So

Slowly started to grow on me? I think I get it.

gran disco, lo escuche caminando, me sentia un poco volando

I went into this listen, thinking I'd end up with a 3 star bongo. Instead, I enjoyed this a bit more than that. 4 bongo stars.

80’s Synth Rock ⭐️Sledgehammer

Sure

giving bryan adams + fun eighties soundtrack

It was good, I was familiar with his work but this was a lot more introspective (?) than I'd anticipated. Reminded me of Wolf's Rain ost

Sound like a classic song that my dad would play while he washing the car.

Extra star for Don't Give Up

Great background music

So 80s

such a good album

sounds very nice, just not too much my vibe

Immaculate pop music

Great album taking me back to fun days, just enough Gabriel weirdness to make it so that I enjoyed it versus just being pop radio songs.

the soundtrack of every film and tv show set in the '80s. Love the varied energy across the album - the slow tracks are beautiful (especially the always relevant We Do What We're Told), the more classic 80s pop hits are bops too. Very well composed. It's a bit TOO 80s which I am a bit disconnected from, but one of the best albums I've heard from that decade. The drumming in "That Voice Again" is amazing, I'm pretty sure it's not programmed in that one. 7.5 / 10 Best track/s: Sledgehammer, We Do What We're Told, In Your Eyes

Great album. Brings back 80’s memories

Kitsch mais groovy

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/peter-gabriel/so/ Good 80s pop. Hoping to also see the experimental Peter Gabriel stuff show up in this list.

A few banger songs in the beginning- reminds me of Phil Collins in another universe. If I could, I'd give this a 3.5

definitely do not like red rain, really like sledgehammer

I really don't know how to rate it because I can't listen to it with fresh ears. It's wrapped up in a bunch of childhood memories. I think it is a good album, though.

I avoided this album back in the day because I quickly tired of Sledgehammer and I hated Big Time. But it turns out, the rest of the album is quite good! In Your Eyes remains gorgeous 40 years later, and the other six tracks have similar reflective and atmospheric feels, unlike the two up-tempo singles. The album very much carries the synth-heavy sound of the mid-80s, but Peter Gabriel is artist enough to do interesting things with those synths. I still hate Big Time, but it's more interesting having learned that the bass was played with drumsticks.

211/1001 Peter Gabriel - So Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ This is clearly of its time, however I do really enjoy this, more so for the moodier tracks. However Sledgehammer is a bit of a tune. Also Don't Give Up 🖤

3.5

Me gustó mucho este disco. Siempre fui más fan de phil Collins y nunca me había puesto a escuchar a Gabriel. Es un músico muy versátil y diverso. Creo que debo escucharlo devuelta para apreciarlo bien.

Quintessential eighties. Starts and ends well, but a bit flat in the middle.

This fucking slaps. Right then it got weird. Is there a name for this type of music? Like fancy pop? I don't know, but I enjoyed a lot of this album but then it got really really odd

Best Track - "Sledgehammer"

When I was young, I thought a midlife crisis came when you started listening with pleasure to the solo projects of Genesis members. Well, here it is, apparently. This is the first time I've listened to this album and Peter Gabriel's music in general properly; coincidentally, it's his most successful record. He'd been out of Genesis for ten years when it came out, so it's no surprise that almost nothing of the old, abstruse prog remains here. Instead, there's a wealth of varied percussion (primarily from southern countries), some funk motifs, a few ballads, and even a touch of ambient. In the end, it sounds as if the less pretentious U2 were combined with the more upbeat Tears for Fears, topped off with the soundtrack to The Lion King. A very good album, and it was a pleasure to begin my acquaintance with this artist's work.

I really enjoyed this!

Sound is lovely,

My 3rd and final Peter Gabriel album. And it's the first one I've actually enjoyed! For once it wasn't a jumble of random songs and noises. Really liked the vibe of this album 4 ⭐️

I'd give 4.5 if I could. Just a really good collection of songs that keeps revealing more layers as it goes, and stays interesting all the way through.

Wow, I've been missing out on this one all these years. There are some dated 80s sounds, sure, but overall this is chock full of bangers. In Your Eyes is an all-timer, romantic AF.

Revising my review a few months later after listening to it again. I enjoyed this quite a bit more the second time around and appreciated it as more than just a fairly generic pop record. Sledgehammer slaps and Don't Give Up is pretty touching.

This is pure 80s comfort food for me, but every time I hear it I also wonder if it is anything more than comfort food. I love every track as well as the production… critiques of commercialism be damned, everyone needs a “Let’s Dance.” But unlike that album or other Gabriel tracks, there isn’t a moment that turns me inside out and make me wonder what life is all about. Some days that’s okay though. It’s a particularly good time for “Don’t Give Up” with our good friend Kate.

A few perfect songs and a few good to great songs. Overall a really good listen

Every once in a while, I find myself scratching my head as to why Peter Gabriel is such a celebrated artist. From now on, when this happens, I'll make sure to put this album on to remind myself why. While other pop stars shower themselves in excess and create the biggest, flashiest songs imaginable, Peter will often let the emotions bubble up slowly through understated lyrics and lush, sometimes ambient soundscapes. One might expect every track to be like "Sledgehammer" in terms of upbeat grooves and catchy hooks, which can definitely sour their opinion on this record, but I've come to appreciate the smaller moments on the record just as much as the bombastic moments. A lot of songs do wear out their welcome (only one song has a runtime below 4 minutes), but I would still recommend you give this album a shot to see just what ol' Peter Gabriel can do. Standout Tracks: Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up (featuring KATE BUSH!!!), In Your Eyes, We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) Score: B+

Interesting listen. Production is pretty dated, although that didn't worry me too much. I liked it, but it felt like it needed 1-2 more great songs to elevate it beyond just very good

Great record

I would usually say that I don't like Peter Gabriel, but this album is great.

His most commercial album but still plenty of variety and artiness in these songs, and some real emotional pull to some of them

4.2

Such a smooth, consistent album, damn his style is amazing

Really nice

If there was like 25% less 80s cheese, it would be a 5

Sledgehammer is a great song Big Time is awesome Not convinced on Don't Give Up. Yeah it's a pretty good album, not entirely my cup of tea.

Good album, with some excellent tracks (Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, Big Time, We Do What We Are Told). The album gives me a post-war feel (one truth, one voice, one dream). Second album in a row produced by Daniel Lanois. The previous was U2, which sounded over produced, like all the interesting rough edges & idiosynchonies had been removed. Here the production is much more in the service of the music. Has the most 80s possible bass sound.

peter “phil collins” gabriel

As with the last Peter Gabriel album I was assigned, it was much better than expected. Enjoyed this one.

Cool

very funky and 80s, i like it

Kate Bush whispering positive affirmations in your ear while you shovel the driveway is a fantastic way to begin a day

This is just joyous fun, classic 80s brilliance. Sledgehammer is a pop masterpiece and the rest of the album is cracking too.

