So

Some really good songs, like Sledgehammer, and some naff ones like This Is The Picture. Evens out to a 3

THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR ‘This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)’ IS THE ABSOLUTE PINNACLE OF MODERN ART. The rest of the album is just okay. 🥀 But Laurie Anderson‘s collaborative visual masterpiece ‘This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)’ FUCKING SLAPS. You heard it here folks! Now kick back, spark up something laced, and immerse yourself in the cutting-edge avant guard optical splendor which is the music video for Peter Gabri and Laurie Anderson‘s ‘This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)’

I enjoy Peter Gabriel but i like him more when he’s leaning into the weirdness like he did on Melt. This album is fine, it’s really well done for what it is but it’s all so… I don’t really want to say bland because it sounds nice enough but yea, it’s kinda bland. I am being unfair to Gabriel for sure and I don’t dislike it, I just dislike it for a Gabriel album I suppose. I will say that it is hilarious he wrote a song about his dick being a Sledgehammer. 3 stars

Dominated by the big hits sledgehammer and Don't give up, otherwise an ok listen

Solid pop album, soft and mellow Did not know dont give up was peter gabriels song. Thats a good one, bit sad.

I feel like this is an album I would need nostalgia for to enjoy. As it stands though, I'm not really feeling the heavy 80's vibe of this record, especially with the ballads not being quite as strong as the bangers like Sledgehammer and Big Time (great bassline though). Oddly, We Do What We're Told is probably my favorite song? It's got a very vibey, Nine Inch Nails feel. But yeah, pristine pop album that isn't really doing much for me.

Always preferred phil Collins, but solid.

I keep seeing people talking about how this is better than Phil Collins music…. Like how people fail to remember is that Collins released Fave Value before this album came out AND Gabriel left Genesis and got replaced with Collins 6 years before this. This album sounds like a Collins wanna be album to me IMO. I’m sure Collins was inspired by this album, no doubt but Collins and Genesis had this sound already before this came out. This album is super underwhelming imo, other than the stand out hits. I understand its use of early digital instruments and the impact it had but I found myself thinking that Gabriel wanted to be Phil Collins so bad on this album. Idk, just my opinion I was also not alive when this album came out and I’ve listened to all of Phil Collins solo work before this. This album was not bad by any means I was just throughly unimpressed. Fav track: Sledgehammer Least fav: That Voice Again

Very 80s

A so so album. I prefer Phil Collins.

It was a solid 80s album, In Your Eyes was a perfect anchor for this one.

I knew most of the big hits from this album, which are good. None of the other songs really blows me away though. Good production.

Cool to hear the sax intro on Sledgehammer that Mark Rivera wrote (I KNOW HIM). Otherwise, I don't know if I'm the biggest Peter Gabriel fan.

There’s some brilliant music here, but a lot of filler and attempts at things that others did better.

Didn't think I was going to like it, but it's actually good and so chill.

Nettes Album. Red rain - geiler Song.

Middle of the pack, enjoyable but nothing special

Good 80s vibes. A little bit Sting-like. I’d have to be in the mood for it.

5/10… art pop / 80s new wave

Red rain is good Like slegdehammer Don’t give up is awesome, good duet with Kate Bush Generally, a good album but songs feel a bit overstretched sometimes

Is Worldbeat Orientalist? Or is “So” the exception that proves the rule? In this essay, I shall…

Day 2 - Wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I had obviously heard (and love) Sledgehammer, and was hoping the rest of the album would be similar to that track. To my disappointment, it isn't. While I can apricate the album for what it is, with its good production and influences from other genre's. the rest of the album just doesn't bring the same energy. I can understand why people would enjoy the album as a whole but the rest of it isn't really for me.

6/10

I am sure I never listened to this whole album. Of course I know Sledgehammer from the video. That video is a core memory. This still of 80’s production/music has always been off putting to me. But I love his voice.

Previously rated: Peter Gabriel 3 (4/5) Peter Gabriel (4/5) ************************ Looks like I found his previous two albums interesting enough to earn a future re-listen. What about this one? This one has the big hits, but outside of those, I didn't like a lot here. It was very slow and forgettable. Except for that one with Kate Bush, Don't Give Up. That was just bad. I feel 1986 was when pop music just started going south, and over-produced stuff like this was part of the reason. Best track: Sledgehammer - The music video for this is still very enjoyable.

I prefer this album as background music, it's not something I'd listen to by itself. My favourite song was Red Rain, I liked the vocals in the background.

