Reviews (page 7 of 8)
I have a heard a handful of songs on this album but never the whole thing.
Too weird for me.
Mmmm Peter Gabriel. The perfect mix is experimental and pop music.
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.
Brilliant.
I am not a huge Gabriel fan outside of his hits and charters. That is also the reason why I prefer post-Gabriel Genesis over Gabriel-led Genesis.
In his Britney Era. Alexa, play In your eyes.
Should be called Peter Gabriel 2. 2 stars!
Least favorite PG album ever - however, looking forward to his other weird shit
I prefer prog-rock Peter Gabriel with Genesis, but this was ok.
I’ve never heard this album. You can tell he was just getting into his groove. I’ll revisit.
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.
Peter Gabriel is quite a revelation. Felt something move inside me.
This was a weird little record, which I really enjoyed. Probably would need a few listens to fully get into, but first impression was intriguing. And anything Kate Bush shows up on is worth re-listening to. Reading the book entry/wikipedia page on this also is well worth doing - loads of cool little details that make it more interesting still.
I like his singing. He’s a really good songwriter this album definitely gets darker and weirder musically and lyrically. The instrumental is really interesting (Crazy fripp guitar sounds, synths, really beautiful fretless lines, huge sounding Phil collins drums) really cool how “And through the Wire” follows “Family Snapshot” 5
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.
I absolutely hated all the percussion on this album. Lyrics are horrible.
Good
Started off a bit weird, but mellowed out quickly, interesting choice not to have cymbals but it's different.
really fun pop album with a lot of variation - emotional shifts throughout each individual songs. Peter Gabriel is a brilliant musician.
Wow Pete out here getting weird with it. Its not mega pop hits right to the face so it's goes to some weird places. Post punk art rock anti war songs just don't land for me.
Love Peter Gabriel.
Pop progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.
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
Beautiful soaring melodies with Phil's drums lurking in then background. A little same-y across the whole album.
Best Songs: Biko Listen Again: No
I listened to Peter Gabriel some when I was a kid but never took him seriously. This album seriously rocks though. The dude is underrated.
Surprisingly good
First rate lyrics. First rate storytelling. First rate vocals. First rate musicality. First rate production. This album melts my face off: how about yours? Just six years before his third solo album, Peter Gabriel had recorded his bloated and brilliant swan song with Genesis, “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”. And six years after it, he’d be seeing chart success like never before with the smash hits of “Sledgehammer”, “Don’t Give Up”, “In Your Eyes”… all from the magificent “So”. “Peter Gabriel III” (actually just titled “Peter Gabriel” - all of his first four albums were) comes right in the middle, as he experimented wildly with sound, songwriting, and truly found his niche as a solo artist. As a fan of almost everything the man has ever touched, I wouldn’t hesitate to call this his greatest work. The lyrical content of the album reveals a motley crew of outsiders and misfits, some harmless and some very harmful indeed. Gabriel inhabits them all with aplomb: on many tracks, it’s the same mesmerising pantomime of his Genesis years, but without all the baggage and eye-rolling connotations of “prog rock”. Instead, here he is embracing cutting edge post-punk and new wave trends which have not aged anywhere near as badly. Production is absolutely nailed by Steve Lillywhite, an up-and-coming 25-year-old producer who’d already produced the debuts of Siouxsie and the Banshees, XTC and the Psychedelic Furs. The guest cast is phenomenal, too: Phil Collins is the first person we hear on the album, with the gated drum sound that influenced “In the Air Tonight” and pretty much the entire 1980’s. Paul Weller contributes razor-sharp guitar to “And Through the Wire”. Kate Bush appears on backing vocals twice, picking up inspiration along the way for her own masterpiece “The Dreaming”. And the songs! Some of the genre’s finest. “Intruder” is a bold and sinister opening from the perspective of someone breaking into a home: has a xylophone ever been used in such an artsy, sinister way since? “No Self Control” and “I Don’t Remember” crackle with paranoia and urgency, perfectly matched by the twisted soundscapes running through them. “Family Snapshot”, still my favourite song Gabriel has ever made, delves into the psyche of an assassin, wielding a heartbreaking flashback at the end as though it’s a novel rather than four minute song. “Games Without Frontiers” is a hit single of the most unexpected kind: a Lord of the Flies-style analogy of war, with French Kate Bush. And whistling. And an “Adolf” name drop. Glorious. Then there’s the bracingly catchy rock of “And Through the Wire”, the tongue-in-cheek, insular racist’s anthem “Not One Of Us”, and the inspiring majesty of “Biko”, which ends the whole set on an incredibly powerful note. Telling the story of Steve Biko, an activist killed under South Africa’s apartheid regime, it’s an undeniably moving track with the goosebumps-inducing final verse: “You can blow out a candle, but you can’t blow out a fire; once the flames begin to catch, the wind will blow it higher”. When I saw Peter Gabriel live, many years after he’d written these songs, he ended his whole set with “Biko”. After the last chorus had faded, he turned to the audience and said “what happens next, as always, is up to you.” And then he was gone, as the pounding drums continued through the darkness. A class act all the way.
