It’s interesting looking back on this period. Some may think that it was all about Nirvana and grunge but, as you mention, the reality was much different. It was more a rock era of “alternative” music than it was grunge. Artists like XTC, Tori Amos, Matthew Sweet, Sarah McLachlan, and yes Peter Gabriel were being played regularly on rock radio stations. While not in any way “grunge” their music was definitely an alternative to what was being played on mainstream pop radio. This is what characterized the era. Grunge was a part of the movement but not the defining feature of alternative rock radio.
Analysis-wise, you’ve touched on some very real points, relevant to Gabriel’s mental state at the time. I believe he was going through a divorce, which can certainly have an effect on your songwriting style. I also (IMHO) believe he was trying to commit to a mainstream audience that had given ‘So’ the attention it deserved. I like ‘Dirt’ for various and sundry reasons - his cadence is varied, angry then complacent and complicated as well. Perhaps that’s what ended his time on the charts? In any case, his most recent work is an absolute stunner and I think it’s safe to say that Gabriel has always been ahead of us musically… for the better.
In your post about Morrissey, you talked about your musical awakening in the mid to late 90's.
I'm a little older than you and my musical awakening was earlier than yours. For me, alternative music was any music that wasnt in the mainstream. Inspired by borrowing the Trouser Press Record Guide (archived here: https://trouserpress.com/) from my local library, alternative music encompassed everything from Underground/Progressive Hip Hop, World Music, Reggae/Ska/Punk Electronic, Gorecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (which was a Classical hit in 1992) and yes Alternative Rock/Grunge.
As the 90's wore on, Alternative Music became associated with on Grunge, and consequently I lost interest in Alternative Radio. My local station, for example, started out as "Alternative", then "Alternative Rock", "New Rock Alternative", "New Rock", then finally "Nü Rock".
Peter Gabriel's US fit my definition of Alternative. US is (leaving aside the Sledgehammer rewrites "Steam" and "Kiss That Frog") a Song Cycle about the end of a relationship and was inspired by his divorce from his wife and subsequent breakup with Rosanna Arquette. "Digging In The Dirt" on the album comes after "Washing Of The Water" in which the singer contemplates suicide. The last line of "Washing" literally says "Bring me something to take this pain away." leading directly into "Digging" which is about therapy.
Anyway, just subscribed and looking forward to "Digging" into your Archives/New Posts.
It’s interesting looking back on this period. Some may think that it was all about Nirvana and grunge but, as you mention, the reality was much different. It was more a rock era of “alternative” music than it was grunge. Artists like XTC, Tori Amos, Matthew Sweet, Sarah McLachlan, and yes Peter Gabriel were being played regularly on rock radio stations. While not in any way “grunge” their music was definitely an alternative to what was being played on mainstream pop radio. This is what characterized the era. Grunge was a part of the movement but not the defining feature of alternative rock radio.
Analysis-wise, you’ve touched on some very real points, relevant to Gabriel’s mental state at the time. I believe he was going through a divorce, which can certainly have an effect on your songwriting style. I also (IMHO) believe he was trying to commit to a mainstream audience that had given ‘So’ the attention it deserved. I like ‘Dirt’ for various and sundry reasons - his cadence is varied, angry then complacent and complicated as well. Perhaps that’s what ended his time on the charts? In any case, his most recent work is an absolute stunner and I think it’s safe to say that Gabriel has always been ahead of us musically… for the better.
In your post about Morrissey, you talked about your musical awakening in the mid to late 90's.
I'm a little older than you and my musical awakening was earlier than yours. For me, alternative music was any music that wasnt in the mainstream. Inspired by borrowing the Trouser Press Record Guide (archived here: https://trouserpress.com/) from my local library, alternative music encompassed everything from Underground/Progressive Hip Hop, World Music, Reggae/Ska/Punk Electronic, Gorecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (which was a Classical hit in 1992) and yes Alternative Rock/Grunge.
As the 90's wore on, Alternative Music became associated with on Grunge, and consequently I lost interest in Alternative Radio. My local station, for example, started out as "Alternative", then "Alternative Rock", "New Rock Alternative", "New Rock", then finally "Nü Rock".
Peter Gabriel's US fit my definition of Alternative. US is (leaving aside the Sledgehammer rewrites "Steam" and "Kiss That Frog") a Song Cycle about the end of a relationship and was inspired by his divorce from his wife and subsequent breakup with Rosanna Arquette. "Digging In The Dirt" on the album comes after "Washing Of The Water" in which the singer contemplates suicide. The last line of "Washing" literally says "Bring me something to take this pain away." leading directly into "Digging" which is about therapy.
Anyway, just subscribed and looking forward to "Digging" into your Archives/New Posts.