So

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

Amazing album start to finish

A great album, with no fat whatsoever.

i was really impressed by this album, only really knowing sledgehammer and in your eyes ahead of time. it helps to have the wikipedia page background to appreciate it more fully, but hearing kate bush and laurie anderson on my first listen of three was exciting and a great fit on their respective tracks. this album has a lot of the stereotypical 80s synth sound on it but i think it really works here. with that said, petey isn't afraid to branch out into more unique instrumentation and styles, which i appreciate. most of the songs feel pretty unique and do a great job of transporting you to a different setting, mood, time, whatever, especially through the lyrics. also the lyrics to big time read like a bill wurtz song. you can't change my mind. favorites: red rain, sledgehammer, don't give up, big time, this is the picture (excellent birds), in your eyes

God I love this one! Had no reason to revisit till today and I must admit I felt quite surprised as the songs, the production, the sound, all sounded fresh! and refreshing at the same time. It got me to rethink and revisit the rest of his catalogue and mostly the stuff he produced/issued after Passion (the last encounter). Deservedly on the list!

Eines der wirklich großen Pop-Alben 5/5

Ive always loved this record. In my estimate Don't Give Up is the first song I remember crying to. Maybe Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens. One of the two. I cry to a bunch of songs so thats a big deal in my world. The multi cultural arrangements get to me as well. Cultures and worlds colliding is always cool. That Rhatamatata Selputura song makes me cry too. Ha! I have all weekend to give it a real listen and I intend to. I feel like theres songs on here I may have overlooked. I plan to remedy that.

worth a 5 for sledgehammer alone. WHAT a song.

This took me back in time! So many songs I just loved and that hold up pretty well

5 sterne

Excellent album.

Beautiful.

Notably more satisfying and substantive than any other blockbuster ever, with as strong an opening block of cuts as any record. Even the huge hits with annoying tendencies ("Sledgehammer" and "Big Time") are appealing when one sticks with them. Indeed, seems like it's PG just thinking, "what if we tried it like this..." Every stupid pop song should be as smartly designed and executed as "Sledgehammer" (and followed by as thoughtful a cut as "Don't Give Up") or "Big Time" (which has a perfect ending for a pop song). The contemplative songs ("Red Rain," "Don't Give Up" and "Mercy Street" and "That Voice Again") are elevating and optimistic in addition to being gorgeous -- they feel out ot place to a certain extent on such a big-selling album and are more akin to his (also excellent) previous records. And it's hard to a name a more honest, affecting and pleasing pop love song than "In Your Eyes." Obviously, this is a commercially minded effort that works equally well (which is to exceedingly well) on the aesthetic front, too. It's very close to the Platonic ideal of AKNF* but some might say the second- and third-last songs, thuough quite interesting, are a tick down on the impact scale from the other cuts. (*All killer no filler)

What a lovely album to begin the project. Masterful music compositions through and through. I've actually been getting into Peter Gabriel recently. I re-listened to this album only a few days ago, and actually was listening to Peter Gabriel only half an hour ago.

In 2022, I was given some tickets to a Peter Gabriel concert. I went in thinking I knew a couple of songs and it would be a night out. I left getting Peter Gabriel. What a concert, even at his age. Clearly So is his biggest album, it was everywhere after it was released thanks to MTV and Say Anything but listening to this album between the hits reveals a mastery for songwriting that excels. 5/5

There was time during the 80's when a lot of artists released very corporate sounding records that all had a very specific aesthetic, very different from the synthpop/new romantic look from earlier in the decade, a lot of them even had a similiar looking black and white portrait picture of the artist on the cover. Sting, Bryan Adams, Robert Palmer are just some examples. Peter Gabriel also did one of those albums, but his release blows all and any competition out of the water. While it does sound corporate, Peter infuses some left field ideas across many genres into the songs, like Otis Redding-style funk on "Sledgehammer", ambient soundscapes on "Mercy Street", or the african tinged rhythms on "In Your Eyes", you know, that song from that movie. A pop masterpiece for the ages. Key tracks: Red Rain Sledgehammer Don't Give Up Big Time In Your Eyes

There’s like, at least three songs on this thing that are transformative and make me feel like I’m seeing God. It’s the best.

After four eponymous records that saw him continually push the boundaries of what was possible in the artier aspects of rock, Peter Gabriel took a big leap and was rewarded with his most popular album. Providing the soundtrack to some of the most indelible moments of the 80s may not have been his intention but that's what happens when common innovations and far out inspirations conspire in the makings of a soon-to-be classic of the decade. Whether one sees it as a dated and craven cash-grab or yet another knock out of the ballpark, So marks the moment where Peter Gabriel had us finally see what was up.

Love Peter Gabriel so much. Especially his first 4 albums. But I also really love this one. But his first 4 are some my favourite albums of all time. Again, this one is great too. Just don't listen it to as much as the first 4.

I bought new speakers this year. Nearly every list of speaker test tracks included song off of this record. So I made sure to listen on my big system. However, I had things to get done so part way through I moved to the car. Then to AirPods. Really interesting to listen to the sonic deterioration as it progressed. This is such a well recorded album (on top of having good songs). There is space in the tracks. There is a great soundstage. You can get distracted just listening to how it’s recorded and presented. But this is about music and that is there as well. A great run of songs. He was an artist I grew up thinking was just boring adult contemporary. Turns out I just wasn’t ready to hear it at that time. Glad I’ve come around.

How dare she criticize Peter Gabriel, with her little screw me hair cut and all so 'neh neh neh' - doesn't she know he single handedly created WOMAD?! This is peak of 80s production - he just gloriously embraces synth, compression, rubbery bass, cheesy keyboard patches, and gated drums from top to bottom, and pairs it with a full on afro funk rhythm section, backup singers, great songs with a range of emotional tones and his own searching oddly alienated earnest vocals.

Not only could this essentially be a greatest hits album featuring some of the biggest and best pop songs of it's time (6 out of the 9 tracks ended up as singles, 4 of which peaked in the top 5), but it's also one of the best pop albums of all time! This came out a year before I was born and most of the songs on this album were still all over the airwaves through the 80s and into the 90s. If I could, I'd give 6/5 stars

I own this album on vinyl and it's one of my favorites. Such an amazing experience, in terms of the music, production and just the overall soundscape of the thing. Easily 5 stars!

Would I listen again: Yes! Most fav track: in your eyes come one bro Least fav track: that voice again Surprise awesome track: Mercy Street Weirdest track: we do what we’re told Lyrics: unbelievable. No skips?: no. I’d skip the yhe excellent birds song but it’s not bad. Cover art cool?: no Notes: very excited for this. I love Peter Gabriel but don’t know any deep cuts. Red rain beautiful sounding song. Goddamn it Peter Gabriel is so great. Such c a great voice. Sledgehammer is such a bop. That bass is awesome. Don’t give up has a cool vibe. Mercy street was beautiful. Big time funky af. Beautiful album. In your eyes is such a work of art of a song.

The soundtrack to my O Levels! The perfect album! Has to be a 5 for me.

While I prefer Gabriel's Genesis era, he really shows what a good musician he is. This poppy and funky but you also have some great prog leftovers in the mix. In this respect, he did a good and better genre transition than his old band. 'Don't give up' is a wonderful ballad.

I was never a huge Peter Gabriel guy, but wow. This is a strong album. Don't Give Up would have been enough to give this a favorable rating, but there's a lot to love here. The production on just about every track is fantastic.

Pop Peter at his finest. Bookended by absolute bangers. Don’t Give Up is a bit of a drag, but That Voice Again saves the middle of the album from mediocrity. It’s a stunning listen when you have a chance to listen closely with decent headphones.

This is an all time classic but in common with most PG albums for my own tastes there are really exceptional tracks which rank in my all time favourites but also tracks which I can take and mostly leave. This album is perhaps the best example of that. Red Rain, Don’t Give Up, In your eyes and Mercy Street are off the scale and beyond outstanding tracks which I could listen to on repeat all day. But then there’s Sledgehammer and Big Time. These are two of the biggest hits off this album but leave me absolutely cold. Despite the existence of these lesser tracks there is still more than enough to make this album a notable must have classic made by one of the most talented songwriters and performers of the last 50 years. Maybe he intended his albums to appeal to all tastes so that there is something in them for everyone which if true is again a measure of his talent. This trait continued in his subsequent albums. With the advent of easily made up playlists I believe that I have compiled for myself the perfect Peter Gabriel album spanning his post Genesis career right up to his recent album IO. But that is the abnomaly. IO is perfection in every track. Thought I’d say that because IO is unlikely to feature on this list until maybe the next revision? But I have it pencilled in as a possible 1001 ending choice. 5/5 29/11/24

Fantastic! I never gave the whole album a listen until now. “Sledgehammer” and “big time” were so overplayed on the radio that I never bothered. “In Your Eyes” is one of those songs that never gets old to me.

