Fri Jun 09 2023
5
Peter Fuckin Gabriel, man 10/10
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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
1980
- Album Summary
Peter Gabriel is the third solo studio album by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released on 30 May 1980 by Charisma Records. The album, produced by Steve Lillywhite, has been acclaimed as Gabriel's artistic breakthrough as a solo artist. AllMusic wrote that it established him as "one of rock's most ambitious, innovative musicians". Building on the experimental sound of his previous self-titled studio album, it saw Gabriel embracing post-punk and new wave with an art rock sensibility. Gabriel also explored more overtly political material with the anti-war song "Games Without Frontiers" (which became a No. 4 hit and remains his joint highest-charting single in the UK) and the anti-apartheid protest song "Biko", which remembered the murdered activist Steve Biko. In the US, the album was titled Peter Gabriel III. The album is also often referred to as Melt, owing to its cover photograph by Hipgnosis. Some music streaming services currently refer to it as Peter Gabriel 3: Melt.
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Thu Nov 02 2023
3
Unorthodox but not totally uninviting.
Thu Jun 15 2023
5
Stupendous. 5 stars.
Wed Jul 05 2023
5
Intruder is the birth of the "gated reverb" drum sound that was ubiquitous in the 80s. Kate Bush's backing vocals on "No Self Control" are brilliant. Best songs "I Don't Remember", "Games Without Frontiers", but the whole album is great (the next one, aka "Security" is even better IMO).
Thu Jul 06 2023
5
Peter "Goblin Summoner" Gabriel coming in with another album, and it's probably my favorite of his. I love this silly guy. He seems very capable of casting evil spells and debuffs, but he uses his powers for good. I can definitely imagine Peter Gabriel sitting on a comically oversized boulder with dancing gnomes circling him like he's their nourishing mother (the nourishment being sweet tunes). I really enjoyed it. It's a 5/5.
Tue Jul 11 2023
5
Yes, first time listening to this Peter Gabriel album, and I think this is the best output from anyone related to Genesis I have heard and I’ll include the Genesis albums in that. Maybe because I’m more a post punk and new wave fan, but this is right up my street. Going to give this the full 5 stars.
Fri Sep 15 2023
5
And, with the sound of the gate, everything changed. The third installment of the Peter Gabriel tetralogy sees him further opening himself up to themes and scenarios only he could conjure up. The bleakness that surrounds this album could only be matched by the famous album cover, amongst the best that Hipgnosis have ever done and the sheer innovation throughout (the gated drums, the youthful production and the acknowledgement of Steve Biko and the predicaments that led to his death in apartheid South Africa and thus leading to everybody else's awareness of it) ensured that Peter Gabriel would always remain ahead of the curve for some time to come. Don't let the scary seeming vibes of this throw you off, it's best you'd immerse yourself in it.
Mon Oct 02 2023
5
WOW. I was so completely floored by this album, I don't know where to start. I listened through twice before I looked up on the Wikipedia and discovered all about its cultural significance, the first prominent use of gated reverb, all the connections with Phil Collins' drum sounds, the Fairlight, Kate Bush's contributions... etc. All wonderful errata to know. We have seen the best and the worst of the 80's, and I now can declare my allegiance solidly to the vision that these artists (with Steve Lillywhite producing) are pushing for. But none of that preamble really captures how it felt to hear this album for the first time. Which was a moment of real WOW. It floored me, from the first song almost all the way through. It's a complex, challenging, bold listen from a disturbed mind. Peter Gabriel never sounds more strident and more deranged, his soundscapes never more expansive and challenging. There are enough hooks, soaring melodies, rhythms to keep the ship on course, but as a listener you're just thrown into this chaotic world of staggeringly bold, almost atonal ideas. Little did I know that the album that the gated snare would come from contains multitudes... a real mission statement of sound. No wonder copycats abound. No wonder it took people a decade to work through this. If I had been learning guitar, drums, production when this album came out, I would have been obsessed. Just the guitar work alone by Robert Fripp is so challenging and groundbreaking. The strange Fairlight patches..!! It all sounds so singular. This is an album where it feels like all these strange new ideas really crystalize into a Sound. And it's a genuinely disturbing one! Bowie, of course, is the standard by which all art rock must be held up to, and there are some strong shades of Bowie in this album. But where I feel like Bowie in this period (the Berlin Trilogy etc.) feels weirdly aloof or absent from his albums, or doesn't commit all the way to the sound he is going for, this album delivers. It is full 100% balls-to-the-wall commitment to the insanity of the sound and the concept. I think it's the best Peter Gabriel album we've had, and it's maybe one of the best first listens I've had to an album in a long time. I'm so glad I'm doing this list. 10/10, 5/5.
