Reviews (page 4 of 7)
I like Peter Gabriel, I like this album. Would listen to again.
Fun listen, having only heard games without frontiers before I really enjoyed the rest of this.
Pleasantly surprised by this one. I really dont care for Genesis at all, but this was pretty different from that, in a good way.
Seems mentally unwell and a bit unsettling but bangs
An underrated and forgotten release in Gabriel's catalog. Just as prog as his other releases, this one differs as it is dark, foreboding, and atmospheric based on contemporary post-punk releases, which you can hear in the hollow drum machine, punk-like vocals (but still mostly pop), and sporadic and concerning instruments that come in and out almost out of desperation or temperament. In some cases, it reminds me of fellow art pop artist Kate Bush, while other times, the instrumentals give off vibes of Siouxsie or The Cure. Yet songs like "And Through the Wire" show he hasn't completely re-invented himself, with his signature pop style, without being inconsistent with the rest of the record. It has its hits, most notably the outstanding infectious "Games Without Frontier". It features the epic anti-apartheid theme "Biko" which unfortunately has lost its emotional impact through the decades, but is still a powerful ending. I also enjoyed the fitting ambient interludes "Start" and "Lead A Normal Life" (although the latter should be shortened). Only song I didn't like was "Family Snapshot" which felt like a budget Bruce Springsteen and had a screwed up sound mixing at the end. I did enjoy all the other tracks, just some more than others. "Games Without Frontier" shows this record could have been even more impressive, but it's an outstanding record that gives Gabriel fans something they wouldn't see elsewhere in his catalog.
Interesting
super dark and disturbing album. Can really see the groundwork for dark wave, new wave, goth, etc. Loved Phil Collins on the drums for "intruder" and you can sort of hear him playing around with drum sounds that would later lead to "In the Air Tonight". I had a lot of fun with this album and hadn't listened to it prior. Especially loved the end track, Biko.
Peter Gabriel was amazing and his music holds up. Games without Frontiers is an example of 40 + years of relevance. Genesis was one of my favorites.
Exceptionally prog, with some odd drumming (explained on Wikipedia) and complex lyrics - about many different topics. I like it, but I think I prefer his earlier work
Fantastic album. The era of awesome drums.
I was very surprised by this. It is rock with creativity and emotion, and it worked well!
Jaha! Två album i rad. Gillar den här skivan mer. Lite råare och punkigare. Family Snapshot, Games Without Frontiers och Biko är ju klassiker men gillar de andra låtarna mycket också. Får en 4a.
The album cover guy looks like the actor who plays Neville longbottom… anyways this guy knows how to make music, I don’t think this album is my fav thing ever and I don’t know that I’d relisten to a ton of this but I think it’s done well and sounds good, solid 8/10
2024-04-11...
Durchmischtes Hörerlebnis mit guten Ausreisser
he knows rhythm is what makes music go
This may be where Peter Gabriel truly became Peter Gabriel the solo artist but the only song I know is Games Without Frontiers - a classic. The sound of the opening track Intruder is off-putting but the lyrics are thought-provoking, which of course they would be for Gabriel. I'm not sure I can take that for a whole album. Luckily I didn't have to. The rest of the album has some strange, unique musical stylings but it's much more melodic - and the lyrics continue to make you think. Some highlights were No Self Control (the marimba kicks ass), Family Snapshot (love the tempo changes), And Through the Wire (edgy, rocking), and Biko (we know where Gabriel went on future albums with African-inspired music but the political commentary make this that much better). This album definitely gets better and better on every listen. I'd say it's more or less a 3.5, but I think I'd probably creep up with a few more listens so I'll give it the bump to a 4.
Overall, this is excellent. Still really fresh and relevant. His sound is really unique and balanced. Almost economical. Nobody else could pull this off.
Peter Gabriel is one of the great singing voices of the 70's and 80's. Between his work with Genesis and his solo work, he has a truly impressive catalog. This is the 3rd of 4 albums he released after leaving Genesis, all titled "Peter Gabriel". The marketing folk must've really hated him. This is the most successful of those 4 albums, topping out at #1 in the UK and #22 un the US. "Games without Frontiers" is outstanding (if only reasonably successful) hit, and "Biko" and "No Self Control". made some splash if few ripples. Overall, this is a very solid album, though several steps behind his 1986 masterpiece "So". The sound is great, though obviously 1980. I thing Gabriel was still developing his style as a solo artist, his voice apart from Genesis. Quite a lot of these 1st 4 albums can be defined as quirky, almost trying not to be successful. Which is not meant as a negative, this is original, and interesting, and occasionally compelling. I remember the big songs from this album, the ones that ended up on "Plays Live". But I had not heard the entire album until today. I enjoyed it though, and will put it in the play-again pile. 4/5
Progresivo, interesante y rockero.
Wow, stunning album. For something made 45 years prior, the sounds and styles still hold up really well. Very pleased by the different takes on the 80s pop aesthetic, possibly pioneering a genre? Really enjoyed this listen.
Pretty classic Peter Gabriel. Voice is pretty unique. 4.5
Yes, I heatd as teenager from my sister
This record is great. It is what I think art rock/experimental music should be. Only thing keeping it from a 5 is the lack of certified bangers that you can always listen to.
