Reviews (page 6 of 8)
immediately one of the best sonic experiences i've had in quite some time...never heard Gabriel before and regret pinning him as like a really boring mainstream pop guy this is not that hufauhe
GWF always jarred very badly & never tempted me to explore the rest of the album. Right decision.
I was very impressed with this album. While I haven't listened to a lot of Peter Gabriel prior to So, I was surprised by this album. It didn't sound like 1980. It is moody and assertive, and the percussion and bass drive it all. I will definitely put this in rotation!
Strange mix of sounds. Not the traditional Peter Gabriel. Into more experimental sounds at times. Also kinda sounded like a discount Phil Collin’s a-la Tarzan soundtrack. Also heard some Bruce Springsteen in there. Another pass over record for me.
Decent
Wow. The first song sounds like a mellow Neubauten tune! A few pieces that are Genesissy, but by and far are progressing nicely into what will be a huge solo career. A nice balance of his weirdness and experimental nature with his pop music chops, and the early forays into "world music" are awesome. A really really nice album.
Fantastic, creative album with great songwriting.
Gotta love Peter Gabriel / Genesis for having one of the more unique sounds of their era. Much more influential than most people realize.
Turns out Sledgehammer is not the only Peter Gabriel song I knew….actually pretty good album, interesting mix of styles and different sounds
There were some cracking new discoveries for me on here (No Self Control, I Don’t Remember) alongside stuff I was already familiar with (Games Without Frontiers). In truth, while I want to love it all, there were also a few tracks that don’t really float my boat. But because this a guy who’s usually trying to do interesting things, musically and lyrically, I’m inclined to overlook the weaker moments somewhat. 3.5
Need to give more listens to fully digest, but there are amazing sounds on this one.
intruder - 5.5/10 just an interlude no self control - 8/10 catchy af start - 7/10 amazing sax love it i don't remember - 8/10 FIRE SONG OMG family snapshot - 7.5/10 nice and balladic and through the wire - 8/10 nice sequel to fs goes hard games without frontiers - 8/10 feels smooth in a way i like not one of us - 7.5/10 also goes hard lead a normal life - 6/10 nice but idk wtf u call that intrsutrment in it the xylophone sounding shit its not my fav biko - 8.5/10 incredible song
Этот альбом мне понравился сильно больше So. Тот случай, когда 80с клише звучат к отчего-то к месту (можно ли назвать звук клишированным, если альбом вышел собственно в 80-ом году?). Песни отличные. Лучшая песня - I Don’t Remember.
I did not think I would like this album but I really did. It got 2-3 plays back to back. I have never been a Genisis fan but maybe I need to give them a go. Favourite song: Family Snap Least favourite: Lead a normal life. Album artwork: Love the cover
7.5/10
Not a lot there. Just uninspired
LP
too intellectual for me actually
frekar gott bara. fær aðra yfirferð. 3,5.
An good album, Games Without Frontiers was my favorite.
I thought this was going to be Peter Gabriel does Brian who at first but it turned out to be Peter Gabriel doing David Bowie which was generally bland to me. Not much to get excited about with this one. More like Peter Gabriel 3/5
not for me
Tering wat random en experimenteel. Hij kan wel erg goed zingen natuurlijk. Fun fact: dit is een van de eerste albums die hét jaren 80 snare drum geluid gebruikt https://youtu.be/Bxz6jShW-3E?si=W-CTCWxeN852fgJ-
peter gabriel altijd leuk, alleen deed dit album me niet heel veel, maar wel goed
Wel prima Niet super bijzonder
To my ears this sounds a bit dated and is an album I'm not quite sure which mood to be in to best appreciate it. It's fine, and I may seek it out again one day, but certainly not for a while.
I liked it a lot! Great sound design considering it came out in 1980. The production is great as well. And the structure of the songs is more complex than anything at that time I think. Overall, a great experience.
Surprisingly good
Extremely good overall, if not quite great. And some cuts are a bit dated sounding as tech-driven innovation and big dramatic statements in music often do. With an artist this original and so passionately committed to boundary-pushing, there will naturally be some unevenness. "Games without Frontiers" endures as unsurpassed and unique coolness. "Not One of Us" and Through the Wire," "Biko" and "No Self Control" are also strong. Best to think of PG as a one-man of Eno-Bowie skills.