Tue Jun 13 2023
4
suprisingly good artsy pog pop, didnt expect much when I started listening but the songs are consistently good. Enjoyable, 4 stars
Sat Nov 04 2023
4
Enjoyable album, a mix of unorthodox and some pop elements
Wed Oct 25 2023
3
Good, but also unsettling at times
Tue Oct 24 2023
2
Too experimental and shit for my taste
Fri Jun 23 2023
5
Best solo album from any member of Genesis.
Wed Jul 12 2023
5
These songs contain powerfully articulated messages about everything from mental health to apartheid. Peter Gabriel is also enough of a musician to wrap these songs in music that serves the message. Dark and easy to listen to.
Fri Jul 14 2023
5
Though this doesn't shy away from being challenging at times, the album fits well from start to finish. Biko, And Through the Wire and Games Without Frontiers stand out, but i also find the biting energy of things like Intruder as also well done. It's a great album.
Mon Jul 17 2023
5
Immediately listening to this blew my mind. The musicianship here is next level, as those such as Robert Fripp, Kate Bush, and Phil Collins, who employed a newly seeded style of drumming, reverb gated. There are also no bad songs on here, as such examples include the creepy opener, “Intruder”, 3 highlights of PG’s socio-political commentary, “Biko”, “Games Without Frontiers”, and “Family Snapshot”, and many more. Honestly, one of the greatest I've ever listened to yet.
Thu Jul 27 2023
5
4.5
Sat Jul 29 2023
5
Sublime
Wed Aug 02 2023
5
cool
Thu Aug 03 2023
5
This is the moment that Gabriel took control of his solo career and forged the path forward. It is the first accomplished album he produced after leaving Genesis. It is a landmark album in its style and impact on music for the next decade. He would only reach higher with subsequent projects both in ambition and popularity. I'm not quite sure that I agree with the general consensus that it is his masterpiece. I would probably give that to Us. However, it is brilliant and perfect, especially given its difficult subject matter.
Tue Aug 08 2023
5
Possibly the greatest post-Genesis album by any member.
Thu Aug 10 2023
5
I love when I get an album that I've owned on vinyl for 40+ years. An amazingly creative, eclectic, and interesting album. I think this is the album where everyone realized that Peter Gabriel as a solo artist was going to be a force to be reckoned with. My favorite PG album is actually his follow up to this, Security, but this is a close second. Every track stands on its own, yet the whole thing is cohesive. I love the way he was getting creative with percussion, and Robert Fripp's understated guitar playing also stands out to me. Not perfect, but still amazing, even after all these years. 5 stars.
Wed Aug 30 2023
5
Did anyone else grow up hearing Games Without Frontiers on classic rock radio and think Kate was singing \"She's so popular?\" What can I say, our education system in the States is severely lacking in the foreign language department. Anyway, is this Gabriel's best album? Maybe? I think that argument could be made. I'm not gonna try but this is as good as anything he's done. P.S. he's close to releasing an album, his first album of new and original material in more than 20 years, if he tours, walk don't run to get tickets, I saw him live about 30 years ago, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen.
Wed Sep 06 2023
5
Hot day after Labor Day - listened on drive to otter ponds with pooch
Thu Sep 14 2023
5
I just love the dark dystopian mode of the album. The recording and production is just amazing, the album has a stark feel but at the same time a very rich instrumental texture.
Mon Sep 18 2023
5
This was such a great album! It was balanced and full of life and I would definitely listen again.
Thu Sep 21 2023
5
5/5. Possibly a personal bias but I love Peter Gabriel already and this post-punk and industrial rock album is such a good combination. Each song is dripping with anger and fear, where it just ends up with the listener feeling the same way but also sad. Somehow it works and you feel uncomfortable but in a good way? Hard to describe but so good. Plus a great closer, powerful and political.