After I listened to this album, one word came to mind: thoughtful.
Solid album! Not my favourite of his but definitely in my tops!
Album 337 of 1001 Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel 3 Rating : 4 / 5 Good album. Probably one of his best. A lot going on and worth another listen.
An unexpected aspect of Peter Gabriel. Worth discovering
8/10 - 4/5 Much creepier and artier than I expected. Love the prog elements that made their way in. Really solid theme and cohesive sound throughout.
The 80’s used to do me dirty. I used to really dislike 80’s music for a handful of superficial reasons. But this project has helped to rectify that. I’m not completely sold, but I’ve found an in and sometimes that’s all I need. This is the best of the 80’s albums I’ve heard thus far, and I had low expectations. I expected commercial rock, some superficial and overdone. But this was the work of an artist. The creativity of sound here. The use of different sounds, engineered and otherwise, is phenomenal. Sometimes it hits and sometimes it doesn’t, but he’s trying to be creative, to be different, to be interesting. And overall it works and I’m really pleased to have heard this. 4 stars. Standout tracks: Intruder, No Self Control, Start, I Don’t Remember, Not One of Us
I absolutely love Peter Gabriel’s voice. Such a rich tone. I find his music needs listening to properly (although he has had a few radio friendly pop tunes) and I had to give this a second listen under my headphones when I had time to myself. As background music it feels a bit odd in places. Now that I’ve given it my undivided attention, it is another fantastic piece of art. I can really sense his obsession with the arrangements, so much goes into the use of percussion and the overall composition. Never been this far back in his catalogue and glad that I now have
'Games Without Frontiers' is an absolute banger of a song. It used to scare me as a young child. What was it about 1980, which produced many iconic songs which the ambiguous or just plain odd lyrics left an impression on me? One thing I remember about this album was that PG banned cymbals, I do think sometimes they can be overused by many bands, but no cymbals definitely creates an intruiging muted atmospheric sound. I was never a fan of 'Biko', which Simple Minds went on to wind up the nation with a cover, I hate the Lion King and it always reminds me of that. Fascinating experimental post punk which is a million times better than anything his previous band ever managed in their over long career. Another 4.
more pop stars should do songs about assassinations
The opening song on this album, "Intruder", is like a template for Trent Reznor. It's also amazing how different his sound can be from song-to-song; track 5, "Family Snapshot", is such an emotionally-driven yacht rock song.
Ej det var faktisk bedre end forventet. Det skal jeg dykke ned i igen senere. 👌
Det absolut mest overraskende lyt ind til videre. Jeg havde forventet noget 80er pop hen af Sledgehammer, men det jeg fik lænte sig mere op af Joy Division. Lyden er beskidt, atmosfærisk og unik.
Surprisingly dark, I only knew PG from his hits and they aren’t like this.
Innovative, unique, and makes me want to listen to more Peter Gabriel. Not often you hear an effectively used Marimba but it absolutely works. Could see changing this to a 5 in my head on subsequent listens.
Love Peter Gabriel, love this album!
1. 4.7 2. 4.6 3. 4.4 4. 3 5. 3.5 6. 4 7. 4.4 8. 3.2 9. 3 10. 4.3
Peter Gabriel is amazing. So inventive, so creative, so expressive, so intelligent. I love his music…..except Biko. It might be an important political expression, but it’s a dull song - especially to end the album. It’s the only thing keeping this from a five-star rating. But, wow, there’re some great songs on here!
3.75/5
A Great album from Gabriel. For me it is one of the High peaks in his discography
Certainly an intriguing album that I would like to spend some more time with. Lead A Normal Life is so chilling. Games Without Frontiers is a classic. No Self Control is my fave today.
Moody! Got a kind of dystopian vibe to about half the album that I dig. Also, this is a fun exploration of sounds. "No Self Control" is heavy on the xylaphones, and sounds like it could have come out this year. "Start" lets rip with the wailing saxophones and suddenly we're firmly in the 80s. 😆 Fave track - "Games Without Frontiers" - that's some sinister shiz
Quirky and funky. I haven't listened to much of Peter Gabriel's solo work, and this record makes me want to hear more. It's weird as hell, but kind of fun!
Some very interesting songs
Another Great Gabriel. This one is known as "Melt" because of the melting face on the cover. 5/5: Games Without Frontiers, Biko, I Don't Remember, Intruder, And Through the Wire, No Self Control, 4/5: Start, Family Snapshot, Not One of Us, Rating: 4.5/5
Good stuff! Beautiful arrangements and great singing
After listening to a few of his albums now, I've come to the conclusion that I really like Peter Gabriel. His music is more then I expected and has such a unique point of view. Quite enjoyable, will listen to more
One of my favorite artists. Easily one of his best albums.
Relly good. Who knew!
Weird vibes and cool music. I liked it a lot.
Never heard this album before, though I’m familiar with the hits. Overall, this is excellent. Still really fresh and relevant. His sound is really unique and balanced. Almost economical. Nobody else could pull this off.
easy to tell this one is from the 80s. I thought it was kinda experimental in its rhythms and instruments.
This is chaotic, unorthodox, art rock as expected by Gabriel but kind of steering away from the commercial singles he's capable of producing. As with another recent album (Tori Amos) I would be inclined to rate this lower based on personal taste (I didn't like the album very much) but I am going to acknowledge the history here and the giant steps taken that defined a decade in music.