This is more interesting than I would have e expected a Peter Gabriel record to be. Quite experimental and a bit industrial sounding in places, which was a surprise. I quite liked it. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Games Without Frontiers Date listened: 21/06/24
So serious. Each song seems to have a serious message or story. He is interesting and talented and sometimes nails it with an all timer like Games Without Frontiers.
I'm not the biggest fan, but there are some outstanding tracks on this album.
Difficult to review for me. Genious album, but many difrferent directions. Saddle up to ride n all directions - Peter Gabriel - stile (I think)
One hell of an album. Full of weird sounds and a lot of anger. Contains one of the greatest songs ever written.
I appreciate this without really getting into it. It almost feels like the tempo of these songs are too slow for my constitution. Apparently in grocery stores they pick songs with a certain BPM that aligns with buying stuff. If this was playing in my own personal grocery store, I would have an empty cart. Constitutionally this has a low ceiling for me, but I wouldn't be surprised if a great many people are super into this.
Meh, maybe it was influential I don't know
I’m in the middle of this but it’s pretty good. I’ve always like Peter Gabriel but have never listened to this
Gabriel is a genius! I love much of his music.
I have absolutely no idea about this record and I can’t say I know anything about his stuff before sledgehammer! But here we go. This starts out cool with some soft industrial sounds but then it kinda bored me. Typical 80’s proggy stuff, I did like the first few tracks. I listened to the remastered version but it feels a bit sparse at times, like unintentionally sparse? Not a lot of low end but maybe that’s just my speakers. Anyway I definitely liked this but other than Games Without Frontiers it was all new to me.
I'm not sure the measured influence of this album, as far as I can't recall it mentioned in conversation, but given the timing of it, elicits a lot of what came in pop music afterwards. I Don't Remember and Family Snapshot really call this out, whereas the earlier tracks kind of go the more industrial route, almost like Killing Joke at the time. Never thought I'd compare Killing Joke to Peter Gabriel, but I'm not upset. The whole album flows well and doesn't take too much off the gas unless it needs to. Not One of Us is a great standout track towards the end. I'll be damned if Phil Collins didn't take a bit of Biko into making In the Air Tonight. Also a great subject to write about. Closing an album in 1980 with an anti-apartheid song is what's up.
I'm a superman of Gabriel's early work and consider the first 4 self-titled albums untouchable. This is the best of the 4 too. It's experimental (for the time) but still weaves traditional melodies and pop sensibilities throughout so it's never in danger of losing the listener. There is an immense power in this album, even at its most introspective (Lead a Normal Life) moments. Every song feels meticulous in its creation. Nuanced sound textures and synth in the background seem to float in and out and at just the right moments to create real emotional responses. Biko is nothing short of a masterpiece.
weird
I love Peter Gabriel's music and this one is really good.
It's okay, apart from that very Bruce Springsteen-y track I'm not that impressed
Favourite songs: I Don't Remember, Not One of Us, And Through the Wire, No Self Control Least favourite songs: Lead a Normal Life 3/5
Fine but didn’t really grab my attention. I would like to like Peter Gabriel but I haven’t heard anything that sways me either way yet.
Nothing terrible but I did not connect with it at all! Sorry!
This was terrific! Super modern, as mentioned in the chat, I thought some of the industrial sounds as well as the ambient tracks were super reminiscent of NIN/Trent Reznor … just chock full of great textures!
Love Petey. Great weird songs that I feel like I can really sink into. Excellent textures and rhythms.
Extremely epic and badass album. Anytime kate bush is on an album… i love it!
So so much better in Genesis. Never liked his solo stuff much. 2/5
I haven't listened to this in forever--and it's better now than when it first delighted me. Kind of odd, no? Some rock, some experimental. His voice, drums, melted guitars, that cover says it all: half recognizable, half distorted. Nothing predictable about it.
Two absolutely stonking songs!! I remember when Games Without Frontiers came out - I just thought it was fantastic and could listen to it over and over. Biko too was great and political and moving. Sometimes though PG can be a bit dull and self-righteous and all the other songs in this album just felt wearyingly dour!!! Should be a 2.5 but I’m giving him credit for consistently being true to his worthiness!!! I prefer So as an album (a few years later) where he mined a lighter seam.