Nice, dense and interesting. Will revisit.
One of the greatest male pop vocalists of all time. The production and comp was a little too quirky and experimental for my taste but I still liked it due to a couple of gems and Gabriel’s always great delivery.
VERY EXPERIMENTLAL, WOW.
One of his best albums to date.
This is fine... Flashes of interesting bits. 3 for effort, but I probably won't revisit it.
Quite a few of these songs were a single phrase repeated over and over. A lot of innovation as far as the music goes, but the lyrics were mostly a let down.
This got better as it went along. Very Peter Gabriel.
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
Well produced. Lots to say. Just a tad dull for me.
Fantastic! Have rediscovered Peter Gabriel.
Such a good album just not a weak song in the bunch and Biko, Games Without Frontiers and I Don't Remember are stone cold classics with And Through The Wire not far behind. Just nothing negative to say about this album. Peter Gabriel's best and an easy 5 star reccomendation
Sorta creepy, but I still had to see where it went...
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.
A lot wielder than where I came in on Peter Gabriel's solo career (around about So), though not without charms. A taste I might acquire with additional exposure.
4 3
Oh god, please stop talking about Peter Gabriel.
Peter continue de faire bonne figure sans non plus casser trois pattes à un canard. C'est l'occasion de rappeler que seulement 20 albums sur presque 1000 cassent jusqu'ici les trois pattes du canard. Robert est un nullos confirmé.
Nouveau jour, nouvel album de merde
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.
While there were certainly a few solid tracks here, it didn't have the solid through-and-through wildness of his debut. Still better than So, though.
I was actually quite impressed with this, a low 5 But I just really dug the art rock elements for some reason.
2/5
One of those cases where the name on the album makes all the difference, because as albums go this one is rather eccentric.
cons: saxophone bass tone is awful pros: memorable melodies good songwriting
Meh 2.4
Some good some bad
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
pode parecer nada a ver, mas achei uma versão pior de david bowie
Gostei de ouvir o álbum inteiro. Foi uma descoberta legal. Não achei ele super marcante por inteiro mas mto bom Fave: no self control, and through the wire
Eigenlijk boeiender dan die vorige, maar ik ben een beetje moe van Peter vandaag.
Minder sterk als So, maar ook erg prettig
Heel tof eigenlijk! De hele sfeer en productie is goed, en de meeste nummers zijn heel pakkend. Ga ik nog vaker luisteren!
This was a good album and introduced me to some new tunes. My favourite track off this album was the first one Intruder
I like a lot of Peter Gabriel songs, none of them are on this album.
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.
I disliked this more than I thought. Maybe it's just not suiting my mood today.
Soft Ozzy Osbourne. I liked the second to last song (Lead a normal life).
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
Ikke min greie. Opplevde albumet som uharmonisk og rotete.
Dette skjønte jeg liksom ikke helt. Litt for mye som skjedde på en gang, litt for eksperimentelt uten struktur. Vet ikke. Må kanskje høre mer!
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!
All time favorite
i don't care anymore
I was surprised by a lot of the songs. Some of the dissonance I didn't like but I know I could warm up to it over time. Wish I could give it a 3.5, because I don't feel like it deserves a 3 or a 4
Idk if I like his vibes
I liked it, no self control, I don’t remember, through the wire, and games without frontiers were my favorites
Outstanding album. Biko is a big highlight and awesome closer. On par with So, but incredibly different 5
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.
#32. Is this one of those things where you had to have been there to get it? Because I wasn't there, and I don't get it. I see all these four and five star reviews, but personally I don't see how this can be viewed as anything other than mediocre. 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: No Self Control I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
There are 1000 artists people should hear before they die. Two albums by Peter Gabriel?? So is a classic. PG 1-4 have sublime heights but a lot of filler.
I quite liked some of the more leftfield musical elements here, but generally I am not a fan of the songs and I don't think Pete's voice really suits the style. It is almost New Wave in feel in places, but the prog-ish melodrama drowns that out most of the time, sadly. I want to like this but I don't.
I really struggled with this album. The sleeve notes suggest that it should be outstanding - Fripp! Weller! Phil on drums! But it's not an easy listen. There's no obvious theme for it to all hang together. It felt almost as disjointed as Fripp's guitar style. Gawd knows how Weller fitted into this back in 1980. Not a disaster, but an interesting listen.
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.
boring sorry just not my thing
Two Peter Gabriel albums in a row (1 and 3). I like 3 (aka Melt) better than 1. It's supposedly more experimental but I found it more listenable. Enjoyed "I Don’t Remember" and "Games Without Frontiers". "Family Snapshot" was very interesting (and disturbing).
Meh. More 80s white guy rock.
The influence on popular music after this is apparent but most of this album falls flat.
that was nice :)) a good experience and a nice vibe 3*
Kind of weird but found family snapshot and not one of us quite nice
If you're a P. G. Fan it's ok. Games without frontiers got a lot of play and us my favorite even though top 40 freak usually doesn't appeal to me. No big earworms like his "Sledgehammer". Not my cup of tea but I wasn't in pain listening to it.