I had heard the name Peter Gabriel floating around through exploring music before but had no idea of his background or music, a quick google search lead me to the band Genesis which, being someone from the UK who grew up in the 2000’s, meant my only knowledge of the band was through the classic Top Gear which made me slightly apprehensive. I didn’t know what to expect from this album but the intro definitely settled me in for an experience I wasn’t necessarily expecting. The opener “Intruder” was quite an eye opening introduction as it gave me many similarities to the band Swans, in which I grew to be a fan of last year. This flipped my initial perspective upside down and I can confidently say it only got better from there. I have to praise the variety of instruments on this album such as the brass instruments on what I believe to be an interlude “Start”, some keyboard on “Family Snapshot” and what I can only imagine is a xylophone on the first 2 songs. All of these are great and yet there is still such a strong 80’s sound on a handful of songs such as “I Don’t Remember” which is such a groovy guitar tune I can’t say anything bad about it, similarly with the song “And Through The Wire” which is also great. I would give this album a 5 if it wasn’t for the last 2 songs, not that they’re bad at all but they’re mostly instrumental driven and both instrumentals just don’t do a lot for me they seem a bit bland, I do enjoy the vocals at the end of the last track however, but it’s not enough considering these take up over 10 minutes of run time on the album. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable listening experience and I hope to hear some more Peter Gabriel either in his solo work or through Genesis.
One thing I’ve always respected about Peter Gabriel has been his willingness to experiment and his seeming lack of concern about doing what will sell. The results aren’t always accessible, but they’re at least always interesting. This album is a perfect example of that approach.
Difficult to rate. Not sure I’ll ever listen again but I appreciate how weird and dark it got. I like his singing and the production.
really fun pop album with a lot of variation - emotional shifts throughout each individual songs. Peter Gabriel is a brilliant musician.
Intruder- 8/10 No Self Control- 7/10 Start- 8/10 I Don't Remember- 10/10 Family Snapshot- 8/10 And Through the Wire- 10/10 Games Without Frontiers- 9/10 Not One of Us- 7/10 Lead a Normal Life- 5/10 Biko- 6/10 78/100
Surprisingly good
One of his best albums to date.
He's so interesting. Never boring. Standouts: Biko, Games Without Frontiers, I Don't Remember, Others: Intruder, No Self Control, Family Snapshot, And Through the Wire, Not One of Us 4/5
Fantastic! Have rediscovered Peter Gabriel.
Bold and expansive, this starts out hard and stays pretty hard throughout. It's something I'm glad I've listened to, although not something I would necessarily want to listen to again.
First album of what I would class world music. Every nice with the brilliant Biko.
Deezer refers to this album as \"Peter Gabriel 3: Melt.\". Good enough progressive Rock.
Never heard of this before but I really enjoyed it. Experimental rock is usually either a big hit or a big miss with me and this was a hit
This was a good album and introduced me to some new tunes. My favourite track off this album was the first one Intruder
Wow. You can see how Nine Inch Nails were influenced here. For two tracks it's really out there. Sadly a saxophone comes in after that, because it's the 80s. It's a bloody good album though. Odd, and pleasantly uncomfortable.
Jeg liker visst Peter Gabriel. Who knew? Hadde jeg hørt på dette mens jeg var stein hadde det nok utløst et MASSIVT panikkanfall. 10/10
Unexpectedly alternative. A bit of a revelation. I like it. Sounds a little like Bowie - Scary Monsters type of thing.
Great album. I hadn’t listened to a lot of his stuff but it rocks.
11/9/23. Only have listened to a little Peter Gabriel. I can’t pinpoint any examples, but it sounded like a lot of artists I like have taken influences from this album, a lot of familiar song structures and ideas I hear today!
I liked it, no self control, I don’t remember, through the wire, and games without frontiers were my favorites
I’ve now heard all three of his solo albums on the list (haven’t gotten So, but I’ve heard it). Surprisingly, I think this is my favorite. The songs on So felt prolonged and slow, with that 80’s production I’m not a fan of, and Car didn’t grab my attention. With this album, though, I enjoyed the songs on it, including ‘No Self Control’, ‘And Through The Wire’, and ‘Games Without Frontiers’. I also like the weirdness through the whole album. Just good.
Maybe my favorite Gabriel solo album. It hits the exact right mix of his ear for poppy catchiness with his experimentation. So many fantastic sounds on this album.
Some still sound innovative which is quite an achievement. Don't really vibe with many songs though
una bonita fusión que usa percusión tipo marimba, medio tropical para ir desde lo lirico hasta lo meramente instrumental. buen album.
Of the genesis alumni, Gabriel was always the most interesting. Nothing against Phil Collins, mike Rutherford Tony Banks or Steve Hackett, but their work, while often superb is much more… predictable shall we say. In Banks' case, I may be being a bit harsh but still… Even though he’s very capable of playing it, would Phil have given us a hit single in 7/8? Gabriel did with the unspeakably great Solsbury Hill. This is not Gabriel's most interesting album, but it’s not a bad one at all. Jeux sans frontieres is pretty incredible. And of course he was exploring what is now condescendingly called world music years before Paul Simon blessed us with Graceland. Gabriel’s lineup, which includes Phil, but not Mike or Steve, has some incredible players, and the songs fit them. I tend to prefer the later Gabriel stuff, but this is a good throat clearer. I’m sick of whinging about Dimerys choices, so I’ll give this 3.8 rounded to 4.