Another favorite. Probably my favorite Peter Gabriel album. "Biko", "Games Without Frontiers", "Intruder", "I Don't Remember"... all killer songs. Actually, I love them all... I probably played this album too many times as a kid. Great production, percussion, musicians. This an easy 5 for me.
From the first discordant notes to the anthemic end this album grabbed me and didn’t let go.
This is an album I feel like I should like more, but I find it hard to warm up to. Gabriel is meticulous, and he checks lots of boxes for music I like — intelligent, well-produced, a bit off the line of the mainstream, great vocals — and still, I don't feel it. It's all too serious. I gravitate more to his "poppier" side, which flies in the face of what I just wrote, but there it is. This album falls flat for me, and I've listened to it a few times by now.
A beast of an album. Such personality and atmosphere. Dude had a vision and executed it to perfection. It's amazing how something as simple as "no cymbals" can affect the overall aesthetic. This is a harrowing, paranoid, and claustrophobic listening experience and I'm not always in the mood for it, but when I am it's amazing. Stellar performances from everyone involved. And some nice innovations to boot, like the gated reverb drums that came to dominate the '80s.
I know this album as "Ein Deutsches Album" and was given the cassette tape to listen to in 1984 by my German host sister. I played it endlessly the summer of 84 and had no idea it was also in English. Though "Spiel Ohne Grenzen" / "Games Without Frontiers" did sound familiar. Amazingly all the lyrics came back to me in German and upon this listen some of the German lyrics in my head didn't click with Gabriel's English. I got lost on Peter Gabriel's website reading about his thoughts on performing English in countries where English is not the native language. He really worked to ensure the musicality of a language came through even if the words had to change meaning a bit. Go read for yourself: https://petergabriel.com/release/ein-deutsches-album/ I already loved Peter Gabriel and this album but now knowing his approach to music and language and art---it's 5+!
I want to be an MMA fighter for just one day so I can use Intruder as my entrance music.
Ég veit ekki hvað það en Peter Gabriel er alveg fínn tónlistarmaður með fínustu lög en þau eru samt voðalega auðgleymanleg. Eini möguleikinn fyrir mig til að setja þetta á er ef ég kemst í Genesis-stuð en þá set ég bara Genesis á frekar en hann þannig að þessi hverfur í meðalmennskuna.
In my opinion there are better PG albums but it was still good and I’d listen again. I enjoy his music and the Phil Collins drumming too.
This album is damn close to artistic perfection. I wouldn't call myself a Peter Gabriel diehard (it's between this and his debut for my overwhelming PG favourite and beyond that I range from enjoyable to ehh) but this is so good in every way and all encapsulated within a perfect 46 minute runtime. The songwriting is great - nothing close to a dud and a few all-time tracks. Even for those of us who don't pay much attention to lyrics, they jump out in each song without ever outweighing the music. PG has the very rare voice that I not only tolerate but actually *enjoy* listening to - love how he strains himself, it's sort of his classic "sound" going back to his Genesis days. I do love when an album has proper flow and this fits the bill with the dramatic beginning and end cuts - starting with a creepy AF track in "Intruder" which yeah new gated reverb snare sound courtesy of the - yes - underrated Phil Collins and producer Hugh Padgham - and closing with the haunting "Biko" - everything in-between is a little scary, a little more challenging, and always interesting. A++ musicianship across the album. Could mark highlights - probably the hits, but the lesser-known tracks are just as crucial. Nothing I can even try to nitpick here - a rare perfect score here for me... 10/10 5 stars.
Love a bit of PG, this is a cracking solo album with a post punk edge
Ook 1980, maar al een stuk interessanter dan twee platen geleden. Niet doorrammen en maar wat aanklooien, maar bedachtzaam een goede plaat in elkaar knutselen, ook al spookt er af en toe nog een jengeltje doorheen. Ik heb ook de Duitse versie geluisterd ('Ein Deutsches Album'), ook best aardig gedaan.
