Peter Gabriel

Us

Sometimes it's worth kissing some frogs..

Review Score:

(10/10)
It couldn't have been easy to make an album, a whole song cycle centering around relationships, and not sound like it's simply repeating what hundreds of others have already said on the subject. Fortunately for us, Peter Gabriel just happens to be one of the most original and talented artists alive. The result is a work that's exotic and intimate, far-reaching and yet intensely personal. Also (as is usual for Peter) it's impeccably produced and consistent; an album that is more an overall listening experience than a simple batch of songs. Chances are we won't get to hear another such treat for the soul until the release of Up.. if we're still alive by then.

As others have said, this album can be seen as a blending of So and Passion.. and maybe a little Security, though it's not nearly as dark. This is an album that stays with you and grows with you through your own relationships. With "Kiss That Frog" Peter gives a worthwhile message inside a batch of double meanings. With "Fourteen Black Paintings" he gives a more thought-provoking statement in just five lines. Ignore the critic who dismisses the sound as 'So-lite;' he's missing the point. Ignore the reviews that label "Steam" as simply a followup to "Sledgehammer." There's a lot to find here. The true depth and meaning of Us depends on how far you're willing to look.

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