Peter Gabriel: Hit

Since the release of his serviceable single-disc compilation Shaking The Tree in 1990, Peter Gabriel has released only two collections of new songs, 1992's Us and 2002's Up. Gabriel's new anthology Hit nevertheless runs to two discs, not by filling in gaps from his early solo career, but by loading up on Up, Us, and scattered soundtrack contributions. While Hit includes conspicuous Shaking The Tree refugees "In Your Eyes" and "The Rhythm Of The Heat," it loses the superb "Mercy Street" and "I Have The Touch," and offers nothing new from the '80s or before. Gabriel's past decade hasn't been as dire as funkless beatloads like "Steam" and "The Barry Williams Show" might suggest: People who tuned out after Shaking The Tree have missed subtle, insinuating cuts like "Blood Of Eden," "I Grieve," and "Father, Son." Still, it's annoying how some artists allow the cream of their crop to get diluted. Hit has more to skim from than Shaking The Tree, but not much more.