Featured Fan: Roger "Joe" Cloud (JoeShiner)

Name: Roger "Joe" Cloud

Username: JoeShiner

Location: Huntsville, AL.

Been a fan since: The beginning.

Favourite Sting song: 'The Wild Wild Sea'.

Favourite Police song:

Favourite Sting album: 'The Soul Cages', hands down.

Favourite Police album: 'Synchronicity'.

Most memorable concert: US Festival.

Other favourite bands: Posies, Cocteau Twins, Peter Gabriel.

In your own words: I feel most compelled to comment on The Soul Cages album. I was stunned when it received something of a critical drubbing because I consider it to be a stone masterpiece. Perhaps it's because I much more greatly appreciate lyrics with depth and gravitas, dealing with more compelling topics. It is also the most intriguing album from a musical viewpoint – and I especially appreciate Dominic Miller's guitar work. It reminds me of the taste that Pete Kleinow used to put into his pedal steel playing (yes, even with the fuzztone effect which Elvis Costello seems to denigrate and I love). I would rather hear Miller play with the sumptuousness that he puts into his work than any multi-note noodling. Overall, however, it's Stings mastery that makes it all work. I hope he appreciates that for every artist of his caliber, there are hundreds of others whose fortunes haven't been as great as his. "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen and wastes its sweetness upon the desert air.”