Peter Gabriel 3

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.

Peter Fuckin Gabriel, man 10/10

Rock Recipes, Installment One: “The Peter Gabriel Melt” Ingredients: -One part Berlin-Era Bowie (in a pinch, a healthy portion of Eno will suffice) -One part self-absorption -One cup whole milk, slightly soured -The juice of one lemon, squeezed -Two Tablespoons of Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians (season to taste) Instructions: -Place ingredients in a large mixing bowl. -Hold mixing bowl at crotch level and stir vigorously for 46 minutes, then serve.

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.

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.

I wanted to like this more than I actually did (having been intrigued by the cover image since being briefly *extremely* into the Sledgehammer video when I was 10). It sounds great, and half of the songs are excellent, but the remainder are completely unmemorable. Much has been written about the drum sound developed herein; it's alright, but people - you're talking about the bedrock of Phil Collins' solo career (and, later, Metallica's hard rockin'), not the polio vaccine ffs

Too experimental and shit for my taste

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.

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.

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).

As a fan of 70s Genesis I've always been of the opinion that Hackett and Gabriel were the ones who made the band work, not Collins. Never dived deep into any of their solo work (or later day Genesis), but I've heard some stuff here and there. After listening to this, I can finally confirm my theory. I have now heard 2 Steve Hackett albums, 1 Peter Gabriel album and 1 Phil Collins album, as well as most of the 70s Genesis work and several singles by all 4 artists mentioned. Collins' Face Value is easily the worst album of the bunch and the only one I don't really like. No surprises there. What did surprise me is this third self titled album (known as Melt) by the former Genesis frontman. It's absolutely fantastic and doesn't lean into the outdated 80s pop production like Sledgehammer. It's artsy, has forward-thinking production and has laid the groundwork for a lot of 80s pop music. Gabriel is joined by a host of incredible musicians: his ex-bandmate Collins drums on several tracks, Kate Bush provides the backing vocals on No Self Control and Games Without Frontiers, Robert Fripp and Tony Levin of King Crimson play on a few tracks, as do Dave Gregory (of XTC), Paul Weller (of The Jam) and a bunch of others. It's all kept under control by Gabriel and the producer Steve Lillywhite. The result is some of the best art pop/rock of the time, several strong singles and an album I wish I'd heard before. There are 5 other Peter Gabriel albums I'd like to hear now.

Unorthodox but not totally uninviting.

Stupendous. 5 stars.

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.

Best solo album from any member of Genesis.

Enjoyable album, a mix of unorthodox and some pop elements

suprisingly good artsy pog pop, didnt expect much when I started listening but the songs are consistently good. Enjoyable, 4 stars

I like this album while not enjoying much of it. Its opener is hostile, and most of the rest comes across as well-constructed notes to a therapist - us, presumably. However, No Self Control is post-punk big hair rock, which is magical, and Games Without Frontiers and Biko are lovely. Both made a huge impression on me when I was small, and I’m grateful to have been brought back to them.

Good, but also unsettling at times

No more Peter Gabriel. This is a protest vote

Beyond Sledgehammer & In Your Eyes I'm not too familiar with Peter Gabriel's music - so I expected him to sound like Peter Frampton only because the was also named Peter. I'm glad to be wrong. The percussions here are insane, as is the dark atmosphere coupled with his commanding vocals. Very innovative and ambitious, but still listenable! Those dudes from Genesis made some great solo stuff, huh. Standout tracks are And Through the Wire, Intruder, and I Don't Remember.

Good album

vraiment très bon. J'adore peter gabriel et Biko ma jeter par terre. Je connaissais déja beaucoup de chnason de l'album. 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.

PG the 🐐

damn

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.

Hot day after Labor Day - listened on drive to otter ponds with pooch

Das berühmte Peter Gabriel Album 3 mit dem schmelzenden Cover. Es ist einfach ein Meisterwerk. Unglaublich. Spannende Arrangements. Vom ersten Töne bis zum letzten nur fasziniert.

