Random reactions to a new abum: (yes, I do this every time a major new release occurs)
Remember a few years back when Weird Al did a song in Peter Gabriel's style called 'Talk Soup'. The catchy chorus was bumpered with long lists of possible guests of sleazy daytime talkshows. I guess PG took note, and parodied Al parodying him with 'The Barry Williams Show'. (Why is he picking on ex Brady Bunch star Barry Williams?) Is this art imitating life, or the other way around?
At any rate, this is the darkest album from Peter since back when he didn't even bother to put two letters together to give his albums a title. The only hint that these dark explorations are contemporary is that Kate Bush cannot be heard backing him up. ;-)
The album cover even hides the title and Real World Stripes, and uses the old peter gabriel font, to make this one feel visually more like the pre "Security" releases. Would Marcos and I call this one 'Out of Focus Droplet Face'? I've got to get a CD copy of 'Freshly Waxed Blue Car on a Rainy Day' now to compare. . .
Perhaps it's just that I'm a sucker for dark psychological explorations set to pop music, but I like it. Worth a ten year wait? I don't know. It'd be nice if he waited a little time in-between albums, but I cannot fault the results exactly. Time is running out if he wants to wait this long for each album though. The pop stars of my youth are getting older. I saw the video for 'Barry Williams' today, and it really shocked me. The lack of genteel hair - the scary devil beard. When EXACTLY did PG become Phil Collins' evil twin? Is this like when Bob Dylan became Vincent Price at last year's Oscars?
Click here to buy Peter Gabriel's Up now.