Within the first minute of this album you can obviously hear just how good the production is on this album. It sounds and feels amazing. The bouncing panning of the drums back and forth on Red Rain makes it sound like it is raining which is so cool. It was a solid collection of 80s pop songs.

Clearly a classic. I know videos aren't part of the challenge, per se, but because So came out in a time when videos carried weight, this album has even more magic in that context. Plus, Kate Bush is enough to immediately give anything 5 stars.

I used to consider In Your Eyes the most beautiful love song ever

the runner up for most 1986 album to ever 1986 (Graceland remains undefeated), So feels like a big motorcycle your uncle buys after his divorce. in my eyes, this isn't a negative quality: motorcycles are undoubtedly cool. however, that motorcycle isn't staying in your uncle's garage. i find this CD in the Goodwill reliably every time i peruse its section of your grandma's classical music CDs and your mom's copies of k.d. lang's Ingénue. So enters someone's life and, a few plays later, leaves it for worn-out pastures. i'm here to tell you, as a connoisseur of sparkly Sharper Image pop, that So is worth keeping around. so what if it sounds artificial at points? you're telling me you hate the sound of the Fairlight? of the Chapman stick stylings of Tony Levin? of "In Your Eyes" and "Sledgehammer"? i don't think there's a human being alive who hates "Sledgehammer" who isn't some dour metalhead with a drinking problem. there's a sort of enchantment to the record that makes me teary eyed. even though there are fun and life affirming moments, So feels filled with melancholy a lot of the time. it's in "That Voice Again", in "Red Rain", and in "Mercy Street" in spades. i couldn't call it bipolar, but i can definitely call it panicked, frantic. one second he dances in the clouds, the next he dips his head in the gutter. next time you go to buy some used pants or a set of discarded aluminum pans, give the lost CDs a chance. look at Peter Gabriel's pleading orphan eyes and give him a home. do this enough times and you'll be able to construct an Everything is Terrible!-style Jerry Maguire pyramid in the desert. you'll thank me later.

It's got that distinct 80's sound. The drum machines, synths, and snares all scream Phil Collins. The vocal performances, however, scream Peter Gabriel. Big Time and Red Rain are great tracks that complement an unquestionably perfect track order in the context of energy and the artist's vision. They feed into tracks that elicit a forensic science montage like We Do What We're Told and This Is The Picture, before closing out with a medium-energy love song that beckons listeners to hit the "loop all" button. I was fortunate to give this gem a deep listen and can absolutely see why it's on this list.

Such a great vocal style and varied arrangements. Reaches an emotional depth that his contemporaries didn’t.

Great

One of the most PERFECT albums ever created. Yes, at times very POP, but brilliant in so many other ways too!

If you listen to enough music across eras, you can tell this is a 1980s record from the jump just by its tonal and sonic qualities. And yet, this is also one of the most well-mixed and produced albums of its time (quite possibly of all time). It sounds wholly itself. The beautifully crafted Red Rain is a masterful opener. Don't Give Up shows an affective range and emotional counterpoint to the other hits. With Sledgehammer, Big Time and In Your Eyes as tent pole songs it's difficult to see this as anything other than a high water mark for eighties popular music. These are smart songs where even the slower tempos (e.g. Mercy Street) give you plenty to sink into and for your ear to hear. Simply put, I believe it's one of the best sounding records with some of the best pop songs that I've heard.

Haven't listened to this in years but, besides a few duds, this album is incredible. Mercy Street in particular (and it's cover by the Knife) is a great track.

Great album

So, I initially thought it was like Red rain, but then it hit me like a sledgehammer. I didn't give up and started to enjoy that voice again. I wasn't on mercy street when I enjoyed this album big time. In my eyes, this is an excellent picture (birds)

Brought up so many memories. Love the songs. Don’t miss those years.

Didn't expect to love it, but I did! I completely forgot about Sledgehemmer, but now I remember seeing the video when I was a kid, and being completely mind blown. I am not a big fan of the 80's music, but Gabriel and Collins have always been up there for me. Haven't skipped a single song and listened to some on repeat.

Beautiful and Bombastic in equal parts. In my opinion the best Peter Gabriel album in terms of having the majority of my favourite tracks of his included. I think anyone could listen to this and come home with one or two new songs for their likes/playlists. Extra kudos to Sledgehammer for having arguably the greatest music video of all time. Highlights: In Your Eyes, Don't Give Up, Big Time, Sledgehammer, Red Rain

An album probably best known for the music video for Sledgehammer, this was an absolute joy to review. Each track is masterfully produced, the sheer amount of artists that Gabriel collaborated shows that he really cares about the craft of making music. Pulling influences from around the world, this lost out to a similarly innovative album for the grammy in the form of Graceland by Paul Simon. And fair enough, I would be hard pressed to decide which of these albums is better. Every song on this album rips, Peter Gabriel manages to turn every track into a groovy soundscape. Big shoutout to the bassline in Big Time, probably the high point of the album for me besides the entirety of Sledgehammer. No negative comments whatsoever, perfect album.

After a week of Korn and sitar covers, feels like we deserved this. I'd put Peter Gabriel and Genesis pretty high up on the list of bands that I knew I needed to hear more than I had, and drew me to slog through this list. Sledgehammer is obviously a total classic, maybe one of the best songs of all time - instantly takes me back to some of the best wedding dance floors of the last ten years. Some other tracks that stood out on their own - That Voice Again, Big Time, and even Don't Give Up somehow rocks in the end. There are some songs that I would call filler on a bad day - like Mercy Street - but I think they help the pacing and add up to a full album. Not every song can be a sledgehammer. This is the Picture is definitely "filler" but also a nice reminder from Pete that - yeah, this might be a commercially successful album, but I'm still a big fucking weirdo and I have to tell you about some excellent birds. And of course, In Your Eyes. This is live version is one of my favorite YouTube videos of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evN6DIGPIJM - such a goofy and talented dude. Went down a bit of a rabbit hole on the personnel on this album: Kate Bush on vocals, Stewart Copeland for some reason only on the hi-hat. And the violinist - L. Shankar (no relation to the Shankars) - also played in a band called Jonathan Davis and the SFA. Yes, Jonathan Davis of Korn, and the "Simply Fucking Amazings". It's like the seven degrees of Kevin Bacon, but every artist ends up leading back to Korn.

I started listening to this at about 8:30ish PM and I was already in a good mood. I’ve always had an open mind for listening to new music so this was exciting. I was laying down and, but quickly got a little angry because I had to get up from a cozy slump. I had my earbuds in, still listening to the album while doing what I had to do and my bad mood quickly went away. Never has an album made me calm down before, so it was pretty weird. This album makes you feel a rollercoaster of emotions and not know it. I was born in ‘96, but I still grew up on music similar to this, being that my mom was born in ‘66. She listened to a lot of music of different genres and raised my siblings and I on everything she grew up on. So to say ,’This reminds me of my childhood,’ is crazy, but it does. I felt peace, if anything, so I had to listen to it a second time. This is definitely in my top 5 favorite albums now.

Love Peter Gabriel. Which is probably the exact same note that I left on his other album in this project...

This is a gem. One of the earlier CDs I would have bought. It came out right about when you turned one, Mags. The video for Sledgehammer played all the time on MTV, and that was fun to catch. So many great songs here, even the lesser known ones (like This is the Picture) are fine. And Kate Bush!! We saw him live in 1986 in Worcester MA. As I recall vaguely, the concert was no great shakes. He just stood there and sings — plus some older Genesis tunes I don’t love.

Großartig!

A really good album, I liked Sledgehammer and We Do What We're Told. But my absolute favorite song on the album is Mercy Street.

Peter Gabriel captures magic in a bottle here - pure sonic bliss!

Perfect album.

Con So en 1986 Peter Gabriel accedió al gran público en gran medida gracias a su sencillo más popular, número uno en las listas de éxito y uno de sus temas más escuchados hasta la fecha: "Sledgehammer". Un tema soul-pop influido, según el propio Gabriel, por la antigua música de los sellos Stax y Atlantic, en el que se aprecia un sonido procedente del funk-rock, y con un contenido alegre y metafórico (evidente en ocasiones) referido a actos sexuales. Me gusta mucho el arranque del disco con "Red Rain", quizás por su sonido evocador de Genesis o por su contenido introspectivo a propósito de sentirse superado por un cúmulo de emociones. Pero el disco tiene mucho más: "Big Time", otro estupendo tema bailable y crítico con el materialismo y el egocentrismo de quienes se creen grandes; el extraordinario dúo con Kate Bush, "Don't Give Up", dedicado a los desempleados en una época, los 80, marcada por los ajustes thatcherianos; o la estupenda canción de amor "In Your Eyes". Personalmente, y más allá de su inclusión en la banda sonora de Philadelphia, siempre me ha gustado mucho "Mercy Street". Se trata de un tema repleto de humanidad, inspirado en la vida y la obra de la escritora Anne Sexton, que se suicidó cuando tenía 45 años.

Incredible album. Red Rain Sledge Hammer Don't Give Up (Duet with Kate Bush) That Voice Again Big Time (featuring Tiny Levin's funk fingers (mini drum sticks to play bass guitar)) In Your Eyes

This is about as good as Peter Gabriel has ever got — and So can sit with any of his best material. It's about as good as pop in the 80s got, for that matter.

I was sold by the time Kate Bush shows up. A very epic/beautiful 80's singer songwriter record. In the vein of Bruce Hornsby, Kate Bush (as mentioned, she shows up), former bandmate Phil Collins as well. I think I heard the Needle Drop's Anthony Fantano say, in modern music, Bon Iver essentially worships Peter Gabriel and I see it more and more I dive into this record. The first 3 tracks are definitely all bangers. I also enjoy mercy street, we do what we're told, and in your eyes. It's everything cheesy and great about 80's music/culture embodied in one album. Definitely worth a listen.

1. I love Peter Gabriel and 2. You cannot just put Kate Bush AND Laurie Anderson on the same album and not expect me to love it.

Quite outstanding 4.6

I think this might be the best album by Peter Gabriel, although the bar is really high. It's one of the most accessible records, but still very artistic and innovative. One of my favourites on this list.

With each and every passing Peter Gabriel album, I've asked when we would get So. The day has finally come, and my life is better for it. So many memories attached to this album, Dad played this all the time. He loved to do this bit with "Sledgehammer" where he'd turn the volume up extremely loud to hear the flute bit at the beginning, then the proper song would come in blaring and we'd laugh and dance like maniacs. Honestly absurd how many hits are on here, "Sledgehammer," "Big Time" is a great song, "Red Rain," "Don't Give Up," and the undeniable "In Your Eyes," one I'd put on a short list of greatest songs ever. The deep cuts are good too, I ended up saving all but one track. Wasn't sure on first listen if it would be a 4.5 or 5, second listen locked it in. Drop dead classic, one of my absolute favorites from the '80s. Favorite tracks: In Your Eyes, Big Time, Sledgehammer, Red Rain, Don't Give Up (shout out Kate Bush), That Voice Again, Mercy Street, This is the Picture. Album art: Just a shot of Peter Gabriel, but the stark contrast with the bright white background adds a lot. Turns an unassuming portrait into something bold, almost mystical. His clothing is pure black too, I'm kind of obsessed with how much of this cover is just black or white. 5/5

So... I was born a few years after 1982 and this is one of my favorites and it would be a serious oversight if it didn't make an appearance on this 1001 list. Is this Peter Gabriel's best album? Maybe. It's easily one of his most important and emotionally charged, despite feeling a bit uneven. I always thought it was strange how this ended on two, more experimental/ambient songs (totally fine songs by the way) but later reissues would place 'In Your Eyes' as the final track which was probably the right choice. I think the real success of this album is the way it bridges gaps into a more accessible territory while not compromising the familiar art rock of his previous work and became a benchmark moving forward. And yes, 'Big Time' is cheesy but that's the point. In fact, that one has some nice Eno/David Byrne quirkiness that makes it fun.

One of the best albums made

Wish I saw this tour but alas, I was 8 years old when it was released. So many songs to love. Hits like Sledgehammer (great video) and In Your Eyes move the needle with milder tunes Don't Give Up and Mercy Street tending to the soul. 10/10

A great lushly produced masterpiece.

I consider this one of the few rock classics of the 80s

Day223 - from the videos on mtv to listening to the album just for the music this is a masterpiece

Classic album by the wonderful Peter Gabriel. Sheer class

So - Peter Gabriel is that good! I was listening to the anniversary edition, and after a while I thought this wasn't right. It's way too long. I didn't realize they had 3 'discs' on the 25th anniversary deluxe edition, which to me made it .. well, lets' just say different. It went on too long for me. SO - I listened again, just the original album, and it's perfect as is. No need to add tracks. He's amazing!

Love this album. Was my first foray into PG back in his school. I never kept up with him, but later went back through his Genesis catalog and then solo work up to this album. I need to spend more time on Gabriel.

I mean, it's Peter Gabriel.

"Sledgehammer" and its music video are all-time classics, and the rest of the album doesn't disappoint. As a 90's kid, maybe the 80's were alright.

Five. Yeah. What? So, what? It's mine, so what? No shame in some guilty pleasure Peter Gabriel 80's music. I grew up with this one.

I am not a Peter Gabriel person -or actually, it’s how I want to qualify myself- but “So” is spotless. Flawless flow, only great songs, great production… I love it. I am not gout to pretend I did not enjoy it. It got me.

probably my favorite peter gabriel album tbh

This is one of my favorite albums by a hugely talented artist. I listened to this cassette until it snapped in my boombox. Also bought it on vinyl, CD, MP3s and FLAC. No bad songs. The only things better are the live versions of many of these songs on the Secret World Live tour, but that’s because I really like the contrast of Peter Gabriel’s and Paula Cole’s voices. Also, I jammed my thumb while making the bed listening to this album. I ended up in pain and listening to In Your Eyes. Reminds me of high school…

This is probably my favorite Peter Gabriel album (or at least the most consistent and solid for his style and sound), so I'm really glad it's included in the collection. I also feel like somehow he and Phil Collins both got caught up in the same weird Genesis-inspired let's-go-solo-and-write-very-listenable-and-almost-mainstream-music-but-include-very-repetitive-lyrics-that-don't-really-make-sense-no-matter-how-closely-you-listen-to-it. But despite that, there's just something about nearly every song on this album that I really enjoy and am perfectly happy to listen to repeatedly. I guess it's just a guilty pleasure, as I know so many people that can't stand Peter Gabriel's music; I'm glad not to have caught that particular bug. I really appreciate the range of the songs in this album, and some of them have strong storylines despite being fairly sappy in some ways. "Don't give up", as syrupy as it is, especially with Kate Bush's duet, seems like a very personal song that Peter Gabriel was willing to share, and "Mercy Street" seems like a worthy descendant of "Solsbury Hill", while "We do what we're told" always feels like an anthem of outsiders and the dispossessed. I also appreciate it that his world music infusions aren't as dominating on this album as some others, although I feel like both he and David Bryne managed to incorporate world music in a more successful and less-cringeworthy way than most artists; in that context, what a bummer that "So" lost out to "Graceland" for the album of the year Grammy, as I feel like Paul Simon's take on world music is pretty painful. And what a treat to discover that Daniel Lanois participated in this album, as I've really enjoyed his (later) solo work.

The song Sledgehammer is about his penis

The most conventionally popular album for Peter Gabriel. Chock full of excellent musicians and fantastic tunes. The first album that I bought with my own money, the first artist I did a major deep dive into their discography, #2 best live performance I have ever seen. SO is truly a bridge to the rest of his works, more accessible but with all the things that you love in a Peter Gabriel album.

Wow, I really like this. It sounds very similar to Phil Collins's solo work and that's great. Listening to the whole album gave me a great perspective because I got to hear hits and less popular tracks.

I thought this was pretty much a perfect album. From the songwriting, to the musicianship, production- everything is done to such a high level. Not to mention- it was a damn fun listen, to boot.

Vraiment cool, vu le nombre de fois où je lee relance 5/5 ?

I wasn't aware this was Daniel Lanois produced, but always gravitated to it in the Peter Gabriel discography. One more piece of evidence that Lanois helps artists shine brightes. I love almost everything about this, 80s sound and all.

This would not have been on my short list for a hands down “5” rating, but with arguably 6 of 9 tracks certified bangers, it’s hard not to give a full boat of stars. The drums are good throughout but particularly on “Hear that voice again”. “Red Rain” is a solid opener. The duet with 80’s icon Kate Bush is a sleeper I forgot about. “Sledgehammer”, while well played was one of the most recognizable videos of the MTV era, “Big Time” gets a mention there as well. Then finishing up super strong with “In your eyes”, prompting me to revisit the great John Cusak holding up the boom box in the classic 80’s coming of age film, “Say Anything”. Nice weekend surprise on the nostalgia front.

I’m betting this is gonna be one of the albums that spans the gamut of reviews across the team. So (literally)…I’ll just get it out of the way up front. A full 5 hands down. Most likely due to “where was I when this first came out” memories. Yes, some of the production is a bit dated (it was the 80s after all)…but the musicianship is next level. And the ability to fuse world music influences with pop sensibilities is well ahead of its time. Something Gabriel had a pulse on long before most artists. Throw in the feat of having 5 of the 9 songs landing on some charts, along with a pretty long legacy stay power and it’s hard to deny this unique record.

Fantastic

kinda littington

So good

One of the great albums of the 1980s. It's pretty much perfect.

A classic album. One of my favorites. I love this guy.

Amazing

I saw someone say "leave this type of production in the 80s "and basically saying it's not relevant today. Peter Gabriel came out of nowhere with this album and dominated radio and MTV airplay. It was groundbreaking at the time. So when rating this you can't help but think about the visuals that accompanied this album, at a time when video was king. Gabriel merged both music and the visual aspect into a masterpiece.

Hi there. This album is immaculate. It’s a five. I don’t care if you were born in 1998 and you don’t get it, listen again and open your mind. It’s brilliant.

Impressive

Like this is getting anything other than a 5

Iconic. Every track is a musical journey.

A favorite from back in the day. Sooo many amazing songs. So much talent in vocals, arrangements, instruments. Lovely to revisit and feel the places music can easily recall in your life…

One of my favorites, a great album at the time and still holds up. An amazing artist.

This album is damn near perfection from start to finish. My entire senior year in high school I was obsessed with all of these songs. The videos were ground breaking and Peter being a bit eccentric, IMHO, made him even cooler. Here is my ranking of the songs on So.. 9. This is the Picture - this seems such a typical song that Laurie Anderson would be on - artsy. Solid song, but not my fav on the album. 8. We Do What We’re Told - This has always been a very eerie song. A simple protest song. 7. Mercy Street - This song has always struck me as so sad……almost hopeless. But it has killer music. Haunting. Quite honestly. The next six could be tied for my number 1. It’s like a Sophie’s choice… 6. Red Rain - the soaring drums…..Peters gravely voice…..this song is the perfect kick off for this album. 5. That Voice Again - There is one part to this song that I used to rewind and listen to over and over again…..”Only love can make loooooooooooooove”. 4. Big Time - Indeed, Mr. Gabriel. 3. Sledgehammer - Such an overtly sexual song that fits nicely in an album about Anne Sexton and deep protest songs. 2. Don’t Give Up - So close to being number one. Kate and Peter together were such perfection. Such a beautiful love/support song. The haunting music would not seem to be an obvious choice for this type of song, but it works. 1. In Your Eyes - not my favorite just because it was featured in one of my favorite movies - but because it has such fantastic music…..lyrics…..vocals……bridge. It is such an unorthodox love song I cannot get enough of. Love this album!!!

Another one from the category, "Before now I only knew it for one song, but now that I've actually heard it—damn, what took me so long?" It's gotta be one of the best albums of the 80's, as one good album with "Sledgehammer" (the aforementioned one song) should be. Like, in terms of all the various worldy-type progressive art pop songs from the decade, I doubt it got any better than this. My only real complaint is that some of the outros run a bit too long, but it's a nitpick in the grand scheme of things. To quote a bunch of teen girls voiced by an e-mail checkin' wrestlem'n, this album really is "so good." (Now, to address if it's the best album of the 80's overall—I **did** have that thought, but, I mean, as long as Weird Al's IN 3-D still exists... Though that's such a high bar to clear, I would take it too seriously, y'know?)

A masterclass of various 80s pop subgenres, with an excellent mix to boot. Excluding the Big 3 tracks of Sledgehammer, Big Time, and In Your Eyes, the rest of the album just sounds lovely, including the song with Kate Bush I'd totally forgotten about 'til listening to this, and Mercy Street, which is a rare 5+ minute song that never loses steam.

Of course, that’s a 5. It’s already the one that has Sledgehammer, Big Time, and In Your Eyes, which would’ve given the album at least a 4 by themselves; almost every other track here acts perfect complimentary tracks, especially the deeply touching song that is Don’t Give Up. Red Rain is this big bombastic opener, and it sets the tone for a wild variance of production that never once lets up throughout the album, even on its weirdest tracks (the last two before In Your Eyes). If there’s any nitpick I have for this album, it’s that the outros are kind of clunky and a little long, but I imagine that’s some quirk about how radio play would’ve worked in the mid-80s. I think this is fabulous for pretty much the whole thing, top to bottom; the lyrics are great, Peter Gabriel’s voice is magnificent here, and the production compliments it perfectly. It’s one of the finest albums of the 1980s, and very deserving of a 5.

I.love.this.aalbum.

I just needed the first 20 seconds of the disk to insta 5★

classic album. really one hit

Solid. Good memories listening to that.

What an incredible album start to finish. I knew of the singles but not the rest but wasn't disappointed. I can understand why this was such a big album. There's not a bad song on here. I remember as a kid the video for Sledgehammer was absolutely TERRIFYING. Standout Tracks: Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, In Your Eyes

Red Rain is an instant classic and the hits keep coming with little dead air

Perfect from start to finish, and one of the best albums of the 80s. Definitely worth throwing into a boombox and playing it outside of the window of the girl you just can't quit — even if her father disapproves.

An absolute classic that I owned on tape cassette. 18 again.

6/5/24. Pop perfection in my mind, loved each song and the artistry.

Muslim rugmakers always make an error in their work because only God is perfection. Hence why Big Time exists on this album.

This is a musical masterpiece. I always find it interesting when former band members go and do their own thing. Released from the shackles of group decisions they find themselves free to be the masters of their own creativity. Some crash and burn, others soar. To the moon with this one.

One of my all-time favorite albums.

This is a great album. I slightly prefer Melt over it (aka III), because I like dark, post-punk Peter Gabriel. That said, it's still fantastic and there isn't a bad song on it. This album is a bit more varied in terms of style and themes, and it's the album featuring most of his biggest hits. Musically, it features a mix of pop/new wave, funk inspired songs, and a bit of the post punk style carried over from Melt. There are some great bass lines and cool drum parts (even though Phil Collins doesn't appear on this album). "We Do What We're Told" is a cool song that feels like a sequel to "No Self Control" from Melt, though it's a bit underdeveloped — I wish it was longer. "That Voice Again" and "This Is The Picture" might be my favorites. Finding out Nile Rodgers plays guitar on the latter makes a lot of sense. The drums on "That Voice Again" are fantastic. Of course it has the classics "Sledgehammer" and "In Your Eyes." It also has the hits "Don't Give Up," featuring Kate Bush and "Mercy Street." I think this is an album that will grow on me even more over repeat listens. 5/5

Have it on vinyl. Stone classic.

Amazing album, my personal favorite Peter Gabriel recording

I remember being a young kid and my dad listening to this album. Now I'm a dad with young kids and it has come full circle.

An Album that was a fix point in my early musical experience. Heard it before i knew Peter Gabriel had been part of Genesis.

So Peter Gabriel is so Peter Gabriel. This is still great

WOW….I’m reminded of just how awesome that album is. It is a classic with excellent songs from beginning to end. It might be in the top 5 of the first 100 albums I have listened to in my random order.

genius.

This is a masterpiece. Every song is good. The musicians are outstanding, including Tony Levin's mainly Stick playing! I'm happy this was picked for me, as I haven't heard it completely since it was released.

01) Red Rain - 9,5 02) Sledgehammer - 10,0 03) Don't Give Up - 10,0 04) That Voice Again - 8,5 05) Mercy Street - 9,0 06) Big Time - 9,0 07) We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) - 8,5 08) This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds) - 8,0 09) In Your Eyes - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,00 (90/100) Current Ranking: 19/171 When you have "Sledgehammer", "Don't Give Up", "Big Time" and "Red Rain" all on one album, that's a guarantee for at least four stars. So let's see the rest of the songs that are unfamiliar to me. "That Voice Again" is typical 80's pop-rock (to me it sounds like a blend of Police and Genesis), "Mercy Street" is a very nice slow song, "We Do What We're Told" sounds like a part of the "Blade Runner" soundtrack, "This Is the Picture" reminds me of Gabriel's earlier work ("Games Without Frontiers") and "In Your Eyes" gives us a bit of world music with Youssou N'Dour on backing vocals. After the first listen, the album has a mark of 8,94 and it is 0,01 points short of five stars. It seems cruel to me to leave it at that so let's give it another listen. And then I listened to "Mercy Street" for the second time. Those harmonious vocals accompanied with beautifully haunting music were enough, it's a five stars album.