Enjoyable album, a mix of unorthodox and some pop elements
I really liked “ I Don’t Remember” and “ and through the wire” but other than that I thought the album was so so.
Unorthodox but not totally uninviting.
Some still sound innovative which is quite an achievement. Don't really vibe with many songs though
weird
una bonita fusión que usa percusión tipo marimba, medio tropical para ir desde lo lirico hasta lo meramente instrumental. buen album.
desde la canción 5 se pone weno 👍 la portada está chevere lleno de experimentación y distorsiones, esto se muestra desde la portada, parece más viejo de lo que es xd me gusto mucho la canción 5 y la 6 pero un pokito repetitivo, supongo que es por el concepto del disco
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.
Whatever I was doing in the 70’s, it did not include Genesis ( the book or the band). I missed the band altogether. So my real introduction to Peter Gabriel was via his debut solo album, which I actually purchased brand new because I was in love with Solisbury Hill. For me, it’s still the best thing he ever did. Although, to be fair, I really only know some of his singles. I sold that first album on, once I found a copy of Solisbury Hill on a single. His second album is a mystery to me. And from this, his third album, I only know Games Without Frontiers & Biko. I really like Games Without Frontiers. Great tune. And I love the idea & the politics behind Biko, although I prefer Sweet Honey In The Rock’s Biko, released the year after this. I’ve listened to the rest of the album & it’s a good listen, but not a thrilling one for me.
This is a favorite album of mine. I never liked, either the overly-prog Peter Gabriel era or the cheesy pop monster Phil Collins era. I don't mind Gabriel's later pop albums, but they are not nearly as interesting as this. This is a strange album for a man who clearly didn't mind popular appeal. I really like the claustrophobic and weird production choices (no cymbals!) with interesting and tight players (Collins on drums, Fripp, Tony Levin, Kate Bush!) which all complement the paranoid and anxious songs. If anything, it feels like close relation to Bowie's Scary Monsters album, which came out around the same time. It's a mood that appeals to me. But I understand that it isn't to everyone's taste, but I really dig it.
Some early New Wave, World music. He always seemed very experimental to me.
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.
I don't remember any song from this album. Have I listened it?
Great
Just an awesome album, takes big balls to start your album with a song from the pov of a stalker.
Baita som, consistente, curti
Gabriel going crazy on the mic.
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. A mid to high 3.
Eccentric and dark, but also heartfelt. Intelligent, richly layered compositions and top notch musicianship. Check out the deep bench of musical talent backing Gabriel up - Fripp, Collins, Weller, Bush. Not a bad track to be found. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Games Without Frontiers, I Don't Remember, No Self Control, Not One of Us, And Through the Wire, Intruder, Biko, Lead a Normal Life, Family Snapshot, Start
“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.
They open the album with what I can only describe as someone stroking the bristles of a plastic comb. They just giving out record deals to everyone in the 80s. He definitely was experimenting with new sounds. Some one said “I’m going to need more cowbell” and for 3 straight songs Peter said “Yes”. “Family Snapshot” became Family Trauma. Still my favorite song on the album though. Not my type of music overall. Won’t play it again on purpose. 5/10
I've never had an album start so strong and drop off so hard, at first I enjoyed how weird it was with Intruder then after 3 songs I kept asking "Is this song still going". Some songs have unnecessary 1 minute lead ins that just extend the runtime. Overall he's not that bad and you can get through it without suffering. Just felt like a long and boring experience. 3/10
This is the music they play in Insane Asylums in movies. Why is ‘Start’ not the first song on the album? By the time it got to ‘I don’t remember’ I was wishing I didn’t remember having listened to this album. Peter Gabriel sings like a deaf person. These songs have no right being as long as they are. I would have preferred sitting in a padded room for the duration of the album, then I could justify how repetitive these pretentious ass songs were. 2/10
I thought I'd like this as it's a step away from what I know about Peter Gabriel but it didn't land with me.
Good, but also unsettling at times
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.
It was a good album! I think I wouldn’t listen to it again, but there were some spots I was giving.
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.
This album had great instrumentals, but the lyrics could be repetitive at time.
Ihan jees tuommosta brittimäistä poppia. Kuullostaa vähän samalta kuin Phil Collins ja Genesis, kun samasta bändistä ovat
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"
LOVE IT
Too experimental and shit for my taste
I liked ‘and through the wire’ wasn’t too fussed on the rest of the songs.
Va ser el seu cènit. En els seus primers dos discos primava l’experimentació i després de ‘Melt’, sobretot amb ‘So’, van primar les melodies i la comercialitat. Aquí va ser on la barreja de tots dos mons va trobar el seu punt d’ebullició perfecte. Una obra mestra per començar la década màgica
This was an incredible listen. Vaguely unconventional without being uninviting or remotely uninteresting. I was surprised that I recognized at least three songs here, thinking I only knew "Games Without Frontiers". This is right up my alley and I can see myself revisiting it many times in the coming years. I almost never grant an album 5 stars on my first listen, but I'm gonna do it here. Very, very cool.
damn
2.5/5. Meh. It's got some cool sounds, but it's not something I have any desire to listen to. I could see how people would be into this. The last song was definitely a bit unnecessary.
