Peter Gabriel Retrospective: Album 02- Peter Gabriel (Scratch)

 

Next up is the second solo album by Peter Gabriel...

Album:  Peter Gabriel (scratch)

Year Released:    1978

Lineup (numbers are the tracks on the album):  

• Peter Gabriel – vocals; Hammond organ on 11; piano on 2; synthesizer on 5, 7
• Robert Fripp – electric guitar on 1, 3, 5, 10; acoustic guitar on 5; Frippertronics on 8
• Tony Levin – bass guitar on 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11; Chapman stick on 2, 4, 9; string bass on 6; recorder arrangements on 6, 9; backing vocals on 1, 4, 7, 10, 11
• Roy Bittan – keyboards on 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11
• Larry Fast – synthesizer, treatments on 1, 2, 5, 7, 10
• Jerry Marotta – drums on all except 3; backing vocals on 1, 4, 10, 11
• Sid McGinnis – electric guitar on 1, 4, 8–11; acoustic guitar on 2, 3; steel guitar on 3–5, 6, 9, 11; mandolin on 2; backing vocals on 7
• Bayeté (Todd Cochran) – keyboards on 2, 4, 6, 7
• Tim Cappello – saxophone on 10, 11
• George Marge – recorder on 6, 8, 9
• John Tims – insects on 3

Overall Thoughts:

Immediately after the tour of his first album, Peter Gabriel started work on his second album.  Like his first album, it was also self titled, but it's commonly referred to as the 'Scratch' album, based on the album's cover picture.

Like his first album (the 'Car' album), Gabriel is all over the place, both musically and lyrically.  "On the Air" is about a character (Mozo) who can only affect the world by broadcasting over radio, "D.I.Y." is a musical rant about self-reliance, "Indigo" is about coming to terms with dying, "A Wonderful Day in a One-Way World" is about... actually, I have no idea on this one.  There's seems to be a theme about critcizing consumer culture, but it's so esoteric that I'm treating all of the songs individually.

It also ends on a rather depressing song ("Home Sweet Home"), which brings down the entire album.  Nothing stands out as good, and the last song drops it below even mediocre.

Having listened to this album, it's not one I enjoyed.

  

Ranking of Peter Gabriel Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Peter Gabriel (Car)
2. Peter Gabriel (Scratch)

Top 10 Peter Gabriel Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "Solsbury Hill", Peter Gabriel (Car)
2. "Here Comes the Flood", Peter Gabriel (Car)
3. "Waiting for the Big One", Peter Gabriel (Car)
4. "Moribund the Burgermeister", Peter Gabriel (Car)
5. "Humdrum", Peter Gabriel (Car)
6. "White Shadow", Peter Gabriel (Scratch)
7. "Mother of Violence", Peter Gabriel (Scratch)
8. "Down the Dolce Vita", Peter Gabriel (Car)
9. "Indigo", Peter Gabriel (Scratch)
10. "Animal Magic", Peter Gabriel (Scratch)

Peter Gabriel Retrospective: Album 01- Peter Gabriel (car)

 

Starting a new retrospective on another musical artist that I've listened to almost all of the albums- Peter Gabriel.

Album:  Peter Gabriel (car)

Year Released:    1977

Lineup:  

• Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, keyboards, flute, recorder
• Robert Fripp – electric guitar, classical guitar, banjo on "Excuse Me"
• Steve Hunter – acoustic guitar on "Solsbury Hill", "Slowburn" and "Waiting for the Big One"; electric guitar, electric rhythm guitar, pedal steel
• Dick Wagner – backing vocals, electric guitar on "Here Comes the Flood"
• Tony Levin – bass guitar, tuba, leader of the Barbershop Quartet on "Excuse Me"
• Jozef Chirowski – keyboards, additional vocals on "Excuse Me"
• Larry Fast – synthesizer, programming
• Allan Schwartzberg – drums, phone directory
• Jimmy Maelen – percussion, synthibam, bones, additional vocals on "Excuse Me"
• London Symphony Orchestra – strings on "Down the Dolce Vita" and "Here Comes the Flood"
• Michael Gibbs – orchestral arrangement

Overall Thoughts:

In August of 1975, Peter Gabriel announced that he was leaving the band Genesis, which he helped created in 1967 and was the lead singer for six albums.  He left for a combination of musical differences with the rest of the band and a desire to spend more time with his family.  Eighteen months later, he released his first solo album.  