It won’t let me rate for some reason but I give this a 4 it’s very good

This was so fun and dancey, amazing drums and peter gabriel's voice is really smooth... loved kate bush on this

Took a while to get used to Peter's voice on "Red Rain", but I really enjoyed the energy coming from the loops on this. Also, Kate Bush! Highlights include "That Voice Again" and "In Your Eyes". Least favourite was probably "Big Time", but still a very enjoyable song.

Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: This album is emotional architecture. Every song feels carefully built but still human, warm, and searching. It is pop with depth and patience. Favorite Track: In Your Eyes. Earnest, massive, and quietly overwhelming.

Really lovely album. I hadn't heard it, but really there wasn't a song on there I wanted to skip. I liked a lot of the instrumentation choices as well. 3.75/5

Red rain vind ik tot nu toe prima maar niet heel bijzonder. wow best een lekker baslijntje in ene. Sledgehammer is gewoon een banger. Don't give up: wel raar dat op spotify kate bush niet wordt gecredit. Aan het einde wel weer een lekker baslijntje. Verder vrij saai. That voice again: is wel leuk Mercy street: niets van onthouden Big time: is echt een banger We do what we're told: best cool, bijna een soort interlude. Ook een soort pink floyd vibes. This is the picture: het voelt alsof je ergens naar toe bouwt maar uiteindelijk komt dat niet. In your eyes: klinkt echt als een classic peter gabriel nummertje. goede fade out 3.5 sterren

Great album!! I didn't know Peter Gabriel so this album has been such a big surprise to me. His music reminds me of Phil Collins'.

This album is a classic, perhaps, Peter Gabriel's most well known album. Peter Gabriel is a master craftsman working with top-notch musicians to create a masterpiece. The only thing keeping this from being a 5 are two songs I'd skip toward the end: "We Do What We're Told" and "This is the Picture." Every other song is still a delightful surprise. Just listening to the bass lines alone, gives insight into song structure.

Lowkey lush.

I'd heard half of this album on the radio over the years, but this whole album is fantastic!

This is a classic for me, has been part of my library since it was released so there's nothing new for me. Really great album.

7/10 cool album i would’ve been obsessed with if i was a teen in the 80s

Didn’t realize he sang In Your Eyes!

Ótimo Álbum. Gostei muito de ''Mercy Street''. Destaco também ''This Is the Picture'' e ''Red Rain''. 4/5

Not many songs but 80% are good

super vibey and 80s, which i’m such a sucker for. got a good kick out of “that voice again”. also “in your eyes” HITS EVERY TIME. really such a more innovative and out-there album than i expected or knew about.

Pretty dang good. Is the optimal listening experience for this album walking through a mall in the late ‘80s? Not quite my thing to intentionally reach for, but I will admit this is at or near peak for its era of whatnot.

Brilliant album. Red Rain was a great opener. Some of the production is a little dated, on Big Time for example. Overall a great listen, somewhere between a 4 and a 5.

bikaç tane şarkıyı sevdim şarkıların uzun olmaları da hoşuma gitti. don’t give up’ı sevmedim ama süper bi başlangıç oldu benim için bu albüm

Good

An album whose singles were inescapable in my youth, it was interesting revisiting this after all this time. One the one hand, it is an incredible amalgam of pop, art rock, and world music influences - a striking yet accessible artistic achievement. It's also quite life-affirming in message, exuding warmth and positivity. And the bangers, with the benefit of distance, are superb - "Red Rain", "Sledgehammer", "Big Time", "That Voice Again", and others. But it falls just below a 5* for me because the 80s production and influences do give it a bit of a dated, "frozen in time" feel, and the record lacks a bit of overall coherence, feeling more like a string of singles amidst some more ambient and reflective passages. That said, I enjoyed revisiting this much more than I expected.

very enjoyable, wish more 16 notes and energy was thrown in though, amazing singing and songwriting

The moment the album started to lose me, I got hit with In Your Eyes. Are you kidding me man? This shit is a classic! Let me grab the boombox to hold over my head!!

An album with lots of range: a fun smash ("Sledgehammer") and a sorrowful ballad ("Don't Give Up"). This album is certainly "Big Time" and packed with really fine stuff. Top tracks: "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," "In Your Eyes," "Don't Give Up"

--Red Rain...good opener --Sledgehammer...classic --Don't Give Up...Kate Bush. So hot right now. a little schmaltzy --That Voice Again...fits the vibe but is missing something --Mercy Street...somewhat sinister --Big Time...heavy synth groove --We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)...did you get abducted by aliens again, Pete? --This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)...kind of an improv feel. not a fan --In Your Eyes...*raises boombox*

So good!

Listened to whilst taking Christmas decorations down 😞 Favourite song: Sledgehammer

Enjoyed more than I thought I would!

Quintessential 80’s rock sound. Love the incorporation of all these different instruments and sounds. Feels like a diary, 100% Peter Gabriel. 8/10

Near perfect album

Sledgehammer, very 80s techno, magical tone piano, powerful dry vocals. So far my favorite song. His voice is very strong yet it’s almost dry, kind of addicting. Beautiful, deep lyrics and there’s a lot of passion in his voice while he delivers them. That voice again has a great and musical background and there’s lyrics are sweet but about longing, you can feel it from it his voice too. His song intros are so soothing and build up an amazing jungle vibe, kind of reminds me of the lion king. Very nostalgic.

7/10

Great album. Sledgehammer obviously a classic. And having listened to the Strong Songs breakdown of In Your Eyes a while back I really appreciated that one. Overall a solid album.

Overall rating by me: 7/10 Songs added to the playlist: ,,Red Rain", ,,Sledgehammer" Notes: A mix of fast and slow-paced songs. Personally, I learn toward the ones that give me an energy rush - it's the ones I have added to the playlist.