Fantastic album with some classic jams.

This is great album from start to finish. Every track is solid. One of my faves from that time period

Minimum 4 because of Sledgehammer, the rest of the album gets it to the 5 star

Peter Gabriel is definitely a product of his time, but his music is the crème de la crème of 80s music. This is the 2nd Gabriel album I’ve gotten and he is rapidly becoming my favorite artist of the 80s.

One of the masterworks from one of the masters.

Dude can write

This album sees Peter Gabriel lean into his love of funk and write more accessible music while retaining the forward thinking elements that make him unique. This album is expansive and decade defining. There is an intimacy here that draws the listener in and keeps their attention. Bonus points for having Kate Bush on a track as well.

I have said it before and I will say it again…. There comes a time in everyone’s life when they succumb to the music stylings of Peter Gabriel… this album has some quintessential Peter Gabriel.

I remember thinking this sounded too 80's at the time. Now I think that sound fits perfectly. I feel this is his stronger album.

This is an album I own, and that I'm very familiar with. I grew up hearing "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," and "In Your Eyes" pretty frequently on the radio, but I didn't listen to this album all the way through until maybe ten years ago, give or take. This is easily one of my favorite albums from the eighties, and I was really excited to see it pop up for me to review today. The album has a massive sound, and every song is full of rich tones. Despite drawing on a multitude of influences, this album somehow manages to be Peter Gabriel's most accessible album, while also being one of his most ambitious and experimental. The personnel listing on this album is gargantuan as well; from instrumentals by Nile Rodgers and Stewart Copeland to vocals by Kate Bush and Youssou N'Dour, these songs feature some of the best musicians in rock music. Also present are Peter Gabriel's frequent session musicians David Rhodes and Tony Levin, providing some of the best guitar playing in eighties pop music. The album establishes its big sound with the moody and dreamlike lead off track "Red Rain," before launching into the pop-rock "Sledgehammer" with its beautiful synthesizer and dance worthy horn playing. "Don't Give Up" is a beautiful, dreamy duet with the aforementioned Kate Bush, and "Big Time" is another dancy pop-rock jam, punctuated by a groovy bass line. However, the most recognizable number off of this album would have to be "In Your Eyes" (despite only reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Sledgehammer" managed to top the chart). The slow, melodic ballad is one of the most beautiful song of the decade, made even more memorable and ever-present by its appearance in Cameron Crowe's Say Anything. By the way, I watched Say Anything for the first time a couple of months ago, and I was blown away that the "In Your Eyes" scene was not the final scene in the movie. As many times as I've seen that clip of Lloyd Dobler holding up the boombox, I always believed that the next thing you saw was Diane Court running outside to jump into Lloyd's arms. I don't know how I crafted that false image in my mind, but I was blown away to learn I was wrong. Also, Diane's dad goes to prison for fleecing old people? Didn't see that coming either. Enough of my rambling. This album is fantastic from start to finish, and it's incredibly fun to revisit. An absolute pop-art masterpiece, worthy of its notoriety.

Completely of its time, riding the upward curve of yuppies, CDs and Filofaxes. But the songs would have worked across any time period with a shift in production trends. Gabriel's vice commands each track. He has the ability to bellow out the lyrics, yet still offer some soul. In Your Eyes is pure joy. An album that I regularly come back to as a comfort listen.

Very nice and unexpected

So was definitely a surprise for my ears. I was not expecting this album to be this good but that's what it ended up being. Peter's voice worked very well and the music worked with all kinds of different moods from groovy and upbeat to mellow and moody. The track with Kate Bush also had her doing a very good job on vocals. I honestly didn't know what to expect but it wasn't this but i am sure glad this is what i got Best Song: Sledgehammer Worst Song: In Your Eyes

Meine erste und einzige Musikkassette. Zu Zeiten des Walkman verständlich. " So" wurde so lange gedudelt, bis das Band durch war.

It's hard to listen to this album separated from how ubiquitous it was in the 80's and my teenage self as a huge Peter Gabriel fan. I find different songs are favorites: today, it's "That Voice Again". The album production is incredible for the time. Lyrics are emotional and poetic. It's a wonderful album.

Man this album takes me back to being a little kid. A lot of hits, great quality music, solid lyrics, maybe a tad overproduced but it was an achievement! The bass work and also that guest spot from Kate Bush! I really enjoy every song except maybe This Is the Picture. In Your Eyes is a hell of a song! Means a lot to me, even if it is heavy on nostalgia. Probably a 4.5.

One of my favorite albums. Lots of deep emotion. Monster musicians, especially Manu Katchè and Tony Levin. Bill Laswell and Nile Rodgers even pop in. In Your Eyes is the best love song ever written and there can be no argument. Saw Gabriel live in October 2023 and it was life-altering. This album never gets old.

Lots of great memories with this one. Listened to the extended 25th anniversary addition. Great!

WHAT A LEGENDARY ALBUM! I think my favourites were In Your Eyes, Don't Give Up and Red Rain. Never listened to PG but I love this album.

Best album yet. One of my favorites.

FOUR OUTSTANDING SONGS EXCLUDING SLEDGEHAMMER AND BIG TIME. IN YOUR EYES RED RAIN HEAR THAT VOICE AGAIN DON'T GIVE UP

Always loved this album, start to finish.. Especially loved that a subsequent live version of In Your Eyes was released in 1986 or so. Brought back everything and made me revisit the entire album again.

Such a good shock how much I loved this. Never would have thought that- I only knew Sledgehammer (which is honestly a 10/10 song, nothing missing) and in your eyes, but wow this is a good album. Every song was different from the previous but it had such a nice flow. There was such a diversity but it all fell under the same genre and it was good. I’ve never listened to this album in full but it’s definitely a great one. I usually reserve 5 stars for albums Im familiar with, but this one left me really wanting more. So Peter you have surprised me.

So .. good! Bought the album when it first came out. All great songs. Love it.

S klarste 5i bis jetzt. Find da eis vo de beste albe vo allne ziite, drum chli schwierig zum viel sege. Big time isch so ein vo mine lieblingssongs. S album het eifach kei filler, es isch jede song genial.

ich liiieb das album. worschinli top 3 ever? Red Rain. boooah da schlagzüg das rieeesige piano, er singt soooo guet fuuuck. zweite song isch scho sledgehammer. boah wie tönts so guet? wie? wie isch de bass so tight. liebs, chas uswendig, ich will en bumper car (bumping). gitarre so knackig mmh. keep the habit. ich lieb de song. wie het er so viel hooks inepackt? sooo viel. drums sind huuuge. don't give up beste song? sini stimm isch plötzlich nöch, de bass macht s riff. d melodie ide strophe isch soo schön. kate bush slayet de song. ah und uf chillo de richard tee am klavier. drums (aso d hihat) isch soo tasty gspielt. boooah wenn de richard inechunt. fuuuuck. und denn peter time, er beltet. die letst minute isch afoch nochli tony levin am bass am jamme, liebs. bgvs huuere geil. und de gitarretrack au. that voice again tönt immer wie öpper schizophrens wos langsam langwilig findet. aber de song isch wieder ussergwöhnlich geil. die chords im prechoruuuus. WIE ISCH JEDE SONG INSANE mercy street beste song? so jammy am afang so cool. tugudiiidi triangel triangel. text goht huuere ine jedes mol. HI THERE lieb big time vlt beste song. brooooo sehr funky. we do what we're told erinneret mi immer a the wall irgendwie aber s isch chli groovier. sehr sehr geil. das isch de bild vergissi immer, worschinli de schwächst. in your eyes all timer wie schribt mer sonen song. d melodie s piano de drumbeat im prechorus die überlappende gitarre, dases afoch nomel zwei täkt verzögeret. booooooh. zweite refrain afoch andersch? baaaaass. die verschiedene sänger:inne im outro bwaaaaa die tüf stimm aaah. füfi füfi füfi füfi. ich bin meega biased well s album so guet isch füfi.

trochę spanko w środku ale perełka

Nobody has taken more chances and been more experimental in sound than Peter Gabriel. From the first Genesis album to today, he has pushed barriers and made amazing music. This album is no exception. And let's be honest, 'In Your Eyes' is one of the great love songs of all time.

Had this when his "Sledgehammer" single was released. More 'pop' sounding than his earlier post-Genesis offerings especially his works music tracks like 'Beko' etc

Who is this Kate Bush person who duets on Don't Give Up? She shouldn't give up, because almost 40 years later, she might find some unexpected success. It's an uphill climb, but I know she can do it. It might look different in my eyes, being from the future and all that. She doesn't even need to take a sledgehammer to anything. It's just gonna work out.

A pretty phenomenal record simply based on the variety with slower introspective piece like Red Rain and In Your Eyees, that are catchy and moving... as well as more poppy uptempo tracks like Sledgehammer and Big Time. The rest of the album is fine, with a nice duet with Kate Bush.

Great album!

Awesome pop rock albums, so many great songs. Red rain and especially in your eyes stand out among a constantly very good album.

Wow...what is there to even say. It's just excellent. What an artist. Favorite track: Sledgehammer

It was so fun listening to this again! I had the cassette for this album back in the day and remember it being one of the first VH1-type albums that I really enjoyed listening to. Polished, with dialed-down pretentiousness that kind of marred his earlier work. And I guess you can't get away from the fact that this was from the era of peak MTV, where the videos went hand-in-hand with the album release. That didn't hurt. Still, it's a pretty innovative album for its time and still holds up well despite it's somewhat dated production.

я вышла из бара, мы встретились на улице. и все было как в лучшем ромкоме. мы смеялись, танцевали и возможно, даже влюблялись. потому что иначе в тот вечер и не могло быть. и мне все еще было хорошо.

I love this album. His evolution form Genesis to solo performer to icon of alt pop.

I've gotten a few Gabriel records before on this list. I remember liking "3", and being whelmed by his solo debut, but this one? Shockingly great. Feels like he's able to balance an experimental nature he's been digging, with pop sensebilities. The only song on here I wasn't thrilled to hear was "In Your Eyes", but admittedly, even on listening to that, I got further into it than I had before, and found a lot of instrumentation and textures I never noticed before. Fuck it. Give it its flowers. Favorite tracks: "Mercy Street", "We Do What We're Told", "Sledgehammer", "This Is The Picture"

Aside from the fact that I would rate 7 of 9 songs 5 stars, I like the ambiguity and minimalism of the title.

A very well produced album. Jam packed with memorable sounds and songs. Standouts: Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, Big Time, In Your Eyes, Red Rain, That Voice Again, Mercy Street. Many of the songs are / were overplayed, but overall there is no doubt this is a classic pop album.

Never gets old.

Excellent birds is an excellent song

An astonishingly well made pop record with half a dozen absolutely first-rate cuts, and the non-hits of high quality too. "Sledgehammer" has aged well; despite its seeming incredibly annoying in the day, one finds the latter bit of it actually enjoyable. And "Big Time" is about as good as big-time upbeat pop hit can be. "In Your Eyes" is as sweet and true (and as well made and as credible, etc., etc.) as any pop love song ever. "That Voice Again" a tumbling, mid-tempo pleasure. "Red Rain," "Mercy Street" and "Don't Give Up" are all lovely links to PG's artier past. Hard to beat – a note-perfect pop masterpiece, that beautifully balances aesthetic and commercial imperatives.

Awesome. His art is a gift.

Favorites: Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don’t Give Up, That Voice Again, Big Time, In Your Eyes Great album!

A masterpiece, right after "PETER GABRIEL III" and the new one "i/o", he just keeps making the best music you can hear, even now. Still looking for new sounds and emotions, the greatest AVANT-GARDE musician of modern times, by the hand of DAVID BOWIE, the other greatest one! You also have to listen to his work with GENESIS, also the most AVANT-GARDE progresive band of all time! ..And his personality, so sober and human!

Overblown at times but captured the MTV 1986 so well with the silly songs like Big Time and the haunting Don't give up. I difficult listen for me as I used to play this so much and after nearly 10 years my cassette of So warped away. It has been about a generation since I listened to this album in full. Flood of memories both good and bad wash over my brain. Thankful for them but happy that they live in the past. Maybe I wil

First CD I ever purchased (in 1986) and IMHO it still sounds current. Love the different compositions but my favorite is still probably Don't Give Up.

Perfect album, really.

I forgot how many great songs are on this album. Gabriel’s voice and variety of songs come through strong. One of the great albums of all time.

He’s simply too good. All of his songs are good in lyrics and sound.

Red Rain, Sledgegammer, Don’t Give Up, Big Time, and In Your Eyes . . . . all great songs. I like the inclusion of World Music beats, and Peter Gabriel has one of those gravelly voices that is great to listen to, which is refreshing. I heard this a lot when I was in college, and I thought it was ok then. Now, I thinks it is a really great album. So much talent came out of Genesis.

So many great tracks on this album - the catchy "Sledgehammer" with its amazing video, "Red Rain", "Mercy Street", and the inspiring duet with Kate Bush on "Don't Give Up".

Album #5 PG's music reminds me of a dark movie. The ones where you can't see half of what is going on because the movie is filmed in the dark. Some of the tracks he created were made to be heard but some of the tracks I had to turn the volume up to hear it completely and understand the lyrics.. Each track is very unique and shows the wide berth of PG versatility musicality and lyric capabilities. I enjoyed listening to this album in it's entirety.

Simple to rate this one; one of my favorites (but not my favorite Peter Gabriel - that is 3:Melt) Perfect example of the allure of Gabriel's music; along with a few of the more popular tunes he spun. Haunting, Moving, Groovy Goodness

I've heard this many times over the years and it's such a great album start to finish. Sledgehammer and Big Time are bangers and In Your Eyes is a classic.

Ultimative

Me encanta. Uno de los q escucho de muy chica. Excelente. Mucha tendencia.

This is an amazing album. That's enough of a review, I think. You should definitely listen to it.

It is a work that combines the sound experimentation and influence of world music that characterize Gabriel with a more accessible and commercial sense of pop. The result is a varied, innovative album full of memorable songs. So is an essential album for lovers of Peter Gabriel's music and pop in general. It is an album that combines artistic quality with commercial success, and offers a variety of songs that cover different genres, emotions and themes. It is an album that has stood the test of time, and that continues to be a reference for many current artists. It definitely belongs on this list.

Great album. Very unique voice. Even snuck in a song with Kate Bush who has had a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. A great listen.

Powerful lyrics Great music. He was ahead of his time. One of my favorite albums

A Masterpiece of Pop Prog

Masterpiece from the 80's.

Peter Gabriel!!!!!!! Damn!!! Like his music! Solsbury Hill and Modern Love from the album car are also nice songs! personal top3 in no order: Sledgehammer Mercy Street Big Time

Own it on vinyl! GREAT album!

Great album, knew more songs than I thought I would.only 1 song I didn’t really care for.

One of my favorites - Red Rain, In Your Eyes, fantastic!

Wonderful Album, I love it.

Honestly really enjoyed this. Very 80s - but still felt timeless.

Forgot how much I love this album. Amazing.

very good album, justified being on the list! iconic.

Favourite tracks: big time; don't give up; in your eyes; sledgehammer

This is the result of taking pop music to its highest level of perfection, its most sublime state as an art form

Tolles Album, das war auch für mich das einzig gute von Gabriel

Say Anything

Loved it! Reminds me of Phil Collins. Apparently they performed together in Genesis before Gabriel left the group for a solo career. Have already listened twice, 9/10

Oh snap! Another from the old collection. Love this album. Ages ahead of its time. It dropped like a bomb on 80s pop music. It’s still so good. Better than most. Every note of this is flooding back from memory.

This album is really pretty good. I’ve heard a few songs but not the whole album.

great album, who doesn't love red rain?

Love ot

A great Art pop classic, hit after hit. Peter's response to Genesis's evolution into pop music.

The definition of how to craft very well a 80s pop album. Peter Gabriel interpretation is always pure genius.

What a great album, very unique

Brilliant

Gutes Album

There are only 4 songs I haven’t heard yet from this album, and of those 4 “Mercy Street” was the most welcome surprise, followed by the opener “Red Rain” and the spacey interlude “We Do What We’re Told”. If I have to say “That Voice Again” and the hyper-80’s-pop of “Big Time” are the weakest cuts, that’s another way of saying that there are no weak cuts to be found here. HL: “Don’t Give Up”, “Mercy Street”, “Sledgehammer”, “In Your Eyes”, “This is the Picture” December 3rd, 2023

Outstanding art rock/ pop album in every aspect except for some of the lyrics perhaps but here i do not care, my rating in 1986: 10/10 and in 2023: 10/10.

There isn't a bad track on this album, right from the moment I heard it I loved it. One of the best songs to woo a woman - in your eyes One of the most inspirational songs - don't give up. Nothing less than 5/5

I also disagree with the ‘1982’ person. Maybe there’s a contingent of people who don’t like the 80s sound because their parents listened to it. I thought it was a really interesting, varied and fun album. I’ve always loved the bass on sledgehammer and I was happy to hear Kate Bush pop up.