Opvallend op de plaat zijn de extra instrumenten / geluiden. Zo hoor je een soort rasp en herken ik helaas de tingeltangel van mijn buren. Die laatste in stereo nog wel. Gelukkig hebben mijn andere buren niet zo'n ding hangen. Deze geluiden worden gespreid op een bedje uit de jaren '80. En het gekke is; Peter krijgt het voor elkaar dat ik mij aan het bovenbeschreven geluid niet erger. Een prestatie op zich. Ik word er ook niet per se bijster enthousiast van, maar met deze elementen had hij gewoon een 3 gescoord. Maar de zang op sommige nummers. "Intruder's happy in the daaaa(uuu)aa(uuu)aaaaark" en later lekker schor "I'm shooting into the Liii(jjj)iiiiiii(jjjj)iiiiiiigh(t)". "Het zal wel weer vreselijk kunstzinnig zijn die overslaande en/of schorre stem. Maar ik ga mijzelf hier toch niet mee pijnigen.
We hebben Peter Gabriel al eerder gehad, toen hij in vele benamingen over zijn eigen tampeloeris zong. Dat was echt een album op het (over the) toppunt van de jaren '80, typisch iets wat ik van Gabriel verwachtte. Maar hij heeft daarvoor dus, even afgezien van Genesis, nog meer albums opgenomen, want dat album "So" was zijn vijfde. We krijgen nu nummertje 3 voor onze kiezen, met als enige hitje denk ik Biko. Wat ook al een atypische hit is, maar het past wel in de tijdslijn van interesse naar het (Zuid-)Afrikaanse. Inmiddels is het apartheidsregime iets uit het verleden, net als deze muziek wat mij betreft. Ik heb het net gedraaid terwijl ik aan het werk was, en ik heb amper opgekeken om te kijken hoe het nummer precies heette, zodat ik het later nog een keer kon opzoeken. Biko was een hitje, de rest volgens mij niet. Het heeft totaal geen eeuwigheidswaarde. Ik zie geen enkele reden om dit album verder op te nemen in deze lijst, zeker niet als ook nog het (solo)debuutalbum van Petertje erin staat. Normaal zou ik zeggen een vergeetbare 3, maar ik neig eerder naar een vergeetbare 2, al heb ik verder geen hekel aan zijn muziek. Maar als ik dan Peter Gabriel op moet zetten, doe me dan maar de bombast van Sledgehammer. Al heb ik voor de grap nog wel even de Duitse versie opgezet, door hem zelf ingezongen.
Almost a 4
I liked this, better the a Bowie album (so far!) There is lots to it: nice instrumentals, decent lyrics, some good beats to dance to. A nicely complete album. I’m only giving it a 4 because non of the songs quite stuck out enough for me to save to a play list
Myślałem, że 3/5, ale niektóre piosenki naprawdę dobre i zasługują na 4. Co do tekstów się nie wypowiadam, bo nie sprawdzam.
Nice
Really enjoyed this album and only recognized one of the songs
For Biko
Meh, wasn't really into this. Lots of art-y innovation but wasn't my taste. Standout is "I Don't Remember".
Liked it ok, but as much as I thought I would
Eksperimenterende rockalbum, god sangskrivning
I dug Gabriel for a bit, but owning a collection (best of) seems a good choice for me. I am both impressed by, and bored by the synth. But I cannot hear someone say, "I don't remember... " without my mind filling in with, "...I don't recall. I've got no memory, of anything at all. " So that has comfortably nestled into my Grey matter.
A very strong album. I need more listens
This was a treat. 4/5
I think it is the little things he does that make me really like his music when I normally do not like music like this.
Consegui perceber a qualidade, só não me empolgou.
I quite liked Through The Wire and Biko, but not enough for a 4
Slow start, but thought it really got going in the second half. Not got the PG hits that I know and like, Sledgehammer, Solsbury Hill etc, but still enjoyable. Just shy of a four though. Simpsons: Yes
Really liked this. Never listened to Peter Gabriel before and had no idea what to expect. Very pleasantly surprised and will listen to more. The kind of album that with more listens could potentially become a 5.
I'm sorry, but you can do better than this Peter. I'm just glad, I don't have to listen to this album ever again.
I like Peter Gabriel, I like this album. Would listen to again.
Some good music in this album. Still not sure if this one will get a third listen, but Gabriel’s comps are pretty good. 3/5!
Fun listen, having only heard games without frontiers before I really enjoyed the rest of this.
Not my thing
Peter Gabriel is a very original creative artist. Maybe an acquired taste but i have always liked him, going back to the days when he was the lead singer with Genesis. Very good listen.