owned this cassette when I was 12 years old. I had just gotten into music and was buying my own music. I went through all the stages as a young music fan. First, I just listened indiscriminately to whatever was on the radio. I still have no idea how I was introduced to music because, as far as I know, my mother hated any kind of music that wasn’t classical. But I clearly remember hearing pop music and country music growing up, either in the car or in the house. The second stage was to call and harass the local radio station to play John Anderson’s Swingin’ and Shelly West’s Jose Cuervo or whatever song I was nuts about. I also remember calling to request Shelly’s brother-in-law, David Frizzell, and his song, I’m Gonna Hire a Wino. The third stage was recording songs off the radio onto blank cassette tapes and listening to them until you wore them out. The fourth stage was buying your own music on cassette. I bought So by Peter Gabriel because of Sledgehammer. Not only because it’s a great song, but because the music video was the greatest thing I’d ever seen in my life at that time. There was animation, clay, stop-motion, just all kinds of craziness. I thought all his songs must be this great and I bought the album or got it for Christmas, I can’t remember. Well, as a 12-year-old, I wasn’t ready for Peter Gabriel, as, even though So was his most commercial recording ever, he was a serious musician, and I would later find out, a weirdo. The album started off with Red Rain, which, of course, is about pollution. I didn’t pick up on that then, even though I remember in first grade, teachers were talking about the environment. They’d tell you to turn off the lights when no one was in the room and not run the water while you brush your teeth, not because it helps the environment, but because it saves you money. Digression coming, I think where the environmentalists really screwed up with “going green” was that they needed to couch it in saving money. No one cares about the health of the environment, we’re all a bunch of selfish idiots, but if I can save $5 a month on my electric and water bills by shutting off the lights and water when not in use, I’m not even going to brush my teeth anymore and I'll just sit in the dark. But, I digress. As I listen to So as an adult, I’m really into it. Sledgehammer is still great and then I hear Don’t Give Up, which I vaguely remember as a kid. It’s got everyone’s favorite 80s singer at the moment, Kate Bush, singing on it as well. Such a great song. It’s a song that can get you choked up, but also make you fighting mad. It’s also got a gospel music flow in the middle. Brilliant. Big Time was another single in the Sledgehammer vein, but not quite as good. It’s a banger and will get you groovin.’ The last single is probably Gabriel’s most well-known song ever, In Your Eyes, and I have no memory of it from my childhood. But now, everyone knows it. The other songs are great, but whoever picked the singles picked the right ones. They are the highlight of the album. I’m not sure Gabriel ever made another commercial album and went back to just being a weird, experimental Shock the Monkey type rocker. In my opinion, you should listen to the album because it’s peak Gabriel and has at least three songs I think should be in everyone’s playlist, Sledgehammer, Don’t Give Up, and In Your Eyes.

love it. another banger or two could bump up the score easy. In Your Eyes is evergreen but That Voice Again i really really enjoyed. like a 4.49/5

Rating: 8/10 Incredibly top notch 80’s production plus some great pop rock songwriting makes this a really fun listen. It’s just got a great atmosphere. Starts and ends really well with Red Rain/Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes but the rest maintains a pretty high quality

Great album, a little whispy sometimes which isn't my favorite but otherwise super solid 7.8/10

Got some jimmy jams on here. 7 wizards out of 10 kizzards

Banger album. Half the tunes were hits. There is no doubt this belongs on the list. This isn't something I'm going to put on often but for the album of the day it's solid.

So many incredible songs but overall the album doesn’t wow me enough.

What a solid album from Peter Gabriel. We have our usual aspects from Gabriel in So: descriptive lyrics, gentle voice, extended instrumentals, and world music. Including African music into his music isn't new to Gabriel, but I find that So is more subtle than previous albums. I'm guessing with Paul Simon's Graceland's release the year prior to So, Gabriel's approach became more nuanced, but I think the result is more powerful than otherwise. "In Your Eyes" is, of course, Gabriel's magnum opus and a great example of how African music and voices enhance an already good song. (There is a beautiful live rendition of this song by Peter Gabriel and Sevara Nazarkhan.)

"So" is the result of Peter Gabriel's established art rock roots merged with a world music soundscape. The world music is rather subtle here, but it truly does dance across the entire album, elevating it at every turn. Thus came about somewhat of a rebirth for Peter Gabriel, as well as his most commercially successful album. Each song stands on its own two feet, and yet the songs all come together so cohesively to form a delightful album. Also, I can't review this album without calling out the album's closing song, "In Your Eyes". This is easily Peter Gabriel's best song, and is one of the most beautiful songs, period -- the lyrics, the percussion, the background vocals, the pacing, all of it. This is a beautiful album full of beautiful songs, and I'm so glad it has a place on this project.

My second Peewee Gabey (Peter Gabriel) album on this odyssey (journey), and the first (first) to feature songs by him that I know (bro). When I was a lad I didn't like that Sledgehammer song, or the video. All that jerky, smiley stop motion stuff gave me anxiety. Anxiety that a Gabriel was going to leap out at me from behind the sofa, juddering, grinning, and possibly nude. Plus I preferred the song Sledgehammer from the show, Sledgehammer. But I've always loved Don't Give Up, the song and the video. I recorded the song onto cassette from somewhere and used to sing both parts, hoping that Kate Bush would leap out at me from behind the sofa, dancing, doe-eyed, and possibly nude. The rest of the album I don't believe I was familiar with. It features the best and worst of the 80s, along with a dose of weirdness. In total it feels like a three star album to me, but I like it more than the other Peetay Gabe-ree (PG) album I heard, so I suppose that makes it a four (4).

This was a fun listen, very snappy pop. I like the singer's voice, but the whole thing does feel a bit old fashioned. This is the kind of album that if my parents had played it a bunch when I was growing up then I'd probably really love it now, but since I wasn't indoctrinated into it it seems kind of dated to me now

its my first time listening to it (obviously i've heard individual songs somewhere before). its fantastic. the production feels super 80s but weirdly it sounds really fresh. the bass in particular sounds rich and the jangly guitars make it feel very crispy. perfect combination of dance poppy tunes with introspective ballads (great lyrics too). great stuff, im going to give it a lot of relistens.

Great album! It has 9 tracks, each of which was amazing with no skips. I personally would not add this to any playlist, but it's nice to listen to if I wanted something more old school. Early on the album, I would have thought that Sledgehammer would have been my favorite, but Mercy Street is actually my favorite with its calming instrumental. Don't Give Up is my second favorite, with Sledgehammer coming after that in third place.

I really enjoyed listening to this album

I didn't love it back in the day - too poppy. Its aged well in my eyes (see what I did there)

Such a great album! "In Your Eyes" is in my top 10 of 80s "love" songs.

Hmmm. Its very very 80's. Too much 80's i think. The opening 3 songs (Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don’t Give Up) are fab - Red Rain was new discovery and I really liked it. The rest of the album is a bit blander and smothered by the 80's vibes. He's a local boy so gets a bonus point - but not sure I can give it a 5 based on 3 great tracks and living down the road.

Had not actually listened to the album before. Though it was obviously made in the 80s, I didn't think it was overly dated. A stripped down, more modern approach to the album would be good, though. Some of his big songs make for a decent album.

It sounds like a Phil Collins album but different at the same time

Very dated, very 80's, but if it sounds this good, I'm not complaining. Faves: Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, That Voice Again, In Your Eyes

In Your Eyes could be one of my fave love songs of all time. Opening 3 songs on the album are great too. 4/5.

