| Scratch My Back | 
| Artist: Peter Gabriel
Label: EMI
Category: Music
List Price: £14.99
Buy New: £4.85
as of 30/7/2010 02:02 CDT details
You Save: £10.14 (68%)
New (26) Used (5) from £4.26
Seller: actionrecords
Rating:  82 reviews
Format: CD
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
EAN: 5099960797520
ASIN: B002XZMAJY
Release Date: February 15, 2010
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Heroes | | • | The Boy In The Bubble | | • | Mirrorball | | • | Flume | | • | Listening Wind | | • | The Power Of The Heart | | • | My Body Is A Cage | | • | The Book of Love | | • | I Think Its Going To Rain Today | | • | Apres Moi | | • | Philadelphia | | • | Street Spirit (Fade Out) |
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| Customer Reviews:
 Peter Gabriel - A covers album that needs more re-imagination January 31, 2010
Red on Black (Cardiff)
50 out of 56 found this review helpful
3.5 stars
I honestly wanted to love this album. Peter Gabriel is a national treasure and I am sadly old enough to admit to seeing Genesis at Bristol's Colston Hall in 1973 where Gabriel was mesmerizing. When I saw them next at Knebworth in 1978 he wasn't in the band and I preferred Devo (unlike the majority of the crowd!). Gabriel has always ploughed his own furrow and his development of WOMAD deserves a knighthood. He has a great sense of humour and his recent cover with Hot Chip of "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" by Vampire Weekend is a wicked gem.
"Scratch my back" is not just a covers album it's about song exchange with the different artists covered pledging to return the favour. I had hoped that Gabriel's album could do a "Joni Mitchell". When the great lady revisited her standards the mature reading that she produced through a voice that was no longer angelic but infused with a life of experience and backed by a stirring orchestra was superb. Songs like "Both Sides Now" sounded better than the originals.
Gabriel's covers are certainly well chosen and show impeccable taste (although "My Body is a cage" is a least favourite Arcade Fire song), the problem is that some work incredibly well while other fall flat. Thus Gabriel's version of Bon Iver's "Flume" for instance is workmanlike and misses the mark. His reading of Neil Young's "Philadelphia" never quite captures the quiet desperation and sheer sadness to be found on the original. When we finally get a cover like Radiohead's "Street Spirit" that is so radically reworked that it is almost unrecognizable to the original, you punch the air. The trouble is that it just does not work and is mournful and dreadfully dull. Indeed my dog gave me a dirty look when I played it! "I think its going to rain today" by Randy Newman takes a brave singer to attempt and again Gabriel's version stays so close that it is almost a reprise and as such can't really add much. Sorry when it comes to David Bowie's "Heroes" why tamper with perfection?
The good news is that "The Boy in the Bubble" (Paul Simon) is excellent. Indeed for the first time ever you realise what a subversive lyric underpins the song which is sung with crystal clarity by Gabriel. The "Listening Wind" (Talking Heads) cover is I think actually better than the original. Its interesting that Gabriel is most at home here with the African related songs. Thus the Talking Heads original is slowed down to a much sadder and reflective piece. I can't comment on "Power of the Heart" the Lou Reed cover since I have never heard the original but Gabriel's take is lovely. Elbows "Mirrorball" works really well for Gabriel's voice indeed he has compared it to singing a difficult Genesis song. The orchestration works brilliantly on this as it does on the cover of Stephen Merritt's wonderful "Book of Life". Gabriel's version is a knockout.
Look I'm not saying don't buy this album since it is a fascinating attempt by a major artist to deconstruct and reconstruct a set of songs which are on the whole faultlessly chosen. You just wish it was a bit more unique and that a greater exercise of re -imagination had occurred.
up to scratch March 22, 2010
A. Colvill (England)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If nothing you expect a Peter Gabriel album to be different. Some excellent tracks here, and some be may be growers. Challenging and on occasions you miss the guitars & drums. At worst you want to revist the originals, and I'm sure the reciprocal back scratchers wil do something interesting with their choice of Peter's tracks. Keep an open mind and enjoy.
Unpredictable Gabriel March 25, 2010
P. Reeve (UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It took a few listens but now I would say, "I've got it".
Peter has clearly wanted to treat these songs with the subtlest of surroundings and has gone for a very understated musical accompaniment. He performs each one with heart-felt commitment and is clearly putting his soul into the songs. Deeply moving but HAS to be played when you are receptive, no good for the ipod at the gym, I wouldn't think!!
If I had a criticism it would be that it is a bit "Samey" and a couple of dramatic variations would, in my opinion, have improved this delicate work.
Going to see him at the O2 on Sunday and hope it comes across in this imposing venue. (can't wait)
Reevey ;-)
 Dunno about stopped my heart, it stopped me playing it! February 25, 2010
The Ponty Cyclops (South Wales, GB.)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I am sorry Peter, love you to bits and I was looking forward to hearing this muchly.
BUT
This is the most turgid, depressing album I have heard in my life. Truely awful! It is hard to pick a high point, and even that would be looking up from a depth of a trough.
Where is the swelling passion? Where is the use of all the musical creativity that exsists between you and Boz Ezrin? Oh we have laden emotion .. laden on by the bucket loads that drowns any kind of listenabilty!
I have never written a 1* review in my life, but this album is such a massive disappointment it has forced me to warn others!
 Brilliant April 18, 2010
Earl Grey
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This album is very different to the usual style of Peter Gabriel music, as he has used other artists songs rather than his own. However Peter Gabriel has produced some fantastic tracks on this album which is mainly his voice backed by an orchestra. I wasn't sure what to make of it the first time I played it but this album grows on you very quickly. I personally like all the tracks with my particular favourites being 'Listening Wind' and 'The Book of Love'.
So if you want to hear a different style of music from Peter Gabriel, then buy this album. I can highly recommend it.
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