I like most of you PG fans on this board was very excited about the release of his new studio album in ten years. I have to say that I'm not all that impressed with the outcome. I purchased the CD Thursday night. I plopped the CD into my stereo, and my ears could not believe the first sounds comming from the speakers. "Darkness" has to be one of the worst opening songs of his career. Oh well, things got better, but I found myself skipping to the next track at numerous times. Many songs remind me of his past two, voice sung, studio albums. There is very little new- just different lyrics. With that said, I guess I hold PG on a higher pedelstal than most. In the past, he has allways enlightened my ears with his music and that has allways included innovative sounds and ideas. This album does not go where his past two albums had, though I will say that there are some very outstanding tracks on the CD. I do enjoy the reworking of "I Grieve", the very beautiful layering of sounds on "Signal To Noise" and the subtle "Sky Blue". If only he left out the opening track "Darkness" and the closer "The Drop", which features PG with his voice and very subtle musical backdrop. I've heard Peter do way better with quiet songs in his past. With "SO", Peter made amazing international pop music. "PASSION"" took most of us white boyz into the wonderful relm of World Music And "US", well that record got me through some pretty hard times. I still listen to that record and find myself crying during certain songs. Maybe this one will grow on me, but until then I will be listening to Manu Chao's new live disc, "RADIO BEMBA SOUND SYSTEM", religiously!

If your a fan- buy it!

*** star review

Cheers,

Kevin