This was the number 1 album when I was born. What was yours?

So what?

I really liked Sledgehammer (such a hit!) and overall it was an average album

So many hits! I didn’t recall knowing all of this tracks. Even though this was an “album” era, I only know these songs as singles. In Your Eyes is an amazing last track!

Gostei mas não sou fã de Peter Gabriel no geral. Boas músicas mas não me encheram as medidas!

In Your Eyes is obviously great, and there are a few other surprising great songs on this album, but songs like This Is The Picture are a little weird for my taste and hold the album back

Man the production on this thing is insane, even if it sometimes feels sterile or commercial. Vocals are very much lacking for me, really wish Kate Bush was on every song and not just one track. Overall feeling meh about it, although I really like we do what we're told, this is the picture and Kate Bush's verses on don't give up

man, i wish i liked this one more. there are some fun hits that obviously get a lot of airplay. i wish this album had more of that. when it's not those handful of songs, it's a very soft, delicate album. but I don't really have a lot of fun listening to it. it's a little bit of a drag. i don't find it interesting, i find it boring. there's other peter gabriel that i really like! but this mostly is not it.

So: so-so. So?

In my review of The Verve's Urban Hymns album, I wrote the following about "Bittersweet Symphony": "Pre-listening: This album prompts an interesting question: what do you think is the single song you have heard the most in your life without ever hearing another track from its album? Because I think this one would be in the running for me (at least until today.)" This Peter Gabriel album contains three songs that I've probably heard more than "Bittersweet Symphony" but I am pretty sure I have never heard anything else off the album. I'm sure I don't even have to name them, but "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" were of course MTV staples (and "staples" probably isn't even a strong enough word - MTV constants?) and then there was the Say Anything phenomenon for "In Your Eyes." I didn't dislike any of those songs at the time but it wasn't a style of music I was interested in so I never felt the need to explore further. So I am interested to see what 50-year-old me thinks of the rest of this album. Post-listening: wasn't expecting so many guest stars! I enjoyed this and would give it 3.5 stars if I could. I can't give it the same rating as Ill Communication (that rating is going to bother me on my deathbed) so 3 it is!

What?

3,5

I hate Sledgehammer but LOVE LOVE In Your Eyes

At times I had to check that this is the same artist that did PG3/Melt. A lot more accessible. I enjoyed most of it though, it definitely has some duds but then has some belters like Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes. Dont give up was canny too, and this is the picture. Im much more of a Melt fan. That felt weird, strange, and even though its older it felt a lot more fresh. This is very 80s pop.

The album disappears into nothingness after the first four tracks. Sledgehammer is a classic, and Don't Give Up is an all-timer. A really measured song, more complex than it needed to be, and Kate Bush really compliments P Gabey. I was seriously disappointed by the second half of the album, so have dropped my rating a bit.

So so

phil collins but less good?

This is a very 80’s album. The production on some of the songs, particularly Sledgehammer and Big Time was pretty dated, but I did enjoy Red Rain, Mercy Street, and We Do What We’re Told.

The 80s is a curious time period for popular music. The promise of new wave and new technology was infectious. This record represents the apex of that promise. After So, the music of that era started to change. It wasn’t as fun or inspiring anymore. I actually prefer Gabriel’s first untitled albums because of the promise they represent. This one is fully formed and lesser as a result. In Your Eyes is sublime, and there are a few more interesting moments here, but overall not my favourite Gabriel offering.

Klinkt wel lekker

Love Peter Gabriel's voice, but some of these tracks I can leave; production is very much of its time. Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes are the obvious stand-outs.

like the name so-so

I didn't like this at all until the very end. It has a really strong finish, particularly with "In Your Eyes" as the closer. Partly this reflects my longstanding belief that it's much easier to write songs people will enjoy if you make them fast and fun instead of plodding and slow. I think I've heard "Red Rain" before, and combined with the fact that it's the opener, it was probably a single - but that song sucks, what a total snooze. It is best-case the 2nd best song about a color of rain from the mid 1980s. But my favorite song on the whole CD, one I've never heard before, is "Big Time" - what fun song. It's a rocker, it's making fun of himself and other people like himself, it's catchy, that's a winner. That plus the closer makes for a really strong finish. But the first half is a bore, I've heard "Sledgehammer" before and it's fine but it has a totally cheesy 80s song. It's just better to finish on a strong note than to start strong and limp out.