Just saw a great concert last night. Full of energy, excitement and ready for the day's album and we get this. Whatever this is or was meant to be, it definitely missed the mark with this reviewer. Slow and boring. Through The Wire picked up the energy, but then went back to the whatever this was. Listened twice in case I was still my high from last night. Yea, 2nd time around just left me frustrated. I just going with a 2 and leave it there. I know he's got a few good songs out there, they just weren't on this album. 2
There was some pretty interesting shit going on here. There was also a lot of dumb boring shit. Diet Bowie at times. 3 because it's pretty even with its good and its bad crap. 3
2 I don’t know Peter Gabriel, nor do I admittedly know a ton of his music, but something about this album and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway makes me think I’d find him really annoying. He feels like a wannabe David Bowie but without any of the charm, and from what I’ve read about him, far too much of an egotistical control freak for the quality of his music. I’ve never been a fan of his later radio hits, and after this entry on the list, I gotta say I’m not a fan of his earlier experimental stuff either. This album feels a lot more like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway than it does So, but whereas Lamb at least had some sense of structure to it (I say lightly), this album feels incredibly disorganized in comparison. Maybe that’s not a fair comparison given the other is a full on narrative-driven rock opera (allegedly), but any good album should have some sense of flow and framework to it regardless, and I don’t feel like that’s the case here. While I can’t say I hated the sound, I don’t find it nearly as interesting or as ingenious as Gabriel seems to think it to be. As far as I’m concerned, this has third rate Bowie written all over it, with a splash of new wave mixed in for good measure. And yet, it seems I’m an outlier based on what I’ve seen others say about this album online - a lot of people hail Gabriel’s decision not to include any kind of cymbals on this album as musically revolutionary, but it really doesn’t feel out of place from other contemporary new wave/electronic stuff. And then there was this one review I saw where someone praised the album as genius because of its “secret way of listening”: Starting with the track “Start” and treating the first two songs as bonus tracks. What? Do you know what that sounds like? The same exacting f*cking thing. Ugh. The fans of this album are about as bad as Gabriel. I digress, not terrible, but perhaps a bit too pretentious to be this mediocre. I’m walking away annoyed here though, so we’re going to swing for the lower half of the scale.
Not a fan. Quit after 3 songs ...
The album starts with an experimental piece and doesn’t seem to get its true footing until the fifth track. It just feels like the band as a whole just held back. Once Gabriel and his band show their strength, they do go full force. Some good stuff here. Mid 3.
I didn't go into this with high expectations at all but I was overall pleasantly surprised. I didn't necessarily love the album but it's not bad, I especially like the first song.
vraiment très bon. J'adore peter gabriel et Biko ma jeter par terre. Je connaissais déja beaucoup de chnason de l'album. 5
interesting but not my favourite i think? although the first track was nice and felt nostalgic
Spannendes Album. Peter Gabriel (ehemals Genesis) offenbar ein Pionier der Menschenrechte und Förderer von nicht-westlichen Musiker:innen. Album ist ein bisschen ein wilder Mix von Xylophon, experimentell und Rock Balladen.
Interesting arrangement ideas, seems more a product of its time rather than withstanding the tests of time though. Good for some arrangement ideas though.
Yes mush
Unlistenable
Beyond Sledgehammer & In Your Eyes I'm not too familiar with Peter Gabriel's music - so I expected him to sound like Peter Frampton only because the was also named Peter. I'm glad to be wrong. The percussions here are insane, as is the dark atmosphere coupled with his commanding vocals. Very innovative and ambitious, but still listenable! Those dudes from Genesis made some great solo stuff, huh. Standout tracks are And Through the Wire, Intruder, and I Don't Remember.
Meh
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.
Reading that this album is nicknamed "Melt" brings back memories. I bought it on a visit to TO to see Heatwave in August '80 and left it (and a few less-memorable LPs) on my rear dash for the day! The vinyl looked just like Peter's face when I got back. This a newer and darker sound that reflects what was coming out of the UK at that time and it was smart to get Steve Lillywhite, one of the big "new wave" producers, on the controls. There are some great tracks, and while it's less eclectic than his first album, he still creates different soundscapes and brings in some interesting supporting players (Robert Fripp/Phil Collins/Kate Bush). It's a more political album with "Biko" and "Games without Frontiers", which is his best single, IMO. He starts to sound a bit predictable with "And Through the Wire" and "Not one of Us" but they're still exponentially better than the embarrassing stuff his x-bandmates wee putting out at that time. Not my favourite Peter Gabriel album, but still a 5.
After a few weeks of very mediocre to poor offerings it was refreshing to finally receive an album that you really need to listen to before you die. With an all-star ensemble and production by the legendary Steve Lillywhite, how could you go wrong? I'm a big fan of prog rock pioneers Genesis, but admittedly prog is rather old fashioned and Gabriel has pushed the envelope with this post-punk, art-rock masterpiece that sounds nothing at all like his old band. Most notable is the dark, heavily percussive sound with no cymbals and the innovative use of the fairlight synthesizer. This album isn't perfect, but its close enough.
