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Scratch My Back
Participated by Peter Gabriel
Studio : EMI Label Services
by EMI Label Services
Release Date : 2010-03-02
Publisher : EMI Label Services
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 0180030000185
UPC : 180030000185
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 108 reviews)
List Price : $19.98
Our Price : $12.98
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Product Description |
Peter Gabriel s Scratch My Back album project is the first part of a series of song
exchanges in which Gabriel and other leading artists reinterpret each other s songs.
To help craft his recording of the album s eclectic array of cult favorites and classic
tracks, Gabriel enlisted former Durutti Column member John Metcalfe, composer,
arranger and the expertise of producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd s The Wall , Lou
Reed s Berlin ) and engineer, mixer and producer Tchad Blake (Suzanne Vega,
Sheryl Crow, Tom Waits).
Gabriel describes this as a very personal record with twelve songs performed only
with orchestral instruments and voice. He made the choice not to include guitar or
drums. The album s richly diverse sounds include the sparse romance of Lou Reed s
The Power of the Heart , the powerful musical journey of David Bowie s Heroes
and an epic arrangement of Arcade Fire s My Body Is A Cage. Gabriel and his
collaborators recorded the album at George Martin s Air Lyndhurst Studios and the
Real World Temple with further editing and mixing at his own Real Worlds Studio in
Wiltshire. The Scratch My Back release is one of the most creative and engaging
records from an iconic artist in a long time. The marketing focus is to penetrate
Peter Gabriel s core fan base as well as fans of all genres and in all demographics
given the scope of artists being covered as well as its depth of composition. |
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Surprisingly Disappointing |
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I am a fan of Peter Gabriel so bought the special edition, which has 4 additional songs. I was quite disappointed in this work. His renditions are dreary and depressing and not in an interesting way either. I really expected a much better interpretation of these songs. I highly recommend trying to listen to this online before you buy it. Had I done so, I wouldn't have bought it. |
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Genius. Pure Genius. |
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Peter Gabriel doesn't release music very often, but when he does it's usually the greatest thing anyone has ever heard. This is definitely true with his 2010 offering, "Scratch My Back". Covering such artists as Regina Spektor, Arcade Fire and Radiohead, Peter Gabriel has thrown out all of the usual rock instruments and limited the arrangements to mostly strings, piano and vocal. Such an arrangement elevates several already brilliant songs to a higher level, and it takes other songs (such as Paul Simon's "Boy In The Bubble") that were virtually unlistenable when performed by the original artists and completely transforms them into a vulnerable, naked and emotional stroke of unparalleled genius. You need to get this album. Pronto. Don't wait. Act now. |
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Absolutely luv it.l... |
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I am a huge Peter Gabriel so maybe I am a tad biased. I luv this based on the fact he puts his own twist on these songs...in his own unique Peter Gabriel way. Didnt know if I would like the orchestrated part...but I luv it!! I cant wait for the followup.... |
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A guilty pleasure for us intellectual minds.... |
You know, as I'm listening to "The power of the heart", I was reading a review on here, and when the reviewer said about this album ".... it stares uncomfortably at you" it hit home.
As I'm writing, it is my first time listening to this album, and as I'm approaching "My body is a cage", I already love this album, just because I've been a fan of Gabriel for about 30 years, and because I deeply know where he's going with this project. I won't hide the fact that I've read many comments of these songs on YouTube, and the vast majority of people on YouTube prefer the original versions of the songs, especially Arcade Fire (I saw comments like "Awww, they soooo cute!"), but it's sad, at the same time, to aknowledge that the vast majority of people do not possess the intellect to be able to comprehend the vast music and lyrics dictionary available to us humans, which Gabriel has mastered himself, and is trying to communicate to humankind.
As a northern Italian myself, I dare comparing Gabriel's knowledge of lyrics and music, to Dante Alighieri in the 1400s.
Can Peter Gabriel be considered the Dante of our time?
Can Peter Gabriel speak to our deepest feelings?
Can Peter Gabriel make us cry?
Can Peter Gabriel express such complex ideas and concepts, with such poetic and musical ease?
Can Peter Gabriel interpret other people's songs and make them his own?
I use this album as evidence for all of the above, but it has been widely demonstrated that not everyone is capable of comprehending Gabriel, hence the title of my review. |
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A Grower |
Although somewhat of a departure for Peter Gabriel, a sparse covers album, this is another collect that grows with every listen. Many of the tracks are challenging if you are familiar with the originals, but that is not to say they are bad, just different. These are genuine interpretations. All the arrangements are understated, leaving it to the rich and earthy tones of Gabriel's voice to provide the emotional weight. Personal favourites include "Listening Wind", "Flume" and "The Power of the Heart". Enjoy
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