Guide tunes

I interviewed Stephin Merritt once. First telephone interview I’d ever done. I borrowed a minidisc recorder from the editor who told me not to erase his live boot of Rocket from the Crypt. I didn’t. I just recorded over it. Stephin wasn’t unkind, exactly, but he did ask why I didn’t know shorthand. Fair enough. I didn’t. I still don’t. I wrote things down slowly and hoped I’d catch the rest on tape. At one point — I can’t remember if it was because Peter Gabriel had covered The Book of Love or just because the silence between us was beginning to feel cavernous — I asked him what his favourite Peter Gabriel album was. Also, I asked about Genesis. He said he’d never listened to the band, which seemed plausible for the weird pop songwriter. He did like Gabriel. Also plausible. In the piece I wrote, I said his answer was So. But the truth is the recording was unintelligible at that point. A glitch? Bad disc? Maybe I’d accidentally brushed the pause button with my trembling hand. Either way, whatever he actually said is lost to time, and I — somehow — decided So sounded right. It had Sledgehammer on it and Don’t Give Up. It sold very well. But it doesn’t sound right now. Not really. If you’ve listened to Stephin Merritt for more than three songs in a row, you know it wasn’t So. It would have been one of the early ones: one of the self-titled albums with nicknames that reference the album artwork: Car or Scratch or Melt. It was probably Melt. That’s the best one, isn’t it? Merritt covered Not One of Us some time later, which would have been a handy clue. Why I thought it was So — that smooth, glistening thing, with all its horn sections and MTV overtures — I cannot explain. Even the weird bits aren’t weird enough. Sledgehammer is weird for the Top 40, but not weird for Gabriel, who once took the stage dressed as a Giant Hogweed. There are hits on So, sure, but none of them hit like Games Without Frontiers or Intruder. It’s Gabriel doing smooth. Gabriel doing accessible. One of Them. I should have written Melt. I should have asked better questions. I should have learned shorthand. Sorry, Stephin. 2.5 Look at Peter Gabriel’s stupid face. I know this album isn’t bad exactly but I don’t like it. What display of skill Gabriel shows in forging interesting melodies and structures is smothered by his unshakeable determination to use every voice setting on the keyboard. I’m sure the customers were impressed when they pushed the demo button on those things in the showroom in 1986. But five years later they were asking themselves what could have been wrong with their heads that they spent the price of a car on these obsolete abominations. Playing the start of Moonlight Sonata with synth horns then steel drum then ‘Goblins’ is good for about 5 minutes entertainment but ultimately it sounds better on a real piano and the child can’t get any good on the instrument on those settings. Are the songs really that good anyway? The lyrics, Mercy Street for example, are self-regarding but poetically hollow. ‘Don’t Give Up’ has a pleasant sentiment but stumbles over itself musically. Kate Bush plays a blinder making those awkward lines of the chorus sound as musically natural as anyone could. But they’re still not right. Peter Gabriel can’t be accused of making dull melodies but it’s easy to sound interesting when you sacrifice elegance of line. It’s an inelegant album. 2.5/5

Wanted to like it more, but it didn’t seem to hold up as well as I expected. Just seemed dated and a little boring.

Pretty repetitive but overall solid. love the song with kate bush and sledgehammer

Cool soundscapes. Well, not cool exactly. Kind of dorky. But cool.

Very 80s not particularly memorsble

In Your Eyes is soooo good. Everything else was pretty meh though.

...

Quite dramatic at times. Overall pretty easy listening but nothing that wowed me.

Albums of this ilk really sound like the era, for better or worse. Some really great synth sounds and textures but some of the tracks veer into cheesy territory for me. The 'world music' influence is beneficial if not overstated. Sledgehammer & In Your Eyes are classics.

While it's not my thing, I guess I can appreciate it for what it is

Typical 80s synthesizer music. Not saying that is a bad thing. But, this album and especially with Peter Gabriel’s voice, sounds like if Phil Collins woke up and started making mediocre music.

Not bad! The legendary kate bush duet… I prefer Passion and Melt

Eh, medicore

Very 80s, very very Sting. Of its time. Not awful but I think you had to be there. Song with Kate Bush was decent despite being about suicide. He’s got a much better voice than I realised.

Great vocals and production. Very groovy with a lot of fun tracks. Just not my usual style.