Mon Sep 25 2023
5
I love Peter Gabriel and everything he does, so I’m completely unsurprised that I loved this, too.
Thu Sep 28 2023
5
Amazing
Fri Sep 29 2023
5
I’d never listened to Peter Gabriel before, I always assumed he’d be quite bland / pompus for some reason. But this is everything but bland / pompus. Experimental pop on pills, really well put together and treads that line perfectly between being quite weird and unique without going too far. Some songs sound like huge film soundtracks, but innovstive enough to remain mint. It has all the good bits of prog rock without the faff. Highlights: Intruder, I Dont Remember, Through the Wire, Game Without Frontiers, Nob on a bus, Biko. Actually apart from that 80s sax track, the whole album is great. A 4.5 but I’ll round up
Mon Oct 02 2023
5
What a fantastic album. Peter Gabriel really is an incredible artist and it seems like he never fails to miss on an album. Listening through again, three of the first four songs are great (Intruder, No Self Control, and I Don't Remember). Also honorary mention, but this album sets up a great queue from Spotify at the end of it. Keep in mind when I need to mindlessly listen to classic rock during the work day. 5 stars I presume.
Mon Oct 02 2023
5
I was 47 years old before I realized that the drums don't play any cymbals or high hats. No metal played in the "normal" fashion. "Melt" is Gabriel's second-best solo work. So is #1.
Thu Oct 05 2023
5
Little rough sounding but love the songs.
Mon Oct 09 2023
5
I've been listening to this album on repeat for months & it's become one of my favorites. I got into a discussion with friends about Games Without Frontiers and pointing out that the female voice is singing in French, but the misheard lyrics sounds like, "she's so popular." I'm sure others mishear that, too. It's a solid tune & his most popular of the tracks on this album. Intruder is eerie & dark (I bet Nine Inch Nails could cover this beautifully) & And Through The Wire is an upbeat favorite. I appreciate Biko after learning about its message, and I hear that's how he's closing out his set on his current tour. Peter Gabriel was never a pop sensation, but he's incredibly talented & underrated. The way he crafts a tune is like no other. 5 stars.
Thu Oct 12 2023
5
Didn't think I liked Peter Gabriel but the longer I listened the more this seemed to click. Every song worked for me
Thu Oct 12 2023
5
Peter Gabriel does a fabulous job of walking the line between pop music and art rock experimentation. The fact that the ubiquitous gated reverb sound of the 80s was first minted here is a perfect illustration of that. I love that his label dropped him because they thought this was uncommercial, but then he went elsewhere and it went on to be the most successful album of his career up to that point. Shows you the general record buying public collectively have better taste and judgement than your average label execs. Couldn't ask for a better fuck you than that.
Thu Oct 12 2023
5
This is my fave Peter Gabriel album.
Fri Oct 13 2023
5
This album was absolutely phenomenal. While it sounds of its time, this album has so many contemporary sounds that would be right at home on a contemporary record. The lyrics are political and socially conscious, and the music itself defies genre and fuses prog with post-punk, art rock, and ambient music.
Wed Oct 18 2023
5
After a few weeks of very mediocre to poor offerings it was refreshing to finally receive an album that you really need to listen to before you die. With an all-star ensemble and production by the legendary Steve Lillywhite, how could you go wrong? I'm a big fan of prog rock pioneers Genesis, but admittedly prog is rather old fashioned and Gabriel has pushed the envelope with this post-punk, art-rock masterpiece that sounds nothing at all like his old band. Most notable is the dark, heavily percussive sound with no cymbals and the innovative use of the fairlight synthesizer. This album isn't perfect, but its close enough.
Wed Oct 18 2023
5
Reading that this album is nicknamed "Melt" brings back memories. I bought it on a visit to TO to see Heatwave in August '80 and left it (and a few less-memorable LPs) on my rear dash for the day! The vinyl looked just like Peter's face when I got back. This a newer and darker sound that reflects what was coming out of the UK at that time and it was smart to get Steve Lillywhite, one of the big "new wave" producers, on the controls. There are some great tracks, and while it's less eclectic than his first album, he still creates different soundscapes and brings in some interesting supporting players (Robert Fripp/Phil Collins/Kate Bush). It's a more political album with "Biko" and "Games without Frontiers", which is his best single, IMO. He starts to sound a bit predictable with "And Through the Wire" and "Not one of Us" but they're still exponentially better than the embarrassing stuff his x-bandmates wee putting out at that time. Not my favourite Peter Gabriel album, but still a 5.
