Up [Enhanced]

 

 

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This is a difficult album to listen to. It is dark, filled with images of death, despair and alienation. "Up" starts off with "Darkness" and concludes with "The Drop," which describes people as they plummet through the sky (and "nowhere to go but down"). "No Way Out" describes what almost sounds like a murder of a friend. The Blind Boys of Alabama add mournful harmonies to "Sky Blue"; Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan wails painfully throughout "Signal To Noise." The final line on "Up" is "I wonder where thay are falling to." And to make sure that you know that this CD is not a party disc, the strongest song here is a cheerful ditty called "I Grieve." Yes, after over a decade of waiting, Peter Gabriel has returned with an album that turns itself inward so intensely that you begin to wonder if he hasn't been spending a little too much time with Nine Inch Nails' "The Fragile."

The NIN connection starts with "Darkness," which softly bubbles at the beginning of "Up" before exploding in a distorted rage of loud guitar chords and heavily treated percussion and drums. The industrial crunch then gives way to a whispered "every fear I swallow makes me small...alarms are triggered, memories stir." Peter then discourses with himself over a litany of phobias and the admission that "I have my fears, but they do not have me."

It doesn't get much brighter than this. With the exception of a semi biographical "Growing Up," and the demonically satirical pop number "The Barry Williams Show," the sound of "Up" rarely veers away from the sounds of men in mid-life agony. "Barry Williams" is still an ugly listen, it shreds the worst aspects of shock TV with a cast of child molesters, wife beaters, prostitutes and the host who allows that "dysfunction and excess is all it took for my success."

This CD is kind of like being given access to a display of an open wound. You want to turn away but remain glued to the stereo by the macabre fascination. There comes a time when you hope for redemption, but even as Peter talks about the little noises in his brain ("My Head Sounds Like That"), the beauty of the horns and piano can't disguise the pain. The closest we get is in "More Than This," where at least Peter admits that he's looking to see if there is "something out there" worth looking for.

This would all be depressing hogwash if were not for the fact that Peter Gabriel is the undisputed master of magnifying his dread into art. With "Up," he has accomplished what few of his peers, save David Bowie or U2 have managed, and that is to carry it into maturity. It may scare away a few of the MTV generation weaned on "Sledgehammer," but if you're prepared to stare into Gabriel's heart of darkness, then "Up" will make for a very happy downer.

Entering the age of "alternative", Peter Gabriel should be on familiar ground. From his days as Genesis' flamboyant frontman, right through to his latest solo release, Peter Gabriel has always "pushed the envelope". This release, really, is no different.

This record, like much of Gabriel's material, is very dark. From the lead track, appropriately titled "Darkness", we dive into the abyss. Ironically, this is the appeal of Gabriel's work. There is no contemporary artist, that does somber and melancholy, quite like Peter Gabriel. He is the master of this mood music. Yes, you will occasionally get songs such as "Sledgehammer" or "Steam" from him, but this upbeat pop style is scarce. On this release he sticks to what, I believe, comes naturally for him....darkness.
This is a record you must spend time with. It is a slow moving journey that never hits top speed. Most of these songs are for a rainy day, with no umbrella. As usual, Gabriel incorporates some great drum rhythms, and some great vocal stylings; the highlight of these vocal stylings coming on "Signal To Noise", where he displays tremendous vocal flexibility with some East Indian/Hindu bantering. Like I said, he pushes the envelope. Almost every track has something interesting or progressive contained within it. This is not a radio friendly record like the "So" record was. This is a dark record that, at times, borders on being World Music.

Leading the record off with "Darkness", it is somewhat reminiscent of the 1980 release. "Darkness", which is very similar to "Intruder", the lead off track on the '80 lp, has bursts of noise, times of tenderness, and some interesting vocal distortion. Very dark stuff. With other tracks such as the monotonous "I Grieve", or the almost silent "The Drop", "Darkness" fits very well on this record. The only upbeat tracks, arguably, are "Growing Up" and "The Barry Williams Show". These tracks are a welcome diversion from the brooding that takes place on the rest of the record. So, with all this darkness, was this a record I liked? Well, yes and no.
This is not a record that I will listen to constantly. You don't "groove" to this record. You don't "jam" with this record. You just sit with this record. You have to let Mr. Gabriel get inside of you, and speak to you on a whole other level. Am I always opened to this method of listening? Of course not. Who is?! This is a good record for "that certain mood", but for everyday casual listening....no. This is typical, modern day, Peter Gabriel.

It is very difficult to rate a record such as this. It's got talent, and things of interest all over it; it's just not a catchy, fun, and immediately accessible release. Many of these songs run past the six-minute mark, and would be much more appealing at the four-and-a-half-minute mark. I admire Peter Gabriel for his wealth of talent, and his thirst for something different. With all of that said...

OVERALL RATING: 5
For more Dr. Music reviews, visit www.new-sounds.com/DrMusic

Fascinating and brilliant. The music feels surreal. I particularly like to discover the light and hope in much of the dark moments. Take your time to enjoy this over and over again.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing more to say...
Pure genius, everything I've heard from him is masterful. My only problem is deciding which I like more "UP" or "SO". Absolute undeniable musical genius.

Published on July 12 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars hits
Theres no hits coming from Up but the album definatly hits. Its a testiment to Gabriel that hes made one of his least commercial solo albums. Lisez davantage

Published on Jun 19 2004 by Brian Ogilby

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable
With 354 reviews already available for you to choose from, it hardly seems worth adding to the chorus... Lisez davantage

Published on Jun 4 2004 by Ethan Straffin

3.0 out of 5 stars Great SACD sound but few good songs .
I'm a Peter Gabriel fan and as such I was quite dissipointed in the Bands latest selections on the Album "Up".. Lisez davantage

Published on May 25 2004 by harold erickson

3.0 out of 5 stars slight disappointment, but still good
I'm a huge Gabriel fan. If there's a tape of him singing "Happy Birthday," I would buy it. His voice is incomparable. Lisez davantage

Published on May 16 2004 by brian phillips

5.0 out of 5 stars This album is a battle...
This album is a battle. There is loss. There is exhiliration. There is tragedy. And at the end there is peace.

When I first bought this album, ecstatic that Mr. Lisez davantage

Published on April 23 2004 by Aaron Craig

2.0 out of 5 stars up's a downer
The first time I listened to this album I was excited that Peter Gabriel had finally put out something new and I had no pre-conceived notions about what this album should sound... Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 12 2004 by allismile0

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
This is one of Gabriel's finest. I do sense a return to some of his early roots, but don't believe that he has abandoned the styles that made "So" and "Us"... Lisez davantage

Published on Feb 25 2004 by William J. Hardy

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, another 5 star review!
Like many people have stated in their reviews of this CD, it took me a while to get into it. I actually bought it when it first came out, couldn't really get into it, so I sold... Lisez davantage

Published on Feb 17 2004 by Bob Rosser

5.0 out of 5 stars Up - Simply, YES!
Peter Gabriel is back with what could be described as part "Us" and part Bowie's "Outside". Atmosperic, dramatic, melodic, textural. Nothing is overlooked. Lisez davantage

Published on Feb 8 2004 by Dave Larkin

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