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.
Listening to this has reinforced my neutrality towards Peter Gabriel. As in the 80s, I don't connect with the music or lyrics as I do with other artists. I don't dislike him, but I also don't particularly like him either.
1980. Alternative, prog in some areas. First couple tracks were nice, the rest unmemorable and stale.
Eh. Gabriel always feels like a guy on the edge of greatness. Like... he's ALMOST legendary but something about the way he constructs songs holds him back and leaves me scratching my head. To be clear: there's nothing wrong with any of these songs. They just don't slap. There's not a banger in the bunch. They're all just... okay. But they feel like they SHOULD be great and that's actually really frustrating. Anyway, it's a middling album. Minus one for super cheesy saxophone solos. Sorry, Peter.
This is fine. Not really into it.
This album was absolutely phenomenal. While it sounds of its time, this album has so many contemporary sounds that would be right at home on a contemporary record. The lyrics are political and socially conscious, and the music itself defies genre and fuses prog with post-punk, art rock, and ambient music.
This is my fave Peter Gabriel album.
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.
Peter Gabriel does a fabulous job of walking the line between pop music and art rock experimentation. The fact that the ubiquitous gated reverb sound of the 80s was first minted here is a perfect illustration of that. I love that his label dropped him because they thought this was uncommercial, but then he went elsewhere and it went on to be the most successful album of his career up to that point. Shows you the general record buying public collectively have better taste and judgement than your average label execs. Couldn't ask for a better fuck you than that.
Lots of folks love Peter Gabriel but it's just pure cheese for me. Competent and what it does but I ain't eating that.
No
Didn't think I liked Peter Gabriel but the longer I listened the more this seemed to click. Every song worked for me
There’s some fun New Wave influence about this album. There’s some important sociopolitical message to this album. I was sad that “Shock the Monkey” was not on this album.
A moody experimental sounding album. Requires repeat listening as there is a lot of interesting stuff going on. Second half of the album is my favourite of the two. I think the melodies are more appealing.
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
Started slow for me, but it grew on me.
Not my favorite style
- This kinda slaps - Love the blend in sounds and electronic elements that are added - Vocals really fit the music well - No Self Control is my favorite
- there are a few good moments - I Can’t Remember is very catchy, feels like a hit - overall just a little industrial sounding for me
Great album!
Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
I've been listening to this album on repeat for months & it's become one of my favorites. I got into a discussion with friends about Games Without Frontiers and pointing out that the female voice is singing in French, but the misheard lyrics sounds like, "she's so popular." I'm sure others mishear that, too. It's a solid tune & his most popular of the tracks on this album. Intruder is eerie & dark (I bet Nine Inch Nails could cover this beautifully) & And Through The Wire is an upbeat favorite. I appreciate Biko after learning about its message, and I hear that's how he's closing out his set on his current tour. Peter Gabriel was never a pop sensation, but he's incredibly talented & underrated. The way he crafts a tune is like no other. 5 stars.
Always enjoy listening to Peter Gabriel. Some great tracks on here with Biko being a personal favourite from this album.
Twas ok
Loved the experimental sound!
Hitsen är ju klassiker. I övrigt en okej skiva.
To some extent, good. A lot more experimental and complex that I could have expected
Little rough sounding but love the songs.
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.
Some interesting instrument choices, but not my favourite of his work
I was 47 years old before I realized that the drums don't play any cymbals or high hats. No metal played in the "normal" fashion. "Melt" is Gabriel's second-best solo work. So is #1.
What a fantastic album. Peter Gabriel really is an incredible artist and it seems like he never fails to miss on an album. Listening through again, three of the first four songs are great (Intruder, No Self Control, and I Don't Remember). Also honorary mention, but this album sets up a great queue from Spotify at the end of it. Keep in mind when I need to mindlessly listen to classic rock during the work day. 5 stars I presume.
If Phil Collins and Billy Idol had a baby, it would be this record.
Pretty wacky album
WOW. I was so completely floored by this album, I don't know where to start. I listened through twice before I looked up on the Wikipedia and discovered all about its cultural significance, the first prominent use of gated reverb, all the connections with Phil Collins' drum sounds, the Fairlight, Kate Bush's contributions... etc. All wonderful errata to know. We have seen the best and the worst of the 80's, and I now can declare my allegiance solidly to the vision that these artists (with Steve Lillywhite producing) are pushing for. But none of that preamble really captures how it felt to hear this album for the first time. Which was a moment of real WOW. It floored me, from the first song almost all the way through. It's a complex, challenging, bold listen from a disturbed mind. Peter Gabriel never sounds more strident and more deranged, his soundscapes never more expansive and challenging. There are enough hooks, soaring melodies, rhythms to keep the ship on course, but as a listener you're just thrown into this chaotic world of staggeringly bold, almost atonal ideas. Little did I know that the album that the gated snare would come from contains multitudes... a real mission statement of sound. No wonder copycats abound. No wonder it took people a decade to work through this. If I had been learning guitar, drums, production when this album came out, I would have been obsessed. Just the guitar work alone by Robert Fripp is so challenging and groundbreaking. The strange Fairlight patches..!! It all sounds so singular. This is an album where it feels like all these strange new ideas really crystalize into a Sound. And it's a genuinely disturbing one! Bowie, of course, is the standard by which all art rock must be held up to, and there are some strong shades of Bowie in this album. But where I feel like Bowie in this period (the Berlin Trilogy etc.) feels weirdly aloof or absent from his albums, or doesn't commit all the way to the sound he is going for, this album delivers. It is full 100% balls-to-the-wall commitment to the insanity of the sound and the concept. I think it's the best Peter Gabriel album we've had, and it's maybe one of the best first listens I've had to an album in a long time. I'm so glad I'm doing this list. 10/10, 5/5.