Got the CD, bought in Sneek long long ago. It was cheap(er) cause it did not have the leaflet but I was able to get a photocopy in the copyshop nextdoor.
Great
Baita som, consistente, curti
Gabriel going crazy on the mic.
“Intruder“ had sad boy vibes to it. Just sweet sweet Sax…. ophone. These songs were in every song you heard in any 80s movie. Loved the random screams/moans? “Family Snapshot” was just bloody awful and just out of place compared to the rest of the album. “Games Without Frontiers” sounded somewhat Indie- before it’s time (the whistles were a nice touch) and will 100% be added to my personal playlist. The deeper I got into the album the more I got into it. Is this the singer from the Tarzan movie? Wait, wtf. Phil Collins is the drummer in this album. That stole each others voices. I was interested what he was singing about in “Biko” and it has a super interesting Google read about Steve Biko. Overall I was really surprised how much I liked this album and rate it a 7/10.
Decently fun and creative for the time. However I find it hard to listen to a lot of older albums due to the recording / production quality. Again good for the time I'm sure but modern music is much higher fidelity and often much more engaging and enjoyable for me.
Unexpected: didn't think I would enjoy this album as much as I did. Honestly coming from someone I have never heard of it was amazing. The main man of Genesis (a band I also have never listened to) this solo project felt familiar. It almost sounded Bowie-esque which was a pleasant surprise. Had to add a couple of the songs to the like bc the guitar was just so good. Would totally listen again.
Quite the murderers row of people playing on this. Phil Collins, Robert Fripp, Kate Bush? Damn. I love some of the songs, but a few didn't feel anything for or found myself annoyed by (specifically the opener "Intruder"). Call it a 3.5 overall. Favorite tracks: "No Self Control", "I Don't Remember", "Lead A Normal Life"
Funny - I had his first two albums, quite liked them and never bought another one of his albums. Unlike his prior LP, I could actually listen to some of this one on the radio. GWF and Biko are both beasts and enough to get a 4 but there are also other goodies on this one like I Don't Remember.
interesting. i didnt realize this album was from 1980. feels ahead of its time
Great music! I hadn't heard any of these songs before as I'm not super familiar with Peter Gabriel's work, other than the quintessential "Sledgehammer ", but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this album. Very 80's.
Some solid Gabriel. I am intrigued by the decision not to use cymbals, and it apparently causing Phil Collins to create the first use of gated reverb - a dubious sound that would become ubiquitous, but I actually don't mind it here. Also interested in the fact that his label wouldn't put it out, despite him feeling like he had found his voice on it, and obviously time tells us doubting it was a mistake. So far I like this and I could see it growing on me more with additional listens.
I didn't realize that Peter Gabriel ever released an album that was inspired by post-punk and new wave. A real surprise in a good way. 3.5/5
Great album!
Always enjoy listening to Peter Gabriel. Some great tracks on here with Biko being a personal favourite from this album.
Loved the experimental sound!
A nice surprise
Definitely experimental, but still has some very catchy riffs and rhythms.
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.
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.
If Phil Collins and Billy Idol had a baby, it would be this record.
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
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.
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
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
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.
Brill. This guy continues to show his chops as a solo artist just as he did in Genesis.
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!
What white dads who wear socks and sandals listen to when they want to feel dangerous.
I liked it but didn’t love it; I want to return to get a better opinion
Muy buen disco. Tiene cosas muy Génesis y otras no tanto.
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.
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.
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.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Intruder, I don’t remember, Games without frontiers
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.
Banger after experimental banger.
73/100
Not my favorite Peter Gabriel but not bad either. Probably a 3.5, rounding to 4.
Very nice
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
Dark, progressive and all-around high quality solo record from Gabriel featuring some innovative drumming - especially on the tracks featuring You-Know-Who.
I love Pete Gabs and you should too
A bold statement from the former frontman of Genesis, continuing his exploration of world music and post punk. A triumph.
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.
An enjoyable listen, a lot to like
A stellar collection of songs. I have a slight preference for the Live versions of these but great nonetheless.
It was good. Liked it better than I thought it would.
Really nice. And Through the Wire was a bit unexpected.
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.
7/10. If this guy was really cool, he would have named all of his songs Peter Gabriel too.
A bit spooky. 7/10
interesting collection of tunes on here. Loads of tunes i recognized that I didn't realise were him.
My favourite Peter Gabriel album (from what I've listened to). Games Without Frontiers is a career high
Very strong
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.
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!
Always have found myself more fond of the Gabriel era of Genesis, but have never listened to any of his solo work. Opens on an unexpected note with Intruder. Vibe could be described as pop/punk industrial. Moody atmosphere lead largely by a drum clomp and some eerie synth lines. Start -> I Don't Remember was a pretty sick transition. The latter song is pretty cool. Enjoy the spaced out 80s guitar (similar to Eminence Front in a way) with the repetitive bass hook. Games Without Frontiers feels really familiar. I've either heard the chorus sampled elsewhere or have encountered this song in some other form. Either way, its a fine and quirky little song. Sounds vaguely of Bowie and features a whistle track. This was a pretty disjointed listen for me, so not the best for making an overall impression. At the core, I feel like I enjoyed more about this album than I didn't. There were several songs that grabbed my attention, a few that fell to the background completely, and none that I didn't like. I would say this straddles a line somewhere between a high 3 and a low 4 for me.