Sledghammer

Am holding off on a five as I like his earlier albums more. But this is a fantastic album

'So' incredibly close to perfect. Peter Gabriel's defining album, complete with commercial friendly earworms as well as off-beat experiments. The front half is full of bangers, but the back half is a little uneven. Very high highs and very middling lows. So is part of my semi-regular rotation, so I was very excited when it came up, but it does force me to admit that it is not a perfect album.

top 3: - don’t give up (ft. kate bush) - mercy street - in your eyes an album that is very hard to pick a top 3 for, the only songs i didn’t vibe with as heavily were ‘we do what we’re told’ and ‘this is the picture’ not that they’re bad songs but the other songs on the album overshadowed them.

Estaba piola, me gustaron la mayoría de canciones sledgehammer va a estar en mi rotación diaria, red rain y in your eyes tambien estaban muy buenas, don't give up me agrado pero lo siento como algo mas motivacional que como una canción para escuchar casualmente, buen album me hace querer escuchar más de peter gabriel.

Great album. Had not listened to it in years, forgot how much I like it.

The songs that are great are really great, and there are several. The ones that aren’t great are still really pretty good. Sledgehammer and Big Time are particular favorites.

i rly liked this album, i love in your eyes and ive been meaning to listen to this album for a long time, id never heard the song mercy street but it was maybe my fav on the album behind in your eyes. great album

VIBES!!!

Fantastic

Álbum muito agradável com ótimas músicas. Roseselsa Quietsea II.

Hadn't realized there were so many hits consolidated onto this one album. Peter Gabriel has an awesomely distinctive voice, even if he seems to be a weird off putting dude. Red Rain, That Voice Again, and Mercy Street are cool tracks I haven't heard before. We Do What We're Told and This is the Picture are kinda dumb and bring down what could've been a dark horse 5 star album.

питер хорош, люблю и в дженезис и соло

Excellent 80s pop that gets a little too Sting-esque at times.

This was kind of great actually - I haven't listened to a lot of Peter Gabriel, but I enjoyed the journey this album took me on. Where it gets let down a little for me is pop drum/synth vibes, which I guess is just 'of its time', but I'd be super interested to know how these songs would translate as acoustic versions. Fave track: Mercy Street

It's so fun! Easy listening.

Favorite Track: Sledgehammer

Niiiiice 80's vibes. Surely if I was a youngster in the 80s id listen do this every night out. It has some very interesting tunes, but also some different experimental ones. Nice to hear those basslines. Highlight: In your eyes

Definitely recognized his voice! Some solid songs on this album.

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. There is a real sheen to the whole album. Danielle Lenois is a genius.

Sledgehammer forever. Was super happy to find that every song is equally well produced and written (although Robert sledgehammer prob still reigns supreme). Awesome album.

Forgot how good most of the tracks were...

i had high expectations of this album from when i saw it was matty healy's favourite album, and to be fair it did live up to those expectations. LOVED the surprise kate bush feature. didn't love all of it but i thought it was mostly brilliant and super well produced.

If you don’t like Sledgehammer you are lying to yourself and others. The rest of the album is fine to good, with a low point at This Is the Picture. Overall strong but buoyed up by the one indelible banger

Really nice pop album. Outside the hits, its still fun, catchy, and well written.

Good to hear this straight through

Sledge hammer er jo en banger. Godt produsert album, men det er litt for bright. Åttitallet som hjemsøker. 80 tallet er ikke helt mitt tiår, men hvis bare alle 80 tallsalbum hadde vært som dette, da hadde det vært et litt annet tiår.

# Playlist Track - Sledgehammer # Notes - Pretty good album! I love the opening, but "Sledgehammer" is *definitely* the shining star here. - Bonus: If you haven't seen the music video for it, you're in for a treat! - I've been *fascinated* with this music video since school. It's amazing what they've done with the technology of the time (my time, lol). - Still, solid track.

I immediately liked the first song. Such an epic way to open an album, this rarely happens to me but for an ‘80s song this managed to impress me a lot. It has tight production, a good amount of groove, and enough atmospheric layers for me to enjoy. To me this feels ahead of its time. The level of production is almost surreal for 1986. There’s a warmth to it even when Gabriel is diving into heavier emotional areas. In some ways it almost reminds me of an older version of Radiohead, especially in how the electronics are used to build that atmospheric, layered ambience. It also reminds me of Pink Floyd, Phil Collins, and Genesis, only for me to then find out that Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel were actually bandmates in Genesis. “Don’t Give Up” features Kate Bush, which is so cool too :) Most songs in the album are my favourites! Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, That Voice Again, Mercy Street, Big Time, We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37), This is the Picture (Excellent Birds), In Your Eyes

Red Rain Sledgehammer Don't Give Up Mercy Street Big Time In Your Eyes

Great album! Good vibes and the last song is such an ear worm for me.

Äh, det här var nirr! Tycker inte alls det är så jävla daterad produktion. 4 dansande grillade kyllingar

A contender for best album of the 80s, even if there are a couple of duds toward the end of this.

Efter att ha kontemplerat till PG har min känslighet fördubblats. Jag har alltid fnyst åt hans soloprojekt tidigare pga att genesis var så bra. Huge mistake. Tony Levin på fretless bass 🤤

Another lost 80's record

Great album, I have listen to it many times in the past

okay i liked this! it was fun! i mean like two songs were a lil ?? but i enjoyed it and i enjoyed the lore juyeon told me about him. good job peter!!!! I ALSO KNOW IN YOUR EYES I AM NOT THAT MUCH OF A MUSICAL FAILURE HELL YEAH

Vabbè peter gabriel grande voce (phil collins merda). Oltre a sledgehammer che è iconica mi è piaciuta molto don’t give up con kate bush

It's a pretty fun listen but I am partial to 80's pop

I enjoyed this at a 3 or 4 and appreciate how good it is at a 4 or 5. Each song sets its own feeling, story, has its own uniqueness. Yet the album blends to its own identity too.

Very 80s but some classic songs and amazing bass

Gabriel seems to have ditched more of his stranger ideas and comes out with a great mid-80's pop album. It still has the weirder elements here for his fans, but you have to peek into the darker corners. Best Tracks: Red Rain; Sledgehammer; Big Time

This took me to another dimension.

I was skeptical of this record because it was so omnipresent in my early 20s. Pleasantly surprised at how good it is. The playing - particularly the bass - is excellent and the songs are for the most part strong.

- falando em grandes letristas, temos um dos maiores de todos os tempos - não conheço a discografia solo dele, mas esse álbum parece um apelo ao mercado brit pop com influências de soul e ritmos africanos - é uma experiência, cada música da um tom diferente e gera imersão, com momentos descontraídos e reflexivos

4/5

Oh good a Peter Gabriel album! I'm biased here I think I own or owned all of his stuff. I have listened to it so much I have heard these track in years yet knew the beats and lyrics. I'm in the bag. The 80's were weird for music a lot going on and Gabriel used a lot of the idea of art and music for his stuff. He used a lot of layers and influences in his music. Performance art at his shows. The man's music has an interesting mix of drama and freedom in his music. Some of it feels heavy yet you aren't burdened by it. Great album. I hope some of his later stuff is on the list. I have been listening to his stuff recently anyway but it's enjoyable coming across an artist you have many great experiences with already.

Much better than expected.

Day 68 7/10 Highlights Red Rain Sledgehammer Big Time

1 extra star for "In Your Eyes"

Nice blend of pop, rock and some soulful lyrics. At times it can be really emotionally charged and then at other times its just funky and smooth. I liked the number with Kate Bush. But also loved the more upbeat tracks like Sledgehammer. Vocally very strong and unique sounding. I love the layered backing vocals, almost another instrument. So many textures, really produced to an exceptional level. Every little detail is spot on, especially listening with headphones. Also love the attention to subtle rhythms. Even on slower tracks the percussion and bass keep songs alive. Enjoyed. Favourite track - In Your Eyes. 8/10

I can see why this is a must listen. It sounds gorgeous.

I love this album.

Had a few great songs but a lot of it jst soundes ok

M'ha encantat sa cançó amb sa que obri s'album (Red Rain). M'ha duit es bon humor, super top.

Great album that I didn’t appreciate in the 80s because I was a kid.

Super enjoyable and easy to get into, like the quality of these songs is quite undeniable. Peter Gabriel's vocals are super powerful, he really makes you feel every words he's saying. It's the sort of music that just takes you on a journey to its own world. Sledgehammer is so cool, sounds so massive and funky, the grooves are crazy and has an amazing triumphant energy to it. Contrarily, Don't Give Up is beautifully gentle and minimal, but doesn't need much except for the strong vocals and atmosphere. The bass outro is really cool too. I love the kinda mysterious vibes of Mercy Street and the instrumentation is so lush and serene. Big time is so funky, just made me wanna damce even tho I was dead from hiking while listening. We Do What We're Told is a decent closer but not super exciting. Really like this album, it's a great expression of romance and romantic struggles and is a great contributions to one of the most consistent discographies I've heard.

My first touch to Peter Gabriel's music. "Red Rain" is a powerful start to an album with a lot of energy that gets you hyped up. The first song with the beginning of "Sledgehammer" really feels like the album building up. I love the bass/guitar in that song. Such an uplifting song that just grabs you and you get so drawn to the instrumentals. So many levels to it as well! An almost perfect song. Kate Bush is great in the next song "Don't Give Up". After two massively energetic songs this is where you just close your eyes, calm down and enjoy the heavenly sounds. The bass in the end is amazing. The songs fade away making space to the next one. Ok in "That Voice Again" the energy is back. The bells in "Mercy Street" are hypnotic. Sort of a spooky and melancholic atmosphere. (Unsurprisingly) energy is back with "Big Time"! I love that none of the songs sound similar to each other. Not at all surprised this album was huge. I am not even sure how to describe "We Do What We're Told" or "This Is The Picture". I like them a little less than the other ones. "In Your Eyes" sounds like a celebration and has this Lion King soundtrack vibe to it.

Solid album from Peter Gabriel considering the others I’ve gotten on this list were disappointing. I was glad to finally get one of his albums where I actually knew a song. Outside of Sledgehammer, I didn’t really know the rest, but I enjoyed it overall

Pretty solid

Great album. More than a few quintessential 80's classics on here.

I mean, come on...

Banger.

Very 80s sounding but not in a bad way. The production was absolutely massive on some of these songs (there must have been dozens of instruments playing on "Sledgehammer") but also totally sparse in others. "This is the Picture" was striking in relation to the rest of the album. Overall it was fun to listen to, but the hits do really overshadow the rest of the album for me. His voice honestly sounds a lot like Phil Collins to me, which is funny since they both were in the same band before.

He’s got a good voice and it’s generally soothing and pleasant with a few standout bangers. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are excellent

Not only one of the better eighties "pop" albums in this list, I think it's the first I would rate more than 3 stars, but if only for the song "Don't give up" I would rate it 3 stars. Add to that "In your Eyes", a beautifully written love song, the hits "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" and last but not least "That Voice Again" that essentially asks: How do we overcome that persistent inner critic - that voice of judgment that was likely instilled in us during childhood - to achieve genuine human connection and self-acceptance? Absolute brilliant! Unfortunately, not all the songs on this album share this sheer brilliance, therefore 4/5.

I've never listened to this album before, but I've listened to other Peter Gabriel albums. So, this one is great, yet not his best project. I've liked it a lot. As always, Peter Gabriel explores different genres, sounds, even cultures, and at this he is excellent. This album is exquisite, with a lot of textures and layers. It is delicious. But, yet, I get to the conclusion that it's great but not excellent. Although, of course, this one is an album to listen to, and I will revisit it more than once.

Never listened to this before and now I want to listen to more albums of his.

Good vibe, but a bit generic

Really like this. I know he was in Genesis and of Sledgehammer but a lot of this stuff is new to me. It's punchy with an 80s feel. I like it a lot

A staple for 80's pop, with bangers and classics. A few more iconic moments and I'd rate it 5 stars. A lot of people draw a comparison of Phil Collins, and of course it makes sense. I lean more to the side of "it's kinda different, actually". And to my ears it is, almost like two sides of the same genre. I like Phil Collins more, but Peter Gabriel is a genius, and this album stands the test of time.

A bunch of great songs, but pulled down by This is the Picture which should have been cut.

Beautiful singing from Peter Gabriel, the melodies are great as well. I really liked the bass tone especially on sledgehammer.

Enjoyed but don't feel a need to re-listen

Feels like I’m in top gun or a love themes action movie or shit you would hear at a 1980’s prom

Perfect

Honestly this album grew on me more than I expected it would - it was a shaky start but overall a great listen!

In Your Eyes is the quintessential example of corny 80s music that I love. It’s a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. Red Rain/That Voice Again also scratches that itch, and bonus points for the Kate Bush feature in Don’t Give Up. I feel like I might in the minority for liking this album, but it’s good for me bro…

Weirdly good, although it feels very much of its time.

Loved this from the off, 4

I almost gave it 3, but on second listen this is great.

Aunque me gusta Peter Gabriel, nunca le he tenido la adoración que al parecer el mundo entero le tiene. So me pareció un muy buen álbum, pero veo dificl que lo busque para escucharlo completo. Regresaría por dos o tres hits que vienen por ahí, y ya. Supongo que tengo que escucharle más discos, pero tampoco es algo que me quite el sueño.

