The Light, the Heat

When I study in public places, I frequently use music to block out the conversations around me. (Basically, I want to be where people are, so I don't sleep, but I also don't want any meaningful contact with them.) Tonight while I studied for my ethics midterm, I gave two spins to Peter Gabriel's So, his 1986 masterpiece that produced six singles (impressive considering the album has only nine tracks). It revived all my admiration. No other voice approaches Gabriel's smoky howl, and few songwriters can paint such textured beauty on the canvas of rock...if that's even what this is. So is proof that the 80's weren't a total wash.

For those of you whose only exposure to "In Your Eyes" involves John Cusack and a boombox, I give you the extended version from Secret World Live. If you don't have time for the whole cut, just watch the first minute to see what the crowd does with the lighters.