Seems very strong
Very solid. Most previous members of Genesis evolved a great style and made good solo work, Gabriel especially.
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
Pretty good
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.
хмммм не знаю..
Peter Gabriel would be so good if only he’d shut the hell up. Musically a lot of this album is absolutely incredible, but he pretty much ruins it with his insufferably earnest vocals.
Not bad and it could grow on me with more time
I don't get it.
I don’t really see what’s so special about this. It’s not bad but it didn’t wow me
Not great, not terrible...
Just okay
Three is about right
Review - two Peter Gabriel's in short succession. Not as good as So, but an interesting album. Some fun synth parts, weird bass lines, and he's a good singer. Worth hearing. Score - 6.5/10 Need to listen? YES
Better than I expected.
Great album. Gabriel is fantastically talented.
I'm just not a big Peter Gabriel fan but this is very well produced, falls off at the second half though
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Intruder, I Don't Remember This is my second Peter Gabriel album in 4 days, so that's a thing. The creep-factor is all the way at 10 with Intruder from the creaking and groaning intro, to unsettling lyrics, to the xylophone, which I could imagine was played on literal bones. Something about the black and white album cover image, combined with the striped shirt reminds of those grisly Holocaust photos from WWII, but I could not find any indication this was the intent. I still loathe most of the 80s, but this was okay.
Better then the last PG
This is a good album. Listening to it felt energetic and mostly fun, especially in the first half. It starts strong and has a light, engaging quality that makes it easy to stay with. Toward the end it becomes more repetitive and loses some of the earlier spark, which made the final stretch feel a bit boring. The songs have a clear sense of movement and personality. Gabriel’s voice sits well in the material, and the overall mood stays interesting for most of the record. Even when it gets more repetitive later on, the earlier tracks carry enough energy to make the album worthwhile. The production by Steve Lillywhite is clean and well handled. Everything sounds clear and well balanced, with enough space for the instruments and vocals. It has a sharp, modern feel for its time without becoming cold or overworked. Peter Gabriel 3 is a solid and mostly enjoyable record. Strong start, good energy, and well produced, even if it loses a little steam by the end.
Completely ok. I can see why people like it. I think it's decent.
I like Peter Gabriel. This album sounded like him. Not much to say past that.
Some weird dissonant noise mixed in with some beautiful melodies. Kind of confusing at first, probably needs a more focused relisten.
vibes
Der hat zwischendurch echt eigenartige Sachen gemacht. Nicht schlecht, aber irgendwie für mich auch nicht so richtig greifbar.
"So" fand ich so großartig, damit verglichen ist mir das hier zu gitarrenlastig und altbacken, wenn auch immer noch solide. Ist aber einer der Künstler hier, zu dem sich meine Meinung durch die Challenge sehr geändert hat, schätze ihn jetzt sehr.
07/09/2026 Peter Gabriel never sets the world alight for me. A solid, average album at best. Spotify listeners: 5.2 million
My favorite tracks are "Not One Of Us", "Family Snapshot" and "I Don't Remember"... "Lead A Normal Life" made me feel a sense of dread, but it just shows how good Peter Gabriel is at his craft.. ❤️ I like it... ❤️ Thank you
nice enough
Peter Gabriel's So is easily one of my favorite albums of the 80s, and I figured this would be in a similar vein. However I ultimately found this album far less accessible. It's definitely experimental and pushing the boundaries of pop music, but is hard to get traction on these songs. I recognize Games Without Frontiers from the radio back in the day... but I didn't enjoy the song as much as I thought I did. I think Gabriel finds a better balance of experimentation and accessibility on future releases.
A fondly familiar voice from yesteryear.
I'm not sure how to rate thus album! Very experimental and all over the place - lots interesting but not many full songs I would just want to listen to. Feels wrong, but think I'm a low 3.
Have I listened to this album before How familiar am I with this album Unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? Nuetral Pre-Listen Thoughts: Out of all the Pater Gabriel songs I know, none of them are on this album. I predict 3-4 stars. Favorite track(s): Games without Frontiers Post-Listen Thoughts: This was OK. I think I’ll like some of his other solo work and Genesis more than this album
Great album that I have heard many times. Not my favorite of his work but still really good stuff. Vocals, lyrics, and music are top notch. Doesn't have the hits that "So" has but I will still be listening to this one many more times.
agradable de escuchar
397/1001 Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel 3: Melt Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❓ This is a bit of a strange one, as the production is so of its time, that it does date it, but it's also really strange, so it's a compelling listen. I'm not sure if I enjoyed it enough to warrant another listen...
Favorite Track: Intruder
I like other Peter Gabriel but this one struck me at the beginning as a bit too experimental, but it really picked up as it went. Games without Frontiers is a straight bop.
Somewhere between mainstream and experimental a good Gabriel album, some strong tracks.