I have much love for this album, instant 5. (Yes, I was born before 1982, and sure, I'll listen with headphones on!)

Great! Standouts: In Your Eyes, Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, Big Time, Red Rain, Others: Mercy Street, That Voice Again,

It could just be Sledgehammer and then an hour of pigs being slaughtered and it’d still be 5 stars

Not just the best Peter Gabriel album of all time, the album So is one of the best albums, period. It is packed with some of the best hit songs of the 1980s, most of which still get airplay or end up on playlists today. Sledgehammer, Red Rain, Don't Give Up (with Kate Bush), In Your Eyes, and Mercy Street are just some of the charting songs on So. Many of these have ended up in soundtracks as well. One of the most famous uses of a pop song to move forward the plot in a movie was the boombox scene from Say Anything... which features In Your Eyes. The songs from So are used in these highly charged scenes because they are so emotional and evocative. There's sadness, longing, anger, joy, every emotion is deftly covered on So. And yet, all the songs are infinitely singable. So is packed with ear worm quality hooks. So, is the soundtrack of the 80s but also the soundtrack for so many peoples' lives. It is one of the most finely craft pop records of all time.

8.5/10 Beautiful, groovy beats paired with warm vocals.

I knew the hits from this one - who doesn’t really - but listening to the full album highlights some of the other gems like Don’t Give Up, the duet with Kate Bush.

Initially before listening to this record again I thought this would be a 4 star album, but after playing it again I was reminded of just how good this album is. In particular, the duet with Kate Bush on Don't give up gave me goosebumps. I doubt Peter and Kate's voices have ever been better and this is from a self-professed Kate Bush fanboy. The big single on this album - Sledgehammer is actually my least favourite song here, probably a result of it being overplayed, but that's not Gabriel's fault. The rest of the album which includes Mercy Street, Red Rain, Big Time and In Your Eyes are consistently strong. Yes this was Gabriel's most commercial release so far, but as Sting once said a long time ago, "there's good pop and there's bad pop and there's nothing wrong with good pop". This great pop.

You know what even though I prefer the Genesis Peter Gabriel where he would play crazy flute solos and sing about overthrowing the powers that be I still really like this album. It's really catchy and interesting music that sounds a lot different from his earlier stuff but in a good way. And I love the world music influence, my man L. Shankar showing up is an unexpected delight.

Muito bom tchê, mais dançante que o álbum anterior (desta lista)

Stone cold classic.

ok

Has anyone else made a synth album that sounds so cinematic? He was always so good at melody and mood. The songs on this album are of a piece with those on all of the PG albums right back to the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. What he nailed here was the production. This album is so lush and full. Particularly when you compare it to other synth-craft albums from the day. Listen to Winwood's Back in the High Life. That's how most synth albums sound. Then come back to this. It has aged remarkably well; a testament to the time he spent building the amazing sounds in the first place.

are you kidding me?? a worldly journey through quintessential 80s pop. gabriel’s fusion of african and brazilian percussion mixed with that classic 80s electronic sound leaves me absolutely salivating. The bass section on sledgehammer had me doing something unspeakable. The quiet ardous journey of Mercy street had me like a child without a blanket. Need i even say anything about In your eyes? I mean just spit in my mouth already.

In Your Eyes is a triumph and masterpiece of a song all on its own, but then the rest of the album has the nerve to be incredible too! I loved it. An 80s pop + rock + new wave prog trifecta of excellence. Right on, Petey.

5! So many hits on this album. I always have pictured Peter Gabriel as a perfectionist. This is a perfect album. Finishing on "In Your Eyes" leaves you wanting more and hits your music feelings in the gut

Damn near a perfect album.

Mercy Street Red rain Sledghammer

What an album, and what a voice. I grew up on hits like Sledgehammer, and later classics like Don't Give Up (Kate Bush is my favourite artist of all time so I'm a tad biased there!) Favourite tracks: Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, Mercy Street, Big Time.

Peter Gabriel is one of the best artist in the pop/rock space and I stand by that opinion.

Love this. It's always 5 stars from me. Sound of trips in the car with my family. Red Rain is really hitting me today than it ever has. Might be because I'm older and have had stranger dreams and felt stranger feelings. Sonically lush. Don't Give Up feels like a friend's embrace, somewhere to let go of everything heavy for a time. That Voice Again - Feels so big and inevitable. Explosive. Giant and cavernous.

Four smash hits

As a big Genesis fan, I knew that I was going to enjoy this. Yes, it's very '80s sounding, but the atmosphere that he invokes is wonderful and really pulls you in. There's a melancholy, particularly in the opening track, which really sets the tone well. Very enjoyable.

this is a magical album from the former voice of genesis. when most people think of genesis, they think of phil collins on vocals when the band went in a more mainstream direction. however, the band started with more of an art rock/progressive direction… and that was due to peter gabriel. this is definitely more mainstream than his previous efforts and it shows with five(!) singles that received substantial radio airplay. the album incorporates elements of pop, funk, dance, and tribal music. it is fun, quirky, and poignant. highlights: “red rain”, “sledgehammer”, “in your eyes”.

This album is a whole beautiful world. I saw Peter Gabriel at Red Rocks for the tour where he did So straight through. Perfect Sunday evening, with a great friend and my then boyfriend now husband. Such a happy memory.

One of my favorite albums. Every song.

Have this album. Listened to it many times. Really good. Best track - Red Rain

Jatkoon

Yeah, this is just about perfect for me

... good.

You’re wrapped in his word for 45 minutes. A great place to visit.

... good

Peter gabriel: Incredible sounding album. So many great textures. Tony levins bas lines and tones are iconic. Peter Gabriel’s voice and songwriting is great. Always loved Sledgehammer and the stoptime animation in the video as a kid. Didn’t know Stewart Copeland played on Big Time- so cool. In Your Eyes is sooo good.

Really enjoyed this record. I love the production and vibe, sledgehammer is such a bop.

Tellement bon. Trop de classiqu3 et une référence pour peter Gabriel. 5/5

A rare favourite among mainstram performers. It's been a long time, but I've heard him many times. Good to listen to again, still valid. Few people have put Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson together on the same album. Plus, I listened to the Special Edition, which has 16 live recordings.

10/10 Peter fucking Gabriel! one of my all-time favorite musicians!

After four albums with much experimentation, Peter Gabriel seemed to have his sound with this album. Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, Mercy Street, Big Time and In Your Eyes are all nearly perfect songs, and each one is distinctly different. The three other songs are just OK, but don't distract from the fact that this album is a masterpiece. 5/5

Really enjoyed it, a lot to like.

Очень приятный звук. Захватило почти с самого начала. Автор и альбом стали открытием для меня.

I've heard all these songs as a person who listens to music often and has seen Gabriel live twice, but I have never sat down and listened to this album deliberately. Jesus - can you stack an album with more hits of a certain time than this? Opening with "Red Rain" is brilliant. It rushes at you with all the tropes of Gabriel's music and sets a tone for what's to follow. What follows is a masterclass in sequencing and emotional range, moving from the buoyant funk of 'Sledgehammer' to the profound, shared vulnerability of 'Don’t Give Up' with Kate Bush. To experience it as a whole is to realize this isn't just a collection of iconic singles, but a cohesive and deeply human statement. It's the rare blockbuster album where every artistic risk pays off, cementing its status as a flawless and essential masterpiece.

The 80's. As oft repeated: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This album is the most 80's, and it is in the keeper pile. Its focused energy, surprising emotional range, and classic after classic keeps it firmly in that camp. We had Brothers In Arms a few days ago, and now this. We have been blessed. Daniel Lanois production! I'm becoming a big fan. He's hitting all the right notes with all the added percussion, drummers. The Kate Bush feature on Don't Give Up is iconic. The sheer hit-ness of this album pulls it up past the murk of 80's– the synths, the Phill Collins drums, the Fairlight stock sounds– into a new territory. There's something that goes past the cheese into this whole new territory, on something like "That Voice Again." It reminds me of why I like Bruce Hornsby. I don't know exactly what stirs in me feelings of longing, heartache. How does Peter Gabriel do it? I don't know. 5/5

Really good.

Absolute masterpiece

I kept on thinking, am I supposed to like this? Yeah, yeah, I liked this. Pop perfection. Lyrically, sonically, production-wise. Does this sound like it was made in the '80s? Sure. It's a good thing I like that '80s sound, though. Sidenote: at times I was reminded of Paul Simon, which was pretty neat.