Why don't I listen to more Peter Gabriel? So good.

His greatest work! I found this album in junior high and have loved it ever since!

Man Peter Gabriel is such a weirdo in a positive way. Most people hear Genesis and think of Phil Collins but this dude was leading some real out there prog rock and dressing like a giant sunflower doing it. This album is experimental feeling and doesn't land everywhere but it's a great addition to this list. Games Without Frontiers just sneaking in as a radio friendly song feels so strange, especially with what it's singing about. I find Family Snapshot a great example of what I like about this album. The vocals are so earnest, instrumentals are fairly complex and variable throughout the song, lyrics are strong. It's not a constructed song to follow a structure and does something unique. Great album. The mixing and engineering alone are better than most artists ever reach. Also, sick cover.

Choices are made and I like them. He uses some of the 80s sound that I tend not to care for and makes them bearable. Even the saxophone. The tracks have girth to them. These arrangements are so good. The lyrics are interesting. The vocal stylings hold my attention. I was going to list some tracks but I honestly find every track interesting. I like this more every listen.

This is my fave Peter Gabriel album.

After the first two of Peter Gabriel's albums, which has some good and great stuff in it, we come to the beginning of PG's run of top-notch albums. Ones with not a single flub in it (yes, even "Start"). There are at least 5 albums in the run, I wasn't overly impressed with "Ovo." It's a bold idea to not have any cymbals at all in the album, but they're not missed. The drumming by Marotta and Collins are exceptional. The otherworldliness basswise by Levin fits so many of the songs, like "Not One Of Us" and "I Don't Remember". Many people think "Family Snapshot" is about Lee Harvey Oswald, when it is in fact based on the diaries written by Arthur Bremer, the man who shot presidential candidate George Wallace in 1972. Weird fact: it happened in the town I live in, one of the bits of history here. "Intruder" I first heard on "Plays Live," so hearing the studio version is even creepier. I enjoy this album a lot, and it is such a quantum leap from his other work. I go back and forth on it being a 4 and a 5, but with "Biko" on there it pushes it in to the 5 category. The thing about it being here is that is the album relistenable? Do I listen to it and want to play it again? I don't know if I do right away, but there are definite tracks I love to go back to. Classic album for me.

One of my close friends in high school and college was a huge Peter Gabriel fan, so I heard a lot of his works during those years. I remember this album and it wasn’t my favorite back then. I’m curious to revisit it today… As expected, I was missing out back then. This is a terrific album! Memories of these songs came flooding back but they all sounded so much better. Such a very impressive album - I love it!

Didn't think I liked Peter Gabriel but the longer I listened the more this seemed to click. Every song worked for me

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.

Little rough sounding but love the songs.

One of my favourite artists, Gabriel's third album may be one of his strongest. He took his prog-rock background and added multiple influences, new wave and african rhythms most notably. Very innovative production for the time. Drums are compressed and tight, which would be the trend for the following decade. His political songs are my two favourite tracks (Games Without Frontiers & Biko) 4.5/5

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.

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.

Yes! Thank you. More like this.

I came across this album a few years ago and loved it. It is so weird, it doesn’t hold back at all and utilises loads of strange sounds and techniques. The songs are still accessible and catchy at times. I’m always happy to hear our Kate pop up.

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.

Possibly the greatest post-Genesis album by any member.

This is a great record. I enjoyed every listen, even from the first time I heard it.

After listening to this album, I graded too high on a couple others this week. This is a true 5 …. My favorite, Peter Gabriel album, and with the exception of Lead a Normal Life, there is not a song on this album that I don’t love (including the instrumental) ! Peter Gabriel does more with his vocals than any singer I can think of in terms of fluctuations in tone, pitch and vocalizations I could go through each song, but each has unique aspects either in the music, the vocals, or the lyrics, which are completely enthralling to me. This album and its songs don’t seem to pander to simplicity and popish stylings like some of his later songs which made it big on the charts seemed too do. Love this album and listened to it in its entirety 4 or 5 times this weekend ….