Oh yeah, this man art rocks all over the place. Some ideas worked for me, others seemed overindulgent and sort of lost me. The reverby 80s sound definitely didn't help. I think it lands right on a 3 for me. Standouts: Intruder • Start • I Don't Remember • Biko
Peter Gabriel is a slippery beast. He tends to spend a lot of time on any given idea, which leads to some great songs but also causes some long and boring shit to sneak in. While I felt this was the fulfillment of the potential I sas on Peter Gabriel 1, there were some long and dragging bits I would've cut out. 3.5 but have to round down.
The cover is horrible, the music better. He was better in Genesis. Listen to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
I see that it’s popular and it sure had some great moments but I can’t get past the non-metal screaming. No one needs that
This was an OK listen.
I'M A LITTLE BEHIND OK Hmmm I'd say solid 3, I need to listen to it again
I thought I’d hate this from the beginning of the first song but it actually was pretty good! More of a 3.5/5
Not my favorite era but I liked it. Games Without Frontiers and Intruder were standouts
Mama mag Peter Gabriel, deswegen war ich glaube ich vorbelastet. It's nice/ok. It's making me sad. I probably won't listen again.
Avant garde, but not in the good way. "Games Without Frontiers" stands out as the only good song for me, personally.
Is this really essential Peter Gabriel? Biko is, but the whole album?
Enjoyed more than I thought but is still painfully 80s. And with maybe every single instrument they could find. and far too much whistling
Replace "Gabriel" with "Griffin", not so funny now, is it? This album started off pretty good but then retreated into mediocrity.
Not much to say other than it is a fun listen for the most part
I honestly didn’t have too many thoughts about a lot of this album. I thought there were some good moments, there were some moments when I was bored, but it was decent. 3/5 ⭐️ 203/1089
Eh, it was fine. It sounded like Peter Gabriel, nothing particularly noteworthy IMO.
high 2, it sounds like lamb done in 80s post punk/pop
Interesting album, can’t say I’ve heard something like it but I don’t feel like it was amazing. Would give 3 and a half stars if I could
Spun my vinyl. This one’s not my favorite Peter Gabriel, but it does have its special moments.
I mean games without frontiers nothing else needs to be said.
Even Peter Gabriel himself gave this album a 3
First Listen; 3.5; Very ominous music. Has a very sparse feel yet very diverse instrumentation. Really quirky melodies, very tense feeling. It's almost hard to understand how this all comes together to make songs and an album. It feels like every track is doing something a little bit different, and even within songs there's sometimes just barely enough to keep the song going. But I guess when that's all pulled together, that's what helps to give the album it's overall form. A record that I will definitely give another listen in the future. Favorite Track: Games Without Frontier
Bowie meets Talking Heads in an artful pop explosion of taught Cold war paranoid funk and exuberant techno optimistic synth pop.
3.0
Very solid album, no real standout tunes but a cool sound all the way through
It's not a bad album. Peter Gabriel is no doubt a talented musician, and I love some the experimental elements of the album. It has shades of Bowie, if not quite as daring or interesting. Still, an overall enjoyable listen.
Дуже класна індивідуальна робота на інструментах. Класні барабанні партії, класні гітари, бас. Але в одну прямо класну пісню це вилилось рази два чи три. Оцінка: середня-висока 7
This one would probably benefit from more listens. In a first listen, much of it was too aggressively odd, which is not something I associate with the later, more commercial Gabriel. Flashes of greatness are here, like the well-known songs “Games Without Frontiers” and “Biko.”
This is an ok album. I prefer it to his So album which was mostly soft rock with the exception of Sledgehammer and Big Time which are a pair of upbeat bangers. This album does go into more of a post punk sound with a few that are kinda catchy.
eh
I really wanted to like this more. I just kept forgetting it was on. "Games Without Frontiers" is a banger though
Quite a good album, highly expiremental with some wacky noises going through the music. 3/5
I haven’t heard this before, but I’ve heard most of these songs. The production on this is extremely early 80s, with overprocessed guitar and drums that have so much effects and gated reverb that it may as well be a drum machine, but it works with the weirdness of the songs. Except for the smoky saxophone, that still sounds pretty corny. I like the weirdness of most of these songs, but a few of them fall flat.
Enjoyed parts of this but it was quite strange
Games without Frontiers and Biko are the ones
Great!
Some cool tracks on here. Strong 3.5 3/5 Top Tracks: Start, I Don't Remember, Games Without Frontiers, Lead a Normal Life
Nice one.
Not his best work but still liked it
lots of interesting sounds, and dramatic arrangements - progressive pop ?
Sorry, Peter. I wasn’t really in the mood to properly rate this album. Biko is obviously a fantastic song
Some interesting stuff on this album. Can't say it was exactly my jam, but it wasn't boring.
Ok ok not too bad not too good, it had a sort of dark mysterious vibe, Too many rock consecutively ho gya toh can't give a very critical review pr not too bad nor v amazing Biko, intruder, i don't remember were i likey
good
++: Intruder, No Self Control, Start +: I Don't Remember, And Through the Wire +-: Games Without Frontiers, Not One of Us, Lead a Normal Life -: Family Snapshot, Biko 5,8/10
revisit
Prog rock - super operatic album start to finish. Two hit big songs I knew. Was a different cup of tea than i expected
Meh
Strong messaging in here. I was only really familiar with Peter Gabriel through his hits but enjoyed this
not my favorite Peter Gabriel album, but some very good songs. 3/5.
