There's a lot to listen to in this 10 cut debut from one of the new wave's more listenable trios, including the reggae-tinged lead cut, "Roxanne," which deals with prostitution in a poignant way. The music is straight-forward rock for the most part, with low-key melodies supporting strong lyrics and a definite beat. A band to watch. Best cuts: "Roxanne," "Born In The 50's," "Can't Stand Losing You," "So Lonely."

- Billboard, 1979.

Bonus Reviews!

Tuneful, straight-ahead rock and roll is my favorite form of mindlessness, and almost all of these songs -- riffs-with-lyrics, really -- make the cretin in me hop. But only "Can't Stand Losing You" makes him jump up and down. And the "satiric" soliloquy to an inflatable bedmate makes him push reject.B+

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

The Police's debut album had just the right amount of rawness to balance a rapidly developing slick presentation. Sting in particular seems not to even care about his throat and screams through tracks like "So Lonely" without a trace of inhibition. A low budget production, the recording was financed by the band themselves.

Made at Surrey Studios, the recording is a bit "wooffy" with drum and bass mingled and a little confused. This is probably due to the equalisation used for CD mastering which has "lifted" the bass frequencies. Cymbals sound is very swishy and decidedly odd in the opening track with the extra treble energy available from CD. Vocals have more impact from LP though since they are more forward in the absence of the bass and treble extension of CD. Annunciation is clearer from CD however.

A very grainy hiss is present on CD but at very low levels.

- David Prakel, Rock 'n' Roll on Compact Disc, 1987.

The Police's first album, although fairly rough, is still an impressive first effort. Although "Can't Stand Losing You" was their first hit (it made the Top 50), the best-known track on this album is definitely "Roxanne," still a favorite among college-radio stations. The influence of the punk era on this album is evident, as is bass player Sting's jazz background. A great deal of fun. * * * *

- Iotis Erlewine, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

Super songs and an enthusiastic freshness are the hallmarks of this compelling debut by the best trio ever, truly original thinkers and musicians whose merger of styles (reggae, punk, rock) hints at future greatness years before Sting became a New Age guru. Bursting with energy, songs like "Roxanne" and "Can't Stand Losing You" proved hugely influential and can still be heard in movies, TV and rap samples today. * * * *

- Zagat Survey Music Guide - 1,000 Top Albums of All Time, 2003.

They would get bigger, but they never sounded fresher. The Police were punks who could play their instruments, absorbing reggae into the spare, bouncy sound of their debut album. "Roxanne," "Next to You" and "So Lonely" proved that Sting was already a top-notch pop songwriter.

Outlandos d'Amour was chosen as the 434th greatest album of all time by the editors of Rolling Stone magazine in Dec. 2003.

- Rolling Stone, 12/11/03.

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