petergabriel.com

Hello all, I can't seem to find the thread that collects all the SMB reviews, so I'm posting a thread linking to the review I wrote for "Goldmine." Some context: I have been writing for "Goldmine" on and off since 1995. I am a hardcore PG fan with all his albums on CD and vinyl, plus an array of singles and concerts (the same can be said for his Genesis years). I started collecting his music when I was 12, when Security had just come out. I would call him my favorite singer second to David Bowie (yes, shame on him for not scratching PG's back in return). That said, I think SMB his Gabriel's weakest album I have heard. Do not throw stones at me, I love him and his music dearly. You can find the original Goldmine review here: http://media2.fwpublications.com/GMN/GM20100507.pdf It's the complete issue in pdf format. Just search for my last name "Morgenstern" in the document and you will come to the review. Next, and most important, you can find my whole rationalization for SMB's weakness (to these ears- it comes down to one man's opinion, after all, but also a big PG fan who happens to be a music critic) in my blog here: http://indieethos.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/gabriel-highlights-lyrics-in-the-gloom-of-scratch-my-back/ I do appreciate any comments (on my blog or here).

I read the review in GM (congrats for writing on such a prestigious magazine BTW) and doesn't seem so negative as you say here = you're not totally wrong after all! :-] As for the blog entry (extended version? :-]), it looks fine to me: the only issue I have is when you say that this album is "no fun to listen to". I don't know why it should be. . .

Yes, it is like an extended version of my GM review. I've always written long reviews and whittled down from there. Now, with blogging ,I have some place to smooth out my thoughts and present them. I appreciate the support, as I really read some fanatical favoritism for the thing on these boards (and why shouldn't there be as a fan board). I just felt I was being harsh on one of my favorite artists (still is) as this is the album I have least enjoyed by him. I used to say he couldn't do any wrong, he so exacting in his process and delivers on his work, never doing anything half-assed. I do not think he's done that here either, it's just the inherit limits of the instrumentation that fails to deliver for me. It's just kind of dull, hence not so fun.