I Am In Paradise

Peter Gabriel is working on a covers album that evidently features some interesting choices:

01. "Heroes" - David Bowie
02. "Street Spirit" - Radiohead
03. "The Book Of Love" - Magnetic Fields
04. "Flume" - Bon Iver
05. "My Body Is A Cage" - Sara Lov
06. "Listening Wind" - Talking Heads
07. "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" - Randy Newman
08. "Apres Moi"
09. "Waterloo Sunset" - The Kinks
10. "The Boy In The Bubble" - Paul Simon
11. "The Power Of The Heart" - Lou Reed
12. "Philadelphia" - Bruce Springsteen
13. "Mirrorball" - Elbow

It's also being called a "song swap," which the BBC reports may mean that Gabriel's covers album will come out first next year and then the artists covering Gabriel may be released monthly online. The concept is great and the song selection is stellar. I can't wait to hear his "acoustic ... orchestral" covers.

You're Always Afraid of the Change

Not that I expected it, but Wall-E was not nominated for Best Picture today. Oscars suck. Instead of breathing some fresh, new life into what is quickly becoming the stodgiest affair of the year, let's instead give the nominations to overlong, over-dramatic pieces of work like they seem to do every year. Sigh.

But, rightfully so Peter Gabriel received a nod for Down to Earth, the tune that encapsulates the heart and spirit of my favorite film of 2009. Download it via iTunes here.

Feel the Thunder

A few weeks ago we reported that Paul McCartney was reviving his Fireman alter ego in a whole new way. No longer would The Fireman be limited to electronic dance music - he was going to rock. The latest NPR's All Songs Considered features the new tune Sing the Changes and I agree with NPR, it is quite simply "inspired." This isn't some half-hearted, obligatory ethereal collaboration with Delerium. Somehow Youth has made Paul McCartney tap into his inner Peter Gabriel and that is evidently quite a great thing. Listen here.

According to NPR, Electric Arguments comes out November 25. This could represent a most welcome sea change of output for Sir Paul. I'm excited.

The Other Side of Maybe

Download the absolutely lovely tune from/called Big Blue Ball featuring Karl Wallinger of World Party fame and Peter Gabriel of early Genesis fame at World Party Live's MySpace.

More.

Please.

Now.

Exit Through You

We're about a month away from Big Blue Ball (less than a week if you're picking up the limited edition vinyl.) This project features Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger of World Party, Joseph Arthur, and many more. Thanks to Gabriel's Real World for giving us all an opportunity to remix one of the tunes:

Exit Through You opens with the distinctive vocal of Joseph Arthur with Peter joining at the chorus for a funky spiky pop tune accompanied by Karl and Justin Adams on guitars. The song was originally put together in a fast and furious live session in just over one hour back in 1995.

Go here to sign up, download, and remix your little red heart away!

Previously...

Sometimes I Can't Remember

Wow. This one has slipped by me for over 15 years. In the early 90s, Peter Gabriel convened a varied group of musicians to record a truly global musical effort. It appears Big Blue Ball will finally see the light of day on 5/24 for vinyl and 6/27 on CD. I'm hoping for a digital release as well, but I can't seem to find anything on that. The first single is on iTunes so that's a good sign.

I learned about this from World Party. Karl Wallinger was involved in this project, along with other greats like Tim Finn, Joseph Arthur, Sinead O'Connor, and Vernon Reid. Holy crap, this should be cool.

Learn more here and here
Download Whole Thing here
Pre-order vinyl and CD here

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lyric source