Gabriel's first four solo albums are untitled.  His first album is referred to as the 'Car' album because the cover is a picture of Gabriel seated in a car.  

The ablum leads off the "Moribund the Burgermeister", a song about Saint Vitus' Dance, and is very much a prog rock song.  The second song, "Solsbury Hill", is much less prog rock and is much more radio friendly.  The entire album is a weird mix of styles.  "Excuse Me" sounds like it should be from the 90's- the 1890's.  "Waiting for the Big One" sounds like a piano ballad from World War II.  When listening to the album for the first time, you have no idea what will be played next.  It's an eclectic mix of musical styles, without any obvious pattern or theme.

Gabriel's lyrics feel like an abstract painting- they are less about telling a story and more words put together to give a mood.  It works, but often I feel like asking, "What the hell does that mean?"

It's a fascinating album- Gabriel is all over the place, and some of the songs hit ("Solsbury Hill" remains a classic).  But it's an album that goes all over the place- it's a fascinating collection of songs but not really an album.

  

Ranking of Peter Gabriel Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Peter Gabriel (car)

Top 10 Peter Gabriel Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "Solsbury Hill", Peter Gabriel (Car)
2. "Here Comes the Flood", Peter Gabriel (Car)
3. "Waiting for the Big One", Peter Gabriel (Car)
4. "Moribund the Burgermeister", Peter Gabriel (Car)
5. "Humdrum", Peter Gabriel (Car)
6. "Down the Dolce Vita", Peter Gabriel (Car)
7. "Excuse Me", Peter Gabriel (Car)
8. "Slowburn", Peter Gabriel (Car)
9. "Modern Love", Peter Gabriel (Car)

NBA Status going into 2024-2025

After Free Agency and the Draft, things slow down.  Right now, teams should put themselves in one of five categories.  Here's where I see the current teams:

1) Those competing for a title now:

• Boston Celtics
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New York Knicks
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Phoenix Suns
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Los Angeles Clippers

Notes:  There shouldn't be this many teams trying to compete now- I suspect several of these teams belong in cateogry 5, and will be just starting a rebuild next year.  

I'm a Cavaliers fan- and while they are young, they have no room to improve unless their current players get better.  It's possible, but they only have one route- and a lot of teams to overcome.  

2) Those in the middle of a rebuild and plan to compete in 2-3 years:

• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Orlando Magic
• Indianapolis Pacers
• San Antonio Spurs
• Houston Rockets
• New Orleans Pelicans

Notes:  This is a good category to be in.  It's very possible that half these teams could contend this year- but they are also young enough that they can wait.

3) Those at the start of a rebuild and hope to compete in 6 years:

• Brooklyn Nets
• Washington Wizards
• Detroit Pistons
• Charlotte Hornets

Notes:  These teams know where they are, and are collecting talent and trying to gel together.

4) Those that are trying to tear down the team completely and are 2 years from starting their rebuild:

• Golden State Warriors
• Chicago Bulls
• Toronto Raptors
• Utah Jazz
• Portland Trail Blazers

Notes:  These are the teams that know they can't compete, but haven't blown up the team yet to bottom out (it doesn't help that the teams in category 3 are so bad that they couldn't bottom out if they tried).  

Putting Golden State here is a choice- by all rights, they should be in the same grouping as the Clippers/Lakers/Suns.  But I think letting Klay go is the first step towards starting over.  They have far more to go (and they could bounce back if Kuminga and Moody step up), but for now they belong here

5) Other (who the hell knows?):

• Miami Heat
• Atlanta Hawks
• Sacramento Kings
• Memphis Grizzlies

Notes:  In my opinion, the worst category to be in.  Too good to get a franchsie draft player, too bad to really compete in the playoffs even if everything goes well, too deep in the salary cap to easily start over.  They are two years away from getting to category 4, and worse- might think they are one move from category 1.  

Thoughts without Whiskey- 2024-07-06

Too early in the morning to drink...

• Politics:  Biden needs to step aside, today.  He's 82, and he's already shown that he is not capable of being President today, let alone for four more years.  It's tragic- I actually don't think he's done a bad job, given the problems of the past four years- but for the good of the nation, he needs to announce he won't run for re-election

• Politics 2:  At this point, unless Kamala Harris steps aside (and why should she), she would be the natural replacement as the Democratic nominee.  I admit she hasn't impressed me as a politician; she's all right talking to people that already agree with her, but the President also needs to address people who either disagree with her or are unsure.  On that front, she's been terrible so far.  There are issues that work in her favor (abortion, crime) and issues that work against her (immigration, inflation).  But that applies to every politican.  We will find out if she is up to the task.  Harris and the party has four months to make the case- and the chances of her winning are much better than if Biden remains on the ticket.

