So

Good overall, liiked most of it.

He’s Ight 7/10

In your ass, I complete. Your ass, skeet skeet skeet. OH I can’t wait to be back inside your ass! 7/10

You feel the Red Rain pouring down. And the iconic music video of Sledgehammer.

Great album. totally 80s

Really well written and produced pop rock

55/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Melodic, sad, catchy. Peter Gabriel reminds me of my childhood as my dad would always play it. This is very nostalgic for me!

I really enjoyed this album. Sounded like an 80’s version of Dave Matthews

Good listen. Who doesn’t like sledgehammer?

4.2 one of his best imo, especially the live versions. fave songs: red rain, sledgehammer, mercy street, in your eyes

More quintessential, MTV fueled, 80's pop. This one is actually good though.

Gear: Hifiman Arya Mix (2012 Remaster): zupfender, goovy Bass echtes Highlight. (vielstimmige) Vocals mitreißend und angenehm. perfekt-warmes aber trotzdem detailreiches Mastering. Musik: Könnte ich jeden Tag hören (skippe dann aber eine Handvoll Filler). Wertung: 🔨🔨🔨🔨(🔨)/5

Plenty of hits, quite commercial and a little dated but overall a good album, not his best but solid

Well I was pleasantly surprised by this! I'm not a fan at all, but its a well made album that didn't bore me, and I enjoyed it much more than I thought! I few good tracks too :)

7.5/10 Another pleasant surprise, expected world music got progressive pop rock Excellent production throughout, high values and the electronic/synth elements were combined perfectly Guests were well deployed and stood out. Copeland, Bush, Rodgers in particular. Extremely 80s sound, but the production is so good that it stands above the crowd. Best: Sledgehammer

👍🏻

Great artist. Incredible album, not a bad song on the entire thing. A rarity.

No denying this album has a surprising number of hits from Gabriel. He also carves out a space in pop music that feels distinctive unlike the pure motown derived pop of bandmate Phil not that the two should be compared but interesting how he changed his approach and found success later. What's missing is the intensity and strange beauty of earlier down tempo ballads and narrative based explorations. The slow songs here mostly fall flat and stand in contrast to the upbeat ones. Mercy Street seems much less engaging than Big Time. I prefer the earlier weirdness on the first 3 albums to this successful foray into pop.

Eerste nummer is matig, maar daarna gewoon een sterk pop album met oa Sledgehammer en Dont give up.

One of the classics from the 80’s.

Childhood album- love

Nice 80s album, kinda gave me Phil Colin vibes

I often get the Genesis boys confused, but I generally like both of them. One of the only times I've actually seen Peter on camera outside of the wacky videos was during the 93 Grammys and he wore this big purple joker suit, so that's my mental image of him for better or worse. This familiar album has some hits. I don't understand how he can vocalize like he does while singing the words "Red Rain". It's an eerie tone/note...where does that grit come from!? "Sledgehammer" gets bonus points for the video,and is a great song. Thanks to the Kate Bush resurrection I could clearly identify her in the third track, which the song can be a powerful message and good to hear when you're down. But with practically every track running over 5 minutes the rest of the album can kind of drag on a bit until "In Your Eyes" which is a beautiful classic and helped solidify this as a solid 4+ Favorite track:"Sledgehammer" 4.4/5

"De het ja nödmal en richtige Nachname" - min Papi mega 80erjahr musig für mich don't give up sehr schön aber gad echli sehr langsam und lang für min gschmack me chan sehr wenig degege sege, d drums sind uhuere guet und de bass ghörsch immer wieder schön wie gseit, mengisch ischmer amigs echli sehr langsam aber es 4i hets verdient

I love this album. I was familiar with ~half the songs from long ago when I used to listen to the Secret World Live tour album. It's interesting to hear the original version of Don't Give Up, with Kate Bush instead of Paula Cole. The overall sound has some overlap with Paul Simon and (world) and Genesis/80's.

Manages to be a lot of the things that made 80's music great, while not feeling overly dated. Would be interested to see Peter and David Byrne talk, I feel like there's a lot of overlap in their sensibilities.

Dated in some places (That Voice Again is really bad), but surprisingly holds up overall (Sledgehammer, In Your Eyes, Red Rain.)

Amazing songwriting but so much symph which I’m not into.

Gabriel's music is sometimes a flat plain with great peaks - this album is more like a high plateau with peaks on it - I count 5 very good songs on here.

80-talet striikki jatkuu. balladeja paitsi gabriel (enkeli) osaa niitä tehdä ilman että happoräkää menee kurkusta alas.. nuorimies viaton kuvassa, ei niin sairas vanha hirmu mikä nykyään. ruma mies nykyään. mutta sisällä kaunis. tykkää maailman musiikista, mutta ei ilmeisesti suomalaisesta...... ei kuuluta maailmaan ilmeisesti.......... kiitti vaan niin vitusti... mercy street

4.3 - Gabriel’s masterpiece? His vocal chops are certainly better on this than any other project of his I’ve heard (see the sustained note at 3:51 on “That Voice Again”). Kate Bush drops in for a stunning cameo on “Don’t Give Up.” The dark, roiling atmosphere of this record gets eerier towards the middle of the second half, which I don’t prefer. But, “Sledgehammer” more than makes up for it in bounce and funk — among my favorite pop songs (and music videos) of the 1980s. And though “In Your Eyes” has lost its impact as a stand-alone radio hit, it sounds stunning as the closer for this expansive, impressive album.

Surprisingly enjoyable, some great tracks on here.

1) Red Rain- fine but skippable. 2) Sledgehammer- certified bop. I was vibing in my office big time. 3) Don't Give Up - A very nice song, Kate Bush makes it, apparently helped Elton John with sobriety 4) That Voice Again - Bring the pace back up, fine also. 5) In Your Eyes - This is the boombox song! Another bop 6) Mercy Street - depressing but pretty good 7) Big Time - woke me back up, incredibly 80s so I liked it 8) We Do What We're Told - A fine interlude but I skipped it 9) This is the Picture - The intro hooked me big time, bit too avant garde 7.5/10, a proper whiplash between sad and absolute bops. Worldbeat influence very on show which is very cool. Thanks Peter.

excellent!