•Owned •After taking a few years to process his departure from Genesis, 3 (or Melt) is a breakthrough in PG’s career, with the artist focusing on themes that he would carry long after: war, tribalism, human rights. PG also plays with unpopular concepts, peaking into the minds of a home invader (“Intruder”) and an assassin (“Family Snapshot”—100 listens later and I’m still unsure if we’re meant to sympathize with him or not); only to conclude with a prayer for Steve Biko. A pivotal moment in a career of influence, Melt also introduced the gated reverb that would dominate the decade. •4.5/5

*****

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.

Amazing

I like his singing. He’s a really good songwriter this album definitely gets darker and weirder musically and lyrically. The instrumental is really interesting (Crazy fripp guitar sounds, synths, really beautiful fretless lines, huge sounding Phil collins drums) really cool how “And through the Wire” follows “Family Snapshot” 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.

First rate lyrics. First rate storytelling. First rate vocals. First rate musicality. First rate production. This album melts my face off: how about yours? Just six years before his third solo album, Peter Gabriel had recorded his bloated and brilliant swan song with Genesis, “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”. And six years after it, he’d be seeing chart success like never before with the smash hits of “Sledgehammer”, “Don’t Give Up”, “In Your Eyes”… all from the magificent “So”. “Peter Gabriel III” (actually just titled “Peter Gabriel” - all of his first four albums were) comes right in the middle, as he experimented wildly with sound, songwriting, and truly found his niche as a solo artist. As a fan of almost everything the man has ever touched, I wouldn’t hesitate to call this his greatest work. The lyrical content of the album reveals a motley crew of outsiders and misfits, some harmless and some very harmful indeed. Gabriel inhabits them all with aplomb: on many tracks, it’s the same mesmerising pantomime of his Genesis years, but without all the baggage and eye-rolling connotations of “prog rock”. Instead, here he is embracing cutting edge post-punk and new wave trends which have not aged anywhere near as badly. Production is absolutely nailed by Steve Lillywhite, an up-and-coming 25-year-old producer who’d already produced the debuts of Siouxsie and the Banshees, XTC and the Psychedelic Furs. The guest cast is phenomenal, too: Phil Collins is the first person we hear on the album, with the gated drum sound that influenced “In the Air Tonight” and pretty much the entire 1980’s. Paul Weller contributes razor-sharp guitar to “And Through the Wire”. Kate Bush appears on backing vocals twice, picking up inspiration along the way for her own masterpiece “The Dreaming”. And the songs! Some of the genre’s finest. “Intruder” is a bold and sinister opening from the perspective of someone breaking into a home: has a xylophone ever been used in such an artsy, sinister way since? “No Self Control” and “I Don’t Remember” crackle with paranoia and urgency, perfectly matched by the twisted soundscapes running through them. “Family Snapshot”, still my favourite song Gabriel has ever made, delves into the psyche of an assassin, wielding a heartbreaking flashback at the end as though it’s a novel rather than four minute song. “Games Without Frontiers” is a hit single of the most unexpected kind: a Lord of the Flies-style analogy of war, with French Kate Bush. And whistling. And an “Adolf” name drop. Glorious. Then there’s the bracingly catchy rock of “And Through the Wire”, the tongue-in-cheek, insular racist’s anthem “Not One Of Us”, and the inspiring majesty of “Biko”, which ends the whole set on an incredibly powerful note. Telling the story of Steve Biko, an activist killed under South Africa’s apartheid regime, it’s an undeniably moving track with the goosebumps-inducing final verse: “You can blow out a candle, but you can’t blow out a fire; once the flames begin to catch, the wind will blow it higher”. When I saw Peter Gabriel live, many years after he’d written these songs, he ended his whole set with “Biko”. After the last chorus had faded, he turned to the audience and said “what happens next, as always, is up to you.” And then he was gone, as the pounding drums continued through the darkness. A class act all the way.

