So

"Guarantee you anyone born after 1982 is not putting this in their 1001 albums to listen to list" It is one of the top-rated comment of 'So' on this site. Well, I can guarantee that I was born a couple of years after 1982 and I not only put this album on my 1001 albums list but I also give it a 5. The reason is that I appreciate great music. 'So' is one of the best albums of the 1980s - this album is a great example that pop music can be excellent if everything is of high quality: songwriting, lyrics, production, singing, etc. Gabriel also invited stellar guest musicians who contributed to the greatness of this album. Even the music video for Sledgehammer is iconic, innovative and the best of the decade. Perhaps it helps that I've seen Gabriel live at a concert and when he played these songs from 'So', the quality was the same as on the album. Mindblowing experience. If there is any pop album that deserves to get high rating, it is this album.

I'm just gonna say Tony F. Levin.

The music on So is world-building, creating a large, almost tangible experience. Take the epic opening track, "Red Rain", to see how large, energetic, yet melancholic the listening experience can be. The tracks invite you in to their own world, yet Peter's voice sounds natural, not constructed, as if he is next to you as he sings. The selection of backing vocals and guest musicials add to both the largeness of the overall experience, and the intimacy of the lyrics. There are clever lyrics with a lot of imagery. I tend to like the the moodier songs on this album. Perhaps it's because I've heard some of the upbeat tracks more often. I've heard all of Peter Gabriel's albums up to this album, and several albums after So. I've listened to this album several times. I've listened to the individual tracks even more often - EVERY. SINGLE. TRACK. How could I not give this 5 stars. There's nothing to skip.

this album answers the question: what if phil collins was good?

Guarantee you anyone born after 1982 is not putting this in their 1001 albums to listen to list

I have this album on cassette & have had it since 1990. It's quintessential 80s Peter Gabriel & it's perfect. Don't Give Up ft. Kate Bush, Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Big Time, and In Your Eyes - Jesus, this is a juggernaut. Something about his voice, cadence, and emotion draws me in. I've been revisiting Peter Gabriel in both his Genesis & solo years lately, and I wish I would've taken a deeper dive sooner. He's touring this year, so I'm taking this as a sign to see him live. I'll regret it if I don't. 5 out of 5.

So… I knew who Peter Gabriel was by name and notably through having heard the songs “Sledgehammer” and “In Your Eyes” but let me share my ignorance with you. While listening to this album I kept thinking “Wow, this album is phenomenal! This sounds like Phil Collins or Genesis”. Then I read the attached Wikipedia article and immediately felt simultaneously smart and stupid. 5/5 for being educated by an amazing album.

In 1992, I went away to college. My Dad was really, really strict, and it was very stressful living at home for the last few years. I can remember laying in my bed in my dorm room, with the wind blowing through the open window, and finally feeling relaxed. Relieved. Free. I can remember doing that same thing many times that first semester. Opening the window, climbing up on the top bunk bed, and just being free. Much of the time, I'd throw an album on at high volume while I zoned out. My roommate happened to own this CD. One day, I decided it was a good time for my ritual, and I put it on. I was familiar with Peter Gabriel but had never listened to this album. It was so overpowering and emotional. The sounds created here were so vivid, it's like I could visualize brushstrokes across my vision of the world through my dorm window. I feel like I lived a whole life in my mind while listening to this album. Everything I had been through, what I wanted out of my life, who the important people were for me, where I wanted to go, what I wanted my college experience to be like, who was I outside of my parents' house on on my own, and so on. I was feeling emotions I had never really acknowledged or experienced before. And as I listened to this album today, I was there again. Re-living that time of my life. But now, I listened while knowing what kind of life I've lived and the choices I've made. I realized "Don't Give Up" is a parents' message to their child. And really everything came full circle. I listened and thought of my kids' lives, and what they will do as they grow. And found myself in that zone again. Really truly feeling happiness. It's a beautiful and entertaining album, and one of the few that exist that really take me to another place. So (pun not intended) happy that it popped up today!