Fri Oct 20 2023
5
vraiment très bon. J'adore peter gabriel et Biko ma jeter par terre. Je connaissais déja beaucoup de chnason de l'album. 5
Mon Oct 23 2023
5
damn
Mon Oct 23 2023
5
This was an incredible listen. Vaguely unconventional without being uninviting or remotely uninteresting. I was surprised that I recognized at least three songs here, thinking I only knew "Games Without Frontiers". This is right up my alley and I can see myself revisiting it many times in the coming years. I almost never grant an album 5 stars on my first listen, but I'm gonna do it here. Very, very cool.
Mon Oct 23 2023
5
Va ser el seu cènit. En els seus primers dos discos primava l’experimentació i després de ‘Melt’, sobretot amb ‘So’, van primar les melodies i la comercialitat. Aquí va ser on la barreja de tots dos mons va trobar el seu punt d’ebullició perfecte. Una obra mestra per començar la década màgica
Tue Oct 24 2023
5
LOVE IT
Sun Oct 29 2023
5
Eccentric and dark, but also heartfelt. Intelligent, richly layered compositions and top notch musicianship. Check out the deep bench of musical talent backing Gabriel up - Fripp, Collins, Weller, Bush. Not a bad track to be found. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Games Without Frontiers, I Don't Remember, No Self Control, Not One of Us, And Through the Wire, Intruder, Biko, Lead a Normal Life, Family Snapshot, Start
Tue Oct 31 2023
5
Just an awesome album, takes big balls to start your album with a song from the pov of a stalker.
Thu Nov 02 2023
5
This is a favorite album of mine. I never liked, either the overly-prog Peter Gabriel era or the cheesy pop monster Phil Collins era. I don't mind Gabriel's later pop albums, but they are not nearly as interesting as this. This is a strange album for a man who clearly didn't mind popular appeal. I really like the claustrophobic and weird production choices (no cymbals!) with interesting and tight players (Collins on drums, Fripp, Tony Levin, Kate Bush!) which all complement the paranoid and anxious songs. If anything, it feels like close relation to Bowie's Scary Monsters album, which came out around the same time. It's a mood that appeals to me. But I understand that it isn't to everyone's taste, but I really dig it.
Wed Nov 08 2023
5
Outstanding album. Biko is a big highlight and awesome closer. On par with So, but incredibly different 5
Thu Nov 09 2023
5
All time favorite
Wed Nov 29 2023
5
I was actually quite impressed with this, a low 5 But I just really dug the art rock elements for some reason.
Fri Jun 09 2023
4
хмммм не знаю..
Tue Jun 13 2023
4
I've gone through the entire Genesis library (90% garbage) Phil Collins library (90% low hanging fruit) Mike and the Mechanics (surprisingly good) and Peter Gabriel. The latter of which is really, the best. I had no idea what a genius he was. "So" is a near perfect album. Biko, I don't Remember, and Games Without Frontiers are bangers.
Tue Jun 13 2023
4
Pretty good
Wed Jun 21 2023
4
Really liked this one. Good variety of songs, just the right amount of experimentation, maybe a smidge too long No self control was my favorite, very catchy and atmospheric
Thu Jun 22 2023
4
Very solid. Most previous members of Genesis evolved a great style and made good solo work, Gabriel especially.
Fri Jun 23 2023
4
Seems very strong
Mon Jun 26 2023
4
Great! One expects Peter Gabriel to come up with something a bit left field - and he doesn't disappoint here. Is this the album where there isn't a single use of the cymbals? Despite his somewhat oblique take on pop and rock, there's nothing really difficult about anything on 'Melt'. Indeed, 'I Don't Remember' and 'Games Without Frontiers' (a hymnal to the knockabout game show fronted by a convicted sex offender?) are wonderfully catchy numbers. The album ends on the slightly downbeat, ruminative 'Biko', which, in a sense, acts as the heartbeat for everything else. Superb stuff. Jeux sans frontières indeed!
