by Mark Saleski  There was an article out this past week by Steven Hyden at the Onion A.V. website entitled How long does it take to “get” an album? Interesting stuff. I’m not sure I agree with the whole “professional critic” vs. “regular person” deal, but I can see Mr. Hyden’s point when he wonders about the speed at which [...]

Photo from petergabriel.com by Something Else Reviews Anybody who names his first four solo recordings after himself is going to require some deciphering, right? We’re here to help with a five-song spin through Peter Gabriel’s solo career, featuring both charting favorites and a few forgotten gems.             ”HERE COMES THE FLOOD” (PETER GABRIEL 1/CAR, 1977) By Tom Johnson With Gabriel’s first [...]

Face Value is a fulcrum for fans of both Phil Collins and the band he had just begun leading, Genesis. Thought of, if its thought of at all anymore, as a divorce record (thanks to its two hits, “I Missed Again” and “In the Air Tonight”), Face Value is something much different in the listening. Rather than wallowing in what [...]

by Nick DeRiso Densely layered, with an elegant construction, Black Dub doesn’t start out all that much differently from your average recording by uber-hip producer Daniel Lanois. Then something welcomely dangerous, almost feral, happens. Lanois — famous for his work with U2, Bob Dylan and Peter Gabriel, among others — is the first voice you hear, backed by the respected [...]

by Nick DeRiso Peter Gabriel, always one for the theatrical, has begun a suitably elaborate two-part process with “Scratch My Back” — his first new work since 2002′s “Up.” This recording, featuring occasionally over-curated readings of work by others, will be followed by “I’ll Scratch Yours,” a return-the-favor CD that showcases these same artists tackling Gabriel’s catalogue. The guy who [...]

by Nick DeRiso “Us” was a cool blending of Peter Gabriel‘s 1986 hit “So” and “Passion,” his 1989 soundtrack for Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ.” But even though that is certainly welcome, “Us” was no step backward. Save for “Fourteen Black Paintings” — the only song here that touches on Gabriel’s penchant for the political — “Us” finds [...]