Old classic that i became familiar with growing up, always enjoy it

A little too eighties but still iconic

Lotta cool synth sounds and African rhythms going on here. The handful of bangers all hit for me. Kate Bush's phrasing in her feature is inspired.

In my head it's only 3.5 because I had to listen to Kate Bush

Sledgehammer is life

Solid album. Not a huge fan of sledgehammer considering it's relative popularity, but really good album.

Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, and In Your Eyes; wow. Only a couple "misses". 4/5

I totally enjoyed it. It is an album that I keep coming back to.

Solid album with the exception of big time.

Great album from a great voice.

Solid album. A bit slow at times, but I did really like when the songs picked up. Plus there were lots of cool, unique sounds that kept things interesting.

1ST off i am biased. This is my absolute favorite era of music. It is so nostalgic for me and i love the production. Always so grand, treble-ey, compressed drums, i just love it. easy 4/5.

Me gustó la presencia y la técnica vocal, me parece un excelente cantante. El álbum está muy bien estructurado y me parece bueno. Aunque no es el estilo de música que me gusta me parece un álbum genial.

great cheesy 80's pop

The Best! Takes me back to middle school and Highschool!! I can remember staying up late watching MTV and these videos!

Great album.

Far from the prog of Genesis, Gabriel had really honed in his pop chops to the point where someone listening along kept asking if I was sure that it wasn't Phil Collins playing.

What the fuck is this, I mean seriously? I like it.

The slow songs were quite strange but all the upbeat songs were absolute bangers!

It’s not really something I jam to but I enjoy it a lot? Idk it’s more of a 3.7

4.4 This is a really good album. A lot of really good songs.

Ok, so I just found out that Peter Gabriel started out with Genesis before going solo, the bad that Phil Collins drummed/sang in before also going solo. My 80s music constellation is becoming more connected. “In Your Eyes” is a fantastic song, very popular. But “Big Time” was my favorite from the album. Had a hard time not busting a move in the office. Songs like this are the best thing to come from the 80s (along with Star Wars). I think this album gets 4 stars.

This album was fabulous. You can definitely tell the Genesis/Phil Collins influence but since I like that, I liked this. Dont give up was a stand out for me, something about the melody and harmony of the first half really tickled something in my brain. I want to go for 5 stars but there were a few songs in the second half of the album that didnt really do it for me. 4.5 stars

Pretty solid album. The songs were a little lengthy. However, since the album only has 9 songs, that didn't really bother me. Peter Gabriel has an amazing an outstanding voice

Quiet chill pop/rock

I WANNA BE YOUR SLEDGEHAMMER

I give it 4 stars, Sledgehammer is a classic, and the video was impressive at the time of release.

i like Peter Gabriel, my father used to listen to him often

Very solid, definitely the best from this week. Honestly I would have given this album a 4 star even if all the other songs on it were purely mid because In Your Eyes is just that good. Thankfully the other songs were very nice to listen to. There was a nice mix of poppy stuff and then more relaxed and mellow songs such as Mercy Street. Mr. Gabriel has a very lovely voice and this was a very lovely album. In Your Eyes is the second best song we've heard so far behind Layla.

great album-Red Rain is a fantastic track. wonderful building sound & emotion. good to hear the rawness in his voice & it's not overly stylized or autotuned.

A diverse album when it comes to the tempo of the songs. I especially enjoyed the more energetic tracks like Sledgehammer and Big Time. I also liked the hypnotic nature of This Is The Picture.

80s synth rock, love it. Gives vibes of films you’d watch with your parents in the 90s 00s in the living room on free tv

Do you fall on the side of Team Peter or Team Phil? Phil has always given me the creeps a little bit. I think he dances weird and it makes me uncomfortable. I’ve preferred the Peter albums of Genesis, so I’m excited to listen to a solo album of his in full. Songs I already knew: Sledgehammer, In Your Eyes Favourites: In Your Eyes I didn’t actually know In Your Eyes until I heard the cover by Ninja Sex Party, but what a nice song it is. There were parts of this that sounded like it could be the soundtrack to Tarzan (Mercy Street) which is good for my head canon of Phil and Peter wanting a fight. Overall, this was a very 80s-sounding album, and I really quite enjoyed it. Still Team Peter for me.

Previous Familiarity: Moderate. Only heard the singles. But those single are HUGE! Those 3 singles: "Sledgehammer" "Big Time" "In Your Eyes" Those 3 singles. Those 3 singles stand apart from everything else on this album. Both in a good way and a bad way. Theses songs are all pretty darn good (if not cheesy) pop songs compared to the brooding dream-pop that occupies most of the album. But, their noticeable difference is what also makes them feel out of place on the album. The carnival soul of "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" are much louder and robust than the rest of the album. While the lovely (if noy hokey) "In Your Eyes" is the only meaningful attempt at relatable romanticism. It works, but it's out of place here. As usual for me, the 80's were not kind to my music listening sensibilities. I still hate the overuse of electric keyboards and synthesized instruments that plagued most pop acts in the 80's. I would love to hear these songs played on acoustic instruments in a more intimate setting. The songwriting is pretty good, I just think I could appreciate it more if the noises and sequencing were more in line with my tastes. Still pretty respectable!

Lots of classics. I prefer the earlier and "weirder" Gabriel, but plenty to love in this album.

What I would have expected. Some big hits.

Not a great voice but listenable

Really enjoyed this Album. I must say it’s a great album, start to finish. "Mercy Street" is probably my favorite song on the album.

I enjoyed the old school sounds

Sledgehammer! Bow down to the Sledgehammer! Ziemlich gut produziert und auch sonst ein gutes Album. This is the picture besonders gut 3.5 Kneel, you dogs...

I like almost every song! So moody, lyrical. An interesting old Gaelic sound to some of the songs.

Was actually listening to bits of this the day before. Downloaded this onto my iPod in like middle school or something but it’d been awhile since I listened to the whole thing. Lots of hits, a few I’m colder on, love Kate Bush’s bit. Solid fun

Good songs using 80s production enough for it to sound sleek and energetic, But not dated and cheesy.

