Peter Gabriel
Scratch My Back

Campus Correspondent Review By Billy Sparks,
College of DuPage

The length between Peter Gabriel albums continues to grow increasingly long, but they’re always worth the wait thanks to his insistence on experimentation and reinvention with every effort. Though his first long player in eight years is a covers project, it once again defies convention by spiking guitars, drums and traditional rock band instruments in favor of just orchestral accompaniment, in turn, becoming one of his most epic and beautiful albums to date.

As for the track listing, expect a mixture of already certified classics with indie staples of today, starting with a haunting but gorgeous version of David Bowie’s “Heroes,” followed by a ballad rendition of Paul Simon’s “The Boy In the Bubble.” Gabriel also touches upon Elbow’s “Mirrorball,” which recalls his own “San Jacinto,” and the Arcade Fire’s “My Body Is a Cage” as a hushed, stripped down dirge that eventually explodes with orchestral grandeur. Along with choice takes on Radiohead’s “Sweet Spirit (Fade Out),” Bon Iver’s “Flume” and Lou Reed’s “The Power of the Heart,” plus four bonus remixes/outtakes on the deluxe edition, Gabriel’s more than granted fans plenty to fawn over until his next trip to the studio.