Hello, old friend. It's been too long. You still sound good.

Here is one of the albums that defined my first few years of college. Between being one of my close friend’s favorite artist and the duet with Kate Bush it was impossible for me not to listen. Five of the songs on this album (Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don’t Give Up, Big Time and In Your Eyes) have remained well-known to me since their release. Listening today felt more surprising than I expected. The big songs sound bigger, and the quieter songs speak to me now even more deeply. I’m perplexed how I’d forgotten almost entirely four of the songs when they are so good. This was my introduction to Laurie Anderson and the start of another musical crush. I must remember to go back to those albums now too… It’s great to spend quality time with So again.

This will never have a revival. Please let these 1980’s production techniques stay buried in the attic. Those who actually enjoyed this at the time are allowed to listen to it with headphones only. The rest of us don’t want to be a part of this. Okay, leave the video for sledgehammer for posterity.

This is a Very Special Album, having been a prized tape in my cassette collection from when it came out. The whole thing is so good from start to finish, and I was happy to really notice lyrics and instrumentation that I hadn't really thought about back then. The variety of styles and instruments and voices (Youssou N'Dour was there this whole time?!) are amazing. It opens pretty epically with "Red Rain" before going to the spectacular "Sledgehammer," the song and video of which blew my mind. "Don't Give Up" is a beautiful song that's much more meaningful to me now. Bombastic "Big Time" was another favorite that I'd hadn't heard in too long. "This Is the Picture" is a very cool work featuring Laurie Anderson that I was happy to rediscover. I loved getting to listen to this today so much!

C Red Rain 3 Sledgehammer 2 Don't Give Up 2 That Voice Again 2 Mercy Street 2 Big Time 3 We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) 3 This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds) 3 In Your Eyes 3 This was so meh. I expected much more from a supposed 80s classic.

A great album, with no fat whatsoever. With So, Peter Gabriel delivered the perfect blend of his prog rock beginnings in Genesis and the heady alt-pop/new wave sounds that took the 80s by storm. The lyrics have soulful depth in places, and cheeky subversiveness in others. The music is complex and surprising, even today, with world music influences galore. Even the grossly overplayed In Your Eyes can still strike the heart, though Don’t Give Up has always been the chilling winner in my book. The videos for the monster hits Sledgehammer and Big Time were all the rage back in MTV days, but the songs still pack a punch even without the clever visuals. No hesitation for me - 5 stars.

5 lovely, nostalgic stars.

Very 80's but this is so so good. I count 6 great tracks out of 9 on the album. Weird to think Peter Gabriel was a 70's prog-rock concept album and then became an 80's pop diva. I can't divorce the music from the videos though - groundbreaking and addictive. But then the 80s was the beginning of the MTV phenomenom and in my head they are one. One of the best and most representative musicians from the decade or any time to be honest.

Really good stuff. I've never heard of this guy before, his vocals sounded a bit like Phil Collins to me lol (and I don't particularly like him or his music) but this was v good Saved tracks: Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, Mercy Street, Big Time, This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)

So is such an 80s album; the schmickly produced pop, the Fairlight CMI, the synth pads, the fretless bass, the digital reverb sheen are all very much of the time, but it still sounds great. It's smart, literate pop music that still has a great beat and some banging tunes. Gabriel skirts with the cultural appropriation issue, but I would argue that his work with "world" musicians is much more collaborative than the more exploitative work of, say, Paul Simon or Malcolm McLaren. 'Sledgehammer' cashes in on the nostalgia for 60s black RnB in a way that I am a bit uncomfortable with, but you can't argue that it is a cracking tune with an all-time classic video. Gabriel weaves a delicate line between his art-rock pretensions (check out the subject matter of many of these songs), with the need to be accessible and enjoyable. It's a fine line, and he dances it perfectly. This fits the criteria for a great album of "three great songs and no bad songs". (Interestingly, I was reading various reviews, and there is little agreement on what the three great songs are, which speaks to the high quality and broad appeal on this record). Personally, I prefer his earlier 'Melt' album, but that is a bit creepier and unsettling (which is to my taste), but for an example of an album with mass pop appeal that doesn't make you feel dumber for listening to it, this is hard to beat.