Wed Jun 28 2023
4
Another Kate Bush feature seals this one, just the right amount of familiar. Gabriel continues to master the easy pop form, spacy production (read as solid retrofuturism now), and unique percussion. This third outing circles the point instead of driving towards it, but very much has that referent.
Mon Jul 03 2023
4
Very strong
Mon Jul 03 2023
4
My favourite Peter Gabriel album (from what I've listened to). Games Without Frontiers is a career high
Fri Jul 07 2023
4
interesting collection of tunes on here. Loads of tunes i recognized that I didn't realise were him.
Wed Jul 12 2023
4
A bit spooky. 7/10
Wed Jul 12 2023
4
7/10. If this guy was really cool, he would have named all of his songs Peter Gabriel too.
Wed Jul 12 2023
4
Wanted SO bad to love this album and I think I finally came around. PGs voice is NOT it for me but looking past this superficial element to find the most haunting vibes on a pop album in recent memory.
Fri Jul 14 2023
4
Really nice. And Through the Wire was a bit unexpected.
Tue Jul 18 2023
4
It was good. Liked it better than I thought it would.
Fri Jul 21 2023
4
A stellar collection of songs. I have a slight preference for the Live versions of these but great nonetheless.
Fri Jul 21 2023
4
An enjoyable listen, a lot to like
Wed Jul 26 2023
4
Of very high quality, yes, and surpassingly original, but it does sound a touch dated, as tech-led music often does. What sets this apart is the use of tech with real rhythmic creativity (as on "Not One of Us"). "Games without Frontiers" is easily the best cut, but "Through the Wire," "Biko" and "No Self Control" are all good. Though accurate to say so, it's too easy to group PG with Eno, Bowie, etc. One gets the feeling that he's so cool that he would care not a whit about neither those not-inaccurate-but-way-too-easy comparisons nor the blatant ripping off by the Police and others '80s bands.
Mon Jul 31 2023
4
A bold statement from the former frontman of Genesis, continuing his exploration of world music and post punk. A triumph.
Sun Aug 06 2023
4
I love Pete Gabs and you should too
Tue Aug 08 2023
4
Dark, progressive and all-around high quality solo record from Gabriel featuring some innovative drumming - especially on the tracks featuring You-Know-Who.
Wed Aug 09 2023
4
This was very strange, but also... enjoyable? I'm pretty sure? I accidentally listened to the wrong album at first and it was exceedingly mid, so I came into this pretty annoyed, but it won me over! It lost me a couple times, but in general it was pretty enjoyable and dare I say quirky. Also, very strong more cowbell vibes!
Thu Aug 10 2023
4
Maybe not the outright classic I hoped for this didn’t fall into any of the prog art rock pit falls I feared it would
Sat Aug 12 2023
4
Very nice
Mon Aug 14 2023
4
Not my favorite Peter Gabriel but not bad either. Probably a 3.5, rounding to 4.
Thu Aug 24 2023
4
73/100
Tue Aug 29 2023
4
Banger after experimental banger.
Tue Aug 29 2023
4
I like the ominous lyrics and sound (the xylophone adds an interesting effect). "I Don't Remember" has 80s anthem strategy. The political/moral commentary is laid on a bit thick in some of the tracks, though, especially considering this is after Pink Floyd and the punk movement. The songs focusing on an individual work out much better, at least when listening from a modern perspective.
Fri Sep 08 2023
4
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Intruder, I don’t remember, Games without frontiers
Sat Sep 09 2023
4
I grew up thinking Peter Gabriel and all associated projects and bands were totally lame. Turns out I was wrong. At least with this album. Other stuff might be lame. But this one I really enjoyed.
Thu Sep 14 2023
4
Biko, I Don’t Remember, and Games Without Frontiers took me back to 1980 like a time warp. Glad for the trip, I really like those songs. A lot! There are a few forgettable tracks, we didn’t need the 80’s sax piece Start, but overall I think this is a strong record deserving of a place on the 1001.