Peter Gabriel has a unique sound - both voice and musical style - that’s generally appealing. But he sprinkles his hits among otherwise “just okay” songs.
More experimental than Peter Gabriel 1 from earlier, not quite to my level past a 3 but it was enjoyable for the day
Det er litt som Berlin-era Bowie krysset med Gary Numan. Et alternative history 80s Bowie. Sterk 3er.
Enig med andre her om at det er litt Berlin era David Bowie. Så denne får få samme karakter
I like this better than some of the other albums. Intruder is an interesting song.
Meh
It's an interesting album, I wouldn't say it's great but I wouldn't say it's bad. A solid 3
Not to the level of his self titled album but still well done and interesting.
cool
Favorite Song: Family Snapshot
6/10 Very much what I expected. Super serious pop, with the questionable lyrics of Games Without Frontiers
peter gabriel made so many albums which would be fine if they were really good but at best theyre just kinda good. really makes u think
Games without frontiers is the only memorable song, and it's been overplayed for 40 years now.
english.
Well, I wasn't expecting the scratchy Gang of Four guitar work to start the album. Fair play to Peter for listening to some of the post-punk sounds of the day and incorporating them into his sound after being in the least-punk band in history! Other bands I can hear are the Associates, Penetration, Monochrome Set... genuinely amazing! After the first song, not so amazing as Phil Collins's drums come to dominate 😭 Stars gained for the post-punk sounds, the politics and the incredible Games Against Frontiers and Biko. Stars lost for allowing Phil Collins anywhere near a recording studio.
Highlights: Biko, Games Without Frontiers, Intruder and I Don’t Remember. 3.8
Ta bueno, el último tema está medio falopa pero copado. Ahora, ya está, todo muy lindo pero si aparece otro disco de Peter Gabriel se va a comer nota baja a menos que sea algo muy disitnto al So y este. Sape
Typical Peter Gabriel. Lots of interesting musical ideas set against a backdrop of insufferable wanker shit. 3.5/5
Bueno
3.4 I've found Peter Gabriel quite mixed before. This was quite mixed, but within one album. Some songs are quite got into it, others I was waiting for the end. It's unique, not aged the best but still holds up better than some of his stuff which came later. A good outing...ish
6/10: this should have really clicked with me, but it just didn’t to be honest. Phil Collins’ drum performance is excellent and it’s fun to get a bit of Kate Bush at a couple of points but I just didn’t really feel much of a pull to this album to be honest. I would revisit it in the future but for now I’m not hugely enamoured by it. Best song: Intruder
Favorite Tracks: - No Self Control - I Don’t Remember - Games Without Frontiers - Not One of Us
gran álbum. no le tenía nada de fe y no me gustó al inicio pero después encontré joyas
I listened, but I was distracted. Nothing really jumped out at me. Sorry, Peter.
Introduces instruments into pop music: marimba, bagpipes, etc. Decent voice, music itself is forgettable, lyrics may be poignant but got lost for me.
better than his debut, but i think this might be the uncanny valley between pop and experimental music.
Not bad.
Few songs will join my rotation. Not bad
Very unique music. Didn't vibe fully with it. Liked the voice of the singer, but didn't like how the voice was altered.
Not bad at all. Unique and experimental.
can't make up my mind here. i generally like it but it lacks some bite that other albums have...
Buen album, buenas canciones. Realmente un estándar pero de lo bueno y la buena música. En general, bueno. Buenazo.
Intruder - 4/5 No Self Control - 4.5/5 Start - 3.5/5 I Don't Remember - 3/5 Family Snapshot - 3/5 And Through The Wire - 3.5/5 Games Without Frontiers - 3/5 Not One Of Us - 3/5 Lead A Normal Life - 3/5 Biko - 3/5
Muy bueno e interesante
IDK. couldn't get a handle on it. it's fine. a little too weird but not in a fun way.
Good stuff
Been a while since I heard a xylophone
Really liked the instrumentation of this—unique but not extra. Also, the production history around this album is cool. Really liked the first two songs but skipped a few too many times throughout the rest to go higher than a 3
I’m honestly shocked how little i got from this, because in theory i should like this a lot and it’s got clear artistic merit and theming, idk maybe i’m off today and maybe next listen it’ll click, to be clear, i like it, i just thought i’d love it. My standout was I Don’t Remember (which is the name of the song), family snapshot and lead a normal life. Also i can totally hear trump in his vocals on And Through The Wire lmao
Strong.
Pretty cool and weird and experimental PG album
Pretty good, not as nice as his debut but still listenable.
This was decent, but I never got too fired up about it. It has that cold, twitchy art rock feel all over it, and I could respect what it was doing more than I really enjoyed sitting with it. The 80s is probably my least favorite decade when it comes to music, thrash metal aside. There’s enough here to call it decent, just not enough for me to rate it much higher than a 3. “Games Without Frontiers” was probably the best song on the album.
Those are very 1980s drums. I'm not always a fan of Peter Gabriel's singing but this album was overall pretty alright.
Meh. It’s ok.