I definitely know who Peter Gabriel is. I've heard a few songs here and there but haven't listened to a whole album. I'm excited! Love the sound of this so far. Actually, the two songs I know from Peter Grabriel are on this album lol. Track 3 has an interesting gospel sound to it. I'm also curious to know who the female singer is on this track. It seems like she sings at least half of the track so it's odd she's not credited. (I now know it's Kate Bush) Track 7 has a really interesting sound. Almost like it could be in the background of a CSI episode or something. Wow track 8 is not for me. 4/5 Late 80's music is a favorite of mine, so I was excited to see this album come up. Most of the songs on this album are too long for my taste, but I still enjoyed listening to them.

Legendary auteur makes a pop record and its really good and thought provoking and danceable...The 80's were a magical time.

Big sounds, great instrumentation, powerful lyrics, incredible voice, and excellent production. This is a stellar album from a legendary frontman. It’s got that 80s sound which can easily be overdone, and sometimes it gets close, but the artistry shines through in this excellent composed LP.

Oof, this '80s production is going to be tough for me to overcome. "Red Rain" is such a cool song but the instrumentation is so Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. The more subdued production works really well on "Don't Give Up." Nice featured vocal by Kate Bush. "Mercy Street" is another cool one. I think I like the darker/quieter songs more. I like Gabriel's vocals and the harmonies are really nice on this one. I don't know if the production has just ingratiated itself to me, but I really like "Big Time." It doesn't sound as corny as the first couple of tracks did to me. Lots to listen to, including lushly layered vocals. I'm coming around.

A very nostalgic album for me. We listened to it a lot. Peter Gabriel can be a bit wacky but he also writes great tunes. Another 4*

I actually reallt enjoyed this, i didnt think I would like it

4 1/2

It aight -7/10

Felt like a very 80s album, like songs that could have been in the Top Gun soundtrack. Enjoyed the vocals and the Kate Bush feature. Some songs kind of dragged, but overall great album.

I like some of the songs a lot, other were eh, I think all of the songs ran a bit long for my taste but overall good 8/10

7/10 - Overall pretty good. I have heard most of these songs before. There are no songs I hate but there are not any I think I would ever be like I have to listen to it.

Un 4 por Mercy Street y Don't Give Up.

Damn do I love "Sledgehammer" and also "In Your Eyes". Really great album - strong from start to finish. 8/10.

Nice

Weird to hear it outside of the singles, which were so popular at the time. Pretty solid

Classic 80s

You know, I said this would probably be a 2 in my review of his first album, but it’s better than I remembered. I always like ‘Sledgehammer’ and ‘Big Time’ and thought all the other songs were too slow, but those actually turned out to be great, too. An album my stance has actually positively changed on.

So much synth! So much emotion! Was he the Shawn Mendes of his generation? It’s so dancey and 80s…also maybe too much whispering and chanting especially in the essential birds song, also who was the random gal that came in? Some lingering questions but also with this album I totally get why he is a mega star

He’s on my list.

First listen Saved 6/9 Top track: Sledgehammer

An iconic album with some amazing songs.

The voice reminds me of Blue October sometimes

Had to go back and listen to this one and was pleasantly surprised. I actually had favorited one of the songs before "In Your Eyes", so I was familar with Peter Gabriel a little before but the whole album was actually a fantastic listen. Got that classic 80s sound.

I don't think I ever actually owned this but I sure heard a lot of it in its day (not all though, given I had no idea there was a version on it of the song I knew as Excellent Birds from Laurie Anderson's Mister Heartbreak). The clever video for Sledgehammer was ubiquitous back when my only access to music videos was Friday Night Videos on NBC. And of course In Your Eyes as featured in Say Anything. There are some flat points but overall a great album.

It was decent, I like Sledgehammer and the Kate Bush duet. Clearly a little more poppy than the earlier Peter Gabriel albums. 7/10

Zet dit op en je ziet cassettebandjes, Engelse-drop-achtige interieurs, schoudervullingen en opgeblazen kapsels. De jaren tachtig in al hun opgepoetstheid, na de over-the-top jaren zeventig. Keyboards, strakke percussie, blazerssectie. Genesis-collega Phil Collins kon er ook wat van. En toch klinkt dit bij lange na niet zo gedateerd als bijvoorbeeld Prince. Iets voor de lange autorit over de Franse snelweg, op de achterbank met een overdosis Fruitella en een stapel Suske en Wiskes.

Het is ontzettend jaren '80, bombastisch, drumcomputers, synthesizers. Maar de stem van Peter Gabriel is op zijn best en de nummers zijn echt goed, zelfs als Kate Bush er door heen loopt te heksen. De sterkste nummers zitten wel aan het begin, als het allemaal wat meer toegankelijk is. In het tweede deel wordt er wat meer geexperimenteerd, wat niet per se slecht is in dit geval, maar de vaart gaat er wel een beetje uit. Als geheel vind ik het wel redelijk in balans, zeker een goede albumervaring. En dus ook absoluut een notering waard in de 1001 albums die je ooit gehoord moet hebben lijst.

Beautiful album, especially the slower songs. I recognised Sledgehammer and Don't Give Up. Unfortunately the second half of the album was a bit worse. Stand-out: Red Rain

The first album of Peter Gabriel that I truly appreciated. It's been a while since I've listened to the whole album and it hit me way differently - In Your Eyes, Sledgehammer, and Big Time are the top songs and I love them, but I am reminded of how powerful his lyrics are, particularly with That Voice Again and Don't Give Up - So heart wrenching for me. Mercy Street is so brooding. Wonderful album to hear again.

Slick, solid, 80s pop. Some great songs like Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, and In Your Eyes, but hard to really connect with most of the other tracks.

Great album with several excellent songs, in particular 'Don't give up', although I don't get that superb exxperience over the full record.

Wasn’t expecting to be jump scared by the Wrestlemania 22 theme today but there you go The first three tracks are fantastic and the album does lose a bit of steam afterwards, but the more experimental couple of tracks towards the end brings it back

I’ve always enjoyed Peter Gabriel’s music, so of course I enjoyed this as well. He has a unique voice and good instrumentals that makes for an eclectic combo of songs.

Featuring up front production, some decent songs and Gabriel's powerful slightly raspy vocals, this is a solid album. The tracks are a bit overlong though.

Straight bangers

I noticed some bass sections that felt very familiar and a lil weird (in the good way) and even some sounds that felt very familiar, like I'd heard them somewhere else in the same era. That's when the truth smacked me in the face , of course I know that bass sound and some of these other sounds, in fact they're off of King Crimson's Triple album suite "Three of a Perfect Pair" (Discipline, Beat, Three of a Perfect Pair), and that has to be Tony Levin! And it was! I will say most of this album is a lil too 80's for me (I really hate the 80's nostalgia thing IDK I'm more of a 60's 70's guy), but it has some great standouts like "Sledgehammer" and "Don't Give Up", though "Mercy Street" also has some amazing sounds and I think overall, it's a good album with some great moments. I might have to give this another listen, but I enjoyed the package as a whole.

I really don’t get the complaints from people who say this is too commercial. They just hate fun.

Shweet

So good I listened twice

Sledgehammer is a bit played out but I enjoyed the rest of this album and was surprised that I had heard most of the tracks. I suppose that's a testament to the quality of the album when so many tracks got radio play. This isn't the type of thing I'd actively seek out on my own to listen to but I'd be pleased to hear it under almost any circumstance. Favorite song - In Your Eyes.

Dit vond ik echt een geweldig album!

Quite nice, wouldn't listen to it on a regular basis but could be fun from times to times. I especially liked "Sledgehammer" and the last song, "In your eyes".

Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood all sound so similar :) Sledgehammer! So many hits on this album...

Solid

Sledgehammer, a couple other good songs

So, it didn’t hit me like a Sledgehammer, but I did enjoy it. Kind of like Red Rain on a winter night, is what I think of when I hear That Voice Again. This is the Picture. This is the way.

4.25

More enjoyable than I expected feels very 80s

album longo, mas bom, musicas boas e temas de filme/serie

Red Rain and In Your Eyes were the standouts for me. Pretty solid album. Very of-the-time sounding.

Really liked this.

Liked this which means I’m turning into my dad, probably worth a relisten

Fun, groovy, poppy and light!

most hits a miss or two in there. Love the story behind the album.

can't believe the first one is Peter gabriel. 007

I had listened to this album before, but this time it really resonated with me a lot more. The album is frontloaded with some of his best material first, but the whole album is solid. Love the features as well, especially Kate Bush. Also Tony Levin's bass playing is great.

Any album with 'Sledgehammer' on it is fine by me! Some other good tracks on there that I don't think I've heard before.

Great pop album that is the pinaccle of Peter Gabriel's work. Has the added bonus of being stuff you've heard plenty of times in movies, film, etc

Better than expected. At times funky, moody, or even a bit trippy. Didn't feel the urge to skip a single track, and many were added to my "liked" songs.

Solid album with several good songs. Sledgehammer still a favorite.

Couple bangers

I won't copy and paste my other reviews of Peter Gabriel albums here, but I feel the same. It's a more mainstream release for sure. I haven't ever loved "Sledgehammer," mostly because I remember seeing the video on VH1 and found it to be stupid. Probably not a popular opinion. This is my favorite Peter Gabriel album and it is probably a must-hear album for me. Will I listen to it again? Quite possibly not, as I seem to be a greatest hits Peter Gabriel person. Some of the songs are just lengthy and tend to fade in the background.

Ich fühle mich sehr an Phil Collins erinnert. Sledgehammer absolut kult. Very feely, dreamy, aber mit banger momenten

Such a classic, well thought out album with Gabriel at his peak.

Great album.

This was poppier than I expected it to be. Lots of incredible songs but a few too many that felt like some kind of 80s-style pandering.

Good stuff

About as generic as Nickleback

Great

Very 80s, mix of funk, early U2, and Paul Simon Graceland. Listened twice.

Drove out to play disc golf at Pineland - Emily had the dog on old speck so hit a good course that’s not dog friendly. Beautiful October afternoon - doesn’t get any better than this (except maybe if the wife and dog were here lol)

Beautiful album with superb musicians. Peter Gabriel had a very strong solo output, this one was perhaps the most successful. There’s a lot of musical influences, mainly pop but also, funk on Sledgehammer, ambient, ethereal soundscapes on Red Rain and Don’t Give Up. Very strong stuff! 8,5 out of 10

Great album. A few pop hits. Definitely can tell it’s from the 80s.

Enjoyable but a bit too surface level

Loved this album.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Don’t give up, In your eyes

Love it.

I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would. That Kate Bush feature on Don’t Give Up was heavenly. Mercy Street and Big Time were also great songs.

Some masterpieces and some filler.

The music is expansive and unique. Some what uplifting. Sledgehammer may have the best video, but In Your Eyes is a better song

a classic but again quite dated

Nice

Gabriel’s So is an enjoyable affair, pushing that revolutionary synth sound to the forefront and layering up the vocals to make enjoyable, classy sophisticated pop. Sledgehammer is a smash hit (LOL), Kate Bush brings class to Don’t Give Up and there’s a bunch of other good stuff in here.

The production is incredible but this has a couple legit not very good songs that stop it from being a 5 star classic imo

Great album. Peter Gabriel is an artist that I don't think about much, but enjoy the music when it is presented to me. Don't give up is one of my favourites.

Really enjoyed the three listens! Lot of sampling which I enjoyed though wouldn’t know how to recreate . Good album, will listen again!

Une ouverture spectaculaire (Red Rain, Sledgehammer...) des moments plus faibles. Une production impressionnante mais clairement datée. Globalement très agréable à l'écoute

Pretty good. Had it on as background noise during a focus requiring activity so didn’t pay total attention but I liked it a lot. Favourite song definitely Big Time.

The production is impeccable, if very much of its time. Superior, intelligent pop with a couple of kicky cameos from Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson. What really sets this apart though are three absolutely bulletproof tracks - 'Sledgehammer', 'Big Time' and the mighty 'Red Rain'. A lovely listening experience - even when the energy dips, pleasure can be found in the aural textures Gabriel conjures. Features one of the Marotta brothers on drums - have a set of siblings ever played on so many capital T 'tasteful' recordings as these jabronis?

