Scratch My Back
Peter Gabriel · 2010
71 min · 16 tracks · new wave
A contemplative collection of reimagined songs that meld orchestral arrangements with Gabriel's emotive vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Heroes Start here — This reworking of David Bowie's classic transforms the original's anthemic quality into a poignant, orchestral lament that emphasizes vulnerability.
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The Book of Love — Gabriel's rendition imbues this song with emotional depth through its stripped-back arrangement, allowing his interpretation to shine with tenderness and sincerity.
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My Body Is a Cage — This track stands out for its haunting orchestration and Gabriel's powerful vocal performance, effectively conveying themes of isolation and yearning.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The orchestral reimaginings and Gabriel's unique vocal style create a distinctive listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features orchestral arrangements that reinterpret the original songs, creating a distinct soundscape for each track.
- Gabriel's vocal delivery is consistently emotive, often employing a restrained style that contrasts with the lush instrumentation.
- The first half of the album maintains a contemplative mood, while the second half introduces more dynamic shifts in tempo and intensity.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting orchestral reimaginings
- dynamic journey with varied intensity
- reflective moments for solitude
- emotional depth in vocal delivery
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat, fast-paced tracks
- seek straightforward structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — It reinterprets songs in an orchestral style, differing from Gabriel's established sound.
- Themes
- orchestral reinterpretation· poignant isolation
- Career context
- Released in 2010, Scratch My Back marked Peter Gabriel's first studio album in nearly a decade, following the release of Up in 2002. This project saw him reinterpret songs by various artists, showcasing a shift towards more orchestral and minimalist soundscapes as he explored new artistic directions.
- Stylistic neighbors
- David Bowie· Brian Eno· Kate Bush
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Heroes Start here 4:11
- 2 The Boy in the Bubble 4:29
- 3 Mirrorball 4:50
- 4 Flume 3:02
- 5 Listening Wind 4:24
- 6 The Power of the Heart 5:53
- 7 My Body Is a Cage 6:14
- 8 The Book of Love 3:54
- 9 I Think It’s Going to Rain Today 2:36
- 10 Après moi 5:15
- 11 Philadelphia 3:48
- 12 Street Spirit (Fade Out) 5:06
Disc 2
- 1 The Book of Love (remix) 3:40
- 2 My Body Is a Cage (Oxford London Temple version) 6:03
- 3 Waterloo Sunset (Oxford London Temple version) 3:49
- 4 Heroes (Wildebeest mix) 4:06
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Heathen
David Bowie
Shares orchestral textures and introspective themes with a sense of emotional isolation.
A Moon Shaped Pool
Radiohead
Both explore minimalist soundscapes and poignant lyrical content reflecting on personal and collective alienation.
Carrie & Lowell
Sufjan Stevens
Features delicate orchestration and deeply personal themes of loss and reflection, akin to Gabriel's approach.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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