Album 48 of 1001 Peter Gabriel - So Favorite Track : Big Time Rating : 4 / 5 There is nothing to dislike about this. Well written, well produced, well performed. A couple of the tunes are somewhat similar (similarities of Sledgehammer & Big Time stood out) but, at the same time, he brings unique sounds with guests such as Kate Bush, who he duets with on "Don't Give Up" and Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour on "In Your Eyes".

I was excited for this album, so I'll say I'm a tad disappointed by what I got. After the Genesis album I figured I had been sleeping on Peter Gabriel this whole time, but hearing this I feel like no one was above the risk of falling into the production trends of the time, and it leads to an experience that feels just as cheesy as any other adult oriented pop record from the time. Sledgehammer is obviously fantastic, but it is only so great because my mind has had the time to accept the production and see past it, but the rest of this I was completely blind to, and in turn just found it boring. The album does pick up quite a bit at the end however, with the second to last track being something that I could see jamming out to with some time, but I truly think had the rest of this album sounded like the final track, we could've had Gabriel's very own Low. Otherwise, Sledgehammer is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for this rating, I must admit.

I miss some kind of humor. It’s all so serious and I don’t feel any fun. I like Peter’s Voice. Mainly in the contrast to Kate Bush. A great duet. Nice deconstructed sound. Far from everyday Pop Music. I don’t like the slap-guitar. He’s no poet. “Big Time” is the worst song. I doesn’t catch me at all. Over-ambitious, swinging with meaning where there is none. Boring.

There's so many layers to this album and many of them are personal. How can an album be both a great singles album and a fleshed out full length? Really incredible.

Ah, now this is one of my all time faves. Such a great album. I almost didn’t want to move on so I could keep playing it. It’s that good. Needs must though so on I trundle

Flying songs, Excellent songs Here they come. Despite inventing the sound of the decade when him and Phil Collins accidently created gated reverb, it took a John Hughes movie and a claymation dancing chicken to become a worldwide star. This is in the grand tradition of weird 70s artistes going pop on their own terms in the 80s. For all of the shimmering synths and glistening production tricks, this album doesn't really sound 'mainstream'. Gabriel's voice soars over gospel choirs, 'World' rhythms, and drumstick hit bass guitar. He delivers cutting social commentary on the yuppy mindset (the greatest WrestleMania theme), a minimalist song about birds featuring a conceptual artist, and love songs played endearingly straight. No-one else could have pulled it off. A classic.

One of the best albums of the 80’s and one of the albums responsible for making me a lover of popular music. Gabriel’s songwriting is top-notch and the playing by collaborators like Tony Levin and David Rhodes are sublime. It is the one album I would recommend by Gabriel the artist and one of two or three must-haves of the decade

another great album, loved having a little boogie to a few of these songs- sledgehammers always good. for obvious reasons very genesis, phil collins esque

Solid but not really my thing, didn’t listen to all the live versions of the songs because fuck that 6/10

And my heaven will be a big heaven / And I will walk through the front door So much I love about this album. It was important to sensitive kids in the 80s. It’s great, maybe not perfect but close enough.

Very good album. Better than the majority on this list

One of the first albums I was ever obsessed with. Love. Every. Track.

Whispy vocals, cool rhythms. Very indie sound. Not the kind of music I normally gravitate towards, but overall a pretty enjoyable album.