I keep trying, but 80s production can ruin otherwise good albums. There were a few nice tracks towards the end though
Meh 2.5*
Interesting enough. Found the first half better than the second for the most part. Thought it was at its worst when it was overtly political or sentimental (we get it on Family Snapshot, you miss your Dad). Sonically sometimes the “experimental” stuff worked for me and other times is was too sparse or disjointed. 2.7
3.3
I like Peter Gabriel's voice and there's some decent songwriting here but I found the album a little bland.
Pleasantly surprised by this one. I really dont care for Genesis at all, but this was pretty different from that, in a good way.
Peter Gabriel's third solo album, often referred to as "Melt" due to its iconic cover, showcases the artist's experimental and innovative approach to music. Released in 1980, this album features a blend of art rock, world music, and electronic elements that set it apart from his previous work. Tracks like "Games Without Frontiers" and "Biko" stand out for their unique sound and lyrical depth, addressing themes of political unrest and human rights. Gabriel's use of percussion and synthesizers creates a rich sonic landscape that is both captivating and thought-provoking. While "Peter Gabriel 3" is praised for its ambition and creativity, some listeners may find it challenging to connect with. Its avant-garde nature and unconventional song structures may alienate those looking for more accessible music. Overall, "Peter Gabriel 3" is a bold and adventurous album that showcases Gabriel's musical vision but may not appeal to all listeners, earning it a rating of 3 out of 5.
Definitely an interesting album, I just don't really fall in love with Peter Gabriel albums in general. A few excellent tracks. Games w/o Frontiers, I Don't Remember, Biko.
Um…. Ok
Solid work from Gabriel here.
Peter Gabriel…I’m just not a huge fan, I guess.
Had high hopes based on familiarity with Games with frontiers, but found the album boring actually
Best Song: Not One Of Us. Carried by a catchy chorus and one hell of a bassline. Worst Song: Games Without Frontiers. Really feels like Pete is going for what he feels like is a deep metaphor here, but it's not really landing. Overall: Sounds very dated and self-indulgent, but also doesn't feel good enough to warrant that grandiosity. Weird in a safe and ultimately boring way.
Seems mentally unwell and a bit unsettling but bangs
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.
Peter Gabriel 3 is shit. Peter Gabriel is shit, Genesis are shit, this has no redeeming features.
Went into listening to this thinking that I'd be coming out fighting on behalf of PG, but this is really turgid, isn't it? this is like a Genesis album without the depth and structure, and the synth is about as dated as you can possibly get. 2/5, not unlistenable but I wouldn't recommend to anyone.
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.
This list has really opened me to prog rock and I used to see Peter Gabriel's time with Genesis as the answer to a trivia question. Prog rock Genesis is so contrasty to Peter Gabriel Genesis so it's no surprise to see the themes of prog still present on what is pop rock for Peter Gabriel on this third eponymous album. Edgy enough to be edgy and cast iron frying pan to the side of the head with the awakening of his political advocacy through Biko. As a side note, I saw Peter Gabriel live for the first time in 2023 and his performance of Biko live is one of the best live experiences I've ever had. 5/5
Nah
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.
This album is sonically interesting with a unique identity and very direct approach. The first track establishes a departure from a lot of the generic rock sensibilities of the time with unique noises. There hair-raising aspect to some of the sounds included along this album. "I don't remember" and "Through the Wire" are catchy and well crafted songs that feel just right for the period. Songs like "Games without Frontiers" and "Biko" have a unique sound that I really enjoyed. These songs feel foreign while also sticking in your head. I would love to be whistling tunes and kissing baboons in the jungle. I think the genesis/ Phil Collins style doesn't help or hurt the album it just feels a bit weird. This style of drumming without Collins voice feels imbalanced to me. Perfectly fine to listen to but it didn't blow me away.
Musically the album encapsulates a particular 80’s sound but that’s probably because Genesis came up with it earlier, and both are ahead of their time considering this came out in 1980. The drumming especially has a great tone, which is intentional if you read up on it. Not playing cymbals and still getting a full rock sound is not something I’ve considered before and it really sounds great. The synths and other electronic elements can be a bit much at times but that is part of the sound. “Games without frontiers” is a good example of leaning too heavily in to it for my tastes. On the other hand, it’s perfect for “Lead a norma life”. “I Don’t Remember” is great and Gabriel’s voice really makes it sound like he’s losing it, like he did in so many Genesis songs. “Family Portrait” is another good one about a pitiable guy who is plotting killing someone but ultimately it’s a cry for help or, explicitly at the end, attention. This is a good album of its time with some standout songs but it just makes me want to listen to Genesis in the end.