Brilliant.

I listened to Peter Gabriel some when I was a kid but never took him seriously. This album seriously rocks though. The dude is underrated.

I love Peter Gabriel and everything he does, so I’m completely unsurprised that I loved this, too.

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.

The bar was high. The bar was met. 9/10

i couldnt listen to this for so long but i loved it once i finaly did

a great album from a great songwriter. i'm not at all surprised peter gabriel worked with the likes of phil collins... both are just incredibly talented men who have made countless amazing tracks. this album in particular has a sound all its own, gated drums, soft keys and... xylophones?

The man’s a legend

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

I was actually quite impressed with this, a low 5 But I just really dug the art rock elements for some reason.

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.

Yo this was so cool

He went so good out of Genesis

4.5

Such a great album. This album is where PG finally met the promise of his first two solo albums. Those albums are both good, but they are very uneven while this album is pretty much brilliant start to finish. The album after this (Security) is absolutely brilliant in its own right and it bridges the gap between Gabriel the art rocker and Gabriel the 80s megastar (with So, which is also on the 1001), so I'd call this one the pinnacle of Gabriel the art rocker - not that he ever stops being an art rocker, he's just more accessible after this. So many great moments, although some of the lyrics make me want to ask, "Pete, are you ok??" (e.g., Intruder, No Self Control, and Family Snapshot - all of those songs are brilliant takes on paranoia). If anyone ever asks you, "hey, what's a Chapman Stick sound like?" (hey, it could happen) then point them to I Don't Remember. Super cool song built entirely on the Stick - Tony Levin is awesome. And, of course, there's also Games Without Frontiers, with Kate Bush incomprehensibly singing Jeux sans frontieres ("Games without Frontiers" in French). Great song, with a serious message. Not One of Us is also a good rocker (love the line "How can we be in, if there is no outside?"). Finally, Biko is absolutely iconic (and tragic). Peter Gabriel often ends his concerts on this song (at least the main set, that is) and it's spine tingling to sing along with the whole audience as the band walks off one by one. This is pretty much a perfect album to me, made more so by the latest remastered version which seriously improved the sound quality. Easy 5.

Sublime

This is definitely a product of its time, but not in a bad way. Peter Gabriel may be the crème de la crème of 80s music. Truly a great album that I was not familiar with prior to listening.

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.

no, peter gabriel 5

I didn't know this album apart from the tracks that appear on his greatest hits album (I Don't Remember, Games without Frontiers, and Biko). I love all three and this album gets high marks just for those. I'm not sure the rest of the album added much to my already significant appreciation for Gabriel but neither did it detract.

I immediately recognized a few tracks and I knew I love them, but the rest were unfamiliar. Okay, that was all lovable!

cool

I think it's official that I am more of a Peter Gabriel fan than I even thought I was. I really, really enjoyed this album and found it made a good connection between the 70s and 80s versions of his work. I had not heard these songs before (except for the "She's so popular" song, as I thought of it in the 80s, which of course, it never was).

As a rock music artist, Peter Gabriel is one of the true master craftsmen. This album demonstrates the range of his creativity. The compositions and arrangements are so diverse while retaining a clearly recognizable sound that is all his own. A warning to those unfamiliar with this album, the lyrics can be a bit disturbing, as he delves in to the darker side of the human condition. Despite that, I could listen to this album again and again.

Mmmm Peter Gabriel. The perfect mix is experimental and pop music.

Such a good album just not a weak song in the bunch and Biko, Games Without Frontiers and I Don't Remember are stone cold classics with And Through The Wire not far behind. Just nothing negative to say about this album. Peter Gabriel's best and an easy 5 star reccomendation

This was such a great album! It was balanced and full of life and I would definitely listen again.