It is not difficult to see why this album entered the cultural zeitgeist in the 80s. Red Rain opens the album with the vigor of a raging storm. Sledgehammer needs no introduction: seductive, playful, and endlessly groovy. Kate Bush elevates Don't Give Up with her heartbreaking vocal performance. That Voice Again balances complexity with pop appeal. Mercy Street is pensive but rather boring. Big Time picks up the tempo again but doesn't reach the highs of Sledgehammer. We Do What We Are Told is an interesting interlude but doesn't work as a standalone song. This Is the Picture is exemplary of Gabriel's more avant garde work. In Your Eyes is nothing short of euphoric with Youssou N'Dour lending his voice like a ray of light piercing the sky. What a listen.

Funnily enough, given my general distaste for the 80's, this is probably my favorite Gabriel release, solo or Genesis. 3.5/5

This is a fantastic album which was on constant repeat in my first car sophomore year of high school. Red Rain is an incredible opener. Sledgehammer and Big Time were then and still are incredible ear-worms you can’t help but tap to. Don’t Give Up reminds me of 1980s social issues - oil spills, famine in Africa…Kate Bush sounds great. The ringing tap In Your Eyes still bothers my ears but the song is great. The album drags a little in the middle: Mercy Street, We Do What Told and Picture by overall a solid listen. 4/5

This is the sort of album where I don’t know if I like it because it’s good or because I’m so familiar with it.

Upbeat soulful full of 1980's pop

A very good album that falls short for me personally due to taste. Peter Gabriel is an excellent songwriter and this album has plenty of good tracks, but I wasn't into how 80s synth-poppy the overall sound was. Could have done with a heavier track or two, but that doesn't take away from how good the album is as a whole. The ballad tracks in particular are very strong. Top tracks: Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, In Your Eyes

Great listen. Really hadn’t played any of his songs, only remember on the radio or MTV. Great voice, energy, horns. The hits were especially good to hear.

Не идеально, но хорошо Для фона во время ночной городской прогулкий идëт хорошо! Но на фоне всего альбома понравилась песня Sledgehammer

Pleasant

This is SHOCKINGLY good. I have never listened to a Peter Gabriel album, and could have only named Solsbury Hill as his. I would have said In Your Eyes was Phil Collins, and Sledgehammer could have been any number of yacht rockers. Hell, if you had put this album on without telling me, the majority of the time I would have thought I was listening to Sting. All that to say, what a nice surprise! 2 big hits with Sledgehammer as track 2 and In Your Eyes kicking off the B side. Kate Bush shows up on track 3 which was so pleasant. So many of the unknown-to-me tracks are such a soundscape. Again. I am shocked. This is great.

Ég hef ekki gefið Peter Gabriel nógu mikinn sjéns. Ég þekki nokkur af lögunum hans en ekki mikið meira. Þetta var virkilega góð plata. Ég dansa á línunni að gefa henni fjórar eða fimm stjörnur en þessi fer pottþétt aftur í spilun

absolute classic.

Pretty good pop album that exudes an 80's vibe. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are great tracks.

Enjoyable, a bit cliche feeling. So so 80s… So 80s.

It's amazing how many long standing hits are in this album. It's almost like a greatest hits collection but yet released all together. Big Time was surprisingly tonally distinct from all the other tracks, which was odd. I'm tossing between 4 and 5, but edging on 4 because it came across as a collection of pop singles instead of a single holistic and cohesive album, which is my preference.

Well written, nicely produced and engineered. A unique pop record. Also, anything with Kate Bush in it will always get plus points from me. Fave song on this listen: Don't Give Up

Tis simply a vibe.

Love this album. Iconic tracks. Falters a bit in the last couple of tracks but most of it's a banger for sure.

typical Peter Gabriel. enjoyed it

Some fantastic songs and a couple of ok ones that felt more like filler

This dude is weird but he can write a pop song. It'll be a weird pop song, BTWs.

I enjoyed this much more than I should have

Highlights: Sledgehammer, Big Time, In Your Eyes. In a nutshell: "this will be my testimony" Out of all the albums Gabriel has released in his life, “So” is the one that he will be remembered for. Not just for the music videos. It’s progressive yet accessible. Art pop with soul. Like Talking Heads before him, Gabriel embraced world-beat but in a way that didn’t misappropriate the sounds. To quote Jon Pareles of The New York Times "[he] doesn't just add on African drums or Indian violin to ordinary songs; they are part of the foundation." Innovative at time of release; a legacy recording for today. Overall: 7/10

Quite interesting, more artsy-pop than your typical 80s Pop, even with the typical 80s production on many songs. Quite like it

Surprisingly good. Versatile. Great sounding songs with important messages. I had heard of Gabriel setting up Womad (a biggie!) and knew he was with Genesis. So... I've decided he's ok 👍

85/100.

Solid 80s music, love in your eyes already, but was surprised how good the rest of the album was.

Funky! Surprisingly so. A little experimental. High 80s sound. Some afro beats in there? In Your Eyes is a long loved favorite track for me.

So it ends up I was a lot more familiar with Peter Gabriel than I thought. A lot of songs on this album that I was already fond of. I really enjoyed getting his music in the full context of a curated album. I love an album that starts with a bang and Red Rain is a fucking great opening song. Has me ready for the rest of the album. Then leading into Sledgehammer is a great 1-2 punch. Ending an album is equally as important and In Your Eyes is a fantastic closer. One thing notable to me was the emphasis on the percussion throughout the album. The drums give the melodic passionate songs their power and the upbeat songs their energy. I'm not usually one to take notice on intentional instrumentation but this was pleasantly obvious during my listen.

Pop Can Still Matter.Pop music doesn't have to be derivative. It can use interesting arrangements inspired by other cultures. It can break out of the two guitars, bass, and drums format. It can have lyrics that hint at a deeper meaning but leave it to you to work out what that is. Some artists understand that mass appeal and depth are not mutually exclusive — they’re just harder to do together. But when you pull it off? You get albums like this. The hits are there, "Don't Give up", "Big Time" and "Sledgehammer" all deserve a deeper listen than just having them on your car radio. This pop, but the best version of pop.

A bit como Tarzan. Me gustó.

These are good quality songs, but they’re not for me. I’ll listen to the final song, but semi-ironically. Nothing against him, he’s just a little goofy and hasn’t done enough to distinguish himself from Phil Collins. 4/5

Great opener, a really decent and varied record.

Про Гебріела я свого часу дізнався не як всі люди через Genesis, а з пісні Vampire Weekend. Власне не можу сказати, що прям дуже заслуховуюсь. Але So маю навіть на касеті, бо тут купа хітів та й принципі слабких пісень немає. Звук дуже приємний, бас по всьому альбому дуже крутий. Хороший приклад цікавого поп-альбому з 80х

Good album. Aged well and influential across a range of genres. Can see why it is iconic

Beautifully produced, middle-of-the-road rock music that I can't really fault in any way. For some reason it just doesn't appeal enough to want it in my collection though.

8/10

Great album. For me, his best.

