Another full moon and another new Peter Gabriel song from his upcoming album O\I. Fans can certainly get used to this, and have. All the songs being released monthly ahead of the full album release might mute sales, but Gabriel likely doesn't care about that as much as his record company does.
The latest single is "A Hard Lesson," and the "bright-sde mix" is the first version to be released. Every song Gabriel does now has a bright-side and dark-side mix, each version containing small discrepancies that make each worth listening to. The mixes don't get dropped on the same day, however.
As opposed to the slightly more pop feel of his previous single, "Won't Stand Down," which still packs a punch to its call for activism, "A Hard Lesson" begins much more like "Digging in the Dirt" coupled with an homage to his earlier, slightly prog albums. Gabriel has always created his own path and challenged himself and his fans.
Peter Gabriel drops "A Hard Lesson," but how good is it?
While the production of the song is far from dated, the feel of being an older gem makes sense due to Gabriel saying he has been working on this "quirky" tune since his days in Senegal in the 1990s. That is why the tune would fit on 1992's Us.
The bass is big on the track, with Gabriel's vocals somewhat understated, more speak-singing at times that outright extend lines. It works on the track, however.
Is the song a bit too long at 6:42? Maybe. A bit over halfway through, there is a slight breakdown that appears to serve little purpose. The track is a bit too repetitive, too. One might fumble for the pause button before the song is completely played through, though on a long car drive, the track makes for a nice background.
Of all the releases from O\I, which is expected to be released by the end of 2026, "A Hard Lesson" is not the best track. The positive part is that it's still a fine listen, and every song heard from the record so far is quite good. Now, fans just have to wait until the end of June for the next full moon to hear the next tune from the new album.
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