Very good album, already know of this

If you don't like Sledgehammer, get help for your lack of taste

Listened Before? N An absolute 80s classic. A perfect blend of pop, new wave keyboards, and glam - this is one of the best albums of that decade for sure and probably the previous two as well. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Red Rain

"So" is the fifth studio album and his first not named "Peter Gabriel" by English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel. I always like reading and showing the Wiki-listed genres which include new wave, art pop, art rock, progressive pop and world beat. Progressive pop is a new one for me. Gabriel, producer Daniel Lanois and guitarist David Rhodes began working on material in 1985 at Gabriel's Ashcomb Home in Somerset. This album was less experimental than his previous ones and used "various influences fusing pop, soul and art rock with elements of world music specifically African and Brazilian" That somes it up. Gabriel was lead vocalist and played synths and a number of other instruments and a large cast of other instrumentalist and vocalists including Rhodes (guitar), Tony Levin (bass), Manu Katché (drums), Jerry Marotta (percussion), Stuart Copeland (percussion) and L. Shankar (violin, vocals). The album was his most successful commercially hitting #1 in the UK and #2 in the US and received positive reviews for its songwriting, melodies and fusion of genres. Stuart Copeland's cymbal and hi-hat percussion open the album in "Red Rain." Levin's bass. Standard drums. Synth in the background and various percussions. It's a destructive world with social problems including kidnapping and torture. Garbriel's emotional vocals slowly fade out. Let's have fun and that is exactly what Gabriel does in "Sledgehammer. " A synthesized shakuhachi flute opens a song inspired by Otis Redding. So Much so, that Gabriel got Redding's trumpeter Wayne Jackson to take the lead. Polyrhythmic and I a decent video for this song. We're back to the serious in "Don't Give Up" inspired by Gabriel's discontent with the rising unemployment in the Thatcher era and a great depression photo, "Migrant Mother," showing a woman abd her two children. Softer musically with Levin's bass mostly in the lead but emotionally strong with vocals by Gabriel and Kate Bush who responds to Gabriel's depressed lyrics giving him hope. Did someone say vocals? The vinyl side two opens with "In Your Eyes." A constant beat and soft keys get to the musical and vocal choruses. Tremendous vocals in this song of feeling complete only in the eyes of his lover.. Simple Mind's Jim Kerr in the backing vocals. And, of course stealing the show, backing vocalist Youssou N'Dour singing in his native Wolof tongue. I think this may also be in a movie. Gabriel brings the funk in "Big Time." Jangly guitars and a rolling bass. Overdubbed dual Gabriel vocals in a song poking fun at the materialism and consumerism of yuppies. Honestly, this is not my favorite Gabriel song but it was big (no pun intended) and I liked the video. I started the week with a Violent Femmes' album that was hard to miss around colleges in the 80's and end the week with an album that was hard to miss everywhere in the 80's. That's OK: I was a big Peter Gabriel fan before this album, when this album came and after; it still sounded fabolous today. It's a collection of pop songs at the core with polyrhythmic beats, various instruments and vocalists. I have always particularly liked the deeper cuts such as the more experimental "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" with Laurie Anderson and the mostly instrumental "We Do What We're Told" which reminds me of "Peter Gabriel III (Melt)." Simply top-notch bass, guitar and percussion/drums. A great album that I'm assuming that a lot of you have heard.

From when I was a very young lad, my dad used to make cassettes of his LP's for me if I found something intriguing or nice to listen to if he had it on. So I could listen to it on my little cassette player in the attic. And when I was 7 I also had this album on one side (and Sting on side B, but that's a different story. ) I loved this album when I was 7 and now almost 40 years later, this album still is special. Red Rain still grabs me by my throat. Don't Give Up has helped me through more difficult times than I care to admit. Big Time, even after all this time, makes me smile. This is a masterpiece.

So is one of my favorites; I adore this record. Red Rain is such an incredible opener and one of his greatest songs. We are graced with the presence of Kate Bush on Don't Give Up, and then with Laurie Anderson's on This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds). Sledgehammer and Big Time are there when you need to jump up and dance, and Mercy Street when you need to sit and reflect with the birds and coffee in the quiet of the morning. There's even a song about the Milgram experiments. But In Your Eyes is, in my opinion, the greatest song on the album, and possibly my favorite song of all time. There's a live version on the 25th Anniversary Deluxe that is pure joy and wonder and everything that makes live music actual magic. I was SO happy to get to listen to this today...get...get it? SO happy. Okay, anyway, yeah 5 stars no question.

I was pleasantly surprised by the range on this album. It's definitely still Peter Gabriel, but it's a very complete and well-done album.

Great artist - great album

4-5 excellent songs and the rest are solid.

Peter's peak! Fantastic album- songs, production, playing, vocals. It was always going to be a hard one to follow. Subsequent albums have their moments, but this is the one.

Heard it before a million times. ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS EVER. Peter Gabriel's voice is like a hug when you're sad. There's not a single bad song on this album. I love it so much. 5/5

I had forgotten how good this record was.

My first reaction was like … It has sledgehammer and in your eyes, this is by default 5/5. Then I listened to the rest and … spoiler alert - it’s solid 5. the Songs filled with compassion and kindness. Music wise it’s really complicated but sounds really tasteful. Some songs of course are not that memorable and hit material, but even greatest album ever does have skippers. Overall I feel like this album can heal, can entertain and it has sledgehammer

Peter Gabriel’s masterpiece, expertly combining both radio-friendly hits and more experimental music, both categories full of emotional and instrumental complexity. Essential.

This album is a little dorky at times, but so am I. Something about tors album speaks to me and it’s an album I can see myself growing with. And “In Your Eyes“ is a no surprise standout.

I regret not giving him a chance earlier. This is shaping up to be a great album. It has that nice unmistakable 80's sound. I sense this might require more listens to really stick, but I like what I hear.

how is Peter Gabriel not on the Time/Life Ultimate Love Songs Collection, a two CD set yours for only 26.99 but if you pay by credit card you'll save ten dollars

By far the best Peter Gabriel album. This album was so Big Time for me when it came out! The rich musical tapestries, the creative music videos, they all added to make quite a big impact on the person I turned out to be. Or as much as music can. That cassette I bought back then is long gone, though. They'd never last, commercial cassette releases. P.S. As much as I love Kate Bush, I always found Don't Give Up this album's weakest link. And although it was Sledgehammer that first attracted me to this album, these day I gravitate towards tracks like We Do What We're Told much more.

This album is pretty damn good. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’m glad I listened to this record. Despite being a pop album, this album accomplishes a lot. The art pop and Brazilian music influences are very present on the album and I love it. The song also has a lot of jazz and funk influences, certainly a welcome surprise. The song Sledgehammer is a good example of everything the album stands for sonically. The Brazilian influences are present in a lot of parts of the song. The jazzy and funky verses and choruses go so incredibly hard. Lyrically it’s not the most deep song, but Peter Gabriel’s vocals are so good in this album. While the art pop aspects of this album are more present in the second half of the album, Sledgehammer still shows what the album is all about and is definitely the highlight, among the rest of this phenomenal album. Truly amazing, I’d give it a solid 9/10, it really is good.

I'm slowly coming around to this sound - which I think of as the "Phil Collins" sound, though it might be more accurately characterized as the other way around. It's always sounded like muzak to me, like something my mom might have put on while she was cleaning... but it's starting to sound more like an old friend now. I gave it a few listens - favorites are probably "Sledgehammer" "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" and "In Your Eyes."

This is a good benchmark album for me to see how far I’ve come after 600 albums because it was one my dad owned on cd and I listened to in high school. Back then I exclusively listened to sledgehammer and when I tried to listen to the whole thing I thought it was boring filler. Now, I really appreciate the album from start to finish. Sledgehammer and it’s music video still can’t be beat but big time, the Kaye bush duet, and in your eyes are all pretty solid. This is also probably the most quintessentially 80s album I’ve gotten outside of shit like Michael Jackson. The synths and other production is just so 80s in a way that’s almost indescribable.

Red Rain - love the drums and synths. good background song for driving or studying. Bit too repetitive for me. Sledgehammer - A classicccc. Don't we all want a good sledgehammering sometimes. Also the music video is trippy af. Don't Give Up - low key moody song, love the girls voice but it's too slow for me. Cool baseline at the end. That Voice Again - cool hihats and drumming on this one. Like how it builds up to the chorus. Mercy Street - very atmospheric, I liked the flutes and jungle/island sound. Big Time - very 80s Duran Duran. It's ok We Do What We Are Told - OK weird interlude This Is The Picture - excellent snow, birds flying, pictures of people...right In Your Eyes - omg he sings this song!? So good, it's like Africa by Toto 2.0 Giving it a 3 even though I did find another song I added to my favourites because the slower songs were way to repetitive and really testing me not to skip them lol

I love the vibes here, but the songs are too long and too repetitive for me, making it a bit boring

Felt loooooong

sledgehammer in MY eyes? it's more likely than you'd think

It seems people like to crap on successful albums, but career-defining albums like "So" are successful for a reason. This album delivered a sound that exemplifies and also set the standard for pop-dance albums in the mid-1980's, a period where the industry was consolidating under multinational corporate names. Big money made big sounds like never before. (Later, the resistance to this and the increasing affordability of digital recording led to the rise of the indies, but that's a story for another day.) Peter Gabriel and a band of incredibly talented musicians (most who kept their skills sharp as studio musicians) produced this very big-sounding album. Tony Levin's bass and Chapman Stick in particular, set a standard for pop-dance music at the time. Also of interesting note--1986 was a year where CDs were really on the rise, but people were buying their music on legacy media too (cassette and LP), and this was mastered with an ear for all of these. The dense production sounded great on our portable player/headphone sets, as much as it did on our big home systems.

Love this album and every song hits for me. Teasing me with some Kate Bush in don’t give up will always make me happy.

Wyśmienita uczta

This album was my first introduction to Peter's solo work. It is a very well-written and well-produced album. The instrumentals, lyrics, and overall atmosphere it creates make me want to listen to it on a cloudy, rainy day. It showcases great musicianship and is a perfect example of a truly talented, dedicated, and inspirational individual - leaving Genesis in its peak, yet becoming a successful solo artist

Great album, one that I had forgotten over the years.

I like Peter Gabriel so, anything by him is great. :)

One of the most innovative, impactful albums ever made. 5/5

Possibly one of the best albums I bought in the 80s. Still brilliant. AND you get Kate Bush. Stands up 40 years on. Gabriel's solo masterpiece.

Groundbreaking 80s pop - some monster hits in here. Bonus points if you go listen to New Blood from 2011 - Peter Gabriel’s music at its most stripped back and refined.

An album that I loved during my teen years which sounds richer and even more complex when listened to using good speakers or headphones. So well produced.

Endlessly inventive with rhythm, melody, arranements and themes - a brilliant musician.

Distinctive, creative, crafts a layered soundscape graced by Peter Gabriel’s voice, lyrics, guests vocalists, Brazilian and Afrobeat touches. 5 hit singles out of 8 tracks tells you something including time-tested classics like Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes. Count me a new Peter Gabriel fan.

Great album. One that's Kind of pop in places but always it's own thing. The duet with Kate Bush is fitting as Peter Gabriel's the Male version of here in many ways.

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This is even better than I remember!

I'd forgotten how many good tracks Peter Gabriel has. It was a treat to listen to this album.