This guy really fucks with the marimba. It wasn’t bad but I don’t think I’ll ever listen to it again on purpose
Boy does this album sound like the start of the 80's. I hear new wave, I hear gothic rock, and in No Self Control I'm pretty sure I hear the apple ring tone. I need to read up on it, but I would guess this is the inspiration for a lot of music change that happened between the 70's and 80's. I had only previously heard Games without Frontiers. I think Intruder and I Don't Remember will make it into my regular rotation.
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.
Some good songs. Probably unpopular opinion, but not as good as PG4
- not off to a great start. not sure these are my kinds of sounds… but they could be - nvm. this is interesting.. would be good studio music. it’s noise music but it’s not too abrasive. and i like his singing voice. like leonard cohen’s voice if it was a little softer and a little creepier - there’s some sax and it’s almost 1975 ish in Start. (don’t judge me) - i dont remember is talking heads ish. i like - family snapshot c’est plutot sad 80s ballad - i like it. good studio music, could be good reading music. sonically interesting, made my ears go ‘?’ at points wondering what could be making those sounsd. 3.5/5 i think.
I think I like Peter Gabriel (I'm sure he likes you too Eli).
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.
'She's so funky, yeah!'
no, peter gabriel 5
Honestly not a great album for me. From the very first track I knew I wasn't going to be the right audience for this one. I was right
eh. more prog rock.
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.
this guy again - thankfully much better than last time i don't remember family snapshot and through the wire
There’s a lot of anxiety and tension on this album. The music sounds on edge. As with the other Peter Gabriel and Genesis albums on this list, I found it fascinating but also hard to fully enjoy. It’s too pretentious, too preoccupied with ideas and not focused enough on the emotions and melodies. Gabriel is clearly brilliant and there are a lot of moments and production details that are cool here. But overall I appreciated it at a distance and didn’t connect much with it.
It's funny to hear this now, 44 years later, because I'm sure when this came out it was a STATEMENT. The first glance at the album cover of his melted face and then all of the weird avant garde-ness in the first track must have had people thinking "wow!". But these days, having some atonal idiophones on top of some slamming tom drum beats is as normal as two guitars playing C chords together. Something I really like about Peter Gabriel's music is that he isn't afraid to do weird things or to take a song and flip a switch right in the middle. In track 2 for example, you get this Steve Reich-esque meditative part for a minute and a half, and then everything does a complete 180 turn and gets exciting. I enjoyed this. I liked how it got a little weird at times, but I also am interested in how a lot of these came about, and if it was such a concerted effort to avoid normalcy. Like the more listened-to tracks don't really have strong melodies, which I find to be very odd for this list. Usually, the catchy songs get all the listens, but maybe that's because this album doesn't really have a lot of traditional aspects, including melody. I did like the hook "She's so popular" on "Games without Frontiers". It's probably not an album that I will seek out but if I see it in the wild I'll probably say "oh yea I've heard record! Pretty interesting."
I was very surprised by this. It is rock with creativity and emotion, and it worked well!
Awesome. Thanks. Last two songs are 🍑
Peter Gabriel 2.5
Ok
No more Peter Gabriel. This is a protest vote
Pretty good album!
I'm sure this album was groundbreaking 44 years ago, but now...
Expected to like this more than I did.
No, not for me.
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.
Inte lika stark som förra PG. Men helt ok.
Riktigt stabil platta men tycker inte den når samma toppar som ”So”. Stark trea.
good but not catchy or great. Games Without Frontiers was a legit radio hit (ish) that I remember from my childhood... but it's not a 'banger' per se haha. A good release from the 'Art Garfunkel' of the Genesis Phil+Peter combo. Def feels like a 'finding his voice' record as the blurb suggests.
i couldnt listen to this for so long but i loved it once i finaly did
More of the annoying self-indulgent British \"experimental\" pop that plagues this list, although this one is a lot more tolerable than most.
Every song sounded somewhat good but somewhat ok. Like I enjoyed the vocals on his other album, but they didn't hit the same on this one for some reason. Nothing unpleasant but nothing I really liked.