Fabulous. Thoughtful lyrics and great production. This has aged well

It's giving Phil Collins, except.... I like it?

Great

Was quite looking forward to listening to this, enjoyed his other albums we've had. There is something about it that I really like, sounds weighty. Thought the opening track was probably the best. I obviously know sledgehammer, but it was a track we took the piss out of when I was in school so it's kinda going to be forever that. Don't give up is good too, hard not to be with Kate Bush. I think the album tailed off a bit after that. I did enjoy it though, but Peter Gabriel 3 is still my favourite. 3.5 might give it another go. This list has given me a liking of Peter though

Album slaps. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are classics obviously, but also really enjoyed That Voice Again and Big Time.

Another good one. Interesting sounds and lyrics. Another I’ll have to comb through deeper to listen for favorites.

Enjoyable.

It is rather fascinating that, among the gentlemen who have fronted Genesis, only Peter Gabriel is represented on this list. I doubt that people remember when Ray Wilson sang with the band for one album, but Phil Collins's tenure from the 1980s into the 1990s spawned some of their biggest hits. Not to mention, Phil's solo career was even more massive, particularly with his contributions to various movie soundtracks. Yet Peter gets all the representation here, not only as the first frontman for Genesis, but also boasting a more artistic and experimental solo career. That's not to say he couldn't enjoy success from a more accessible direction with his music, as would be the case with his fifth album, So. This is a progressive pop record where Peter took elements from soul and traditional world music to offer a more sensual and ethereal approach to his compositions. Opening with the strongly percussive crash of "Red Rain", running through cuts like his duet with Kate Bush, "Don't Give Up", his exploration of one's conscience, "That Voice Again", his minimal yet striking critique of Dr. Stanley Milgram's obedience experiment on "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)", the elegant triangle and flute texutres with whispered poetry on "Mercy Street", and the reworked "Excellent Birds" with the supple bassline and lower registers, Peter struck a balance between thought-provoking ballads and complex rhythmic sections. Of course, the song most people remember from this album that demonstrated this balance is "In Your Eyes", with the combination of arpeggiated guitar, light synthesizer flair, talking drum percussion, and contributions from Senegalese vocalist Youssou N'Dour that proved to be an excellent choice for blaring over the boombox in the serenade scene of the film Say Anything. Yet with all the praise I can give for this record, it does feel dated in places. Notably, with the more upbeat tracks "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time", they come off as the kind of cheesy 1980s dance funk that feels of its time. Not helping matters is how many sexual euphemisms Peter lays down on the former track, while the latter is a more palatable critique of the purveying yuppie culture as the decade went on. Overall, it was nice to see Peter Gabriel have his cake and eat it too, with the more accessible yet experimental work done on So. I can see how many would argue this is his best solo album, and as such, it served as a nice introduction to his output.

5 stars

I forgot how many hits are on this album!

the last minute and a half of Sledgehammer are worth 4 stars alone

Extremely well produced album. Its World genre influences are really a time capsule of the mod-80s, but isn't gimmicky here. Despite the upbeat nature of Big Time and Sledgehammer, this is a album you have to be in the mood for if you're going to listen in full. Mostly moody themes, and slower tempo music.

Not a huge Peter Gabriel fan, but this album is pretty undeniable. Five of the nine songs are solid hits (and deservedly so). Really great album.

Not normally a fan of that 80s sound, but this was good. I also never realized truly how much Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel sounded alike. Makes a lot of sense why he ultimately took over as lead for genesis.

I can dig it, but a lot of it does seem a bit adult contemporary/radio friendly mush. Most of the stars are for Sledgehammer.

This is not something I'd reach for every day, but I enjoyed. The hits are undeniable

It definitely sounds like something you’d play on your newfangled CD player to impress your guests at a 1980s dinner party, but those Yuppies weren’t wrong about everything. In a very 80s way, a lot of this slaps.

Love this album. It's like a greatest hits album except an actual album. Plus Kate Bush for good measure. All thriller no filler!

so

Pretty much a classic.

This is one of the first albums I ever bought for myself. Still a classic.

Fun

Gabriel devient ici plus pop, avec des passages funk et des cuivres, des claviers omniprésents, tout en continuant ses revendications, non sans humour. Son interprétation entière et dévouée confère à l'ensemble une sincérité qui le rend plus humain – et personnellement j’ai toujours adoré sa voix, beaucoup écouté cet album dans ma jeunesse.

Peter Gabriel expone en “So” la grandeza del pop/rock de los 80. Se trata de un disco construido a partir de una instrumentalización basada en sintetizadores, guitarras eléctricas, teclados, bajos y batería, todo ello con la profunda voz de Peter como protagonista. En lo lírico, el artista plasma el amor en su máximo esplendor en “In Your Eyes” , el concepto del suicidio en “Don’t Give Up”, junto con la inconfundible voz de Kate Bush –quién representa la luz frente a la oscuridad –. Por otro lado “Sledgehammer” explora la sexualidad en una canción llena de metáforas y dobles sentidos. En su conjunto, “So” es una obra que explora los sentimientos de Peter Gabriel tanto en lo lírico como en lo musical, donde explora el género pop/rock de la década de los 80, utilizando sonidos sintetizados que suenan intimistas y llevan al oyente a un paisaje sonoro único.

Oops forgot this one since it's been a few days. Easy listening with some sneaky jams

Yeah solid and enjoyable, few different moments but overall pretty great

ok. very much reflects mid to late 80's. In your eyes is obvious stand-out.

This is music that makes you feel things. Plus some pretty cool grooves.

Overall, a really solid album. Of course there are the well-known hits like "Sledgehammer" and "In Your Eyes," but "Don't Give Up" (with the incredible Kate Bush) and "Mercy Street" bring a quieter, softer feel, and the album is rounded out nicely with some synth pop/electronic fun stuff. Great listen start to finish.

Þægileg og góð plata hjá Pésa. Ákveðinn Phil Collins bragur og funky dæmi inn á milli.

Eitís Gabriel var ansi góður. Ótrúlega mikið af góðum lögum á þessari plötu, en það voru ekki síst myndböndin hans sem þóttu geggjuð í áttunni. Nostalgíu fjarki.

Wonderful. Perfect vacation pool soundtrack

Some of my favourite songs of his are on here (Red Rain) as well as a song I dislike (Don’t give up, I never liked it). A great album though, just a shame it’s so heavy on the synthesizers.

C’est drôle, ça ressemble beaucoup plus à Synchronicity des Polices que la moindre toune de Genesis. «This is what the 80’s does to a MF», amirite? Je dis pas ça en mal, au contraire, y’a une bonne balance entre le niveau de tracks catchy et mélencholo-sentimentale, en plus d’avoir un mix stellaire. À revisiter

I bought this back when it was released in '85 and this was Peter Gabriel's most successful and commercial album. Really hit MTV hard with a great accompanying videos for Sledgehammer and Big Time. Excellent supporting musicians too with Levin's bass really driving this record. Hardly a bad track in sight. So that's a 4.5/5 from me

Para mi es perfecto, más no obra maestra.

