Scratch My Back to be released on October 02, 2009

[martinus]

Would you like to go and see Peter Gabriel live in Berlin on March 24, 2010 - but you can't get any good seats anymore?

We can help you out!

The fanclub has a couple of tickets for excellent seats left:
Block A left: rows 7,8
Block A centre: rows 11,12
Block A right: rows 5-7

Tickets are 95€ ( + shipping). You won't be able get better seats for the same price anywhere else. In fact, the seats in front of the rows we got blocked for us are only available in the VIP package directly from petergabriel.com - for 175 pounds.

If you are interested, drop Christian a PM and he will sort you out. Tickets are going fast...

[martinus]

...Still waiting for my ticket(s) - still waiting for the album....

[martinus]

Just eight more days, and we'll finally hold the album in our hands... I am so looking forward to that!

[martinus]

Oh, and RealWorld just sent out an e-mail saying that "because good things come to those who wait" Scratch My Back is out on March 02 in the U.S. (but the Canada release date is still Feb 16).

Why do I doubt that U.S. fans will find that funny?

[nickm]

As many of you know, I am a big Gabriel fan and I always look forward to his new records. But this Scratch My Back project doesn't cut the mustard.

I have just had the misfortune of listening to his rendition of Radiohead's Street Spirit. It is a truly lame effort. He misses the notes and he simply cannot pull off the whole 'stripped down' no drums or guitars idea.

Added to that, he's not attending the hall of fame induction because he's too busy touring with this crap.

spleen vented, feeling better

[Visionsofangels]

Originally Posted by nickm

As many of you know, I am a big Gabriel fan and I always look forward to his new records. But this Scratch My Back project doesn't cut the mustard.

I have just had the misfortune of listening to his rendition of Radiohead's Street Spirit. It is a truly lame effort. He misses the notes and he simply cannot pull off the whole 'stripped down' no drums or guitars idea.

Added to that, he's not attending the hall of fame induction because he's too busy touring with this crap.

spleen vented, feeling better

.....and the hits just keep on coming, welcome back Nick!

SMB is not about Peter doing Karaoke of other Artist songs, It's not supposed to be him sounding exactly like the original artist, It's just Peter's versions but with an orchestra & not his band & remember these artist will also sing some of Peter's songs which will be an eye-opener for all of us fans, It'll be interesting for example to hear what song Radiohead will sing etc
I will admit it took me a while to get 'into it' but after a while the album has grown on me and I love his versions of 'Heroes' if you haven't heard it, then go check it out and listen to the other songs, don't be put off by just the one song.
Here's a quote I found on his website...kinda sums it all up....

The project is groundbreaking for two reasons. Firstly, it's a collaboration. All the artists whose songs Peter has recorded here are returning the favour by each recording a song of his. The fruits of this exchange - or song swap - will be heard on a forthcoming companion volume, I'll Scratch Yours. "The intention," explains Peter, "was that we would each do the songs in our own idiosyncratic way."

Secondly, these songs have been approached from an angle that's rather revolutionary. Peter's usual band have been dispensed with on this project, leaving his voice accompanied solely by orchestral instruments. The approach makes for some radical reinterpretations. "After all," protests the album's arranger John Metcalfe, "what's the point of covers that don't make any effort- So many are just really the same song with a different singer. Here was an opportunity - particularly as it was orchestral - not to do that, to reinterpret these songs with integrity."

I can't wait to see him perform at the 02 in March, I for one never thought in a million years that I'd be that lucky, I honestly thought me finally getting to see Genesis (twice) was the height of my luckiness & yet here I am about to see Gabriel...doesn't get much better than this & I'm sure Jebs & Marty will agree!

As for him not being at the Genesis Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony....he didn't say he was definitely not going, to quote from the Rolling Stone.. he actually said...

“I learned at our last reunion [in 1982] that you can’t just get up there. You have to rehearse,” Gabriel said, noting that he is also in the midst of rehearsing for his own European tour. Still, he had promised RS, “I’m trying to find a way to do it. It’s not easy. If I can work it out, I’ll go.”

Open up your ears & lighten up a bit Nick & give the album another chance, being the Gabe fan that you are, I'm sure it'll grow on you.

[martinus]

Originally Posted by nickm

I have just had the misfortune of listening to his rendition of Radiohead's Street Spirit. It is a truly lame effort. He misses the notes and he simply cannot pull off the whole 'stripped down' no drums or guitars idea.

I can't really get into Street Spirit either. This is a common experience, judging by what goes on in the German forum. It is a bit unfortunate that it this song is the last impression of the album, as it kind of spoils the good impression the other songs have left.