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
The bar was high. The bar was met. 9/10
5/10 - I feel like my emotions on the peter gabriel albums (other than so) are all the same. They are just ok. Like there are some songs that are better than others but they are just all mid.
Decent, not a huge peter gabriel fan but it was somewhat interesting
I feel the exact same way about Peter Gabriel as I did after listening to his other two albums. I can see the appeal, but this is not for me. Don’t think this one’s as good as So, but it’s definitely better than the other one. Giving it a lower score than both because I’m tired of getting Peter Gabriel albums 5/10
2024-04-11...
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.
Interesting, a little wierd, but that's what I would expect from Peter Gabriel. I've never previously heard anything off this album. It was quite experimental sounding. It wasn't bad, I felt like the song "Games without frontiers" could be released today. Biko was an interesting tribute song as well.
Mostly enjoyable. Really liked Down the Dolce Vita
peter gabriels stimme ist schon sehr speziell. alles in allem interessante songs, aber nicht uneingeschränkt meins.
Durchmischtes Hörerlebnis mit guten Ausreisser
Another one trick album - that trick being the track with all the streams, and it's brilliant. The rest feels like standard 1980's filler fare
His greatest work! I found this album in junior high and have loved it ever since!
The man’s a legend
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?
Pretty interesting album. Standout songs: No Self Control Family Snapshot And Through the Wire
Not my thing. Just boring. As I said in my other review of Peter Gabriel, white people discovering world music. Not very interesting. Better than his other album, but that's not saying much.
Why don't I listen to more Peter Gabriel? So good.
Good album
N lembro mais
he knows rhythm is what makes music go
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.
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.
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.
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
He went so good out of Genesis
Yo this was so cool
Progressive pop. Rollo.
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.
Just couldn't get into this one. 2/5
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.
PG the 🐐
Kool
It just sucks. Pete, I really don't enjoy your music.
Pretty classic Peter Gabriel. Voice is pretty unique. 4.5
It is Peter Gabriel lots of electronic
In not sure I liked this that much
This was a weird one. Part of it was really progressive and cool and then sometimes it just collapsed in 80s rock nonsense.
Only got to the first song which I didn’t like so I’ll listen to the rest later!
Не понравилось, но и отторжения особого не вызвало, просто не понравилось.
Grandioser Musiker, der mit diesem Album in deutscher Sprache nicht sein Bestes, aber ein gutes Album einspielen.
Yes, I heatd as teenager from my sister
I wanted to DNF this based on the first song, which is actual dogwater. I looked at the reviews, and all the 5's had me feeling like I was missing something. Gave it another chance this morning, and after a full listen through, it's not actual dogwater... just not my cup of tea in the slightest. It manages to raise to a two after pushing past the horrific start. I don't think I like "art rock".
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.
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.
You can blow out a candle But you can’t put out the fire Once the flame spreads, the winds will take it higher
Poorly recorded. Decent album.
A couple cool songs but some really strange/uninteresting ones too
This is a great record. I enjoyed every listen, even from the first time I heard it.
not even close to as good as So but not really bad
Meh
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
Solid album! Not my favourite of his but definitely in my tops!
I've had it with this bloke. Genesis sucked with him, he had a handful of great solo moments and not a one can be found here. OK, fine. Maybe I can give him Games Without Frontiers. But then I remembered this guy can't even be bothered to properly name his albums. Fuck him. We don't have to like him just because Kate Bush does. Remember that when Peter Gabriel dies and the world loses their collective shit like he was another David Bowie.
I felt a lot of things listening to this album but the one constant was anxiety. The first track feels like you’re in a horror movie on LSD. From that point on I really thought I was going to hate this album but it really started to grow on me. There was such a ride range of instrumentation and I can really respect that he was making this album for nobody other than himself. I can’t walk away saying I liked this album but I do respect it.
I did not like this very much, it sounded very machine-y often. Stand-out: And Through The Wire
I can’t even finish the first song without wanting to turn it off.
I mean....it's fine. Just sounds like your stereotypical "experimental" 80s music that happened to get popular. Not bad, not great.
Didn't hate most of this. Nothing stood out as something I need to listen to before I die. He sounded like Phil Collins if he was less talented.
Nah!
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).
