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THE REVIEW
This Debaser is essentially a place for sad nostalgics, there's no point in pretending otherwise. In almost all the reviews, especially the great artists are judged based on what they have done and not on what they are doing. If an Iron Maiden album is released in 2010, it must inevitably suck because the sound is no longer like their early albums. If a U2 album is released today, it must, regardless of everything, be absolutely terrible because in 2010 it's impossible for a good work to come out... and do you know why? Because 10 years ago I was a happy man and today I'm depressed.
The majority of these great music critics do not take into account that a work, whether it's a film, a book, or an album, also sounds based on what sound has become. You certainly cannot expect, nor would it be pleasant, for U2 to produce an album today with the same sound as War or October. We are in 2010, every artist has their own path and a work that should be analyzed regardless of what has been done.
Take Peter Gabriel for example. It's difficult (at least I hope so) to argue that he is a genius in music, one of the greatest experimenters and innovators of the last 30 years.
He has produced great albums even recently. "Up" for example is not inferior to "So," and "Ovo" itself is a work with remarkable peaks. Let's take this "Scratch My Back". Beautiful. The words are whispered softly, the atmosphere is intimate and warm. It feels like the singer is whispering something in your ear, it feels like the melody sometimes caresses you, it feels like the music sometimes cradles you. Not an easy work to digest, let's be clear, but greatness never was. Genius is free, and some artists are allowed to overturn all the norms. Peter Gabriel is free. He does what he wants with his music. Here he lowers his voice, whispers, speaks gently, lights a candle, and lets time flow gently. The nostalgics didn't like that Peter overturned everything. We free spirits like to think that genius starts from scratch every time. Thank you, Peter.
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Summary by Bot
This review challenges nostalgic biases in music criticism, praising Peter Gabriel’s 'Scratch My Back' for its intimate and warm atmosphere. The album is noted for its gentle vocals and innovative approach, highlighting Gabriel’s freedom to reimagine his sound. It encourages appreciation of an artist’s current work rather than comparing it to past successes. Ultimately, the album is seen as a beautiful, though challenging, masterpiece.Tracklist Videos
Peter Gabriel
English singer-songwriter and former Genesis frontman who launched a solo career in the 1970s. Known for fusing rock, world music and electronic production; founder of Real World and co-founder of WOMAD; notable for landmark albums and film soundtracks.46 Reviews
Other reviews
By The Punisher
13 songs flattened by Gabriel’s 'tired' voice which managed to smooth the tension that existed in pieces like Heroes.
A terribly tired album that tires us just at the thought of listening to it a second time.
By GabrielTripaldi
"An album that is bare, intimate, and reflective, to listen to on a good couch (with the risk of falling asleep)."
"In some cases, the trick works... Uncle Peter’s spectacular voice manages to sublimate the anguish of the original."