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
Standouts: Biko, Games Without Frontiers, Family Snapshot Others: Intruder, No Self Control, I Don't Remember, Not One of Us 3.5/5
Pretty decent, dug the detuned / somewhat dark/trippy vibes
Sort of weird and nightmarish. Complex instrumentation. Not exactly likable, it’s mostly dissonant. Biko is a fascinating track, love the slow drums, the bagpipes in the background, the repetitive lyrics, the vocal sounds, it’s a brilliant blend of sounds into a droning and somehow uplifting dirge.
I’d never listened to Peter Gabriel before, I always assumed he’d be quite bland / pompus for some reason. But this is everything but bland / pompus. Experimental pop on pills, really well put together and treads that line perfectly between being quite weird and unique without going too far. Some songs sound like huge film soundtracks, but innovstive enough to remain mint. It has all the good bits of prog rock without the faff. Highlights: Intruder, I Dont Remember, Through the Wire, Game Without Frontiers, Nob on a bus, Biko. Actually apart from that 80s sax track, the whole album is great. A 4.5 but I’ll round up
This was so much trippier and interesting than I expected somebody associated with Phil Collins to produce. Maybe he's the anti-Collins and he had to leave Genesis to get away from him. Hard to pin down from one listen, it was full of ideas and took a lot of unexpected turns. A bit industrial and heavy in parts but then quite a bit of 80s sax too I think. Didn't blow me away like some other prog on this list but certainly didn't offend me like some other prog on this list.
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.
More experimental sounding than I thought it would be. First half was the stronger side for me, gets pretty weird in that latter half. Highlights: I Don't Remember Not One Of Us
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
Thought I'd have some kind of reaction to this but overall just thought it was a bit noting, some of it I didn't like, some of it I didn't mind.
Amazing
This was a pretty good album. I know Gabriel from his more mainstream hits. This album was all fresh but it still had a similar sound of his singing ability shining through. The production was very unique and original on some songs. It felt kind of blue collar on some songs. There are some good catch songs on this album and I’d revisit it. 7.0/10
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
I love Peter Gabriel and everything he does, so I’m completely unsurprised that I loved this, too.
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.
3 stars
I can't stand this genre. 80s new wave/post punk with some "art rock" sprinkled in. Absolute wanker music. The final track was kinda cool but everything else was a chore to sit through.
5/5. Possibly a personal bias but I love Peter Gabriel already and this post-punk and industrial rock album is such a good combination. Each song is dripping with anger and fear, where it just ends up with the listener feeling the same way but also sad. Somehow it works and you feel uncomfortable but in a good way? Hard to describe but so good. Plus a great closer, powerful and political.
Never heard much of Peter Gabriel, not bad, pretty cool tracks, dig his voice and delivery
3.5
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!
The album starts off in a very simplistic manner. Droning brum beat then quiet yet dark vocals come in. The album progresses until the hit Games without Frontiers. This album represents the beginning of the minimalistic prog/new wave sound that helped launch Depeche Mode, The Cure and Tears for Fears. Deep lyrics, brooding vocals and shaved down instrumentals abound.
Strange and provocative at the same time. Love the instrumentation and cool drums and synths. Can hear some beginnings of the mid to late 80s Peter Gabriel in the making. But some of these songs are hard to follow.
Not for me.
3.5 * Okej slusao sam ga iz dva navrata al ova druga polovina mi je brutalna tkd mora se vratim na ovo. Games without frontiers najbolja pesma
What white dads who wear socks and sandals listen to when they want to feel dangerous.
I’m assuming this was influential.
This was such a great album! It was balanced and full of life and I would definitely listen again.
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.
And, with the sound of the gate, everything changed. The third installment of the Peter Gabriel tetralogy sees him further opening himself up to themes and scenarios only he could conjure up. The bleakness that surrounds this album could only be matched by the famous album cover, amongst the best that Hipgnosis have ever done and the sheer innovation throughout (the gated drums, the youthful production and the acknowledgement of Steve Biko and the predicaments that led to his death in apartheid South Africa and thus leading to everybody else's awareness of it) ensured that Peter Gabriel would always remain ahead of the curve for some time to come. Don't let the scary seeming vibes of this throw you off, it's best you'd immerse yourself in it.