This one is just shy of great, imo. I've never listened to this entire album before, but the impact the videos for "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" had on me as a wee lad was overwhelmingly apparent as soon as those songs came on. I couldn't tell you the last time I've listened to either of those two songs. But as soon as they came on, it was like stepping into a house I once lived in. Doesn't hurt that they're great songs, too. My critique here is mainly that the track order isn't right. But we can easily fix that. So, without further ado here is the proper track listing of "So (Taylor's Version)": 1. Red Rain 2. Sledgehammer 3. Big Time 4. Kate Bush song 5. We Do What We're Told 6. That Voice Again 7. In Your Eyes 8. Mercy Street "This is the Picture" gets saved for a B-side where it belongs and now the record is front loaded with the upbeat hits, giving the whole thing a better spread of energy and momentum that propels us to "In Your Eyes" and closes with a more contemplative note in "Mercy Street." That record is a 5 star record. But the one we got is 4. Hopefully, Peter Gabriel will read this and call me next time.

Love this album. Whilst not Gabriel's best it reminds me of my time at college when I listened to it often on my Walkman travelling between college and home.

This was fun to listen to but I don’t need to listen again. I liked Big Time a lot and of course In Your Eyes. No complaints but nothing that blew me away

Classic album of high quality deserves to be on the list, but I personally prefer Peter Gabriel III, this one just a verge too pop for my personal taste so it just misses out on the full marks

I was into Peter Gabriel before this album came out, going back to his Genesis days and I was obsessed with his 3rd (melt) and 4th (Security) solo albums. When this came out, to me it was kind of like his sell out album. Sure, there are some great songs on it but it also felt like a betrayal of sorts. I've since come to appreciate this album, but I still love those other albums more. Those are 5 star albums to me, this one is 4/5.

What a great album. I remember the Sledgehammer video when it came out and the song is still great. Big Time is fun as is This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds) with In Your Eyes rounding out my favourites for today.

My rehabilitation towards 80s music is obviously proceeding apace, as I really liked this, and it's quintessentially, indeed, _archetypally_ 80s. Those collabs with Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson were awesome. I can't quite stretch to a 5, but would do 4.5 if possible. Fave track - "We Do What We're Told", I think - very atmospheric! Probably about half the other tracks are contenders, though, including "Sledgehammer", despite it being played incessantly everywhere from childhood onwards! 😆

Þrír og hálfur, námundað í fjóra. Margt mjög áheyrilegt en svolítið dated níundatugarproduction. Fínt stöff heilt yfir.

Very 1980s production, which is a good thing with this kind of material. Not sure if Genesis copied this LP or vice versa, but In Your Eyes could be lifted from albums like Invisible Touch or later. Big Time is essentially a remake of Sledgehammer, which is fine in my books. The only criticism I have for the arresting and brilliant Don't Give Up is that Tony Levin's superb bass groove in the last minute is not extended - gets right under the skin. And how does Gabriel bring out such quality from all those good collaborations (Kate Bush, Lori Anderson, Youssou N'Dour, Jim Kerr, Stewart Copeland, PP Arnold, Tony Levin...) Fantastic and very atmospheric and evocative of the serious nature political popstars found themselves in during the mid 1980s. Gets better on subsequent listens. It's not all just doesn't get going even if it's all about the lyrics; We Do What We're Told is an indulgent unfinished experiment that doesn't catch fire. Overall very impressive

Mostly a bit slower, nice deep synth backing instrumentals

Some of this sounds a bit cheesy and dated, but it's a fun listen!

Peter Gabriel s'efforce pendant tout l'album d'imiter la voix de Phil Collins et s'en sort plutôt bien, il faut l'avouer.

Huge hits off this album. Sledgehammer had big success and got lots of airplay on MTV.

Really enjoyed this album! Younger me didn't really care for Peter Gabriel. Despite that, this was really good. 4/5

I bought this album when it came out, and was excited to listen again after a long while. I was horrified to realise that it wasn’t as familiar as I thought! Back in the day, I must have skipped some tracks, 😂. The good ones are great, though, and it all holds up well.

I was digging it.

So was instantly impressive to my most musically-oriented friends at the time it was released. We were all big Kate Bush fans too, so loved seeing her appearance on Don’t Give Up. Big 80s sound from Big Time and Sledgehammer, but In Your Eyes is just wonderful. Really like this.

A very nice low four, some very good songs on here and some less interesting

Genuinely loved this far more than I thought it would.

Un 4 por Mercy Street y Don't Give Up

Had some bangers, better than I anticipated.

Not as daring as his earlier efforts, but 'So' finds Gabriel reaching his largest audience ever with songs that are smooth yet still idiosyncratically his.

This was really good, it just wasn’t 5 star material.

Some of the biggest sounds of the 1980s. I always preferred Gabriel solo to his work with Genesis. You know, I miss this whole thing artists in the 1980s did where all of their songs are long as fuck. Yeah, it makes some of the weaker tracks unbearable, but Sledgehammer could be twice as long as it already is and I'd still sign up for it and then some. God help the stop motion animators for the extended music video, though. So... good. 3.5/5.

Catchy classic Gab

I'm a latecomer to Peter Gabriel, having only discovered him in the last 5 years or so. This album begins and ends so strongly, and is evocative of a very specific type of "80s" feeling for me. I love it! If it didn't sag so much in the middle I think this would be an easy five for me, but there's a track or two in the middle that are very forgettable.

Highlight: Don't Give Up

Very arty. Very percussive. Very good. Yeah the production is somewhat dated by today's standards but the songs remain strong. Red Rain and In Your Eyes are gorgeous. Sledgehammer and Big Time are bangers. Love Tony Levin's bass work. Didn't know Stewart Copeland did some drum work on this album until now. An 80s standard.

I've had this album for years and never heard This is the Picture before. It was added years later. So, not really counting that one for the score. Standouts: Red Rain, Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, In Your Eyes, Big Time Others: That Voice Again Mercy Street We Do What We're Told *This Is the Picture Rating: 4/5

LP

4.5 didn’t expect to love this so much

Bit too 80s at times, and falls well below the quality of his first 3 self-titled efforts, but a good listen nonetheless.