• Politics 3 (last one):  If I'm a Democrat (I'm not), or I'm a person who hates the thought of Trump winning (I am), then I am furious at the Biden White House.  They've known he's been having problems for months.  People have seen several video clips of him forgetting, appearing lost, stumbling.  But rather than acknowledge this, they covered it up, did not give the press a chance to interview him, and blocked any primary challengers.  

It's now July, it's almost the convention, and the public only just now has discovered how far gone Biden is.  Worse, Biden has announced that he's staying in- and because he has the delegates, I don't think the Democratic Party can block him.  

Trump went through a Primary.  I don't like it, but the GOP has decided he's their standardbearer, and they had a fair chance to test him and replace him.  The Democrats didn't with Biden.  

If Trump wins in 2024, the people who covered for Biden deserve the blame.

 

• Sports:  The Cavaliers signed Donovan Mitchell.  Mitchell's an outstanding player, and he is showing that he wants to be the team leader (look at how he was encouraging his teammates during the playoffs games, even when he was injured).  The Cavs have a lot of talent, and hopefully the new coach Kenny Atkinson can elevate the team.  Given the moves by the rest of the Eastern contenders, they will need to step up.

• Writing:  My friend Don Mewha has written a book.  I'm jealous.  During COVID I tried to write a superhero story.  I did finish the story, sent it out to try and get published, got rejected soundly, and put it aside.  (Though if anyone wants to Beta read it, send me a message)

I've got a couple ideas germinating in my head, but I'm trying to figure out if I have the time and energy to try again.  It would be something different.  It's definitely a better way to spend my time that trying to beat Grimdawn on Hardcore mode.

Rush Retrospective: Album 19- Clockwork Angels

Album:  Clockwork Angels

Year Released:    2012

Lineup:  

• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, keyboards, bass pedals, vocals
• Alex Lifeson – guitars, keyboards
• Neil Peart – drums, cymbals, tambourine

Overall Thoughts:

The 19th (and final) original studio album from Rush started after an 18 month break following the Snakes & Arrows Tour.    The group decided on an album centered around a fiction steampunk-based dystopic world.  The results was Clockwork Angels.

This is the only full Rush Concept Album (2112 and Hemispheres both had half the album designed around a concept, but had songs outside the concept filling out the album.)  The theme of Clockwork Angels is not unlike 2112; a world dominated by religious leaders who planned out the fate of everyone, and an individual who lived in the world.  Unlike 2112, the unnamed protagonist isn't trying to change the world; just trying to find their own place in it.  

The music continues to be outstanding; by this time, the band had been together nearly 40 years, and the skill of the playing is shown on every song.  The music is gorgeous, and while the ablum lacks ne song that stands out, it's a continuous string of excellent songs (Caravan, Clockwork Angels, Carnis, Halo Effect, The Wreckers, Headlong Flight, The Garden)

It's a fantastic album for the culmination of Rush's career.

Ranking of Rush Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Presto
2. Moving Pictures
3. Roll the Bones
4. Clockwork Angels
5. 2112
6. Permanent Waves
7. Fly By Night
8. Rush
9. A Farewell to Kings
10. Hemispheres
11. Snakes & Arrows
12. Hold Your Fire
13. Power Windows
14. Counterparts
15. Signals
16. Test for Echo
17. Caress of Steel
18. Vapor Trails
19. Grace Under Pressure

Top 10 Rush Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "The Pass", Presto
2. "Tom Sawyer", Moving Pictures
3. "Working Man", Rush
4. "Closer to the Heart", A Farewell to Kings
5. "La Villa Strangiato", Hemispheres
6. "Freewill", Permanent Waves
7. "Bravado", Roll the Bones
8. "2112", 2112
9. "Fly By Night", Fly By Night
10. "Caravan", Clockwork Angels

Rush Retrospective: Album 18- Snakes & Arrows

 

Album:  Snakes & Arrows

Year Released:    2007

Lineup:  

• Neil Peart – drums, electronic percussion, tambourine
• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, keyboards, Mellotron, vocals
• Alex Lifeson – 6 and 12-string acoustic and electronic guitars, mandola, mandolin, bouzouki

Overall Thoughts:

After Vapor Trails, Rush released a Live Album (Rush in Rio), and EP album of covers (Feedback), a DVD celebrating their 30 year anniversay (R30), and a repackage of their Retrospective albums (Gold) before going back for their 18th Studio album, Snakes & Arrows.

