#465 Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (I)

I only know a few things about Peter Gabriel. He was once the lead singer for the band Genesis, I didn't really like the one album I reviewed with him as the singer. I know a few of his songs from his mid-80's albums "So" and "Us", he was pretty huge for a couple years. And I know that the lead singer of my favorite band, Blue October, has often mentioned that Peter Gabriel is one of the artists that he loves and counts as a major influence to his music.

I have never heard this album before, but funny enough I have heard 2 of the songs because they are covered by bands I listen to. After a listen I found that, for the most part, I liked it, and I could hear elements in the songs that influenced later artists and sounds. Overall it was a good album.

"Solsbury Hill"

covered by Erasure

"Here Comes the Flood"

covered by Blue October


I know I am biased when it comes to Blue October but the first time I heard this song it became one of my favorite Blue October Songs, which is no small feat, I have a lot of favorites. In my opinion it is way better than the original and by the time the second chorus kicks in with all of Ryan's amazing strings and violin I've got goosebumps. BTW Peter Gabriel says that the lyrics in the song are about a time in the future when the whole world becomes telepathic and we can no longer lie to or keep secrets from each other. The flood is the metal flood of when we all become connected.

"When the night shows
The signals grow on radios
All the strange things
They come and go, as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
Still waiting for the swollen Easter tide
There's no point in direction we cannot
Even choose a side.

I took the old track
The hollow shoulder, across the waters
On the tall cliffs
They were getting older, sons and daughters
The jaded underworld was riding high
Waves of steel hurled metal at the sky
And as the nail sunk in the cloud, the rain
Was warm and soaked the crowd.

Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
In any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.

When the flood calls
You have no home, you have no walls
In the thunder crash
You're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actors gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn, they'll
Use up what we used to be.

Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
In any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry."


Tomorrow's Album #812 Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister