So

A couple good songs I knew before Nothing crazy but Pretty good Would prob listen again

2-3 good songs nothing remarkable, I like the 80s vibes

A huge pop movement for Gabriel....in your eyes is such an amazing jam. love that one. Others are ok. 3/5

man, i wish i heard what everyone else did! this felt a bit corny to me. some very cool features, though. maybe i need to give it another try.

In some ways I understand the vision of this album, but in other ways I feel like it’s a bit of a resignation of creativity from an incredibly unique artist of the time period. It’s a pretty standard ‘80s album at the end of the day, a complete 180 from Peter Gabriel’s four self titled releases that preceded this

Good, nice relaxing fun album. Not mind-blowing imo

Pretty iconic album. Not my favorite. But I also don’t hate it.

Love his sound. This album is THE 80s! Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are classics!

Fing gut an, wurde mit der Zeit aber etwas langweilig. Insgesamt angenehm anzuhören.

why was every song on this album three hours long

Was a nice album. Held up over time. The real gem was auto-play bringing me to Frankie goes to Hollywood afterwards

I mean I feel like the singles are still my favorite tracks here, as I didn’t quite love the rest of them; however, absolutely love that clean synthy big-budget sound mixed with Peter’s more idiosyncratic pop sensibilities. In other words, awesome sounding album just maybe not my favorite song-structure-wise.

I never ever wanted to hear Sledgehammer for as long as I live. I did at one time enjoy this album, it's been severely overplayed to point of absolute annoyance which I fully admit I did along with MTV and radio. It's a 3.5 for me, objectively it's probably a solid 4 though.

Has most of the Peter songs I know. The singles hold up but I don't think i'd listen to the whole album again. The video for Sledgehammer is still quite good.

This was my favorite Gabriel album so far, but that might just because it had the most familiar songs on it. That said, even being my favorite, it's still just fine.

Surprisingly good as albums go.

When old men say that music was better in the 80s this is what I imagine.

Pervasive pop songs Redefining star singer To legend status

Sledgehammer was played to death on MTV but I hadn’t listened to the rest of the album until now. It’s good and obviously Peter Gabriel is a great musician and artist but it just didn’t grab me

Incredibly 80s, not for me, but good enough

Sledgehammer es buena. Creo que la toqué cuando estaba estudiando. El videoclip me daba miedo cuando chico. Pero Don't Give Up me cargaba cuando la escuchaba en la radio, no tenía idea que era con Kate Baush. No sabía que era de Peter Gabriel ni de este disco. Es un disco ochentero de los que pasa la prueba del tiempo a mi gusto. Muy buena producción, excelentes ideas de arreglos. No me suena "kitsch" para nada. Muy buen gusto musical para todo. Los arreglos del bajo son geniales. Pero tampoco es un estilo de música que me atraiga salvo para sacar ideas de arreglos para sintetizadores. Solo me veo escuchando de nuevo Sledgehammer y el resto probablemente lo borraré cuando se llene de espacio mi Ipod. Me costó llegar hasta la última canción pero es solo por preferencia personal. En realidad este disco es excelente para los que les gusta la música de los 80s. Yo, personalmente, todavía estoy buscando el "factor goosebumps" qué este disco no me dió.

Pretty nostalgic

I appreciate Peter Gabriel, but this is just too much synth and 80s drum beats for my liking.

Pretty good album. Nothing spectacular, but sonically sound. Every song suffers a bit from being like 2 mins too long. Favourite songs: Sledgehammer, In Your Eyes, Red Rain, Big Time, Mercy Street Least favourite songs: We Do What We're Told 3/5

Nostalgia

feels 80s long songs, I like that they get to breathe shakuhachi and Wolof best tunes: red rain, sledgehammer, big time, we do what we're told

Classic 80’s vibes

Nostalgic but I'm not as impressed nowadays as I was when it came out.

Непоганий арт-поп альбом, хтось вважає його кращим у Пітера - я ні, мій фаворит це нью вейвовий однойменний альбо 1980-го року. Слухати було приємно та інколи навіть цікаво. Але, як на мене, весь шарм перебиває продакшн від якого прямо "тхне" типовим для арт-попу звучанням 80-тих. До речі, пісня Don't Give Up виконана у дуеті із іншою дівою арт-попу Kate Bush

Have to assume it's his best solo album. Some good hits but not something I would necessarily come back to.

was pretty good. sledgehammer was my personal favourite song. However some tracks sounded like generic 80s pop music and they didn't really have anything to offer to the album. 7/10

Hm kind of boring But oddly calming Kitschig for sure

Easy listening Pop. Good for background. Not quite my tempo, a bit basic.

Brought back high school in a big way.

Last song is the banger that keeps this whole album soaring

fucking AMAZING

The question for today is not what came first the chicken or the egg? But who came first Peter Gabriel or Phil Collins? I am sure there are some super fans out there that will argue that Phil Collins hits a better high C or that Peter Gabriel has a better tamber, but seriously they sound exactly the same! For me who came first really impacts how influential this album is, because one of them just copied off the other! So during research I found out that that Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins both were the lead singers of Genesis with Peter coming first. Phil was the drummer and took over reluctantly (him and Peter are friends). Knowing that, I understand that this was influential. This was a different sound and unique (to Genesis, Peter and Phil). Its fun, it has emotion and its catchy. In Your Eyes is a great song. I really enjoyed Red Rain I like Sledgehammer, but not so much that I won't change it if something is better on another station. Then it becomes difficult though because he sounds so similar to Phil that its hard not to compare. Genesis and Phil just do it slightly better, better deeper lyrics, more catchy tunes and something I am less likely to turn the radio on. Phil took what Peter did and just made it better. So I will go with a 3 because it really is a good base for future music and sound but really others took this sound and did it better.

The hits: Sledgehammer, Big Time, and In Your Eyes are all great songs but I didn't like the other songs that much. Cool that Kate Bush made a guest appearance.

100% 80s Pretty good first half, second half falls away a bit. I recognised more of this than I thought I would. Feel like my dad would love it.

fun

Omg Dave Matthews sounds like Peter Gabriel. Auto 3

3.5 a pretty good album that got a touch too 80s for me at times. Favorite songs: sledgehammer and in your eyes

3.5 I will definitely listen to it again.

At the risk of offending Eduardo, I just can’t get into Gabriel, beyond the cool stop motion, food-based video for ‘Sledgehammer’ when I was 16 and video was king.

A solid album that I never have the urge to revisit (sorry Vaz). When it’s on I enjoy it and then I go years without listening to it.

This is more a 7 than a 6. I would like to rate this album higher, because I like Peter Gabriel's voice and how good the production is throughout the whole album (even the drums with that distinct sound of the 80's). But I felt like a lot of the songs are a product of its time. Not that they aren't good, but they didn't felt that interesting.

Vamos llegando a mediados de mes y toca Peter Gabriel. Primera vez que escucho un disco de su etapa solista: ubico alguna que otra canción suelta y nada más. Pop ochentoso, refinado, muy relax. Hasta el lunes.

The bangers bang hard. I wish I could read about why this one made it.

Nothing more than serviceable 80's radio

Meh

Rating: 6/10 The slower songs bring this down substantially, the highlights are quite good though.

Pretty good 80's music. 3/5

The same as Phil Collins

Quintessential dad rock

He has such a good vocal range, but I like his later stuff more because of his matured voice. Here he seems too whiny. Overall good listen, some songs were more experimental than the others.

Wow Peter Gabriel two days in a row? This has got to be the most Peter Gabriel that I’ve listened to in a short period of time. Definitely enjoyed it. Still feel as though, upon further listens, I could end up really developing a love for his music. As of now, another solid 3.

Groovy shit yo bout to go to a roller derby arcade yo. Best track - sledgehammer

Isn’t John Cusack standing in the rain in Say Anything the first thing that pops in your head?

Like Phil Collins

it's good. post-punky and fun

Interesting production choices make for some intriguing songs. Highlights: "Red Rain" (dramatic opener), "Don't Give Up", "In Your Eyes" ("world" music done right), "Mercy Street" (similar vibe to "Red Rain"), "Big Time" (Talking Heads vibe with the skittering guitar and prominent bass) Notable: "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" (mostly instrumental and chanting song that is appropriately creepy given the subject matter. Has a Pink Floyd The Wall feeling to it)

I’m not too familiar with Peter Gabriel’s work. I did assume this album had the majority of what I knew, and I was right. But mostly this is meh for me. I do question how the hell sledgehammer came out it ‘86, I was born in ‘87 and that music video remains prominent in my childhood memory.

I know Peter. Stoked to find out what kind of tracks is on this album. I know Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes. These songs are classic and he is a great artist.

This was a pretty decent album and the source of several singles that I didn't realize came from the same album.

Kind of very 80s. In Your Eyes is classic though...

Musically nice enough, propulsive. The lyrics aren't much to write home about, except "We Do What We're Told" (the Milgram one) and "This Is the Picture" (which has a somewhat Laurie Anderson vibe in the beginning... oh hey, apparently it was her!).

Нормально. Слушать можно

Fun album. I can never quite tell where I stand on Peter Gabriel. Some of the songs I absolutely love and others feel lost and wandering. This is album is definitely a unique experience and belongs on the list for that reason alone even if it's not mindblowing. 3/5

It was good but I wouldn't put it into my personal library

Prog Rock/Blues record that has some great highlights. A mainly slow rock album with some catchy tracks. Standouts: Sledgehammer, Red Rain, Dont Give Up.

Sledgehammer overskygger resten. Fint nok lyt.

Some catchy songs

Picasso, I like it. Favorite song from this album is sledge hammer. Positive vibes

6.5/10 Kinda goofy beginning Better later on

Eh, songs were familiar, maybe too familiar. Not a big fan. I understand why people like the music, not for me.

Sledgehammer is a great song and to hell with anyone who says otherwise. This is the blown-out bombastic shit that I associate with my (unlived) image of the 80s. Pure energy around a horn line, what's not to love? We Do What We're Told is a strong one from the back half. A completely stripped away, brooding electronic track with ominous chorus referring to psychological experiments of compliance in the face of moral uncertainty. This is the Picture is a fantastic follow-up. The production is fantastic with all of the hidden effects (bells, plunking, etc.) around the flute line. In Your Eyes is a familiar one to close the album. Not among my favorite, but I understand the appeal. Listened to this straight through twice. I feel like this is somewhere in the high 3 territory for me. At its best it is interesting and varied. At its worst, it sounds like the 80s and Phil Collins. Sledgehammer is great, as is the run from Big Time > This is The Picture. But I doubt I'll be back for another listen any time soon.

3.5 stars for me. Almost a 4. Peter kind of reminds me of Phil Collins voice. Not a bad album to listen to. with a couple jams like in your eyes thrown in.

Listening to In Your Eyes wants me to make this a 4 so badly. Great song. Otherwise I'm pretty whelmed on the whole album. Definitely a unique voice and I really like how punchy the drums are.

Prototypical 80s pop sound. Some songs were good and some were not so good. Sledgehammer always slaps though. This is somewhere in the low 3 range

Weirds me out how much him and Phil Collins sounds alike and they were in a band together. Man some of these songs have that terrible 80s ballad sound. We Do What We're Told is solid turned it around for me a bit. In Your Eyes has that 80's sound but damn if it's not a jam.

strange

I like his voice and several of the songs were familiar. Some songs were kind of strange, but overall I liked this album.

Dont give up är en banger, resten helt ok

2 and a half stars, it was fine but a little too 80s for me. I can see how it was wild to hear at the time.

A very good listen , high level production and quality . A couple of standard out tracks specially don’t give up is special. A strong 3

Zeker bangers, wel te poppig voor mij

A handful of great songs, including a brilliant guet with Kate Bush, and a bunch of less engaging filler. I liked it a lot more than I expected to, given it is "old rock star in the 80s", but it falls some way short of his best work.

Nice voice.

This seemed a bit incoherent. There are some good tracks but I don't think this is his best work.

Obviously Sledgehammer is one of the very best pop songs every written, and In Your Eyes is a tune, but I couldn’t help but feel that the rest of the album largely fails to reach these exceptional highs

Not bad, might listen again

So, so.

I enjoyed the gentler, slower tracks, but the more uptempo ones didn't hit for me Across the board, it seems like this album has the reputation it does because it can function as an effective gateway drug for pop-listening people to seek out weirder music in a tame, approachable environment

Didnt have a clue what to expect but can't go wrong with 80s synth and suprise Kate Bush. Almost a 4.

I think I was going for something better but some of it was alright. Some of it wasn’t great though. Half and half. A 3 then I guess.

Luv sledgehammer and in your eyes me

This had all the elements of a great album, but I found it far too pretentious for my liking. Big time, however, is a solid 5/5 and I can’t stop listening to it.

This is clearly solid and well crafted, but I'm not blown away - possibly because I've heard every track tons of times without knowing.

This album was made with great attention to detail. I like his voice. The album has very inconspicuous weird rhythms at times and some occasional uncommon chord progressions paired with a super tight 80s production. However, I can't relate to this music at all. To me, this sounds like the kind of music someone without any emotional urge would make for the sake of making music, applying all their music school tricks to conceal it. And the songs are soooo long. It's too well made and not annoying enough for 2 stars, so 3 it is. But barely. Favorite song: Big Time, but I don't like it very much.

Me gusto, suena muy ochentero no es mi musica favorita, algunas canciones suena del estilo de Depeche Mode, es inevitable no bailar con la cancion "Big Time" Digo ya se que es alrevez, pero suena como el sonido tipico de P.Gabriel, muchas canciones son ideales para el soundtrack del Rey Leon 7.3/10

Sledgehammer Didn’t finish the whole album cause it’s kinda massive.

Just okay. In Your Eyes was not as good as I remembered.

This was a nice album but I didn’t like every song. They were fine but my favorite song of this album is „Sledgehammer“. This song SLAPS!!😩

A couple of good songs on it but I never lived in the 80s so this does nothing for me

I expected a bit better given the reviews and the genre, but I just didn't feel a connection for whatever reason. 3/5

After leaving Genesis, Peter Gabriel put out four quirky, experimental albums titled Peter Gabriel 1-4. His record company asked for a more marketable name for his fifth album, so he called it ‘So’. I wasn’t keen on this album at the time - a combination of the mawkish ‘Don’t Give Up’ and the MTV earworm of ‘Sledgehammer’ put me off. Revisiting it reveals some gems though, especially ‘This is the Picture’ with Laurie Anderson and opener ‘Red Rain’. Sotastic!

Not my kind of pop, but 3 stars just for Sledgehammer and that emulated shakuhachi

So so. 6/10

I can hear my mom singing Red Rain. Lots of nostalgia here. Probably 3.5 rounded down to 3.

“Sledgehammer” and “in your eyes” are classics. I thought the rest was a little dated and thought him growling “EXCELLENT BIRDS” was silly.

I can’t fully explain why, but it kind of feels like this album is talking down to me.

soft vibes

my art pop could be anything…….including peter gabriel apparently….. this was actually pretty groovy and i liked it more than i expected but still. why does all 80s music have to sound Like That. i find it so repulsive. even the best of it sounds like there’s a gross sticky residue smothering everything underneath it.

Honestly have never been a fan of Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins etc. was hoping I would enjoy this after not listening to the whole album for ages. Three stars as there are many hits. Just not my thing though.

There are definitely some iconic 80s pop tracks on this album that do most of the heavy lifting, but there are numerous lengthy tracks that are more like drawn-out chants to me than songs. Maybe as an artist in Gabriel feels more of the need to experiment more with the synth jams, but from a listener perspective, the poppier hits are what draw me in more. Overall, not a terrible album because of the handful of catchy tunes, but the record as a whole didn't compel me to delve into more than just the hits. Notable Tracks: - Red Rain - Sledgehammer - Big Time - In Your Eyes 5/10

"Don't Give Up" is a masterpiece, I feel the rest of the album was a musical theatre piece. None of it would have gone amiss in the west end I'm sure! Just a bit big and bland for my tastes.

not that great and short album

The fusion side of the album was fantastic. However, what brought the album from a 4 to a 3 for me was this: I listened to it five times. Initially, I would have rated it a 5, but with each listen, it seemed to lose some of its appeal. Despite that, the great thing about the album is that there isn't a single bad or mediocre track. Every song is either good or great. My favorites were 'Red Rain' and 'In Your Eyes,' with the latter standing out especially because of the collaboration with Youssou N'Dour.

Sledgehammer slaps for eternity.

Listening to it without knowing the artist, I cannot bet a good guess on Peter Gabriel. Thinking of Peter Gabriel songs that I know, this is not the type of album I was expecting. This is a clear mismatch, but it was an enjoyable mismatch.

#64 - Pleasant but nothing stuck with me here.

sledgehammer!

Such a perplexing mix of quality bangers and absolute mediocrity

Hitty

I was hoping for something way better than this is. I dare not even say it. Has some excellent song and it ends with one of my favorites from Gabriel but the rest of the album just doesn't quite work out a lot of the time. Felt underwhelmed with a lot of this.

Once I get beyond Sledgehammer, this is a really good album.

Inconsistent in my mind, alternating between excellent pop songs and snoooooooze.

fágað eighties popp. kannski fíla ég þetta í annarri umferð? 3,5

Artiste connu, quand il chantait au sein de Genesis. Je connais quelques morceaux en solo tirés de cet album : Red Rain + Sledgehammer - Dont Give Up + Et découvert We Do What We're Told ++ Mais pour le reste rien de bien intéressant. J'aime toujours sa voix et façon de chanter ... Mais musicalement je le préférais avec Genesis. => 3/5

this was so... okay.... sledgehammer and big time were good! everything else was alright i guess

Kinda blurred through it, seemed pretty chill nothing annoyed me so all in all alright👍 6.5/10

it is fine i guess sledgehammer is phenomenal but everything else is like ok 2.5/5

Hard not to like this album that starts out on an extremely solid footing and tapers off a titch from there.

I enjoyed “So” the most of the three Peter Gabriel albums on the list, but that’s probably reliant on the nostalgia brought on by the big hits.

This album swings from great to strange to decent soft pop. Sledgehammer, where the bass and guitar parts quietly dominate almost unnoticed in the background, is awesome. I liked it better the second time around.

I think this album was a bit too deep for me today - maybe another listen in the right mood would have hooked me a little deeper. Sledgehammer and Big Time were pretty great tracks, just as I remembered them from 80's radio. In Your Eyes was a legit track for sure, I think the rest of this record is pretty uninteresting to me. it's produced well and sounds good enough.

An 80s rock/pop album with generic 80s sound. Didn't like the vocals in this. Didn't liked the too jangly sound. Sledgehammer is an absolute banger though. Big time is okay too. We do what we're told is pretty. Rest is just meh. Also, terrible album cover.

agætt

Lyden er virkelig lækker, sangene er catchy selvom de godt kan komme til at lyde lidt ens! Flinkt af Peter Gabriel at lave en plade som ikke hedder Peter Gabriel

Fint featuring med Kate Bush, det lød meget godt!

Cheesy as hell but I dig it. Tony Levin seriously brings it on bass.

This is not a bad album: well executed, a few hit songs (In Your Eyes, Sledgehammer), but it's just not to my taste. I think his music, for me, isn't all that memorable. He is good at creating atmosphere though.

Solid album, kinda jumps around from fast song to slow song which threw me off. Red rain sounds like it’s straight from the Tarzan sound track.

\HITS\ sledgehammer - timeless banger alert!!!!!!!! i'm a longtime sledgehammer stan. would throw ass to this in your eyes - another timeless banger. maybe the only thing in history to make me want to be cringe and stand on top of a mountain in the blazing sun and appreciate the breeze and be grateful about life big time - classic 80s formula, happy to be introduced to this track, it's underrated probably, inxs vibesssss that voice again - SO FUN & makes me feel something, chorus carries heavy. scratches my brain with the same buildup and peaking as the promise - when in rome \aight\ excellent birds - excellent beat, quirky i rate it red rain - an anthem tbh, rocky raspiness is gud \misses\ don't give up - beautiful piano, epic bass, but alas a miss. might fuck around and just give up. could work at a grade 3 school assembly anti-bullying slideshow? i mean that in the best way possible we do what we're told - confusing. maybe there's a historical reason why this is here and i'm just uncultured. ambient indie game 53% completion cave exploration music. i'm not big on random spooky interludes. L mercy street - whimsy, simon & garfunkelly, kinda too soft lil bit new wave, lil folky, lil progressive rocky. maybe if i knew more about composition and musical shit it would hit harder bc to a peasant it does sound like it would be considered a technical masterpiece. but for me the overall vibes were just dec, for sure some JAMS on here though. 3/5

Some of the instrumentation is cool, but didn't capture my attention overall

The highs are high but the lows are So low

I like Peter Gabriel in pop mode. This album has two classic songs: “Sledgehammer” and “In Your Eyes.” Both are great. “In Your Eyes” is particularly beautiful. I love lyrics that find find new ways to say, “let’s bang” and this one from “Sledgehammer” is pretty great: “Show me 'round your fruit cage 'Cause I will be your honey bee Open up your fruit cage Where the fruit is as sweet as can be” The slow songs are a little meandering for me and there’s still a fair amount of pretension here which is the thing that always keeps me from enjoying Peter Gabriel more. But the two big songs were enough to remind me that I do like him sometimes.

Wonderful 80's reverb washed, synth pop goodness. I love the strained Springsteen-esque vocals on the first track. It sounds more Bruce than Peter which is kind of funny to me. There's something about this time period music that makes me feel like I'm about to embark on something. It's so big yet small, epic yet cool, and always fun. It's an impossible mashup of artistic energy that somehow works. I think for me this might be the case because I was born in 89 and grew up watching 80's and 90's movies that had this sort of music so I think I associate so much of this sound with the start of a movie. "Sledgehammer", more like "Slaphammer" cause this track slaps. Great energy and groove. "In Your Eyes" is a great album closer. John Cusack holding up his boombox and playing this song in the film "Say Anything" is one of the most memorable pop culture moments ever. I'd love to give this a 4 but I think it's just a bit short of that. The songs in between the two big boppers that I mentioned are just OK and don't elevate it enough in my opinion.

Питер интересный. этот альбом не запомнился, но продолжаю думать, что надо расследовать всего Питера. смешно, что нигде в спотифае не упомянуто, что в одной песне Кейт Буш, просто какая-то девица на бэк-вокале

Det er sgu cool nok.

Not a bad album. I like Peter Gabriel's voice, and Sledgehammer is a good song. There are some nice harmonies in That Voice Again and Mercy Street. Didn't care for the female vocalist in Don't Give Up.

I really like „in your eyes“. The rest of it left me a little colder.

Sledgehammer is some cheesy 80s ish but I like it. And I quite enjoy In Your Eyes. A few others on this but overall not my cup of tea. And def have to check out Christian Bales monologue in American Psycho every time I think about Pete. 3.5

Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are obvi great. I’m sure there’s a lot about this album I don’t get…just sounds a little corny to me. I’m teetering between 3* and 4*, but rounding down cuz I don’t think it’s on the same level as other 4* albums thus far. Very close, though. 3.5/5

We enjoyed this, especially Sledgehammer, Red Rain and Don't Give Up.This is a Picture detracted from the cohesion a little.

I'm not sure I'll listen to anything besides the singles again, but it's far more approachable Gabriel, so I now have two reasons to appreciate him leaving Genesis.

Really good album, I'd listen again. Didn't find it super essential, but it is quality

Ok. Would listen again.

Fairly so so

“In Your Eyes” is such a great song. But the rest of the album was somewhat middling, in my opinion. It probably doesn’t help that although “Sledgehammer” is a huge hit, it’s never been one of my favorites.

Ok

I’ve always wanted to like Peter Gabriel more than I actually do. And now that I think about it, same for Genesis and Phil Collins too. They have some killer hits but then I end up being bored with the majority of work. Big Time and Sledgehammer are so catchy - the background singers make it so full and fun. But I am just not into any of the other tracks on So. In Your Eyes was a hit but has always been a track I’m quick to pass when scanning the 6 radio stations I have preset.

Прости, если трахнул 7/10

Went in prepared to hate it because I've loooooong been a Genesis and associated acts hater. Liked it a lot more than I thought I would but still not super into it. It's another case of "I kinda like the sounds but I sure like the implementation of it all when done by this other guy". In this case, after I spun this album twice, I listened to some Pete Townsend solo stuff

Very effeminate

3.5 Pretty good. Definitely had a proggy feel that a mom or dad would love

Thoughts before listening: This album is very highly regarded and I know it has some huge hits on it. I own one Peter Gabriel album which is earlier than this one, and its okay. I don't love it as much as it feels like I should love it. I can't remember if I've listened to So all the way through before, but I'm looking forward to hearing it today. Review: "Sledgehammer" is a perfect pop song. Fun, playful, and catchy as hell, it would have been a massive hit even without its video, but when I hear the song I pleasantly think of watching MTV in the 80s and 90s as well. "Big Time" is another fun, funky pop song that is also going on my playlist. Both of these songs' inclusion on So is a bit misleading. This is a very mature, serious album where everything is good, I'm just not sure I'm enjoying it. The rest of the album is certainly not as fun as "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" would indicate, with the best of the mature songs being "In Your Eyes" which is a great moody ballad. These were the 3 big hits on this album and I guess I'm just a normie who prefers hits to deep cuts. Oh well. 3-stars

Sledgehammer

Pretty good. Second to last song was definitely a weird one but nothing to write home about

Oh shit, we got a surprise Kate Bush feature. I was excited for this one. I love Genesis but I don’t know too much of Peter Gabriel’s solo work. My biggest issue is that I don’t know that I need this many six minute songs, even if they are fairly entertaining. In Your Eyes is by far the best song and an 80s classic. Overall, it was pretty meh. Not bad, but not all that great. I think I’ll stick to Genesis.

QUICK REVIEW...... excellent review. Classic 80s easy listening. This is what I picture when radio stations are labeled as Adult Hits. I didn't dislike it, but I won't remember it.

Hi Peter

In the 80s I did like a few of his songs. But the rest on the album are simply ok, nothing more.

I tend to like western music inspired by African/Brazilian music but this didn’t do much for me. Had about the same reaction to the other solo Gabriel album on the list. Maybe it’ll grow on me with time but as of now it hasn’t. Rating: 2.8

Reminded me of Phil Collins. I was pleasantly surprised with this album. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are bangers.

As much as I don’t like 80s pop, this record has so many hits from movies I grew up with, I suppose I can at least give it 3 stars. The synths and drums kill me though - so cheesy.

The singles are all timers. The rest of this I could leave.

definitely an interesting album but i feel too young and out of touch listening to artists like genesis etc. was still pretty nice though PG prolly a chill guy

Good and consistent pop record. Not the most engaging or memorable though. This aesthetic is pretty dated I feel. Some bangers though.

3.5 - Starts very strong.

Not a bad album. Kinda slow at parts, but it worked. 3/5

Una grasada, pero qué bien suenan las programaciones.

Laurie Anderson and Kate bush are the highlights, but peter plays along nicely with them

I'm pretty familiar with big single from this album, Sledgehammer, but not the album as a whole - it's not something I'd have made an effort to listen to at the time. And I think the mid-80s production values don't serve this album well, at least from a 2020s perspective - it's a bit too polished for my taste. That said, I like Sledgehammer and Don't Give Up. Not an essential album in my view.

Loved Mercy street. Everything else didn’t really stand out.

Meeeeh, couple of decent songs but happy this album is done. Sometimes I feel bad reviewing albums like this one and leaving them tainted. I come into it with an open mind and I see the overwhelmingly positive reviews but it fails to resonate with me. Not much I can do I guess as there's way too many albums out there to sit listening to this on repeat until I 'like' or understand it.

Ok

Underligt

I enjoyed the second half more than the first. Big time is a favourite.

Better than it's Wikipedia page made it sound

1. red rain - 1 2. hammer - 2 3. dont give up - 2 4. that voice - 1.5 5. mercy ztreet - 1.5 6. big time - 1 7. told - 1 8. picture - 0 9. in your eyez - 1.5

I was really hoping this album was going to be my next 5 but it fell short. The opening song had the energy of a Bruce Springsteen song - vocals also reminiscing of the Boss. Sledgehammer is still just as incredible as it was the first time I heard it. I love the sexual innuendos throughout. If you didnt know that song was about getting laid... The lyrics would go over your head. As it did with me for many listens. The overall album isn't bad... It sounds good. I'm just unimpressed with the typical 80s sound: digital this, digital that, drum machines (I now enjoy them, as they don't sound as cheesy), over use of samples and synths... Basically the same complaints I have with 80s Rush... but personally, Gabriel can't hold a candle to Rush. I'm torn between this album, as there are some really interesting things going on: the fusion of world music, soul, with art rock. The use of those traditional instruments with modern instruments of the time... I just think it didn't land the way I wish it did. Perhaps I need a Peter Gabriel fan boy to sit me down and show me why I should like his music. Without a doubt, Peter Gabriel is an incredible artist. I also know he's quite the entertainer during his live shows.

Not a bad album to listen to in the car on the way to pick up someone from the airport. But once I got to the end, that was enough, no need to hear it again.

Э-э-э... Я предпочитаю более эмбиентные вещи вот этим поп-хитярам. В целом неплохо. Песня с Кейт Буш не такая уж и плохая, как почему-то утверждают. Лучшая песня - Mercy Street.

Sounds very 80s - I was reminded of Phil Collins - but there’s also some interesting stuff going on here. Some of the tracks are a little generic (“Big Time”), though others, like “This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds),” are more compelling. This isn’t really my thing, and it’s not quite enough to break me out of my 3-star slump. Maybe 3.5. Favorite tracks: “This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds),” “Red Rain”

I waited to write my review until the Monday after the Friday I listened to the album now I can't remember anything about it. That means it wasn't bad enough to get two stars but wasn't good enough to get four.

This album is so 80s and I love that for it. Unfortunately, while it starts out great it quickly gets a bit boring.

Peter Gabriel’s So is nothing that spectacular. he starts it off decently with the best two songs on the album, Red Rain and Sledgehammer, but the album goes downhill consistently after that. Most of the songs are just alright. All in all, So is an alright album. Best Song: Red Rain Worst Song: That Voice Again

Whilst the album is quintessentially 80s, Peter Gabriel has a voice that is able to transcend the era in a way some artists don’t. The album could use some editing though, songs that go on far too long. I get creating an atmosphere, but it gets boring after a while.

Ok so this album sounds great from a production perspective, the vocals are good, the choice of Melodie’s is good. However it feels like there’s nothing here, maybe I missed the point of the songs but I didn’t feel like any of them were saying anything. I couldn’t go back and really find a single track that grabbed me in any way. Musically it’s a good listen I just didn’t think there was anything there to go back or to warrant more than the 3*

3.5

Imagine thinking Peter Gabreil is a "Sledgehammer." That's apparently the most popular song on the album and it's silly in how tough it tries to be. This might be the whitest music on the list. Mr. Gabriel is very talented, but the 80s synthesizers are a real vibe and it ain't mine.

Wow, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins sound so similar to me. So, this album was mainly interesting and not particularly enjoyable. Not a single song stuck with me, but Philter Collriels voice makes up for it.

Ja wel lekker, kende verrassend veel, maar vond het niet geweldig

Most of the album is very slow compared to the Sledgehammer hit

The 2 big singles are good, the duet with Kate Bush was solid. The rest was pretty meh.

Sì, so

"Guarantee you anyone born after 1982 is not putting this in their 1001 albums to listen to list" “It is the 3rd top-rated comment of 'So' on this site. Well, I can guarantee that I was born well 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 for sure - this album is a great example that pop music can be very good if everything is of high quality: songwriting, lyrics, production, guests musicians etc. Even the 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.“ is the now 3rd top rated comment and omg you annoy me. "because you appreciate good music and if any pop album deserves to get a high rating it is this one", like stfu we know you are some 25 year old music snob who "still appreciates the good old classics". Just let people enjoy and hate the music they want and stop putting your own taste on a pedestal. you are not special just because your young and still like older music and it certainly makes you very annoying, when you permanently brag about it. the album itself isn't even bad, but I still despise comments like these, that are so incredibly pretentious and also work against what this generator is trying to do, which is to get people into more music. in the same vain original first comment isn't much better, so fuck both of you.

One of those albums I've meant to listen to for so long. So now after listening, I thought I would have like it more to be honest, but it's pretty solid

Bra album. Tyckte det var bättre förr än idag. Men kul att lyssna igen. Sledgehammer och Don't Give Up är bra hitlåtar.

Awe I love this last song, In Your Eyes. Just for that I'll give it a 3 it was mid. lol

I was never a fan of Peter Gabriel, but was very surprised at how many songs I knew on this album. Not my style, but I enjoyed it for the nostalgia. Not super happy to see Kate Bush slide in for a song because she just needs to go.

Enjoyed it, but not enough to save the album. Dece

In Your Eyes brings up too many images of John Cusack holding up a jukebox outside of a girl's house who was out of his league to begin with. Plus Sledgehammer and Big Time are two of the most annoying songs to ever become monster hits. And I still can't get past my belief that Peter Gabriel is perhaps the most overrated artist on this list. He ain't Bowie.

Dit soort muziek doet me denken aan ellenlange autoritjes in de auto bij m'n ouders, waar steevast Skyradio of Radio 10 Gold aanstond. Dit is precies de muziek die je daar hoorde, tweede helft jaren '90. Een papje gemaakt van Phil Collins, Prince, Toto en Sting. Ik vind de muziek an sich nog niet zo verschrikkelijk, maar die jaren '80 productie maakt het voor mij wel vies. Van de drums tot de stabs van de blazers. Ook dat gekke geluidje bij 'Big Time' bijvoorbeeld, lelijk. Die track met Katrien Schaamhaar is op zich wel mooi en er staan een paar aardige hitjes op. Ik kijk naar m'n streak van 2 sterren en dit is dan wel het betere album uit die rij. Ik rond af naar een 3, ik wil er vanaf zijn.

Literalmente, JoseAlberto

Atmospheric 80s synthy pop rock. It's fine. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Sledgehammer Date listened: 02/04/24

Quintessentially late 80s music.. giving 3 only because of nostalgia.. the album not so much.. Phil Collins voice is better

I was ready to give this 4 stars (with a .5 star bump just for "In Your Eyes") and then "This is the Picture" came on and dropped it right back to 3.5 stars.

Some good tunes here Kate bush comeback album

Enjoyed this more than I expected to. Nice arrangements and a good production with some standout songs (Sledgehammer being one obviously). It is easy to tire of Gabriel's voice though and overall it's a bit 'pleasant'.

Yeah, nice. Sledgehammer 👍 Album is decent.

This is going to sound pretentious as fuck, but I think this album is too accessible. I prefer Peter Gabriel's earlier work that sounds like he was inhaling spore fumes from a whimsical mushroom land. This feels like getting smacked by a comically large book titled "The 80s - Beginner's Guide". Still good though. "Sledgehammer" is a classic, and I personally really enjoyed "Mercy Street" as well. Better than anything Phil Collins has done aside from the Tarzan soundtrack.

Enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would! Great bass lines, sledgehammer is a classic! Big time is very cheesy though

Decent.

Not my style.

Some great songs - the album hasn't aged well

Not bad, enjoyed his one famous song. The rest were fine

Positive message songs. Sounds like a sound track for a 90s TV show.

so 80s and so genesis

Great pop album, huge singles, though there a couple of filler songs.

Not bad. Lots of the songs sounded similar, but I loved the production. Every song on its own was good

3.5

A monumental pillar of teenage years and high school. Instant and constant nostalgia with every verse and chorus. And yet this is a tough one. I have never loved this album. I love Peter Gabriel but this was and still is hard to connect with. It's cold -> sterile/cold. Which I often like and even do here - plus "Red Rain" is as killer an opener as you can have. Then ... it's weird - I think the only way I can explain my conflicted feelings about this album is to *listen through headphones* which also demonstrates how amazingly detailed and intricate it is at every single moment. Listening to different subtle keyboard parts drifting in and out; repeating...it's a testament to Gabriel's skill as a composer and arranger that he was able to have 4 monster radio hits from this album - it was in many ways the perfect melding of complexity and commercial viability. Yet the negatives -> in a way the album cover is a perfect representation in some ways for this - the black and white starkness of the image is indicative of the sounds within ... back to the headphones - even after nearly 40 years of hearing this again and again I can hear parts i'd never noticed before. Which is amazing and interesting and yet oddly it further pushes me away from the album and points out how it's all a wash of cold synths that while don't *necessarily* sound dated (shocking for the mid-80s, truly) the lack of warmth gives it all a clinical sound that after a few songs starts to sound soulless. And by the end *is* soulless. I don't really *feel* anything from this album. Which might seem ironic since I'm sure many reviews have this as a "soulful" album but that's probably due to his voice (which I love). It feels as soulful as a pristinely clean marble-topped bathroom counter. The musicianship is fantastic, especially the drumming (even accounting for the extensive programming involved, often side-by-side with acoustic drumming) Maybe it was just that I miss/ed more of his earlier creepy/edgier style which "We Do What We're Told" would have fit in very well with; that weird track is the logical progression between his first 4 and "So" but not much else is. There's nothing I find inherently unappealing about any of the individual songs (outside of the big "Sledgehammer" which I never liked and still don't. I can appreciate the craft and the weaving lines constantly pulsing throughout - a perfect example of a pop song that structurally/chordwise is as simple as can be but the components are almost chaotic - I just don't like the song. Hmmm wait "Big Time" kind of sucks too in retrospect). It's the aggregate that leaves me hanging. Maybe I've been noticing one thing all along - the million little details and complexities hide the fact that the songs at their essence are simple and don't carry the weight of his previous work for me. TL;DR: Odd that when this popped up I thought "oh here's probably a guaranteed 5" based on nostalgia and familiarity and feelings for the artist but I listened twice and yeah I can see and would promote this being a 5 for many - it's just not my favourite. 6/10 3 stars.

Some of the songs were too monotonous

It’s the 80s. Sometimes too much but I liked it.

some decent 80s pop. pacing is weird

Pretty good album. Didn't get into the weeds of this album but it was enjoyable

Solid

Both he and Genesis all songs sound the same. Not a fan

Gets a lil boring

Och neee de gseht genau so us wiener heisst. Hm. Es isch ned schlecht. Würklich ned. Aber ich chas eifach ned lose. Finds recht langwiilig, v.a nachem offspring album geschter. Aso sledgehammer isch scho au en banger? Ahh weiss ned. Ebe schlecht ischs ned aber grad ned so min vibe. Glaub es 3 wär ziemli fair

erste ihdruck isch tiptop aber ich glaub mis mami würs meh fühle als ich. bi don‘t give up hetti fast min überlebenswille ufgeh so kitschig und lang das gsi isch. that voice again no hard wnl. zwüschefazit: hetts no 80er? mercy street ned so spannend aber recht pleasing. this is the picture tschutet no fuessball. au wenn mich de düdüdü-düdümm chli anes lied us harry potter 3 erinneret. vlt au weg dem. okay fertig. finds no schwierig zum sege. han einigi lieder am ahfang recht nice gfunde aber denn 3/4 into it doch wieder recht unspannend. ich glaub ich bi chli zwenig 80s zums so richtig appreciate. sicher gueti musig aber nüt wo mich umhaut.

I remember my father having this on cassette when I was a kid. awesome title but not as good as I had hoped.

It's okay. Not as good as his best stuff

Only mildly like this one

Red Rain? BANGER. I bet for 1986 this was a master piece, but for my ears as a 90s baby this was not my favorite synth pop solo album.