I immediately recognized a few tracks and I knew I love them, but the rest were unfamiliar. Okay, that was all lovable!
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.
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!
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
Listened through twice. I liked the array of songs. The menace and unease of Intruder and No Self Control. My life feels like I Don't Remember and I'm surprised no one has made a meme or reel out of it. Good album.
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.
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.
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
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.
Interesting album. Dated asf but Biko was my favourite.
This album was a bit unnerving, suspenseful and at times angry sounding - I didn't mind it at all.
Started off rough for me but got better as the album went on.
Har aldri skjønt meg heilt på 'n Gabriels. Pluss for at han ga ut ein tysk versjon av albumet
The bad 80s
Not on Spotify
Favourite song - I don't remember
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 ….
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…
I was not feeling this album not sure why just didn’t hold my attention.
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.
Okay
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.
Not for me
🫠🫠🫠
I like Peter Gabriel, but not this album.
вау
балдеш алкоальбом: ну вот напиточек с таблеточкой. А что за таблеточка я не скажу
Ну петя архангел че сказать, хорош. чуть больше начал понимать в сравнении с So
Surprisingly dark, I only knew PG from his hits and they aren’t like this.
Enjoyed the album felt short
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.
I liked this album. It was weird and a little dark. Fascinating to hear a record where they avoided using cymbals of any kind. A very rhythmic record is the result, with plenty of brooding as well as rocking. Looking forward to more Peter Gabriel in the future.
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
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.
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
Very intense, not in the mood
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
This feels like something more influential than something I’d want to sit down and listen to anymore
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
Yes! Thank you. More like this.
Probably better than my rating, but it wasn’t for me.
No strong opinion
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.
2/5. This album had no quality songs until we got to Biko. Which was enough to pull this album to a firm 2 stars.
Good, solid, album and worthy of inclusion on the list.
Kind of unique and not what I expected. But also not great.
Didn’t think I’d like this one, but I ended up vibing to it.
I remember a few of these songs from when they were on the radio in the 80s. I liked them then, and I like this album now. He's a very creative and interesting musical artist to my ear, and even though this is a 1980 album it still holds up well.
Good
More Gabriel?!? C’mon! The amount of records some artists have is just so ridiculous. We heard So and that is all you need from solo Gabriel. I don't care for his try-too-hard experimentalism. I prefer when he swims in poppier waters. Meh.
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!
Used to listen to Peter Gabriel a lot with my Dad. Not this album though. Preferred the earlier stuff
•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
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
Peter Gabriel is amazing. This album is not. Very silly songs, like some lukewarm parody of the dumbest prog rock.
This is what I imagine all English music to sound like
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-importance -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.
Good stuff! Beautiful arrangements and great singing
*****
High concepts but ultimately a naff recor. While Peter Gabriel does not irk me normally, and it’s not terrible - it’s rather self indulgent in the belief that whoever is listening is fully bought in what Peter Gabriel is warbling about.
I feel like Peter Gabriel has had a similar career as Lou Reed just 5 years later: both came from relatively experimental rock bands that pushed the boundaries of what pop rock could be, and then continued that blend of experimental and traditional pop/rock in their solo careers. I definitely prefer Reed for the most part, but this is one of Gabriel’s best albums and probably the best example of what his portfolio of music is like. “I Don’t Remember” is my favorite track, followed closely by “Biko”.
Just wow. What an incredible album. Steve Lillywhite produces a masterpiece. Gabriel is such a great songwriter and his voice is so powerful.
Interesting. Glad I heard it
This was a pretty good listen, without being overly outstanding. I definitely feel the second half was stronger than the opening. I'm unlikely to rush out to put this on again, but would certainly not mind it being put in my rotation.
Prog Rock with Synth Elements. Very Eclectic.
This was fine.
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.
I really like Genesis, and I enjoy some of Peter Gabriel's solo work, but I was not particularly moved by this album.
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.
2/5 naaaah
3.5 Genio de la música
This is not my favorite Peter Gabriel album but there are a couple of good songs on there.
There are albums I like better
A somewhat darker version of Genesis coming through on this Gabriel solo LP. Starts off a bit murky and uncertain, but once it returns to the usual soundscape of his former band the ideas take on a more realized form that's pretty enjoyable.
easy to tell this one is from the 80s. I thought it was kinda experimental in its rhythms and instruments.