This album has this Phil Collins vibe, but it is undeniable that most of the songs are a bit meh, although they are great for a chill environment while you're playing it in the background, while you're possibly on drugs in the 80s, BUT the most popular song on the album - Sledghehammer, is very cool and I enjoyed listening to it again, but I just didn't know that Peter Gabriel was the person singing it. Overall, a bit meh for the whole album, but not necessarily in a bad way.

6.5/10

The hits are great, everything else is meh

Too soundtrack-y for me, honestly. other than the one song I love

Great production! The studio musicians are excellent and there is a good variety in the songwriting. But I don’t like the songs at all. Not one of them. 5/10

There’s nothing to complain about with this album unless you aren’t a fan of 80s synth pop… which I am not. Sledgehammer is kind of a bop but the rest just isn’t my cuppa tea

I was getting excited, but after listening to the album I was a bit let down.

Classic easy listening

you could hear the "old" vibes... but it's quite easy to listen to... nothing catchy. It played in the background without much distraction to work

This was good. Sledgehammer and Don’t Give Up are absolute bangers but the rest kinda washed over me. I think I expected to like it a little more than I did in the end.

Everything I did whilst listening to this turned into an 80's montage.

Definitely should be experienced along with the music videos. Totally part of the experience

3,5/5

a few good tracks but overall not my vibe

Blind album, know the artist and the hits. Didn't hit as hard as I thought for sure. Some parts catchy but wasn't as good as people made it to be for me.

Although it sounded like a desperate attempt to make a 80s pop album, it was a damn good attempt. Nothing jumped out to me in either direction so I’d say it was a solid listen but lacked that spectacular feeling that the albums on this list SHOULD have.

kate bush <3

This was the height of the 80's techno phase. OK album, but it wasn't anything special for me. Sledgehammer is the only memorable song.

Nothing crazy, but still not bad IMO

Three hits on this album that I like. They are fun, and I might even give the volume a nudge up when they come on. The rest of the album left me saying, So? So what? Sounds that annoyed my ears. It's like they're from a totally different artist. Took an easy 4 down to a 3.

Fine, not really my speed.

Better than Coldplay

Not really impressed by this one, definitely enjoyed PG's first solo album much more, as well as his work with Genesis. It's still a lot more interesting and better than pretty much all over-produced bubblegum pop. But there's nothing here that really grabs the listener's attention. It all sounds like perfectly fine filler material, but without anything standing out. People might point out Sledgehammer, but it hasn't aged well. Sounds like a generic soundtrack song from a mid 2000's movie playing in early 90's or late 80's New York. 3.5 rounded down.

Nice

Prior to So, Peter Gabriel seemed to have one foot firmly in the art world and another firmly in the pop world. If that is the case, then on So, he seems to walk around a bit, and end up with one foot in the art-pop world and another just in the pop world. To put it differently: this is the one with the hits. Sledgehammer, In Your Eyes, Don't Give Up, and Big Time were all, on some level, a hit. However, this album is also known for achieving this without sounding like Gabriel is trying to "sell out", the songs here all feel very distinct and personal, and he keeps his art cred intact. Especially since the deep cuts here do *not* sound like they were made for the radio. Mercy Street, We Do What we're Told and This Is The Picture all sound thickly atmospheric, future-forward and mysterious. My personal favorite on here is This Is The Picture, Laurie Anderson (check her out by the way) appears and performs an incredible vocal duet with Peter Gabriel. Not to brush by the singles, they are mostly great as well. Sledgehammer, for example is iconic for a reason: funky, catchy, and just a *touch* art damaged. The only song on here that I specifically don't like is Big Time. It just sounds kind of on the nose and silly to me, but I would like to give credit where credit is due to the bass-work. I overall enjoyed this quite a bit, but I get the sense I may personally get more out of Peter Gabriel's earlier work.

Good Art Pop Album, Maybe not my favorite Genre but i certainly caught my self toe tapping the hits. It's kinda just Dentist office music but not in a bad way?

Classic 80's album with some excellent tracks but loses steam in its 2nd half. Peter Gabriel's voice was pretty great though and it has some interesting world music influences.

This is one of those albums where I'm super familiar with the hit single (Sledgehammer) but haven't heard the rest of it, and yeah, it's a pretty solid bit of 80's pop rock. The slower ballad tracks are a little sappy for my taste, but tracks like That Voice Again, Big Time, and previously mentioned Sledgehammer are tons of fun.

Sledgehammer & In Your Eyes are the monster hits off this album that got played everywhere, and I'm more familiar with Big Time because the WWE played the shit out of this song for Wrestlemania 22. This isn't overly my kind of music, but I respect the artistry at play here.

This album has too much content and should just be Red Rain, Sledgehammer and Big Time.

Gabriel's style can be a tad melodramatic at times. Borderline two stars but it's not bad.

Muy banda sonora

A little tired of these songs

Had great moments for me with the rhythms and bass lines. Fantastic vocals with a lot of character and emotion. A 3 feels too low but a 4 feels excessive for me personally. I feel like he doesn't quite reach the dramatic peaks he had the potential to reach within the album. Overall very enjoyable - I could see myself blasting it in the car with the windows down and feeling alive.

I thought it was really cool to hear all the different sounds, I thought his voice was very unique and was very emotional which I liked. I don’t know if I would listen to it again but I didn’t mind it, and I can see how people would love this album it’s just not one I would personally put on and listen to so for that reason I gave it a 3.

This album was a little rough. I got a heads up from Jordan on her dislike of this album, I liked it more than her but not great.

The slower songs are great.

I’m… not sure. I love Gabriel-era Genesis but never really delved into his solo work as much. I did listen to Melt a lot which I love but this is different. Gabriel draws on a bunch of influences here, you get eighties sophistipop sense reminiscent of Sting and Tears For Fears, you get world beat that can sometimes sound like talking heads, you get some post punk of the claustrophobic kind he had in Melt, especially on the last two songs. It’s a strong record and Gabriel is an amazing vocalist and songwriter, I just don’t think it’s his best work.

Correcto

Hadn't realized his 3 monster hits were on here. Idiosyncratic enough to not be a pure pop album, but he can write a hook when he wants to. I'm not a fan of the slick production but I think this has aged pretty well.

2/3 star, in your eyes got it to a 3

red rain- he sounds like he just woke up and had to record this. 5 sledgehammer- 5 or 6. reminds me of fame dont give up- so true, pete. 4 that voice again- 5 mercy street- 4 or 5 big time- 5 we do what we're told- 6 this is the picture- 5 or 6 in your eyes- 5

So so

So has some cool synth and drum parts. I've always liked Gabriel's voice as well. The album has a weird mix of darker toned songs that are intriguing intermingled with poppy sounding 80s jams. Lyrically it didn't do much for me. Standouts were "That Voice Again" and "In Your Eyes," which is a classic and I love it and I will unabashedly belt it every time it comes on. Overall, the album was kind of slow for me, but I liked the mood. It was a good length too, any longer and I think it would have dragged and overstayed its welcome. So was cool sounding and it was a good listen but didn't really move the needle away from an average 3 stars.

I saw a review that said something to the effect of "Phil Collins if he was talented." That is a shit take, but I do enjoy Peter Gabriel and this album. It's a little bit too cheesy white guy 80's music to truly blow me away, but I did enjoy the track list and I'm certain that had I been alive at the time, I would've enjoyed this album a even more within the context of its release

Very ‘80s! I enjoy the big hits and Red Rain is a great opener but the majority of the songs ran together for me… not a resounding success for me but Peter Gabriel has a great voice and Sledgehammer’s about his penis so I have to assume he also has a great penis. Great song.

3/5 good but not my favorite style

Super fun first track

3.5

Peter Gabriel "So" came out when I was 16. And songs like In Your Eyes were iconic at the time. But at the same time, I was never a huge fan of this album. I always thought it was kind of cheesy and overwrought. The song Don't Give Up with Kate Bush. Is one of my least favorite songs in the history of music. And listening to it now. It hasn't gotten any better. Definitely feel like it is extremely dated.

I like Peter Gabriel, but I feel like some of these songs could have been shorter. Overall, a very good sound.

Some great tracks.

Some great tracks, I struggle with the whole album though

Overall a pretty decent album with two big standouts. I love sledgehammer.

We thrashed Gabriel in a doubles match on the crazy golf course in Brighton seafront. He thought he’d bought a ringer by inviting Mike Rutherford. He didn’t realise that Brighton was basically Len Houmous’ home course. He hit an incredible 18 hole in one’s in a row! 3.4

better than I expected but a lot of it was too much like paul simon

04/05/2025 This was an okay album.

Kinda missed the mark for me, it felt like alot of songs just didnt quiet hit the high i was hoping for. Epic, but not epic enough, for my taste. But can see why people like it.

I was surprised to learn that many of the songs on this album still have relevance.

I really enjoyed this, but Sledgehammer is an annoying song

Aardige muziek met af en toe wel leuke melodie.