Red Rain feels like an end credits freeze frame from an 80s movie where the Main Character is walking down the center of the road in the rain and jumps with their legs in the air as the credits roll. Not bad, very 80s. Sledgehammer is a designated "Walking" song. If I lived in NYC I would totally walk, sandwich in hand, listening to this song - and love every bit of it. Don't Give Up- makes me want to give it all up. I feel like this song would go hard if I was Christian, but alas I am not. That Voice Again-utterly 80s, background music for me. Mercy Street-No Mercy for Mercy Street (I don't like melancholic/slow 80s songs.) Give me that sweet sweet juicy nectar of synthesizers, electronic instruments, catchy melodies and even catchier back-up vocalists this is what I breathe. Big Time- Did exactly what I asked for when I started listening to this album. Gave me zazz, gave me exaggerated 80sness, gave me life. We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)-This song is peak existentialism, and I'm here for it. BUT NOT after the song 'Big Time' you're really sending me into a thought provoking orbit after making me listen to "BIG TIME!" get a grip. no. This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)-Is a nice song to play if you're doing something that does require your attention. In Your Eyes- Is giving your local Church's 'concert' Friday. Once you get over that obstacle, the song is pretty enjoyable. TLDR: Red Rain-YES Sledgehammer-YES Don't Give Up-NO That Voice Again-YES Mercy Street-NO Big Time-YES We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)-NO This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)-YES In Your Eyes-YES

1. Sledgehammer (1st) 2. That Voice Again (7th) ----------------------------- 3. In Your Eyes (2nd) 4. Don't Give Up (3rd) 5. Mercy Street (6th) 6. Red Rain (5th) 7. This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds) (9th) 8. Big Time (4th) 9. We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) (8th)

Great album

I've dithered between a 3 and 4. It's good songwriting but very conventional pop that I don't really listen to so much. So in the end I think it is only a 3 for me. Nice to listen to but I won't seek it out again.

Sledgehammer

3.5 Just not my vibe!

This is a strong album from Peter Gabriel with hits including "Sledgehammer" and "In Your Eyes." His instrumentation and vocals are tasteful and intimate. While not all of the tracks are successful as the above singles, there is still a quality to this album which is worth mentioning.

I mean, eh. It’s good but not my taste

Mercy street was good

I kind of like Big Time and sort of like This is the Picture

Sledgehammer is fun! Sounds like Dave Matthew’s sometimes. So 80s.

It's good, but I feel like all the songs are very dense and it's gonna take me a few listens to really get into the meat of it, so I can't rate it too highly just on a first listen. The Kate Bush cameo surprised me though, and for everything i've heard about Sledgehammer that song is a banger.

Favourite Song: In Your Eyes This felt like a film score. A really lovely, solid album, with enough going for it that it's quite enjoyable.

Not as good as the car

‘Twas my high school girlfriend’s favorite artist. Lots of play time.

- This is a hella vibe - Sounds like an 80s movie - Big Time and Red Rain were probably my favorites

- I like the background music, idk what it’s called but the synthesizer type sounds - a little less industrial sounding than PG3 - quintessential 80s sound

Talented for sure.

Would listen if it was on. Not seeking it out

Pop progresivo. Un megahit. Ni fu ni fa.

Glad I went to prom in the 90s…

It's okay. Better than some of the other albums as I like the songs but there were a few songs that I really didn't like too.

You know, he single handedly created WOMAD ?

Kate bush

Good

Catchy 80’s trash. It’s fine.

pretty swell 3

Jsuis étonnée d'avoir aimé ça.

Sledgehammer, Big time, In your eyes pretty solid. I've always been a sucker for sledgehammer. His lyrics are fantastic.

In Your Eyes is one of my favorite songs of all time, it’s too bad it was tacked on at the end of a mediocre album like an afterthought. Also have a distinct memory of Josh having Sledgehammer as his ring back tone for a long time 😆.

Solid 3.5. I needed this after all the metal.

This was... okay ... Bit of an awkward blend between prog and pop, the songs create a bit of an atmosphere but don't quite get there, and they're too long and complex to be properly poppy. A bit cheesy, but there are a couple of decent songs in here (Sledgehammer has been somewhat (sledge)hammered to death by Magic FM et al, but it's still good, and Big Time is decent too). 3/5.

Najbolje pjesme: 1. Don't Give Up 2. Sledgehammer 3. Red Rain 4. That Voice Again Ostale su mi ugl malo bzvz, ali ove sporije imaju neki bajkovit vibe. 3.5/5

A great album for its time. Loaded with hits. Stylistically, it's peak 80s.

Fand das Album etwas durchwachsen. Paar Hits dabei (vor allem Sledgehammer), aber die Quali war nicht durchgängig so gut. 3,49.

Sledgehammer is a favourite of mine that I've heard many times. I've never heard this full album however. Most of the album is quite serious compared to Sledgehammer. Lots of similarities between Gabriel and Phil Collins. It's easy to see why they were in Genesis together. A good album overall.

Not my thing but the vocals were good and I can see why this album is popular and highly praised for people who like 80s music.

Meh

Really good. while listening it sounded really familiar and a lot like phill collins, and a lot of other artist form the time obvi. 4 songs added to playlist.

La primera cançó m'ha encantat, però crec que després perd bastant. No sé, comença amb molta energia però després la perd de seguida. Expected Lorenzo Rating: 3/5

Not really my kind of music but not bad.

Solid 80s soft rock, a la, Phil Collins. Definitely will listen again

Not my fave but definitely an 80s classic must hear.

Not really my kind of music, but wasn't terrible.

Pretty solid. It's more consistent in tone than many of his releases, and doesn't suffer from the 80s cheesiness quite as bad. It never really blew me away but I found it consistently enjoyable.

Okay

Naja, an und für sich wirklich nicht schlecht. Es hat mich aber emotional nicht abgeholt. Empfinde es als eher sehr generisch. 5.0/10

3/5. A few really good songs. The stuff in between was forgettable. Very 80s.

I usually hate art-pop but this is great. Apparently this lost the AOTY Grammy against Graceland in 1986, which is wild because Graceland had the fart bass. This isn't perfect by any means, but it doesn't suck either. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are really good songs.

Good, but I couldn't do the live sections.

Ordentlicher over the top 80er-Vibes, viel Synthesizer (Drums). Ganz interessante Stimme. Am Ende war es aber nichts so richtig für mich. Wirkte ein bisschen aus der Zeit gefallen, vielleicht.

great music and compelling lyrics.

It was alright. Very middle of the road.