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after giving the apple lossless version of SMB a listen - and this is the only way to do it, with headphones - I was struck by how much this sounded like an original PG album. not every track - I still haven't warmed to the Newman cover and book of love - but there are several songs that belong among the canons of PG's best. I was wondering if others felt the same way. 1. My Body. this could have easily fit in on Security. it recalls my favorite Gabriel theme - a man on the outside of civilization, alienated and estranged. and the space in this song - wow. I can only hope that his next studio album is this spare. 2. après moi - my favorite track, this one takes me back to passion, and not just for the gabrielese. the most intuitive, the least rational of all the tracks, it transports me to a foreign, nameless land - much like "passion" on that album. 3. listening wind - Gabriel as interloper. this is "intruder" for the age of terrorism. the arrangement here is brilliant and spot on. 4. flume. the loss and emotion here aligns with themes that run throughout "us". 5. street spirit. Gabriel seems to know that this would piss off radiohead diehards. and the knee-jerk flailing I see from RH fans makes me smile. I'm a huge RH fan - they do alienation like no one else - except PG. and his deconstruction of street spirit is really the only way to do it. he sings it like the final breath of a man who has nothing left. and in this sense, it is evocative of "the drop". "up" is not my favorite PG album, but the drop is a fitting conclusion. Anyhow, these are my thoughts, FWIW. I am so happy at the ambition in SMB, and hope his next album is as adventurous.

Sounds like we have the same favourites. There is such power in songs 1-3 (My Body, Apres Moi, Listening Wind). My first listen was through headphones. I'm curious to know how it sounds with regular speakers. There is such nuance and, at times, subtlety to the orchestration, that I fear that will get lost.

My Body, Apres Moi and Rain Today.

Badwater, Interesting to hear your viesw. I only knew the 1st 3 tracks and Street Spirit before so maybe I'm fresh to most of the tracks and not making comparisons. My Body, Listening Wind and Street Spirit are probably my most repeated listenings. Like you I've heard all the anti sentiment re Street Spirit, but I also think it fits on the album. I like what he's doing with his voice even the off key-ish bits, he seems to be letting the feeling guide him through it somehow. Makes me feel excited for whatever's next in terms of his own songs, but also this album stands on its own merits, for me. MAde me want to go and find the originals too. (On my ipod the next bit of music is Long Walk Home and somehow it works really well after the end of SMB. )

I fezel exactly like badwater ! I love the passion of apres moi, the darkness of my body, the emptiness of street spirit etc. I like a bit less the lou reed track. Fantastic album ! I hope the next pg album will sound as fresh and exciting as this one

I like every track in itself. It's fabulous how Peter managed to reinterpretate others groups songs in so a perfect and personally way and sound version, but at the same time respecting the original tracks. :-] I simply LOVE this album, I believe it's one of the best he made. Don't take me as a fool, :-] but it sounds me like Pyotr Ilic Tchajchovskji's spirit lived again through his music.

Interesting thread,I think that special "Gabriel's way and touch" that there are always in all it does Peter, i find even if he sings the telephone-book :-] This is because,in my opinion of course,the Art comes from himself,even if he sings songs by others artists,he is able to re-painting the songs with the colours of his soul,of his "feeling" with the words,the music of what he is singing. . . . I find something of his solo Albums in some passages of these songs. . . i agree for "My body is a Cage" first,and "Après Mois",but in every songs there is something of Peter. . . . P.s. Ciao Pink Arrow!! Felice di ritrovarti qui!! . . .e ciao Caste naturalmente!! (Hello PinkA. and Caste, i am happy to see you here)

Ciao Dolce Vita! But we know each other, don't we? :-]

. . . . really?

I thought you were an italian fan from the former "Amici di Peter". Sorry if I was wrong! :-]

Oh,no sorry i don't know it,ok,no problem Pink A. i am happy you write here! Hey!! Is it an italian site of Peter? WOW! Sorry for this off-thread,thanks.

It was: the fan club is no longer active. End Off Topic.

From Dolce Vita: "I am happy you write here" I am happy too, that you write in this Forum!

Ohhh i'm sorry for the site! Thank you,we are few italians here,Italy loves Peter for a long long long time . . . . Ok,"Excuse me",End-off-thread :-]