"All you do is call me, I'll be anything you need." "No fight left or so it seems, I am a man whose dreams have all deserted. I've changed my face, I've changed my name, but no one wants you when you lose." "Don't give up 'cause you have friends." --- Favourite Tracks: Sledgehammer/Don't Give Up/Big Time Summary: Really enjoyed the variety of sound on this album, feels like every track is completely different to the previous. Enjoyed the themes on Big Time and way it was structured to emphasise that kind of lifestyle. I was quite taken aback by We Do What We’re Told (Milgram’s 37) having looked up the experiment that inspired it, worth a read! I have been a long time fan of Sledgehammer as well as Don't Give Up which I feel is a genuinely beautiful song.

So good.

I see the influence of this album in many of my favorite artists of today. Whether the impact was real or not... its certainly my flavor of sound

Very good album, I love the dynamics and theater of it all.

The GOAT. His music is a balm for the soul!

This feels so unnatural, Peter Gabriel too... Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes. Lots of progressive, synth heavy music with the exact kind of gripping lyrics and fusions you'd expect.

Really an album of two sides of Peter, and even in just the first two songs you hear the them - the first full of mysticism and drama, the second of funk and pop genius. He balances the two really well to where neither gets too old. 8/10

Funny halfway through this album i was thinking "dang this guy sounds so much like Phil Collins". Turns out I should've known they both fronted the same band lol. Definitely haven't heard this guy's name nearly as much, but it was good!

Good stuff

Love me some happy 80s pop rock. Okay, let's talk about it. It has this cloud of happiness that welcomes you in. Some call that cheesy and silly, too soft and whimsical. I love it because it makes me feel like I'm in a joyful montage in an 80s movie. Pure innocence and fun. It's like a version of bliss. And so what if it's not realistic, it let's me escape to a better place. And for that I love it.

I've listened to this album many dozens of times. It's fairly commercial which is interesting as I think it's more the case of the songs being good, and people liking them, and they end up commercial... as opposed to Peter setting out to make something people would like. Honestly it's probably my least favorite Gabriel album. Then again, I more or less love the other ones, and this one I like a lot.

Classic rock is classic. Hurts my heart to say as I recall the MTV VMA show where the Sledgehammer video cleaned the house. Best song about a penis, ever. Mainly because no one clocked it as such for so long.

4.5 Outstanding!

Very 80s, not always a good thing but it works great here.

I know sledgehammer but the rest is new to me. Update I knew don't give up as well. This is pretty good, obvious 80s Genesis comparisons in both singing and production, but tbh Gabriel's voice is better. I really enjoyed this. Not an all time album, but a solid 4/5.

My favorites were the first and last tracks. The album had a lot of slow moments, but even at slow times the music was intricate and lush. I have a bias towards Peter Gabriel because I just adore the early 70s Genesis albums. I think I need to return to this one to think about it some more. I was listening to it in the car and the wind made it very hard to hear a lot of what was going on, so I'll have to listen without so much distracting noise.

Very good

Finally the album which fully deserves to be on this list! His voice, so dramatic yet not exaggerated, characteristic tunes. So many great songs: Sledgehammer, Don't give up, Mercy Street, Solsbury Street to name a few.

3.5/5 This album is inconsistent. It has some amazing hits - "Sledgehammer" & "Big Time" are great. And some songs make me think "How did it get in here???". After all it deserves a 4 out of 5

So 80s, So Gabriel, So Good

A constant reminder that while Collins was a great successor as a lead singer, Gabriel brought along much more than just his unique vocals. So is filled with great rhythms, grand ambitions and all-round complex pop. “Red Rain” is as great an opener as they come and you just feel overwhelmingly safe in the arms of Peter Gabriel. There’s a few songs that doesn’t quite live up to the heights of the highs. Nevertheless, So is still an album to be reckoned with.

Great album, Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, Big Time, and of course In Your Eyes, we're all huge hits. Songs that are still good today

So's wildly spacious production was the workingest part, coexisting in some discomfort with a hymn-like Kate Bush duet. But even that has Kate Bush.

3.5 stars. This is one of those albums that I respect more than I like. The genre/sound isn't my cup of tea but I can appreciate the audio engineering and crisp, clean production. Standout is "Sledgehammer."

Lovely album, flows well and no bad tracks.

some really great moments (in your eyes especially), and a technically great album. it dragged a bit in the middle, but overall was still quite good.

Oh yes, 80s genius and also it contains Sledgehammer which is a true banger with a very excellent music video. Love love love the 80s beats, Peter Gabriel's voice, other vocals, instrumentation, inspiration and lyrics, the list goes on. Generally love it. I got influenced by an ex and his dad many moons ago and I really enjoy this album since, a classic.

ok

Great pop album. 80's were a very mixed bag when it comes to popular music but this album for sure is a winner. It's just very solid throughout and while not every song is a bona fide hit, none of them are actively pulling the album down.

Great album! Love Gabriel, really enjoyed this listen, haven’t heard every song but we’re all very good! Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are two of the best I think but overall great album!

this is amazing! Really funky in parts but at its very best when darker and moody. a lot less silly than other Gabriel offerings and full of wonderful production. Best tracks: red rain, don’t give up, mercy street

listened to again an 80s classic

Positivamente sorpreso, è veramente piacevole da ascoltare e dopo averlo sentito la prima volta sto già pensando a riascoltarlo.

Some really great songs on this one. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are really good. There are a few mediocre songs in the mix too, but overall really enjoyable listen.

Ask me to name Peter Gabriel songs, and the first that come to mind are going to be "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," "In Your Eyes," and "Shock the Monkey." The first three are all on this album. Nuff said.

Brilliant album. I'll never turn down listening to some Peter Gabriel.

Though I prefer his more experimental material, this is still a great pop record. Starts off strong with "Red Rain" and "Sledgehammer." Reminds me of being in a mall in the 80s in a positive/nostalgic way.

Didn't expect to like this all that much tbh, but it's got quite a few bangers. Some less good stuff too, but overall I felt this was extremely solid.

Excellent stuff.