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.
I just love the dark dystopian mode of the album. The recording and production is just amazing, the album has a stark feel but at the same time a very rich instrumental texture.
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.
Wasn't bad. Nothing new stuck with me. The single is still good.
Didn't grab me, but never wanted to turn it off. It's fine.
Oli aika epätasainen matka ja vaikea löytää levyn syvin olemus. Harmiton kertasoitto riittäänee.
Erikoinen ja jotenki jäi päällimmäisenä mieleen, et sekava.
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
Hot day after Labor Day - listened on drive to otter ponds with pooch
If you only ever listen to one Peter Gabriel album…listen to ‘So’. It is immaculate with the right mix of artsy, avant-garde, world and straight pop/rock songs, all done right. This on the other hand doesn’t quite hit those heights. It’s interesting for sure, and full of great ideas, but it’s not necessarily enjoyable as a whole. I feel this way about a lot of his early solo work.
This just isn't my kind of music, nothing against the artist. It's ambitious and clearly going for some high-concept impact, but other than "Biko" I don't find myself engaging with it. Maybe that makes me lazy or makes this music too challenging. Or maybe it's pretentious and unapproachable. Either way I'm fine not returning to it.
Ietwat experimenteel, niet slecht
Un peu les mêmes commentaires que l'autre album de lui que j'ai eu, un tantinet moins aimé. 7/10
Did anyone else grow up hearing Games Without Frontiers on classic rock radio and think Kate was singing \"She's so popular?\" What can I say, our education system in the States is severely lacking in the foreign language department. Anyway, is this Gabriel's best album? Maybe? I think that argument could be made. I'm not gonna try but this is as good as anything he's done. P.S. he's close to releasing an album, his first album of new and original material in more than 20 years, if he tours, walk don't run to get tickets, I saw him live about 30 years ago, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen.
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.
This is the second Peter Gabriel album that I've gotten and I'm still not ready to give up finding an album of his that I will really enjoy. So far I've had a hard time connecting to his music. I think he is a great musician overall, but so far I'm not sure his stuff is for me.
73/100
Less eclectic and more settled on his 1980s style. Interesting and at times arresting for it’s lyrical content. I didn’t know Kate Bush sang the “Jeux Sans Frontieres” line.
Peter is trying so hard to be artistic and stand out that he alienates his entire sound into a caricature of itself. It doesn’t come across as fun or experimental, but more like a naive art student’s pathetic imitation of a past master. The lyrics don’t stand out in any way. The attempts at originality are lackluster and embarrassingly obvious. The writing and production are fairly on par with the time. I don’t typically enjoy Mr. Gabriel and this is one of his more disappointing outings. 2/5
Pop music like it should be! Unfortunately it was not enough
Really nice
idk what to think yet. i'm not loving intruder but family snapshot is pretty fine. games without frontiers is also nice.
Peter Gabriel thinks he David Bowie. He's not.
Peter Gabriel is the first artist I get the second album in this series. Must say I like the previous entry, So, better.
Not my favorite Peter Gabriel but not bad either. Probably a 3.5, rounding to 4.
Pop progresivo. Ni fu ni fa.
Progressive pop. Rollo.
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
I love when I get an album that I've owned on vinyl for 40+ years. An amazingly creative, eclectic, and interesting album. I think this is the album where everyone realized that Peter Gabriel as a solo artist was going to be a force to be reckoned with. My favorite PG album is actually his follow up to this, Security, but this is a close second. Every track stands on its own, yet the whole thing is cohesive. I love the way he was getting creative with percussion, and Robert Fripp's understated guitar playing also stands out to me. Not perfect, but still amazing, even after all these years. 5 stars.
Cat: he’s weird. I love his voice and what he’s saying but there’s a weird intensity and industrial sound that’s off putting. Not my fave by him. AJ: Two Words: Phil. Collins.
I've never listened or heard of this one before, so I'm excited.
Still not a fan of Prog Rock - this one especially. I'm not sure where the line is between progressive and appropriation, but Pete's flirting with it on this one.
This was very strange, but also... enjoyable? I'm pretty sure? I accidentally listened to the wrong album at first and it was exceedingly mid, so I came into this pretty annoyed, but it won me over! It lost me a couple times, but in general it was pretty enjoyable and dare I say quirky. Also, very strong more cowbell vibes!
Dark, progressive and all-around high quality solo record from Gabriel featuring some innovative drumming - especially on the tracks featuring You-Know-Who.
Possibly the greatest post-Genesis album by any member.
It was an OK album. I did not recognize any of the songs. No need to revisit. Unsure why this album made the list.
decent...ish
I appreciate the Peter Gabriel drum sound heard round the world and his pop sensibilities, this is enough of his albums now though
I love Pete Gabs and you should too
This isn't a bad album but I'm not sure about regular rotation. Standouts include I Don't Remember, Family Snapshot, Through The Wire and Battles Without Frontiers.
