PETER GABRIEL 2 [AKA: SCRATCH]

From reading the reviews I get the feeling that fans are split down the middle on this one. I feel that the scales should tip in Peter's favor. He was still finding his way without Genesis here and his experimentations with instrumentations, musicians and producers was a work in progress. The key word being progress. And the result is very interesting and challenging for the listener. "On the Air" and "D.I.Y." are two great uptempo songs to kick it into high gear right off the bat. They seem to be an answer to those who felt his first album lacked soul. These two kick tail. Another standout is "A Wonderful Day.." which is truly infectious and memorable. It should have gotten more airplay and it might have become as popular as "Solsbury Hill" in time. But, alas, the real world wasn't ready for Mr. Gabriel quite yet. For me there is a slight drop off in the quality of the tunes that follow but they still hold you in a certain fascinated, mesmerized spell. Peter was leaving all his options open at this point and was benefitting from a record contract that was allowing him to explore his own musical world unfettered, something that artists of today are rarely afforded. The result is this intriguing and strange journey that will entertain all those who love a creative and mind-expanding adventure.