Like David Byrne and Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel fell hard for world music. Unlike his fellow aesthetes, Gabriel is afflicted with terminal cases of both gravitas and bombast. The former Genesis front man may have injected that band’s music with a degree of absurdist levity (at least live) uncommon in a genre, progressive rock, not known for its sense of humor, but the same can’t be said for his solo material. He’s one serious individual, our Peter, and his music is suitably ponderous. It’s not light on its feet and rarely makes you want to dance. It can’t. Peter Gabriel’s oeuvre has a serious weight problem. In his case that “art” in “art rock” weighs a ton.
Oh, he’s had his moments. Songs like “Solsbury Hill” and “Games Without Frontiers” were light of foot. But he’s English and he’s earnest (he put away childish things with Genesis) and he’s very much a product of progressive rock, a genre afflicted with a fatal case of pomposity. Further, his take on world music has always had a calculated feel to it–as The Village Voice’s Robert Christgau noted bluntly of his 1982 LP Security, “Self-conscious primitivism hasn’t cured his grandiosity,” although I for one don’t detect the primitivism. The percussion trimmings, sure, but the man’s a classic rarified product of advanced Western Civilization, and definitely of that breed of musical explorers who wouldn’t venture into the jungles of sound without porters and a thunderbox.
And to make matters worse Gabriel has a social conscience—which is laudable, of course, but hardly gives his music bounce or, God help us, lends it a sense of humor. Caring deeply about the state of the world is a burden, added gravity as it were, and gravity is a heavy proposition—it keeps things down, not up. All of which means the joys of world music are beyond him, and the last thing I would call his music (and this isn’t the case with the best of Byrne and Simon) is joyous.
Loves Park, IL | After Losing Everything In A Fire, CD Source Is Set To Open In A New Space In Loves Park: Before he decided to rebuild both his business and his extensive collection of CDs and records, Brian Bowman took time to grieve the loss of a shop he had grown over more than a quarter century. CD Source, located inside the former Park Theatre at 5723 N. Second St., was destroyed in an electrical fire last September. Then it was demolished and cleared away because of safety and nuisance concerns. “It’s not a person, obviously, but I went through the same sort of stages,” Bowman said. Now Bowman is on the cusp of a new stage. He’s preparing to reopen CD Source in a new location at 5704 N. Second St., just across the street from the shop he ran for years after moving from downtown Rockford. The new site will open at 11 a.m. Monday. …He said rebuilding the original store would have been too expensive, but they found a fitting location across the street that could 
Port Orchard, WA | Record store takes a spin in downtown PO: Of all the collections accumulated by one of Port Orchard’s newest business owners, none brought more of a smile to the face of Julian Maltby than his extensive assortment of vinyl records. It’s a passion that he grew up with in the walls of a record store operated by his father. As his passion grew for the dated music format, the music industry rediscovered vinyl as a viable product. Today, vinyl continues to thrive in an entertainment economy that left it for dead just a few decades earlier. “There’s lots of interest for vinyl coming back up for years and years,” he said. “As of 2022, according to NPR, it took over all of the media sales, physical sales in the industry.” The rise in popularity, along with a continued love for music, motivated Maltby to start a new venture as a business owner. By the end of June, 
The only problem is Wood’s vocals; at best he sounds like a Dylan imitator, at worst his voice is as thin as cheap toilet paper. He’s at his best when he’s joined by the LP’s backing vocalists, who include some bloke named Mick Jagger, some other bugger named Keith Richards, and the legendary Jerry Williams, aka Swamp Dogg. Other notables on the LP include Mick Fleetwood, Dave Mason, Charlie Watts, Bobby Keys, and former Faces’ band mate Ian McLagan, whose keyboards give such songs “We All Get Old” an indisputable Faces feel.
Wales, UK | Blackwood record shop owner charts Welsh music history: The owner of a record store in Blackwood has amassed a musical history of Wales with a Gallery of Welsh Greats forming part of his 17,000+ vinyl selection. Heart of the Valleys record shop owner Alun Kent is much more than a vinyl collector and enthusiast. The self-styled ”trusted custodian of rare recordings by Welsh bands and singers” says he is providing a unique international service for vinyl collectors to fill gaps in their personal collections. Mr Kent’s Heart of the Valleys record shop in Blackwood is a treasure trove of rare and iconic records going back to the early 1960s. In total, Alun’s collection exceeds 17,000 vinyl records from R&B, soul, Motown, rock, heavy metal to Northern soul and jazz. In total, Alun’s collection 
Regina, CA | Friends, customers reflect on legacy of beloved Regina X-Ray Records owner Dave Kuzenko: CJTR community radio co-founder and vinyl expert died on May 25. It’s been a hard week for Regina’s music scene as it mourns the loss of longtime local record store owner Dave Kuzenko. Kuzenko was well-known in the Queen City as 
Lanarkshire, UK | Music fan turns hobby into business by opening new record store: Callum Taylor, from Newmains, has launched Manse Road Music with his dad Robert and the new store has quickly become a firm favourite with locals enjoying the large selection of records old and new on offer. A Lanarkshire music fan has put his love of music and art into practice by opening a record store. Callum Taylor, from Newmains, has launched Manse Road Music with his dad Robert and the new store has quickly become a firm favourite, with locals enjoying the large selection of records old and new. And Callum’s girlfriend Jasmin Reid has been delighted with the success of the store in such a short time. “The store is filled with records, CDs, a jukebox and amazing artwork done by Callum. 
Perth, AU | Perth’s best record stores: Wax on, wax off with the best record stores in Perth. Dada Records: One of Perth’s – if not Australia’s – longest running independent record stores, entering Dada’s is like walking into a slice of history. Operating since 1971, and in its current CBD location since the 80’s, Dada’s has remained unchanged for decades – including Rob sitting behind the counter. Except, of course, for the constant influx of new stock. Boasting one of the southern hemisphere’s largest record collections, with both new releases and second hand vinyl, you’ll leave with your arms full of old favourites as well as new discoveries. The Record Finder: Speaking of crate digging… the crate digger’s mecca might just be The Record Finder. Another long-established vinyl dealer that’s been operating since 1966, this is where to get that hard-to-find vintage title or browse their collection of second hand cassettes. You might pay a premium, but for a one-of-a-kind find, 
