9. New Blood (2011)

After the slightly botched experiment that was Scratch My Back, Gabriel wasted no time plotting his next move — no one wanted to cover his songs, so he decided to do it himself. Armed with a well-rehearsed orchestra (and arranger John Metcalfe), he measured his entire body of work, re-interpreting 14 of his most malleable tracks. Fortunately, Gabriel steered clear of his greatest hits, working with the material best suited for an orchestral facelift. “San Jacinto” (already one of his most masterful songs) is startlingly emotional here, building to a seismic climax; “Downside Up” (featuring a lovely vocal turn from Gabriel’s daughter, Melanie) is transformed from new-age goop to moody epic. The low-point is a steroidal take on “Don’t Give Up,” which is marred by Ane Brun’s obtrusive vibrato.