I like Peter Gabriel, but I’ve not a huge fan. You can hear Genesis throughout this album. “Sledgehammer” and “Don’t Give Up” are classics. The rest of the album is alright, but nothing to go back for.

Good album - very 80's sounding

6/10. Several tunes I really like.

Surprise Kate Bush!

A couple good ones but overall a boring album.

This is a more "artsy" approach to pop, which I appreciate. Red Rain, Sledgehammer, and Big Time are great, extremely engaging songs. The vocals are fun, and the production is fantastic, with a wide, immersive soundstage that sounds big and busy yet clean at the same time... But the rest of the songs are just fine and dragged my experience down quite a bit. They're way too quite and way to "ambient" with barely any accents, which I'm not a fan of. And when Don't Give Up manages to stay exciting despite the somber tone, the rest... not so much. This album would've been much better if all the songs sounded more like the first two, in my opinion. 7/10

It's fine. Not really my style but I think it's a good presentation of it's genre.

Decente pero un poco Jack of All trades, ningun tema espectacular pero es un nice listen

This was quite nice but it did get a little boring. Kate Bush appearing was a nice little surprise and I enjoyed her contribution, overall a nice album

forgettable boring

I'm giving it a 3 for the hits.

Yeah pretty decent but nothing I wouldn't expect from that era

A couple of classic radio singles here, Sledgehammer and Don’t Give Up, both are 4-star songs. I was unfamiliar with the rest of the numbers but they were all satisfactory. A strong 3.

This was pleasant

Not really my thing, Peter Gabriel to me sounds like one long song. A few classics but the synths and snare sounds are stuck in time.

Bueno

Sledgehammer bass line is amazing but most songs didn’t catch me

I liked this better than the earlier album by him.

80s pop that's just not for me

3 Stars (8/15)

eu acho o trabalho do peter gabriel bem consistente apesar de tudo pprt

I recognized some of the songs. I like how experimental some of the songs were. It made me feel like the other pop songs I was familiar with had more depth than I gave them credit for before.

Really enjoyed the opening track, it almost felt like watching a movie in my head. I didn't expect so many of the songs to sound like Micheal Jackson songs.

I enjoyed this slightly more than I’d anticipated. Very mid 80’s, synthtastic sound which isn’t really my thing, but there are some great tracks on this album, especially the hit singles. There are also enough meh songs to pull it down. Sledgehammer is rammed full of innuendo (see what I did there?), don’t give up is a beautiful gospel infused ballad which I’ve overlooked for far too many years. Glad I revisited this for the first time since my teenage years, but not likely to revisit ever again.

There are some excellent tracks on here but "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" got so overplayed on both MuchMusic and terrestrial radio that it's a hard listen.

Some pretty good stuff

nothing on here beats that one peter gabriel song from ET

Wasn't in the mood for the 80s yesterday. Turned off after one song. Was going to leave it at that and give it an exaggerated 1*. However, listened to it in full today and enjoyed it. Easy-listening, probably won't return unless I am in a very specific situation (that I don't best want to see myself in). Mercy Street was great.

3/5

6/10

3 out of 5. I enjoyed this one more than Paul Simon's Graceland.

Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: yes Favourite Song: lots of great ones, but I’ll go with Red Rain A name I’ve heard a million times but could never tell you what songs he sang or even the genre. First song opening vibes are totally 80s… Well there’s the radio hit-Sledgehammer. I figured I would come across a “reason” he’s on the list. And it’s not a bad song. Getting Genesis vibes by “Don’t Give Up”. Super cheesy song, but for some reason I actually like it. And another “hit” with “Big Time”. I can see how he was an 80s “icon”. Second listen around and I love the first song, “Red Rain”. Goes to show how things sometimes need a chance. This is a great album.

Some memorable songs from the 80s that I liked more than I did in the 80s ….

Pretty great!

Peter Gabriel goes full on Phil Collins here (this is much better than anything involving Phil Collins). Favorite track: Red Rain 3.5/5

good oldies album but personally does nothing for me. just another album from the 80s

Interesting sounds but not enough to captivate me.

A couple good, funky songs, but mostly slow, forgettable ballads. Very well-produced.

Для меня слишком вылизанный звук.

