|
Everyone Gabriel-Chung tonite... Peter Gabriel [3] the SUPERGREATALBUMSMITH
Overall Album Score: 9.9 out of 10 Yes, folks, that's a 9.9. A pure, unadulterated 9.9. This is an album that has no parallels, and I won't give it any less credit than it deserves. And ... I'll be pickled with onions before I'd ever give such a brilliant album anything less than a 9.9. This album not only contains a buttload of genuinely engaging atmospheric background snythscapes, but also contains appropriate and interesting melodies. The real kicker, though, is that this is such an emotionally affecting and resonant album. It feels like it's the soundtrack of a person's life who is dealing with estrangement and borderline insanity, yet it's such a beautiful, rich, and accessible album. It's perhaps one of the most essential albums in all rock and roll. It's fun to listen to it casually and it's even more fun when you get yourself more immersed with it. Upon every listen, it slowly reveals more of its beauty and secret. This is certainly worth getting for your collection, to say the least! Nearly every single aspect of every single song is perfection wrapped up into a bundle. Be it the poppy bass-lines, the repetitive and hollow xylophone, the triumphant saxophone, the alarming synthy backdrops ... whoah. Everyone. Must. Listen. To. This. Overall Album Score: 9.9 out of 10 (This is pretty impressive for a Genesis refugee ... but considering basically his only competition is Phil Collins and Mike + the Mechanics, such a distinction doesn't seem to make it that impressive. Nevertheless, this is one of the very very very best albums ever made.) Average Song Score: 9.8 (Every single song on here is perfect ... that is with the exception of the songs that are near-perfect. This is absolutely amazing.) Album Tilt: 10 (It's a superb album ... first in its class. An absolute masterpiece.) Artist Rating: 10 (Verrrrry impressive artistically speaking. Gabriel proves, once and for all, that he is a living, breathing genius.) Track Reviews Intruder 10/10 A wonderful song! Weird sound effects, psychopath xylophones, loud drums, evil sinister vocalizations ... "Intruder" is such a menacing, chilling and tremendously effective song. Not only that, but the melody is pretty catchy, too. I say this is classic Peter Gabriel. No Self-Control 10/10 You'd almost think that Peter Gabriel was nutzo or something. Another utterly psychopath song. This sounds a bit more like a regular 80s pop song, except this is artistically valid. The melody is very good and the instrumentals are even better. This is another resonant, chilling masterpiece from Gabriel de Peterre. Start 9.5/10 A nice jazzy saxophone (which is always nice) amidst a sinister background synth soundscape. It sounds dark yet hopeful. Uhh... That's all there is to this one. It's very short. Yup. I Don't Remember 10/10 Peter Gabriel is just too awesome. Not only is this song totally the best when it comes to melody and instrumentation, but he's got this very cool deep bass-line going throughout it. If all else is cool, you can make it even cooler with a deep bass-line. Family Snapshots 10/10 I really really like that saxophone. It's just perfect in these songs. Not only that, but ... dudes ... isn't this song, again, just the coolest thing ever to exist? I can't hold anything against this utterly stellar song that is not only catchy, but it's chock filled with emotion and resonance. Another masterpiece. And Through the Wire 9.5/10 Another splendid song ... but where's the saxophone? ... It's got a nice deep bass tune in it, and that's what makes it cool. And it has emotions and a good tune as well. Games Without Frontiers 9.5/10 This song doesn't have a neat, deep-pounding, techno-esque deep bass-line or a butt-kickingly sweet saxophone, but what it does have is whistling. You know, the nice "Hi Ho It's Off To Work We Go" type whistling. And it has some nice synths, too. The melody, again, is great, and ... Man! So many great songs! Peter Gabriel finally makes a name for himself. ... for, like, the fifth time. Not One of Us 9/10 This is *not* "One of Us" by ABBA. This is "Not One of Us" by Peter Gabriel. Sorry about the mere song score of a 9. I still think it's cool, and I'd be willing to sacrifice my firstborn to it any day of the weekside. Lead a Normal Life 10/10 Gabriel sure does a terrific job of setting up a general mood for this album. We get the psychopathic (in a monotonous sort of way) amidst more atmospheric synths. For the first minute and a half (and most of the rest of it), there's no words to this song, but perhaps that makes it even better as we're left to soak up the beautiful and emotional mood of it. Gabriel is in top form, once again. Biko 10/10 All good things must come to an end (that said, all bad things must come to an end as well). Here, Gabriel goes all world-music on us. Giving this a sort of African tribal feel (with some African-choral style singing) and, oddly enough, bagpipes. A very interesting and alluring combination, indeed. This song is also highly entertaining in its aesthetic sense. Gabriel is the freaking awesomest of all awesome guys. Everyone! Come far and wide to tell the world how awesome you think this album is here!! slb23@shaw.ca (Simon B.) received Nov. 26, 2004 First I'd like to say Well done and congrads for the truly
excellent rating!
This record was my first experience with Peter Gabriel, way back around
1996 (when I was about 12 or 13). (this started my interest in Genesis
too, beginning around 1998). I thought it was the weirdest, creepiest
record I ever listened to, and the cover fascinated me.
This is the record for which Phil Collins (who played drums on most of
the tracks) and Pete created the 'gated' drum sound for which Phil
would milk for all its worth in the early 80's. They also took away the
cymbals from the drum kit (and/or replaced them with more drums) creating
a unique sound (best examples: "No Self Control" and the end of "Not
One of Us").
There is a somewhat famous story about how the record company that Pete
was signed to refused to release this record, and asked him if he had a
history of mental illness!
Truly one of the best albums of the 80's or the last 20 years, and
surely one of the most innovative as well.
|
All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. His head is made out of anvils.