This sound uniquely belongs to Peter Gabriel. It wears its era on its sleave, but it's also very well produced and full of unique and non-formulaic pop sounds, which solves many of my issues with a lot of pop. Even the biggest song here, Sledgehammer, brings in these cool wood flutes just before the final call and response portion of the song. Flairs like this are present all over and really elevate the album. Other highlights are the almost awkward Don't Give Up duet, Big Time, and We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37). Always down for more Peter Gabriel.

Great instrumental passages. In some songs the singing style reminds me of Sting. I love the song Don't Give Up with Kate Bush.

If you had to bet on Genesis era Peter Gabriel writing an album of fun pop masterpieces and beautiful poignant ballads would you have?

So…is a favorite. Haven’t listened to it entirety since the late 80s. One of the positives of this 1001 experience is revisiting albums long forgotten the totality of old favorites. Great memories of great music.

I don’t think I ever listened carefully to Mercy Street before, wow, atmospheric, emotional, powerful.

Fantastic. It still sounds contemporary and not from 1986.

Great album. Peter Gabriel's most mainstream album. Great tunes

SO, this a pretty good album, amirite? *I am pulled off stage by a pack of rabid chimpanzees*

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Although most people would argue the previous album is better, this is still a classic album for me. It's really the first one (for me) that introduced me to the world of Tony Levin ("Big Time," my GOD.) It's what made Gabriel jump from being an avant-garde artist to a world-famous pop star, if but for a moment. Sure, "Sledgehammer" was overplayed, but again, there's a reason for that: it's a catchy, catchy song. (The video helped as well.). "Red Rain" now sounds like a song Bruce Springsteen might be able to cover. I just wish the ending didn't go on so long, I feel like they could have cut 30 seconds or so off of it with a fade out, and he could perform the bit live. Even some of the weaker songs are good "That Voice Again," "We Do What We're Told" (very haunting piece), "This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)" Finishing it off with... probably the biggest song PG had made. It's the song every teenage girl knew at that time. Youssou N'Dour does a great counterbalance for this song. It teeters between a 4 and a 5. If I was tired of the "hits" I'd give it a 4, but I am not tired of them. The relistenability of the album is a big factor of me nudging it up to a 5. So, 5 it is.

Just last week I heard In Your Eyes on the radio and wondered when I might see this album show up on the 1001 list. And here it is. I'm pretty sure my cousin had this album and I listened to it a few times as a teenager. Certainly I knew all the singles but I wanted to listen to the whole album. If you followed Gabriel all the way from Genesis I can see how you might dislike how accessible or commercial it feels. But I love it. Some of his best songs even if they are not his most complex songs. The upbeat ones - Sledgehammer and Big Time - are so fun but they still have a lot of irony. The subdued ones - Red Rain, Don't Give Up (wish Kate Bush was a little more subdued), Mercy Street, We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) - still have a lot of lyrical depth and are hauntingly good. Those last two in particular - Gabriel is well read and pours it into his songs. That Voice Again and This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds) are somewhere in between, but still with some cool beats and great Gabriel energy. And then there's In Your Eyes. What an amazing song - the uplifting lyrics, the musical arrangements that blend different genres (including African beats, like some of his earlier work), Youssou N'Dour's fantastic guest vocals at the end, Gabriel's fantastic vocals throughout. One of my favorite songs of all time. Like I said, I love this album.

So is the fifth solo album from Peter Gabriel, and the most successful release of his career. Gabriel initially found fame in Genesis, and his solo work is similar to the dramatic, orchestrated pop he helped create in that band. Gabriel supported So with a series of very successful videos, and the album benefitted from MTV during its height. So includes some of Gabriel's biggest hit singles: "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," and "In your Eyes." These songs are iconic elements of 80's pop, and helped Gabriel define the progressive rock side of 80s pop music.

I really enjoy listening to Peter Gabriel, and I know this album really well, an easy 5 star listen for me.