The group wanted to perform more simple and direct songs, similar to the covers they performed on Feedback.  At the same time, Neil Peart was writing lyrics talking about faith and religion ("Armor & Sword") and fate ("The Larger Bowl").  It's very difficult to come up with an original point about questioning faith & religion in 2007.  There are some lyrics that stand out, like the chorus from "Faithless":

I don't have faith in faith

I don't believe in belief

You can call me faithless

But I still cling to hope

And I believe in love

And that's faith enough for me

The highlight among the song with lyrics is "Bravest Face", which is a song about trying to keep optimism when there is so much darkness around us:

In the sweetest child there's a vicious streak

In the strongest man there's a child so weak

In the whole wide world there's no magic place

So you might as well rise, put on your bravest face

As Snakes & Arrows progresses, the songs get more optimistic, or at least more resolved, ending with "We Hold On".  

There are three instrumentals on the album ("The Main Monkey Business", "Hope", "Malignant Narcissism"), and they are fantastic.  Musically, Snakes & Arrows is outstanding.  

This is a good album that lacks a centerpiece song to turn it into a great album.  

Ranking of Rush Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Presto
2. Moving Pictures
3. Roll the Bones
4. 2112
5. Permanent Waves
6. Fly By Night
7. Rush
8. A Farewell to Kings
9. Hemispheres
10. Snakes & Arrows
11. Hold Your Fire
12. Power Windows
13. Counterparts
14. Signals
15. Test for Echo
16. Caress of Steel
17. Vapor Trails
18. Grace Under Pressure

Top 10 Rush Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "The Pass", Presto
2. "Tom Sawyer", Moving Pictures
3. "Working Man", Rush
4. "Closer to the Heart", A Farewell to Kings
5. "La Villa Strangiato", Hemispheres
6. "Freewill", Permanent Waves
7. "Bravado", Roll the Bones
8. "2112", 2112
9. "Fly By Night", Fly By Night
10. "Show Don't Tell", Presto

Rush Retrospective: Album 17- Vapor Trails

 

Album:  Vapor Trails

Year Released:    2002

Lineup:  

• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, vocals
• Alex Lifeson – electric and acoustic guitars, mandola
• Neil Peart – drums, cymbals

Overall Thoughts:

After the tour for Test for Echo, tragedy stuck drummer Neil Peart, with the deaths of his daughter (car accident) and wife (cancer).  The band took a hiatus during this time, considering themselves retired as a band.  It wasn't until five years later they were able to heal enough to start working on a new album together.  

The hiatus is noticeable.  The skill is still there- the playing is outstanding.  The music has a 'back to basics' flair to it- no keyboards at all, and the music is played at a frentic pace.  

The skill is there, but the art is off.  None of the musical hooks stay with you- they are well played but you don't fall in love with them.  Same with the lyrics; well-written but nothing memorable.  Nothing is bad but there is nothing here that I fell in love it.  That's probably unfair, given the circumstances.  Just to hear them recording is a good thing.  

The band did not like the original album, thinking the mix was causing it to sound too distorted.  A remixed album was released in 2013, and the band believed the songs sounded better in the remixed version.  It does sound better (to my own ears; to be fair, I'm half-deaf and likely to miss the nuances)

Rush climbed back into the studio after five terrible years.  Vapor Trails was the result; not their best album, but a first step back.  

Ranking of Rush Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Presto
2. Moving Pictures
3. Roll the Bones
4. 2112
5. Permanent Waves
6. Fly By Night
7. Rush
8. A Farewell to Kings
9. Hemispheres
10. Hold Your Fire
11. Power Windows
12. Counterparts
13. Signals
14. Test for Echo
15. Caress of Steel
16. Vapor Trails
17. Grace Under Pressure

Top 10 Rush Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "The Pass", Presto
2. "Tom Sawyer", Moving Pictures
3. "Working Man", Rush
4. "Closer to the Heart", A Farewell to Kings
5. "La Villa Strangiato", Hemispheres
6. "Freewill", Permanent Waves
7. "Bravado", Roll the Bones
8. "2112", 2112
9. "Fly By Night", Fly By Night
10. "Show Don't Tell", Presto