I am blown away by this, though So is a fave of mine so I might have known. There is something about PG that appeals to me, possibly his unhinged side. Have listened to it 4 times now and it just keeps getting better. It makes me feel some kind of way lol

This took me 2 listens, 1st on my car speakers 2nd with headphones. I am so glad I gave it another listen, as this album is so cool. I had never listened to Peter Gabriel and had no idea about his sound, and I actually kind of hated it on 1st listen, but with a little more attention, this judt sounds so good. My favorites here are No Self Control and Games Without Frontiers.

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.

So I was a big Genesis fan growing up – both the Peter era, as well as the Phil era after Gabriel left in 1975.. I remember those first 3 solo albums, as we referred to them as “Car”, “Scratch”, and “Melt” – and all contained morsels of goodness, but “Melt” was the album that really established Peter as a solo artist… This album is loaded from top-to-bottom, and is truly exceptional… I remember when this came out, I read that Phil Collins – who played drums on the album, shared that Gabriel told him that there was only one condition he had to agree to in order to play on the album, and that was that he could not use any cymbals… Absolutely brilliant move – as that forced Phil to be more inventive with his playing on that album, which really contributed to the experimental vibe that definitely came through on “Melt” … In 1983 I bought Peter's "Plays Live” album, which contains 6 of the tracks from “Melt” – along with some of the top songs from “Car” and “Scratch”, and I absolutely wore that vinyl out – literally… All of the "Melt" tracks translate exceptionally well in the live environment – especially “Biko” which closes the album, can’t recommend that live album enough! On “Melt” the best tracks IMO were “Games Without Frontiers”, “Biko”, “No Self Control”, and “I Don’t Remember” – as each was stunningly well-done… “Intruder”, “Family Snapshot”, and “Not One Of Us” are also top-shelf – just a notch below my top group… “Start” is just an instrumental, but works nicely as a lead-in to “I Don’t Remember”, and “And Through The Wire” & “Lead A Normal Life” are also solid tracks as well… Wasn’t quite sure if I was going to give this a 4.50, 4.75 or to make it a 5.00, but I think based on the strength of the tracks up-and-down this album – plus then factoring in the creativity and ingenuity that this album displayed in 1980 – especially being so different from his old-school Genesis work – well, that definitely kicked it up to a 5.00 for me no doubt…

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.

'She's so funky, yeah!'

Outstanding album. Biko is a big highlight and awesome closer. On par with So, but incredibly different 5

Just an awesome album, takes big balls to start your album with a song from the pov of a stalker.

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

This was a weird little record, which I really enjoyed. Probably would need a few listens to fully get into, but first impression was intriguing. And anything Kate Bush shows up on is worth re-listening to. Reading the book entry/wikipedia page on this also is well worth doing - loads of cool little details that make it more interesting still.

Peter Gabriel is quite a revelation. Felt something move inside me.

LOVE IT

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.

April 22, 2024 HL: “And Through the Wire”, “Games Without Frontiers”, “Lead A Normal Life”, “Biko”, “Family Snapshot”, “I Don’t Remember” Have heard maybe 3 songs from this album before. I don’t know why I find early new wave/electronica so fascinating! There’s a restless energy it often possesses- OMD, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream- that strange Byrne/Eno collab- that’s infectious, even if not all of it lands. “Melt” lies at those crossroads, but at the same time the songs are bristly and direct, unlike the spacey abstractions in the previous examples. In Gabriel’s hands, political fury becomes theatre (“Games”, “Biko”, “Not One of Us”), and the music alternates between abrasive and beautiful, sometimes both, to elevate the message of each song. That first droning note cutting through the spiritual intro to “Biko”- chills! One of the best albums I've listened to this month

Brilliant album and surprisingly a fairly clear NIN influence.

Just wow. What an incredible album. Steve Lillywhite produces a masterpiece. Gabriel is such a great songwriter and his voice is so powerful.

All time favorite

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