Had you asked my opinion about SMB a week ago or so I might have agreed, but now I feel you have to listen to the songs several time to appreciate what Gabriel does with them. Scratch My Back will never be a So, but Peter's interpretations are very worthwhile (and the bonus version has a gret cover of Waterloo Sunset).


FWIW, I am working on the translation of a song by song triple review of SMB. Watch this forum.

[nickm]

Originally Posted by Visionsofangels

.....and the hits just keep on coming, welcome back Nick!

SMB is not about Peter doing Karaoke of other Artist songs, It's not supposed to be him sounding exactly like the original artist, It's just Peter's versions but with an orchestra & not his band & remember these artist will also sing some of Peter's songs which will be an eye-opener for all of us fans, It'll be interesting for example to hear what song Radiohead will sing etc
I will admit it took me a while to get 'into it' but after a while the album has grown on me and I love his versions of 'Heroes' if you haven't heard it, then go check it out and listen to the other songs, don't be put off by just the one song.
Here's a quote I found on his website...kinda sums it all up....

The project is groundbreaking for two reasons. Firstly, it's a collaboration. All the artists whose songs Peter has recorded here are returning the favour by each recording a song of his. The fruits of this exchange - or song swap - will be heard on a forthcoming companion volume, I'll Scratch Yours. "The intention," explains Peter, "was that we would each do the songs in our own idiosyncratic way."

Secondly, these songs have been approached from an angle that's rather revolutionary. Peter's usual band have been dispensed with on this project, leaving his voice accompanied solely by orchestral instruments. The approach makes for some radical reinterpretations. "After all," protests the album's arranger John Metcalfe, "what's the point of covers that don't make any effort- So many are just really the same song with a different singer. Here was an opportunity - particularly as it was orchestral - not to do that, to reinterpret these songs with integrity."

I can't wait to see him perform at the 02 in March, I for one never thought in a million years that I'd be that lucky, I honestly thought me finally getting to see Genesis (twice) was the height of my luckiness & yet here I am about to see Gabriel...doesn't get much better than this & I'm sure Jebs & Marty will agree!

As for him not being at the Genesis Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony....he didn't say he was definitely not going, to quote from the Rolling Stone.. he actually said...

“I learned at our last reunion [in 1982] that you can’t just get up there. You have to rehearse,” Gabriel said, noting that he is also in the midst of rehearsing for his own European tour. Still, he had promised RS, “I’m trying to find a way to do it. It’s not easy. If I can work it out, I’ll go.”

Open up your ears & lighten up a bit Nick & give the album another chance, being the Gabe fan that you are, I'm sure it'll grow on you.

it has since come out that he won't be going to the hall of fame - Peter Gabriel Won’t Attend Genesis’ Rock Hall Induction : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily

OK Visions I'll give it a proper listen. But it's disappointing that we wait so long for another Gabriel album and then he serves up a load of covers. Feels like a big cop out to me, no matter how he wants to dress it up.

[martinus]

Originally Posted by nickm

OK Visions I'll give it a proper listen. But it's disappointing that we wait so long for another Gabriel album and then he serves up a load of covers. Feels like a big cop out to me, no matter how he wants to dress it up.

I know what you mean, but that does not exactly say anything against the album, does it? HIT was a cop out, a release to get out of his album contracts, yes.

Scratch My Back? If Peter feels like doing an album full of covers that's fine with me. Steve has done it, Ray has done it, Phil is in the midst of doing it, why not Peter, too?

[Visionsofangels]

Originally Posted by nickm

it has since come out that he won't be going to the hall of fame - Peter Gabriel Won’t Attend Genesis’ Rock Hall Induction : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily.

I too got that quote from the same link you have just put up...read the whole article & you'll see where (at the risk of sounding like a broken record) he is quoted as saying....

“I learned at our last reunion [in 1982] that you can’t just get up there. You have to rehearse,” Gabriel said, noting that he is also in the midst of rehearsing for his own European tour. Still, he had promised RS, “I’m trying to find a way to do it. It’s not easy. If I can work it out, I’ll go.”

Glad to read your going to give SMB a proper listen too...I'm telling you, you'll be pleasantly surprised! (open mind is the key!)

Originally Posted by martinus

I know what you mean, but that does not exactly say anything against the album, does it? HIT was a cop out, a release to get out of his album contracts, yes.

Scratch My Back? If Peter feels like doing an album full of covers that's fine with me. Steve has done it, Ray has done it, Phil is in the midst of doing it, why not Peter, too?

...and so say all of us...well said Marty!