Un 4 por Mercy Street y Don't Give Up

Good album. Just better ones out there

очень душевно

The Seinfeld effect in full swing: I wouldn't be surprised if this was special in its time, but it just feels dated and bland now.

#484 / 1089 Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ❌ I liked the earlier solo music quite a bit at some point, I own atleast Car (1) and Melt (3) in some format, but the latter stuff left me... wanting. This is a very smooth record, but it's lacking some of the rough edges I've come to expect from his music. While commercial is not a bad word as such, this one has the hallmarks of corporate pressure when compared to his previous endeavours. Even the Kate Bush track feels slightly calculated and I love them both as singers and musicians. Gabried did get to experiment and use various elements I'm quite sure he would have gone towards anyway, but the feeling of over-production and forced 80's sound is something I can't shake. I'm hesitant to go below 2 for this one. My misgivings aren't so much regarding the record and it's concstruction, but with how it got there and the totally unnecessary pressures the labels bestow upon artists, just for a quick buck. Corporate greed makes me angry.

ackward vibes but FIREEE

Listens: 4 Standout Tracks: Sledgehammer, Don't Give Up, In Your Eyes Nice duet with Kate Bush. Some of the tracks had a good funk going on. I surprisingly didn't really hate this. I am probably not going to listen to it much in the future. But I don't really have any serious complaints.

Gotta agree 80's classics, never that good. Pete cool via being such a massive dweeb though.

Nothing too amazing. There were about three songs that stood out, some that were ok, and then others that were just boring 1980s slop.

My mother met him at Cortnacuddy church. He married Walter Furlong's sister.

I figured that I'd at least enjoy listening to this since there are several songs by Peter Gabriel that I do like, but when Red River started I knew that I was in for a treat. However, when I got to Mercy Street I started to feel a bit disappointed, I guess you could say. Mercy Street is fine but compared to the previous songs it was just no way near as good. There was for sure a mid-album slump going on. But then it ends on such a high with In Your Eyes.

3 estrelas melhor musica foi mercy street

I've repeatedly enjoyed the Peter Gabriel (and Genesis) entries in the challenge, although I believe this is the last of them. Once again, he shows the knack for writing great melodies that are somehow catchy but rarely predictable. Walking the fine experimental/accessible line as he always seems to. The only downside to this one is how readily it takes on all the garish production elements of the 80s. Even Kate Bush gets in on the act. The upbeat numbers are good but there are some slow burners that really drag. I'll be continuing to dig into his back catalogue with interest but this one wasn't my favourite.

Meer van genoten dan ik had gedacht. Duurde even voordat ik mezelf zover kon brengen om het album te luisteren maar ik ben er blij mee. 2 bangers

gave me movie intro/ transition music vibes. probably liked big time the most or never give up but that one j felt so long. never ending

L'intro est cool, le reste j'ai trouvé ça sympa sans plus. Ça me fait penser de fou à Police/Sting ou Phil Colins par moment. (Je viens de voir que Phil Colins était le batteur de Genesis après son départ donc ils ont un minimum de lien)

Mouais pas incroyable en vrai, ça manque de sel

Min enda koppling till Peter Gabriel är att Vampire Weekend nämner honom i EN låt. I övrigt ett varken spännande eller tråkigt album, bara väldigt mycket 80-tal.

Crappy pop rock

sledgehammer is a BOP!! DNF but very enjoyable. some old ppl music is actually good.

This album is good. Dense songs, but sometimes it is too repetitive.

Momentous as hell in the 80s with huge MTV hits, I wondered if it held up. And it mostly does: the quavering fragility with Kate Bush on "Don't Give Up", the weird performance art of "Excellent Birds" with Laurie Anderson; and Youssou N'Dour blowing the song open on "In Your Eyes". I couldn't push skip with my beat up cassette in 1986, but it's nice to not have to hear Big Time and Sledgehammer. Again.

Sledgehammer is obviously the big song here. Peter Gabriel's voice doesn't really do it for me outside of the context of his big hits, and the other hits on here are a bit too slickly produced to work for me. But we'll always have Sledgehammer, an absolute bop.

muitas sonoridades interessantes!!! gostei do triângulo nas musicas red rain muito boa mas pqp desafio não repetir o titulo da musica dez milhões de vezes fica repetitivo demais e é algo que ele faz em quase Todas

It was decent. Had the 80s soundscape. Some songs were better than others. Would relisten to some not all

Like it

Finally! A chance for me to sing the praises of my favourite podcast. Every Single Album recently did an album swap episode, where Nathan’s choice was this album. Now, I’d trust Nathan Hubbard with my life, especially after he correctly predicted both the new Harry Styles and the new Phoebe Bridgers albums last year. Anyway! It was a fun episode and would be a great companion to this album. I love Sledgehammer!! Also does anyone else remember the charity cover of Don’t Give Up that Nat Bassingthwaighte (darling of the Illawarra) and Shannon Noll did for bushfire relief? I think it’s the superior version of the song.

"Red Rain" is a pretty strong album opener. "Sledgehammer" isn't really my jam. It's a good album overall. Feels a bit nostalgic even though I never really listened to Peter Gabriel before. "Big Time" is a hard switch after "Mercy Street". Don't really love "We Do What We're Told" and really don't like "This Is the Picture." Hard not to skip. Can I just fast-forward through it to get through "In Your Eyes" please? And finally, "In Your Eyes" closes the album strong.

Peter Gabriel was the lead singer of Genisis when Phil Collins joined as the drummer. They do sound very much alike. I like their sound but listened to more Phil and Genisiss .

Quite "So'so:

Very good front half, wish it continued that energy throughout it, sledgehammer is a banger tho

Started off strong, kinda fell into the schlocky 80s cheese

There was always a sheen on Peter Gabriel's music, but here in the context of 80s maximalism and the influence of "worldbeat", it almost collapses on itself into parody. Almost. "Sledgehammer" and "In Your Eyes" have been played to death for me outside of the album's context, almost so much that I can't really focus on the rest of the album. But when I do, I can kinda get lost in its digital sheen. The more subdued and darker tracks like "Mercy Street", "Milgram's 37" and the digital exclusive "This is the Picture" caught my ear more than the other tracks. These tracks reminded me more of Vaporwave and New Age, darker, and more digital and ambient. The tracks that go for more emotional lyrics, like "Don't Give Up", "Red Rain", "That Voice Again", and "In Your Eyes" really go for emotional lyrics, but they fall flat for me.