Thu Sep 14 2023
4
Never listened to a solo Gabriel album before, although I have hours under my belt of early Genesis and know the hits from this and the other albums. So I was interested in how I'd feel about this. And it's interesting with lots going on, and lots that I like. The experimental feel is interesting - Invaders is pretty cool and there's a lot of variety. I loved that Lead a Normal Life reminded me of the Kometenmelodies from Autobahn, an album I fell in love with after listening to it again as a result of this list. And the variety is nice. I'd forgotten how good Games Without Frontiers, although I had no idea it was inspired by It's a Knockout. Suddenly Eddie Waring and, err, Stuart Hall were in my mind. Hmm... But a really strong tune with a nice hook. And, Biko. Oh my. I've not heard this for maybe 20, 25 years. But, fuck me, it's powerful. And a piece of utter brilliance. And it's easy to forget how important - damned important - it was in raising awareness of apartheid, with the British establishment doing nothing about it and Thatch about to make that situation worse. But does it belong on the album? An album that has variety as a virtue? I'm not sure it does. I love it, but I'm not sure it could belong on any album; it's just too big, too powerful. So. Enjoyed this very much. But it's not 5 stars.
Fri Sep 15 2023
4
Muy buen disco. Tiene cosas muy Génesis y otras no tanto.
Mon Sep 18 2023
4
I liked it but didn’t love it; I want to return to get a better opinion
Mon Sep 18 2023
4
What white dads who wear socks and sandals listen to when they want to feel dangerous.
Mon Sep 18 2023
4
3.5 * Okej slusao sam ga iz dva navrata al ova druga polovina mi je brutalna tkd mora se vratim na ovo. Games without frontiers najbolja pesma
Tue Sep 19 2023
4
Great album! It was like the sound track to a John Hughes film, if he made a horror film. Maybe he did? I don't even know, but it was fantastic!
Sat Sep 23 2023
4
Brill. This guy continues to show his chops as a solo artist just as he did in Genesis.
Mon Sep 25 2023
4
Not too fond of his voice, his rhythms always seems to drag, so the prospect of listening to this album did not immediately fill me with joy. But I did not expect this kind of art-rock. I actually liked it. Will listen some more.
Wed Sep 27 2023
4
Pretty good and creative songwriting, as to be expected from Peter Gabriel. He does fall into the weird for the sake of being weird trap a few times for me, but still quite liked this broadly. Favorite track: Lead a Normal Life
Fri Sep 29 2023
4
I didn't think I was going to like this. But it's actually pretty interesting! Definitely not a fan of it all, but there were some good tracks. I listened to it 4 times, so it must have something about it! Don't get many xylophones in music do you!? Highlights: I don't remember Family snapshot And through the wire Lead a normal life Games without frontiers (only one I recognised) 4, could've given more, but I don't like the opening few tracks particularly. I'll be back
Fri Sep 29 2023
4
Peter Gabriel has a very, very good voice and I greatly enjoy a few of his other songs (Solsbury Hill, Sledgehammer, and the incredible Don't Give Up), so I had decent hopes for this. I think this album is a display of musicianship. The best songs are No Self Control, and Nob on the Bus. Overall the first half of the album is significantly better than the second. The album could benefit from a bit of a trim and edit - there are a few loose tracks. However, it is definitely one of the best 4 stars I've given, but for me not quite a 5.
Sat Sep 30 2023
4
4. As I keep listening to this album, the better it gets. None of these songs feel bad or like they're filler songs. This album has a unique dystopian sound to it that fits it well. For me, though, I have high standards for albums, and I guess it's not enough for a 5
Mon Oct 02 2023
4
If Phil Collins and Billy Idol had a baby, it would be this record.
Tue Oct 03 2023
4
This album is great. Peter Gabriel was ahead of his time, and while I didn't care for his era leading Genesis (or Phil Collins' for that matter), his solo career is much more interesting, and this was a solid one.
Tue Oct 03 2023
4
Nice '80s vibes with darker alternative feel. Some tracks, especially opening track make me think of Mike Oldfield. Really like this album sonically as well. Listened to the remastered version so not sure how faithful it is to the original, but really nicely produced.
Wed Oct 04 2023
4
Definitely experimental, but still has some very catchy riffs and rhythms.
Wed Oct 04 2023
4
A nice surprise