UP

It's an all-too common misfortune for an artist's quality of work and material to slope downward in it's quality as a career moves on. The majority of the musical giants of yesteryear that still produce music to this day seem to have lost their creative spirit somewhere along the way. Maybe it was the taste and longing for past greatness that makes them try too hard, or the cold fact that age has caught up to them, it is a grim reality that time wears down on the artist's soul. It is my pleasure however, to announce that Peter Gabriel is certainly not an artist that submits to age.

It is safe to say that Genesis were one of the biggest bands of their time. Early in the youth of progressive rock, they were there to pave the way for generations of forward-thinking musicians to come. While Peter Gabriel is certainly better known for his vocal/front work for that band, it is also safe to say that the man hasn't lost touch with his muse. Adapting with the times of modern music, 'Up' is a very futuristic-sounding album, with very little connection to the past. Gabriel isn't trying to keep hold of one trick that works, he's making new ones here. There's a very industrial sound (Nine Inch Nails?) on the album here; something that most fans of the man's music wouldn't have expected from him. While the music is dense, and even noisy at times, Gabriel makes the music his own; something personal, and that really shows.

My favourite track on here would have to be the song 'Darkness' which deals with Gabriel's fears, and his quest of overcoming them. He goes so personal in his music as to dissect his psyche in the song, and present his inner self to the world. That makes for a very moving song. Other highlight is the ballad 'I Grieve' which also shares the intimate, personal quality about it, while still being complex in the way it's done.

'Up' isn't an album for everyone however. It's 'noisy' production (in a good way, though) and very different, almost industrial sound might turn some listeners off. What makes 'Up' so good is that it's an album that needs several listens to really appreciate. Its a very dense album sonically speaking, but the feeling encompassed is stupendous.

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