Not as bad as the last album. Kinda like "I don't remember"
I listened to the Ein Deutsches Album version of this. Honestly, I speak German, but understood less of it than I would have if I'd just listened to the regular version. So the upshot of my approach is that Gabriel's voice became even more of an instrument than it usually does anyway. So... It's fine. But a bit much, really. Some of the sounds haven't aged terribly well. Spiel ohne Grenzen is still quite good. Better not read the German lyrics, though, if you do understand German. It really does make you wonder why Gabriel trusted the translator the way he obviously did.
Fine
Without "Games Without Frontiers" this would not have the reputation it has. Much of the album is clunky and the musicians (Fripp and Levin) are unfairly pushed to the background production-wise, making the entire thing ultimately mediocre
Never heard of him before, it's ok
Say what you will, the album is not boring. I'm not normally a fan of experimental music, but Peter Gabriel manages to make me actually not hate and maybe enjoy it, if only briefly.
Not really Gabriel's best but still a lot of good stuff on here
Some fun stuff, some kind of boring. I'd give it 3.5 if I could.
Jesus, compared to his other self-titled albums, this is dark. 3/5
Didnt listen too close but it wasn’t bad!
A cooler, more experimental album than I expected. It still has Gabriel’s voice which permeates what I understand to be 80s pop.
I've had two 70s era Genesis albums in the past week or so (loved them) and now this. Kind of funny that I'm getting sort of a history in music here. So I enjoyed this album, but I like the 70s era Genesis better. I didn't ever give Genesis a chance because I wasn't ever really impressed by Peter Gabriel or Phil Collins. Listening to this one today, I think I maybe appreciate Peter Gabriel a bit more, but there's still a something missing. Grit, maybe? I would like to have heard this album had it been made with a little bit harder edge. Giving this one 3.5/5 but rounding down because I don't think I would make a point to buy this if I saw it in the record shop.
This is not my favorite, but I would definitely listen to some songs on the radio. A soft three stars
Bit weird
iniziato e poi recupero meglio promesso, però mi stava piacendo
For some reason, I never liked Peter Gabriel. Something about his voice. Maybe way too much Sledgehammer on MTV. But this was just the right amount. And I was pleasantly surprised by how relatively edgy this album is, especially given its release date. I did not hate this.
Peter Gabriel’s third self-titled album — often referred to as 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘵 — already shows his growing fascination with non-Western music, particularly African rhythms. The percussion-heavy arrangements and unusual grooves give the record a darker, more experimental character than typical rock albums of the period. The album also features several notable collaborators, and the musicianship throughout is consistently strong. Even so, the record feels more interesting in concept than in execution. It’s clearly an important step in Gabriel’s artistic development, but one that doesn’t fully resonate with me.
At the start I was disappointed. I wanted to like this more than I actually did and remember liking it more. Then it got better, but not great. I don’t think I ever listened to the whole album before. It is not the Gabriel album I would have chosen. 0 songs added to playlist.
There were some really good parts of this album, but most were kind of boring. Coincidentally, I got another Peter Gabriel album right before this one, and that one was similar to this; however, it just happened to have more interesting parts than this one. I’m kind of disappointed.
A unique listen, some cool sounds here and there but it wasnt something i could really vibe to. A disticitve early 80s sound, with some decent songs here and there but overall kind of a forgettable album.
I don't have a whole lot to say about this album. It was by no means bad and actually had a few moments where I was like "damn" because of lyrics or just instrumentals. Especially "Family Snapshot". I just never felt fully in it for whatever reason and for that reason won't be going back to relisten as a whole. Top 3: 1) Through the Wire 2) Family Snapshot 3) Lead a Normal Life
I liked the album. I felt that this has probably influence newer artists, I felt that I recognised some elements throughout the album. Some songs I would listen to again, but would not rush back to the album.
spooky, boring, kinda fun
So right off the back I gotta say, it feels alittle bit like I accidentally predicted this album when I reviewed his album So. I didn’t explicitly say it in the review (I don’t think I did at least but I didn’t go back and reread) but I remember really liking that album and really appreciating his instrumentals on all of his work and it made me think like “what would a darker almost brooding version of his music sound like?” Well it would sound like 3. It’s not dark or heavy like a metal album, but it’s definitely angsty and way different in tone to his other albums. It also comes out the gate with a wicked curve ball, like it’s almost Primus levels of nasty! In fact I’d say intruder is Peter Gabriel’s BEST(my favorite) song ever! It’s so silly, like I know this album is dark for him, but that first song is so silly and amazing! The other comment I wanted to make on this album before I wrap up is that the song “lead a normal life” has these xylophone sounding bits that remind my of the Akira soundtrack (which is fucking awesome but definitely just watch the full movie, don’t just go listen to the music. Akira is like the greatest anime movie all time m not exaggerating). The other two tracks that stood out on this album were “I don’t remember” and “games without frontiers”. Both of those songs are much closer to traditional Peter Gabriel pop music. All that being said I do think the album felt long, like it didn’t over stay its welcome necessary but it was just about to get there for me. Seriously an underrated album/forgotten album but definitely worth your time.
Games Without Frontiers a true classic. And Through the Wire a nice find. A good listen besides.
Better than I anticipated.
Favorite songs: I Don't Remember, Games Without Frontiers, Lead a Normal Life, Biko