Enjoyed this quite a bit, knew a few of them, have a soft spot for this sort of 80s vibe.

This was fine. It has some good songs but really didn't resonate with me at all. It has a production that is a bit over the top and grandiose but I don't believe it. I may just be jaded because I really don't love the 80s. Again something about the production of that time doesn't mesh with me.

I owned this at the time it was released. Didn't everybody? I remember liking it at the time. It's a good album, but was overplayed. Not something I feel like I need to hear again.

As 80s as possible. Долго слушал этот альбом, сложно выдать что-то негативное о нем, но заходит прям со скрипом, хоть звучит как довольно качественная попса. Пойдет. Топ-1 - Sledgehammer Топ-2 - Big time

The best tracks are the two where he collaborates with women and the worst are the two pop hits. A good record with moments of greatness.

added a couple of them to my liked songs. Its almost short enough to be an EP but it still has a consistent vibe

Some great music, track order was a rollercoaster tho

Some not so unpleasant tunes on here but nothing to convert me into a fan. Very much middle of the road, not as bad as I had expected.

iha jees, ei j''ny erityisesti mieleen

Idk its alright the last 3 were shit tho. I loved Big Time and obv sledgehammer is a good song so 3.

Really great record. His voice is awesome, the one two punch of sledgehammer and don't give up is up there with the best!

A name I'm familiar with but don't know if I'd be able to tell you he's the guy who sung Sledgehammer. There's something that catches my attention in "We do what we're told" and "This is the picture", but then spotify autopalyed talking heads and I listened to that instead.

Et par gode sanger, men det hviler noe traust over hele greia.

I thought the vocals on the first track were really great. Album clearly draws inspiration from a ton of places. This kind of solo work never really grabs my attention beyond the surface level however.

6.8. 1:30 ujutro dok sam mislila da se roketa haha rocket raketa roketa tek treba zabiti u mjesec ali se vec zabila jucer (tako kazu) ispred kuce sjedim tako da mi legistremije zaklanjaju lampu koja mi ide u oci kako gledam mjesec sa vrata desna strana vrta ispod japanke na desno mi je po dijagonali tocno kut kuce na kojem je tabla s adresom // album kako ide dalje postaje bolji pre pop za mene 6/10

The high points of this one are up there, and the rest is pretty middle of the road. It is definitely a good record and one that deserves a nod on this list. If nothing else, the music videos for Sledgehammer and Big Time were unforgettable and worth a revisit for any listeners not familiar.

Wasn't quite like what I expected, yet I was definitely intrigued by it! Would maybe revisit and a few tracks are going into rotation including In Your Eyes which I believe is in Say Anything, a film I really like!

Was ok

For Gen X Nostalgia I have no idea who Peter Gabriel was supposed to be. On trying to discover it through So, I found a very 80s album... overproduced pop, synth, slap bass, digital reverb etc etc. All very much of the time. And weirdly, the whole thing is so white (?). The gentrification of traditional instruments from other cultures just for reviews to praise Gabriel using "ethnic" tools rubs me the wrong way. You can hear the appropriation of Africana music on "In Your Eyes" for sure. But that's a smaller comment. Overall, I miss some kind of humor. It's all so serious and I don't feel any fun. It's decent 80s popslop. Hyperpalatable. But nothing here is particularly moving. I don't like the sterile feel of it. There aren't even any curse words here. "Red Rain" instantly gave me an understanding of what this album was gonna be. The song itself is pretty energetic, yet melancholic. Pretty good just not for me. Love the drums and synths. Good background song for driving or studying. Bit too repetitive. 6/10. "Sledgehammer" is so stereotypically 80s that it actually kind of hurts. Cheesy is the word. Preys on the nostalgia for 60s black RnB for sure. 5/10. "Don't Give Up" is much slower. Kind of nice but still very 80s. Haunting duet. Love the woman's voice but it's too slow for me. Cool bassline at the end. 5/10. "That Voice Again" is the worst perpetrator of the 80s sound so far. It really has to do with how everyone switched to synth and that type of bass at the same time. Cool hi-hats and drumming though. 4/10. "Mercy Street" is kind of, folkish? very atmospheric. I like the flutes. Probably my favorite so far. Doesn't sound too 80s until the synth comes in. 5-6/10. "Big Time" is catchy but feels more like a product of its era than anything timeless. Flashy production but little to no substance. This song makes me sick. It's so 80s. 4/10. "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" is a weird interlude. Actually kind of pretty. Makes me nostalgic for something. I enjoy. 5-6/10. "This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" ...wtf are these lyrics. What is going on. 3/10. "In Your Eyes"... the chord structure is very familiar. The song itself sounds familiar too. Can hear the appropriation of Africana music for sure. 5/10 Decent variety but nothing here is particularly moving. Sounds very 80s and that's about it. Not anything I would really want to listen to very consistently. Rating: 5.5/10

30% buenos temas de pop rock, 70% mid

It's a nice, groovy album, but it didn't really hook me in very much as the 80s prpduction and the vocals got quite boring to me. Sorry, I'm busy at the moment and really don't have much more to say about this.

I was hopeful to find some.deep cuts I didn't know, because the hits I like, especially Sledgehammer, nothing wrong with the rest of the album, but nothing that stood out either.

Recognized a song or two. Was enjoyable.

Nice album, I dont have much to say, the best song is by far "Dont Give Up", rest is pretty good

No comments.

This album brought me back to phil collins

19. jul 2026. 17.51h kao it was ok best: mercy street

Sure, it doesn't sound bad, but it's also very boring. There are far better albums from the 80s.

Peter Gabriel is Dave Matthews favorite singer. The video for Sledgehammer was awesome. Kate Bush...what can't she ruin? Just kidding, Don't Give Up is not very good before she sings a note. I always liked Big Time. It's a hard album to rate. There are a couple of enjoyable singles and a bunch of weird stuff outside that. In Your Eyes is a great song, and produced the super iconic moment with the trench coat and boombox.