I really wanted to love this. It's so musically varied, there are a lot of ostensibly interesting things going on here. Yet, I find it just... okay. Yes, the production is excellent. But lord, is it dated. This might actually be one of the most 80s albums I've ever heard. After listening to the car album, I was looking forward to see where he would go. I get going pop, but this is really overshooting it. It's pleasant, even beautiful in quite a few spots. There are some interesting instruments throughout. Neat dabbling into international genres. It's just a shame that it feels right at home on the shelf with 80s shlock. Or with 90s Disney soundtracks. It's someone's jam, but it's not mine. Fav tracks: Sledgehammer, That Voice Again

It was a thing. Not for me but I can see the appeal.

Listen, I get it. Lyrics are important to some songwriters. But there are plenty of artists that put effort into other aspects of the world and don’t rely (mostly) on the poetry aspect. This Gabriel guy is probably saying something important, but as a listener who tends to disregard lyrics even if they’re spectacularly good, I didn’t notice it. And it’s obvious that less effort was put into the sound. The instruments actually sound okay as a sort of slow, 80s-produced mini-soundscape. But with a few exceptions, the entire album carries on with that sound – and without any interesting chord progressions or riffs to back it up. One clear exception to this is the song Sledgehammer, which kicks some serious rock butt and is easily the strongest on the album. Love the bass riff, the guitar tone, the horns, the energy – and I think Gabriel’s vocals work better in this raw rock texture. And judging by Spotify numbers, it seems like most fans of Peter Gabriel agree with me. I’m surprised he didn’t commit more to this rock style, given how it was clearly more popular and interesting than the swamp of poorly produced synth pop Gabriel’s contemporaries were releasing. The two tracks I mostly had a problem with were Mercy Street and This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds). The former is just too dull to really get into, focusing sonically on this high-pitched percussion that doesn’t really change for six minutes straight. The latter is as odd as the title suggests and lacks the hook(s) to justify it. But the first half of the album is pretty darn solid, with Red Rain, Sledgehammer, and That Voice Again forming the album’s highlights. In Your Eyes is also a good note to end on, even if its percussion is so 80s-esque that the song could probably do better without drums at all. 3/5 Key tracks: Red Rain, Sledgehammer, That Voice Again

Meh

sledgehammer maybe the best song ever

Decent album. Unfortunately, the colorful highpoints are offset by the lows.

I enjoyed the sensuality of "Sledgehammer" and was surprised to hear Kate Bush on love ballad "Don't give up"

Pretty good. Couple of standout tracks. Probably wouldn't return to this project on the whole however.

3.5ish

Very 80's. Much sledgehammer! ...wow Reminds me of that old tv show with David Rasche. Don't Give Up is good. 3/5

SoSo Canción destacada: Big Time 3/5

Some great songs on this album but sounds a bit dated due to the extensive use of the Fairlight CMI

Man, this album gets a lot of love. But the 80s synthesized production turns me off to each track immediately. When the album ended, Spotify moved me over to a nice Peter Gabriel song from 1977 (“Solsbury Hill”). THAT song, and THAT sound, grabbed me. The contrast made clear to me that So, despite Gabriel’s excellent vocals, just feels inauthentic and plastic with the synthesized, mechanistic backdrop. 3/5 rounding up and well aware that I may be missing something here!

A solid listen and I'm glad it's on this list. Two all time songs in Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes on this one with some other filler that's not bad. 6.25/10 (3.125/5)

Not enjoying this as much as Melt. Still sounds like Peter Gabriel but the more sinister edges have been cleaned up, and with it I think a bit of the uniqueness. This kind of just went over me as I was listening, it's not bad, but it just didn't provoke much of a reaction. I used to be really into prog rock and have really gotten into 80s pop in recent years so this should definitely appeal to me but I dunno, there's just something not clicking Sledgehammer is a classic, I can't argue that. Others like Red Rain just feel a bit pompous. I just don't really get what's so great about them The album does pick up a bit towards the end. I liked the last few tracks a bit more. Wish the rest of the album were more like those. I felt they stood out a bit more Probably more of a 3.5 but I'm still disappointed Highlights: Sledgehammer, This Is The Picture, Big Time

Unknown artist for me. I like his style and nice vocal. Love the track Sledgehammer.

It was solid. Very Genesis.

Great voice and good songs throughout the album. A really solid pop album with a lot of slower songs which I really enjoyed.

I didn’t much care for Sledgehammer or Big Time when everyone was raving about them, and they haven’t much grown on me enough to push the album up to a 4 despite Don’t Give Up.

Quite good.

