Us (1992)Peter Gabriel is a visionary fan of "world music" sounds who never fails to incorporate his passions into what often becomes "pop music." I was a fan after 1986's blockbuster, So, but became an even bigger fan upon the release of this collection of songs. If you can find a better collection of songs that deal with communication and relationships than this one, let me know.
From the start, you can tell this one is special. The swelling guitar followed by tribal drums that presage the bagpipes of "Come Talk To Me." The language is metaphoric as the speaker pleads with his lover to please just "talk to me" so they work through the issues that have hindered their relationship.
Gabriel explores similar relational problems in "Blood of Eden" with Sinead O'Connor along as the female side of the coin; this song doesn't end on a hopeful note, though, as "Talk" does. "Love to Be Loved" and "Digging in the Dirt" are a more introspective side, with Gabriel expressing his own feelings and frustrations as he tries to work out just what's wrong.
"Steam" and "Kiss That Frog" represent the more "pop" side of Gabriel's music, with upbeat danceable tracks. If you can't understand the strong sexual undercurrent in "Steam" you just aren't trying very hard. "Frog" is based upon the "Princess and the Frog" fairy tale, and is an encouragement to not always judge someone based on first impressions.
My two favorite songs on this album are the ones that look at the maturing of a love affair and the happiness and joy this brings. "Only Us" ends the first side of the original tape version I have of this album. It talks about a sort of tunnel-vision that has occurred: "The further on I go, the less I know. I can find...only us breathing...only us sleeping...only us dreaming...only us." As he has travelled the world in his "great escape" he has realized what is most important in life."
My favorite song ever by Peter Gabriel is "In Your Eyes" (thanks, Say Anything!), but a close second is "Secret World," the song that closes this album. Here Gabriel's "Secret World" is the place where he and his lover exist, a "sun-sheltered place" where he has dwelled long enough to see her for who she really is: "the face behind the face." Everything has not been easy in this world as they are "divided in two like Adam and Eve" but he has made the choice to stay "in this house of disrepair" and work on it.
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