Gabriel finally learns he can be successful if just stops being as weird and crazy as humanely possible. In So, his songs take on a more traditional structure with a greater emphasis on melody. Released just a few months from Graceland, Gabriel also borrows a lot from African music (in addition to Brazilian and Indian) in his percussion and tropical soundscape. Every track is memorable and outstanding. We alternate between fast and spontaneous dance tracks and entrancing atmospheric tracks, both styles relying on unique instrumentation and a million different synths. Seriously, there are guest musicians in every track, whether doing backing vocals (Kate Bush in "Don't Give Up" or Youssou N'Dour in "In Your Eyes"), brass instruments ("Sledgehammer" and "Big Time"), a violin, or other unconventional percussions (the congas, surdo, and triangle in "Mercy Street" by Djalma Correa). I'm not a big fan of ballads, but once you throw in spacey synths or Kate Bush, I can't really complain. Every song here is spectacular in its own way. It's all consistent in production and mood, which is often a complaint of Gabriel's usual eclectic and over-the-top style. Perfect album length, every track goes on for as long as they need. I think I'd prefer the original track ordering with "In Your Eyes" in the middle cause "Excellent Birds" is a softer, more satisfying closer.

The hi-hat (Stewart Copeland) on the opening track still makes me tingle, as does the flute motif opening up Sledgehammer. Kate Bush still raises goose bumps. Great songs, fantastic musicianship and the most amazing 80s production where everything is so clean & clear. Not a bad song on it. Absolutely his masterpiece. Funny that the slightly off the wall prog of early Genesis ended up in pure pop with each part of its membership.

One of my all-time favorites

Amazing. Strong production that pieces together elements across many genres. It’s clearly an 80s album, but it’s also a world album and a pop album and much more. Many songs stand out, nothing but praise for this great work.

Great album again by Peter, although definitely a bit more commercial and as a whole, not as conducive as his other albums. The songs are all quite different from each other and sometimes it feels hard to hold up a concept. But looking at the songs individually, its a album full of good to great songs

When you consider how all over the place Gabriel was with Genesis, and his earlier solo efforts, I can see why some would be skeptical about this commercially appealing album. And yes, the 80's production doesn't always age well. However, this is just a great album from start to finish.

Spectacular, one of the smartest, most creative albums of the 80s. Richly arranged with a properly restrained avant garde sensibility, it's Peter Gabriel's most accessible work. This album's big hits ("Sledgehammer," "Big Time") managed to fit in well with the bombast of the mid-80s, but it also has a nuance and thoughtfulness that you almost never see in popular music. The vast range of artists who worked on various elements is also really impressive, from Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson to Stewart Copeland and Nile Rodgers. Gabriel's inclusion of international artists like Youssou N'Dour and Djalma Correa is never heavy handed or exploitative, and adds great depth to the sound. This is an album that begs repeat listening, with new things to discover each time you hear it. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Don't Give Up, In Your Eyes, Sledgehammer, Big Time, Red Rain, This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds), Mercy Street, We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37), That Voice Again

Sonically wonderful and some big big songs. The opening three songs -Red Rain, Sledgehammer and Don't Give Up is just about as good a start as any album I can think of. Bass playing (Tony Levin) is of course fantastic, sitting so nicely in the groove, but also leading the show (eg Don't Give Up). Great roster of singers assisting. Not a bad song on this.

Great album, easy 5 stars. Classic.

This was my first time listening to this album in full and its blown me away. Obviously Sledgehammer is incredible but theres so much more to this album. The perfect 80s pop album

Every track on this album is a legit banger. Peter Gabriel is the most interesting artist to come out of the 60's and 70's music scene. 'So' is a fascinating album that I forget about sometimes and it doesn't deserve to be forgotten.

Loved it

Every song bettter than the last.

Lots of hits on this album. I recall having tired of a couple of them back when they were big hits, but today they played well and felt so comfortable and warm. The few tracks which I were not familiar were also excellent.

Loved this, sounds like a transportation to a different time of the balas rock stars. He was a master of his time

Incredible album, easily one of the top 40 of all time.

Fun album.

Gimsteinn. Aktívistasti minn 🥰Hver bangerinn á eftir öðrum.

This is the sound of someone letting their guard down - which is an odd thing to say about a self-consciously commercial mid-career pop record. But in Gabriel's case it's true, because it was seemingly his guardedness that was keeping him from making this sort of record up to this point. Gone, mostly, are the intellectualist exercises that marked much of his prior work, replaced in large part by pure and sentimental (in the best way) expressions of love and longing. "In Your Eyes" is the headliner here but there are signs of his new openness throughout; "I come to you, defenses down, with the trust of a child," he sings on the opener "Red Rain," as if to signal a different era for himself. And I'm willing to excuse a bit of seeming dismissiveness in the lyrics of "Don't Give Up" on account of both (a) its good intentions and (b) the fact that it's Kate Bush singing them. Those heartfelt moments don't mean Gabriel has become banal either; he's still a keen observer - but here he wraps his observations in pop coating rather than the New Wave abrasiveness of *Security* et al. "Big Time" is a fun satire of Eighties excess, and arguably "Sledgehammer" is also - a winking succession of phallic metaphors from a guy who nobody knew could tell a joke (or take one) before this. Having already proven throughout his career that he's the smartest in the room, Gabriel sounds liberated here - to the point that the resurfacing of his old, paranoid persona on "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" feels like a bit of a relapse. That's not to knock his earlier work, which I'm a fan of - but it is to say that this collection as a whole does something very different, and refreshing.

Fun, very 80s, romantic ish, handsome man. Approved.

So has a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vibe to it. It offers up some of the greatest songs of the 1980s (and arguably, all time), while shoring them up with weird new age tracks that don't match the sound or flow of the aforementioned songs. What fans at the time didn't know is that Peter Gabriel was soon to leave the pop hooks behind and embrace that new age style full-time, make him more of an acquired taste than a MTV mainstay. Hindsight makes the listen less frustrating than it was in the 80s, but I still can't help but wonder how good So could have been if Gabriel had chosen one stylistic path for the record.

So very 80's! Holy schmole. There are some grooves on this album, and also many quiet moments. I think I enjoyed this. Sledge--hammah! Thank you!

A pretty good listen that starts well with a strong trio with Red Rain, Sledgehammer, and the Kate Bush-featuring Don’t Give Up. Those are probably the most forceful and lively songs that have the album at its most engaging. That energy is lost a bit in the second half though as things slow down, and the album sounds a bit more dated. Enough for 4*, just about.

This album exhibits the marriage of Gabriel’s arty/prog roots with a quintessentially 80s pop sound, clearly a push for mainstream commercial success, but still sonically adventurous. The wonderful ballad and Kate Bush duet ‘Don’t Give Up’, the incredibly 80s-sounding ‘Big Time’, and the all-time classic ‘Sledgehammer’ (fantastic vocal by the way) are probably my favourites in the poppier vein, while the moody, atmospheric ‘Mercy Street’, the unsettling and almost minimalist ‘We Do What We’re Told’ and the strange, hard-to-describe (but good!) ‘This Is the Picture’ being my favourite of the more experimental numbers. I enjoyed this one a lot.

Kinda pinnacle 80s album here, with the 80s classics "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" that are definitional sounds of the time - and the two songs that I might like least, because I don't like those sounds so much: the huge drums and vaguely funky borrowed-from-Africa bass. But the other songs work really really well with the 80s Lanois sound. "Red Rain," "Don't Give Up" and "In Your Eyes" are the kind of era-defining 80s classics that make me look back fondly on the time. So, era and genre-defining means it probably has to be on lists. If you didn't already know what 80s MTV pop sound like, this is the gateway that should make its best impression. For me, 4/5.

This must be on the list... part of my soundtrack of the 80's. However I find it hasn't always aged very well in terms of sound (or has it? Peter Gabriel helped develop that sound). A few great songs (Big Time, Sledgehammer, Don't give up) pushing it just about into 4* territory.

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Esto es lo q mi jarri estilos aspira a ser, ta kawn

me pasó lo opuesto a un jumpscare de oir a la kate bush diciendo que no me rinda, puntos extra

I liked this and there are son great tunes on this

In Your Eyes is such a good song! Crazy how he sounds the same even 40 years later.

es parecido a muchas otras cosas pero me gustó. 4/5.

a superb album overall with only a handful of songs that are merely good rather than great. 4/5.

Epic sounds, epic tunes, epic voice.

Fantastic record. Sledgehammer is one of my favourite songs. This is very “pop” but still has his political songs. Plus Ksye Bush!!!!

Solid

Sledgehammer has no right to be as catchy as it is. This album is so quintessentially 80's, it's unbelievable. It had a ton of his hits on it, so it’s a very prolific work. It’s a good album; I may not like everything Peter Gabriel puts out, but I can appreciate the talent and production that So puts out.

Solid. Also, Sledgehammer still slaps.