Peter Gabriel

Us

Emotional landscapes and ethnic rhythms in one single album

Review Score:

(10/10)
Peter Gabriel is one of those strange singers that can be in the mainstream and in the avant-garde at the same time. His secret seems to be simple: he is not impressed by the commercial success that he got with So. But also, he decided to play the mainstream game... but with his own rules.

Us is a true landmark in his career. Though (let's face it!) it is a combination between Passion and Us, this is a much darker record than So, but also, it is a signal that Gabriel did not want to follow Phil Collins' steps. Experimentation is still the mark in Gabriel's music.

Being Peter Gabriel's most emotional and personal album, it is not easy to understand at first sigh. However, nobody I know has qualified this masterpiece (sometimes underrated, but masterpiece. Not in a musical, but in an emotional way) as his worst album.

Though this album has its happy moments (like the hit --and only 'mistake' in the record-- Steam, and Kiss that Frog), Us is mostly about love, anger, loss, spirituality and vague hope, but never as sharply treated as , say, Nick Cave or P.J. Harvey, which is an indication of Peter Gabriel's individual mark.

Since this album, Gabriel decided to get semi-retired of making records. Though he's currently making up, he is taking his time. Take all your time Peter. Hope you offer your very best album next.

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