Peter Gabriel, who hasn't released a new record in over 20 years, has been really trying my patience by prolonging the process even further and releasing just one song a month for 12 months until the new album "i/o" is finally set free. I've mostly avoided it all. I don't like this process at all. One single ahead of time is fine. Not 12. This is not a preview. It's a pre-ruining of the album proper. I want it all at once, sequenced, as a whole.
That said, I couldn't resist listening to "Road Of Joy." I'm a long time fan, and I needed to hear what Gabriel has been up to for the last two decades. I am happy to say, it sounds like Peter Gabriel, with a touch of "Sledgehammer" and a sprinkling of "Games Without Frontiers." That's not a bad thing, though one would think rewriting two of your hits would take 20 minutes not years.
But I am not here to rag on Mr. Gabriel. He's been an artist I have respected for years, both with and without Genesis, and I do sincerely dig this new track. But, COME ON already! We ain't getting any younger! Put the damn record out so you can get the follow-up out on your 92nd birthday.
19 comments:
Surely the timescale upon which Gabriel works is of his own choosing. He is entitled to work at the pace he chooses. Nobody, but nobody has a right to criticise or question what he does and when he does it.
I suggest Sal Nunziato, whomsoever he be, gets a life.
Man From Mordor.
Hahahahahaha!
I suggest you get a sense of humor.
He's not just putting out a song a month -- he's putting out multiple mixes of each. Which suggests to be that he *still* can't make a decision.
I'd like it faster, too, but I'm enjoying the singles I have heard. I made a playlist of these so it is simple listening.
I had the pleasure of seeing Peter and his fantastic band last week. Old faithfuls Tony Levin, Manu Katche, and David Rhodes are still there, along with 5 others (guitar, keyboards, horns, cello/vocals, violin/vocals).
While my seat wasn't in the ideal location (on the side, with the video aspects mostly facing front), the sound and performance were superb. Peter can still sing well, though some of the higher notes are handled by his backing singers. Having a front line all with bald heads doing dance routines was a hoot. Almost 2.5 hours of performance. If you haven't done so already, get your tickets! Happy to be proved wrong, but I expect this is his last tour.
- Paul in DK
I like this new song, Road to Joy.
And while I may not love the release of a new song every month, it's something. Meanwhile, Robert Smith has been promising to release the new Cure album any day now. And it's been 15 years since their last album. He must have read Kurt Wallinger's playbook.
Surely the humor with which Nunziato works is of his own choosing. He is entitled to write in the method he chooses. Nobody, but nobody has a right to criticise or question what he does and when he does it.
I suggest Man from Mordor, whomsoever he be, gets a life.
C in California
I actually like the slow pace ... it's made me focus on each song. I might feel differently if Dylan did this because I treasure him more than Peter Gabriel ... but I'm cool with the Gabriel approach. It kind of reminds me of Marshall Crenshaw's EP series a few years ago ... altho' I realize we got like 3 new songs plus a cover or 2 each time, so it wasn't so prolonged.
Noel,
The Crenshaw approach was brilliant and completely different.
It was a new purchasable E.P. featuring a new song, a cover and a rarity, totalling six 10" E.P.'s. Each was self-contained. There was no full length scheduled to include ANY of those 18 tracks.
I agree with you. I think I spoke to you about it earlier. Letting out too much ahead of time does ruin the album experience. I got sucked in when he first released Panopticom and I had to listen to everything since then. I would rather get surprised all at once. The good news is that I've liked everything he's released so far. I imagine he'll be releasing 3 versions of the album. Why else would he create the separate mixes for each song. Realy looking forward to getting the vinyl but by the time the album comes out I will have heard it all and it'll be old news.
To Man from Mordor: Chill..
Wasn't Mordor destroyed after Frodo destroyed the Ring? Be gone, Man from Mordor! And laugh a little!
I like this song - and you described it perfectly!
Life is far too serious for such flippancy as laughing.
If I'm getting an album, I want an album. I too feel that teasing out a song a month is less fun. I listened to one of the tracks and absolutely loved it (no idea which) and that made me more determined to wait. I suppose John Oates is just putting out songs, rather than teasing an album proper, so that's different. And hey, bands in the 1950s and earlier all put out songs and eps and songs and so on with nary a thought of an album. But if it stimulates Gabriel and keeps him on schedule, I guess it's better than no album at all!
"The world is too serious. To get mad at a work of art — because maybe somebody, somewhere is blowing his stack over what I’ve done — is like getting mad at a hot fudge sundae."
--Kurt Vonnegut
Really dig new song. Best of the bunch yet. Mite be for me cause I saw Eno is the producer of said song. Sure hope an expanded album will include all the various mixes.
Didn't Todd do this with One Long Year?
Randy
Randy,
I think the difference is, Todd didn't announce a new record. There was no fanfare. It began as a subscription for individual songs, and then a CD was released months later. The tracks on "One Long Year" are all over the place, from demos that were recorded years prior to newer experiments.
Point well taken...
That being said, c'mon Pete, give us a fucking release date fer cryin' out loud.
Randy
Hey, I'm just happy to finally hear new stuff from Peter Gabriel after all these years. And I have my ticket in hand for his L.A. date. Can't wait!
Goo song! And yeah, what took so long? No, seriously... what?
Post a Comment