This album has some of the best bass lines in all of popular music. Tony Levin is an absolute genius. The players on this album are numerous. Often supplementing his core band with someone who brings a special spice where it's needed. For example, the opening track "Red Rain" features Stewart Copeland just playing hi-hat. 2/3 of the album are Greatest Hits entries, and the remaining 3 tracks are great, even if they're too experimental for general consumption. This is an easy 5 star album.

A pivotal 80s record. Even if you hate it, you’ll love it.

So nostalgic, with an iconic video and movie scene. I can't rate this anything other than 5.

Phenomenal album. For me, the last of his truly interesting works.

Amazing album and many songs I grew up with!

Pre-listening thoughts: beginning of last year i was in this crazy music rut and I could not find anything interesting from my usual catalog to listen to. Sledgehammer played on my Spotify and I literally felt my world shift. Made a 10 hr playlist because of it and added other 60s-80s music I started to find and enjoy. Then made two MORE 10 hr playlists because I enjoyed making the first one so much. So thank you Peter Gabriel for encouraging me to find 30+ hours worth of really great retro music. Cannot believe my dad said he was “so-so” (and for once, the pun was not intended). Post/during listening thoughts: this is just really great 80s pop dude. Every single track here is a certified banger. Plus a Kate Bush feature can’t go wrong. I love u Peter Gabriel and I’m also sorry I doubted your work with Genesis way earlier in this challenge. 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: me personally yes. But I think that may not be true for everyone. I think everyone needs to find their Sledgehammer. Fav tracks: SLEDGEHAMMER!!!! But I liked the rest too 😋 Least fav tracks: n/a

Yeah this is a 5. I'll listen again

This is a must, seminal album. Gabriel is fully divorced from Genesis, and totally on his own, Amazing how sometime an album just really comes together! great performances by Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson! One of my all times top 10s

Su disco más completo y aclamado. La triada inicial es formidable. Musicalmente es muy completo, con colaboraciones nada menos que de David Rhodes, Daniel Lanois, Nile Rodgers, Bill Laswell, Kate Bush, Laurie Anderson, el excelente bajo de Tony Levin en Sledgehammer (y The Memphis Horns) además de un entonces desconocido Youssou N´Dour. Por fin un disco con título (tampoco es que So fuera un gran título) despues de Peter Gabriel 1 (Car), Peter Gabriel 2 (Scratch), Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt) y Peter Gabriel 4 (Security). La portada tampoco es la mejor, pero funcionó. Es un álbum comercial, las melodías son muy buenas, pero no pierde un ápice de calidad ni de innovación, empleando los mejores sintetizadores de la época (Fairlight, Prophet o el Yamaha CS-80). That voice again sirve de punto de partida lo que será el excelente Passion de la película de Scorsese The Last Temptation of Christ. In Your Eyes, cuenta con N´Dour y Katché, inspirada en Gaudí y la Sagrada Familia. Mercy Street con Djalma Correa tomando el control de la percusión. Big time es otro de sus mejores temas (cuenta con otro vídeo en stop motion, similar en estilo al de “Sledgehammer”). El final con This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)”, compuesta por Gabriel y Laurie Anderson, es fabuloso. Este fue uno de los discos del 86 junto Graceland (que se llevó el Grammy a disco del año).

Great record

Peter Gabriel has always been somewhat of an enigma to me. From the early Genesis stuff and early 80s work, I never really got him. But this album is fantastic. Easily his most accessible and commercial albums, he gets the absolute most of out 80s production values while exploring a wide range of subjects. From the bombastic and cautionary "Big Time" to the introspective self doubt in "Hear that Voice Again" and need for love in "Mercy Street" navigates complex topics with grace, power, and care at the same time. Look past the hits and enjoy this Lanois produced gem.

one of the greatest eighties' album

This is another album I once owned. It was very commercial, very pop music, and still Peter Gabriel. Every single track a gem of it's own.

I love the other Peter Gabriel and I loved this one - maybe Peter Gabriel is really great?

a perfect album