Pretty good. Took me a couple attempts to get through it but I enjoyed the songs and Peter Gabriel's very distinctive tone.

Pretty cool album, it was a chill listen and a real enjoyable one too

This was some 80s music if ever there was some. That’s not a bad thing. This album moved gracefully between different moods and styles in a way that was refreshing. It’s funny how much you can hear the Genesis and Phil Collins in this music that Gabriel wrote. I would give this one another play to catch some things I didn’t hear the first time around.

Sounds A LOT like Sting

Good emotive songs thx!

A favorite! Part of my teenage soundtrack.

Great stuff. Mid 80s but a distinct Pink Floyd influence mixed in.

3.5 Sledgehammer is a burner. A standout was the bass on Dont Give Up, had a great sound and took over the percussion parts of the song, pretty cool stuff. Overall I would say the almost all of the instmentals were pretty interesting, maybe just starting to sound a bit dated

Great great mix. The impressive videos that came out don't hurt my appreciation. Often haunting. An exemplary achievement.

I liked it! 4 stars

Rock, 1986 -> 4

A classic.

Love this album!!!! 4/5 #musicsky #albumsky #musicchallenge

What else can be said about this masterpiece?

Couple good tracks. Nice revisit Some haven’t aged well but Peter Gabriel is still rad

Let's be real, the singles are so, SO good. Fortunately the rest of the album holds up to this as well, this was a great listen all round. Also, did not expect a moody, mostly instrumental track about Stanley Milgram's obedience to authority experiment, but here we are i guess

Perhaps it is because I have heard "In Your Eyes" a million times but it is difficult to really say with confidence that (at least, as far as So goes,) Peter Gabriel succeeds in the realm of romantic ballads... That isn't to say that he is bad at gentle tunes because I do really enjoy "Mercy Street" and "Don't Give Up." Really great album :)

Still weird this made him a huge MTV star. In Your Eyes is amazing

Твёрдый середнячок - альбом звёзд не хватает, но слушать фоном приятно. 6,5 из 10.

Good variety of moods. I prefer the less funky songs, but I find This Is The Picture to be the weakest song. I find it unclear whether I should count that song though, because it wasn't on the original vinyl release, but it was on the cassette and CD. I guess most people count it, so it's a 4 for me.

Mans got a lot of Hits but this is maybe the quintessential album.

So... I've already had I (Car) and III (Melt) and after a decade of experimental art pop, Gabriel seemingly says "fuck it, how about some dirty commercialism instead?". So... it produced monster single with an even bigger monster of an MTV video in "Sledgehammer" but I adore "In Your Eyes" and "Big Time" also, mainly the latter because it sounds like it was ripped from the Talking Heads. So what? So 80s.

I’ve got to admit that I had heard of Peter Gabriel but hadn’t heard any of his songs or albums. My first thought on listening to this album was that it sounded like Phil Collins… imagine my surprise when I did a little research and found that they were in Genesis together! Hoping my ignorance is forgiven by my age and the fact that I pieced them together from sound alone. In terms of the music itself, I found the drums especially strong in “Red Rain” which was a standout for me. I liked the funky elements of “Sledgehammer”, definitely feels classic 80’s. I thought “Don’t Give Up” was a nice change of pace, definitely showed range and solidified the album as solid rather than a few individual songs.

Hyped me up

The new wave anthems that sounded so good in my generic Walkman in 1986 like "Red Rain" and "That Voice Again" don't grab me anymore, but I am struck by what a grown-folks stone jam "Sledgehammer" still is. An updated remix of "Don't Give Up" would've been right on time with the recent Kate Bush renaissance. Peter Gabriel should have left "world music" for David Byrne to handle and just gone full R&B elder after this album.

If you wanted to distill what the ‘80s were like musically to someone who never experienced them, you could do worse than nominate Peter Gabriel’s “So.” The album was obviously huge, for starters, with several songs that received heavy rotation on radio and MTV. But it also encompasses a good span of the sounds and styles that defined the decade. There’s the anthemic, strident “Red Rain,” the tender ballads (“In Your Eyes” and “Don’t Give Up”), the blue-eyed soul of “Sledgehammer” and its pioneering video, and the Talking Heads-esque funk of “Big Time.” The synths, backing singers and glossy production are hallmarks of the era and keep everything on this side of accessible to wide audiences, even as Gabriel, like his peers Paul Simon and Sting, is indulging plenty of African and other global music styles and developing an interest in political and social activism. Regarding the non-hits, “We Do What We’re Told” brings some great aural textures but seems out of place on this album with its authoritarian subject matter, while “That Voice Again” is a dud and “This Is The Picture” sounds like a throwback to his prog-phase Genesis days.

Sledgehammer is an automatic extra star on top of whatever this album would have earned anyway.

As a kid, this was the only Peter Gabriel I really knew. And it was fine. Maybe overplayed in my limited exposure to music at the time. Later I began to explore a bit more of his work and eventually, a few decades later, I finally started understanding his full body of work. He absolutely belongs on this list. And this album sounds amazing even today.

Really good, even after all these years.

Never cared for whatever I heard on the radio but as a whole this album was quite good. Just needed some patience and a good set of headphones.

So amazing and so 80s.

Definitely an 80's album, there is not a song on here that you would confuse as a more modern track. Peter Gabriel definitely has a distinct voice and the music is very catchy. The second song, Sledgehammer, is listed as the most popular song on the album by YouTube Music plays, but it's one I'm honestly not familiar with. Red Rain and In Your Eyes are way more iconic to me and continue to get more play/pop culture reference so that's interesting to me. In Your Eyes always has been and always will be an absolute banger.

I remember Dad playing this in the car occasionally; I quite liked it then and quite like it now. Not sure this album is the front-to-back Peter Gabriel masterpiece I was hoping for, though, despite some notable big hitters in its ranks. Like other PG records the generator has thrown up the consistency isn’t quite there. To be fair though, several tracks are growers and I’m pretty confident they’d continue to grow with further listens. Also, who knows, without Sledgehammer perhaps there’d be no Wallace and Gromit, and what kind of world would that be?

Gabriel embraces his commercial side (which was always lurking) but still enough of his trademark sonic sensibilities to keep things interesting. Consistently good with some outstanding tracks and ace vocal collaborations with Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson. Is the production too Eighties? Can agree a bit in hindsight but would argue that So in part defined the sound of mid- to late Eighties records which makes it hard to criticise in that way. BTW it’s only 4 stars for me since it’s not as good as Peter Gabriel 3.