Peter Gabriel

Us

Don't be fooled. It's as strong - maybe stronger - than "So"

Review Score:

(10/10)
Yes, it's true. "Us," for the most part, lacks songs like the radio-conscience-but-still-good "Sledgehammer," but that's the appeal and magic. I bought this disc in 1998 and was surprised that people were so hard on "Us" when it premiered in 1992. I like the darker, dirtier and less-poppy production that emerges from the speakers when "Us" plays. "So" is a great album, but I wouldn't say songs like "Big Time" are definitive Gabriel material. "Us" has songs that are more in the "Melting Face" style of Peter's work. The moody, soul-searching of "Secret World," the soothing melody of "Blood of Eden," the bagpipe-driven "Come Talk To Me" and the gritty, sinister-sounding "Digging In The Dirt" are first-rate tracks. Don't be fooled by the allegations that the former Genesis singer was uninspired when the studio tapes rolled during the recording of "Us." Gabriel's vocals on the LP expose his wide range of emotions and thoughts like a raw nerve. It's a wonderful album that holds up so much better in sound and content than Nirvana's "Nevermind," which came out the same year. Put "Sledgehammer" out of your mind, sit down and give "Us" a spin. It's the very least this excellent document of Gabriel's heartbreak and eventual, fearful recovery from spiritual loss deserves. Those who have ever gone through a divorce - Gabriel did during the writing of the CD - will know exactly where's he coming from.

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