So so

3 - Don't Give Up (w/ Kate Bush) 5 - Mercy Street 6 - Big Time

Better than I thought it would be going into it

Fand das Album insgesamt gut, aber n paar Songs waren nicht so meins. Sledgehammer war geil und das Duett mit Kate Bush, der Rest so la la. 3 Sterne

Some great songs - always good to hear Kate bush

Enjoyed it but not an everyday listen

Poppy, easy listening. First two songs are very good.

Irgendwie muss ich bei dieser Art von Musik immer an meine Kindheit denken. Einiges war mir aber zu kitschig

Bin hin und hergerissen. Fand’s nicht schlecht aber auch nicht überragend.

Has the big songs and not alot else.

Obviously a beautifully produced album, a classic. However, the sound of the 80s that this represents has not aged particularly well. I enjoyed it, with several stand-out tracks, but not particularly to my taste.

Oh man, I love Phil Collins! Textbook 80s sound. Heavy bass, synth to replace horns. Big and swelly sound but such themes of self-doubt and disillusion with The Times

So 80s

1️⃣Sledgehammer

All good but each song being 4-6 minutes long? Why?

Not really much to say. In my opinion, if someone were to ask me the definition of a mid album, this may be one of the first to come to mind. Didn't hate it, as it has my favorite David Bowie song, but most, I just couldn't get into. If I could I'd give it a 2.5. Favorite Songs: Sledgehammer, Big Time Least Favorite: We Do What We're Told

The combination of prog rock and 80s production is rarely a good idea (see late period Genesis) so it surprised me how much I enjoyed this. In some places it's a bit earnest, bit it was intriguing throughout. The 1-2 punch of Sledgehammer and Don't Give Up was marvellous, but the rest of the album didn't quite hold up. 'We do what we're told' felt like an offcut from The Wall, and little else stuck. So, so close to being a 4. If there was one more good track it would be, but let's go with middling for now.

A fine pop album. Doesn’t do much for me

This was overplayed a ton in the day so I kinda tuned it out but have come back to it often over the years. Even with it's overdone 80's style production I enjoy it

Much like Van Halen the trajectory of Peter Gabriel and the band Genesis is always a curious one. Many feel that Genesis was an amazing Prog rock band while Peter Gabriel was there and that Phil Collins destroyed it. But listening to Peter Gabriel‘s album So… It shows that both bands were going to be more pop rock as time moved forward. Songs like Big Time, which were in John Cusack’s movie One Crazy Summer and In Your Eyes which was in John Cusack’s Say Anything make this a marker of a time. This album is probably his best album that he has done, but it definitely ain’t prog rock. Debate closed; cheers to Phil Collins, and hats off to you, Mr. Gabriel.

Some big hits on there but not every song was a winner. Still a solid 80s album.

yeah groovy

‘ "Guarantee you anyone born after 1982 is not putting this in their 1001 albums to listen to list"’ says one of the highest rated comments here. I’m born before 1982 and I’m still not putting it on my list. Nor am I going to pan it. It doesn't appeal to me but to give him his due, musicality and talent etc, I’m giving him a 3

Open up your fruit cage earbleach please But catchy in places

It's fine but it just sounds just like any other album from this time its nothing special shouldn't be on this list

It's good. Solid 3/5.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

why was every song on this album three hours long

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

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

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

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

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

Surprisingly good as albums go.

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

Pervasive pop songs Redefining star singer To legend status

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

Incredibly 80s, not for me, but good enough

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

Pretty nostalgic

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

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

Nostalgia

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

Classic 80’s vibes

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

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

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

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

Hm kind of boring But oddly calming Kitschig for sure

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

Brought back high school in a big way.

Last song is the banger that keeps this whole album soaring

fucking AMAZING

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

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

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

fun

Omg Dave Matthews sounds like Peter Gabriel. Auto 3

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

3.5 I will definitely listen to it again.

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

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

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

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

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

Nothing more than serviceable 80's radio

Meh

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

Pretty good 80's music. 3/5

The same as Phil Collins

Quintessential dad rock

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

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

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

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

Like Phil Collins

it's good. post-punky and fun

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

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

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

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

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

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

Нормально. Слушать можно

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

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

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

Sledgehammer overskygger resten. Fint nok lyt.

Some catchy songs

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

6.5/10 Kinda goofy beginning Better later on

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

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

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

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

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

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

strange

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

Dont give up är en banger, resten helt ok

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

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

Zeker bangers, wel te poppig voor mij

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

Nice voice.

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