect from the Police. The rest is merely sound effects and aimless riffing. Granted, there are precious few groups, New Wave or otherwise, that can tread water this skillfully, but from these guys one wants something a little more … er, arresting.

Steve Simels, in his review of...