This is the moment that Gabriel took control of his solo career and forged the path forward. It is the first accomplished album he produced after leaving Genesis. It is a landmark album in its style and impact on music for the next decade. He would only reach higher with subsequent projects both in ambition and popularity. I'm not quite sure that I agree with the general consensus that it is his masterpiece. I would probably give that to Us. However, it is brilliant and perfect, especially given its difficult subject matter.
Dark and creepy. Twisting and turning. Sometimes a bit cheesy and "of its time". 'Games Without Frontiers' is great. Decent listen, lovely stuff. 3 / 5 stars.
Liked the strong bass lines, felt very 80s and mostly just passed by without much to note
I thought I liked Peter. Less so after listening to this.
Intruder- A dark song, murky vibe. The feel is of an intruder being welcome to dare try and enter the singers house (6) No Self Control- The murky theme continues, but now it is more fearful, the singer talking about his problems and addictions, and how he can’t control himself (7.5) Start- A pleasant interlude, with much more livliness to it, but the dark keys remain (7.5) I Don’t Remember- From goth to more hard rock, still keeping a dark theme, about not being able to remember (5) Family Snapshot- A deeper song with more purpose, very nice drums (8) And Through The Wire- A sort of love song, with crooning about how someone is very close but so far at the same time (7.5) Games Without Frontiers- A song about having no barriers, maybe a parallel to being vulnerable, as he mentions if looks could kill they would, about a partner?? (6.5) Not One Of Us- The vibe at this point has completely flipped, being more new rock. The song touches the topic of someone who walks within a group, but is a fake (8) Lead A Normal Life- Ironically one of the most complex, deepest songs on the album. With so little words Gabriel sets the mood for pondering and reflecting on his life, on how it would be to live like a normal person (9) Biko- The ending to the album, with a very broody but jungle vibe? An interesting track (7.5) Summary: Haven’t heard anything like this, an interesting listen; OVERALL: 7/10
cool
Interesting, good
boring..
I have always had a difficult relationship with Peter Gabriel, just overall. His lyrics don't speak to me and his music doesn't always either. Sometimes the lyrics are great and I don't like the music or (more likely) the music is entertaining but the lyrics evade my interests. I'm not sure if this is Peter Gabriel's best album or the album that must be heard over "So," though this mixes his artsy and pop instincts better than that record.
A bold statement from the former frontman of Genesis, continuing his exploration of world music and post punk. A triumph.
I've given Peter Gabriel a 5 on this project before, but in saying that I'm pretty unbiased. I think Genesis was at its creative peak with him singing, and he's obviously a quiet genius living in the shadow of Phil Collins. Underrated, at least in relative terms. That being said, this album was only mildly interesting. I forgot it was playing for a good half of it, only really enjoyed the first 2 songs and the last. Rest was a blur. 3/5.
Sublime
Crap.
4.5
Very uneven for me. Lots to love, lots to hate. Best track: Games Without Frontiers
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.
Started off ok, got a bit self indulgent towards the end. 2/5
Really not my style. Personally found it very boring.
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.
I'd like to award five stars to the bloke on cowbell in Family Snapshot and one star to the rest of this utter atrocity of an album
when do i get elliott smith
It was good. Liked it better than I thought it would.
I wanted to like it more than I actually liked it
Immediately listening to this blew my mind. The musicianship here is next level, as those such as Robert Fripp, Kate Bush, and Phil Collins, who employed a newly seeded style of drumming, reverb gated. There are also no bad songs on here, as such examples include the creepy opener, “Intruder”, 3 highlights of PG’s socio-political commentary, “Biko”, “Games Without Frontiers”, and “Family Snapshot”, and many more. Honestly, one of the greatest I've ever listened to yet.
I find myself unable to recall anything from this album. It probably would've been a 3 at best but incant remember a damn thing about it. A 2 because I don't recall hating it.
Mostly quite forgettable, not as enjoyable as the other Peter Gabriel we had.
Really nice. And Through the Wire was a bit unexpected.
Though this doesn't shy away from being challenging at times, the album fits well from start to finish. Biko, And Through the Wire and Games Without Frontiers stand out, but i also find the biting energy of things like Intruder as also well done. It's a great album.
And Through the Wire andGames without Frontiers were neat
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
These songs contain powerfully articulated messages about everything from mental health to apartheid. Peter Gabriel is also enough of a musician to wrap these songs in music that serves the message. Dark and easy to listen to.
Yes, first time listening to this Peter Gabriel album, and I think this is the best output from anyone related to Genesis I have heard and I’ll include the Genesis albums in that. Maybe because I’m more a post punk and new wave fan, but this is right up my street. Going to give this the full 5 stars.
The album seemed a bit too experimental for my liking, so I ended up only half-heartedly listening to it in the background. "Biko" however made it all worthwhile, that song alone deserves all the stars.
This was the first solo album by Peter Gabriel that I would call 'good'. Some of the tracks, like Games Without Frontiers and Biko are even outstanding. However, there is still too much unfocused, quirky experimentation here. One more album would follow before Gabriel's first real masterpiece album 'So'. 3/5
Peter Gabriel just doing his do, nothing too noteworthy to me